Presbyterian Herald December 2023/January 2024

DECEMBER 2023/ JANUARY 2024

A gift in your Will could not only help your loved ones but can leave a legacy of hope for generations to come. In Northern Ireland four in ten adult deaths are caused by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. We’re working hard to change this by funding life-changing research and caring for those who are affected by devastating health conditions every day.

We’ve been helping local people for 75 years, and with your help we can continue to be there for people who need us now, as well as those who will need us in the future.

Please visit nichs.org.uk/giftsinwills for further information on leaving a gift in your Will to NICHS or call us on 028 9032 0184.

Cover illustration: Barry Falls

CONTRIBUTORS

Ruth Sanderson lives in Scotland with her husband and two daughters. She is a freelance radio/television presenter and producer.

Andrew Dickson is the Congregational Life Development Officer for PCI. He lives in Whitehead with his wife Katherine and their two children, and is a member of Islandmagee.

Katharine Hill is the UK director of Care for the Family. She is married to Richard and they have four grown-up children and seven grandchildren.

Richard Kerr is convener of the Global Development committee and minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church.

So… this is Christmas p22

Born free p24

Starting from scratch p18

EDITORIAL

Don’t get

distracted

The Moderator’s theme for the year is all about being confident in Christ – in his Word; in his love; and in his sovereign power. It is an apt message for the Church in the times in which we live since the challenge to speak out for Jesus and live his way is increasingly countercultural. It is also a poignant message in the midst of a world in chaos. Where our hearts and minds may fret over many things – including wars in the Middle East and Ukraine; the vast number of displaced people worldwide; the persecution of Christian brothers and sisters; poverty and pain – we can be confident that God is on his throne and he is in control.

There are many things to fill up our minds and distract us from fixing our eyes on Jesus and abiding in him. This month, Katharine Hill from Care for the Family highlights her new book Born Free, which is a welcome resource for helping us to reorientate our busy schedules and walk with God in a fresh and freeing way. She points out that, in the gospels, Jesus was always interruptible and says that if are prepared to be open to interruptions in our day, “we can find that God meets us there”.

Christmas is certainly a prime time for distractions –it is so easy to get lost in all the festivities of a secular Christmas and forget the real meaning underneath. The Marks and Spencer Christmas advert this year alludes to the many trappings of Christmas, but sadly misses the key point of our Saviour and his birth. Ruth Sanderson reflects on all of this, saying that the nativity scene is: “A moment in history that altered eternity. There is nothing in the supermarket Christmas ads that come close to that reality.”

For us as Christians, Christmas is the perfect time to refocus our hearts on what it means to be a community of believers. In this edition, we hear stories of faith, unity and witness from Balbriggan congregation in Co Dublin and Hazelbank Presbyterian in Coleraine. The importance of meeting together as the body of Christ, encouraging and supporting one another is so key to the growing and deepening of our faith. It is also important that we are set to welcome others into the fold – Deborah Sloan contributes helpful advice on the practical things we can do to welcome newcomers on a Sunday morning.

As we endeavour to clear the distractions this Christmas, our Moderator encourages us: “God has come and he will come again; his Word never fails and we can be confident of that truth and persevere.”

Merry Christmas from everyone in the Herald office.

LETTERS

Remembering loved ones

Dear Editor

As an elder in northwest Donegal for the past 30 years, I must point out that I’m ashamed and embarrassed to see that PCI had no official representatives at the Creeslough commemoration and remembrance service held on 7 October for the first anniversary of the Creeslough tragedy, where ten people (including children) tragically lost their lives.

I really believe that it was a mistake not to have had our Moderator, or even a former Moderator present at the commemoration service to convey Presbyterian solidarity, and empathy with those who suffered in the tragedy. If it was not possible to have the Moderator present, then surely it would have been a straightforward matter to write a few words that could have been read out at the event.

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe was present and though Bishop McGuckian was out of the country he made effort to have someone represent him at the event. He also wrote some pastoral words to be read at the service. Our Church speaks a lot about ‘outreach’ and yet in the simple ways of just being present and engaging with a community that has suffered a great tragedy, we missed the mark.

Ernest Stewart Donegal

Editor’s note: As a point of clarification, PCI was not invited in an official capacity to the Creeslough remembrance and commemoration service.

Abortion

Dear Editor

As I write, we read and hear of church and state officials rightly condemning the murder of children across many nations of the world, and not just in

eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Having grown up in Belfast from the 70s, it was horrific to hear of children caught up in the violence of those days.

Yet, the murder of children tragically continues in NI. With increasing regularity, blood is shed in hospitals, health centres and clinics across our land.

Statistics obtained by Abolish Abortion NI this week (25 October), and picked up on by Both Lives Matter et al., show that 6,924 abortions have been recorded in Northern Ireland between 31 March 2020–20 October 2023 – an increase of almost 3,000 abortions since figures were last released in October 2022. These figures highlight a shocking acceleration in the number of children being murdered in the womb, meaning that the deaths due to abortion in one year now almost match the total number of victims during 40 years of the Troubles.

The Relationships and Sexuality Education (NI) (Amendment) Regulations of June 2023 in teaching on Learning for Life and Work refer school girls to abortion providers and discourage schools advancing religious views on abortion. These regulations may not have opt-out clauses and in practice, these regulations will drive a wedge between parents and their teenage daughters.

Will we as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland challenge the morality and the legality of compulsory lessons on how to get an abortion to NI post-primary schools? Surely, we cannot stay silent but rather stand unitedly in and for Christ and his Word, acting prayerfully and speaking up for those who cannot speak themselves – the voiceless and the most helpless in our society (i.e. the pre-born).

Rev Ross Collins, Ballywatt Presbyterian Church, Coleraine

Letters to the Editor

Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org

Thanks from Tearfund

Dear Editor

I write to your readers as a brother and as a member of Waringstown Presbyterian Church, and also as the newly appointed Northern Ireland director for Tearfund, wishing to thank and commend you for your partnership in the gospel.

You have partnered with Tearfund since 1994 – almost 30 years – over which time you, as a denomination, have given over £12,000,000 through central appeals. This is enough to have helped over nine million people lift themselves out of poverty (or over 37,000 communities working together to bring about lasting change). Over the last year alone, you have given over £800,000 through emergency appeals and the World Development Appeal. Thank you for your transformational generosity!

It’s not an exaggeration to say that within Tearfund’s global family, PCI is a byword for generosity. We are so thankful: we hugely value and appreciate the friendship we’ve built over the years, which truly is a kingdom partnership.

Something we are passionate about at Tearfund – and indeed, have built our whole development model upon – is the centrality of the church in bringing about whole-life transformation to individuals and communities. The church is uniquely placed: it’s the first on the ground and the last to leave, and it brings about whole-life transformation and lasting, sustainable change, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit and the movement of his people.

I’ve seen this firsthand and I can testify to this truth: the church is God’s chosen vessel

for transformation, his ‘plan A’ for the renewal of the world and the ushering in of the kingdom.

To partner with you in this model is a joy, and a true gift to us. Please be assured of our heartfelt thanks and true desire to serve you: do get in touch – I’d love to say hello.

Please note: Letters are limited to 300 words and may be edited for clarity and length. They will only be published in the Herald if the author’s name and address have been supplied to the editor. On request these will be withheld from print. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The views expressed in the letters are not necessarily those of the Editor or PCI.

Chris Thompson

Northern Ireland director of Tearfund

Conflict in the Middle East

Dear Editor

My thoughts turn today as they have since 7 October 2023 to the very serious situation in Israel and Palestine.

Day after day we witness the horrific violence unfold on our television screens and on our phones. It is beyond sad. War tears bodies. War shards minds and hearts. War poisons the future. As Pope Francis recently announced: “War is always a defeat”.

Every child of God – whether Israeli or Palestinian – is precious in his sight and has the right to live in safety and in dignity. The right to live in peace.

I very much believe that staying quiet in this moment is wrong. Silence is not an option. We who follow Jesus are called to love, to seek an alternative to war and violence, to work tirelessly so that a sense of humanity and compassion may prevail.

Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. We need to stop the killing today.

Jean Kearney Co Donegal

Topical Tweets

@pciassembly

Dr Mawhinney @pcimoderator has offered his condolences to the family & friends of Maud Kells saying that she was “part of a great generation of Christian women who demonstrated their love for Christ as they helped & supported others in need oversees”.

@ChristianAidIrl

“The only way to ensure that enough aid can safely reach those in need is an immediate ceasefire. Continued talk of a humanitarian pause totally falls short of the scale of what is needed” – writes @RosamondBennett

@Tearfund

Please join us in praying for the conflict in Gaza and Israel. We’ve put together some ways to pray for Gaza and Israel. Let’s continue to pray and act together on behalf of people suffering the effects of violence everywhere.

@PeteGreig

Praying is gardening. keep at it, do the hard work; slowly, surely you’ll see miracles without any effort at all.

@Trussell_NI

39,344 emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in our network between April and September. This is the highest number of parcels our network has ever distributed in 6 months. This is likely to get worse unless the NI Executive and UK Govt step up to make changes.

Price

of

the Herald is changing

The Herald will have a small price rise in 2024 and so the cost of an annual subscription, distributed through congregations will be £20/€24

A digital subscription is available for £16 (Euro equivalent) from Issuu issuu.com/presbyterianireland

Tearfund and Christian Aid appeals for Middle East

With ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, Tearfund and Christian Aid have appealed for prayers for peace and also donations to support those who are suffering and trapped in the crisis.

Tearfund is working with local churches and partners to help them respond to the needs of people across the region and Christian Aid is working with its established partners, responding as best they can, under intense pressure, with medical relief and community-led initiatives such as food, shelter, sanitation and cash. To donate to these appeals, or to read guidance on how to pray for this situation, please go to: www.tearfund.org; www.christianaid.org.uk or www.christianaid.ie

Special service remembers loved ones 30 years on

Relatives of the nine people murdered by the IRA in the Shankill Road bomb – along with survivors of the explosion, first responders, members of the local community and other invited guests – gathered in West Kirk Presbyterian Church in October for a special memorial service to honour the memory of their loved ones.

The service was led by West Kirk’s minister, Rev David Clawson, with the address given by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Sam Mawhinney.

Speaking after the service, Dr Mawhinney said, “For those most intimately affected by this, the pain and the sorrow they feel for their loved ones still runs deep. I count it a special privilege to have been invited to today’s memorial service and to have had an opportunity to sympathise with family members, relatives and friends of those murdered and injured.”

As well as the unveiling and dedication of a new memorial at the site of Frizzell’s fish shop, nine trees have been planted in the garden on the Conway Street side of West Kirk Presbyterian Church, as a living memorial. Each has an individual plaque and tribute from the families.

Tribute paid to Maud Kells

Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney has paid tribute to former missionary Maud Kells, who died in October after a short illness at the age of 84. He said, “I was saddened to hear of the death of Maud Kells and would like to offer my condolences to her family and friends, both here in Ireland and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where she served God so faithfully and for so long. She was certainly part of a great generation of Christian women who demonstrated their love for Christ as they helped and supported others in need overseas.”

Miss Kells, who was from Cookstown, attended Molesworth Presbyterian Church and as a young woman trained as a nurse in Belfast before beginning a lifelong association with the people of the DRC. Going against the wishes of her family, following a clear call from God to go, in 1968 she began to train nurses in different hospitals and health centres in the central African county. Later on, she became a missionary with Worldwide Evangelisation for Christ (WEC) International. For nearly 50 years she worked tirelessly and relatively unknown, outside of WEC and her congregation, until 2015. It was in the January of that year that she came to national prominence after being shot one night by bandits in the village of Mulita, in the north-east of the country. At the time she was 75.

Prior to the attempt on her life, in the New Year’s Honours List of 2015, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “Services to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo” by the late Queen. That same year, she was named Belfast Telegraph ‘Woman of the Year’. Having won the overall title, she was also named ‘Inspiring Woman of the Year’. In 2019, she published her autobiography: An Open Door – A true story of courage in Congo.

Church leaders meet with Northern Ireland political parties

The Church leaders’ group (Ireland) invited the leaders of Northern Ireland’s five main political parties to a series of separate individual meetings in November, focusing on the restoration of good governance in Northern Ireland.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the Church of Ireland, the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church, and Irish Council of Churches said: “As part of civil society we felt that it was important for us to reach out to each of Northern Ireland’s main political parties, just as we did in September 2018, under similar circumstances…

“During the meetings we highlighted the feedback coming to us from communities across Northern Ireland regarding the seriousness of the current situation –indicating the real and sustained financial hardship that is being experienced by many

people, combined with the everyday reality that many of the normal services that society depends upon were close to breaking point. We also indicated to the party leaders that this was leading to a rising sense of despair, and even hopelessness throughout the community, linked to a growing anger at the current poor state of governance.”

The Church Leaders continued:

“With each of the parties we discussed the urgent need for the restoration of Northern Ireland’s devolved government. While it was acknowledged that this wouldn’t be a panacea for all problems, it was however recognised as an important first step, and was something that, if properly resourced by the UK Government, would make a real and meaningful difference to the everyday lives of people.”

(L–R): Most Rev Eamon Martin (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland), Rt Rev Andrew Forster (President of the Irish Council of Churches), Most Rev John McDowell (Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland), Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney (PCI Moderator) and Rev David Turtle (President of the Methodist Church in Ireland).

PCI creatives at Christian writing and book fair

“You put your heart on a plate” was how award-winning devotional author Catherine Campbell described the giving of words to the world.

The venue was Moira Baptist Church and Catherine’s audience comprised dozens of Christian writers who, together with book-loving friends, had gathered for a day of book sales, readings, talks and networking.

Several Presbyterians were involved in the event. Pamela Ferguson of Trinity Presbyterian, Bangor, was there with copies of her anthology of poems and reflections: From Shore to Shore: Life in God’s Global Kingdom Rev David Cupples, who spent a two-month sabbatical walking the Camino de Santiago in 2017, penned a collection of 84 devotional readings inspired by the journey: Peregrino (Spanish for pilgrim).

Heather Henry, a member of Railway Street Presbyterian, Lisburn, has produced a series of Ted in Bed picture books for children. Shelley Spiers, a primary school teacher and member of Hill Street Presbyterian, Lurgan, had available a selection of greeting cards and other products featuring her poems. And Stephen Knox of Orangefield Presbyterian,

Invaluable unseen work in Omagh

Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney has praised a County Tyrone charity for the work that it is doing for an often-forgotten section of the community.

Dr Mawhinney was speaking following a visit to MAPS (Military and Police Support of West Tyrone) at its drop-in centre in Omagh. With over 900 members, the volunteer-based, award-winning charity is dedicated to providing a range of support services to former police officers, military personnel and their partners who suffered different kinds of trauma, and ongoing related issues, as a result of the Troubles under Operation Banner 1969–2007, the longest continuous campaign undertaken by the British Army.

Co-founded in 2011 by former service personnel Richard Scott and Margo Hetherington, both of whom have been awarded MBEs for their work, Mrs Hetherington welcomed Dr Mawhinney, his wife Karen and Rev Jane Nelson of First Omagh Presbyterian Church to MAPS. “Much of our work is unseen, which is why we so very much appreciated the visit of the Moderator, which gave us an opportunity to talk about what we do and how we are able to meet the needs of and support those who served the community during such very difficult and dangerous times,” she said.

Dr Mawhinney was in the town as part of his weeklong pastoral tour of the Presbytery of Omagh.

Belfast, shared poems from his notebook.

The day ended with a closing thought from Rev Jack Lamb, who underscored the supreme importance of God’s Word.

Photos: Robert Kearney

Relaunch of Reality

Reality is a two-year, part-time course that can be joined at any time. The course is being relaunched in 2024, following its suspension due to Covid.

Covered in the course is a focus on: the Bible, strengthening an understanding of Scripture and doctrine; contemporary worldviews; apologetics, examining today’s questions; key thinkers, looking at people who inspire and illustrate best practice in history; and contemporary issues and culture.

Course tutors are Rev Mark Goudy, Very Rev Dr John Kirkpatrick and Prof John Gillespie. Visiting specialists will also take part.

Dr John Kirkpatrick said: “The challenges in our culture are many and the pressure will only increase from the secular world we now live in. It would be so helpful to be able to engage in a meaningful way with the questions and the issues that we encounter every day; questions our children and young people have.”

Reality will take place on the third Saturday of each month from 9.30am–1.30pm (except July and August).

For more information, contact: johngillespie1@mac.com or johnkirkpatrick56@gmail.com

Prayers and remembrance in Enniskillen

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney took part in the Royal British Legion’s Act of Remembrance at Enniskillen’s Cenotaph last month, saying that it was “an honour to take part, and a poignant and humbling experience”.

The outdoor service was led by the Dean of St Macartin’s Cathedral, Very Rev Kenneth Hall, during which Dr Mawhinney read one of the prayers. The service took place on the 36th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb, which claimed the lives of 12 people who had gathered for the same service on Remembrance Sunday 1987.

The Moderator then went on to Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, at which he had been invited to preach. Speaking afterwards he said, “At this particular time, we remembered those who had gone before us in the service of their country

and on that tragic day in 1987. During our time together, I spoke about lament and God’s desire for his people to bring their pain and heartache, fears and worries, difficulties and concerns about the world around them, and their lives, to him in prayer.”

The elders of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church with Dr Sam Mawhinney (sixth from right) with his wife Karen and Rev Gunther Andrich.

Photo: (L–R): Francie Pancott, James Baxter, Margo Hetherington, Dr and Mrs Mawhinney, Cyril Monteith and Nicola Scott.

Rev David Cupples

Shelley Spiers

IN

THIS MONTH... December 1978

Dipping into the archives to take a look back at what was making Presbyterian headlines and news in history.

Christmas traditions and customs

Mary L. Stollard

In the olde days, Christmas was almost always merrie, and nearly all of our modern celebrations originate from very early times.

The Christmas tree tradition originated from Germany, and is associated with the Christian missionary St Boniface, who preached the gospel there in the 8th century. Folklore tells us that one Christmas Eve he struck down an old oak tree, stained with the blood of Christian martyrs, and in its place sprang up a young fir tree, which he declared should ever remain the symbol of the Christian faith.

The kind of society I want

Robert J Rodgers (Headmaster of Bangor Grammar School)

Santa Claus, beloved by children, was really St Nicholas, a wealthy bishop who flourished in the 5th century. He delighted in helping poor people but, fearful of hurting their feelings, he adopted the plan of dropping gold pieces down the chimneys of those whom he knew to be in desperate need. After his death, his secret leaked out, and from that time he has always been regarded as the saint of mysterious gifts. On one occasion, his purse fell into a stocking that had been hung up to dry, thus starting the custom of placing stockings or shoes round the hearth to receive his gifts.

I should like to see a society in which co-operation were more normal than confrontation… Not enough of us today are prepared to accept that another point of view may have equal validity with that which we hold, or that its proponents are at least as honourable and sincere as we are ourselves. Too many of us are either content to be suspicious of those from another background or tradition, or almost afraid to appear to be trying to defend our own corner by impugning the motives of others than to try to see things through their eyes…

The giving of Christmas presents originated with the early Christian church, when boxes were placed in the church porch to receive Christmas offerings for the poor. These were opened and distributed on the following day; thus, we get the expression ‘Boxing Day’.

Presbyterians suspend World Council of Churches membership

After a lengthy and orderly debate, the special Assembly… decided by a large majority to suspend her membership of the WCC. The Assembly’s resolution, carried by 561 votes to 393…

During more than five hours of debate, many of the ministers and elders who spoke felt it was better for the Church to suspend membership now rather than enter into endless debate with the General Assembly torturing itself on the matter…

Some have interpreted the move for suspension as ‘a legal separation pending a divorce’ – to take place at the Assembly in June 1980. Others see the call for suspension as the first hurdle in withdrawing from all contacts with outside Church Bodies… Are we to belong to the wider world Church or should we retreat into a safe isolationism, away from involvement in the sociopolitical world of today? The next chapters will be written in June 1979 and June 1980.

Orritor Presbyterian Church

Thanksgiving service held on Friday 13 October to mark the reopening of Orritor Presbyterian Church after extensive repairs.

(L–R): Rev Sidlow McFarland (moderator of presbytery) R. Mahood (treasurer), J.W. Bell (session clerk), Dr Burke, Uel Henry (architect), Rev Ivor Smyth (minister of the congregation), Ivor Clarke (contractor) and Samuel Laughlan (secretary).

Also from December ’78

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand’s duet single You Don’t Bring Me Flowers reaches number 1

Superman: The Movie starring Christopher Reeve premieres

Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship

Rev Brian Smyth, minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, tells the story of his sabbatical.

Sharing the gospel in Romania

As part of my sabbatical leave, I travelled with my wife Pamela from Ahoghill in Co Antrim to Seleus in Romania. We left home in June for a 12-day trip and our time in Romania surpassed our expectations. The purpose of the trip was to visit Bjørn-Richard and Sarah Pedersen, and their lovely one-year-old son, Theodore, who are members of Trinity, Ahoghill. We wanted to encourage them in their ministry and hopefully strengthen the link between them and our congregation.

