Rev Sarah Marry, Priest-in-Charge, St. Anne’s, Shandon, Cork sent ECI this report:
On 29th October Harvest was celebrated in St. Anne’s coinciding as usual with the ‘Jazz weekend’. The church was full to capacity with parishioners, friends and visitors coming together to give thanks for harvest and to celebrate through music on this 40th year of the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival. Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Tony Fitzgerald and Fiona Collins from the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival Committee, read the lessons.
Archdeacon Andrew Orr preached from his experience as the Chair of Eco-Congregation Ireland, an organisation that seeks to support and encourage churches to take an ‘eco approach’ to all they do. Archdeacon Orr encouraged making small changes as individuals and as churches using resources responsibly and working together on issues of climate change which, as he noted, are essentially issues of peace and justice. The Climate Justice Candle was lit in St. Anne’s for the service as it concluded its travels around Cork having already been at the Carrigaline Union Harvest Thanksgiving, the Cork, Cloyne and Ross clergy conference and a Douglas Churches Together event about climate change.
The New York Brass Band and St. John’s Gospel Choir along with organist Adam Nuzum created a vibrant atmosphere in the beautifully decorated church teeming with fruit and vegetables. This year all those who attended were invited to bring along a non-perishable food item to add to the delivery of edible decorations to Cork Penny Dinners.
The children of St. Luke’s School wowed with their performance of ‘The Fruits of the Land’. Their hard work under the direction of Peter Stobart and their teachers paid off on the day and everyone enjoyed their talent and enthusiasm!
A collection was taken for the mission and ministry of St. Anne’s as well as for COPE locally and for the work of Christian Aid further afield.
