Cork Jazz Festival in St Anne’s, Shandon, Cork

On 29^th October Harvest Thanksgiving was celebrated in St. Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork coinciding as usual with the ‘Jazz Festival weekend’. The church was full to capacity with parishioners, friends and visitors coming together to give thanks for harvest and celebrate through music on this 40^th 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.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald and the Lady Mayoress are greeted by the Reverend Sarah Marry, Priest-in-Charge.

Archdeacon Andrew Orr

The Archdeacon of Ossory and Leighlin, the Venerable 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.

Jazz on the church steps

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!