Bjørn-Richard and Sarah serve the Lord with Restore Ministry and their longing is “to restore hope for a future”. Primarily, they are serving the Lord among the Roma community of Seleus, and their love for the Lord Jesus, and for the Roma community, is very evident. They are a young couple who are making a huge difference for the Kingdom of God as many lives are being impacted for good and for God. Restore Ministry seeks to serve the Roma community under three distinct, yet blended approaches: education, evangelism and engagement. It was a joy and privilege for us to witness effective gospel ministry in Romania.

It was a joy and privilege for us to witness effective gospel ministry in Romania.

Following the time of worship, the group was divided into three separate classrooms, depending on age. We were working with children who were aged eight but unfortunately their standard of education was low. Worksheets were prepared and we had the opportunity to help the children with basic mathematics. Education will help these children to get out of poverty and the after-schools programme is a vital ministry. Having been fed on a spiritual and educational level, the children were then fed on a physical level. Every day brought a different snack: sandwiches, pizza or cereal. At 2pm the children went home happy. At the heart of all that is happening in Seleus is the good news of the gospel that is being shared with the Roma community. Bjørn-Richard and Sarah take every opportunity they can to tell others about the Lord Jesus because they know that he is the only one who can transform the lives of those with whom they work. Through Jesus, these people who are destitute can have hope for a future. Please pray that the gospel message will impact many lives in Romania.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there is an afterschools programme for primary school children. It is supposed to begin at 12pm, but we quickly discovered that time means very little in Romania! On our first scheduled day of the programme, we were visiting in the Roma community, which is approximately a 15-minute walk from the Restore centre. At 11am, Sarah received a phone call from a co-worker to say that the children had been dismissed from school early and we needed to get back to the centre as quickly as possible.

The local transport of horse and cart came to the rescue and within a few moments we were back at the centre where we met very excited children. The programme began with about 40 children worshipping God through singing and hearing a Bible lesson and it was a joy for me and my wife to each lead one of those sessions, with Sarah helping with translation.

Sarah has established a weekly ministry among the teenage mums in the Roma community and she openly engages with them. She wants them to be good mothers, but more than that, she wants them to be followers of Jesus. Bjørn-Richard has a burden to share Jesus with the young men and he has established a youth group that meets every Thursday evening. They long to see young people committing their lives to Christ but that is difficult when the Roma community influences them so much. Yes, the culture is different in Seleus, but the spiritual need is the same as it is in Ahoghill.

If you would like to find out more about Restore Ministry, invite Bjørn-Richard and Sarah to your church when they are on deputation, or would like to visit Romania and see first-hand the work that is being done, please email: sarahandbr@gmail.com

Events

PCI is partnering with Growing Young Disciples to run a brandnew event for young people aged 11–16 and their leaders. Explore will take place from 7.45pm to 9.30pm on Friday 23 February 2024 in Clogherney Presbyterian Church, Omagh.

Churches are invited to bring along young people to explore how we are made for a different world and to discover what it is like to trust Jesus with our whole lives.

To find out more and book in for Explore, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/explore

Renewing your calling as an elder

‘Refresh’ is a PCI training event that provides an opportunity for elders to come together to be renewed and refreshed in fulfilling the calling of eldership.

Refresh will take place on Thursday 14 March 2024 (7.45–9.15pm) in Second Limavady Presbyterian Church.

To find out more and to book a place, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/refreshforelders

God’s Church in Egypt

PCI will be holding a conference entitled ‘God’s Church in Egypt: Challenges, Calling and Creativity’ on Friday 2 February 2024 at 9.30am in Assembly Buildings, Belfast.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Anne E. Zaki, an Egyptian, and a professor of preaching and practical theology at the Evangelical Theological Seminary, Cairo. She has studied psychology and sociology at Calvin University in the USA before gaining a Master’s in social psychology from the American University, Cairo, a Master’s in divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary, and most recently a PhD in preaching from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Dr Zaki will make two presentations: firstly, outlining the context in which the church in Egypt finds itself, before going on to reflect on how God is at work in and through Christians in Egypt today. Alongside Dr Zaki’s presentations, the conference will include table group discussion and a Q&A session and will conclude with a light lunch at 1.00pm.

It is hoped that the gathering will help us to discover how best we can stand alongside, support and learn from Christian communities in the Middle East, not least when they face persecution, uncertainty and conflict in the region.

The conference is free of charge but those wishing to attend should book a place by contacting the Mission Department (Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284; mission@presbyterianireland.org). The closing date for bookings is Friday 19 January.

Not everybody engages with the Bible by reading it or in a group study. For people who don’t enjoy reading or who learn in a more interactive way, Bible storytelling is a method of bringing God’s Word to others without a printed Bible.

This training is for ministers, leaders or anyone who would like to be able to tell fascinating, accurate stories and to lead interactive discussions on Bible passages. It could be a helpful tool for those leading ministries with any of the following groups of people: migrants; unchurched individuals; or children or adults with little Bible knowledge and/or low levels of literacy. Course details are as follows:

Instructor course: Monday 8–Friday 12 January 2024

Practitioner course: Wednesday 10 January–Friday 12 January 2024

Venue: Union Theological College, Belfast

Delivered by: www.simplythestory.org

To find out more and to book a place, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/ biblestorytelling

DIARY DATES

January

Bible Storytelling Union College – Monday 8–Friday 12

February

God’s Church in Egypt Assembly Buildings – Friday 2

Explore Clogherney Presbyterian –Friday 23

March

Kids’ Big Day Out First Ahoghill Presbyterian –Saturday 9

Refresh Second Limavady Presbyterian – Thursday 14

Jesus is the light of the world

PCI’s Kids’ Big Day Out in 2024 will take place on Saturday 9 March in First Ahoghill Presbyterian Church from 2–4pm. This event is for primary school aged children and their leaders.

To find out more and to book in, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/kidsbigdayout

Resources

Discipleshaping Church Today

The world today can be overwhelming. Cultural wars. Covid’s impact. A changing church landscape. Crisis after crisis locally and globally. The challenges impacting how people faithfully follow Jesus today are many.

How can we shape aspects of local church life to effectively equip members to follow Jesus with courage, commitment and conviction in today’s world?

This was the question that lay at the heart of PCI’s recent ‘Discipleshaping Church Today’ event on Tuesday 24 October 2023.

Over 70 ministers, elders and other church leaders gathered together for a day of teaching, discussion and reflection on discipleship today.

Keynote speaker Andrew Fellows took time to show delegates how secularism has reshaped church culture, changing the way many Christians and churches live and worship without being noticed. A recording of Andrew’s addresses will be available in 2024.

If you are interested in further exploring discipleship in your congregation, please contact the Council for Congregational Life and Witness (Tel: +44 (0) 28 9032 2284; clw@presbyterianireland.org). To find out more about the suite of discipleship resources offered by PCI for use individually, in small groups and within wider congregational life, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/resources

Blaze 2024 prayer calendar

Blaze the bee helps children and families in congregations right across PCI explore how God is at work in the world and what it means for them to be a global disciple, doing what they can to play their part in God’s global mission.

This year, we want to encourage children, leaders and families to think about how we can pray for global mission around the world. Blaze has prayer ideas for our global mission workers in PCI. Each month, a new global mission worker will be highlighted and we will share prayer points from them to help children, families and the whole congregation to pray for the work they are involved in. The ideas are all on a downloadable calendar to distribute to everyone in your congregation. There are also PowerPoint slides to use in announcements and/or all-age slots in church.

To access the Blaze 2024 prayer calendar, go to:  www.presbyterianireland.org/blaze

Faith can’t be all talk.

As Christians, do we struggle to connect what we believe with how it is expressed in our everyday lives?

Partner dispatches

Would you like to know more about the global churches and organisations that PCI partners with?

‘Partner Dispatches’ are a series of short films designed to introduce your congregation to some of the partners PCI engages with on a regular basis.

PCI is blessed by relationships with international churches and organisations and we have much to learn from their contexts and their work. These films highlight some of that work in their own words.

Currently available are films introducing the Hungarian Reformed Church, Scripture Union Malawi and the Near East School of Theology in Lebanon. It is hoped that more of these films will be produced in the coming months.

The films are available on the PCI website (www. presbyterianireland.org), or by contacting the Mission Department (Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284; mission@ presbyterianireland.org).

How can we express our faith better? Might we benefit from taking time to explore what this looks like in our homes, our churches and our communities?

Expressions is an eight-session film series useable in home groups, mid-week or alternative Sunday evening settings to connect themes from different passages of Scripture and open up conversations on how their faith expresses itself in everyday life and witness.

To find out more and to order, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/expressions

Start the day with God

Are you a part of ‘Tides’, PCI’s growing movement of Bible reading?

Tides is a simple yet powerful tool designed to fuel the devotional lives of ordinary disciples through a rhythm of daily devotions. This is a home-grown resource, created and written by contributors from right across PCI.

Delivered straight to your inbox each weekday morning, Tides gives people the chance to read God’s Word, reflect on what he is saying and respond in your daily life.

To join the thousands of others from across PCI who read Tides daily, sign up at: www.presbyterianireland.org/tides

A life that pleases God

David Clarke

Studies in Romans 12:9–16

An exchange between a father and his son in John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden (based loosely on the story of Cain and Abel) ends with the father remarking: “If you want to give me a present, give me a good life. That would be something I could value.”

Paul briskly lists ten qualities of a good life “holy and pleasing to God”. Let’s focus on four of them.

In love, be genuine. A sizeable anthology could be compiled of human attempts to define love. The sacred writers make no such effort. In the Bible, love is not defined, but displayed. In his great ‘hymn to love’ in First Corinthians 13, Paul shows how love displays itself in patience, kindness and humility. Love is inherently sacrificial: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Calvary was the supreme display of such love: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

perfecting of human character should be such a long affair?”

There are no short-cuts in God’s economy – “first the stalk and then the ear” (Mark 4:28). We have need of patience.

In prayer, be constant. A celebrated observation, “If you want to keep a man humble, ask him about his prayers”, is variously attributed to the 17th century Puritan John Owen, and the 19th century Scottish revivalist Robert Murray McCheyne. It is a timeless truth. It is the realm in which we most tragically fail. As one commentator noted: “It will generally be found that where prayers are few, faith, hope and love are small.”

It will generally be found that where prayers are few, faith, hope and love are small.

The injunction “love must be sincere” (v12a) recognises the sad truth that not all who profess love do so in reality. Paul therefore adds two qualifications that ensure that love avoids extremes. To “hate what is evil” without the requirement to “cling to what is good” produces a self-righteous, censorious attitude while the reverse produces a love that is flabby and sentimental.

In affliction, be patient. In the upper room, Jesus warned his disciples: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Archbishop William Temple observed that we sometimes unwittingly invite trouble on ourselves: “Not all that the world hates is good Christianity – for there are some distortions of Christianity that merit the world’s scorn – but it does hate good Christianity and always will.”

In that inescapable condition, Paul counsels patience. The word ‘patience’ suggests a readiness to look beyond the present moment, and a recognition that God’s time frame is different from ours. In addition, as James pointed out, the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which “must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). When we are being crushed and pressurised, something worthwhile is going on; our characters are being refined and the sinews of faith strengthened as God seeks to mould us into the kind of people he wants us to be. As Karl Barth wrote: “When men are pressed down, God presses on.”

A famous geologist once observed: “If it takes God so many aeons to make old red sandstone, need we wonder that the

The practice of prayer, so central in the life of the Saviour, ought to have that same place in the lives of his followers. When King Hezekiah, cooped up in Jerusalem, received an ominous message from the Assyrian King Sennacherib, we read that “he went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord” (2 Kings 19:14). As someone remarked: “He took his morning mail and forwarded it to God.” It is the proper course, for our God is the God of the open ear, and the strong arm.

In hospitality, be active. The New Testament speaks of two inns, one in Bethlehem, the other patronised by the Good Samaritan. Often, however, what inns there were had few recommendations, being often expensive, regularly filthy and notoriously immoral. Paul was glad then of the shelter of a Christian roof. At the time of his writing to the Romans, he was enjoying the hospitality of Gaius (Romans 16:23), who proved the truth that in welcoming strangers we often welcome angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).

By a strange alchemy, the sharing of a meal binds people together, as confidences are shared and friendships cemented. The verb ‘to practise’ indicates that hospitality should not be something reluctantly granted. Rather, as the great Origen (185–253 AD) observed, citing the example of Lot (Genesis 19:1–2), we are “not just to receive the stranger when he comes to us but actually … to pursue them and search them out everywhere, lest perchance somewhere they may sit in the streets or lie without a roof over their heads.” Could any injunction be more urgent in our time?

Very Rev Dr David Clarke is a former PCI Moderator and minister emeritus of Terrace Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine.

PERSONAL VIEW

Life lessons

Theo Bolaji Douglas

Elder in Drogheda Presbyterian and an auxiliary minister

I grew up in Nigeria, raised by my maternal grandmother, having lost my mother while a baby. For many years, I thought she was my mum, only to discover much later that she was not. A teacher and a missionary, she laid the foundation for my Christian faith with her strict Christian upbringing and discipline, which she instilled with love. I cannot thank her enough for her sacrifices. I did all my schooling in Nigeria up to university level; I have a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Ilorin. I left Nigeria for the UK upon retiring from professional football. There, I trained as a software engineer. I am currently working as a software developer in Dublin, married to Carolyn and blessed with three wonderful children: Patrick, Kevin and Niamh.

team, the Super Eagles, which played against England in 1994 at Wembley, and a member of the team that represented Nigeria and CAF at the FIFA Confederation Cup in Saudi Arabia (1995). I was forced to retire due to a knee injury.

I came to live in Ireland in 1999, at the height of the IT boom. It paved the way for me to use the IT skills I’d just acquired. I came with my wife, who was pregnant with our first child. Starting a new career and a new life in a new country was always going to come with challenges. Moments like that, far away from home, help us to fully appreciate the importance of support from extended family members – something that, being Nigerian, we really count on. We also missed the support and the network of friends that we grew up with; we had to re-build everything.

There were opportunities too, especially as we settled into the community. Initially, I had the opportunity to work with a Nigerian pastor as his assistant and to start a fellowship group to cater for the Africans, especially Nigerian immigrants, coming into the country around this time. One of the challenges they were confronted with was finding a place of worship, because many of them had Protestant/Pentecostal backgrounds. I was with the group till 2006. I left to join Drogheda Presbyterian Church, and there, further opportunities to serve opened up.

My biggest challenge came with the injury that would eventually bring my football career to an abrupt end. It came at the time everything was going in the right direction. I had offers on the table at the time – I’d been in Scotland (Celtic) and Switzerland (FC Basel) for trials. Also, my international career was just taking off, only for everything to come crashing down as a result of the knee injury. It was like my world caved in upon me. My faith took a big hit and for the next two to three years I was lost, trying to find out what to do next with myself. It was at this time that I left Nigeria for the UK and it was this challenge that led me to true faith.

I discovered that God has graciously blessed me the gift of explaining the Scripture. I realised that I needed some form of training – I was not sure if I had the calling to go into fulltime ministry. It was Rev John Woodside who counselled me and introduced me to the Accredited Preacher Scheme. It was the perfect training and ministry that I needed. It was what my years of being on the road playing football matches had prepared me for. My decision to then do the auxiliary ministers’ course was me testing the waters in how far the Lord would have me go. So far, there have not been many opportunities in that role. But the ministry I have as an accredited preacher has been very fulfilling. What I have enjoyed most is the privilege to have fellowship with various congregations across the nation where I have been invited to preach – it has been such a wonderful blessing.

I was privileged to play football for one of the most successful clubs in Nigeria at the time, the BCC Lions FC of Gboko from Benue State. The team won the African Cup Winners (Mandela) Cup in 1990. I would later captain the team to win the 1993 Nigerian FA Cup, and in 1994 we did the double, winning both the FA Cup and the Nigerian Premier League Shield. I was privileged to be part of the Nigerian national

My favourite hymn is Be Still for the Presence of the Lord. It is a hymn that always brings me closer to God’s promise that he will never leave us nor forsake us.

It is amazing how God uses the phases we pass through in life to shape us for the plans he has for us. It was during my struggles that I really discovered my true identity. I discovered my weaknesses and my vulnerability and that my strength is not found by looking at myself or my accomplishments, but by looking unto Christ alone.

Hazelbank turns 50

Smith reports on Hazelbank Presbyterian Church, Coleraine, which celebrated 50 years in 2023.

Hazelbank Presbyterian Church in Coleraine has celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. Over the year, a number of key events have marked this momentous occasion.

In March, the then Moderator, Dr John Kirkpatrick, attended a special service of thanksgiving, joining minsters of Hazelbank past and present, along with church members and guests, to celebrate the congregation’s golden jubilee. The service was led by Hazelbank’s Rev David Brown who was called to the church as its fourth minister in December 2014. Joining him for the service were his immediate predecessor, Rev Alan Johnston, who was minister from 2004–2013, and the son of the late Rev Sam Millar, whose father served the congregation for nearly 30 years from 1974–2003. Also present was Rev Professor Bill Addley, who began work on establishing the church in February 1971.

During the service, Dr Kirkpatrick said: “I took my text for the sermon from Philippians 2:13, when the Apostle Paul writes “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose”. For what we are really celebrating is the faithfulness of God to us and what he has enabled us to do to fulfil his purpose. It is also the story of grace and how grace alone works – and inspires works. It has been a real blessing to experience that here in Hazelbank.”

Today, Hazelbank has 167 families connected with the congregation and meets on the west side of the River Bann, situated in ‘The Heights’. In 1968, Rev Bill Addley was appointed as the

It was all very ‘make do’, with furniture coming from other churches, but God was with us and we were very blessed…

first Presbyterian chaplain to what was then the new University of Ulster at Coleraine, and was also asked to take on the establishment of a new church on the top of a hill overlooking Coleraine. Land had already been purchased from a local farmer and work began in February 1971. The first service took place on 17 February 1973, with 220 worshippers attending, and the official opening service conducted a month later on 31 March, when the then Moderator, Dr Victor Lynas, preached.

Talking about the early days, Professor Addley (who ultimately became a professor of practical theology at PCI’s Union Theological College in Belfast) said, “We began the work of setting up the church in the February in 1971, going round knocking on doors and putting leaflets through letterboxes with the help of many from the local area. We actually met in a glorified warehouse, which was horrendously difficult to heat, and is now the church hall.”

Mark

Professor Addley continued, “As I remember, on our first Sunday we had about 40 people sign up, which was a good start. My wife Ruth and I had picked up a baby grand piano for next to nothing, which she played during the service, while our Communion set came from another Presbyterian church in Belfast. It was all very ‘make do’, with furniture coming from other churches, but God was with us and we were very blessed, especially with my successor, Rev Sam Millar, who replaced me in late 1974 and went on to serve the congregation for nearly 30 years. He even went to Scotland to bring back an old church bell for Hazelbank’s bell tower! It is a real privilege to have been part of the church’s story and it was wonderful to meet Sam’s son, Sam junior, who came over with his wife Alison especially from England for the service.”

Celebrations for the golden jubilee started on New Year’s Eve 2022, when the church held an all-age social event that led into a ‘watchnight service’ that went into New Year to mark the beginning of Hazelbank’s 50th anniversary. Along with the service in March, other events during the year have included an afternoon tea for ladies in August and a harvest Bible weekend in October, when the congregation took as its theme, ‘Church on a mission’, to look forward to the future. The guest speaker was Dr Alan Wilson, who was accompanied by his wife Pauline. Dr Wilson’s talk was entitled ‘Mind your head’, on the subject of mental health.

As part of this harvest celebration, an exhibition of creativity was held in the hall and all the exhibitors were members from the congregation. There were paintings, wood-turned items, tapestry, knitting, Christmas decorations, homemade baking and floral arrangements, to name just some of the items on display. The weekend finished

For 50 years we have been a light on the hill, shining for Christ in the midst of the community where he has placed us.

with a harvest supper on the Sunday evening.

Hazelbank has had links to Zomba in Malawi since 2005, when the church established a commitment to help address the basic needs of the poor and vulnerable people there. Over the last two years, the congregation has raised enough money to open a community centre in Zomba to coincide with Hazelbank’s 50th anniversary.

This centre is in one of the poorest regions and will be used much like a town hall. It has two rooms, an outdoor kitchen, toilets and a well. In August, three members of the congregation, Ian and Jude Walker and Lilian Edger, officially opened the centre, with thousands of villagers in attendance. Dr Ian Walker said, “It was both amazing and humbling to hear and see at firsthand how the various projects that Hazelbank has supported over the years, in particular the Bee Hive Project, have not only made a big difference to the welfare and income of the villagers, but these villagers are then sharing their resources with others in the surrounding districts and all of this is ongoing and

spreading.”

Post Covid, the congregation has been seeking new ways to help out in the community. It opened a foodbank, in association with Coleraine Elim Church and Trussell Trust, providing food and other help to those in need. Its ‘Digging Deeper’ programme, partnering with Mountsandel Fellowship, helps those who are unable to keep their gardens in shape.

The Saturday community coffee mornings provide a warm space and some food and a chat for those who call in. This year the congregation also had had a school uniform recycling event to run alongside its holiday Bible club. All of this, along with the regular organisations of Girls’ Brigade, toddlers and bowls seeks to draw members from the local community.

