The Pointer April - May 2022
Rector The Rt Rev Darren McCartney 028 4175 3497 suffragan1@gmail.com
The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore Recently, I happened to watch some drone footage of a Russian Military unit operating within the borders of Ukraine. The military vehicles appeared to be meeting up with other units within a forest. The footage continued with the vehicles starting to move and pick up some speed. You could clearly see two soldiers running behind the vehicle and the back door open. The vehicle continued and seemed to be getting faster, eventually leaving two soldiers behind. I was left saddened by what I had just watched. The thought of being left behind. These last couple of months have seen society and church moving to a different place in living with covid. Most restrictions have been lifted with noticeable changes in behaviour. Perhaps, like me, you are happy to see some of the changes. I am however conscious that not everyone will be in the same place. Some will have a greater desire to return to life before covid and others will still feel very vulnerable, with the whole spectrum in between. I would ask that we respect and care for one another and not impose our own wishes on others. People will confront and navigate the challenges and opportunities at differing paces. The picture of the two soldiers
left behind haunts me and I would be haunted to think that we, as a church, would leave anyone behind. So, I would encourage each of us to consider and remember others. Let us, in our coming together, look around the church and consider and remember others who may not be out at church or have been missing from church over covid. Let us as a church family reach out to those that come to our mind. Perhaps a phone call, perhaps a card or email, perhaps even a visit to their house and a chat on the doorstep.
Let’s not leave anyone behind … I hope you enjoy this edition of the Pointer and once again thank you for your continued, ministry, support, and encouragement. I say most Sunday’s that we encourage each other as we come out to worship together. We find similar words of encouragement in Hebrews 10:25, “And let us not neglect our meeting together …” New Living Translation. Blessings, +Darren