Presbyterian Herald July/August 2023

Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church

wishes to appoint a

Youth and Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Are you passionate about inspiring and equipping young people and children to follow Jesus relevantly in their world today, whilst integrating them into the life of the local congregation?

We are looking for a staff member to fill a strategic leadership, development, coordinating role in the evangelism, nurture and disciple making of the young people and children in our congregation and community. The role requires leadership and team development.

Degree/post graduate qualification in children’s/youth work and biblical studies/theology, and preferably three years relevant, postqualification experience in relevant children’s and youth work.

Salary will be salary scale B1 (£25,522) plus agreed expense costs. Three year temporary appointment with a view to permanent. Role will require access to a vehicle or use of public transport.

To receive further details of job description and personnel specification please apply by email: office@whiteabbey.org tel: (028) 9086 4084 or write to

Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church Office, 602 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT37 0SN.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday, 31 July 2023.

Convoy Presbyterian Church Invites applications for the post of Youth and Children’s Worker

for the congregations of Alt, Carnone, Convoy, Donoughmore, Raphoe and Ballindrait. On a full-time basis (37.5 hours per week) on a 3-year contract, which can be extended.

The Kirk Session wish to appoint a person who will help the Church to realise the stated vision for its children and young people.

Vision: recognising children and young people as a vital part of today’s church, we seek to nurture them towards a maturing faith in Jesus Christ.

Salary: Presbyterian Church in Ireland Salary Scale Band A Point 1 (€29.530.00 per annum)

The nature of the post will require evening and weekend work. Accommodation nearby, with subsidised rates.

Congregational profiles, job description and personnel specification are available from the office. Contact Majella 00353 749147021

Office hours:

Tuesday 9.30am–1.30pm

Wednesday 9.30am–1.30pm

Thursday 9.30am–1.30pm

Closing date for applications 30 September 2023

We are an equal opportunities employer.

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CARRYDUFF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

seeks to appoint a

FULL TIME FAMILY WORKER

The person appointed will be a committed Christian with an evangelical outlook. The work will involve efforts to reach families in the community and assisting with congregational duties and church organizational work involving children and families.

Applicants should possess and be capable of demonstrating effective communicative and interpersonal skills relevant to families, children and young people.

A minimum of two years’ experience in paid employment of family, children’s and/or youth work is essential.

For further information and an application form please contact:Rev A.S. Smyth, 1 Manse Gardens, Carryduff, BT8 8SB Tel: (028) 9081 2232.

Email: a.smyth@hotmail.co.uk

The closing date for receipt of a completed application form is Friday, 29 September 2023.

July/August 2023 No. 850

Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW.

T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284

E: herald@presbyterianireland.org

W: www.presbyterianireland.org

CONTRIBUTORS

Alan Meban attends Kilmakee Presbyterian Church and writes about culture and politics as Alan in Belfast on his own blog and Slugger O’Toole.

John Kyle worked as a GP in East Belfast and was also a Councillor on Belfast City Council from 2007–2023. He is married to Helen and has five adult children.

Rev Niall Lockhart is minister of Ballyhenry Presbyterian Church and convener of PCI’s Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families panel.

Helen Johnston is PCI’s Mission Support Officer and an elder in Elmwood Presbyterian Church.

Editor: Sarah Harding

Subscriptions and Advertising: Edward Connolly; Hazel Gilliland

Design and Layout:

Edward Connolly

Printing: W & G Baird Ltd

The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can only be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. Advertising will not be included if the product or service is deemed to be in conflict with the Church’s official views, or if it is inappropriate for a church magazine. It is not Herald policy to include any editorial content along with adverts. The editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding nonpublication of advertisements or letters.

Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a registered charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); registered charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).

The scourge of loneliness p38

The introverted view p36

Meeting the neighbours p14

The

Cover photo: Jamie Trimble

New chapters

As young people across the country finish their exams and say goodbye to school life, the next chapter beckons them into adulthood, with big decisions to be weighed and made. The significance of this transition has been brought home to me because my eldest child is now at this stage. In the shadow of Covid, the next step seems to have come around all too soon and the leap seems more difficult than it should – or maybe parents always feel this way.

This month we feature PCI chaplain Nigel Craig, who ministers to young people at Queen’s, Stranmillis and Union College in Belfast. Nigel and his colleagues concur that Covid has certainly had an effect on those starting off their university careers. Assistant chaplain Lyndsey notes that the students who didn’t sit A-level exams are ill-used to revision and out of practice when it comes to examinations. She says, “It’s making them more stressed. Pastorally, we’ve had to give a lot more advice and support.”

Nigel also feels that the pandemic has left a legacy of uncertainty and insecurity with young adults. He says, “We want people to find security in Christ. That is where their ultimate peace will come. And it’s an honour to help them along that journey.”

It is perhaps surprising that young people today have the highest levels of loneliness. Dr John Kyle assesses the rise of loneliness in our society and says of the young: “Their world is radically different to that of earlier generations. Face-to-face time between fathers and their Gen Z sons today averages 30 minutes a week.” Echoing an article by Mel Lacy in the May Herald, John says that many of these young people are craving community and relationships, not just with their peers, but across the generations.

Norman Hamilton references Mel’s article in his column this month – struck by the idea that young people often leave the church because they have a biblical veneer rather than any depth of faith. He acknowledges, though, that this is not solely an attribute of the young and sets down a challenge for us all to have a renewed confidence in Christ and the gospel that transforms how we live all aspects of our lives.

As I cut the apron strings and send my daughter off on the next chapter of her life, I found the words of university chaplain Helen Freeburn particularly encouraging: “Know you go into this new adventure with a best friend already by your side and preparing your way… Jesus.” As I trust this for her, it’s also a good reminder for us all – he will never leave us.

Climate change

Dear Editor

It was with some amazement that I read the letters in the March and June Heralds that Christians should not be bothered or concerned by climate change – and should not even be praying about it in our prayer meetings. I do not believe the God whom I worship, who created the whole world would condone such thinking. God gave us the authority over the creation to care and nurture it. Should we not care about people and even the wildlife around the world that are finding it hard to survive because of the warming of the earth?

One writer even criticised the promoting of the wearing of masks to protect against Covid. The sad thing is, millions died around the world from the virus and others were left with long term effects. When the vast majority of scientists around the world talk about the results of climate change and its causes, and virologists tell of the seriousness of how harmful Covid can be, I sit up and listen. We in the West who believe and profess to know Jesus should become more like him as we grow in grace and love for our neighbours. We should at least pray for God’s mercy for the mess our generation has left for our children and grandchildren to clean up. We as believers should be an example to the world that we care for.

Do some people have the

attitude that if we destroy the environment God will come and put it right again just to suit the way we want to live? I don’t believe that it is idolatry to care about the environment. First, we must look at ourselves and then the church to see what the outsider is looking at and if we reflect the God we claim to serve.

John Mulholland Doagh

Gilbert Tennent Dear Editor

As a Herald reader in Scotland, I really appreciated Rev Dr Martyn Cowan’s article on Gilbert Tennent and Presbyterian controversies in 18th century America. It had so many links with similar issues in 18th century Scotland. The attitude to George Whitefield was interesting. After his time in America, he landed in Leith in 1741 at the invitation of leaders of the secession. But the Cambuslang Revival for which he is remembered today was denounced by many at the time as “an act of Satan”. But as in America the secession leaders were later reconciled to Whitefield and his theology.

Perhaps Rev Dr Martyn Cowan could be asked to provide subsequent articles on historical issues, which help in our understanding of who we are and where we have come from.

In the United Free Church of Scotland to which I belong might I say that we have

Letters to the Editor

Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW

Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org

benefited in recent years in various ways from the resources and help given by PCI.

Andrew Scott Milngavie, Scotland

Wholehearted Faith

Dear Editor

The June Herald contained a 4-star endorsement of Wholehearted Faith, a book by the late Rachel Held Evans, who was extoled as “a muchneeded voice”.

Before listening to that voice, readers of the Herald might want to read another review by Megan Hill (managing editor for The Gospel Coalition), in which she points out that for the author, “it’s ok not to know what Christ accomplished when he died, why he died, or for whom he died”, and that she “was ultimately unable to point herself or her readers to faith’s sure resting place: Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners”.

The reader can judge for themselves whether Held Evans is “a much-needed voice” or one whose views are not consistent with the Christian faith.

I certainly want our congregations to read widely and to think deeply. But it would be very sad if they imbibed the doubts of Held Evans. We need voices like Luke, who wrote so that Theophilus would “have certainty” concerning the gospel (Luke 1:4), and Jude, who urged God’s people “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). May voices like these make us alert to the deceptive half-truths of progressive Christianity, which is really not Christianity at all.

Alastair Dunlop

Howth & Malahide Presbyterian Church

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.

Topical Tweets

@PCIModerator

The path of best practice in helping our young people prepare for a flourishing adult life needs to be more fully thought out… and we have something worth contributing.

@CUIreland

This time last year, it looked doubtful that a CU would continue to exist in Maynooth. Read about God’s provision in that part of Ireland. cui.ie/godsprovision-at-maynooth-cu/

@TearfundNI

Great to have become a member of @mapmission, a partnership of agencies who work to inspire and equip the Church in Northern Ireland to follow God’s call around the world.

@EANInews

We have concerns about the legislative change today to RSE provision in Northern Ireland & will continue to engage. We designed ‘Time To Talk’ to help parents & carers have better conversations with their children & schools.

@OpenDoorsUK

An entire family, including a two-year old, were sentenced to life imprisonment in North Korea after the parents were caught with a Bible. The incident is one of many harrowing cases highlighted in a report on religious freedom in North Korea.

@christianorguk

Pupils are increasingly exposed to harmful ideologies in schools. Parents and church leaders are gravely concerned. They want to respond but don’t know how. #saltandlight.

@BibleSocietyNI

Please join us in prayer for the work here in Northern Ireland. Pray for our Bibles for Babies project, for the families it impacts. Thank God for the wonderful team of volunteers who help us every week. Pray for Catherine Hillcox as she leads the work here in NI.

@CAP_NI

Life should not be this tough. Debt and poverty stop people from engaging with friends and family. They cut themselves off and barely survive. This isn’t right. Read more: capuk.org/clientreport

@CTmagazine

Generative AI comes with risks for congregations, including voice clone scams and deepfakes. But it can also help churches to operate: whether writing job descriptions, creating images for a sermon series, or producing smallgroup Bible study videos.

@CIS_UK (Christians in Sport)

“The Christian identity is the only identity in which your identity is received, not achieved… every human desperately needs assurance they are loved regardless of the ups and downs of our performance.” Wonderful truth for every sportsperson!

@liccltd

Archippus is told to ‘complete the ministry’ he received in the Lord. What ministry? What does it mean to complete a ministry? And what ministry has God given YOU where you live and work?

Arise and shine at Bangor Worldwide

Bangor Worldwide has released details of its programmes planned for convention week, from 18–26 August. The highlight will be the Ireland première of If Prison Walls Could Speak, a play run in partnership with Release International and performed by the Artless Theatre Company.

The one-man hybrid multimedia production will be performed in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church on Saturday 19 August, the base for the majority of the convention events, and will tour during the week. This is a play about the imprisonment of a Christian believer in a Sudanese jail and due to the nature of the content, is only suitable for children over 12. Tickets need to be purchased online (£5) from the website in advance and numbers are limited.

Speaking at the launch events this week, Chairman Tom Clarke said, “Our theme for 2023 is ‘Arise Shine’ – from Isaiah 60:1–3… This is clearly an important instruction which Christians must take seriously…

“The majority of the events will be held at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church but there are also events in the neighbouring Baptist Church as well as in Dublin, Drumreagh, Lurgan and Magherafelt. In addition, we are livestreaming some of our meetings to hubs across the country – an exciting extension of the reach of Worldwide during convention week.”

There are specific events for young adults on both Fridays as well as a special Equip Gathering on Saturday 19 in 1st Bangor Presbyterian Church. A ladies afternoon tea event will take place in Bangor Parish Church on Thursday 24 featuring Naomi Dudgeon from Faith Mission and Kate Namate from ShineHisLight in Kenya. Registration will be required for certain events via the Bangor Worldwide website.

For more information and full list of events go to www.worldwidemission.org or follow on social media (@BangorWorldwide on Instagram and Twitter, Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention on Facebook).

Words of encouragement and prayer

Outgoing Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Kirkpatrick, his colleagues in the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) and other church representatives and guests offered words of encouragement and prayer for His Majesty King Charles III in May, when the King visited St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral on the Hill of Armagh.

Below: Peter Wight (from Waringstown Presbyterian, who spoke to the King about the important work of training young leaders in PCI) and Dr Kirkpatrick being presented to the King.

PCI responds to new regulations on sexuality education

Outgoing Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Kirkpatrick responded to the decision by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to lay down regulations regarding relationships and sexuality education (RSE) in schools.

Dr Kirkpatrick said the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland decided to lay down regulations “which will impose a requirement on the Northern Ireland Department of Education to introduce a new RSE curriculum for post-primary schools here, without any consultation or prior warning”.

He said: “The Secretary of State’s actions today are based on the flawed CEDAW report (United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women), which claimed that RSE is ‘underdeveloped or non-existent’. Such judgements were, and are, unfair and unfounded...”

Dr Kirkpatrick continued, “The Secretary of State is insisting upon the teaching of RSE in what he calls ‘a factual way’, in other words without a particular view on moral or ethical considerations. Surely he does not himself need to go back to school to realise that every approach to RSE will be shaped by a larger worldview, as there is no ‘neutral’ understanding of human identity and human sexuality. He is seeking to impose a particular worldview on the education of children in Northern Ireland…

“In an increasingly pluralistic context, RSE of course should be taught in a sensitive and inclusive manner, where teaching is reinforced and supported by policies and processes that schools have in place around safeguarding, bullying and pastoral care…”

Dr Kirkpatrick concluded by saying, “Our children and young people are too valuable to be used as a political football and their education too important to get wrong”.

Photo by Press Eye

Moderator’s trip to Lebanon

Outgoing Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Kirkpatrick travelled to Lebanon on a visit he described as a “precious opportunity to stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ”. The five-day visit focused on a biennial conference organised by one of PCI’s Middle East global mission partners, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL).

Dr Kirkpatrick said, “Historically, PCI has had a long association with the Church in both Syria and Lebanon going back to the 1840s, when Irish Presbyterian missionaries helped to establish a congregation in the Syrian capital Damascus. From that time to the 1970s we sent men and women to the region, our last minister returning in 1984. Today, the connections and partnerships that we have there continue to run deep, and this includes the relationship that we have with one of our oldest partners, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon.”

Dr Kirkpatrick contributed to the morning Bible studies at the conference on the theme of ‘Hope in the midst of despair’.

Moderator at Balmoral Show

On a visit to the Balmoral Show, outgoing Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Kirkpatrick praised farmers and farming families “for the work that they do in providing food for our tables, their contribution to the local economy, while managing the countryside, all of which is often taken for granted”.

Dr Kirkpatrick was speaking as he visited PCI’s Dromore Presbytery stand. While the Moderator’s father and grandfather were Presbyterian ministers – making him a third-generation Presbyterian pastor – his farming roots go much further back.

“Much of my childhood was spent on the farm where my mother was reared, at Ballymena. Here, I developed both an appreciation of the hard work and personal satisfaction of rural life,” said Dr Kirkpatrick, who has been a passionate beekeeper for the past ten years.

Deep disappointment at Shared Education cut

The Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC), which represents the three main Protestant Churches – PCI, Church of Ireland and Methodist Church in Ireland – in education, has said that it is deeply disappointed by the decision to cut the Shared Education budget by 50% and remove financial support for this initiative in the next financial year.

The three Churches transferred most of their schools in Northern Ireland into state control in the early part of the 20th century – hence the terms ‘transferor’ and ‘controlled’ – in return for assurances regarding the Christian ethos of schools and a continued role in their governance.

In a statement following the funding cut announcement, the TRC said: “Pre-pandemic, more than 87,000 children and young people were involved in Shared Education projects. As we continue to emerge from the worst effects of Covid, it is vital that we promote and encourage the growth of Shared Education, which enables staff and pupils from different backgrounds to work together on a regular basis, bringing significant educational, social and community benefits…

“TRC calls on all in government to reconsider this negative impact on the most vulnerable in society and give education the proper funding it requires, and particularly in the area of Shared Education.”