The current minister, Rev David Brown, said, “For 50 years we have been a light on the hill, shining for Christ in the midst of the community where he has placed us. Therefore, while giving thanks for the past we continue to look to the future, excited at what God will do in our community as we continue to reach out through our various organisations and programmes. Most important of all, we seek to cover all of this with prayer and clear biblical teaching as we are well aware that without a movement of the Holy Spirit very little will be achieved.”

Mark Smith is PCI’s press officer.

Special guests at the Golden Jubilee service, including ministers past and present.

Members, friends and guests enjoy a special afternoon tea. Harvest Bible weekend.

Trip to Zomba in August.

Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney, offers a Christmas reflection on how we can be confident in Jesus this festive season.

Luke wrote his account of the life of Jesus to give us confidence in him (1:4). In Chapter 2, he tells three stories about Jesus’ birth and early childhood. The response of those close to Jesus in the stories is helpful to reflect on.

A story about Jesus’ birth (vv1–20)

Jesus’ birth occurred in Bethlehem because Caesar had ordered a census, commanding each Jewish family to register in their family lines. God’s sovereignty fulfils what the prophet Micah said in the 8th century BC: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

The angels announce (v7) that the baby will be found in a manger. A humble beginning for the one who is good news for all people, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. The manger was out of place for the promise made about this child. However, it was the designated sign (v12) for a group of unlikely shepherds on the hills. The message of a Saviour, spoken by supernatural angels and confirmed by the shepherds’ investigation, was the baby boy wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. What is to the shepherds’ eternal credit is that they checked out what the angel had said to them, and they did it without delay (v15). The Word of God was remarkable, but they accepted it to the point of investigation, and found that “all the things they had heard and seen… were just as they had been told” (v20). The same attitude of investigation and exploration of the Word of God is essential for us. Do not be afraid to explore, ask questions of and discuss the Scriptures. The shepherds’ response to the surprising message of the Saviour’s birth proved to be true and the sign was just as they had been told. We can be confident that God’s Word is true and will lead us to find the Saviour of the world.

A story about Jesus’ arrival (vv21–40)

Eight days after his birth in Bethlehem, Jesus is presented for circumcision and given his name. Then after a further 30 days, he is taken to Jerusalem and presented at the temple, because Mary and Joseph’s firstborn son belonged to the Lord.

There is further confirmation of who Jesus is when two old and godly people, Simeon and Anna, rooted in their deep and unwavering faith in the Scriptures and moved by the Holy Spirit, recognise him. Both confirm that the child in Mary’s arms and then held by them is the Saviour promised by God: “My eyes have seen your salvation” (v30). Simeon’s words (the Nunc dimittis) are full of faith, hope and love for God.

It was a long period of waiting, over 400 years of Jewish history, and things politically and in the religious world were very unpromising, as they are today. We live in times of great disturbance politically around the world and the church is under significant pressure. We too need to retain great confidence in Jesus’ coming, and in his promise to come again (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Rev 22:20).

We can be confident that God’s Word is true and will lead us to find the Saviour of the world.

The example of Simeon and Anna’s faith about Jesus’ first coming – waiting and persevering when things go against us (for Anna, being a young widow must have been very tough) – is an encouragement for us to exercise a similar faith when there are delays in our prayers being answered. God has come and he will come again; his Word never fails and we can be confident of that truth and persevere.

One of the most encouraging stories in the recent history of PCI in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) is the story of faithful and godly saints in Kilkenny, who trusted in the Lord and prayed for his coming and the revival of the church in Kilkenny and Ireland. They were not disappointed. The story continues today with 59% of Biblebased evangelical churches in the ROI having been created in the last 40 years.

A story of Jesus’ identity and life’s work (vv41–51)

Joseph, Mary and the family go as usual to Jerusalem at Passover. They unknowingly return home without Jesus, and only later that day notice him missing. Their intensive and worrying search lasts a further three days until they

find him in the temple courts. The story they heard (v47) was that his answers and questions were so extraordinary that everyone there was amazed and just wanted to keep on talking. Jesus was clearly enjoying himself and was totally absorbed by the whole experience. Luke understands the parents’ frustration with Jesus (v48) but the central point being made is the confirmation of Jesus’ identity: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v49). This is a remarkable statement. Jesus at the age of 12 identifies himself as the Son of God. Note the response of Mary – she treasured these things, particularly what was said about Jesus, in her heart (v19; v33; v51b). We need to do the same. The evidence demands a verdict – neutrality on the identity of Jesus is not an option.

Simeon’s words challenge Mary and us all: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (v34–35). The sign about which Simeon prophesies is the cross, where Mary becomes a witness.

We are also asked to place our hope in Jesus on the cross. Peter summarised it well in 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” The cross reminds us we are unrighteous sinners and helpless, unless we receive his righteousness by coming to him who died in our place. The work of the gospel bears fruit when we hear it, retain it and allow its truth to marinate in our hearts, as Mary did.

The stories that Luke tells us about Jesus’ birth, coming, identity and purpose are stories that challenge and reveal our heart’s response towards him. It is important: that we respond as the shepherds did, with determination to check the truth of the Word of God; that we emulate Simeon and Anna’s determination to hold to the Word of God despite difficulties and delays in its fulfilment; and, like Mary, that we treasure his Word in our hearts.

Let me encourage us all to be confident in the stories of Christmas and our Saviour. Let us investigate, hold on to, rejoice in and treasure the identity of and salvation offered to us by Jesus, the Son of God.

Starting from scratch

Richard Kerr introduces PCI’s 2023 World Development Appeal, which is providing help for those who have been displaced and are having to start their lives from scratch in a new place.

“Iam not giving you permission! Leave this place immediately!” The paramount chief’s representative spoke tersely. There was tension in the air. It was abundantly clear we were not welcome in the village. Despite diplomatic words from the bishop, there was no change of heart. We turned, got into our vehicles and left.

We were in Southern Province in Sierra Leone with Christian Aid and its partners from the Christian Council of Sierra Leone and the local development agency Green Scenery. We had come to visit a community impacted by a massive 45,000-acre palm oil plantation. As our welcome indicated, all was not well. This particular chief, with others in the community, had leased the land to a large European-based multinational company, largely over the heads of small farmers who derived an income from the land. Clearly, certain members of the community benefited from the arrangement, including the chief, those with clout in the community and others who found work with the palm oil company. However, the majority lost their land, were inadequately compensated, and many were forced to leave to find refuge in neighbouring villages.

This issue of land and how it was acquired for the plantation had created the volatile situation into which we came. People were understandably angry at the loss of land and income. The multinational company sought to protect its interests. Those who benefited directly defended their position. Tensions had arisen and violence ensued; there was damage to property and loss of life. The police got involved, arrests were made and a number of people imprisoned. In addition, the development agency, Green Scenery, had been highlighting the rights of those who had lost land and were providing support for those impacted by the situation. It was perhaps little wonder that our party was not made welcome. So, we went back to the drawing board. After some discussion and enquiries, we were invited to visit a neighbouring chief’s village, to meet some of those displaced by the plantation. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the chief and met several displaced people

The multinational palm oil company’s takeover of the land impacted women more than others.

who had recently come to live in the village.

One of those was Hawa, a young mother of three children. She told us her story.

“I grew up in the neighbouring village. Our family had two plots of land on which we grew a variety of crops to keep our family. My father was on the council of elders in the village. When the palm oil company came the chief wanted us to lease our land to them, against the wishes of my father. Even when my father refused, they forced him to, and the compensation he got was very little.”

Hawa described the downward chain of events. This included the loss of their land and the resulting loss of livelihood. She shared how the shock of this led directly to her father’s death and prompted her to leave the village and find refuge elsewhere. To compound the problem, her husband had left and she had not heard from him in months. She was very much on her own.

Or so it seemed. For Hawa found a real welcome in the village. She was given land, and when she took us to see it, she proudly showed us her newly planted

What do you buy?

Giving to the World Development Appeal will help Christian Aid to make a difference to displaced families in Sierra Leone. In addition, we as consumers make choices about the products we buy, and our purchasing power has an impact. Nearly half of the products on our supermarket shelves contain palm oil and its derivatives.

Perhaps you could start by checking out what products in your local supermarket contain palm oil? Are there any you can change for something else the next time you shop? Can you look for items that are labelled as ‘sustainably sourced palm oil’ and purchase those instead?

Photography: Chris Nelson

WORLD DEVELOPMENT APPEAL

cassava, sweet potatoes and a range of fruit and vegetables. She was obviously resourceful, demonstrating how she went fishing in the nearby river. Most significantly, she had become involved in a women’s savings and loan group, which had provided her with the capital to set up a small business.

Hawa spoke of her resolute determination to become part of this group. “I saw these women and their [savings] box. I saw how it helped them and I wanted to be part of this too.” She related how she sourced waste from the palm oil extraction, how she was able to process it further and sell it to generate a little capital to join the group.

This village savings and loan association (VSLA) was set up with Christian Aid support. It works on a very simple principle. The women contribute to a

Other projects

Standing for justice and the protection of people’s rights is not an easy option. But is it not what God calls us to do?

fund, held in a secure padlocked box – in fact, there are three padlocks and the keys are held by three different women. From this fund, small loans are disbursed to members of the group, facilitating small retail and agri-business initiatives. The women demonstrated their meticulously kept records, and told stories of how this small project had such a positive impact on their lives. Their enthusiasm for the project was palpable.

Joanna Tom Kargbo, economic justice manager at Christian Aid, explained

In addition to the lead project in Sierra Leone, your giving will also make a difference in Bangladesh, where a Tearfund project is working through the local church to equip communities to reduce the impact of climate-related disasters.

In Bangladesh, catastrophic flooding can spell disaster for already vulnerable communities. Regular flooding not only brings crop loss, disease, displacement and death, it sets communities back and pushes them further into poverty.

The local church is equipping communities to reduce the impact of

Christian Aid provides training and support… advocating to ensure that people’s rights are respected…

the rationale behind the VSLAs. She noted that the options open to these women are limited. Other lenders charge exorbitant rates. With these ‘boxes’ the women are in control, and therefore it is empowering, transforming their lives. Their small businesses have thrived.

Joanna described the context in which these women find themselves, especially those who were displaced by the palm oil plantation. “The paramount chief, who is like a representative and the voice of the community, is now working in close relationship with the company against the people.” Women are especially vulnerable. “The multinational palm oil company’s takeover of the land impacted women more than others.”

We heard evidence of the effect that the loss of land has had on women’s lives from Martha, one of those impacted.

disasters through resilient housing, community planning and diversified incomes, meaning that communities have room to truly thrive, even in the face of disaster. For families, it means they aren’t starting from scratch every time a disaster strikes. This journey from crisis to resilience is essential to see lasting transformation – whole communities lifting themselves out of poverty for the long term.

There will also be support for Christian Aid projects in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tearfund projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Middle East.

She explained how she and her husband were farming about 30 acres of land. This land was taken by the company, but they were only compensated for seven acres. Without their land, her husband left for Freetown to find work. Martha herself was forced to work for the palm oil company to support her family. However, as a result of the stress she fell ill. She lost her job, receiving no sick pay or compensation. Unable to survive, she moved to another village outside the plantation where her neighbours supported her, and she was able to recover her strength and was able to provide basic subsistence by working in the fields in exchange for food.

Christian Aid provides training and support to people like Martha and Hawa. They work with Green Scenery, which has been working with government to change the law on land tenure, advocating to ensure that people’s rights are respected, and providing training for people in neighbouring villages regarding their land rights.

This work is not without its challenges and opposition. Green Scenery’s founder and CEO Joseph Rahall shared how he has been vilified by those with vested interests and who were seeking to feather their own nests rather than protecting the vulnerable in the community. Standing for justice and the protection of people’s rights is not an easy option. But is it not what God calls us to do?

The Old Testament prophets certainly spoke out about justice, especially for those who were vulnerable. Access

Nearly half of the products on our supermarket shelves contain palm oil and its derivatives.

to land and the resources to fend for oneself are basic principles enshrined in God’s instruction to the newly liberated Hebrew slaves. Repeatedly, the prophets remind the people of their responsibility to those on the margins, to be honest in their dealings and not exploit those who have no one to defend them.

Perhaps the most famous rebuke is that of Elijah to Ahab when the King and Queen Jezebel have Naboth murdered so they can have his vineyard. God clearly holds accountable those who take the land and livelihood of others.

Christian Aid and its partners provide that prophetic voice, standing on the side of those who cry out for justice. Joanna explained that her personal motivation for doing what she does comes from her own background of poverty, but more especially because of her belief in Jesus Christ. His example and teaching inspire her to walk in his footsteps and share his love and hope.

She continues, “That’s the reason I love what I do. I’m passionate about making a difference. It gives me pleasure when I come to places like this and see how these women’s lives are changed. I see them counting their money. I see them running their businesses. I see their children going to school. This is the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. And seeing all this gives me fulfilment and I want to do more.”

Joanna asked us to pass on her thanks and the thanks of all those whom these projects are impacting. “You are the very people that are making this thing

happen. Without your support, we cannot come to these villages, but you’ve been supporting us and that’s making us come and to reach the most marginalised community, and together we will give them the fullness of life.”

Richard Kerr is convener of PCI’s Global Development committee and minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church.

Donate

To find out more about the 2023 World Development Appeal

‘Starting from Scratch’, please go to PCI’s website: www.presbyterianireland.org

To donate to the appeal, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/ appeals

So… this is Christmas

In early November, my phone pinged. “I can let the cat out of the bag,” said the text. “I made the Christmas pudding hat for the Sainsbury’s Christmas ad!”

Up popped the message from one of the mums on a long string of WhatsApp messages in a group for other frazzled mothers in our town.

I immediately clicked on the link she sent to see the hat in question. It was very sweet, but slightly eclipsed by Rick Astley taking a starring role in the ad itself. The fact that the hat was in the same orbit and included in the Christmas ad itself was quite wonderful. That was the start of Christmas ads for me this year. No sooner were the pumpkins cleared away and the fake cobwebs binned than Christmas had arrived.

Each year, the big supermarkets’ festive adverts herald the beginning of the season, and it feels like they are starting earlier and earlier. The heartfelt cover versions, the emotional storylines, the party ads, the glitzy ads, the celebrity ads – all vying for our attention, all hoping that we will try to emulate them in some way, that they have somehow tapped into our greatest wishes and desires. A prawn ring, a continental chocolate selection,

pink fizz, heritage plum pudding… whatever floats your boat.

I was once invited to a big supermarket’s launch of its Christmas range… in July. It was during a heatwave and I trudged in from the 38 degrees of sweaty London heat, in a small summer dress, stinging from horrendous sunburn into a world of fake snow, Christmas trees, mince pies and pigs in blankets.

It was surreal to say the least. There was even a heavily perspiring Santa, his puce face almost the exact colour of

The Christmas we celebrate… has more in common with rough sleeping than it does with Stilton and claret.

his jolly red hat. A colleague and I sat uncomfortably on a sparkling Christmas sleigh eating canapes and wondering what was happening. Despite major discombobulation, it did make me realise what big business Christmas is – how it’s a year-round commodity in itself. Despite a continued cost-of-living crisis and inflation remaining high, it has been estimated that British shoppers will spend £110 billion in the final three months of this year.

Christmas adverts are big business. Almost immediately after Christmas, almost unthinkable amounts of money are spent on consultants, ad companies, PR reps and creatives who get together to come up with next year’s big idea. There’s a lot riding on it – can they capture the story that sums up a zeitgeist and encourages shoppers to invest in their wares? Can they keep profit margins up and give the shareholders a bumper new year? Cynical? Perhaps a little. However, this year will see advertisers spend around £9.5 billion during the Christmas season, according to data from the Advertising Association.

A lot has been made about the controversy surrounding this year’s advert from Marks and Spencer. The slogan is

Ruth Sanderson takes a look at Christmas adverts and the business of this festive season.

Sainsbury’s. Agency: New Commercial Arts

‘Choose Thismas, not Thatmas’, the premise being celebrities destroying their least favourite things about the festive season – putting Christmas cards in a shredder, kicking the elf on the shelf off the side of a building etc. For some reason, it’s ruffled quite a few feathers. In a heated diatribe, one notorious headmistress claimed that the ad “put two fingers up” to the spirit of Christmas. Her point was this: she runs an inner-city school where she tries to instil values of daily decency; this advert makes their lives as teachers much more difficult, and stifles social mobility and happiness for children, particularly the disadvantaged.

I can see both sides to this argument. On one hand, we all have things about Christmas that irk us. I, for example, am not a fan of turkey. We made the executive decision two years ago to have beef Wellington instead, and I can confirm that my Christmas dinner is a happier one because of it. Some hate sprouts, others crackers, more still hate party games or having to force a rictus smile while enduring another round of fruit cake. On a more serious note, many people do not have a joyful Christmas – they feel isolated and alone, or they are forced to spend extended time with difficult or fractured families.

Some retailers have sensed the mood music and ditched their Christmas ads altogether. Iceland and John Lewis have forgone their traditional adverts. The managing director of Iceland said it was a “no brainer”, as nearly a third plan to spend less this Christmas due to the costof-living crisis.

It got me thinking about our expectations of Christmas. I have a good friend who comes from a broken family and a highly disadvantaged background. He hated Christmas. His father was absent, his mother neglectful. On 25 December, he and his younger brother would either be left alone or eventually shuffled off to relatives for the day. His memories are of trying to shield his little brother from the disappointment that their Christmas brought against the expectations that society placed

upon it. In this context, I can see why that head teacher took exception to the M&S ad – glittering celebrities rejecting, like spoilt toddlers, the elements of festivity that my dear friend, clutching his little brother’s hand, could only have dreamt of.

A moment in history that altered eternity. There is nothing in the supermarket Christmas ads that comes close to that reality.

What do we expect? There is a wonderful film that came out a few years ago called Christmas in a Day. It was a documentary of sorts, taking snippets from multiple perspectives as Yuletide unfolded. It focused on the main rituals – the night before, the stockings, the present opening, the dinner, the party games, the evening. The range of experiences presented was startling. From the glamorous young family lavishing their picture-perfect children with bespoke gifts to the family arguing over dinner, settling in to a silent simmer as they ate their turkey, seething with anger at one another. The most moving scene was in the evening, amidst footage of families playing Twister or watching the latest blockbuster while eating Quality Street – it was at a homeless shelter.

Men and women shuffling in from the cold, bewildered and beleaguered, their lives worn heavy on furrowed brows and slumped shoulders, being given the basics of kindness, thankful for having shelter for a few hours at least, still, with the prospect of Boxing Day looming and all the challenges a new day would bring. How the expectations of what Christmas is, and what it owes us, can vary.

The charity Crisis estimates a 26% rise in rough sleeping across England this year. It made me think of that first Christmas, and how removed we are from it. How we have dressed it up in baubles and tinsel, painted its face, made it dance a jig to our tune and assigned to it traditions and expectations that don’t have any place near it. The Christmas we celebrate in our church has more in common with rough sleeping than it does with Stilton and claret.

A young couple, a labour, an unbelievable back story, the panic rising as it becomes obvious that there is nowhere to stay. A stable, a miracle. Political instability, the rumblings of something awful that would turn into an infanticide of boys born at the same time as Jesus. The hardest and humblest of beginnings.

A moment in history that altered eternity.

There is nothing in the supermarket Christmas ads that comes close to that reality. The Christmas they represent is an illusion.

We, as Christians, must be able to be the ones to see through that window dressing, to see through what society tells us Christmas is. We know what it is – the moment when God became flesh, where his plan of redemption and grace began on Earth. It was a moment that would end with the greatest sacrifice.

Let’s remember what our Christmas is, then: filled with grace, and the miraculous gift we were given – a baby, a Saviour – Christ Emmanuel –who lives in our hearts.

That beats any Christmas advert hands down.

Marks and Spencer. Agency: Mother

Asda. Agency: Havas

Born free

Katharine Hill writes about her new book, Born Free, which addresses how we can be still and know God in the midst of a hectic world.

Iwonder if, like me, you have a growing desire to experience more of the love of God, love others more, grow in discipleship and make a difference in the world – but struggle with the demands of a busy life? Each day you are greeted by an overflowing inbox, project deadlines, the challenge of toddler tantrums or teenage angst, traffic hold-ups, delayed appointments and checkout queues. You catch yourself dreaming of stepping off the treadmill into a calmer, less hectic way of living – but the season of life you are in makes this seem impossible.

As I have wrestled with this tension in my own life, a troubling question has filled my mind. I’ve wondered if growing deeper in our love for Jesus and engaging with the demands of everyday work and life are, in fact, mutually exclusive. Is it remotely feasible to juggle the competing demands of life while growing in our love for God and others?

An insight to this question began with a simpler question – the kind of thing that pops up with annoying regularity on my social media feed and makes me hit the delete button immediately. But on this occasion, I had a problem. It hadn’t come via social media; it was being asked by a wise and godly friend, someone who has the gift of asking brilliant questions. So, however trivial it seemed, I felt I should at least give it the time of day.

“If you were an animal, what animal would you be?”

