Presbyterian Herald October 2023

Edgehill Christian Writers’ Group with lnklinks ACW group

are hosting a

CHRISTIAN WRITING AND BOOK FAIR

Moira Baptist Church, BT67 0NS

Saturday 4 November 2023 10.30am – 3.00pm

Main Speakers:

Catherine Campbell – Author (am)

Stephen Dundas – Faith Mission bookshops (pm)

If you’re keen on reading and/or writing, drop in for an hour to browse and chat, or bring a packed lunch and stay for the full day Any queries please contact:

Heather 07834 543888 • Lynda 07967 973056 • Jack 07720 293941

Lisburn

5 mins from Sprucefield

Adventure centre with Clip ‘n Climb, Adventure centre with Clip ‘n Climb, soft play & sensory rooms soft play & sensory rooms

forlarge groups

Perfect for church, Sunday School & youth group outingsactivities for all ages

Inclusive& accessible forall

Book at highriseni.org

High Rise is a social enterprise - all profits invested in our charity, supporting parents

Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW.

T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284

E: herald@presbyterianireland.org

W: www.presbyterianireland.org

CONTRIBUTORS

Claire Sellar is married to Frank and they have three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a part-time Presbyterian chaplain in the Ulster Hospital.

Robert Irwin is as elder in First Portadown Presbyterian and former editor of FarmWeek newspaper.

Editor: Sarah Harding

Subscriptions and Advertising: Edward Connolly; Hazel Gilliland

Design and Layout: Edward Connolly

Printing: W & G Baird Ltd

Alister Torrens grew up in Moneydig Presbyterian and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and wife Sarah are missionaries to Ukraine with ITEM.

Jason Sime is the community mission worker at Alexandra Presbyterian Church, in Belfast, serving in the community he grew up in.

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.

Faithful witness in Co Sligo p20

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

Cover photo: Rebecca McConnell

EDITORIAL Ministry

Nicky Gumbel, former pastor of Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, tells the story of being at a conference about marriage when he and his wife were newlyweds. They were given five cards with the words ‘work’, ‘God’, ‘ministry’, ‘husband/wife’ and ‘children’ on them. They were then asked to rank these in order of priority. “With hindsight,” he says, “I can see I got them in completely the wrong order.” Nicky had put ‘ministry’ above ‘wife’ and ‘children’. On reflection, “It became clear to me that my order should be: first of all God, then my wife (my primary calling), our children, my job (my primary ministry), and finally my ministry”.

Ministry is costly. This month, Claire Sellar writes about the work of PCI’s Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families panel. Manse families can experience intense stress as they cope with major upheaval connected to moving location, or dealing with other pressured situations. She comments: “manse families… flourish when thought about and cared for even in small ways.”

There is also a sacrificial cost to serving as an elder, which many people do on top of a full-time job. David Thompson says, “Eldership is a high calling… It sets a high bar and asks a lot of those who occupy the role.” PCI recognises the need for those in eldership to be “refreshed and renewed in their calling”, so David highlights the new training being offered to elders this autumn.

With no sign of the war in Ukraine ending, we hear about the enormous sacrifice of ministering there. Alister Torrens, principal of the Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine, was evacuated when the war started, but has returned several times and reflects on what he has seen. Uel Marrs also reports on his recent trip there, which was a show of support to the Reformed Church in Hungary, along with 17 other partner Churches.

As our congregations celebrate harvest this month, Robert Irwin offers a reflection on this significant season. He comments that even though farming practices have changed dramatically over the years, yet “the dependence on God’s provision of the sunshine and the rain in suitable proportions remains the same”.

Whatever form our ministry takes – whether we are minister, elders, deaconesses, volunteers, mission workers or Christian disciples witnessing in a secular environment – we, like the farmer, depend on God for his provision for the ministry to have any success. As Robert says, we need to lean on the promises of Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

NEWS | IN THE ROUND

SAT-7 requests prayer for Morocco

Following the devastating earthquake in Morocco last month, SAT-7 is asking people to join it in prayer for those affected.

Chris Beddoes, operations director for SAT-7 UK, who was on holiday with his wife in Marrakesh, described what happened when the earthquake hit:

“At just after 11pm, my wife and I felt a jolt and noise and thought someone was trying to break into our hotel room. We then felt a huge rumble and the hotel started violently shaking from side to side, accompanied by the crashing of glass and tiles with clouds of dust. We managed to get to a stairwell, avoiding the debris before exiting the hotel. No one around us was badly injured, but it’s terrible to see the death toll rising. Please keep praying into this situation and for SAT-7 viewers to know the comfort of Jesus at this time.”