During the Show, he and his wife Joan – who comes from generations of Fermanagh farmers – had an opportunity to meet a number of different organisations. These included the Northern Ireland Agri-Rural Health Forum, the Rural Support team and PCI’s rural chaplain, Rev Kenny Hanna.

Below (L–R): Rev Bobby Liddle, minister of Legacurry Presbyterian, with Dr John Kirkpatrick and his wife Joan and some of the members of the Presbytery’s Balmoral team: Brian Copes, an elder in First Dromara Presbyterian; former PW President Elma Leeburn; and Alan Martin, an elder in Maze Presbyterian.

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

Impressions of the General Assembly

D. Gander from Switzerland

It was an eventful Assembly which impressed me and showed me, once more, that the Presbyterian Church plays an important role in Irish life. The first thing which struck me was the stir created by the Assembly: wide coverage given by the press and the TV informed an interested public. Thus, the interest demonstrated, on the first evening, when crowds of people thronged the approaches to the Assembly’s building, trying to get in for the opening nights. Bustle in the streets, everybody seemed to be there, even the police.

I will not forget the magnificence and the cheerful solemnity of the first night; it appeared that the whole of the Church was there, rejoicing. But it was much more than the display of an imposing ceremony; a new spiritual insight was breathing, something was happening: the Church was not celebrating her own praise, she was no longer devoted to her own service, but encouraged at the onset to follow in the steps of the good Samaritan. She found, I believe, a new concern for the needs of the outsiders, the new dimensions of a total Christian life fully involved in the world. I think two factors contributed to that:

Consciousness of unity. Courageous decisions were taken by a Presbyterianism freed from fear and compromise, for the sake of a better witness to a world hungering for understanding and wanting the reconciling power of the gospel. Revival. Secondly, in these busy and tiring days, the danger was the routine of a very heavy business schedule. But the daily morning Bible studies provided the best way of being awakened. They were refreshing, discovering behind the written word the living Word of God for today.

Why go to Jamaica?

Rev John Dunlop

Communicate or die

W.S. Magee

“The Christian church must communicate or die!” In a voice of passionate intensity, Dr J.W. Welch of the BBC threw down that challenge when he visited our General Assembly at the close of the last war. Today, ironically enough, when men can speak across the oceans and girdle the Earth with pictures bouncing off man-made stars, we have watched the calamitous breakdown of communication at all levels. The Church itself seems to have lost contact with those outside her doors.

The decision to apply to work in Jamaica was made against the background of how I see the world and the church. One of the great problems facing us today is the gap between the rich and the poor nations. The Western nations get richer and the poor get poorer… While the rich countries behave like international pirates, we, in whose name they act, can do what we can to alleviate the effects of their actions.

Allied to the problems of finance is the question of colour. This is the great moral question which has faced white nations for centuries and now perhaps today we are to reap the whirlwind which our predecessors have sown. It was our forefathers who helped to make the present problems in Jamaica. The exploiting countries have not only been white but also Christian. To be able to go to Jamaica as a white Christian at the request of a predominantly coloured church is a privilege, when so many white men want nothing to do with coloured men…

Some people talk about God opening and closing doors. There are hundreds of doors wide open for service abroad for people from Ireland. Given all the above, why not go to Jamaica or India or Malawi? Why stay in Ireland? Maybe it is because I could not answer that question that I applied for Jamaica.

This is the burden of the Moderator’s message to the Church. In his address to the Assembly he asked the Church to face up to the fact that [it] has to bear its witness to and from within a society which becomes increasingly secular…

Also from July/Aug ’68

Billie Jean King wins Wimbledon and earns the first ever prize money offered (£750)

Judy Garland headlines her last concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia

The Beatles launch Apple Records label

Life lessons

Valerie Adams

I grew up in Annsborough, just outside Castlewellan, which from the mid-19th century was an important centre for flax spinning and linen bleaching. There was once a very large spinning mill in Annsborough where my dad worked for a while and then became a farm manager. My mum was a very much-loved primary school teacher. They joined Castlewellan Presbyterian Church where I was baptised and where I am still a member. Just before I started Queen’s University, I became a Christian at an open-air service in Largs where we were holidaying as a family. I benefited enormously from attending meetings of Queen’s Christian Union – it was the training ground where I learnt what it means to be a Christian and how to walk with God.

After graduating in geography at Queen’s University, I caught the archive bug while doing research into the linen industry in the Upper Bann Valley. The opportunity arose to get a job in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) where I had already spent many hours delving into the archives and so began my career as an archivist. In the course of my 37 years in PRONI I headed up every department in archives.

I was due to retire from PRONI at the end of Dec 2009 and about two months before retirement, I bought a newspaper in a shop to check the job vacancies. My eye instantly fell on an advert for a part-time post in the PHSI. I already had contacts with the Society while in PRONI, as one of my specialist areas was church records. I have been able to bring my years of knowledge of archives and experience of running an archive to the Society for the last 13 years.

In the last 30 years there has been a huge surge of interest in family history, both from local people and those from abroad – largely from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is a real privilege to meet people from around the world and to help them find out more about their family tree. As well as family history enquiries we also assist those writing a history of a congregation or exploring an aspect of Presbyterian history. We have not had any famous people visiting the PHSI, but in PRONI I helped the British historian Dan Snow with his research for a TV programme and Lorraine Kelly with her quest for tracing someone’s family history for her morning TV show.

I have always believed that Christians should not just be passive onlookers in church. God calls us to serve him and to use the gifts that he has given for the good of the body of Christ. Very early on in my Christian life I found I had two passions –music and working with children and young people. For many years I have been playing the organ and piano in church (and occasionally the guitar) and conducting the choir. Leading worship has been a great privilege. My days at CSSM led me to recognise that I had a gift for working with young people. For more years than I care to remember I have taught Sunday school (and still do), taught junior Bible class, was a leader in a children’s club for many years, ran a Brownie pack and for a number of years led a young adults’ group. You might wonder how I managed to fit all that in, but that is one of the joys of being single.

Among my favourite hymns is May the Mind of Christ my Saviour. It reminds me of Romans 12:8: “Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” We are to have the same mind as Christ, and letting the peace of God rule our lives, praying that the love of Jesus will fill us, and running the race looking only to Jesus.

By far the best holiday I had was a visit to the Holy Land in the 1984 led by Bert Finlay – not only was it a fun time with great fellowship but just to walk where Jesus walked brought the Bible to life in a very real way. The highlight was being at the Garden tomb on Easter Sunday and singing Thine be the Glory – what a time of rejoicing.

In today’s world there is a distinct lack of commitment. Too many people flit from one church to another looking for the perfect church but they are never going to find it. Being part of the body of Christ means not just receiving but also contributing – praying, caring and serving.

I have been a leader of Brownie Guides for 55 years, from the late 1960s, which has been a complete joy. The pack has always been a cross-community one so it was an opportunity to reach out into the community. Also, what I am most proud of is the fact that so many of those in the young adults’ group whom I led went on to become leaders in the church – in Sunday school, our children’s club, youth group and the kirk session.

Librarian and archivist at the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland (PHSI)

Dementia-friendly garden opened at Trinity House

Trinity House, a 50-bed residential home for older people in Garvagh, has opened a dementia-friendly residents’ garden. The work to create this safe and relaxing space was made possible by generous donations from families and friends of the residents. A large number of family members and people known to the residents attended the coffee morning, where the garden was formally opened by Elizabeth Beggs (a resident in Trinity House), Rev David Brice (convener of the Council of Social Witness) and Dermot Parsons (director and secretary to the Council for Social Witness). The weather stayed fine and thanks to tremendous efforts by volunteer bakers, well over £3,000 was raised for the residents’ comfort fund.

World Development Appeal raises over £460,000

Despite our challenging economic climate, PCI congregations and members have raised to date the tremendous amount of £460,093 for the World Development Appeal 2022.

The appeal, entitled ‘Rekindling Hope: From flight to flourishing’, focuses on those who have been forced to flee their homes and also on the communities in which they have ended up. Almost 90 million people worldwide have fled their homes and journeyed elsewhere in search of safety or a better life.

The appeal is supporting a range of projects including one run by Tearfund’s partner, the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD),

which works with a centre in a suburb of Beirut that is home to Syrian and Palestinian refugees, living alongside undocumented Lebanese people. It supports whole families, providing education for children, health care, psychosocial support and incomegenerating opportunities.

Another project being funded is located in South Sudan, through Christian Aid’s partner, the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC). Due to tribal tensions and conflict, there is significant movement of people around the country; one in every three people in South Sudan is an internally displaced person. The Church’s ability to come alongside the displaced and work for reconciliation in these situations of conflict is unique.

Over £1.5m raised for Ukraine

Presbyterians continue to express their generosity for this appeal such that the total raised now comes to £1,509,393. All funds have been distributed to Christian Aid, Tearfund and Hungarian Reformed Church Aid as they provide emergency relief and ongoing holistic support to Ukrainian refugees and the internally displaced.

PCI Family Festival

Families connected to congregations across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland came together for PCI’s first family festival at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre on Saturday 13 May.

The sun was shining as families enjoyed activities such as archery, sledging, a climbing wall, crafts and even some ice cream. Why not begin to think about families connected to your congregation whom you could invite to be part of Family Festival in 2024?

Events

Caring Together – a women’s ministry event

This autumn, PCI is hosting a special event for women to come together to explore ways to draw alongside and care for those whose lives have been broken.

Hearing from those who are experienced in different areas of caring, participants will gain insights and understanding about issues such as pregnancy loss, mental health issues and how to care for young people.

Guest speaker is Helen Thorne from Biblical Counselling UK.

The event will take place in Assembly Buildings, Belfast on Saturday 9 September from 10.30am–1pm

For more details and to book a place, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/caringtogether

Discipleshaping Church Today

Culture wars, constant connectedness, Covid’s impact, a changing church landscape: being a disciple of Jesus today is far from simple.

So, how can we shape aspects of local church life – worship, Bible engagement and fellowship – to effectively equip members to follow Jesus with courage, commitment and conviction in today’s world?

PCI invites all ministers, elders, staff, leaders and other interested members to explore these questions at ‘Discipleshaping Church Today’. Hear plenary addresses from keynote speaker Andrew Fellows, have your say in discussion forums, and enjoy a light lunch.

This event is taking place on Tuesday 24 October 2023 in Assembly Buildings, Belfast from 10.30am–3pm.

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

Resources

Being a global disciple

Being Global Disciples is a short booklet designed to help congregations think through how to develop and sustain a lively, whole church with involvement in global mission.

Discipleshaping Church

To help busy youth leaders as they seek to disciple their young people, PCI is partnering with Growing Young Disciples to run a brand-new event for young people aged 11–16.

Explore will run identical programmes in three different locations from 7.45pm to 9.30pm:

Friday 20 October 2023 – High Kirk Presbyterian Church, Ballymena

Friday 1 December 2023 – Dundonald Presbyterian Church

Friday 23 February 2024 – Clogherney Presbyterian Church, Omagh

Explore will be a dynamic, interactive event where leaders can bring their young people to explore what life’s all about and discover what it is like to trust Jesus with their whole lives.

More information on Explore and how to book is available at: www.presbyterianireland.org/explore

Apprentice|Train

Is your congregation appointing an apprentice for 2023–2024? Have you recently been appointed to an apprentice position within a local PCI congregation?

Apprentice|Train is a bespoke training programme that equips apprentices with a mix of theological and practical learning while they serve.

Delivered once a month between September and June, this learning community gives apprentices the space to connect with one another, share stories, pray together and further explore essential ministry basics inside and outside of the classroom.

To find out more and book a place on Apprentice|Train before the closing deadline of Monday 28 August 2023, go to: www. presbyterianireland.org/apprentice

Tides

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

Expressions

It unfolds two aspects: firstly, congregational participation centred on developing one or more deep connections with a person, place or project that is the focus for a deep ongoing relationship; and secondly, engaging with a range of easily accessible PCI initiatives that enable exposure to, and involvement in, the breadth of what God is doing in the world. Suggestions are designed to be readily integrated into the existing rhythms of church life and so do not demand a lot of extra effort to create space in already busy congregational agendas.

Booklets cost £1 (euro equivalent) and can be ordered from: www.presbyterianireland.org/globaldisciples

Tides is a simple yet powerful devotional tool designed to fuel the devotional lives of ordinary disciples through a rhythm of daily devotions.

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.

Read with us as we spend summer in the Psalms, exploring how God is our maker, helper, redeemer and faithful friend.

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

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? 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 for use in home group, mid-week or alternative Sunday evening settings to connect themes from different passages of Scripture and open up conversations on how our faith expresses itself in everyday life and witness.

Booklets cost £3.50 (euro equivalent) – minimum order of five. To find out more and to order copies, go to the resources section of the PCI website: www.presbyterianireland.org/expressions

Events and programmes

Looking back, edging forward...

David Thompson sketches an overview of some PCI events and programmes for leaders and young people commencing from September 2023.

The church year drawing to a close has been one that has continued to be overshadowed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a feeling of just getting ourselves back together again and a sense of bearing the weight of the load of doing so. We have much to thank God for as we look back and it is good during the summer season to take time to do so. Looking forward, perhaps we still feel we aren’t quite where we would like to be yet. To help us edge further in that direction, the following PCI events and programmes for congregations and their members commencing from September 2023 are designed to offer encouragement, impetus and momentum for the next stage of the journey.

David Thompson is Secretary of PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness.

Further details

Some details, dates and venues for these initiatives can be found on the events section of the PCI website. Others will be added over the summer. To be kept up to date with the whole range of PCI events, programmes and resources, sign up to receive the e-quip ezine at: www.presbyterianireland.org/equip

Refresh

Regional gatherings will offer an opportunity to come together with other elders to be renewed and refreshed in fulfilling the calling of eldership. While encouraging in-person participation, if possible, kirk sessions or individual elders will also have the alternative of joining a livestream of at least one of the events.

Discipleshaping Church

Foundations

Regional evenings will offer an opportunity to come together with others involved in leading ministry among children and young people to share together and be encouraged and

Explore

These are events for 11–16s in partnership with Growing Young Disciples. They will be dynamic, interactive evening events to which leaders can bring their young people to explore what life’s all about and discover what it means to trust Jesus with their whole lives.

Follow

Discipleshaping Church

As PCI congregations across Ireland hit the reset button on their discipleship practices following the disruption of the pandemic, this event is designed to encourage congregational leaders and other interested members to reflect on what it means to develop the kind of church life that shapes faithful followers of Jesus in today’s world. The day will include opportunities to hear from keynote speaker Andrew Fellows, have a say in one of three discussion forums and enjoy a light lunch.

Leading Edge

This is a programme of five mornings spread throughout the year offering the opportunity to come together with others to explore some key aspects of leading others in the Church today. Each gathering will offer a mix of Bible engagement, equipping for leadership, discussion, personal reflection and development.

Leading Edge

This is a discipleship programme for 16–18s in partnership with Growing Young Disciples. It is designed to enable growth as a disciple of Jesus at this crucial age and stage of life. Delivered in hybrid form, with three in-person gatherings and two online sessions spread throughout the year, participants will gain a grasp of foundational aspects of the Christian faith and grapple with what it means to know their lives shaped by them as they navigate today’s everyday realities and prepare for the next season of their journey of following Jesus.

Neil Harrison highlights an upcoming PCI event designed to help congregations reach out in a multicultural landscape.

Across this island, it is clear that communities are increasingly multicultural as people seek to make Ireland their home, having travelled here for all sorts of reasons. The world truly is on our doorstep and many congregations in PCI are responding in creative and meaningful ways to welcome newcomers. Recent articles in the Herald have featured stories of congregations that are engaging with migrants and embracing them into the community of the Church.

Last month, we learnt of the work in Tullamore Presbyterian, the first PCI congregation to receive a ‘Church of Sanctuary’ award for providing welcome and hospitality to refugees and asylum seekers in the town: “What better opportunity to share Christ’s message of love and redemption with the world than when the world turns up on our doorstep, looking for our help, looking for friendship and hoping for sanctuary” (Rev William Hayes, minister of Tullamore).

We read too about a PCI church plant in Balbriggan, described as Ireland’s most diverse town, with 24 different countries represented in the church family and also about Kilkenny Presbyterian, which is providing a translation of the church service for the Ukrainian families attending.

There is no doubt that congregations in the Republic of Ireland are often more diverse than those in Northern Ireland, but Windsor Presbyterian in Belfast has experienced significant growth in recent years from migrants, stemming from its relationship with PCI’s International Meeting Point. The congregation has seen many people coming to faith in Christ in recent months, which is a huge encouragement. Other congregations are working with asylum seekers who are living in hotels in Belfast and in other parts of this island and others are organising regular conversation classes to improve English and build relationships that open up opportunities to show and share the love of Christ in other ways.