I gave the question a few minutes’ thought. The answer came quite easily: I was an ant. In many ways, I behaved like these impressive little creatures. I tended to be busy, reliable, productive

Is it remotely feasible to juggle the competing demands of life while growing in our love for God and others?

and focused, with the capacity to carry a heavy load. I remembered that the writer of Proverbs commended the ant for her industry and hard work: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6), and I rather liked the thought of being an ant. Repenting of my cynicism, I decided the question was a good one after all.

But then came a follow-up question that caught me unawares: “If you could be any animal, what animal would you like to be?”

It is sobering when a simple question reveals an uncomfortable truth about our character and lifestyle. When I considered my way of life – my place in the army of ants inexorably marching forward in formation – I was struck by the thought that perhaps it has a shadow side. While it felt good to be known as someone who got lots done, being an ant seemed to offer a shallow and even prescriptive existence.

I realised I didn’t want to be an ant anymore.

I took a moment to consider the options. My musings took me to a wonderful trip I’d made to South Africa a few years before. My colleagues and I had been touring the country, speaking about parenting, and at the end of the trip our generous hosts arranged for us to go on a short safari.

Suggestions for turning our minds to God

We will each be in different seasons of life and different things will suit our individual personalities, but ideas for turning our minds to God during each day could include:

• Putting a meaningful photo as the screensaver on our phone or laptop to prompt prayer.

Lighting a candle to remember Jesus as the light in the darkness.

• Using particular landmarks on the school run or commute as a point to welcome his presence on the journey.

It was evening, with the sun beginning to set and casting long shadows across the ground, when the driver stopped our jeep and pulled out his binoculars. Looking in the direction he was pointing us to, we saw a herd of zebra grazing in the golden light, the long grass swaying in the gentle breeze, catching the last rays of the sun. It was a magical scene. But our guide had seen something we had missed: a lioness, lying motionless in the grass, her attention fixed on the zebra, who were totally unaware of her presence. We waited for the best part of an hour until, reluctantly, we had to continue on our way. Of course, we had a timetable to keep to, but the truth is that I could have watched that lioness all night. She was majestic and strong, resting and yet fully alert, ready to jump up and go the distance at a second’s notice. Our guide described her posture as “attentive stillness”.

And in that moment, I knew the answer: I wanted to be a lioness. My response to my friend’s question had provoked something in me. I found this image of ‘attentive stillness’ utterly compelling, and it brought sudden clarity to how I was feeling about the distraction and busyness of my life. It seemed to describe an entirely different way of living. Instead of inviting God into my day and then heading off at full tilt, I could start with a different mindset. I could take time to be attentive to God’s presence in the midst of the demands of the day, and then allow my activity to flow from that place of stillness. In one of the most quoted passages from Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation of the Bible, Jesus said to

• Leaving a special object in our coat pocket such as a shell, button or coin as a prompt to pray.

• Reading slowly and prayerfully through our diary commitments at the beginning or end of the day.

• Setting an alarm at midday as a reminder to say the Lord’s Prayer.

• Noticing and being grateful for opportunities to serve when washing our hands.

• Welcoming God into our home while tidying bedrooms, washing up, mowing grass or doing other household chores.

• Wearing a special piece of jewellery to remind ourselves that we belong to God.

his followers: “Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28–30). What would it look like to experience the freedom of a transforming relationship with God, not on some remote island, but in the context of our lives as business executives, pastors, stayat-home parents, artists, builders, baristas, NHS workers, teachers or students?

If we study the gospels, one thing we notice is that Jesus was interruptible.

If we study the gospels, one thing we notice is that Jesus was interruptible. In fact, many of his miracles took place as the result of an interruption. On the way to healing Jairus’ daughter, Jesus is interrupted by a sick woman, but he stops to heal her (Mark 5:22–43). When he is journeying to Jerusalem for the final Passover, he is interrupted by Bartimaeus, but he stops to restore the blind man’s sight (Mark 10:46–52). Teaching at a house in Capernaum, he is interrupted by some men who make a hole in the roof to lower their paralysed friend down to him. Jesus stops mid-message and heals him (Mark 2:1–12). Whatever the interruption, it seems that Jesus was able to set his own agenda to one side and be present in the moment.

We all have interruptions in our day: the immediate practical needs of children, colleagues stopping by our workstation for a chat, the need of a friend in crisis. Interruptions are a part of life – if we are prepared to respond to them, we can find that God meets us there.

Moses was doing what he always did, tending sheep in the desert of Midian, but something that day made him venture a little further. The Bible says that he came to Horeb, the mountain of God: “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses

thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up’” (Exodus 3:2–3).

It is only as Moses stops what he is doing and turns aside to look at the bush that God speaks. I often wonder: if he had been on a phone, checking emails, scrolling through Instagram, or in some other way preoccupied with his own needs, would he have looked up? Might he have missed the moment?

Just as the lioness from her place of attentive stillness scans the horizon for movement and springs into action at the right time, is it possible for us to order our lives so that we notice the movement of God on the horizon? In this way, might we, like Moses, see things we might otherwise have missed, and turn to see what God is doing?

This concept is beautifully captured by the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning: “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”

Aurora Leigh

I recently came across the story of Carlo Carretto, a leading spiritual writer of the 20th century. Carretto spent many years praying in the Sahara Desert by himself, but one day when he returned to Italy to visit his mother, he had a startling insight. He realised that for more than 30 years his mother had been busy raising a family with little or no time to herself,

Interruptions

are prepared

yet she was more contemplative and more loving than he was.

It was not that there was anything wrong with spending that time praying in the desert. It was, rather, that there was something very right about what his mother had been doing – living an interrupted life in the melee of the incessant demands of small children. Putting their needs before her own in that season of her life had shaped her character, made her interruptible and enlarged her capacity for love.

Like Carlo Carretto’s mother, all parents know what it’s like to feel the interruptions of our children calling us to stop what we are doing and pay attention to them, reminding us that our time isn’t our own. But whatever season of life we are in, we can use interruptions to help pivot our hearts to God’s living presence. In our daily lives we have rhythms and practical objects that we can use to prompt us to turn our attention away from ourselves and turn to God. When we learn to make room for the interruptions of life and anchor ourselves in God’s presence through our everyday activities, we will find, as Dallas Willard famously said, that little by little “our minds will return to God as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north”. We will see that his presence is available at every moment, right in the context of the daily activity of our lives, and little by little we may experience in increasing measure the attentive stillness of the lioness and find that God meets us there.

are a part of life

–

if we

to respond to them, we can find that God meets us there.

Born Free

Katharine Hill’s book, Born Free: A call to be still, know God and flourish in a hectic world (Muddy Pearl), is available to order from Care for the Family’s website (cff.org.uk), priced at £16.99.

Mission Connect

Familiar yet different

Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.

Every aspect of our Church’s mission depends to some extent on United Appeal. Hundreds of projects and programmes at home and overseas are helping to advance God’s kingdom, showing God’s love in action to hundreds of thousands of people.

Looking through another’s lens

Stephen and Angelina Cowan

Learning through play

Diane Cusick

A warm welcome

Jack McQuillan

Familiar yet different

Robert Dalzell

Fahan steps forward in mission

James Lamberton

40 years of sharing the love of Christ

David Farrow

Including Dec/Jan prayer diary

Looking through another’s lens

Stephen and Angelina Cowan

Global mission workers, Kenya

Only after being delayed a week in Nairobi while we applied, corrected, re-applied, re-corrected and then personally visited the immigration department was Stephen’s work permit application eventually uploaded on the system and we were on the road north.

We were accompanied by Blaze the Bee, PCI’s children’s ministry mascot, and we tried to visualise and record the drive through his ‘eyes’. He had a bumpy, dusty journey and like us, was glad to reach Tuum. To look through another’s lens, not shaped or focused by our cultural background, personal perceptions or even age, often requires effort and help. Blaze’s exploits should soon be available on his web page.

…for the majority of ‘older’ people in the area who have no literacy skill, their lens has not just been clouded, it has been closed.

Viewing life and work through his eyes is refreshing and thought provoking. He is currently preparing the existing SAA library to become a venue for computer literacy training for students during their school holidays. As we waded through dusty files of paper, volumes of encyclopaedias, boxes of audiotapes and shelves of VHSs, we were struck by how much the world has changed in the past 25 years and how different communication of information

has now become. While buying into this change is challenging for most, for the majority of ‘older’ people in the area who have no literacy skill, their lens has not just been clouded, it has been closed.

Peter, a retired chartered secretary, originally from Ireland, continues to advise and mentor through his professional lens. We are deeply grateful for his willingness to work alongside the Samburu Awareness and Action (SAA) leadership team both in the villages and in the Tuum programme office. He has also been involved in formalising detailed written descriptions for both existing jobs within the SAA programme and future posts that may materialise as strategic plans are realised.

There are now many students from Tuum and surrounding villages at third level education institutions. These young men and women have been nurtured through SAA youth camps and various discipleship courses. Listening to their observations as they look back at their journeys while looking forward to where God might place them after graduation is informative and faith inducing.

Bonsoul, a Kenyan graduate, is staying with us at present.

Recognising the difficulties faced by those with poor literacy skill, Stephen conceived the idea of a ‘teach yourself literacy app’, which was developed by the professional skill and dedication of a software engineer based in Ireland. The ‘I Teach’ app works in a unique way and allows the learner to progress at their own pace and in their own setting: visualise the herdsmen sitting around the fire in the evening after their animals are safely in their enclosures.

Please pray:

• Give thanks that many people have loaded the app on their phones and are seeing words in a new way.

• Praise God for those who help us see different views of the whole picture.

• Pray that we will all desire to look more through God’s eyes and shine his love and light into the darkness.

Diane Cusick

Learning through play

Global mission worker, Zambia

Lusaka is hot! We have been experiencing very hot weather since my return mid-September, sometimes over 40 degrees. It is quite challenging to live and work in such hot temperatures. We expect rain to come in November and hopefully that will cool things down. This will mean the beginning of the planting season as farmers get ready to plant their maize crop.

It is exciting that some of the ministers are very supportive in children’s ministry.

I started work in October and have visited three of our ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres in Southern Province. I found very encouraging things but at the same time was discouraged by the lack of motivation in some of the teachers. I am spending some time with them in November to help them in some areas.

I am also working with presbytery clerks in five presbyteries (two in Lusaka and three in the Copperbelt) to help them with their plans for ECD in their presbyteries. It is exciting that some of the ministers are very supportive in children’s ministry. We have plans to build an ECD centre in Ndola in the Copperbelt where at present we do not have any centres, while in Lusaka, in Mtendere, an ECD class will begin in our community school in January 2024. Also, in Matero congregation, Lusaka, we hope to take over an existing building as an ECD centre and there are plans to open in 2024. So, lots to organise and plan for over the next few months.

As soon as schools close at the beginning of December, I will be having a workshop for the teachers for about a week. This

will bring all the teachers from Southern Province and the new teachers from Lusaka together to learn together and look at the programme and see how we can best deliver the Zambian curriculum through play. We want to consider how to help parents understand that they can also play with their children at home and encourage interaction between parents and children. In Zambia, there is not usually much interaction between parents and children, sometimes due to time limitations and sometimes lack of understanding that through the fun they are having, children are learning and developing.

Please pray:

• For the teachers’ workshop – that it would be beneficial to the teachers and that they would be able to understand how best to work with parents.

• For my health and that I will be able to pace myself and not overdo things.

• For the children – that they would enjoy coming to the ECD centres and that parents would see the developmental change in their children as time goes on.

• For good rains in Zambia so that the food supply will be plentiful in 2024.

A warm welcome

Jack McQuillan Community outreach worker, Tullycarnet and Christ Church, Dundonald

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 11:30 that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. However, learning to trust God in life is often difficult.

I’m a few weeks into my new role as the community outreach worker for Tullycarnet and Christ Church in Dundonald.

As I write this article, I can now say that although my time here has been short, I have already experienced many of the joys, opportunities and challenges that serving God here will bring.

…it is an exciting opportunity to serve God. I firmly believe that the gospel will transform lives in this place.

I remember meeting Rev Richard McIlhatton (of Christ Church) in early September when he outlined my new role. Apprehension and some doubts began to replace my initial enthusiasm as I asked myself, “Am I supposed to be here?” and “What if they appointed the wrong person?”

However, as I reflect on these first few weeks, it is immediately apparent that God is working in these communities and as I begin to find my feet, I have been warmly welcomed into two churches that are clearly full of the fruit of the Spirit. They are excited to see God use their churches to make disciples both in Ballybeen and Tullycarnet as he reveals opportunities to make his kingdom known.

In Tullycarnet, we are planning the launch of a new ministry, ‘Open House’, which will be the church’s new warm space for the community. This will hopefully be one of many opportunities to involve others in the church and to take the first step on the journey that may lead members of the community to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

In Christ Church, the Young Life club has been an encouragement. Since September, we have witnessed much growth as the club seeks opportunities to invest in and build relationships with local young people. Personally, I’ve sought to become involved in varied aspects of life in the Tullycarnet area and have become a strength and conditioning coach with the local boxing club. I’m deeply excited to see what opportunities this may lead to for the church.

I may only be a matter of weeks into this new role, but it is an exciting opportunity to serve God. I firmly believe that the gospel will transform lives in this place. Although the task ahead may seem daunting, we have faith that the Creator will work out his almighty plan. If his yoke is easy and his burden is light, all we have to do is step out in faith and enjoy the journey!

Please pray:

• For a reliance on the Spirit for guidance and support as both Tullycarnet and Christ Church look to discern God’s will.

• That these churches will continue to develop a heart for evangelism and making Jesus known.

• For volunteers willing to help out as new ministries and programmes become established in these congregations.

Robert

Familiar yet different

Dalzell Project leader, South Belfast Friendship House

It has been a time of change, with great difference and also some familiarity. As I take up this new role at Friendship House, the post is new to me but the place is not.

Back in June 2010, I had just applied to be part of the PCI summer outreach team in Great Victoria Street and Friendship House when I received a message from the then project worker in Friendship House asking if I’d like to volunteer at their World Cup screenings. This allowed me to meet some of the young people and get familiar with Sandy Row before joining the summer outreach team. From then on, I fell in love with the people and the area.

It has been a real joy to come back to Friendship House and be part of continuing the great gospel work that has gone before.

That was the beginning of four years serving as a volunteer in Friendship House, mainly in the youth programmes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, until I felt called to pursue youthwork as a career, and subsequently moved to Second Presbyterian Church, Comber, where I have occupied youthwork roles for the past nine years.

If we fast forward nine years, to now, the Lord has called me back! So much about Friendship House and Sandy Row feels familiar, and yet, there are some big differences. One of my favourite things that has been happening in the short time that I’ve been back is meeting again some of the young people from my time volunteering at Friendship House. Many of them are now parents of children who attend our children’s programmes. This has been a great opportunity to connect with the wider family of some of our children, and we hope it will open doors in the future.

Part of my role also includes working with the newly

amalgamated congregation on Great Victoria Street, to develop its youth and children’s work and build relationships between the work happening in Friendship House and the local church. It has been a real joy to come back to Friendship House and be part of continuing the great gospel work that has gone before – down the generations, and in the very recent past. I must pay tribute to Carol Reid, our children’s worker, who has kept Friendship House running during the vacancy and worked tirelessly to make sure our homework clubs, play clubs and ‘tots & toddlers’ group continued. She also went above and beyond to develop programmes for others, including our friendship group, which spans a wide age range. We are also so grateful for the team of devoted volunteers without whom we would not be able to run so many of our programmes.

As we enter a new year, we are excited for the potential that it brings: for the new opportunities that we will have to reach out to the Sandy Row community and shine God’s light into this area.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for Carol and her faithful work.

• Pray for opportunities to work with whole families and show them clearly the hope of the gospel.

• For wisdom in which new programmes or areas to develop.

• For new volunteers as we look to expand our provision.

• For wisdom in the relationships between church and Friendship House.

Fahan steps forward in mission

James Lamberton Clerk of session, Fahan Presbyterian Church

Fahan is a fellowship of 30 families in Inishowen, Co Donegal. The congregation has been vacant since 2019, following Rev Knox and Roberta Jones’ call to Aghadowey and Crossgar.

The church has faced some challenges following the heights of our 300th anniversary celebrations. The loss of our teaching elder, followed by the pandemic, was the valley after the mountaintop experiences.

Another low was that the united charge with our friends in Waterside congregation would be dissolved as part of the wider review by presbytery. We have been greatly supported during the four-year vacancy by our conveners: Rev Gordy McCracken and currently Rev Philip Poots.

Commission, enthusiastically embraced the potentially significant and exciting change in direction, which includes increasing our financial contributions to help meet the new possibility.

Ihe text over the pulpit “Jesus is Lord” remains a core value; however, changes are afoot.

Fahan has commenced monthly evening services where prayer is offered and encouraged for visitors and members at the close of the service. A time of prayer was also introduced before the 10am morning service. We have commenced serving tea after the 10am morning worship at the front of the church.

An annual highlight has been the holiday Bible club. The week culminated in a free family fun day that was open to all the community. It is anticipated that the journey ahead will have significant challenges; however, we believe that God has opened the door and has shown us the direction of travel and now invites us to follow his leading.

The text over the pulpit, “Jesus is Lord”, remains a core value; however, changes are afoot. The congregation got quite a surprise in 2023 when we felt God was calling our members to consider partnering with PCI’s Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI) to focus on outreach in Buncrana and the wider area. Up to this point, all involved were seeking a viable linkage with other congregations. Fahan members, supported by presbytery and the Linkage

The local town of Buncrana is six miles away, with a population of around 7,000. There has been no Presbyterian church there since its closure some years ago. The congregation has encouraged outreach via arms-length support to mission organisations. But we prayerfully look forward to sowing the seed in West Inishowen in partnership with CMI, led by the person God calls to pastor the members of Fahan.

The search has commenced for accommodation and recruitment is underway. We are grateful for the understanding and support provided by CMI and presbytery as we embark on this exciting journey together, trusting in God’s guidance. As Psalm 32:8 says: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

Please pray:

• Give thanks for the commencement of the monthly Sunday evening services and the encouragement this has been.

• Pray for the vision to focus outreach into Buncrana and for the plans underway to make this possible.

• Thank God for new and exciting initiatives in mission being pursued by PCI.

• Thank God for gospel foundations laid by others in Buncrana and surrounding areas for the Lord to build on using the new minister and members of Fahan.

40 years of sharing the love of Christ

David Farrow Director, Thompson House

The founder of Prison Fellowship, Charles Colson, regularly commented that, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross” and at Thompson House, we truly believe this. God does not call us to feel any form of superiority over others because of certain choices they have made in their lives. John 14:7 tell us that Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This means that anyone, no matter their background or perceived balance sheet of sin, can come to the cross and be saved by the blood of the Lamb.

Thompson House will soon be celebrating its 40th anniversary, first opening its doors on 28 April 1984. It originally accommodated 11 men who were involved in the criminal justice system. Through various developments over the past 40 years and in partnership with Radius Housing, Thompson House now accommodates 19 men. All residents are referred and supervised by a probation officer and over 90% of residents are released prisoners supervised on postrelease licences.

staff team works empathetically with residents, assisting them to identify traumatic events in their lives and signpost them to services that will help them to address any issues that are impacting them.

The staff team works empathetically with residents… We endeavour to share the love of Christ…

Each resident is appointed a key worker in the unit to help them resettle back into the community after a period of imprisonment; the maximum stay is set at 12 months. We endeavour to share the love of Christ with the residents. Over the past couple of years, project workers Neil and Jonny and more recently an elder from the North Belfast Presbytery, Gareth, have met together with a group

of residents and ex-residents to host Bible discussion groups.

We have run the peace and reconciliation course ‘Difference’, contemplative prayer workshops and ‘The Bible Project’, a fantastic free resource with short, animated videos on biblical themes.

Substance misuse continues to have detrimental impacts on the residents and since 2021, four residents have paid the ultimate price and have passed away from drug overdoses within the service. We have also had two deaths by suicide, with the epidemic of suicidal ideation and self-harm affecting the residents significantly.

There are many complex reasons for substance misuse, and the approach of trauma-informed practice would indicate that children who have grown up in homes where they have experienced four adverse childhood experiences are more likely to have difficulty with their coping abilities in adulthood. The

A few men have been amazed at the freedom to share, explore and support each other in a relaxed environment. It’s been hugely encouraging to see men grow in their understanding of what it means to be known and valued by a loving God, to be shaped by the person of Jesus and begin to see their faith impact their lives.

Please pray:

• For all staff and volunteers in Thompson House – that they would be guided by God in all their work with residents, as they share the love of Christ in practical ways.

