21.02.2025
SEARCH Journal – A Look Inside the Spring Edition
The Editor of SEARCH – an independently produced journal for the Church of Ireland, Canon Dr Ginnie Kennerley, introduces its new edition
The Spring 2025 issue of SEARCH – a Church of Ireland Journal will be sent out to subscribers in mid February, offering articles from near and far on the challenges of times: Trump and the American churches, peace–seeking in Ukraine, inspiration through the liturgy, the need for both meditation and service in today’s church, and how to find healing for the broken and a lively faith for our children. Subscribers are kindly requested to renew their subscriptions (€22 or £19 p.a.), and new subscribers to initiate them, either on line throughwww.searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org, or by sending a cheque to Mr Michael Denton, 10 Dun Emer Drive, Dublin D16 F788.
For more details on this issue of SEARCH please see the editorial which follows:
How best to work and pray for healing for the conflicted and competing nations of the world looks even harder this year than last
– and praying for the churches and the life of faith is no easier; but at SEARCH we do what we can to help.
The two problems come together with a vengeance in the USA, where many now wonder whether the word “Christian” still means what it used to. Professor Randall Balmer is an TEC theologian who warmly supports Bishop Mariann Budde’s appeal to Trump for mercy on the disadvantaged people he has threatened. From an evangelical background himself, he ponders the elements of racism, sexism and victimhood infecting the religious Right. Like Bp. Budde, he urges support for “the least of these”, whom Christ commands us to serve.
No comment on the Middle East this time; instead we look to Ukraine, where there is inter–church activity on “Pathways to Peace”. We are grateful to Ihor Krasovskyi for describing them.
But whatever the need for prayer, the enabling of prayer itself is crucial. “Saying our prayers” as such is not enough; both heart and mind, not only lips, must be involved. To this end, Revd Dr Maggi Dawn considers how best clergy can enable real prayer in their congregations, giving a sense of divine presence in the liturgy. Denise Stobart takes her reflection further by exploring the spiritual enlightenment offered by music in worship. And Margaret Daly– Denton follows up with an account of an inter–church event in Dublin at which former Archbishop Rowan Williams spoke on “A Noisy World in Need of Meditation and Service.”
Another area requiring deep prayer is the universal need for healing, whether of individuals, communities or whole nations. The Ven. Ross Styles shares his experience of bringing God’s love to people in need through the Church’s Ministry of Healing, inviting wider participation and offering training in this area. Finally, looking to the rising generation and how to make faith exciting and meaningful for them, with or without Sunday Schools, Rachael Murphy reflects on ways forward in this important area.
SEARCH is published three times per year, in February, June and October, and readers can find out more about taking out a subscriptions at this link on its website: https://searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org/subscribe