Perhaps your congregation is already engaging with migrants,

reminded by the writer of Hebrews: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1–2). Or perhaps your congregation sees this growing need in the community but is not quite sure where to begin?

Either way, it’s encouraging and helpful to hear stories from other congregations that are engaging in this work in different ways, and then reflect upon what your congregation could do.

Welcoming the Stranger will offer the opportunity to come together with others to outline the importance of it from the Bible, and participate in three discussion forums, sharing practice and stories from a variety of contexts across PCI.

Aimed at ministers, key leaders and those with particular interest in this work, congregations are encouraged to send a few representatives along to the event, as that will be beneficial when it comes to sharing learning and reporting back to kirk sessions.

The event takes place on Saturday 16 September 2023 from 10am–2pm in Drogheda Presbyterian Church. The cost is £5 or the euro equivalent and will include lunch.

Please come along and together discover ways that your congregation might become more welcoming to those in the community from different parts of the world.

Neil Harrison is PCI’s Mission Development Officer.

Welcoming the Stranger

Drogheda Presbyterian Church

Saturday 16 September 2023 10am–2pm

Cost: £5 (or euro equivalent)

For more information, or to book a place go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/welcomingthestranger

…perhaps your congregation sees this growing need in the community but is not quite sure where to begin?

Meeting the neighbours

Earlier this year, I turned 50. It’s one of those reflective moments. A time when you look back and think of places you’ve been, people who have shaped you, and experiences that have brought blessing and encouragement into your life. I smiled when I recently counted up and realised I’ve belonged to, or had connection with, ten Presbyterian churches in the course of my life. I am thankful for each one of them.

Born and baptised into Greenwell Street in Newtownards, our family moved to Lisburn when I was four years old. There, I grew up in Elmwood, which was then a new church, on the outskirts of the town. After university, being part of the ‘PCI year team’ gave me the opportunity to live and work alongside congregations in Garvagh, South Belfast and Ballycrochan in Bangor. At this time, work took me across the border to west Dublin, where for two years I was part of the church family in Lucan Presbyterian. Coming back up north to study for ministry, a training placement led to Malawi and a summer attending

the CCAP congregation at Ekwendeni Mission Station. Then it was back home, and an eventual seven years serving as assistant and associate at Hamilton Road in Bangor before coming to make our home here in Ballyhenry, in Newtownabbey, in 2008.

There are lots of big things that unite PCI congregations and create a ‘bond of union’ between them. However, on the ground, the context within which PCI congregations exist, and the places and the people among whom they are called to live and witness, vary enormously. The Bible encourages us to have a high view of this sense of difference. God is sovereign and it is he who has set the times and the places in which people should live (Acts 17:26). Whether it’s a terrace of houses in the middle of Newtownards, a farm outside Garvagh,

a new development in Lisburn, a student flat in South Belfast, a housing estate in west Dublin or a hilltop view over Ballyholme Bay, the Bible tells us that God has ordered people’s lives so that in these places people might seek God, reach out for him, and find him (Acts 17:27).

I remember 15 years ago when my wife, Zarina, and I moved to Ballyhenry. As we had been preparing for this move, a number of people had shared with us words from Jeremiah 29. That chapter includes the often-quoted lines about God having good plans for his people (29:11), and that was of course comforting to us. That same chapter also contains an invitation for God’s people to ‘settle down’ in the very particular place to which God in his providence had brought them at that moment in their lives.

So I remember when we arrived in Ballyhenry having a huge sense of being wide-eyed, expectant, anticipating new names, new places, new connections –not just in the congregation, but in the community, the place to which we had

When everyone is welcome and everything is free, a door opens into the community.

Niall Lockhart shares how his congregation of Ballyhenry in Newtownabbey has been reaching out to the local community with an event that is free of charge and welcomes everyone.

been called to settle down and make our home.

I can remember getting a pizza for tea on the day we moved in. Going into an Italian pizzeria down the street, introducing myself, taking a note of the person’s name. Maybe they would start coming to the church? Maybe they had a wider network of family or friends who would give rise to an outreach among internationals in the area, or maybe we would just get to know each other over time?

We live in our parish. Our house is a ten-minute walk from the church. Our children attended nursery and primary school just a couple of minutes away from where we live. In many ways, our life these past 15 years has been very local. However, if I think about this honestly, our experience of getting to know people in our immediate community has probably been more limited than I would have imagined when we set out. Maybe selective is a better word. Being part of a church family necessarily immerses you in the lives of a particular community of people within the community. From the perspective of being a pastor, this is a huge privilege, but as someone who is also called to equip people for mission, it can also leave you aware that there are lots of people in the community whom you (or members of the church) rarely meet, let alone get to know.

However, we weren’t long in Ballyhenry before I realised that there were people in the church who were ahead of us in thinking about this and trying to work things through. Not long after we arrived, two individuals from our congregational committee started talking to our elders about the possibility of holding a ‘Meet the Neighbours Day’. The idea was simple in itself: we would put up a bouncy castle in the car park, organise some games, do a BBQ, get a band to play on the back of a lorry, open all areas

of our building for tea, coffee, arts and crafts and invite our local community. Chatting to a leadership whose members I was still very much getting to know, I learned two early lessons about our elders and committee. As they imagined what a ‘Meet the Neighbours Day’ would look like, two things were especially important to them: everyone would be welcome and everything would be free.

Over the years, these foundational commitments have been a guiding light for the development of what has now become an annual event, rebadged this year as a one-afternoon ‘Meet the Neighbours Festival’. The event has grown, with generous funding from our local council and various trusts complementing our own commitment. People who count these things on behalf of the council tell us that up to 2,000 people attended last August’s event.

It has got bigger in scale but we have worked hard to maintain the original

vision, the original heart that brought all this about. When everyone is welcome and everything is free, a door opens into the community. Every church will have neighbours in its community whom it struggles to meet or get to know – people whose lifestyles, beliefs, interests or culture do not readily create natural ‘meeting points’ throughout the year. For us in Ballyhenry, ‘Meet the Neighbours’ has given us, and our community, that meeting place.

Near to the end of the New Testament, 1 Peter is a letter written to groups of scattered Christians who were learning to live as Christ’s witnesses in contexts in which the majority of their neighbours had little interest in, or even at times hostility towards, their faith in Christ. In 1 Peter 5, the ageing apostle traces a connection between a church whose stance is one of “gentleness and respect” to its local community and opportunities to share the hope that lies deep within the heart of those who have experienced personal salvation (5:15). Recently attending a conference in Assembly Buildings, I heard Dr Gary Millar speak. Gary talked about how easy it is for us to overestimate our own importance, and in any context of witness or ministry to imagine that we have more power or significance than we actually do. ‘Meet the Neighbours’ grounds us on an annual basis by reminding us that to see a church grow and flourish in this changing community, a gospel-centred church, reflecting the cultural diversity of our neighbours – this is something that we are powerless to create. Yet that moment of realisation becomes a moment of dreaming dreams, a renewed encouragement to look to the One who is able, in any parish, to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.

Niall Lockhart is minister of Ballyhenry Presbyterian Church.

Every church will have neighbours in its community whom it struggles to meet or get to know.

Fully invested in student life

This September will mark the beginning of Rev Nigel Craig’s first full year as a university chaplain. He switched from parish ministry into the world of chaplaincy part way through the 2022/23 academic year.

His role is wide, stretching from being dean of residence at the Presbyterian student accommodation on Derryvolgie Avenue to being lead chaplain of the small team providing pastoral support for students and staff across the South Belfast campuses of Queen’s University, Stranmillis University College and Union Theological College. And his job description sometimes even extends to supervising snowball fights, and the bouncy castles and barbeque that will signify the departure of many of the

students after the conclusion of their exams in June.

It’s uplifting work.

“I’ve been really encouraged. Seeing the students here at Derryvolgie has made me realise there’s so much loving and faithful parenting going on, and really good local churches. We’re feeling the benefit of that here in chaplaincy, and also seeing it in the Christian Union.

“I liken it to a relay race, passing on the baton. We get the privilege of taking the baton for a few years, running with

I think this generation is characterised by a lack of certainty and lack of security…

Alan Meban talks to Nigel Craig, chaplain at Queen’s, Stranmillis and Union, and his colleagues, about the challenges and rewards of student ministry.

the students, encouraging them in their race. It’s a focused ministry with that particular age group. A lot of the pastoral work in a congregation would have involved funerals, visiting elderly people in hospital and so on, and that’s largely absent, though not entirely as chaplaincy work does include support for staff as well as students of all ages.”

As lead chaplain, Nigel works alongside assistant lay chaplain Lyndsey Ballantine, Derryvolgie’s administrator Vicky Purse and Bethany Burrows, who has been interning with the team this year.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the largest denominational provider of accommodation at Queen’s University, catering for 88 students each year. Union Theological College’s Gibson Chambers offer an additional 26 beds, totalling 114 beds. The three blocks in Derryvolgie are subdivided into three flats, one on each floor, with around ten single bedrooms in each flat along with a communal kitchen. Each flat has two students – community leaders – who have already spent a year living in Derryvolgie.

Vicky says, “It’s different from any other kind of student accommodation”. While students are encouraged to throw themselves into their courses and studies, they’re also expected to be part of the shared life within the Christian community.

At 9pm each Sunday evening, the students gather in the main room. “That’s the one time of the week when we encourage everybody to get together for community worship,” explains Nigel. “We also have small group Bible studies for girls and for guys. We have opportunities for them to pray together, as well as all the other kind of fun activities that spontaneously arise from week to week.”

There are a lot of different options for students. Some stay at home and commute into Belfast. Others live in university halls or private rented accommodation. What’s distinctive about Derryvolgie Hall?

“I think this generation is characterised by a lack of certainty and lack of security. The world was turned on its head by the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change, international terrorism and so on. We can provide a sense of security here in Derryvolgie for students, most of whom are coming from rural

areas into the ‘big bad’ city. We want people to find security in Christ. That is where their ultimate peace will come. And it’s an honour to help them along that journey.”

Nigel is keen that the work of the team is informed by the three transcendentals of classic Christian reflection. “We very much see our calling, here in Derryvolgie and elsewhere on campus, to be a voice

for the truth, goodness and beauty of Christ. I think sometimes in the Northern Ireland context there’s such an emphasis on truth that occasionally we miss out in the goodness and the beauty – and that’s in no way to take away from the significance of truth. But we should also want to be known as people who are promoting the goodness of Christ and the beauty of Christ as well.”

Lyndsey expressed the ambition of “togetherness” among the Derryvolgie students, “wanting to support the students in their university life, and provide them with opportunities not only to receive discipleship, but to grow and to serve the wider campus”.

Students have been helping out at Ravenhill Presbyterian’s Free Food Fridays. This year, the congregation’s food bank has expanded so that people using it can stop and share tea or coffee and a chat with the volunteers.

Another opportunity for volunteering has been with the homework clubs at South Belfast Friendship House (just off Sandy Row).

Presbyterian volunteers along with partners run Toasties and Tunes once a week in the main Queen’s Elms student village. This is a regular Christian presence among the student population –with toasted sandwiches, live music and open space for conversation and sharing the love of Christ – that grew out of a tragic suicide on campus some years ago. The chaplains wanted every student to know that there were people to whom they could turn if they needed to talk.

We want people to find security in Christ…it’s an honour to help them along that journey.

Every Wednesday evening during term time, I-meal provides food, entertainment and conversation for international students at Fisherwick Presbyterian. Themed events have celebrated Christmas, St Patrick’s, Easter and even a Burns Night complete with addressing the haggis!

Coming to study in Belfast can be a big culture shock. And it’s not just the international students who need help to feel at home.

“A lot of our residents arrive in Derryvolgie and they’re anxious about this new chapter of their lives,” says Lyndsey. “They’re often moving from smaller, rural areas up to the big smoke. At the welcome weekend, freshers will get to know the other people in their flat and elsewhere in the building. They’ll meet people who end up

becoming friends for life when they leave Derryvolgie.”

Living away from home also brings a sense of independence and freedom that some find overwhelming. “Some thrive, others get really worried about classwork or finances, and even simple things like washing, cooking and shopping, which are new to them.” Bethany says that “later in the year, it’s lovely to see students who were at first struggling but are now coping brilliantly.

“They’re discovering the next part of their faith journey too,” adds Lyndsey.

“Growing up and figuring out who they are as a person without having their parents over their shoulder. All of these things can put pressure on a student. The good news is that the support structures have been working and our students at Derryvolgie have been speaking up when they’re struggling.”

A big part of university life is about studying, and that’s not lost on Nigel. “We want to encourage everyone to be good students on campus, to study to the glory of God, to really, really apply themselves to their studies. To excel in that by the grace of God.”

The Covid pandemic had a big impact on chaplaincy work. The halls of residence closed for a period. Students attended online lectures from home. When they returned, they had to bubble within their flat groups. “We’re so used to having them come into the office, telling us about their lives,” says Vicky. But suddenly students had to talk through the office window but come no closer.

The effects of Covid linger. Lyndsey has noticed that the students who didn’t sit A-level exams and were instead marked on their coursework are ill-prepared for revision and out of practice when it comes to written examinations. “It’s making them more stressed. Pastorally, we’ve had to give a lot more advice and support.”

The chaplaincy team are keeping a focus on mental health and well-being, promoting good sleep routines and patterns of study. Nigel also observes a “hunger for being together” after the pandemic isolation. The Christian Union mission week across Belfast in January

We very much see our calling…to be a voice for the truth, goodness, and beauty of Christ.

saw 400–500 students gathering each evening, and the organisers had to switch to running two sessions every night to squeeze everyone into the venue.

Another effect of Covid was that the chaplaincy’s Elmwood Avenue premises – formerly the Bush, then Café Grace – was shut. Getting the building back up and running as a space to reach students and staff on the main university campus is one of Nigel’s priorities. A partner organisation is being sought to reopen the coffee shop – one that would see it as a mission as well as commercial opportunity. In the meantime, the team members have been using the empty facility for a monthly staff prayer fellowship, a student study space and for Advent and Lenten services.

It’s not all about Queen’s. The chaplaincy team also makes a point of serving culinary treats to the students in Union Theological College before worship in the chapel each Tuesday morning. And plans are afoot to provide pastoral care for students staying in Union’s Gibson Chambers accommodation.

Visibility on the various campuses is also a priority for Nigel. Every day during the exam season, he walked around the library, present and available to students

who were struggling or needed a chat. “As chaplains, we’ve a huge privilege of being there for the students as they revise and even as they go into their exams.” A body warmer with ‘Chaplain’ emblazoned across the back will make him even easier to spot next year! “We don’t want to be off-putting, but we do want to be recognisable and approachable.”

Nigel feels very welcome on campus: “From the cleaners in the Students’ Union, the groundsmen, security and

administrative staff, librarians and lecturers, and the university leadership I’ve sensed a real openness for the work of chaplaincy. We’re very welcome on campus.”

Chaplains attend graduation ceremonies and organise the annual Queen’s carol service. At the start of the recent Agreement 25 conference marking the anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, the denominational chaplains hosted a prayer breakfast, which was attended by the Minister of State, Steve Baker MP.

Life in chaplaincy is certainly never dull, and they have to adapt to every new situation. One of the team’s strongest memories of the year was when snow began to fall on the night of the Derryvolgie formal. “We called it off early because we wanted to let the hotel staff get home rather than them being stuck at work, so we all arrived back here and had a snowball fight.”

Lyndsey sums the joy of her job as “getting to be fully invested in the lives of students”. Nigel agrees: “It’s brilliant. They are great advocates for Christ and it’s a pleasure and a blessing to watch them live for Christ every day.”

The effects of Covid linger… “Pastorally, we’ve had to give a lot more advice and support.”

Nigel and Antonia Craig with Bethany Burrows, Lyndsey Ballantine and Vicky Purse

PCI university chaplains

University of Ulster (Jordanstown and Belfast)

Joyous anticipation and daunted dread. You’re excited to be starting university, getting away from home, becoming more independent, more adult, finding your feet and stretching your wings. But there’s so much to think about, it can be overwhelming.

Like young Jeremiah setting out in life, with dreams bigger than his confidence, God has a word of encouragement for you in Jeremiah 1:4: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

So, to use that most frequently repeated phrase in the Bible, “Fear not!” The way is prepared for you. Step forward in confidence. Whatever challenges you face, there are solutions or ways to accommodate them.