• For all residents – that they would come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, and be transformed through the forgiveness and healing that Jesus brings.

n DEACONESS – For Paula Burrows, serving in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church. Pray that the Lord’s will would be done in and through the church family of Ballygrainey, and give thanks for Paula’s developing role.

n CHAPLAINS – For the rural chaplaincy team as it plans and organises a carol service in Rathfriland Livestock Market. Pray that God will draw alongside those who attend.

n SPECIAL MINISTRY IN WEST BELFAST –Give thanks for the core team that has been drawn together. Give thanks for the weekly Bible study and pray that those attending will come to know and follow Christ.

n CSABA AND ILONA VERES – For the couple as they look forward to a new chapter in missionary service. Pray for all the administrative and practical details of their relocating – for accommodation to be identified. Pray also for them in packing up, settling in, and for the building of relationships with the team in Bodaszőlő, Hungary where they hope to take up new roles in 2024.

n URBAN MISSION – For Strand, Belfast. Pray that the congregation would know the Lord’s blessing as they join together to worship each Sunday and reach out to the local community during the week through various activities.

n GARY AND MARY REID – For the planned outreach amongst the Maasai and the other tribes living within the Olkinyei region, that God’s Word will go forth, prosper and accomplish all that pleases him.

n IRISH MISSION – For Tom Dowling (Irish mission worker, Kilkenny). Pray that people catch a glimpse of God’s love through the various outreach initiatives that happen and that many would be drawn to Christ.

n DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING –

For those living in Northern Ireland who have been trafficked to work in forced labour, domestic servitude and the sex trade – that they would be rescued and helped to rebuild their lives. Pray for those in our communities who have left violent homes and need protection and care.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s prison chaplains sharing the hope of Christ with those currently in prison – that the Lord’s grace and mercy would be seen.

n PEACEHAVEN TRUST – For these three residential properties for adults with a learning disability in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Pray for manager Michael Williams along with the staff and residents. Remember the residents as they attend day services as well as activities in and out of the houses.

n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – For the staff and volunteers in both north and south Belfast as they help and serve many who come through the doors. Pray that they would feel welcomed and supported.

n INDONESIA – For the Evangelical Christian Church of Timor, especially for the new executive leadership team taking up office in the New Year – that they would know God’s encouragement and guidance.

n GLOBAL MISSION WORKERS – For PCI’s global mission workers – that they would know the Lord’s refreshing of body, mind and soul over Christmas and renewed vision and encouragement for the work they have been called to undertake in 2024.

n LAWNFIELD HOUSE – For this residential respite care home for those with a physical disability/mild learning disability, sensory impairment or older people. Pray for staff and service users in the home, that they will know God’s presence in their daily routines. Remember family carers who will benefit from some time free from caring responsibilities.

n NAOMI KEEFE – Give thanks for the children’s day activities in Peixinhos. Continue to remember the training sessions with the volunteers from Peixinhos and Beberibe, as they plan for Christmas evangelistic activities among the children and adults in the communities.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Josh McCance (Donabate and Balbriggan). Pray for Josh as he reaches out in the local community and continues to give a lead to the church plant in Balbriggan. Pray that people would encounter the love of God through these interactions.

n EDWIN AND ANNE KIBATHI – Give thanks for the work they have been engaged in with PCEA UK Outreach over the past year. Pray that they would be inspired with vision and passion for the way forward in 2024, knowing God’s provision for every initiative.

n SOUTH BELFAST FRIENDSHIP HOUSE –For the team as they share the gospel with those who come through the door – that people would catch a glimpse of who God is.

n HOME MISSION – For Galway Presbyterian. Pray for Rev Helen Freeburn as she serves this congregation and encourages them to go deeper in their faith and fellowship.

n ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

– For the Lord Jesus Christ to intervene in his sovereign grace and mercy. Pray for an end to conflict, for the grieving to know God’s comfort, the traumatised and injured to receive medical treatment and for humanitarian relief to reach the displaced and most needy.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s health care chaplains as they care pastorally for staff, patients and their families. Pray that they would show the hope of Christ in individuals’ difficult situations.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Tori McClelland (Movilla). Pray for Tori as she organises various outreach initiatives – that the local community and children would be open to hearing the gospel and accepting the love of Jesus.

n GRAY’S COURT – For this accommodation that provides longer-term supported housing for those in the early stages of recovery. Pray that residents will use their time in Gray’s Court wisely as they try to build a new life. Pray that the Holy Spirit will sustain them in a life free of substance misuse.

n UKRAINE – With the world’s gaze rapidly moving to other crises, conflicts and areas of need, pray for Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) and the Transcarpathian (Ukraine) District of the Hungarian Reformed Church as they continue to provide much needed humanitarian and pastoral support to refugees and the internally displaced fleeing war in Ukraine.

n DEACONESS – For Sonya Anderson (Shore Street Donaghadee). Pray for the leaders of organisations, Sonya and the team at Donaghadee – that they would have a good break over Christmas and that they would come back refreshed.

n LEARNING DISABILITIES – For families caring for children or adults with a learning disability, with all the demands and challenges this brings into the home. Give thanks for special schools, adult centres, training units and supported employment schemes provided by government bodies and learning disability charities.

Csaba and Ilona Veres

Sonya Anderson

TALKING POINTS

Replacing social interactions

Norman Hamilton looks at how technology cannot replace even small social interactions.

Iknow that it is a minority sport, but I quite like shopping in supermarkets. Recently, I spent a few minutes in one of them, watching the engineers install eight self-checkout bays to replace the four that had a cashier at the end of a conveyor belt a few days earlier.

This lowers the costs to the company by turning us as customers into unpaid checkout staff. I understand the reasons, but am very uneasy that the available technology can, in practice, do away with the need for any cashiers at all.

One customer summed this up well in a comment, saying: “Apart from the fact there might be a family somewhere dependent on that job, a little friendly conversation at the checkout is sometimes the only interaction elderly or shy people get.” Indeed, the changes mean that you can enter the store, do all your shopping, and leave without speaking to anyone else at all.

Is this progress? It is efficient – no doubt. It helps keep prices down, since there are fewer staff to pay. And it may well allow people in a hurry to get away more quickly.

Yet, to be almost forced to use these selfservice points means that many of us may pay a high price in being more isolated from one another, being under more surveillance (have you noticed the CCTV cameras at these checkouts yet?) and maybe being publicly upset – even distressed – when the technology doesn’t work as it should and staff are needed to sort us out.

from others, and get the supermarket to deliver our groceries if at all possible (which they often did very well). However, bringing us together again remains an ongoing and at times very difficult calling.

And the more I think about it, the more obvious it seems that unless we have really good friendships with other believers, we’re not going to have really good fellowship with them. We will be reluctant to share our hopes, our needs, our joys and our fears. We will not be very comfortable praying with others nor asking questions about how we might follow Jesus better.

As Christ’s people, we must stand clearly against the normalisation of isolation, and the wearisome emphasis on ‘me and mine’.

The Apostle Paul expressed real gratitude to the church in Philippi that its members shared in his troubles, and he told the Thessalonians that “because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well”. That way of living is also writ large in the life of Jesus and the book of Acts. Crucially, it is a way of Christian living that directly and specifically goes against the tide of what is happening all around us. As Christ’s people, we must stand clearly against the normalisation of isolation, and the wearisome emphasis on ‘me and mine’. Good fellowship brings great social rewards as well as strengthening the soul.

I suggest that the commercial pressures in supermarkets are adding to the problem of isolation and loneliness, which are already at epidemic proportions. For example, a survey published in Reader’s Digest back in August showed that more than a third (35 per cent) of all British adults agree that the lack of real social interaction these days has a negative impact on their overall well-being. (It is important, however, to recognise that while loneliness is linked to social isolation, it is not the same thing. Loneliness is an emotional experience; isolation is a lack of social contact.)

For me, as a pastor, this once again raises the question of what we understand Christian fellowship to look like personally and in our congregations. It is certainly clear to me that good friendship and good social relationships are a key part of good fellowship. People right across the age brackets – from younger to older – are regularly telling me how important it is to them that church life includes ‘belonging’ to a group or groups –doing things, going places, chatting and socialising with others. Covid tore us apart, with its regular messages that crowds were dangerous for health, that we should stay two metres distant

With such a perspective from Scripture, I do not want my life – or yours – to be so shaped by technology that good, everyday relationships with others are regarded as optional, unnecessary or a nuisance. Or that isolation and loneliness should be seen as inevitable.

My reaction to seeing the engineers at work has been to make a clear decision to use my local smaller shop rather more. At the very least I can get good service from a real person, and perhaps be able to encourage someone else just a little while I am there. Worth doing, I think – even if it might cost me 34 pence more to buy the groceries!

Norman Hamilton

Very Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Does everyone feel welcome at church?

Deborah Sloan looks at how we can be more welcoming to newcomers coming through our doors on Sundays.

“Most visitors remember the welcome they receive from churches long after they have forgotten the detail of the worship or the teaching.” This was the stark statement on the publicity for an event on how to make Sunday services more visitor-friendly. Apologies to those who spend days perfecting their sermon, but someone who walks into a church for the first time is much more likely to remember the warmth of a smile at the door, a friendly hello, an offer to accompany them to a seat, a conversation in the pew, an invitation to come to tea and coffee after the service and an introduction to others in the queue than they are to recall any four-point application of a biblical passage.

The event ‘Welcome to our Church’ at Dundonald Presbyterian, facilitated by church consultant John Truscott, wasn’t just aimed at those on reception duty. It was aimed at everyone in the

congregation. “Everyone is responsible for the welcome,” says John. “It only takes one person to muck it up.”

John has over 100 resources on his website focusing on the logistics of welcome so there’s a lot to learn! It’s easy to make mistakes: “That’s my seat”, tutting, dirty looks, pointing out the crèche to a mother with a crying baby, “The minister told me I had to come and talk to you”… None of us would commit these unforgiveable sins. But what about looking over someone’s shoulder because we have church business to conduct with someone else or sending the newcomers right up to the front to sit under the nose of the minister or speaking to parents and ignoring their children?

Everyone is responsible for the welcome… It only takes one person to muck it up.

William McCully, minister of Dundonald, organised the event for his own congregation and invited others in the presbytery because he wanted people to be able to answer the question, “How is the welcome at church different to the welcome at the gym?”

“When individuals come to church, they should experience a gospel welcome,” he says. John explained how the word ‘enthusiasm’ comes from the Greek entheos meaning ‘God within’. In the story of the prodigal son, the father gives an enthusiastic welcome to his son. Because we too have been welcomed by an enthusiastic father, we should want to extend this type of welcome to others. A gospel welcome is a triune welcome – it is part of our offering to God, it shows Christ’s love, and it needs the Holy Spirit’s help to reach out into the world.

In the Bible, we see how Jesus didn’t differentiate between the different people he welcomed. Yet, we can have a list of suitable and unsuitable people

when it comes to acceptability at church. A teenager with multiple piercings, a divorced dad trailing a reluctant sevenyear-old, a single parent battling with a noisy toddler, an unmarried couple expecting their first child, a recent widower, a musically talented mum, dad and three kids who are searching for a new spiritual home. All are uncomfortable. All are experiencing a range of emotions. Some look like us, some don’t. All deserve the same welcome.

But that welcome starts before any of them arrive at the church door. Most newcomers will have checked out the church website well in advance. They’ll already be looking for signs as to whether they’ll fit in or not. Many churches detail their weekly activities on their website but it’s much better to show images of the congregation gathering and behaving naturally with each other, says John. Any vision or mission statement should also be realistic. Theoretical words have to be practically applied. A paragraph describing the church ethos is helpful, perhaps even some feedback from recent visitors such as “We met a group of people who were really interested in us”. It’s essential to highlight that the church is a community of people, not a belief system. When people click on website links, they’re not usually looking for theological background. They’re looking for answers to very practical questions:

• Where do I park?

• How do I get in?

• What happens with children and teenagers?

• Where are the toilets?

• What’s the dress code?

Once visitors pluck up the courage to come along, there needs to be an obvious ‘way in’ sign, doors that are open, even

It’s essential to highlight that the church is a community of people, not a belief system.

spaces left in the car park, so they don’t have to park three streets away.

During the service, visitors will be looking for clear explanations, cues as to what happens next. For someone walking into church for the first time, the cultural norms familiar to regular churchgoers can feel completely alien to them. Can a non-churchgoer follow the service without embarrassment? Do they know what’s coming next or is it a secret? It can be very easy to confuse newcomers by slipping into Christian jargon and using complex terminology.

“Would you say you’re a friendly church?” John asked. There was widespread agreement that of course we were. “Be careful saying this,” he said. “It can mean you are so friendly with each other that you ignore visitors.” Cliques in the church hall can be very difficult for newcomers to break into. Tea and coffee post service is the most important time to welcome visitors. “It’s not after the service, it’s part of the service,” says John.

While the welcome should take account of cultural and practical needs, how people feel is usually the main indicator for whether or not they’ll return. “If you were overwhelmed by the love members have for God and each other, what would you need to see?” asked John. If it says on the website “We are a loving, thriving community”, is there evidence of that? Is there a buzz? Are people pleased to see each other? Are they relaxed? Is there a sense of joy? Are strangers always spoken to? Are

people inviting others for lunch? One of the best tests, John says, is whether the congregation is reluctant to go home after the service. “If you love the Lord and love each other, it’s going to show,” says John.

So, if the welcome starts on social media, continues when visitors try to find a space in the car park, and doesn’t end until after tea and coffee, it also helps to give newcomers something tangible to take away, perhaps a leaflet or a brochure. They should be asked if they are happy for their contact details to be taken and someone should follow up with a phone call or a visit. “Maybe not the minister, though,” says John, “as they can be frightening. Perhaps someone normal instead!”

Although the whole congregation should be the welcome team, John does suggest having a newcomers’ team –people who are specifically responsible for looking out for new faces. Instead of having name badges, being on an official rota and having the functional role of handing out bits of paper, these are people who are good at memorising people, who have the spiritual gift of talking naturally to those they don’t know. “This is a hugely important ministry,” says John.

But it’s not just visitors who need to feel welcome. Welcome is part of worship and affects worship, so everyone should feel at home, including those who have been coming for a long time. “People are craving community,” says William. “Coming into the kingdom should be to come into a place where you belong.” We want people to say, “I can’t wait to come back here next week”.

John’s resources including TN109 A test for your church’s welcome are available at www.john-truscott.co.uk

Emerging leaders

Andrew Dickson and Peter McClelland introduce Emerge 2024, PCI’s leadership development programme.

“What would happen if we didn’t develop leaders in our churches?”

This is the question Peter McClelland, leadership and development coordinator at Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, asks each of us.

No matter the church, without the service of servant leaders, nothing will happen. Every church needs leaders. Every church needs people to serve. Every church needs healthy leaders who will last. Yet leaders around church don’t just magically appear.

Emerge 2024

Both emerging and future church leaders must be identified and developed. Following the example of Jesus, we need to encourage, equip, empower and release leaders for the tasks of ministry in order that the church might be built up. But how do we do this? Where should we start?

Peter offers three reasons why intentionally developing emerging leaders is a particularly important task for PCI congregations today.

Developing leaders… helps us think ahead.

One way PCI is seeking to encourage, equip, and empower emerging leaders across the denomination in this next season of church life is through facilitating Emerge, a leadership development residential from Friday 14 June–Saturday 15 June 2024. If you are aged 21–30 and currently serving in a leadership role within your congregation –perhaps you are a member of staff, a ministry apprentice, a youth leader, congregational committee member or even a relatively new elder – then we would love for you to consider joining us on the Emerge residential next June.

EMERGE

developing your leadership

Through a mix of Bible engagement, leadership workshops, facilitated discussion, times of personal reflection and opportunities to enjoy community with

Intentionally developing leaders

Recently, while on holiday, my wife and I were trying to encourage our four-yearold son to go into the big boy swimming pool, but he was too nervous. I must admit, for a moment the thought crossed my mind that we could just take him in and eventually he would settle and get the hang of it. But you’ll be glad to know we took a different approach. Rather than taking him straight into the pool, we first took time to build his confidence.

other emerging leaders from across PCI, Emerge will help you explore some of the key aspects of leading in the church today and equip you to lead well where God has placed you.

Alongside local PCI leaders, Phil Knox (evangelism and missiology senior specialist at Evangelical Alliance UK, and author of The Best of Friends) will be joining us to help us consider how we look after ourselves and each other as we lead.

Booking for Emerge 2024 will open in January, so keep an eye on PCI’s social media channels and website for news on when and how to apply.

Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis, so be sure to book early to secure your place.

I wonder though, when it comes to leaders across our congregations, how often do we take the ‘throw them in and eventually they’ll get the hang of it’ approach? So often, in our desire to get or keep ministries going, or to meet an imminent need, we can all resort to plugging gaps and thrusting people into leadership positions, praying that through their presence or by what they do things will all work out.

While such strategies might solve our leadership issues in the short-term, this approach is not a sustainable long-term model. And it also misses the mark on an important aspect of leading, particularly within the church: namely, that exercising Christian leadership is rarely just about doing, it’s also about growing.

So, why is identifying and developing emerging leaders an important task for PCI congregations today?

1. Jesus modelled development

Mark 1:17 records Jesus calling his first disciples, in which he famously says, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men”. Jesus didn’t ask them to simply follow him, or reach others straight away; rather, he told them he would ‘make’ them fishers of men. Jesus’ intentional plan was to develop these first disciples into those who would take hold of the great commission and found the church.

In his book Transforming Discipleship, Greg Ogden helpfully divides Jesus’ development strategy into four stages: I do, you watch; I do, you help; you do, I help; and you do, I watch.

Through this process, Jesus encouraged, equipped and released his disciples to take hold of the calling he had placed on their lives.

2. Proactive, not reactive

How often in church do we find ourselves with gaps in leadership, and a mounting pressure to find people to fill them? The result is that we have people who have the right heart, serving in the wrong area. Alternatively, we resort to using those already serving and therefore stretching them thin. Developing leaders, however, helps us think ahead.

A few years back, at a meeting with our youth team, I asked the question, “In five years’ time, who is in the room?” The point was that in five years, the team

could potentially look very different. I wanted the leaders in the room at that meeting to proactively think about who they could disciple and develop towards stepping into their leadership roles in the future.

How different would ministry be if we placed more of a priority on selecting and developing others who could continue the work for years and years to come?

3. Character before competence

As a child, were you ever asked the question: “What do you want to be when you’re older?” I wonder if you answered the question with something you wanted to do rather than who you wanted to become?

So often, the culture around us focuses on talent or ability. When it comes to the church, we too can fall into a similar trap. As you read through Scripture it becomes clear that God is more concerned about a person’s character than competency. Intentionally developing and discipling leaders will encourage them not only to grow in their gifting, but more importantly their faith. It will encourage them that we don’t just care about what they can do, but rather who they are. If leadership is about growth, then we should seek to encourage leaders to daily grow closer to Christ, and then serve him from there.

Helping your leaders grow

Your church needs the help of volunteers, but your volunteers also need your help. In a volunteer-led movement like the church, leaders grow into their role. We can’t just expect them to appear, readymade.

Like my four-year-old at the pool, my hope is that we will not just throw leaders in at the deep end, hoping they’ll manage to swim instead of sink. My hope is that we would seek to intentionally develop their confidence and enable them to be empowered, equipped and ready to play their part within the body of Christ.

Andrew Dickson is PCI’s Congregational Life Development Officer. Peter McClelland is the leadership and development coordinator at Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena.

My story of Emerge

I took part in the Emerge leadership development programme in 2019. At the time, I was just starting as a leader of a Bible Study small group – something I hadn’t done before – and I wanted to get some guidance as I stepped into this particular leadership role.

During my time at Emerge, our sessions were a mix of teaching from the front, round-table discussions and reflective activities. I was able to chat with other emerging leaders from across PCI about my previous experiences and learn lessons from others who were leading in different contexts to my own.

I really appreciated the opportunities we were given to talk to others who were starting out on a similar leadership journey. There were some people on the course whom I knew already but there were lots of others I met for the first time. Through discussions and reflection time, we realised that a lot of us had the same concerns and worries as we served within our congregations. It was encouraging to know that we weren’t the only ones who felt that way.

Our sessions were also led by experienced leaders who shared their personal highs and lows and so were able to give advice and answer some of the questions we had. This helped me to feel more confident in leading and knowing that I wasn’t going to get it right on the first go (and that was okay!).

If you are aged 21–30 and serving in a leadership role in your local congregation, or if you are stepping into a new role, I would encourage you to sign up for Emerge in 2024.

Leadership is not something you should do on your own, and Emerge will help you to build up a network of people you can look to for prayerful support and practical advice as you serve in the church.

Ruth Dalzell, Second Comber Presbyterian Church.

in action Love

Alan Meban talks to Rev John Seawright about the Presbyterian Relief Fund.

Newly established this year after the amalgamation of three historical hardship schemes, the Presbyterian Relief Fund offers regular quarterly grants and one-off payments to meet unexpected essential needs for people who are struggling financially on a modest income and are under the care of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Rev John Seawright, who chairs the Relief Fund’s trustees, says it’s an outworking of a biblical mandate. He knows from personal experience that a minister’s pastoral connection with their congregation can give them a greater insight into the impact of moments of crisis.

“Many people put a good face on things and other people mightn’t realise that they are really struggling. But it’s often a minister who will be aware and able to point them in the direction of help that can come from other quarters,

like the Relief Fund.”

The Old and New Testaments are full of examples of communities of faith looking after each other, extending support beyond mere family boundaries. One of the lessons of the parable of the Good Samaritan is for believers to obey Christ’s call to look after their neighbours. It’s also written into the Code of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, where the duties of congregational committee members include “to care for those in need and manage the temporal affairs of the congregation”. The Relief Fund can be a further practical outworking of the Church’s care for its members.

