Lisburn.com

 

Exiles Forum
Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Joyous occasion as new Bishop is enthroned
The Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy commences his ministry as the new Bishop of Connor during the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn Enthroned: The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy pictured on the Bishop's Throne in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, Lisburn, after his Enthronement as the new Bishop of Connor on Thursday 6th September. The new Bishop of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy pictured with his wife Liz and daughter Ruth, after his Enthronement as the new Bishop of Connor in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September.

The Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy commences his ministry as the new Bishop of Connor during the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn.

Enthroned: The Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy pictured on the Bishop's Throne in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn.

The new Bishop of Connor, The Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy pictured with his wife Liz and daughter Ruth, after his Enthronement as the new Bishop of Connor in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn.

Connor's new Bishop, The Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy, was installed and enthroned in his Cathedral of Christ Church, Lisburn, at a joyous service last Thursday evening (6th September).  Here the Bishop began his ministry in Connor, praying for the Church and the community, before responding to the acknowledgement of his pastoral responsibility from the clergy and to a pledge of support from the laity of the diocese.

Bishop Abernethy was installed and enthroned by the Dean of Connor, The Very Rev John Bond, at the command of the Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Rev Alan Harper. The Dean also dedicated the Bishop's new Pastoral Staff.

In his sermon, Bishop Abernethy described himself as 'a fellow struggler who has failed to be what God wants me to be.'  But he said he was also the recipient of God's amazing grace, which meant he could look to the future with hope and joy knowing he was loved and forgiven.  'My prayer is that we may learn to rejoice in our brokenness and weakness and thereby welcome and accept all who need to know that being a disciple is not about being good and perfect but it is about recognising that we are fellow travellers on the road of grace that allows us to be human and gives us hope that we might just be better people by that same grace,' the Bishop said.

He based his sermon on the Gospel of St Luke chapter 15, which he described as the parable of the 'Forgiving Father.'  While the love and grace of the father is the miracle, the critical part of the story is the reaction of the older brother, the Bishop said.  'We have found the sting in the tail.  This forgiving father in being merciful and full of grace appears to be unjust. This grace and love is actually unfair.  The lesson the older brother has to learn is difficult, grace is not fair. Grace is about failure. Faith in Jesus is not about being good and holy and perfect, it is about being able to admit we are not good enough.'  The Bishop urged parishes to be places of welcome and acceptance, where the grace of God is dispensed and not bottled for the select few.  He concluded his sermon: 'I look forward to journeying with you as your bishop and I pray that I may be filled with grace of God to help me be a channel of that same amazing grace. This is the grace that is about failure and hope.'

During the service, the Bishop prayed for the diocese and the community.  He remembered the late Rev Tom Priestly, Mr Priestly's family, and his parishioners in St Colman's, Dunmurry, and a silence was observed.

The former rector of Ballyholme parish in the Diocese of Down and Dromore was appointed Bishop of Connor by the House of Bishops on the Church of Ireland which met in Dublin on 17th April.  He was Consecrated Bishop at a service in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, on 29th June.

Lisburn Cathedral organist Andrew Skelly, the choir and the praise band led the worship of well known hymns that included, 'To God be the glory', 'In Christ alone' and 'Be thou my vision'.  The choir sang the anthem 'My Jesus, My Saviour'.  Following the Service of Installation and Enthronement, the congregation enjoyed refreshments in the Cathedral Hall.

The new Bishop of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy pictured with his wife Liz and daughter Ruth, after his Enthronement. Looking on is the Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond.

The new Bishop of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy pictured with his wife Liz and daughter Ruth, after his Enthronement. Looking on is the Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond.
Chapter of St Saviour - Lisburn Cathedral pictured at the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Rev Canon Sam Wright - Treasurer, Rev Canon George Graham - Prebendary of Connor, Rev Canon Percival Walker - Precentor, The Ven Dr Stephen McBride - Archdeacon of Connor, The Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Rev Canon Stuart Lloyd - Chancellor, Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, Rev Canon William Bell - Prebendary of Rasharkin, Venerable Stephen Forde - Archdeacon of Dalriada and Rev Canon George Irwin - Prebendary of Kilroot.

Chapter of St Saviour - Lisburn Cathedral pictured at the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Rev Canon Sam Wright - Treasurer, Rev Canon George Graham - Prebendary of Connor, Rev Canon Percival Walker - Precentor, The Ven Dr Stephen McBride - Archdeacon of Connor, The Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Rev Canon Stuart Lloyd - Chancellor, Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, Rev Canon William Bell - Prebendary of Rasharkin, Venerable Stephen Forde - Archdeacon of Dalriada and Rev Canon George Irwin - Prebendary of Kilroot.
At the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Graeme Clarke - Rector's Warden, Rev Canon Sam Wright (Rector of Lisburn Cathedral), Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Rev Canon William Bell (Rector of Eglantine Parish), John Humes - People's Warden.

At the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Graeme Clarke - Rector's Warden, Rev Canon Sam Wright (Rector of Lisburn Cathedral), Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Rev Canon William Bell (Rector of Eglantine Parish), John Humes - People's Warden.
At the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, The Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, Rev Clifford Skillen - The Bishop's Chaplain, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, Rev Canon George Irwin - Rector of St Mark's, Ballymacash and the Rev Donna Quigley - Rector of Derryvolgie.

At the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September are L to R: Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, The Very Rev John Bond - Dean of Connor, Rev Clifford Skillen - The Bishop's Chaplain, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor, Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, Rev Canon George Irwin - Rector of St Mark's, Ballymacash and the Rev Donna Quigley - Rector of Derryvolgie.
The Bishop, pictured with his Chancellor and Chaplain prior to entry into Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September where he was received by the Bishopric of Connor. L to R: Mr Willoughby Wilson Q.C. - Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, Rev Clifford Skillen - the Bishop's Chaplain and The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor.

The Bishop, pictured with his Chancellor and Chaplain prior to entry into Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September where he was received by the Bishopric of Connor. L to R: Mr Willoughby Wilson Q.C. - Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Canon Edgar Turner - Registrar, Rev Clifford Skillen - the Bishop's Chaplain and The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy - Bishop of Connor.
The Bishop does some last minute preparations prior to his entry into Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn where he was received by the Bishopric of Connor. Looking on is the Bishop's Chaplain, the Rev Clifford Skillen.

The Bishop does some last minute preparations prior to his entry into Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn where he was received by the Bishopric of Connor. Looking on is the Bishop's Chaplain, the Rev Clifford Skillen.
Andrew Skelly - Organist (right) and Lisburn Cathedral Choir singing an anthem at the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September.

Andrew Skelly - Organist (right) and Lisburn Cathedral Choir singing an anthem at the Enthronement Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn on Thursday 6th September.
Lisburn Cathedral Worship Band leading the praise.

Lisburn Cathedral Worship Band leading the praise.
Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, visiting Rectors, Curates and Lay Readers.

Lisburn Mayor - Councillor James Tinsley, visiting Rectors, Curates and Lay Readers.
Church wardens - John Humes and Graeme Clarke, lead the Lisburn Cathedral Chapter of St Saviour out of the historic building during the recessional hymn.

Church wardens - John Humes and Graeme Clarke, lead the Lisburn Cathedral Chapter of St Saviour out of the historic building during the recessional hymn.

06/09/2007