Do plan ahead as much as is reasonably possible, but remember that some things are out of your control.

Do try to get accommodation booked. Think about cost. And about how you can get to know people without pretending to be a version of yourself that you really don’t want to be.

Do go to freshers events, and not just the stuff you already know you’re good at. Try new things, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Laugh at yourself for being bad at new things, and use the opportunity to make others feel good about themselves.

Do take every reasonable opportunity to meet different people. The more sober you are, the better company you’ll be, and the more likely you are to make good decisions about who you’re going to spend time with.

Do connect with the chaplaincies and a local church and the Christian Union. See what volunteering opportunities there are that can genuinely feed your soul and encourage you to deepen your discipleship as you care for others. Bring Jesus with you everywhere and see through his eyes.

Do attend lectures and do all the reading and assignments. If you can get ahead of the reading list, your understanding of the subjects will increase exponentially. Plan for growth, stability, learning and the deepening and broadening of your whole being. Exciting times! Go with God.

Rev Cheryl Meban (cmeban@presbyterianireland.org)

University of Ulster (Magee)

Over the past five years, I have enjoyed the privilege of serving the Lord part-time at Magee. During this season, the Londonderry campus has increased greatly in size, both in accommodation and in

the number of new courses offered and a consequently everincreasing student population. The new Medical School, in particular, has attracted many more post-grad and international students.

Chaplaincy at Magee is simple. A small team of volunteers offer free tea, coffee and chat to the passing student body. This takes place weekly in the main teaching block as a means of building up relationships, with constant prayer for spiritual conversations about Christ and God’s way of salvation with the many who are spiritually lost. A range of good gospel literature, including Bibles, are on offer for any and all who wish to receive God’s Word. The interest is amazing and we are generally encouraged in this outreach.

Part of this ministry is to be an encouragement to young Christian students. The CU at Magee has grown year on year as God has brought in many believers from many nations. It is encouraging to see some linking up and becoming involved in the life of local congregations as part of their discipleship outside university life on a Sunday or helping out with church organisations during the week.

For any young Christian coming to Magee, I would simply advise you to get in contact with and get involved with the CU on your arrival during Freshers Week. Details of Magee CU and freshers activities are available via Facebook or Instagram. Chaplains are always on hand if particular help or support are required. You are not on your own! Joshua 1:9 says: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Rev Graeme Orr (gorr@presbyterianireland.org)

University of Ulster (Coleraine)

Going to university for the first time! What an exciting prospect with so many new opportunities to look forward to. Meeting new people. Moving to a new place. Making the most of new openings for sports, music, drama, politics and volunteering in a wide range of interest areas. Pursuing a course of studies that interests you and that will help to prepare you for the rest of your life. A university experience that will help give you greater knowledge, sharper life skills, more confidence and may well give you better employment prospects too.

In the midst of all the excitement and necessary preparations for travel, accommodation, books, clothes, finance and cooking, to mention but a few, I encourage you to think about how you will make provision for your spiritual health and vitality when you go off to university. With all the exciting new opportunities come new challenges and new temptations. Accepting increased freedoms and personal responsibilities is an important part of growing up but it is not always as straightforward as we might imagine, so it is crucial to have good support structures in place. Make a conscious commitment to attend church regularly,

PCI’s university chaplains across Ireland share some thoughts for students preparing for studies in September.

whether at home or by joining a congregation near the university. Get involved in the CU – here in Coleraine we have an excellent CU, regularly attended by around a hundred students each Wednesday evening. I’m available in the chaplaincy office (L101) each Wednesday from 10am–4pm – please call in and say hello or get in contact and we can meet at another time that suits better.

John Coulter (jcoulter@presbyterianireland.org)

University of Galway

“I will be with you!”

When we go off into new adventures, it can be quite lonely at first and a bit overwhelming.

If you are a student heading to college/university/further studies or training, please know there are lots of support systems for you as you embark on this new adventure, which can be both exciting but also stressful.

If you’re coming to Galway, please know we’re here to support you in any way we can. You may be enrolled in the University of Galway, or the Atlantic Technological University or another college in Galway. We’d love to meet you – our church is found just off Eyre Square if you’d like to come, say “hi” or join us on a Sunday at 11am. We have student lunches once a month and other activities and there are lots of other great churches around Galway too.

One of the biggest hurdles for students moving to Galway is finding accommodation. Do come in person to look if you can, and be reassured often students secure accommodation at the last minute. We’ve seen God answer prayer time and again regarding this stressful issue. If stuck, get in contact – I can link you up with other students who can give their advice or help.

Galway is small enough but if you’d like help navigating your way around, don’t hesitate to get in contact – either myself or some of our students would be happy to meet up, help with advice or get some food together. There is a full-time chaplaincy service on site in University Galway, there is a Christian Union (called Dóchas) and there are a lot of wonderful staff members ready to support and help you.

When I went to college in Belfast a long time ago, I tried to avoid churches and Christians for a year. I soon realised life is way better when lived walking with Jesus. Know you go into this new adventure with a best friend already by your side and preparing your way, who is with you – Jesus.

Mary, one of our students who will be full-time on campus this year as a CUI Relay worker, adds: “We’d just love to see you at Dóchas – we meet every Thursday on campus and we’ll have a stand at Freshers Week. Look out for us, we’ll be looking out for you!”

Rev Helen Freeburn (hfreeburn@presbyterianireland.org)

Maynooth University

Maynooth University (MU) is a fast growing and dynamic institution. Founded in 1997, it emerged from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, the Roman Catholic Seminary based here, and, since then, has gone from strength to strength as a secular education campus. It now has over 13,000 students and more than 900 staff from over 20 countries.

During term time, student life in Maynooth has a huge influence on the town, counting for around 50% of Maynooth’s population. It is a very fun and successful place to study but it also sees huge needs and struggles arise amongst those who come. Accommodation costs are crippling and many students either must commute from home or travel significant distances every day to attend. Its large international student population often struggles with cultural differences, and many students have to cope with personal loneliness and hurt. The social, relational, alcohol and drug realities of campuses can often lead to some very difficult situations.

Over the years, as a chaplain and as a church, we have found three vital steps to be necessary in order to connect with these much-loved members of our community:

The first is presence. Entering into their world, being on campus, going to and participating in events, offering hospitality after church, simply walking around praying for the student community – each of these is a crucial part of our engagement. The second is service. When we get involved and students and people on the campus leadership get to know us, and start to feel comfortable with us, almost always there will come opportunities to offer our help and support. From assisting in getting accommodation, setting up rooms, stewarding for a special event, volunteering at post-event catering – often we will find places in which to serve that build new relationships and credibility with the staff and student leadership around us.

The third is leading. Getting to know people, showing them that we are there to care for and serve them, is almost always the key to unlocking the opportunities we desire to lead. In promoting and running such things as student lunches, thanksgiving dinners, Alpha courses, discussion forums, day and weekend retreats, we then find the relational connections to explain why we do what we do. And then our conversations, as well as our prayers, get to be about Jesus.

Rev Keith McCrory (kmccrory@presbyterianireland.org)

Know you go into this new adventure with a best friend already by your side… Jesus.

Mary and Helen

Facing the painful trial

David Clarke

Studies in 1 Peter 4

Barbara McClintock was an American botanist who specialised in research into how chromosomes change during reproduction in maize. In 1951, she published her results. At that time, only a handful of people knew what she was talking about, and they all were convinced she was wrong! For 30 years she went on with her work, not caring what the so-called experts thought. But late in the 1970s other researchers painfully arrived at the conclusion she had reached all those years before. Awards and recognition followed, including the only unshared Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. When awarded the prize, she explained her quiet tenacity: “When you know you are right, you know that sooner or later it will come out in the wash.”

Tenacity of that order is required of those who live the life of faith. “Painful trial” is unavoidable. For Peter’s readers, it could mean the flames of fire, or the fury of the lion’s mouth. For modern believers, the ‘painful trial’ can be the sneer of intellectual contempt, the social cold shoulder or the flaunting of lifestyles that we deplore.

Peter encouraged his readers, firstly, to accept such opposition as a badge of honour: “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed” (v14) and “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (v16). To be maligned in that way is to join a noble company, for, said Jesus, “in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12).

Peter’s second word of advice to his hard-pressed readers was to commit the issue to God: “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (v19). The verb ‘commit’ is interesting, for it is the word Jesus used on the cross (Luke 23:46). It is a banker’s term, indicating the lodging of something that we are confident will be kept safe. In the midst of difficulty, we should not doubt the interest or concern of our faithful Creator. Our confidence can be that of Paul who, within days of facing the executioner, was “convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Barbara McClintock followed the light of truth, confident that in God’s world, truth would prevail. So too did Sir William Willocks, the engineering brain behind the building of the Aswan Dam, designed to harness the tremendous power of the River Nile. Various permissions were refused and he began

to feel that there was no God at the helm of the world. In his dejection he had a vision of his father, dead some 14 years. They talked in the old, familiar way, and the gist of his father’s advice was this: “Keep on at the building of your great dam. Walk in the light of your God-appointed duty, and your reward will come.” In our fallen world, we can safely entrust our cares to him.

Peter advanced another consideration by reminding his readers that they would be “overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (v13). Peter is not suggesting in any way that our sufferings complement the sufferings of Christ, for his sacrifice was complete, “once for all” (1 Peter 3:18). Rather, we discover, as did Daniel’s friends in the burning furnace, that another is with us (Daniel 3:25).

After trial comes glory. Paul has a wonderfully balanced sentence on this theme when he wrote to the Corinthians: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The contrast is all the more dramatic when we realise that the Hebrew word for ‘glory’ really means ‘weight’. Our troubles are momentary, our glory is eternal; our troubles are light, our glory outweighs them all.

As Christian people, we believe in a life beyond this one, guaranteed by our Saviour’s resurrection. It will be a world where the imperfections and injustices that mar human experience are all rectified. As John put it: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21:27). It will be a world where there is no hunger, no thirst, no pain, no tears, and where the Lamb is the light.

Martin Luther was once warned of a plot on his life. He was shaken at first, but then a flush of shame crossed his cheeks as he squared his shoulders and said boldly: “Contemptible! Contemptible! Christians are conquerors and the lords of death.”

For modern believers, the ‘painful trial’ can be the sneer of intellectual contempt, the social cold shoulder or the flaunting of lifestyles that we deplore.

Mission Connect

Stepping back and handing over

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.

A busy summer ahead Edwin and Anne Kibathi

Stepping back and handing over James and Heather Cochrane

Celebrating a milestone Rev Damien Burke

What’s the Story?

Tom Dowling

The challenge of communicating Rev Mark Proctor

Gathered in order to be scattered Christine Craig

Including July/August prayer diary

A busy summer ahead

Edwin and Anne Kibathi

Global mission workers, PCEA UK London

Greetings from London.

We thank God Almighty for bringing us this far into the year 2023. Despite the challenges that come with the cold and wet season, during the past four months, most of the scheduled events were able to take place. One key event was the training of leaders from all of the PCEA UK outreach congregations, followed by induction services in their respective locations. Another was a trip to the Holy Land, where we led a group of 25 people to visit the land of the Bible.

is always given a space to put up a prayer and evangelism tent. At previous events, we have met and prayed with many people, some of whom end up joining our church.

We also expect to continue visiting all the congregations as we take forward the task of encouraging them and also raising and mentoring leaders.

As we approach the summer season, we expect to become busier with more events having been scheduled. These are: The Woman’s Guild Week where we join the wider PCEA Church in its annual event. This year, the programme starts on Monday 29 June and climaxes on 4 July. During that week, the women will hold two prayer services via Zoom and also visit some sick or needy people within their respective communities. On Sunday 4 July, all the congregations will gather in London to worship together. The service will be led by the Woman’s Guild. The Kenyans and their friends in the park. This is an event where Kenyans in the UK and their friends go to the park to socialise. Kenyan food, products such as clothes, and entertainment are available. Businessmen from Kenya with products also attend to meet with those with an interest in investing back home. PCEA UK Outreach is a major partner as far as this event is concerned and

Church school combined service. We also expect to bring together in London as many children as possible from all our congregations. This will be an opportunity for the children to meet their friends whom they meet only on Zoom. This event is scheduled to take place towards the end of July. Seaside get-together event. This is another popular event facilitated by the men’s fellowship. Families with their invited guests gather to have fun and food together. We thank God that this event was able to resume last year after the Covid-19 interruption ended. We also expect to continue visiting all the congregations as we take forward the task of encouraging them and also raising and mentoring leaders.

Please pray:

• Thank God with us for his faithfulness in bringing us this far.

• Thank God for journeying mercies and in particular our trip to the Holy Land.

• Pray that all the events will go smoothly, will have a spiritual impact upon the lives of those attending and will bring glory to God.

Stepping back and handing over

James and Heather Cochrane Global mission workers, Portugal

We arrive in Ireland in early July to begin a 6–12-month sabbatical, during which time we hope to do some study and reflect and pray about future ministry. We finished our formal involvement with Pedras Vivas (CPV) at the end of June and are thankful for Pastor Luciano, also a pastor in the Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal (ICPP), who will be responsible, with the help of the three recently elected elders, for the oversight of CPV until a new pastor can be called to lead the congregation.

May and June were a time of transition for us. While we were still physically present and involved at CPV, we were also beginning to step increasingly into the background. It was difficult as we have been so hands-on since the very beginning of the church planting project. However, it was also very exciting to see how God was preparing and mobilising his church. We are thankful for our church family in CPV, for the gifts of God’s people and their willingness to serve. Handing over ministries has been a fairly straightforward task as many have agreed to assume leadership roles and commit more time to service within CPV. The elders and deacons have been a great support and help during these weeks of transition.

As well as winding up with ministry in CPV, we also had to pack up and move out of our apartment, which had been our home for the past ten years in Porto. In the midst of the packing up and preparing for the next stage, we naturally began to think over this period of 15 years of ministry (we were in the Algarve for

five years before moving to Porto). We are so thankful to God for the privilege of serving the Portuguese evangelical community through theological education and church planting. We are also very thankful for the dedicated and committed prayer support and encouragement of many congregations and individuals within PCI during the past 15 years. As we step back from hands-on ministry in Portugal at this time, please continue to uphold this part of Western Europe in your prayers. The spiritual needs are immense, but God continues to be at work through faithful believers who consistently live out their Christian lives among so many who are religious but have little or no understanding of Jesus and the gospel of grace.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for Pastor Luciano and the elders and pray for them as they lead the church during its vacancy.

• Pray for the leaders of all the church ministries, giving thanks for their commitment.

• Pray for Portugal, asking God to pour out grace and mercy and that through the faithful witness of churches like CPV, many would come to know Jesus.

• Pray for us as we settle into life in Ireland and that our sabbatical will be a time of refreshment as we seek the Lord’s guidance for our future.

We are so thankful to God for the privilege of serving the Portuguese evangelical community through theological education and church planting.

Celebrating a milestone

In August 2022, Drogheda Presbyterian Church celebrated ten years of being at the new site on Colpe Road. To celebrate this milestone, we held a community fun day to which the church family and the wider community were invited to enjoy games, ice cream, face painting and a hog roast. The anniversary also gave us time as a church to reflect and praise God for his faithfulness, blessings and kindness over the past decade.

We are so thankful to God for the way he has grown this church over the years into a family from so many different nations of the world. This richness within the church is not only a good thing when it comes to learning about God’s church worldwide, but it also helps us to focus on the gospel and how we are one in Christ. The footprint of our church family is extensive across not only Drogheda but other neighbouring towns, as believers live in different areas, work in a variety of jobs and attend different schools and colleges. We long to be good witnesses for Christ wherever he has placed us. We are so thankful to God for the provision of a building that allows us to be embedded into the fabric and daily life of our town so that Christ may be known and proclaimed.

The church toddler group every Thursday morning has been an exciting ministry and has continued to build relationships with parents, grandparents and carers who are not connected with our church. There have been wonderful opportunities to share the gospel and offer prayer for those who come along. Some families

have attended church services and events off the back of the work done at the toddler group.

On Saturday 13 May, we had our “church weekend at home”. We were delighted to see so many of the church family come along for teaching from 2 Peter, a children’s programme from CEF, activities, food and fellowship and, of course, the camp-out overnight for the brave! We had a soup lunch after the Sunday morning session that tested the hall capacity to its limits. Praise God!