Rev Seawright explains how the fund works practically.

The Relief Fund wants to be love in action.

Who looks after the fund?

The Relief Fund is a separately registered charity with a board of 16 trustees, all of whom are connected with congregations of the Presbyterian Church. The trustees normally meet once a quarter.

The trustees are grateful that the Church, through its Financial Secretary’s Department, has agreed to undertake the administration of the fund on behalf of the trustees. The Financial Secretary’s Department receives the applications for assistance and processes approved grant payments.

How does someone who needs help apply for assistance?

All requests for assistance should be made through the minister of the congregation with which the individual is connected. That is why I am so keen that ministers across the denomination are aware of the new fund and how it may

People can suddenly find themselves in difficulty, and we hope that the fund will be a godsend to some.

support people. Beneficiaries must be living at home (rather than in residential care), have income normally below the annual national living wage and have only modest savings.

What types of assistance are available?

There are two main forms of financial help: quarterly grants for those who are regularly in a place where their necessary outgoings exceed their income; and exceptional, one-off grants when crises occur.

The quarterly grants can be up to £400/€500 and the exceptional one-off grants are up to £1,600/€2,000.

People can suddenly find themselves in difficulty, and we hope that the fund will be a godsend to some. Circumstances can change very quickly, whether through unemployment, flooding, fire damage, divorce or health issues. All kinds of unexpected events can occur: insurance pay-outs can be delayed, boilers can break down when there is no spare cash available to repair or replace, yet vulnerable family members still need to be kept warm.

There’s no pre-defined list of situations that the fund can help with, but the trustees will consider covering things like essential travel costs, specialist disability aids and mobility equipment, respite care, costs of home heating and energy efficiency, and independent living support. The fund may also help with unplanned funeral costs, home security and safety (after a break-in or a threat), and minor home repairs and maintenance.

The cost-of-living crisis is also putting more and more individuals and families under financial stress. The dilemma of ‘heating or eating’ is a reality for growing numbers of people. Poverty isn’t always

obvious, and those who have abundance may not always realise that other people may be struggling in private.

Where does the money come from to pay these grants?

The main source is income from investments but occasionally there are gifts and bequests, which are really appreciated.

What sort of information has to be supplied when applying for help?

If a minister identifies a need that is beyond the means of their own congregation to meet, they can get an application form from the Financial Secretary’s Department and help the individual to complete it. Everything is kept very confidential; even the trustees are not informed of the name of the individual applying for help.

How long does it take to get assistance to people?

The trustees aim to process applications within four weeks, but we can also respond more rapidly in urgent cases. We want to ensure that people get support when they need it and not let difficulties build up.

How important is it that the Church responds in practical ways, such as the Relief Fund?

Clearly, this is something that our Lord would want us to do. It is a relatively small measure, but every little helps. When Saint Paul wrote to the Galatians, he may have been speaking specifically of a collection for the poor in Jerusalem at that time but his words surely have a wider and continuing

relevance: “James, Cephas and John… gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace given to me… All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”

The Relief Fund wants to be love in action.

I would welcome prayer for the trustees as they look after the fund, and also for people who find themselves in need of help – that they would hear of the fund and know that they can approach their minister in confidence to discuss whether it might be able to be of help in their circumstances.

Accessing the Presbyterian Relief Fund

Anyone interested in exploring whether the fund might be able to offer financial support through a regular grant, one-off grant or both should contact their ministers, who will be able to help with the process of applying.

Ministers should consider whether there is anyone in their congregation who might benefit from the financial support the fund can provide and discuss in confidence with the person concerned. Ministers should contact the Financial Secretary’s Department for application forms and further information.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284; email: finance@presbyterianireland.org

Presbyterian Relief Fund

John Seawright

Bible storytelling

Lesley Ann Wilson writes about a method of keeping God’s Word alive, the subject of upcoming training that PCI is hosting in January 2024.

Bible storytelling is a method of internalising a Bible story or Bible passage so that it can readily be shared with others. Some of us have memories of rote learning where bits of information were strung together by repetition. Memorising information in this way can be difficult and dry.

However, as you familiarise yourself with a Bible story, your heart and mind are drawn in to all the details, actions, characters and emotions of the text. You visualise the story in your mind and see the action unfolding. As you tell and re-tell the story, it becomes anchored in your heart.

The ‘Simply the Story’ (STS) method equips individuals to not only present the story, but to facilitate an oral Bible study. By preparing the story and asking questions, the listeners discover spiritual truths and applications for themselves. For example, after exploring the story in detail, the storyteller might ask the listeners: “What in this story resonates with your life?” or “What can you or others learn from the story about God that could help in similar situations today?”

In a world increasingly indifferent to

Christian truth, we need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak our language or accept our source of authority. Adopting the method that Jesus used of telling stories is nonthreatening, but can pierce even to the thoughts and intents of people’s hearts (Hebrews 4:12).

When Jesus walked with disheartened, unseeing companions on the road to Emmaus, we read that “he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). Jesus invites us to engage in this rich oral tradition in ‘meditating on the Word’ as he did in the tradition of God’s people: “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Repeat them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

Adopting the method that Jesus used of telling stories is nonthreatening, but can pierce… people’s hearts.

How do you use the story?

Once the story is anchored in your heart, the Holy Spirit can prompt you to use it in a variety of ways as part of your life and witness:

• Personally

• In conversation with friends in response to circumstances

• Praying with an individual as part of a pastoral care visit

• At the dinner table sharing a meal

• Using a five-minute story method to share in a chance meeting, for example, with a taxi driver or someone on the street

• Congregationally

• Telling the story in place of a reading of Scripture, for example, during advent

• Organise a community storytelling; for example, in Saintfield Road Presbyterian, 15 volunteers internalised sections of the Passion narrative for a special service on Good Friday

• Preaching a sermon using the STS method lends itself to a café church style in which listeners can engage and interact with a discussion.

Some users share examples Jooyoung and Seunghee Park are missionaries with YWAM in Sligo. Seunghee will be the lead instructor for the STS training in January. When asked to share how she uses STS she gave two examples:

“We used to have a dozen university students for a meal and Bible study every other Saturday. There were eight nationalities, including Brazilian, Indian and Greek and also different religious backgrounds such as Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist and atheist. The STS storytelling discussions were amazing and the students got involved so passionately that they even had to fight for their chance to talk! Some of them really changed and deepened in their faith through these storytelling times.

“In the summer, I tried the STS storytelling method for my Sunday sermons in our Methodist circuit in Sligo. People who were not known to engage started sharing their discoveries, which were so insightful. Children and teenagers who had been quiet during the Sunday school classes started talking more because they experienced God’s truth through the storytelling time. The change in approach brought a breath of fresh air as people shared insights over the coffee time afterwards in a way that they wouldn’t have with a traditional sermon.”

Kathy von Meding, a member of the STS Ireland team and a member of Bray Gospel Hall in Wicklow, loves using STS in evangelism. She says: “We have a community drop-in on a Thursday and I love using the five-minute story approach, aiming for one spiritual truth to lay on their hearts.”

Bible storytelling course

I shared the story of Zacchaeus… The following week he said he had met Jesus that night…

Rev Jane Nelson, minister of First Omagh Presbyterian, undertook the STS training many years ago and has used it several times within Sunday services. Comments from members of the church have included: “What an engaging and refreshing method of teaching Scripture”; “It really helped me understand the passage and how it applies to my every day Christian faith”; “I know I will remember so much more of this passage and its meaning than I would from a ‘normal’ sermon”; “I really engaged with the story and enjoyed discovering things for myself”; and “Why can’t it be like this every week?”

Our relationship with Jesus means that at the deepest and most profound level, the stories of our lives are empowered and given meaning through their connection with God’s story. Those personal applications can also be used by the Holy Spirit to touch others. One of the first times I used the STS method was during a hospital visit to an elderly man who had been a farmer. The first three verses of Psalm 40 have special significance for me relating to a childhood incident on my grandpa’s farm. On this occasion, I felt prompted to share the verses along with the personal story, which greatly touched the man’s heart. I will never forget the presence of the Holy Spirit as he physically straightened up in

This training is for ministers, leaders or anyone who would like to be able to be able to tell fascinating, accurate stories and to lead interactive discussions on Bible passages. The training offers two options:

• A three-day practitioner course (10–12 January)

• A five-day instructor course (8–12 January) Along with Simply the Story (STS), this training is endorsed by Union Theological College, Bible Society NI, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Biblica.

For more information and booking links for both courses visit: www.presbyterianireland.org/Events/Bible-Storytelling.aspx

the chair during prayer as he imagined God lifting him ‘out of the mire’ on to the rock.

STS is used greatly in a global mission context so it’s also a very helpful tool for using with migrants, unchurched people with little Bible knowledge, those with low levels of literacy or as a tool to engage children and young people with the Bible.

Most recently, I shared the story of Zacchaeus with two teenagers both convicted of robbery and I then had the opportunity to pray with one of them. The following week he said he had met Jesus that night, repented of his crime and had been talking to Jesus every day since. He believed this was a turning point in his life.

So why not come along to the training and discover how Bible storytelling can not only rejuvenate your own faith but can also be a resource for ministry: in preaching and worship, pastoral care, prayer and outreach.

Rev Lesley-Ann Wilson is a member of the Simply the Story (STS) Ireland team. She tells Bible stories and offers workshops to adults on a voluntary basis. She also works part-time as Presbyterian chaplain at Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre in Bangor. She is a member of Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church.

For more information on Simply the Story visit: www.simplythestory.org or email Rev Lesley-Ann Wilson at: lesley-annwilson@hotmail.co.uk

A family community

James McCormick chats to Josh McCance, leader of PCI’s church plant in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Balbriggan’s story goes back to 2016 and starts with Donabate Presbyterian Church, north of Dublin. As PCI’s newest congregation, it was growing strongly and space was becoming tight in the community centre building in which it met. Rev Andy Carroll and the other elders began to think and pray about planting a new church nearby. Josh McCance was working as a community outreach worker for Donabate at the time and he became an instrumental figure in developing the search for where best to plant and the strategy for how best to grow. Today, under Josh’s leadership, Balbriggan is an exciting, growing and vibrant congregation that is ethnically and culturally diverse, with a warmth and connectedness that emanates on a Sunday morning – a true spirit of family, friendship and loving fellowship.

How did you settle on planting in Balbriggan?

Andy Carroll and the elders always had a vision for the north county area because there are so many people living here. Many people commute into the city centre and there are very few churches that are evangelical, where you can hear the good news about Jesus.

When I started this job, I spent a day a week travelling. I was quickly able to identify Balbriggan as a place where there seemed to be real shoots of growth and signs of life – because there were a number of Christian families who lived in Balbriggan but were travelling to Donabate.

We spent a lot of time thinking and dreaming and praying about a potential church. And we did this for years. Then

we started meeting regularly as a small group in about 2017. One woman who had been travelling to Donabate for church said to me that she’d been praying for a church in Balbriggan for 20 years. She said that we could use her house for whatever needs we had. So, we used her upstairs living room for most of our Bible studies and meetings in the early days. We then felt God was leading us to weekly public services and we began those in January 2020.

How did the Covid lockdowns affect the church?

Josh explains more about how Balbriggan came into existence.

We just love to be a community and be a real family to people who are isolated on their own.

We were able to meet for seven weeks until the national lockdown. So, 2020 was a very turbulent year for the church. It was a challenging time and definitely not the sort of environment you’d want to be starting a new church in. But surprisingly, and just thanks to God really, it was during this time that the church’s community really cemented and people realised that while you can’t do anything else, you can still meet with your friends from church and you can still grow in faith.

What has happened since?

We’re now three and a half years meeting in this building for weekly Sunday services. We’ve also been reading the Bible on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights in different homes around the town.

One of the other things we love to do in Balbriggan is eat meals together.

Balbriggan is the most ethnically diverse town in Ireland. And it’s also the youngest town by average age, which is 30-years-old. So we wanted to bring a community spirit, especially for people whose family might not even live in the country – they’re maybe in Africa or Asia or Eastern Europe. So we have a lot of meals together. We just love to be a community and be a real family to people who are isolated on their own. Even though everybody’s completely different and from very different backgrounds, we know Jesus is our Saviour and we’re the body of Christ in Balbriggan.

How would you describe Balbriggan as a town?

I love this town. It’s a very exciting place to live. It’s beautiful – we’ve got the beach and a big forest park. And as you walk along the Main Street, there’s just so much variety. You have an African food shop, an Irish pub and a Polish deli –every single shop is kind of representative of the people.

Our church family is also very diverse – I think we have 25 nationalities, which is amazing in such a small church. It gives us lots of opportunities to learn about other cultures and celebrate other cultures too.

What is the biggest challenge for the church going forward?

One of the big challenges is that it’s a massive job to be able to set out the chairs and set up the sound in the place where we rent. It’s a football hall/bingo hall. So there’s nothing really there for us to make church happen. It’s a big effort for the whole church family.

Another challenge is being able to see beyond our differences in our cultures and our backgrounds and see what we have in common, because we’re Christians and brothers and sisters in Christ.

As well, I think a challenge is being

There’s a unity in this church, a oneness… We are united in Christ.

able to maintain the energy and the enthusiasm because when we were a brand-new church, everybody was really excited to be here and it was very fresh. Now, as we move beyond infancy, we need to consider: what does it look like for us to grow and continue to be a church family here? And how can we help people who join now feel as part of it as the very first people who were here. So, it’s something we make a big effort to try to do.

Thoughts from members of Balbriggan

I have to say that we immediately felt at home here. It’s very encouraging to see that people who are coming from literally all over the world and have such different life stories are all walking with God.

When we look at our lives, we might feel small. But then as we pray, I see how God opens up my heart and enlarges my capacity and really gives me a desire to serve and really works through us in this small church. We are the branches and he’s the vine and when we are connected to him, he is the one who is doing this work. He’s the one who is growing the church.

Emina Pejakovic

Do you have a message for the wider Church?

My message would just be to thank you for your prayers for us. It would have been impossible for us to start this church on our own. We particularly needed the support of the local churches in the area, especially our mother church, Donabate Presbyterian; but, also, Drogheda Presbyterian [members] were a massive help to us. They were able to provide real practical help. But definitely the wider Church has been so helpful too by supporting us through prayer and sending us messages of encouragement.

What difference has United Appeal made?

This definitely wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the United Appeal and other funds that have come in from different churches who’ve been generous and who’ve had a vision beyond themselves. We’re very grateful and we hope and pray that in the future there can be an opportunity for the gospel to spread into different areas in Ireland where there isn’t much presence.

James McCormick is the head of PCI’s Creative Production department.

To watch the full film featuring the story of Balbriggan or to learn more about the United Appeal for Mission please visit: www.presbyterianireland.org/ unitedappeal

There’s a unity in this church, a oneness. And it’s very noticeable. We are united in Christ. We all look out for one another and we’re there for one another. I think the eldership team are very humble people – that gives the clearance to grow as a church.

We have to bring that unity out now into the community of Balbriggan and try and show people that there is hope, there’s a new life; that Christ forgives and gives you a relationship with Jesus.

Patrick Bentley

Keeping watch over God’s flock

Jason Nicholson outlines the work of the Presbyterian Children’s Society and how it is helping to meet the needs of families throughout Presbyterian congregations in Ireland.

The nativity scenes that often decorate our homes and churches throughout this season of Advent remind us of the central characters in the events surrounding the birth of the world’s long-awaited Saviour. One of those character groups, often overlooked because of their social status, and yet so vitally important to the overall story, are the shepherds.

Representative of the low-wage economy in 1st century Israel, shepherds were usually young men from poorer families – itinerant workers, travelling in desperation from place to place to find work. However, despite this, the angels reserved their most magnificent announcement for these most unlikely of recipients.

Choosing shepherds over sovereign

If we were unfamiliar with the Christmas story, perhaps our natural inclination might be to suggest that the angels’ news of Jesus’ miraculous birth should be heard firstly by Caesar, the Emperor of Rome, or King Herod, who ruled over the region. Furthermore, we might even suggest that the High Priest in Jerusalem, representing the religious elite, should

be the first to hear this earth-shattering news. The palace and prayer-house in Jerusalem, however, were densely covered in silence compared to the bustling hills outside Bethlehem. There, surrounded by dazzling light and rapturous sound, a company of angels, turning protocol on its head, announced the Saviour’s birth to a group of anonymous shepherds. Why? Perhaps some reflection on the importance of shepherds in Scripture could be helpful in broadening our understanding.

Why did they deserve such a privilege?

Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations in the world. Adam exercised dominion over the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26), and Abel is described as a “keeper of the sheep” (Genesis 4:2). Furthermore, throughout biblical history, a number of other significant men were also experienced shepherds –Jacob and his sons, Moses, and David.

As Christians, we are encouraged to show care and compassion like the ‘good shepherd’

did.

Therefore, reflecting on the best of their qualities, shepherds often made good leaders, particularly when characterised by compassion concerning the needs of others, alongside being fiercely protective, and unyielding against foes. For these reasons, David is often referred to as the shepherd-king of Israel. As a king, his warrior-like disposition, exemplified in countless successful military campaigns, was complemented by a shepherd’s gentleness of heart and sympathetic spirit, powerfully illustrated in his care of Mephibosheth.

The good shepherd who cares

It should be no surprise, therefore, in helping to illustrate God’s care and compassion for his people, that the imagery of sheep/shepherds is used prominently throughout Scripture. Psalm 23, perhaps the most memorable of all the psalms, confidently bellows out: “The Lord is my Shepherd…” Furthermore, in the New Testament, possibly reflecting his own understanding of similar imagery used in passages such as Ezekiel 34, Jesus described himself as “the good shepherd… who lays his life down for the sheep...” (John 10:11). Moreover, the Apostle Peter poignantly illustrates that despite our potential for

wandering away, like sheep without a shepherd, God gently draws us closer to him and keeps us safe: “You were like sheep that wandered away, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Therefore, by reflecting on the angels’ pronouncement to the shepherds, perhaps we can more fully appreciate the importance of the ongoing work of the Society throughout our Church in caring for Presbyterian children and their families in financial need.

Caring like the good shepherd

As Christians, we are encouraged to show care and compassion like the ‘good shepherd’ did. Tim Chester, in his book Good News to the Poor: Sharing the Gospel through Social Involvement, stated that: “The God who ‘upholds the case of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry’ expects us to walk in his ways. He expects his people to share his concern for justice… God will not hear his people when they ignore the claims of the poor” (Isaiah I:10–17).

Throughout its long history, the Society has committed itself to this central aspect of God’s character. One of its founders, Dr Wilberforce Arnold, made a plea in 1865 to help the ‘orphan’ children of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He stated: “And then what are the motives urging us to engage in this work? They are the highest possible! Herein consists a part of that ‘pure and undefiled religion’ which the Bible urges us to revere and teaches us to practice. Its very dignity attracts us. It is a God-like work, and we are emphatically fellow-workers with him when we protect the fatherless, for the ‘Lord is the orphan’s shield’.”

Arnold’s language, although slightly archaic, still resonates with the themes of God’s care of his creation and our responsibility to serve him by serving others. This model of pastoral care doesn’t view people as a herd to lead, but rather as a family to care for. This is the ‘good Samaritan’ heart of our denomination. Furthermore, in spite of the often tragic circumstances reflected in many of the applications for help that it receives, the Society does not see those families that we willingly support as problems to be solved, but rather as potential to

be realised. As one former Moderator expressed in his theme for his year in post over 25 years ago: “People Matter to God.” It was true then, and remains so today.

At

present, the Society is currently helping approximately 900 children in around 450 families in over 200 congregations…

Helping families, then and now Beginning its work of helping Presbyterian children and their families in the 1860s, the Society has displayed great innovation and resilience across each era of its history. From helping to alleviate destitution and hardship caused by the carnage of the First World War to helping Presbyterian families in financial difficulty through the ‘hungry 30s’, the Second World War and ‘the Troubles’, the Society has successfully navigated many challenges. Christian in nature, and Presbyterian in its outlook, the Society has sought to mirror the biblical model of pastoral care since its inception almost 160 years ago.

At present, the Society is currently helping approximately 900 children in around 450 families in over 200 congregations throughout our Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Financial support is provided to families from a wide range of backgrounds including circumstances where there is bereavement; separation or divorce; disability; single parenthood; unemployment or low income. In today’s precarious economic climate, life events like these can throw a family’s delicately balanced finances into crisis. Furthermore, set against the context of sharp increases in the cost of living, the work of the Society is more important than ever as the financial vulnerabilities of many Presbyterian families are exposed. Resolute in its commitment to help children and young people, the Society, with your support, is always ready to help.

Facing challenges together

Whether assisting families financially to alleviate short-term, crisis-related needs through our Exceptional Grants or providing longer-term support through our Regular Grants, the Society’s grants convey a sense of compassion and an acknowledgment of belonging to a Christian community that cares. This understanding is fundamental to our work, underlined by the Apostle Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 12:26: “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it…”

The Bible never expounds what some might argue as the virtues of individualism, but it does espouse community or, as Helen Keller once said: “The welfare of each is bound up in the welfare of all.”

Keeping watch, as illustrated by the shepherds in the fields overlooking Bethlehem, is an essential part of who we are and what God expects. Giving to meet the ongoing needs of others is essential, especially during these challenging times.

Last year, towards the £688,000 provided in grants to families in need, Presbyterians provided donations to the Society of around £364,000. This year, the need for sustaining and even increasing our income to the meet demand for help, is even greater. Therefore, reflecting the same sense of eagerness and commitment that the shepherds demonstrated as they hurried to Bethlehem to greet their new-born King, may we all give enough to support the needs of the children and young people of our Church.

For more information on the Presbyterian Children’s Society or to donate, please contact the Society on +44 (0)28 9032 3737 or info@ presbyterianchildrenssociety.org

Jason Nicholson is Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Children’s Society.

REVIEWS Unless otherwise stated all resources are available from your local Faith Mission Bookshop or online www.fmbookshops.com

Honest

Chris Llewellyn

SPARROW RECORDS

Available via streaming services

If you are a Rend Collective fan, you might be interested to know that its lead singer, Chris Llewellyn, has released his first album as a solo artist: Honest.

Even though Chris has gone out on his own, fans of Rend Collective can be reassured that the band members are not going their separate ways. In fact, they are touring the UK in 2024 and coming to Bangor, NI in February.

Chris has stated: “This album is me reading my diary to you out loud.” Honest aims to show that a life of faith can have both hope and suffering, a life that is “weathered, tested and durable”.

This is a bold choice as songs on this album touch on the themes of doubt, mystery and even abuse in the church. Some of the song titles include ‘I’m Not Losing My faith’, ‘New Wine (Is My Bible a Barricade?)’ and ‘Toxic’, which shows how honest Chris has been in his songwriting.

My favourite song on the album is the title track, which lays everything out in the open for God to see. The lines that stood out to me were: “Will you be faithful when I am faithless?” and “Will you love me if I’m honest?” RD

Leadership or Servanthood?

Hwa Yung

LANGHAM GLOBAL LIBRARY

£12.99

This book provides a thoughtprovoking exploration of leadership with significant implications for all of us, not just those in positions of authority. Perhaps, you might say, “I’ve read enough books on leadership”. I’d reply that two things make this uniquely helpful:

Drawing from his extensive experience as a church leader and theologian, Yung skilfully dissects the conventional leadership models and re-orientates our calling even further towards service to God and to others. The author’s experience here is key: leading outside of the West means his insight is really fresh, and yet his experience living and leading in the UK and elsewhere gives him a unique ability to critique some of our approaches to leadership.

Again and again, he draws the reader back to the heart. Where is our security and our identity as leaders? From where does our authority come? Our model, of course, is Christ: “Jesus’ total submission to his Father was the ultimate source of his authority.” How might our lives and our churches look different if we each led, and served, like this?

As a leader, I want to lead and serve in the same breath. Perhaps, like me, you also grieve the many examples of leadership gone wrong and long for men and women to lead well from that place of submission to Christ. Perhaps you also see the opportunities for the Church if we take seriously our calling to love and serve our neighbour – ‘serve’ being the key word. This book could be a significant read for you.

CT

Scripture is Supreme

Tim Chester

UNION PUBLISHING

£7.79

Chester cannot be accused of verbosity. He sets his stall out with the title. In it, he swiftly challenges the worldview that the Bible is ‘old hat’.

Throughout the book, the writer emphasises how the supremacy of Scripture goes hand in hand with the supremacy of God. He considers the role of experience, reason and tradition, holding that each compliments Scripture rather than trumping it. There is a lovely little nugget in the centre of the book regarding Galileo’s claim that the Earth revolved around the Sun, contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church at the time. He held his ground, arguing that he wasn’t contradicting Scripture; rather, he was interpreting it differently. On the question of why two Christians believing in the supremacy of God’s Word interpret a passage differently, he considers that each of us must submit to Scripture as we understand it.

When Scripture doesn’t tally with human reason there is a temptation for some to deviate from its truth and provide their own explanation, for example, the feeding of the 5,000. This is indeed a dangerous strategy and soon the veracity of the entire canon could be called into question.

The book could perhaps be summarised by Chester’s statement: “Divine truth is a sacred trust that has been given to us by God not to be expanded or developed but to be protected and proclaimed.”

The book also includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter and could be considered as material for small groups. All in all, a worthwhile read.

REVIEWERS

JC – Joy Conkey is librarian of Union Theological College

Gather: Loving Your Church as You Celebrate Christ Together

Tony Merida

THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY

£9.99

This book seeks to inspire a renewed enthusiasm for corporate worship by looking at seven reasons why we gather as a church to worship God and to examine what we do during worship. The author starts by pointing out why gathering to worship is such a privilege; however, Christians often fail to live in a way that indicates that gathering is a priority for them. Clear, biblical reasons are given as to why we should gather, such as “to stir up one another to love and good works… encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25). The different things we do when we gather – such as hearing God’s Word preached, singing, praying and sharing in the sacraments – are analysed and reasons for them given. Bullet-point action steps are given for how we can put into practice the biblical principles discussed in each chapter, and get the most spiritual benefit from worship together.

This very practical book was a challenging reminder about how important gathering as God’s people is, what our focus should be as we worship, and how it can be an opportunity to reach outsiders with the gospel, or be prepared to go out into the world to do so. This would be a useful, easy-to-read book for a new believer beginning to think through why we join together in church and the biblical reasons why we do certain things during worship. If we put into practice the action steps given, our churches would without doubt be more Christ-centred, God-honouring places.

JC

RD – Ruth Dalzell is a schools worker for Scripture Union NI

CT – Chris Thompson is the director of Tearfund NI

CH – Craig Hutchinson is a member of Ravenhill Presbyterian Church

BH – Barbara Huddleston is a member of Second Comber Presbyterian

Film Journey to Bethlehem AFFIRM FILMS

If you love Christmas and musicals, you might be interested in a new film that has been released. Journey to Bethlehem is a family-friendly Christmas musical with an amazing soundtrack, energetic dance numbers, plenty of laughs and a great cast (including actor Antonio Banderas, comedian Omid Djalili and rapper Lecrae).

However, if you are looking for a biblically accurate telling of the nativity story, this might not be the film for you. At the beginning, the film states that it is “inspired by the greatest story ever told” and that there is some creative licence, but it aims to stay true to the biblical message.

It tells the biblical story of the first nativity – a young girl caught in a

Weakness Our Strength

John Hindley

UNION PUBLISHING

£11.99

This is a book that I will probably reread many times in the future. In our daily lives, we are all confronted with worry and anxiety. Increasingly, we feel despair about world events, climate change, wars – where will it end and what can we do? We feel helpless in the face of overwhelming tragedy.

scandal, her fiancé’s struggle to trust her, a power-greedy king and wise men on a journey of discovery. The film is visually stunning and brings the pages of the Bible to life as we see the context and culture of first-century Israel. It gives great depth to the characters – we see the weight of Mary’s responsibility, the evilness of King Herod, and Joseph wrestling with the news he is given. This is all done in a way to make it easy for children to understand without being scary and the messages are made clear through song.

I think this is a great alternative to many secular Christmas films and would be great for families to watch together or a congregation to organise a cinema trip for everyone. RD

Hindley reminds us that when we are anxious, we can either seek Christ or seek control. Most of us like being selfsufficient, but God’s way is different: “It is to bring the weak ones together to care for one another.”

With many practical examples, Hindley shows us how we don’t need to fear weakness because it is God’s way of bringing us to himself and those around us. We were created to need one another and “the mutual dependence of Father, Son and Spirit” is the supreme example of this. “God does staggering work with weakness,” he says.

Looking at the apparent ‘weakness’ of the cross we see how God used this to remove the sting of death, for “even as we die, weaker than we have ever been, we are welcomed into the warm light of the love of God. We are stronger than ever.”

New elders in Conlig

Three new elders were ordained and installed in Conlig Presbyterian Church. The new elders are pictured in the front row (L–R): LyndaJane Nelson, John Donaldson and Gail Carr. In the back row are representatives from Ards Presbytery.

Presentation at First Rathfriland

The congregation of First Rathfriland presented a Bible to Drew Wilson, who retired as an active elder earlier this year. Drew had served a total of 34 years as an elder. He was also thanked for his role as coordinator of the Senior Citizens Fellowship. Drew and Gwyneth Wilson are pictured with Rev Colin Harris (vacancy convener).

Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade anniversaries celebrated at Fisherwick

A special celebration service was held in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church in Belfast to mark 120 years of the BB company and 70 years of the GB company. Pictured (L–R): Fergus Kelly, Cynthia Cole, Helen Kelly, Ruth Crawford, Mary Wilmington and Rev Andy Galbraith.

Retirement in Ballykelly

Earlier this year, Victor Whiteside was presented with a gift to show the appreciation of the congregation on retirement from his role as a ruling elder. The presentation was made by Rev Phil Houston, minister of the Limavady congregation, and Audrey Neil, clerk of session. Pictured (L–R): Rev Philip Houston, Victor Whiteside and his wife Betty, and Audrey Neill.

Harvest flower festival at Clontibret

Clontibret Presbyterian Church in Co Monaghan held a harvest flower festival on the theme of ‘Praise and Thanksgiving’ at the end of September. Pictured are some of the ladies who helped with the catering over the weekend.

Birthday milestone at Killinchy

Isobel McBriar, a member of the Co Down congregation, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Pictured (L–R): Rev Alan Johnston (minister of Killinchy), Mrs McBriar’s daughter Elizabeth, Isobel McBriar, her son Kenneth and the Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney.

Centenarian at First Kilraughts

Anna Lamont, a member of First Kilraughts congregation in Ballymoney, celebrated her 100th Birthday in St James’s Lodge, Ballymoney. Pictured are: Mrs Lamont with the Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney.

To share good news stories from your congregation please send your photographs and details to herald@presbyterianireland.org

100th birthday in Dungiven

Annie McFarlane celebrated her 100th birthday on 3 October. Included in the picture are: former Moderator Very Rev Dr Rob Craig with Rev Dr Clive Glass, minister of the Co Londonderry congregation.

Presentation at Upper Cumber

On Sunday 17 September, Upper Cumber congregation in Co Londonderry presented a commemorative plaque to Wesley Haslett for serving 36 years as a Sunday school teacher, 29 of those as superintendent. His wife Jacki was thanked too for her help and support. A plaque was also presented to Kenneth Moore for serving 53 years to date as caretaker of the church. Thanks also went to his wife Margaret for her help and support. Pictured (L–R): Jack McFarland (clerk of session), Jacki Haslett, Wesley Haslett, Kenneth Moore, Margaret Moore and Rev Stephen Hibbert (convener).

Retirement at Portrush

Former Moderator the Very Rev Dr John Kirkpatrick recently retired from Portrush Presbyterian Church after 30 years in ministry. Dr Kirkpatrick is pictured with his wife Joan and the congregation at a gathering held to mark the occasion.

250th anniversary at Millisle and Ballycopeland

The Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney, planting a tree to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Millisle and Ballycopeland Presbyterian Church. Also pictured Rev John Flaherty, minister of the congregation and Mary Startin, clerk of session.

20th anniversary celebrated at Tritonville

Margaret Scanlan has celebrated her 20th anniversary working for Tritonville Residential Trust in Sandymount, Dublin. Margaret has been the cook since the dining room opened on 29 September 2003. Pictured (L–R): Stuart Ferguson (treasurer and clerk of Dublin and Munster Presbytery), Margaret Scanlan, Denis Poynton (chairman) and (Richard Zipser) manager of Tritonville.

New elders at Macosquin

Three new elders, Nigel Connor, Maurice Farquhar and Richard McIlmoyle, were ordained and installed by a commission of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady to Macosquin Presbyterian Church. Back row (L–R): Ian McFaul, Rev Mark Goudy, Trevor Fulton, Will Collins, Thomas Dunlop, Roy Hall and Alan Hall. Front row (L–R): William Cochrane (clerk of session), Mervyn McCollum, Rev Jim McCaughan, Rev Trevor McCormick (clerk of presbytery), Nigel Connor, Maurice Farquhar, Richard McIlmoyle, Rev James Hyndman (moderator of Coleraine and Limavady Presbytery) and Rev Andrew Brown.

New elders for Ballywillan

Seven new elders were ordained and installed at a service in Ballywillan Presbyterian Church on Sunday 18 June 2023. The service was conducted by a commission of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady. Front row (L–R): new elders Matt Drennan, Mary Dunlop, Lindsey Taggart Hagan, Liz Houston, Pamela Howe, Angus Iliff and Anne Taylor. Back row (L–R): Rev Dr Stephen Williamson (minister of Ballywillan), Mervyn McCollum, Rev Dr Trevor McCormick (clerk of presbytery), Bonnar Clarke, Rev James Hyndman (moderator of presbytery) and Rev Stuart Morrow (minister of Portstewart Presbyterian Church).

Historical event at St Andrew’s College

St Andrew’s College Dublin, founded by Presbyterians and visited by the Moderator earlier this year, welcomed another very special guest recently – its oldest past pupil, Group Captain John Hemingway DFC. John is 104 and met with history students who listened with rapt attention to the story of his service in the RAF during the Second World War. Group Captain Hemingway DFC is the last surviving pilot to have fought in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.

New minister at Waringstown

Rev Mark Haugh was recently ordained and installed as minister of Waringstown Presbyterian Church. Elders from the congregation are pictured with Mr Haugh. Back row (L–R): Brian Taylor, Steve Bond, Michael Cregan, Brian Hanna, Basil McDowell and Sam Moffett. Front row (L–R): James McNeill, Ken McKeown, Tyrell Arnold, Rev Mark Haugh, David Crawford (clerk of session), Bobby Boyd and Andrew Patterson. Elder David Munroe was absent for the photo.

Banagher says farewell to minister

Banagher Presbyterian Church in Coleraine and Limavady Presbytery said a fond farewell to Rev Ashley Graham and family after his valued and faithful service over his nine-year ministry in the congregation.

Pictured (L–R): Stanley Warnock (former clerk of session), Rev Ashley and Jill Graham with their sons Joel, Noah and Luke, and Ivan Montgomery (current clerk of session).

Tag good news stories from your congregation on Twitter with #lifeinpci and @pciassembly

McQuiston Memorial installs new minister

Rev Philip Boyd was recently installed as minister of McQuiston Memorial in Belfast. Front row (L–R): Rev Colin Burcombe (convener of the vacancy), Rev Philip Boyd, Ken Galbraith (clerk of session) and Daphne Caldwell. Back row (L–R): John McKibbin, Professor Drew Gibson, Martin Hampton, Rev Stephen Moore (clerk of presbytery) and Rev Jonathan Frazer (moderator of presbytery).

Full attendance at Redrock

Redrock Presbyterian Church recently acknowledged Leah Gray for full attendance throughout Sunday school. Pictured are: Rev Sam Finlay, minister of the Co Armagh congregation, with Leah and her parents, Valerie and David.

New communicants in Scarva

Four new communicants were recently received by the Co Down congregation.

Pictured (L–R): Robert Jordan (clerk of session), Nicole Richardson, Lily Ella Dale, Ellie Rose Martin, Lewis Currie and Rev Patricia McBride (minister of the congregation).

Scarva Street installs new elders

Members of Iveagh Presbytery conducted a service of installation of three new elders in Scarva Street Presbyterian Church in Banbridge on Sunday 17 September. Front row (L–R): Rev Colin Harris (minister of the congregation), Rev Andrew Boreland (moderator of presbytery), Rev Ken Nelson (presbytery commission). Back row (L–R): Jim King (clerk of presbytery), Roy Wilson, Tony Hillen, Nigel Bell and Betty Barrett (Newcastle Presbyterian Church). Photo © Gary Gardiner.

CROSSWORD

New elders ordainded in Rathfriland

A commission of Iveagh Presbytery, in Second and Third Rathfriland, ordained three new elders in September. Pictured Standing (L-R): Ivor Trimble, Ivan Johnston, Kenneth Bready (clerk of session), Rev Seamus Burke (minister of Second and Third), Dessie Trimble, John Henning, Andrew Bell (new elders), Rev Rodney Moody (minister of First Rathfriland) and Samuel McRoberts. Pictured Seated (L-R): Drew Harte, Jim King (clerk of presbytery), Rev Andrew Boreland (moderator of presbytery), Betty Barrett and Ernie Moorhead.

Puzzle no 284 solution on page 58

compiled by Harry Douglas

1 Holy birthplace (9)

5 Payment to government, even at Christmas! (3)

6 Where presents are often found (5,3,5)

8 Setting (of table) (6)

9 Santa’s helpers (5)

12 This was filled with the heavenly host (3)

14 Kids – don’t be this! (7)

17 10 down’s reaction to all that happened (4)

18 Christmas tasty pie or tart (5)

20 Lonely hillside animals (5)

21 All good things come to this (3)

22 Favourite Danish building kit (4)

23 Of the stars (6)

1 Sparkly decorations (7)

2 Favourite cuddly toy (5)

3 Greeting from Santa (4)

4 Mary’s relationship to infant (6)

5 Number of days in a Christmas song (6)

7 Pealing (of bells) (7)

10 Left their flocks (9)

11 City of sprouts (8)

13 A seasonal chocolate delight (4,3)

15 Basket of food and drink (6)

16 Seasonal song (5)

19 This boy must have a December birthday (4)

REFLECTIONS

Vindolanda Ruth Sanderson

Hidden in the depths of the vast, untamed Northumberland countryside lies the Roman garrison town of Vindolanda. Until this week, I had never heard of it. This morning I visited it and now I’m writing this in a small hotel room in a village nearby as the sun sets pink over an ancient landscape – the hills groaning under the weight of Hadrian’s Wall. Each furrow and ridge in these enormous fields hiding secrets of the civilisation that lived here nearly 2,000 years ago.

Sheep are dotted around; little churches and pubs nestle in the stone villages that sit sleepily in this now quiet landscape. Yet at one stage this was the epicentre of the northern armies of the Roman Empire. In Vindolanda, a long, flagstoned street stretches in a straight line for about half a mile; along it are the remains of shops, houses, drains and water tanks. There is a step up to a butcher’s shop with grooves in the floor to siphon away animal blood. A former bakery still has its ovens and millstones. A kiln here, a temple there, bathhouses too. Stones used for sharpening swords still bear the marks of the soldiers’ weapons. All these things have been uncovered by archaeologists over the past 50 years or so – and they’re still going.

pushing ancient structures, covered for thousands of years, up to the surface and into the world again – literally pushing up old walls and wells, which break through the green earth like a baby’s teeth. This starts the process of degradation hundreds of years prematurely – it’s a race against time for the Vindolanda team to properly dig the site before it decays in front of their eyes.

…like these secrets coming from deep within the ground, our secrets too will one day be uncovered…

The amazing thing about Vindolanda is the amount of organic matter that has been preserved almost perfectly. Wooden writing tablets, their etching still legible, contain shopping lists, poetry, letters to loved ones, civic instructions. Thousands of leather shoes have been unearthed – their intricate latices and designs still visible after thousands of years in the Northumberland mud. Even individual blocks of turf used to build retaining walls remain intact – cross-sections now exposed like an ancient tiramisu.

The reason these perishable things have been so well preserved is because of the thick layers of peat bog on which the site was built. These act like a hermetically sealed Tupperware box, keeping all the buried secrets of the past protected from erosion. The archaeologist in charge told me they have dug up flowers that still hold their colour – blues, pinks, yellows – which change quickly to black when exposed to our 21st century light and air.

However, there is a big, big problem. Climate change is disrupting the Earth’s delicate biological balance in places like Vindolanda. The team there have had to start excavations at a nearby site because the peat bog is drying up and shrinking,

It’s not just a problem in Northumberland. All across the world, archaeologists are struggling to keep up with the changing dynamics of soils, glaciers and sand, which are offering up their long-held secrets as things dry, melt or blow away. The Mississippi River dried up so much last year that shipwrecks popped up from their watery resting places, dating from when conquistadors travelled down the river in the 16th century. Some of the most ancient sites in the world – including Babylon and many other examples – are being eroded by the changing climate as rising concentrates of salt in the Middle East eat away at mud brick and more frequent sandstorms erode ancient wonders. Likewise, artefacts and even bodies are emerging from glaciers – hidden tragedies from the Iron Age to recent times. They are appearing in great numbers, preserved very well in their frozen tombs, suddenly starting to defrost, their stories fading as temperatures rise.

One archaeologist I talked to at Vindolanda made the point that there are now, at least in the UK, more archaeologists working than ever before. But this is still not enough to keep up with the steady tide of sites prematurely pushing themselves into our present day.

It made me consider that like these secrets coming from deep within the ground, our secrets too will one day be uncovered – as will all that is hidden. The Bible tells us in Luke 12:2–3: “Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops” (New Century Version).

For us as Christians, we hold on to this not as a threat but as a glorious promise. Jesus will make everything clear to us and bring us into the light, where there are no secrets and nothing will be hidden. His truths will be revealed, and unlike artefacts from the past, which spoil and rot, his light and his truth will remain eternal and never fade.

CHURCH RECORD

VACANT CONGREGATIONS, MODERATORS AND CLERKS OF KIRK SESSIONS

(Information supplied by clerks of presbyteries, conveners of Assembly commissions and councils.)