Our Sunday morning service at 10.30am continues to see visitors and newcomers come along each week and one of our many challenges is to be continually welcoming and connecting meaningfully with these individuals and families.

Please pray:

• For the upcoming August holiday Bible club from Tuesday 22 August to Thursday 24 August.

• That we as church would continue to grow in our knowledge and love of God.

• For the town and the surrounding areas within County Louth/ Meath – that more gospel churches would be established for the glory of God.

Rev Damien Burke

Drogheda Presbyterian Church

This richness within the church is not only a good thing when it comes to learning about God’s church worldwide, but it also helps us to focus on the gospel and how we are one in Christ.

What’s the Story?

During late 2022, an initiative was launched that allowed evangelical churches in Ireland to sign up to be part of a nationwide outreach. Called What’s the Story?, the initiative sought to answer from the Bible some of the big questions that people have about life and God. The team involved produced testimony videos, apologetics material, tracts, banners etc. along with a website and an interactive online map highlighting participating churches for those who wished to connect. Kilkenny Presbyterian Church signed up to be involved.

During door-to-door visitation, many people were open to choosing a particular leaflet from the set and engage in gospel conversations.

The What’s the Story? team also produced a series of six tracts, which sought to answer various questions such as “Is there anyone out there?” and “Is there hope in the face of death?” During door-to-door visitation, many people were open to choosing a particular leaflet from the set and engage in gospel conversations. Some wanted to take the whole set of six –they were that well received.

One of the activities we undertook was to run a six-week series of meetings in a local community centre. Preparations were made, lots of houses visited, invitations given out, conversations had and promises of attendance received. I’d love to say that many people from outside the church turned up to hear the Word of God, but that was not the case. When the event launched, all those who attended were people we already knew, who had a connection to the church and who, of course, we were very glad to have.

We were much encouraged that one lady who had recently begun attending church came to most of the meetings, and when they were over, she continued to attend church and a follow-up Bible study in the same community centre. A couple of weeks later, she professed faith in Jesus, and has begun to have a desire to see family members and others come to Christ. Please pray that she will flourish in her faith.

As a welcome gift, and to make people aware of what’s going on at the church, we delivered specially printed What’s the Story? copies of John’s gospel, along with information about the church in a couple of new housing estates in the city. In July, the plan is to use the material as part of a children’s club, which we will run in a community centre we haven’t used before.

Many thanks for partnering in this work. In all of this we are confident that God’s Word will not return void.

Your prayers are very much appreciated.

Please pray:

• For continuing gospel conversations with various people.

• For those who received tracts, booklets and gospels.

• For the lady who professed faith.

• For the July children’s club plans: children to come along; enough leaders to be available; and most importantly, children to come to faith in Jesus.

Tom Dowling

Irish mission worker, Kilkenny

The challenge of communicating

Rev Mark Proctor

Part-time health care chaplain, Tallaght Hospital

Back in April, it became no longer compulsory for hospital staff to wear facemasks throughout the building, and this has made such a positive difference. Finally, it is again possible to clearly see the faces of others, and for them to see yours. The wearing of masks hindered communication for everyone, and that certainly included chaplains for whom facial expressions can be almost as important as the words spoken. Being able to see the relief or anxiety in a patient’s face, or simply exchange a smile, is invaluable. Every facial gesture helps shape the pastoral conversation in order that the most appropriate support can be given. That is true regardless of what faith or worldview the patient or staff member holds.

However, even without masks, communication remains difficult for the growing number of patients who have little or no English. That includes many who have fled the war in Ukraine, but also those from numerous other nations too. On top of the tragic circumstances that have brought these dear folks to Ireland, the language barrier adds to the challenges they face. While interpreters are arranged for important meetings with consultants etc., the care given by nurses and other staff has to be explained using translation apps on mobile phones or what looks like a mixture of sign-language and charades. Like many other staff, I often find these interactions quite frustrating, as only the most basic communication is possible, and even that requires much effort. However, it has proven so important to persevere. We can only imagine the isolation they already feel, and therefore it really is worth doing anything we can to lessen that. With those who are Christian believers, some of these encounters have been beautiful

moments, even though Scripture or prayer was shared via Google Translate.

Sadly, as Ireland becomes increasingly secular, the number of patients who record their religion as “none” also grows. I have witnessed this even during the ten years that I have been a hospital chaplain. Few of these folks are militant atheists, but instead most are former Roman Catholics who have become apathetic to matters of faith. Therefore, gospel opportunities frequently arise. In fact, greater spiritual progress is often possible with those labelled “no religion” than is possible with those who follow one of the world’s many religions. The great need for each person is Jesus, and it’s such a privilege to share with patients about him. No matter what a patient’s beliefs are, it’s important to be sensitive and gentle when exploring matters of faith, and always to bring whatever comfort is possible. As you can imagine, this isn’t easy, but God is gracious and equips for the task.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for the end of pandemic restrictions in hospitals, including the return of visiting times for patients’ family members and friends.

• Pray especially for patients with little or no English.

• Pray for chaplains (plus the ministers and pastoral visitors from neighbouring churches) who visit in your local hospital. Find out their names. Pray for them, and pray for their ministry with patients, families and staff.

• Most of all, pray for gospel opportunities, because only Christ offers the genuine hope we all need, both in life and in death.

…greater spiritual progress is often possible with those labelled “no religion” than is possible with those who follow one of the world’s many religions.

Gathered in order to be scattered

PA to secretary for Council for Mission in Ireland

In these last six months, I have been part of planning and delivering two retreats for different groupings of people serving under mission in Ireland: one was an overnight gathering for ministers in the home mission and the other was for mission personnel, i.e. deaconesses, Irish mission workers and community outreach workers. One of the aims of these retreats was to encourage those serving in various ministry settings to pause for a short period of time and step out of their regular pattern of activity into a time of rest and refreshment – something that can often be difficult to prioritise in the midst of busy schedules. Pausing for rest and refreshment may not come naturally to many of us; there are many programmes to plan and many needs to be met, but in order to protect ministry for the long haul in today’s ever-changing world, pausing to rest, be refreshed and develop resilience is essential. Jesus himself prioritised time away from the crowds when he would rest both in the presence of his Father and also spend time in a smaller group with his close disciples. The home mission ministers gathered together for a 24-hour period in Athlone, the location intentionally chosen due to its centrality in the island of Ireland. Ministers gathered from the very north, south, east and west of Ireland and benefitted from time together, sharing with others serving in similar settings. There is something very special and extremely helpful about sharing with others who have similar experiences and this was clear as conversations flowed.

Fellowship within the group was a real highlight, as was the time of worship that took place in the evening, when eyes were taken off specific situations and contexts and instead focused on the

Almighty God – whom all of those present have been called to serve.

Those on the mission personnel retreat gathered together in beautiful surroundings and it was lovely to see smiles and hear conversations as people gathered together in a large group for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The group received teaching on the topic of leadership from Dr Alan and Pauline Wilson, with time offered to reflect and rest in the presence of God. It was important to provide space to process what had been heard as well as to be able to intentionally listen and spend time talking to God.

Having gathered together for a short period of time, those present at both retreats hopefully felt refreshed and equipped as they scattered back across Ireland to serve in ministry and mission in their different contexts.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for both the home mission ministers’ retreat and the mission personnel’s retreat and pray that the benefits of these times would continue to be felt for those attending.

• Pray for all those involved in mission in Ireland – that they would prioritise times of rest and refreshment in the midst of their busy schedules.

• Pray for the Lord’s blessing for those involved in mission in Ireland – home mission ministers, chaplains, deaconesses, Irish mission workers, community outreach workers and those serving in missional projects.

Christine Craig

Pausing for rest and refreshment may not come naturally to many of us…but in order to protect ministry for the long haul in today’s everchanging world, pausing to rest, be refreshed and develop resilience is essential.

n CHAPLAINS – For the rural chaplaincy team as they interact with people at the different farming marts and agricultural shows in the summer months – that these conversations will be warm and foster relationships.

n CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA – For Sumit Gupta, who was installed in February 2023 as General Secretary of the Church of North India Synod – that he and his family would know God’s guidance, protection and encouragement as he undertakes this challenging role based at Synod HQ, New Delhi.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Lesley and Mabel Brush working in First Tartaraghan. Give thanks for the work they are involved in within the congregation and as they seek to draw others into fellowship.

n HOME MISSION – For the congregations of Drum, Cootehill and Kilmount. Pray that the congregations would be drawn deeper into the Word of God through the preaching of the Word and Bible study.

n COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL WITNESS – For the senior management team who are dedicated to this ministry. May they continue to promote integrity in daily practices and may hearts remain full of compassion for those who reside and work in our services.

n BRAZIL – For Naomi Keefe – that she would know God’s sustaining grace, guidance and protection as she goes about her work. Give thanks for recent evangelistic street presentations and pray that these presentations would touch the lives of many with the gospel.

n URBAN MISSION – For the congregation of St Columba’s, Lisburn. Pray that the members of the congregation would know a strong sense of unity and fellowship between each other.

n MENTAL HEALTH – Mental health cases have risen significantly post pandemic. Pray that there will be adequate funding for our health trusts to provide services in the community. Pray that God will be close to those suffering from depression and other mental health problems.

n CHAPLAINS – For Rev Norman Harrison, lead chaplain in Northern Trust and part-time chaplain at Royal Victoria Hospital – that the Lord would equip him for each situation and fill him with compassion for those who are hurting.

n CARLISLE HOUSE – This is a residential substance misuse treatment centre. Pray for staff and give thanks for the professional skills they bring to this work. Pray for the new intake of service users within the next few weeks – that they will be open to all aspects of the treatment and workshops offered and leave free from addiction and on the road to recovery.

n SOUTH BELFAST FRIENDSHIP HOUSE –For the children’s programmes taking place over the summer – that these will engage many in the Sandy Row area and that the children would hear about the love of Jesus.

n COST OF LIVING CRISIS – For families over the summer months with children at home who are perhaps struggling due to the cost of living crisis. Pray that those on low incomes may find the support they need and not feel uncomfortable reaching out. Give thanks for food banks and other Christian organisations that help those who are struggling.

n DEACONESS – For Sharon Heron, serving in International Meeting Point. Pray for the connections that Sharon makes with refugees and asylum seekers, that she will be equipped to meet the various needs that are presented.

n SPECIAL SERVICE AGENCIES – Give thanks for the recent vision trip for PCI ministers to see the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) in Senegal. Pray that this experience would continue to inspire and challenge those who participated in the trip, and pray also for Ricky Ferguson to know God’s wisdom and encouragement in his role as WBT’s team leader for Ireland.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Tori McClelland, community outreach worker in Movilla.

Pray for the summer activities – that Tori will build links between the church and the community.

n DESIGNATED PERSONS – Give thanks for those who act as a designated person for child protection and adult safeguarding within their congregations. This is a vital role, working closely with the Taking Care office to ensure the safety and well-being of our children and young people and those most vulnerable within our Church.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s forces chaplains over this summer period – that those who are not on deployment would know rest and refreshment and be able to spend some time with families.

n UKRAINE – Remember the leadership and congregations of the Transcarpathian Church District of the Hungarian Reformed Church located in Western Ukraine as they continue to provide support in body, mind and soul for the many displaced by war in Ukraine.

n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – For those who come through the doors of the International Meeting Point in both North and South Belfast – that they would know a warm welcome and experience the love of Jesus.

n LEADERS IN TRAINING – For Revs Brian Theu and Thomas Nyang’ama from Malawi who, with scholarship support from PCI, are currently in their final year of PhD studies (by distance) through Aberdeen University.

n CHAPLAINS – For Rev Gary Aitcheson serving as part-time chaplain in HMP Magilligan. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus with prisoners and prison staff – that they would know the hope that only Jesus can give.

n HOME MISSION – For the congregation of Drogheda. Pray that God would equip Rev Damien Burke and the kirk session to lead the congregation and to encourage them into deeper discipleship of Jesus.

n DEACONESS – For Roberta Irvine, deaconess serving in Elmwood, Lisburn. Pray that Roberta would know the Lord’s leading as she cares pastorally for people connected to the congregation.

n PORTUGAL – For James and Heather Cochrane as they leave Portugal to commence a sabbatical from the beginning of July. Pray for the session of Comunidade Pedras Vivas (CPV) – that they would be clearly guided as they seek CPV’s future pastor.

n IRISH MISSION – For Keith Preston, Irish mission worker in the International Meeting Point. Pray for discernment as Keith coordinates the important work happening in both South and North Belfast.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Mark Annett, community outreach worker in First Rathfriland. Pray that the community surrounding First Rathfriland would be drawn to the Lord Jesus through the witness of the congregation.

Lesley and Mabel Brush

Keith Preston

Maintaining a biblical worldview

Iwas very struck by Mel Lacy’s sobering honesty in the May edition of the Herald as to why young people are leaving our churches at a rapid rate. She spoke of the need for a “biblical worldview” and of many young people who have “only ever been veneered in biblical Christianity” – so that they are “almost Christian”… but not quite.

I would venture to suggest that her comments might also well apply to many of us who are older –for inevitably, almost by default, our own patterns of thinking and behaviour are transmitted to a younger generation. After all, a very large percentage of those leading our youth organisations and groups are quite a long way from being in their teens!

A person’s worldview is the way they look at the world. It’s the lens through which we interpret all that is happening to us and around us, and through which we make decisions. It shapes how we spend our money; how we do our work; the friends we make; the church we attend; how we vote; the values we hold; how we deal with troubled relationships – and everything else that makes up ordinary life. Crucially, it shapes how we approach complex and difficult issues of ethics and morality.

So Mel Lacy’s call for a “biblical worldview” among younger people cannot be limited to their generation. For the Bible does have highly relevant guidance about every aspect of life. It really does have much to say about our money (e.g. Matthew 6:24), our work (e.g. Colossians 3:23), our friendships (e.g. 1 John 4:7) and fellowships (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 1:7) and even what to think about when we vote (e.g. Proverbs 14:34). And Philippians 4:8 spells out some core Christ-honouring values to take with us into the multiple decisions of every day.

The gospel transforms us – believers are a new creation in Christ: “The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is all too easily forgotten that the process of transformation involves changes in our minds as well as in our souls – and therefore it brings brand new God-centred thinking. The opening verses of Romans 12 are unambiguously clear. Therefore, it is beyond doubt that the guidance and insight that comes from the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit must be at the very centre of everyday life. A Bible-based ‘worldview’ is to be on daily and permanent display, not only to our young people but also to our neighbours, our wider family, our colleagues, the people at the other end of the phone when we are making arrangements or doing our business… wherever God’s people are to be found, there is a clarion call to live with a “biblical

worldview”, and to be seen to be living that way.

Of course, like you, I do know people whose Christian witness has such breadth and depth to it that they have clearly embraced a biblical worldview – and yet would never describe their discipleship that way. But nonetheless that is what they do, who they are, and what they show each and every day.

Yet when that is hazy or absent, it often leads to what Mel describes as a “veneer” of real Christianity, and makes it all too common for people (young and old) to turn their backs on real faith and have little confidence in Christ and the gospel. Her use of the word “veneer” captures much of what Jesus was teaching in his parable of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13. Fruit for a while, and then little or no harvest over the longer term.

It is rather stating the obvious to say that we live in a society where almost anything goes, and where there is very little agreement on what is right or wrong; good or bad; true or false. So how can we navigate our way through the maze of competing views and expectations?

I am on record as saying that I do not regard myself as a particularly religious person, for that term can cover anything and everything from hugging trees to religious fanaticism. But I am very happy to describe myself, and to be described, as a committed Christian and follower of Christ – however inadequately I may do that. Underpinning my faith is my best understanding of what it means to have a “biblical worldview” alongside my confidence in what Christ has done for me in salvation. I can’t have one without the other. So a commitment to a biblical worldview – with all that implies for my engagement with the Bible itself – provides a Spiritled compass to guide me through the maze, by shaping my thinking, testing my attitudes and determining my actions. And for that I am profoundly grateful.

Commenting on the article by Mel Lacy in the May Herald, Norman Hamilton asks how we can model Christian faith well to younger generations.

A Bible-based ‘worldview’ is to be on daily and permanent display, not only to our young people but also to our neighbours, our wider family, our colleagues…

Norman Hamilton

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

The seed for this article was sown after I spent four hours in the back of an ambulance, following a medical emergency. I was treated the whole time in the ambulance and never saw the inside of the hospital. I am now one of thousands who have had that experience; ambulances waiting outside our accident and emergency departments (A&E) are commonplace, with some accounts reporting as many as 17 at any one time.

At no time did I feel vulnerable or at risk. I was assured that I was being monitored as if I were in A&E – the paramedics gave me excellent care and the medical team visited me three times. This is only one symptom of an everfailing health and social care service that impacts heavily on individuals, families and wider society.

We celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS) on 5 July 2023. The Central Office of Information, for the Ministry of Health, notes that the NHS was one of the first

A terminally ill health & social care service

universal health care systems established anywhere in the world. A leaflet was sent to every household in June 1948 that explained: “It will provide you with all medical, dental and nursing care. Everyone — rich or poor, man, woman or child — can use it or any part of it. There are no charges, except for a few special items. There are no insurance qualifications. But it is not a ‘charity’. You are all paying for it, mainly as taxpayers, and it will relieve your money worries in time of illness.”

Our health service was the envy of the world and its core values were to be commended; it was free of charge and was not to be seen as a charity. Call the Midwife, the television drama series, gives us a glimpse of how things used to

be, with direct payments for doctors and private prescriptions. For many years, my reports to the General Assembly voiced major concerns relating to the health service – waiting lists, mental health issues and trolley waits were becoming commonplace long before Covid –clearly stating time and time again that underfunding and overspending were the main issues.

A letter in the Belfast Telegraph on Saturday 13 May proposed three ways to improve the NHS: firstly, reduce the number of managers; secondly, reduce the amount of red tape; and thirdly, employ serious cost cutting, including the dramatic reduction of the number of health and social care trusts, the tens of millions of pounds spent on agency staff and the layers upon layers of management, as well as the thousands of pounds wasted as a result of missed appointments by patients attending outpatients.

The health and social care sector was in crisis long before Covid, with the

I was treated the whole time in the ambulance and never saw the inside of the hospital.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the NHS this month, Lindsay Conway offers a personal reflection on the health and social care service in Northern Ireland.

pandemic undoubtedly being the final straw. Health focused on the ability of hospitals to deliver an acute service in fighting the virus and protecting the health service – all other routine treatments were frozen in time and put on hold. Every corner of every hospital was utilised, Nightingale wards planned and every member of staff redeployed. As of the end of March 2023, 401,201 patients were waiting for their first consultation, more than the figure for December 2020, which was 394,803; the average waiting time is now 53.1 weeks, the longest 244 weeks (approximately four years and 34 weeks). We now have a dedicated online service, ‘My Waiting Times NI’. Waiting for a diagnosis, tests and scans, surgery or a programme results in high levels of anxiety and impacts on the mental health of both patients and relatives.

As I am concluding this article, the Department of Health has announced the commissioning of an independent and rapid review of gynaecology services in Northern Ireland. A report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states: “There has been a 42% increase [in wait times] since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – the worst figures in the UK.”

Add in the number of GP practices being managed by a health and social care trust under special measures, the difficulty in recruiting and retaining doctors, nurses, the crisis in dental service and the picture becomes even bleaker. Reduced GP appointments results in hundreds more patients attending A&E departments; the under-resourcing of residential, nursing and home care services results in patients not being discharged from hospital (bed blocking); and there are dangers of patients selfmedicating if they are avoiding the stress of trying to book an appointment.

The care sector became a victim in its own right as a result of Covid. From the onset, it was the poor relation, having to fight for Public Protection Equipment (PPE), the testing of residents and staff, vaccines and the late payment of the £500 Covid allowance. Residential homes on a regular basis were having to

resist the admission of a Covid-positive resident to a Covid-free home. They were also having to deal with angry families who could not visit their loved ones, many missing significant celebrations and not able to see their nearest and dearest before their passing.

The social care sector could not have survived without the voluntary, community, faith and private sectors providing a range of residential, nursing and home care options. All staff in health and social care have to be commended –they are exhausted and continue to work in a system that is not fit for purpose.

The impact on individuals and families has been catastrophic and in many cases life changing. We were introduced to new methods of primary health care – face-to-face consultations replaced by telephone calls, Zoom or Teams consultations. For the majority, normal appointments have not returned and this is adding greatly to the ongoing crisis, with many older patients feeling more and more isolated and vulnerable.

Government returned to the language and philosophy of the Beveridge Report and the formation of the welfare state, in its launch of the Welfare Reform Bill of 2012. Maybe it is time to the return to the language and philosophy of the Aneurin Bevan Report that formed the NHS: “It will provide you with all medical, dental and nursing care… it will relieve your money worries in time of illness.”

More and more patients are going for private medical care – a 75% increase following the pandemic. There is a clear betrayal of the state to deliver a service that we have all paid for through income tax and National Insurance – others more informed than me can decide if this constitutes a breach of contract. Our integrated health and social care system does not allow for equity between the services. Social care will always be the ‘Cinderella’ service and will be in the shadow of health – funding for cancer services competing with dementia services will always win. A standalone health and social care model would assist greatly in the allocation of funding and provide a more balanced distribution of services.

I venture to say that there is no solution to our current debacle. We will have to weather the storm together, for the foreseeable future, in the hope that new models of health and social care be found. A model that will return to the roots of the NHS, that is patient-focused and strives to provide a service when it is most needed. The fact that we have no working Executive or Assembly at this time is simply unbelievable. If this crisis is not bringing them back round the table, what will?

I agree totally with Sam McBride writing in the Belfast Telegraph on Saturday 3 June – “NI’s broken NHS is killing people and our politicians must share the blame”. Embedded in his article are the details of previous waiting lists, starting with 2009 when it was 68,755, a fraction of the current figure of half a million. Further cuts are coming down the line in the so-called “punishment budget”, resulting in a shortfall totalling £800,000 in the Northern Ireland budget. As individuals, churches and communities, we have the right to be concerned; many of us on a daily basis are suffering unnecessary pain and anxiety. We are worried about our parents or our children awaiting their first appointment. We must continue to play our part and influence the ongoing discussions; we are all players in a modern-day horror story. We must also show our appreciation and support our health and social care staff – they are the unsung heroes. I did write to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, thanking the two paramedics who gave me exemplary care – the service replied and was greatly encouraged by my comments.

Lindsay Conway is former PCI director of social services.

There is a clear betrayal of the state to deliver a service that we have all paid for…

queue of ambulance vehicles at the Royal London Hospital.

Lessons from Nepal

Joining with the assembled supporters of the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) under the canvas of a huge white tent erected in the garden of the UMN head office in Kathmandu, I looked around the gathering of men and women from many peoples and nations and my mind was drawn to the book of Acts. A story of ordinary men and women who were empowered by God’s extraordinary power and were able to become courageous witnesses in a hostile world through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

As I listened to all that was said during UMN’s 2023 General Assembly, I felt I was observing a number of parallels and principles from early Christian history as we reflected on the beginning of Christianity within the Nepali Church, its members’ suffering and perseverance, and the work of UMN. The words of Jesus in Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” – were given to the early believers. These two main themes of Acts, ‘the Holy Spirit’ and ‘witness’, are being carried on today through UMN’s service to the people of Nepal and the Church’s growth and perseverance during the last seven decades. In March next year, UMN, God willing, will celebrate

its 70th birthday. As part of its reflection leading up to this milestone on the first morning of the General Assembly we did two things.

First, we recited together the words of UMN’s vision and mission statements. UMN’s vision is to see “fullness of life of all in a transformed Nepali society” and its mission is: “Inspired by the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, in partnership with the Christian community and others in Nepal and worldwide, we will serve the people of Nepal, particularly those who live in poverty: to pursue peace and justice for all; to address the root causes of poverty; and to make Christ known by work and life.”

Second, we heard from one of Nepal’s senior Christian pastors. Warmly greeted with the words of Jai Mashiha (which means victory in Jesus), we were treated to an insightful summary of the ‘74 years of long history’ of the churches of Nepal. This covered the declaration of democracy in the early 1950s; the gospel’s

arrival in Nepal; the two periods of severe persecution of Christian leaders; and the incredible growth of the Nepali Church from 1990 until 2000. This reflection also took us through the political changes of this period. One that witnessed a people’s movement that led to a constitutional monarchy and the establishment of a multi-party system, and the Maoist insurgency of a decade-long civil war during which many died and suffered, including in the Church. It brought us to the current 2015 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nepal and the National Civil (Code) Act of 2017, which, on paper, “protects the right to freedom of religion or belief”. However, the Constitution does not include the right to choose or change one’s religion, nor does the state recognise Christian identity and churches are not able to register under the given rights in the Constitution.

So how have the churches addressed this current challenge and their members’

Christians in Nepal today depend on the Holy Spirit…

Helen Johnston reports on her recent trip to Nepal to attend the United Mission to Nepal’s General Assembly.

desire to not only be identified as Christians who endeavour to share and support each other, but to also comply with the laws and requirements of the state? Under the State Civil Code, a Guthi Bill (Guthi is a social organisation that maintains the socio-economic order of Nepalese society) seemed to provide a route for the church to follow. However, in practice, it has proved impossible to establish where the registration of the Guthi has to be submitted. This impenetrable obstacle has led the Nepali Christian community to form a Mahaguthi registered under company law to lobby its case for freedom and protection. Like other religions cited under the Guthi system, the Christian society is recognised as an important religious organisation that is good for the state and Nepali society. This ongoing challenge for recognition and legitimacy has not deterred Christian believers’ resolve to continue to work together without conflicting each other’s objectives, accepting and respecting each other’s identity, and maintaining trust between each other. Why? Because they believe God’s kingdom is advancing and he is continuing to use them to carry the gospel to the ends of the Earth in what they say is “the era of sending the missionary”. I for one am looking forward to this new era of the Nepali Church’s story, challenging as it is likely to be.

Serving the people of Nepal in the name of Jesus has been the core mantra of UMN’s history. For me, to be part of another General Assembly but also the first one with a Nepali national at the helm as executive director, our sister Dhana Lama, was also a privilege. Dhana’s style of leadership truly is from a servant-hearted foundation. Her humility, her wonderful smile and her gently robust team leadership style shaped and informed not only her director’s report (many challenges but also encouragements) but all the presentations given when highlighting the work and witness of UMN. A rich tapestry of reports and stories were shared. In a variety of formats, consisting of presentations, talks, interviews, videos and stories, we were taken on a journey from east Nepal to the far west, from an update on the challenges and opportunities faced by the two UMN hospitals – Okhaldhunga and Tansen –

to the remote district of Bajhang where just making enough to live on is a daily struggle.

Meeting staff and hearing stories from the hospitals and each of UMN’s six clusters (areas of work) unfolded in an interactive way with the staff who work in those areas. They shared challenges and encouragement from their partnerships with Nepali organisations involved in education; good governance; health, peace and protection; resilient livelihoods; grant management; and monitoring, evaluation and learning. Videos highlighting the ‘cross-cutting’ issues (intrinsic in each cluster) of conflict sensitivity, disability, gender equality and climate change were shown. Each area highlighted both statistics that are used to measure progress and stories that demonstrate development.

One such story is of an elder in a village in the west of Nepal. After receiving training from UMN, he formed a Bible study group in the church with a group of regular attendees. He shared: “Studying the Bible is not new for me, but this training provided a new way of Bible learning and teaching using drawings, drama and more, which is also beneficial to those who cannot read and write.” He says he has learned God’s mission and vision for the people living in his community and that the training

has ‘forced’ him to think about how God’s mission is to be active in sharing not only the gospel, but in community work and caring for the environment. His enthusiasm and passion have initiated action that has repaired damaged drinking water supplies, mobilised church members to work with the community in cleaning the village, and fitted a wooden floor in the school to protect the children from the cold. More stories and information about UMN can be found on its website: www.umn.org.np Reflecting on and processing all that I had heard and experienced during this sojourn to Nepal, I see that our partnership with UMN has many mutual benefits. However, this visit’s key blessings and learning for me (and hopefully for others in PCI) is being reminded of the early Christian Church’s journey. Like the early Church, Christians in Nepal today depend on the Holy Spirit, while endeavouring to hold things in common presents a radical challenge to our individualism. The Nepali Christian community also challenges a society like ours, where it seems that suffering and persecution is to be avoided and can be left out of our understanding of living the Christian life, to one where suffering for the sake of Christ is considered a basic ingredient of being his follower and part of the identity you want to be able to publicly uphold, so you can be the witness God uses for the advancement of his kingdom.

Helen Johnston is PCI’s Mission Support Officer.

…suffering for the sake of Christ is considered a basic ingredient of being his follower…

The introverted view

“Turn round and say hello to someone sitting near you.” Words that fill me with dread. I know it’s a well-intentioned attempt to encourage the congregation to be friendly and sociable and to help us warm up our voices before the first hymn, but it makes me disgruntled and ever so slightly resistant. If I’d wanted to speak to the person behind me or in front of me or absolutely anywhere in my vicinity, I’d have done it before the service started. Having an awkward exchange with someone I don’t really know is not top of my list of favourite activities. I am a

highly sensitive introvert. Lots of things make me anxious at church. Alongside small talk with strangers, I have a range of other ‘fears’ – my tummy rumbling, someone else’s tummy rumbling, praying out loud, tea and coffee, passing the Communion glasses, rustling sweet

wrappers, chit-chat during the sermon, not knowing the song (should I pretend and move my mouth?), someone coming into the chorus too early, anything that might take me by surprise.

Depending on our likes and dislikes, we will usually know ourselves whether we are more introverted or extroverted. In theory, introverts derive energy from internal experiences, extroverts from external ones. Introverts prefer contemplation in quiet and reflective spaces. Extroverts enjoy stimulation and the opportunity to express themselves out loud. Introverts value solitude, while extroverts value time with other people.

In theory, introverts derive energy from internal experiences, extroverts from external ones.

Deborah Sloan Deborah Sloan explores what it feels like to be an introvert at church and suggests how churches can adapt to welcome those who struggle in social situations.

Introverts hide at the back. Extroverts prefer to be the centre of attention up at the front. Under-stimulating environments can bore extroverts, overstimulating environments can deplete introverts. Taking this into a church context, it is likely that the extrovert will be on stage leading, whereas the introvert will be serving behind the scenes. The extrovert will usually willingly offer their gifts. The introvert will have theirs dragged out of them. Most of us fall somewhere in between introvert and extrovert. We can also adapt when required. Regardless of my introvert tendencies, I can still channel my inner extrovert. I can step up to a microphone, put on a more confident persona. I’ll just have to lie down somewhere afterwards! But personality types matter and the fact that people identify somewhere along the introvert–extrovert spectrum has real implications for how they experience church. It impacts how they participate in corporate and social activities and how they approach the core disciplines of prayer and Bible study. It also has consequences for how a church conducts worship, welcomes new people and engages in mission, evangelism and discipleship.

A quick Google search and you’ll find that some of the cultural practices of evangelical worship services can be challenging for introverts. Because introverts tend to internalise their relationship with God, they can feel like imposters when others around them are having a more externalised spiritual experience. They question why they can’t lift their arms or close their eyes. Recently, I struggled to join in with the singing at a Christian event. Without a clear melody and any sense of where it might go next, or even how long we would continue singing for, I began to disengage. I craved a structure, maybe a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridgechorus but definitely an end to the endless repetition. I am not alone. Adam S. McHugh, author of Introverts in the Church, found that “introverts often feel more freedom in worship services that feature traditional liturgy than in ones that feature more open, informal, unstructured styles of worship”. He explains that introverts appreciate the

rich symbolism found in traditional services because they may feel “less expectation to offer outward, emotional responses”. He also notes that when introverts go into a church, they are seeking sanctuary from the complexities of 21st century life. They want to escape from superficiality, busyness, noise, distractions, and rest in God’s presence. They want to hear God’s voice but yearn for stillness because he comes to them more often in whispers than in shouts.

Even though they deeply love Jesus and are fully committed to the gospel message, sadly, many introverts will often ask themselves whether they are good enough Christians because they find it so hard to publicly share their faith. Talking about themselves in a group context can feel deeply unnatural. It’s easy to identify the introverts in a Bible study because they’re the ones listening rather than actively joining in. Introverts are much more reluctant to be openly vulnerable. They don’t jump into discussions and offer opinions. Introverts also see prayer as an intimate encounter, a personal chat with God. They’re less comfortable praying while others listen. Being asked to lead corporate prayer can be their worst nightmare.