1. LEAVE TO CALL GRANTED

Application forms are available on request from the Clerk’s Office or may be downloaded from the PCI website.

BALLYALBANY and GLENNAN:

REV D.T.R. EDWARDS: (Ballyalbany) Mr Sam Condell, Billary, Smithborough, Co Monaghan. (Glennan) Dr Michael Wallace, 8 Fellows Grange, Fellows Hall Road, Killylea, Co Armagh, BT60 4LR.

BALLYLINNEY:

REV MARK RUSSELL: Dr Michael McBrien, 24 Lylehill Green, Templepatrick, BT39 0BF.

BALLYNURE:

REV D.J. KELLY: Mr George Clarke.

BALLYRONEY and DRUMLEE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV GEORGE McCLELLAND: (Ballyroney) Mr David Peters, 30 Seafin Road, Ballyroney, Banbridge, BT32 5ER. (Drumlee) Mr Graham Truesdale, 128 Lackan Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, BT31 9RX.

BANGOR, WEST (ASSOCIATE) (Reviewable Tenure – 3 years)

VERY REV DR C.J.C. McMULLEN: Mr Lindsay Conway OBE, 14 Rutherglen Gardens, Bangor, BT19 1DD.

CASTLEROCK: 60% Part Time

REV D.H. BROWN: Miss Heather McSparran, 26 Freehall Road, Castlerock, BT51 4TR.

CLONTIBRET and MIDDLETOWN: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV J.H. HANSON: (Clontibret) Mr S.R. Gray, Legnacrieve, Castleshane, Co Monaghan, H18 DN20. (Middletown) Mr David McElnea, 45 Madden Road, Armagh, BT60 3LJ.

DROMORE, FIRST:

REV ANDREW FAULKNER: Mr John Wilkinson, 10 Island Hill, Dromara Road, BT25 1HA.

DUNFANAGHY and CARRIGART: (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission Project

REV T.J. BRUCE: (Dunfanaghy) Mrs Ethel Montgomery, ‘Millrace’, Marble Hill Road, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO. (Carrigart) Mrs Joy Buchanan, Figart, Carrigart, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO.

EGLINTON:

REV STEPHEN LOWRY: Mr Dougie Crowe, 25 Meadow Park, Crawfordsburn, BT19 1JN.

ENNISKILLEN:

REV G.M. ANDRICH: Miss Kate Doherty, Tiernisk, Drumgay, Enniskillen, BT74 4GH.

FAHAN (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission Duties: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV P. POOTS: Mr James Lamberton, 1 Deanfield, Limavady Road, Londonderry, BT47 6HY.

GARDENMORE:

REV B.S. PRESTON: Dr Philip Shepherd, 1 Huntersbuoy Lane, Larne, BT40 2HH.

GARVAGH, MAIN ST and KILLAIG:

REV KNOX JONES: (Garvagh, Main St) Mr Alan Farlow, 39 Ballynameen Road, Garvagh, BT51 5PN. (Killaig) Mr Ivan McKane, 27 Cashel Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, BT51 4PW.

HILLTOWN and CLONDUFF: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV KENNETH NELSON: (Hilltown) Mr John Ervine, 51 Rostrevor Road, Hilltown, Newry, BT34 5TZ. (Clonduff) Mr Cecil Brown, 39 Bannfield Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HG.

LOUGHGALL and TARTARAGHAN:

REV ALASTAIR McNEELY: (Loughgall) Mr James MacQueen, 114 Moy Road, Portadown, BT62 1SA. (Tartaraghan) Mr Norman Cornett, 11 Cloncarrish Road, Portadown, Craigavon, BT62 1RN.

NEWTOWNBREDA, ST. JOHN’S: REV ANDY GALBRAITH: Sir Bruce Robinson, 3 Deramore Drive, Belfast, BT9 5JQ.

RALOO and MAGHERAMORNE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV DR CECIL GRANT: (Raloo) Mr Geoff McBride, 72 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DU. (Magheramorne) Mr Morris Gardner, 89 Ballypollard Road, Magheramorne, Larne, BT40 3JG.

STRABANE and SION MILLS: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV P.B. HOUSTON: (Strabane) Mr William Watson, 44 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QS. (Sion Mills) Mr Colin Campbell, 26 Albert Place, Sion Mills, Strabane, BT82 9HN.

2. LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

CLADYMORE and TASSAGH:

REV R.I. ABRAHAM: (Cladymore) Mr David Wilson, 73 Kilmachugh Road, Mowhan, Armagh, BT60 2EN. (Tassagh) Mr Philip Crozier, 68 Bachelors Walk, Keady, Armagh, BT60 2NA.

DROMORE and DRUMQUIN:

REV E.T. FRAZER: (Dromore) Mr Lynden Keys, 25 New Park Road, Dromore, Omagh, BT78 3JU. (Drumquin) Dr Paul Booth, 231 Tummery Road, Irvinestown, BT78 3UF.

GORTNESSY:

REV COLIN McKIBBIN: Mr Ross Hyndman, 32 Temple Road, Strathfoyle, Londonderry, BT47 6UB.

RICHVIEW:

REV N.S. HARRISON: Mr Victor Garland, 25 Abingdon Drive, Belfast, BT12 5PX.

SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED

BALLINDERRY:

VERY REV DR W.J. HENRY, Minister of Maze.

BOVEEDY:

REV DR T.J. McCORMICK, Minister of 1st Kilrea.

CAHIR: (Home Mission)

REV WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Minister of Fermoy.

KATESBRIDGE:

REV N.J. KANE, Minister of Magherally.

TYRONE’S DITCHES:

REV J.K.A. McINTYRE, Minister of Bessbrook.

3. DECLARED VACANT

ANAGHLONE and GARVAGHY:

REV D. CONKEY: (Anaghlone) Mr John Logan, 4 Bluehill Road, Katesbridge, Banbridge, BT32 5LU. (Garvaghy) Mr James Smyth, 35 Tullyglush Road, Banbridge, BT32 3TN.

ARMAGH, FIRST:

REV G.R. MULLAN: Mr Ian Kyle, 8 Drummanmore Road, Armagh, BT61 8RN.

ARMAGH ROAD, PORTADOWN:

REV N. McCULLOUGH: Dr David Lowry, 5 Ridgeway Park South, Portadown, BT62 3DG.

BALLEE:

REV T. P. McCULLOUGH: Mr John Quigley, 81 Queen’s Avenue, Magherafelt, BT45 6DB.

BALLINA, KILLALA and BALLYMOTE: (Home Mission)

REV D.J. CLARKE: Mr Geoffrey Shannon, Robin Hill, Carraun, Corballa, Ballina, Co Mayo, F26 A070.

BALLYCASTLE and CROAGHMORE:

REV DR ANDRE ALVES-AREIAS: (Ballycastle) Pat Shirley, 22 Dunamallaght Rd, Ballycastle BT54 6PB. (Croaghmore) Andy McGugan, 158 Whitepark Road, Bushmills, BT57 8SS.

BALLYNAHATTY, CREEVAN and FINTONA: REV JONATHAN COWAN: (Ballynahatty & Creevan) Mr John Nevin, 116A Clanabogan Road, Omagh, BT78 1SN. (Fintona) Mr Keith Boland, 119 Blackhill road, Fintona, Omagh, BT78 2LN.

Editor’s Note: Information for this page is supplied by the General Secretary’s Department. Vacancies for conveners of commissions, councils and committees of the General Assembly are online at www.presbyterianireland.org/convenerships

Clerks of presbytery please note: Only material received by the General Secretary’s Department by noon on the first Friday of the month can be included in the Church Record.

BALLYWILLAN:

REV STUART MORROW: Mr Robert Wilson, 13 Millbrook Avenue, Portstewart, BT55 7DZ.

BANAGHER:

REV DAVID BROWNLOW: Mr Ivan J Montgomery, 66 Teenaght Road, Claudy, BT47 4DD.

BELLAGHY and KNOCKLOUGHRIM:

REV J.B. MULLAN: (Bellaghy) Mr Harry Ferson, 12 Railway Terrace, Castledawson, Magherafelt, BT45 8AY. (Knockloughrim) Mr Wilbur Bownes, 10 Meadowell Fold, Westland Gardens, Magherafelt, BT45 5DP.

BELVOIR:

REV B.J. WALKER: Mr Brian Dunwoody, 19 Drumart Drive, Belfast, BT8 7ET.

BOARDMILLS, TRINITY:

REV JOHN TORRENS: Mr Adrian Patterson, 41 Cabra Road, Legacurry, BT26 6NB.

BUSHMILLS:

VERY REV DR D.I.J. McNIE: Rev Martin Gracey, 6 Bush Crescent, Bushmills, BT57 8AJ.

CASTLEDERG FIRST and KILLETER:

REV R.A. ORR: (First Castlederg) Mr Robert Rutledge, 36 Ednagee Road, Castlederg, BT81 7RD. (Killeter) Mr Robert McKelvey, 17 Carrickadartans Road, Castlederg, BT81 7NQ.

CASTLEDERG, SECOND AND URNEY:

REV DAVID REID: (Second Castlederg) Mr Bert Huey, Tossa, 8 Listymore Road, Castlederg, BT81 7JG. (Urney) Mr Norman McMullan, 80 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QT.

CRUMLIN:

REV BEN JOHNSTON: Mr James Livingstone, “Edin”, 56 Largy Road, Crumlin, BT29 4RW.

CUMBER and UPPER CUMBER:

REV S.W. HIBBERT: (Cumber) Mr Cecil Pollock, 248 Tamnaherin Road, Londonderry, BT47 3LY. (Upper Cumber) Mr Jack McFarland, 12 Cregg Road, Claudy, Londonderry, BT47 4HX.

DONEGAL TOWN and STRANORLAR:

REV ROBERT ORR: (Donegal Town) Mr Oswald Perry, Drumenagh, Donegal Town, F94 N7P8. (Stranorlar) Mrs Audrey Chambers, Magheracorran, Convoy, Co Donegal.

DROMARA, SECOND:

REV DR A. SLEITH: Mr Herbert Chambers, 29 Stewarts Road, Dromara, BT25 2AN.

DRUMGOOLAND and KILKINAMURRY:

REV ANDY DOWNEY: (Drumgooland) Dr Alastair Chestnutt, 22 Fruitvalley Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, BT31 9RE. (Kilkinamurry) Mr Mervyn Copes, 43 Carnpark Road, Dromara, Dromore, BT25 2HD.

DUNDROD:

REV R.C. KERR: Mr William McClure, 20 Thorndale Road, Dundrod, BT29 4UD.

ENNISCORTHY and WEXFORD: (Home Mission)

REV M.R.J. ANDERSON: (Enniscorthy) Mr Ian Gibson “Tanglewood”, Monart, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. (Wexford) c/o Mr Ian Gibson.

GARRYDUFF and DUNLOY:

REV C.B. MULVENNY: (Garryduff) Mr Stanley Lee, 12 Cambourne Park, Ballymoney, BT53 7PG. (Dunloy) Mr Jonathan Gault, c/o 26-28 Church Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6DL.

GLASCAR and DONAGHMORE:

REV M. McMAW: (Glascar) Mr Alan Little, 38 Loughbrickland Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HF. (Donaghmore) Mr David Shilliday, 21 Cargabane Road, Donaghmore, Newry, BT34 1SB.

GLASTRY and KIRKCUBBIN:

REV A. GILICZE: Mr James McClements.

GREAT VICTORIA STREET:

REV ALISTAIR BILL: Mr Colin Houston, 23 Beechgrove Avenue, BT6 0ND.

HYDEPARK and LYLEHILL:

REV C.K. McDOWELL: (Hydepark) Mrs Lynas Alexander, 22 Broadacres, Templepatrick, BT39 0AY.

KELLS: (Home Mission)

REV ALAN McQUADE: Miss Ruth McCartney, Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath, A82 PF60.

KILMAKEE:

REV ROBERT LOVE: Miss Aileen Irvine, 5 Aberdelghy Park, Lambeg, Lisburn, BT27 4QF.

KILREA, SECOND: REV DR CLIVE GLASS: Mr John McIlrath, 9 Moyagoney Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, BT51 5SX.

LEGACURRY: REV A. THOMPSON: Mr J Ferguson, 282 Ballynahinch Road, Lisburn, BT27 5LS.

LOUGHBRICKAND and SCARVA: REV DR. MARK GRAY: (Loughbrickland) Mr Fred Cairns, 20 Scarva Street, Loughbrickland. (Scarva) Mr Robert Jordan, 3 Station Rd, Scarva, BT63 6JY.

LURGAN, FIRST:

REV L.W. WEBSTER: Mr Norman McCleery, 12 McCormack Gardens, Lurgan, BT66 8LE.

MONEYDIG:

REV DR S.D.H. WILLIAMSON: Mr Steven Torrens, 115a Agivey Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, BT51 5UZ.

NEWINGTON:

REV DR I.D. NEISH: Mr John Lynass, 8 Bushfoot Park, Portballintrae, BT57 8YX.

NEWTOWNARDS, SECOND:

REV C.W. JACKSON: Mr Ivan Patterson, 11 Heron Crescent, Newtownards, BT23 8WH.

PORTAVOGIE:

REV G.J. SIMPSON: Mr Trevor Kennedy, 1 Cairndore Road, Newtownards, BT23 8RD.

PORTRUSH:

REV DR JOHN COULTER: Prof John Gillespie, 12 Randal Park, Portrush, BT56 8JJ.

RANDALSTOWN, O.C.:

REV G. MOORE: Mr Alun Coulter, 48 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3DB.

RAPHOE and BALLINDRAIT

REV R. EDGAR: Mrs Sylvia Cole, The Common, Raphoe, Donegal.

RASHARKIN:

REV W. MOODY: Mr Norbury Royle, 96 Drumsaragh Road, Kilrea, BT51 5XR.

RATHCOOLE:

REV A. CARSON: Mr Norman Creaney, 7 Coolshannagh Park, Newtownabbey, BT37 9LA.

RATHGAR – CHRIST CHURCH:

REV DR S. MAWHINNEY: Mr Paul Fry, 44 Monolea Wood, Firhouse, Dublin 24, D24 A2V3.

RAVENHILL:

REV J. WARBURTON: Mr Denis Marriott, 216 Orby Drive, Belfast, BT5 6BE.

SCRABO:

REV A. LITTLE: Mr John Doherty, 37 Ballymaleedy Road, Comber, Newtownards, BT23 5RD.

TULLYCARNET:

REV R.S.J. McILHATTON: VINECASH:

REV P.W.A. McCLELLAND: Mr Thomas Graham, 38 Richmount, Portadown, BT62 4JQ.

WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR:

REV J.S. MAGUIRE: (Warrenpoint) Mr Denis Brady, 28 Seaview, Warrenpoint, Newry, BT34 3NJ. (Rostrevor) Mr Terry O’Flynn, 15 Aurora Na Mara, Shore Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3UP.

WATERSIDE:

REV RICHARD TREGASKIS: Mr William McIlwaine, 19 Glenaden Hill, Altnagelvin Park, Londonderry, BT47 2LJ.

WOODLANDS:

REV J. MOXEN: Mr Ian Drysdale, 27 Windslow Heights, Carrickfergus, BT38 9AT.

CHURCH RECORD

continued from page 57

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

BALLYCAIRN:

REV MORRIS GAULT: Mrs Lucy Mulholland, 32 Blenheim Park, Carryduff, BT8 8NN.

BELLVILLE:

REV D.S. HENRY: Mr Mervyn King, 29 Ardmore Road, Derryadd, Lurgan, BT66 6QP.

GRANGE with CRAIGMORE:

REV R.S. AGNEW: Mr Jamie Harris, 32 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3BE.

NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN:

REV JONATHAN COWAN: (Newtownstewart) Mr James Baxter, 22 Strabane Road, Newtownstewart, Omagh, BT78 4BD. (Gortin) Mr Adrian Adams, 32 Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Omagh, BT79 7UE.

SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET:

REV DAVID BINGHAM: Mr Stephen McBride, 28 Ballynahinch Road, Castlewellan, BT31 9PA. (Magherahamlet) Mr David Whan, 74 Castlewellan Road, Dromara, BT25 2JN.

WHITEHEAD:

REV D. CROMIE: Mr Warren Heggan, 44 Middle Road, Islandmagee, Larne, BT40 3SL.

THE ELDERSHIP

Ordained & Installed:

BROOKVALE: Melvin Spires

BALLYMENA, HIGH KIRK: David Boyd, Clive Fulton, Ali MacCorkell, Trevor Magee, David McLaughlin, Ryan Walker, Clifford White, Claire Wilson

KILMOUNT: Victor Vogan

Installed:

BROOKVALE: John Noble

Died:

AHOGHILL: FIRST: Alexander Cameron

COOKE CENTENARY: Olivia Patricia Wilson

ELMWOOD: Thomas Ward

GLENHOY: Rowland Mulligan

OMAGH, TRINITY: Samuel Charles Graham, Ronald Orr WHITEHEAD: John Edwin Dowds

THE MINISTRY

Installed:

Joseph David McGaughey, as Minister of Carnlough-Cushendall and Newtowncrommelin on 3 November 2023

Retired:

Brian Brown, as Minister of Raphoe and Ballindrait on 31 October 2023

Brian Martin, as Minister of Anaghlone and Garvaghy on 31 October 2023

Died

Averil Stevenson, as Minister Emeritus of Kirkcubbin on 27 October 2023

CLASSIFIEDS

Please note: Adverts must be received in writing (email or post) by the first of the month preceding publication to guarantee inclusion. Adverts received after that date will be published if space permits. Advertising rates can be found on the website –www.presbyterianireland.org/herald – or telephone the Herald office on +44 (0)28 9032 2284 for more information.

Accommodation

Northern Ireland

PORTRUSH : Excellent 3-bed first floor apartment available for holiday letting with partial sea view located on Ballyreagh Road. No pets. Min of two nights booking. Contact 07730 159553 or 07769 600382.

ACCOMMODATION TO RENT IN PORTRUSH : The Apartment @ 3:16. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom upstairs apartment with lounge.  Shared kitchen downstairs with washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher on site.  Minimum 2 night stay £90 per night. No.14  – 5-bedroom house (2 doubles & 3 single rooms) fantastic views of Portrush and only minutes to the beach.  Minimum 6 night stay. £190 per night. Private Parking available for both properties.  For more information check out our website  www.portrushpresbyterian.org or email us on info@portrushpresbyterian.org

Republic of Ireland

CO DONEGAL : 3-bedroom farmhouse to rent for holiday accommodation all year round. Pets welcome. 1 mile from Carndonagh town centre. 10 minutes from beautiful local beaches and Ballyliffen golf course. Tel: 00353 749374227; Mob: 08684 48955. €80 per night.

Self Catering

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION: FLORIDA – Disney 20 mins, heated pool etc. SPAIN – East coast, minutes to beach, public travel by bus or tram. NORTHERN IRELAND – North coast, Portstewart, sea views. Contact: geraldsmyth@hotmail.com Web: www.christiancoastalapartments.com

For Sale

PREACHING GOWN: A quality Francis Curley preaching gown made for a six foot person, in excellent condition. Price £90 and MA Hood £20. Contact 07445 840 477 or deespud5@aol.com

for Catholics

Church AV Specialists

PA systems • Loop systems Projectors & screens • Installation & repairs

alan@audiopromotions.co.uk www.audiopromotions.co.uk 07855 450887

West

Kilcooley Presbyterian Church, Bangor

invites applications for the post of Associate Minister with details available from Very Rev Dr Charles McMullen (cmcmullen@presbyterianireland.org) or

Cheryl Miller, Senior Church Administrator (cmiller@westchurchbangor.org)

Closing date for applications, noon Friday 15 December.

Appointment of Convener of General Assembly Council

Applications are invited for the convenership of the following General Assembly Council within the structures of the General Assembly, to take up post immediately following the June 2024 General Assembly: Council for Mission in Ireland

This position is open to ministers, elders and communicant members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Appointment of Conveners of General Assembly Committees

Applications are invited for the convenerships of the following General Assembly Committees: State Education Committee under the Council for Public Affairs Specialist Services Committee under the Council for Social Witness Union Theological College Management Committee under the Council for Training in Ministry

These positions are open to ministers, elders and communicant members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Further information for these posts can be obtained from the Deputy Clerk, David Allen, at the email address below or telephone +44 (0)28 9041 7204.

Application forms may be downloaded from the PCI website at www.presbyterianireland.org/convenerships

Applications, using the pro-forma, should be forwarded no later than 5pm on Friday 19 January 2024 to: deputyclerk@presbyterianireland.org or by post to

The Deputy Clerk, Assembly Buildings, 2–10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast BT1 6DW.

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THE CASE STUDY

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This congregation saved £515! Read the full Case Study here:

New Advertising Rates for 2024

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Classified ads are charged at 40p per word All prices are exclusive of VAT

Registered charities and PCI congregations will receive a 12% discount

Artwork for display advertising should be supplied electronically where possible.

Advertising needs to be booked by the first of the month preceding publication e.g. 1 August for September edition.

If you wish further information about advertising in the Herald or want to place an ad please contact the Herald office in Assembly Buildings. Tel: +44 (028) 9032 2284 Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org