Being part of a large church family can also be intimidating. Often, events that seek to build church community involve social gatherings, networking and enjoying hospitality together but the larger the crowd, the more overwhelming it can be for the reserved introvert who thrives on one-to-one conversations. Many introverts find walking into a room nerve-wracking. Post-service tea and coffee can be incredibly stressful. They’ll stand round the edges and count the minutes until they can leave. They’ll rarely break into an existing group unless invited. Those latecomers on a Sunday morning maybe aren’t as

disorganised as you think. They slip in at the back and exit quicky so they can avoid any awkward pre- and post-service socialising.

Because of all this, many of us who self-identity as introverts worry that we might be seen as unfriendly, even odd, when we hold back and don’t rush to make connections. But it’s a misconception that introverts don’t like people and don’t want fellowship. They just need it in much smaller doses and in much greater depth.

So, if it’s sometimes difficult for an introvert to feel fully comfortable in a church they’ve belonged to for a long time, how much more difficult is it for introverted newcomers to walk through a church door and start trying to belong? One way that churches can help is by providing introductions and information in advance for those interested in coming along for the first time or by having a few select, trained members who integrate newcomers gradually into a small group of people. One Presbyterian church, for example, has recently started going out into their car park to welcome visitors so they don’t have to walk in by themselves. Because introverts understand what it’s like to be on the outside of a community looking in, Adam S. McHugh says the church needs “introverted evangelists”. They can best relate to those exploring faith and extend a welcome in nonintimidating ways.

But whether we identify as introvert or extrovert, all our individual personalities matter in the body of Christ. Unity is key. While extroverts need to be aware that they may overwhelm at times, introverts may also need to occasionally step out of their comfort zones.

Recently, I joined a new church. “Where do you sit?” someone asked.

“Back row, far corner, close to the exit,” I said. Of course, I’m sure upfront is lovely with a great view of the minister but as far away as possible from the pulpit is where I naturally gravitate to. I wonder how many people I am likely to meet there.

On Sunday, have a look and see who is sitting in the back row. Have you spoken to them before? Maybe they’re an introvert and it’s up to you to say hello before the service starts.

Because introverts understand what it’s like to be on the outside of a community…the church needs “introverted evangelists”.

The scourge of loneliness

Most people agree that having peace and quiet is good for a while, but not if it goes on for too long. Too much peace and quiet can damage your health. That is bad news for over three million people in the UK who reported, in a 2021 health and well-being survey, feeling lonely often or always.

Loneliness has become a silent epidemic. To quote economist Noreena Hertz, “Even before Covid struck, loneliness had become one of the defining emotions of the 21st century”. Whereas social isolation is caused by a lack of social connections, an increasing problem in our very individualistic society, loneliness is more than social isolation – it is an unwelcome or distressing feeling of lack or loss of companionship.

It is also a universal human experience – to be human is to feel lonely at times. But in recent decades it has become more pervasive and persistent, and has been made worse by the Covid pandemic, which profoundly disrupted normal human relations and from which our society has not yet recovered.

The statistics are very sobering indeed. The extent of loneliness has increased by more than 50% over the past ten years. Age UK reported in February 2023 that half a million older people in Britain go at least five or six days a week without

seeing or speaking to anyone. Forty per cent of older people say their TV is their main company. Even more concerning are the levels of loneliness among young people. A 2018 BBC survey of 16–24-year-olds found that 40% said they often or very often feel lonely.

The health consequences are becoming increasingly clear. Loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is worse than obesity. In fact, it can actually cause obesity and the associated problems of type 2 diabetes and loss of mobility. Lonely people are less active and at higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, high blood pressure and strokes. The immune system becomes weaker and so places them at higher risk of infection; not surprisingly, lonely people are at risk of an early death.

Loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is worse than obesity.

John Kyle examines the problem of loneliness that pervades our society and asks how we as churches and individuals can help.

Equally, the mental health consequences prove that loneliness is not a benign condition. Loneliness can cause depression, and among the elderly it speeds up the decline in our ability to think, and doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lonely people experience greater anxiety, pessimism and low self-esteem. They often feel unsafe, vulnerable and unloved. A vicious cycle can develop in which they misinterpret others, feel they are being judged and criticised and consequently withdraw from social contact.

The world’s longest running study into human flourishing, the Harvard study of adult development, begun in 1938, was designed to discover what leads to happy, healthy lives. It has come to one overriding conclusion: relationships keep us happier and healthier throughout our lives. One or two close supportive relationship are essential for humans to flourish.

None of this should come as a surprise, for, after all, Scripture makes it clear that we were created as social creatures to love and be loved and to belong. Creation was a corporate act by a triune God, making man and woman to be in relationship with him and each other, and to have dominion over creation as a joint enterprise. God even stated explicitly in Genesis 2 that “it is not good for man to be alone”.

In his work on the cross, and in his death and resurrection, Jesus directly addressed the alienation and isolation caused by sin. God has reached out to each of us to befriend us in the most profound way, addressing our profound loneliness. We have been reconciled to God through the miracle of his new creation.

Having been reconciled to God, we now belong to God’s family, a community. This new community, the church, has been entrusted with a message of reconciliation and friendship, and has been commissioned and empowered to love.

That message has never been more relevant than it is today in a world that is anxious, fractured and with increasing numbers living alone or friendless. Imperfect as our churches may be, they are uniquely equipped to meet this challenge by helping those within the

church or the local community to feel recognised and valued. Simple gestures such as saying hello, expressing thanks, taking time to listen, phone calls, text messages, handwritten letters, offers to pray, invitations for meals, offers of practical support – all foster a culture of welcome and friendship both in the church and in the neighbouring community.

Most churches are experts in group work: home groups, service groups, youth groups, mums and toddlers’ groups, walking groups, armchair aerobics, pensioner lunches – the list is endless, and being invited to be part of a group is particularly valuable in overcoming loneliness.

Churches can also encourage and support members to volunteer in local charities, community groups, food banks, after-school clubs or breakfast clubs and the many other third sector organisations that exist locally, helping create a culture of friendship. Although the need may seem overwhelming, small acts of kindness can – and do – make a huge difference in lonely people’s lives.

sons today averages 30 minutes a week. However, those sons typically spend 44 hours a week online in a digital world. On a Saturday night, teens typically sit in their room with a headset, playing video games rather than going to the movies together. For most young people, interaction and connection occurs via social media, using pictures and videos. Even together in a room with their friends they often communicate on their phones rather than by talking with each other. Consequently, social gatherings can be places with high levels of social anxiety. The mental health struggles of Gen Zs are well documented.

And yet, for many of these young people, what they yearn for is to experience community, and not just with peers but across the generations. Perhaps surprisingly, today’s young adults want friendships with generations beyond them. Ruth Perrin, a Christian lecturer at Durham University, is convinced that: “This is a generation for whom kindness, honest relationships, modelling of how to live a life of faith and how to keep it going are the things they value most.”

Teaching people of all ages how to make friends is surely one of today’s greatest priorities in Christian discipleship, and too often seriously neglected.

However, the crisis of loneliness, while offering opportunities to the church, also presents two significant challenges. Men today are not doing well and are becoming more isolated. One in three men do not have a single close friend. Among young men, rates of suicide, problem gambling, addiction to alcohol, drugs and pornography are unacceptably high and increasing. Much that enabled men to belong to a group of friends or mates has been eroded. The nature of work has changed and many clubs have disappeared. As a Church, we need to look again quite urgently at male bonding and brotherly friendship.

Gen Zs (those aged 16–25) also face unprecedented difficulties in socialising and have the highest levels of loneliness. Their world is radically different to that of earlier generations. Face-to-face time between fathers and their Gen Z

Today, new opportunities abound to show the love of Christ through small acts of kindness that help to “set the lonely in families”, as Psalm 68 puts it. Reaching out in friendship and showing compassion changes lives and communities. Despite our limited resources, God can and wants to use us as ordinary Christians to set free those who are held captive by the dreadful scourge loneliness.

This article is an adaptation of a talk Dr Kyle gave at a recent Contemporary Christianity event. A high-quality video recording on a USB stick of Dr Kyle’s talk is available (without charge) by texting your contact details to 07570 407094.

John Kyle worked as a GP in inner East Belfast and was also a councillor on Belfast City Council from 2007–2023. He is married to Helen and has five adult children.

As a Church, we need to look again quite urgently at male bonding and brotherly friendship.

REVIEWS

Sing: Creation Songs

Ellie Holcomb

AVAILABLE VIA STREAMING SERVICES

As someone who has worked with children and young people for nearly 20 years, I am really passionate about sharing songs with them that make biblical truths more accessible. I love songs that teach words and truths straight from the Bible.

This album does just that. Ellie Holcomb is a singer-songwriter from Nashville and these songs grew from her appreciation of God’s amazing creation around her.

Ellie explained in an interview: “I wanted to write songs that were directly inspired by both God’s Word and his beautiful creation. Each song is tied to specific Scripture but is also full of rich imagery from the world around us. I wanted kids to be able to sing these songs and see evidence of what they were singing all around them.”

In this album, her songs explore God’s love (Wide, High, Long, Deep), singing praise to God (Joyful Noise) and not being afraid (Fear Not).

If you are looking to expand your repertoire of children’s songs in your service or want to introduce new songs during your summer activities or at the start of the new academic year, have a listen. This album will give you songs that your children and young people will love and will teach them biblical truths at the same time.

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

Letter for Exiles

Andy Lamberton

10OFTHOSE (AVAILABLE AT UK.10OFTHOSE.COM)

£7.99

I was sitting around a table almost a decade ago when I first heard Andy Lamberton use the metaphor of the Babylonian exile to describe the context in which the next generation in Ireland would have to carry their faith. It felt insightful and possible then, but it is both prophetic and extremely real now.

At that table, Andy mused about who it might have been who mentored Daniel to prepare him to live out his faith in God in the way he did. Those musings have now morphed into writings, as Andy has crafted this masterpiece to imagine letters written by an older, wiser and faithful friend to a young disciple navigating the fresh challenges of Babylon. This book is dripping in rich biblical narrative and strengthened by the context in which Andy himself has lived his life. He understands from personal experience what it means to live for God in environments where you might be standing alone, and he has dedicated years of his life to being a mentor to a generation of young disciples, helping prepare them for that very scenario. This book both captures his calling and expresses his heart. Read it for yourself, but also put multiple copies into the hands of young disciples in your church to help prepare them for their own futures in Babylon. The questions and sections for group discussion also make it an ideal small group discipleship resource as well as a book to read alone.

RH

Bible in Ten

David Kitchen

BRF

£10.58

The Bible can be more than a little daunting even for those who are motivated to delve into it. The variety of translations and paraphrases does help, of course, but it still feels like a big book. If only there was a simple way in which we could appreciate the overall message of each book that would then whet our appetite to go back and dig deeper.

This is the challenge that Dave Kitchen has taken up in Bible in Ten. The ‘ten’ refers to the ten minutes maximum that the reader spends in reading the overview of each book. However, this is much more than an introductory textbook. Each chapter starts with a short paragraph designed to take us into the issues that the biblical book in question raises and finishes with some thoughts or reflections to help us apply the book’s message to ourselves.

Dave Kitchen is by profession a teacher (now retired) but he is also a broadcaster, storyteller, poet and Methodist local preacher. He has lived within the biblical text so deeply that he is able to express its heart in a manner both simple and profound.

Who might benefit from this book? Those starting out on the Christian pathway who want to find a way into Scripture and those who have journeyed for years but would still value an overview of those parts of the Bible that they have tended to skip over. Teachers and preachers will find fresh inspiration here, and Bible study groups will find plenty of material to aid their learning and discussion.

REVIEWERS

Blessed

Unchanging God: Songs from the Book of Psalms Vol 1

Sovereign Grace Music

INTEGRITY MUSIC

I have to admit that prior to reading this book I tended to avoid the book of Revelation for fear of being overwhelmed by a text that is renowned for being both theologically and metaphorically challenging. Revelation is laden with symbols and imagery as John unveils the world to us via the perspective of heaven.

In Blessed, Guthrie walks the reader at a slow and steady pace through every chapter and the messages bestowed to us. Revelation is not to be viewed as outdated. Rather, the issues affecting the first-century churches are still as relevant in today’s modern society. Her simplistic descriptions, reflections and insights into the symbolic nature of Revelation not only put the reader at ease but will also aid their understanding of the concepts raised. It entices engagement and selfreflection. Instead of becoming obsessed with linking the symbols with current world events, we should be focusing on our individual relationships with Jesus, by garnering the blessings bestowed by Revelation, while putting the ‘what ifs’ of this world aside.

A comprehensive, insightful and readable study of the book of Revelation, written by someone who cites their own experiences, grief and tribulations. An excellent resource.

Available via streaming services

The mission of Sovereign Grace Music is to produce Christ-exalting songs and training for the church. Currently led by Bob Kauflin, it began as a way to serve the family of churches known as Sovereign Grace Churches. They are passionate about biblically informed, emotionally engaging, Spirit-empowered singing, with their

Winning the War on Worry Louie Giglio

W PUBLISHING

£8.99

We know that when we trust in the Lord we should have no need to worry; our journey is in his hands. However, sometimes our worries make us forget this, or create doubt that we are on our own.

This book reminds us that we have nothing to fear. It is very simply set out with short chapters that end with a few short questions and a prayer for us to

songs being sung all over the world. Released alongside Vol 2 in 2022, the aim of both albums is to give ancient truths new melodies for the church to sing. In Vol 1, you will find new versions of seven different psalms (Psalms 113, 148, 23, 107, 4613 and 114).

These psalms are songs of praise and worship to our Almighty God. Within these songs, we are reminded about God’s power, majesty, strength and trustworthiness.

There is something wonderful in listening to biblical truths that fill our hearts with thankfulness and gladness. In tough times, many of us turn to Scripture to remind ourselves who God is. If you are like me, though, you may sometimes find it easier to remember song lyrics than Bible verses. The combination of biblical lyrics and catchy melodies makes this a brilliant tool to commit these psalms to memory.

If you are a fan of Scripture-filled songs, then this album is for you. These songs are written so that they can be easily learned and taught to congregations.

reflect upon. It reinforces that we have no need to fear and that this should be replaced by a sense of confidence that God is with us. It encourages us that by practising gratitude every day we can be strengthened and create a positive nature within ourselves.

During a particularly difficult time, I read a chapter of this book every evening before sleep. I’m only too aware that a busy mind can often create irrational thoughts and concerns, which may not necessarily bother us in the cold light of day but in the quiet hours of the night can be challenging to harness. The prayer and reflection helped to focus my mind and drift into sleep reassured of God’s love and care for us. He will never give us more than we can manage – he is with us and he is for us.

KA – Kathryn Anderson is a member of Anahilt Presbyterian Church JF – Judith Finlay is a member of Second Comber Presbyterian Church

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

RH – Rick Hill is PCI’s Secretary of the Council for Mission in Ireland

DK – Donald Ker is Former Secretary and President, Methodist Church in Ireland

LIFE IN PCI

Dedication to Rev Dr Paul Bailie

A large classroom at the training centre of the First (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force in Magilligan was dedicated to Rev Dr William Paul Bailie to acknowledge his outstanding service and contribution as chaplain.

The classroom will now be known as the Bailie Classroom in memory of the battalion’s extremely popular padre, who passed away suddenly in 2022, and who dedicated much of his time to providing pastoral care to many of the cadets and adults.

Ballyclare sings songs of praise

As part of the Ballyclare May Fair, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and the Ulster-Scots Agency hosted an Ulster-Scots ‘Songs of Praise’ in Ballyclare Presbyterian Church on Sunday 21 May.

Ulster-Scots Songs of Praise explored 300 years of sacred song in the Ulster-Scots community, covering everything from unaccompanied Psalms right up to the popular hymns that many have grown up with. The event was compered by Mark Thompson, the well-known Ulster-Scots gospel singer and presenter of Hame on BBC Northern Ireland.

The ceremony, hosted by the battalion’s commandant, Colonel Adrian Donaldson, was attended by family, VIP guests and adult volunteers from across the battalion, including Dr Bailie’s widow, Anne Bailie.

Col Donaldson said of Paul: “Padre Paul Bailie was a very dedicated chaplain, a close personal friend and a highly respected colleague. His untimely death shocked many within the battalion. It is an honour to join family and colleagues in dedicating this large classroom in his memory.”

Anne Bailie, who was presented with her late husband Padre Bailie’s commissioning scroll by Colonel Adrian Donaldson.

(L–R) David McCorkell, Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim, commandant Colonel Adrian Donaldson and Anne Bailie.

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

First Garvagh ordains and installs new elders

On Sunday 19 March, two new elders, Beverly Glass and Alison Henry, were ordained and installed by a commission of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady. The photograph includes (L–R) front row: Rev Mark Donald (minister of the congregation), Beverly Glass, Alison Henry and Alan Galbraith (clerk of session). Back row: members of the presbytery commission, Rev Dr John Coulter, Rev James Hyndman (moderator of Coleraine and Limavady Presbytery) and James McCollum.

Presentation at Loughgall

Dorothy MacQueen was recently presented with a gift by Rev Philip McKelvey to mark 50 years as organist and choirmistress at Loughgall Presbyterian Church, Co Armagh. Also included in the photograph is Dorothy’s husband, Jim MacQueen.

100th birthday for Waterside member

Kathleen Hamilton, a member of Waterside Presbyterian in Londonderry, celebrated her 100th birthday on 19 May 2023. Kathleen never misses morning worship and is a great prayer warrior and very supportive of our missionaries. The photograph includes Kathleen Hamilton (centre, pink jacket) with former Moderator, Very Rev Dr Rob Craig, Rev Richard Tregaskis, convener of Waterside congregation, and members of her extended family.

Birthday milestone at Newmills

Winnie Calvert, a lifelong member of Newmills congregation (Iveagh), recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family members at Bannview Care Home, Banbridge. She is pictured along with former Moderator, Very Rev Dr William Henry and her minister Rev Gordon Best, who called in on the celebrations.

New minister installed at New Row, Coleraine

Rev Jonny McKane was installed as the 14th minister of New Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine in March. Pictured alongside Jonny and his wife Sarah (front centre) are (L–R): Rev Keith Hibbert, Rev David Brownlow, Rev Richard Gregg (vacancy convener), Adrian Cochrane (clerk of session), Rev James Hyndman (moderator of presbytery) and Rev Mark Donald (acting clerk of Presbytery).

Elders emeriti in Dunmurry

At its February session meeting, thanks were said on behalf of the congregation of Dunmurry for many years of service to the church family to a number of faithful elders who are now becoming ‘elders emeriti’. (L–R): David McMullen, Iris Coey and Bertie Barclay.

Badges awarded at Granshaw BB

Granshaw Boys’ Brigade (BB) in Co Down recently held its display, with seven boys receiving their President’s badges: Jack Ellis, Aaron Fisher, Timmy Smyth, Lewis Waters, Josh Michael, Thomas Bailie and Lewis Young.

100th birthday at First Lisburn

Mirzda Oak, a member of First Lisburn Presbyterian Church, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. The photograph includes: Scott Carson, mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mirzda Oak and the Moderator, Dr Kirkpatrick.

Newtowncrommelin PW helping those in need

Some of the ladies from Newtowncrommelin Presbyterian Women (PW) in Ballymena presented Rev Ronnie McCracken of Eschol Ministries with blankets knitted by members and friends of the PW.

Alt PW celebrates 70th anniversary

Alt Presbyterian Women (PW) in Co Donegal celebrated its 70th anniversary in April with a service of thanksgiving and praise. Ladies from neighbouring PW groups, along with friends from across the community, joined in the celebration. The service was conducted by Rev Gabrielle Farquhar, with her husband Maurice as organist. A short history was recounted and a tribute was paid to past members. Pictured (L–R): Isobel Roulston, Davina Friel, Rosemary Crilly, Rev Gabrielle Farquhar, Iris Crilly and Hazel Long.

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

TV chef at Corvally

Corvally Presbyterian in County Monaghan recently welcomed awardwinning TV chef Paula McIntyre to its PW in March for a cookery demonstration. Pictured (L–R): Shelia McElwaine, Julie McAdam (PW committee members) and Paula McIntyre.

New elders in Cavanaleck and Aughentaine

Three new elders were recently ordained and installed in the Co Tyrone congregations of Cavanaleck and Aughentaine. Pictured (L–R): Dr C. McKibben (Cavanaleck clerk of session), Lorraine Bleakley, Valerie Adams, Rev David Curran, Stephen Erskine and John McCrory (Aughentaine clerk of session).

Hillhall celebrates the coronation

Hillhall Presbyterian Church in Lisburn held a hotdog and coronation cake fellowship to mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III. Included in the photograph are Rev Paul Jamieson (minister), Philip Simpson (clerk of session) and Tom Finnegan (assistant minister) with a few of the elders.

Retirement in Ballyblack

Ballyblack Presbyterian Church in Newtownards recently presented a gift to one of the congregation’s long-standing elders on his retirement. William Gordon had been ordained as an elder on 25 June 1995. A gift and certificate were presented by Rev Andras Gilicze assisted by Alex Warden (clerk of session). (L–R): Alex Warden, William Gordon and Rev Andras Gilicze.

Regent Street installs new minister

Regent Street Presbyterian Church in Newtownards recently installed Rev Anne Tolland. Pictured are (L–R) front row: Rev Paul Dalzell (convener of the vacancy commission), Rev Mairisine Stanfield (acting moderator of Ards Presbytery), Rev John Flaherty (clerk of Ards Presbytery) and Rev Jeff McWaters (deputy clerk of Ards Presbytery). Back row: Alastair McQuoid (presbytery representative), Ian Macdonald (Regent Street clerk of session), Dessie Bickerstaff (presbytery representative) and Wallace McKee (presbytery representative). Photo courtesy of Newtownards Chronicle.

Your legacy of hope and care - a gift in your Will.

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.

Preventing, Supporting, Caring and Rebuilding across Northern Ireland.

Puzzle no 280

solution on page 50

ACROSS

1 Biblical heroine (5)

5 The first martyr (7)

9 Seen in many country kitchens (3)

10 Seed vessel (3)

11 Form of city railway (11)

14 Prepares a hot meal (5)

15 Remote control aircraft (5)

16 Long for (5)

17 TV match official (initials) (3)

18 Short cycles (5)

20 Goliath carried this (5)

21 Devious (9)

24 Front of a ship (3)

25 Mistrust (7)

26 Nullify (5)

29 Loop of a rope (5)

30 Type of Scottish biscuit (10)

DOWN

1 These will have your head spinning (11)

2 Goes well with chips (7)

3 A period of time (3)

4 Canal boat (5)

5 A small floral arrangement (5)

6 Also (3)

7 Teach (7)

8 Aussie state (3-5-5)

12 Usual (6)

13 Giver (5)

19 Biblical creature portraying evil (7)

20 Do this to the good seed (7)

22 Musical dance event (5)

23 The people’s Princess (5)

24 Irish rock legend (4)

27 Sign of assent (3)

28 You and me (2)

compiled by Harry Douglas

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

CV Ruth Sanderson

I’m knee deep in a job application. It isn’t going well. I can’t remember the last time I applied for an actual 9–5 office-type job. I have worked for the BBC since I graduated and even when I went freelance, I went from job to job with no formal interviews – it just wasn’t necessary in that sphere. The life of a freelancer is built on reputation, flexibility, willingness to say “yes” and meeting a deadline. And apologies to a very patient editor of the Presbyterian Herald who may dispute that last attribute!

This job application is very long and incredibly thorough. It’s for a large organisation and it of course wants to make sure that it gets the right person for the shortlist. I’ve been in essaywriting mode for the past week trying to negotiate my way around it.

It’s been a fascinating exercise of memory and emotion – feeling both wholly capable for a new job but wracked with self-doubt, wondering how on earth anyone can meet all the criteria in the grandly expansive job spec. I’ve been racking my brain trying to recall every programme I have worked on, every episode of something I’ve made, every article I’ve written. I am fortunate enough to have had a wide and varied career in the media, lived all over the UK and Northern Ireland and done everything from reporting intricacies of common agricultural policy wrangles in Brussels to telling Matt Damon I was too sweaty to shake his hand after an interview about a very forgettable film in which he was starring (I may save that particular story for another edition of this column).

I’ve dodged riots, I’ve been licked by cattle, I’ve birthed a lamb, chatted to Hollywood A-listers (and Hollywood B-listers), I’ve laughed with people in their living rooms and cried with them on tape. I’ve edited programmes at farmhouse tables, in the backs of cars, on trains and I have traipsed through more muddy fields in the rain than I can even recount. I’ve worked with amazing teams of inspirational people who have almost always been more proficient and conscientious than I have. Thinking back has made me remember the people I’ve worked with, lived with, flat shares I’ve had, offices I’ve shared, room-mates who were also trying to start out in a career, colleagues I haven’t seen in years, and those I still hear from daily.

I also started thinking of jobs I had before this one – making (dodgy) coffee, making sandwiches, working checkouts, selling crockery, assembling boxes, babysitting. It’s amazing over the course of 40 years the wide and varied examples of paid employment I’ve been party to… although it also makes me really question my terrible ability to save any of the money I’ve earned! How then should I condense all this down in the formalised answers to questions in a job application? There are things one can quantify from all of those experiences and things that one simply can’t.

Perhaps you have had careers long and short, perhaps they’ve been well paid or poorly paid, maybe you haven’t been paid at all (as a mother of two I understand!). Your job might have been in an office, or on the road, in the operating theatre or in the Royal Opera House. You might have been the boss; you might have emptied the bins. You may have worn a suit, or a high vis jacket or a uniform. The varied sum of our collective working lives is mind-boggling. I also started thinking – what if God sent us all an application form for salvation? What would the job spec be? What would the essential competencies comprise? Who would apply in full confidence of making the shortlist? Who would be the competition – a priest, a rabbi, a Presbyterian minister… hang on, is that the start of a joke? Would we make the shortlist? Or would we automatically go on the reject pile because we couldn’t evidence the things we claimed to have done?

Moreover, who would our references be? What impact have we made around us? Who could we be confident would talk us up as God decided on whether or not we could get the job?

Thank goodness there is no such thing – no shortlist, no final interview, no written exam. Unlike so much in our lives, God’s grace is all we need. Pure, simple and free. No need to justify our experience. The only name we need on our CV is Jesus.

...what if God sent us all an application form for salvation?... Who would apply in full confidence of making the shortlist?

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.

BALLYNURE:

REV D.J. KELLY: Mr George Clarke, Kinnen House, 70 Ballyvallagh Road, Gleno, BT40 3NA.

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.

BELMONT:

REV T.J. STOTHERS: Mr Christopher Steele, 1 Hawthornden Drive, Belfast, BT4 2HG.

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.

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.

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.

LECUMPHER and MAGHERAFELT, UNION ROAD:

REV J.A. MARTIN: (Lecumpher) Mr Sammy Thompson, 10 Ballynagowan Road, Desertmartin, BT45 5LH. (Magherafelt, Union Road) Mr Ian Francis, 32 Caraloan Road, Magherafelt, BT45 6NW.

LOWE MEMORIAL:

REV DR D.J. McKELVEY: Dr Moyna Bill, 6 Old Coach Avenue, Belfast, BT9 5PY.

McQUISTON MEMORIAL: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV DR COLIN BURCOMBE: Mr Ken Galbraith, 14 Millars Forge, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 1UT.

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.

RATHFRILAND, FIRST:

REV C.G. HARRIS: Mr David Scott, 13 Sleepy Valley, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HL.

SAINTFIELD, FIRST: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV B.A. SMALL: Mr Paul Jackson, 20 The Grange, Saintfield, BT24 7NF.

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.

TOBERKEIGH and RAMOAN:

REV R. W. GASTON: (Toberkeigh) Mr Jim Kane, 67A Ballinlea Road, Ballinlea Upper, Ballycastle, BT54 6NN. (Ramoan) Mr Robert Getty, 23 Carrowcroey Road, Armoy, Ballymoney, BT53 8UH.

WARINGSTOWN:

REV R.L. BROWN: Mr David Crawford, 148 Avenue Road, Lurgan, BT66 7BJ.

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

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.

BALLYLINNEY:

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

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.

BALLYNAHATTY, CREEVAN & 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.

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.

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.

CASTLEROCK:

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

CRUMLIN:

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

CUMBER and UPPER CUMBER:

REV S.W. HIBBERT: (Cumber) Mr Eric Christie, 43 Gorse Road, Killaloo, Londonderry, BT47 3SS. (Upper Cumber) Mr Jack McFarland, 12 Cregg Road, Claudy, Londonderry, BT47 4HX.

DROMARA, SECOND:

REV D.H. GILPIN: Mr Herbert Chambers, 29 Stewarts Road, Dromara, BT25 2AN.

DROMORE, FIRST:

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

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.

GLASTRY and KIRKCUBBIN:

REV A. GILICZE: Mr James McClements.

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.

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.

LOUGHALL and TARTARAGHAN:

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

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.

NEWTOWNBREDA:

REV ANDY GALBRAITH: Sir Bruce Robinson, 3 Deramore Drive, Belfast, BT9 5JQ.

PORTAVOGIE:

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

RANDALSTOWN, O.C.:

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

RASHARKIN:

REV A.J. McCRACKEN: 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 Marriot, 216 Orby Drive, Belfast, BT5 6BE.

SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET:

REV D.F. LEAL: (Spa) Acting Clerk - Mr Stephen McBride, 28 Ballynahinch Road, Castlewellan, BT31 9PA. (Magherahamlet) Mr David Whan, 74 Castlewellan Road, Dromara, BT25 2JN.

TULLYCARNET:

REV R.S.J. McILHATTON:

VINECASH:

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

WATERSIDE:

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

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

BALLYCAIRN:

REV MORRIS GAULT: Mr Brian Milligan, 19 Glenariff Drive, Dunmurry, BT17 9AZ.

BELLVILLE:

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

CARNLOUGH-CUSHENDALL and NEWTOWNCROMMELIN:

REV J.A. BEATTIE: (Carnlough-Cushendall) Mr Norman McMullan, 91 Ballymena Road, Carnlough, BT44 0LA. (Newtowncrommelin) Mr James Gillan, 67 Gracefield, Ballymena, BT42 2RP.

GRANGE with CRAIGMORE:

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

NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN (Home Mission):

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.

WHITEHEAD:

REV D. CROMIE: Ms Helen Graham, 4 Kilcarn, Islandmagee, BT40 3PJ.

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.

CHURCH RECORD

continued from page 49

THE ELDERSHIP

Ordained and Installed:

BALLYDOWN: John Campbell

CRAIGY HILL: Simon McFaul, Brian Lewis, Graham Warnock

FINTONA: Caroline Elizabeth Crawford

Died:

BALLINA: Couser Petrie

BALLYALBANY: Ruth Moffett

CAIRNALBANA: Albert Davison

NEWTOWNSTEWART: Arthur W. Dunbar

FIRST OMAGH: Brian Wilson

THE MINISTRY

Installed:

Clarke Deering, as Minister of Dun Laoghaire on 19 May 2023

Martin Gray, as Minister of Knock on 2 June 2023

Resigned:

Clarke Deering, as Minister of Ballynahatty, Creevan, Fintona on 18 May 2023

Martin Gray, as Minister of Ravenhill on 1 June 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

PORTSTEWART: 3-bedroom second floor apartment, in Montague Court area. A peaceful area with ample parking always available and a short distance to all the local attractions Portstewart has to offer. Apartment is modern and spacious with a kitchen which will have all equipment needed. One bedroom has an ensuite with shower and then a family bathroom with bath. Fresh bedding and towels supplied along with WiFi . Call Lizzie 07796 543070.

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.

PORTSTEWART : Beautiful 3-bedroom house available for summer rental June to September. Very close proximity to beach and town centre. Contact Denise 07738 632366.

NEWCASTLE, CO DOWN : 4-bedroom self-catering accommodation available for weekly lets (sleeps 8). Parking and large enclosed garden. 5 mins walk to beach and shops. No pets. Tel: 07810 883975

PORTSTEWART: Newly renovated house, Old Mill Grange, Portstewart. Suitable for 2 tenants, September to June. Contact Diane 07756 509340.

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.

Student Accommodation

BELFAST: Single room to let in Stranmillis Village, Belfast. Ideally situated for QUB and Belfast Hospitals. Would suit student or young professional.Contact Ruby 07759 577868 or rubykilmoyle@yahoo.co.uk

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

Ross Morrow A.L.C.M., L.T.C.L.

Piano Tuning

Services available throughout Ireland

Tel: +44 (0)28 9268 9468

Mobile: 07788 746992

PA systems • Loop systems

Projectors & screens • Installation & repairs alan@audiopromotions.co.uk

www.audiopromotions.co.uk 07855

MALIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

These will be held on 4 Saturdays this summer, from 2pm to 5pm on 22 July, 29 July, 5 August and 12 August. We really look forward to seeing everyone from previous years and new friends too.