Topical Tweets

@PCIModerator

Great to be in 1st Bangor yesterday for the 400th anniversary of #presbyterian witness in #Bangor Was good to catch up with Rev Mairisine Stanfield and her husband David. Preached on my theme for the year, Confident in Christ.

@TearfundNI

Tearfund in NI has launched its new ‘Rubbish Campaign’ along with @KateNicholl and @ rosalindskillen. It comes after the charity conducted a poll which found significant appetite amongst the Northern Irish public to tackle plastic pollution around the world.

@CAidSchools

Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbours in Morocco and Libya as they respond to devastating disasters. Our Crisis Response Toolkit is available for schools who want to support children to reflect and process in the face of crises.

@care4thefamily

Parents, we want to know your big parenting questions. We’re developing a new event tour for 2024 to support parents navigating that stage where kids go from childhood to adolescence. What are the challenges, struggles and joys? #BigParentingQuestions

@IrishTimes

Angela Ruttledge: Halving our food waste is the number one measure we can employ to stay within a 1.5 degrees temperature increase by century’s end, according to NGO Project Drawdown #climatechange via @ irishtimesoped

400 years of Presbyterian presence in Bangor

PCI Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney joined members of First Presbyterian Church Bangor, the city’s oldest established Presbyterian congregation, last month when he preached at a special service of worship to mark 400 years of Presbyterian presence in Bangor.

Speaking after the service, Rev Mairisíne Stanfield, who has just celebrated her tenth anniversary as minister of First Bangor, said that the city had a long Christian heritage that began with the establishment of Bangor Abbey in the sixth century.

“Our Christian heritage is not only long, but rich, with our Presbyterian story beginning over a thousand years after the setting up of the Abbey, when in 1605 Scottish Presbyterian James Hamilton was given land in and around Bangor by King James VI

of Scotland, who had just become King of England and King of Ireland.

“James Hamilton repaired the Abbey and a few years later invited Robert Blair from Ayrshire in Scotland to come and minister to the growing number of Scottish settlers in the area. Robert was ordained and installed according to the Scottish Presbyterian service of ordination in the summer of 1623. And so began a Presbyterian community of faith that has made a significant contribution to the growth and development

IN BRIEF

Polling insights from CAP assess cost of living

of Bangor over the past four centuries. As a fellow Scot, I am proud to follow in Robert’s footsteps as First Bangor’s 19th minister,” she said.

Being Churches Together in 21st Century Ireland

The ‘Being Churches Together in 21st Century Ireland’ symposium took place recently in the Helix at Dublin City University.

The symposium is part of a number of events marking the centenary of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC) and 50 years since the Ballymascanlon Talks, which led to the formation of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting (IICM).

Bishop Andrew Forster, ICC president and co-chair of the IICM, stated: “Today was a great day of coming together as churches across the island. Participants were given space to share about what being churches together means for them in practical terms. We were addressed by leading academics on how to effectively bring Christian values to the fore in public discourse. There is still work to be done but today was an impactful day in our journey together.”

Caring Together

Presbyterian Women held a special autumn conference, entitled ‘Caring Together’, in Assembly Buildings last month to explore ways to draw alongside and care for those whose lives have been broken. Seminars covered areas such as pregnancy loss, mental health issues and how to care for our young people. The keynote speaker was Helen Thorne from Biblical Counselling UK.

Recent YouGov polling conducted by Christians Against Poverty (CAP) sheds light on the longerterm consequences of the escalating cost of living. Just under one in four (23%) UK adults can’t afford an unexpected cost of £200. 28% of UK adults are finding keeping up with bills and credit commitments a heavy burden and 9% now have debts that they do not know how they will repay.

RSE response events

Evangelical Alliance (EA) is hosting regional events for parents, carers, teachers and youth leaders to discuss relationships and sexuality education (RSE) within Northern Ireland schools. The events will outline EA’s new resource on this topic, ‘Time to Talk’. The response events will be in Fermanagh Christian Fellowship, Enniskillen on Tuesday 17 October at 8pm and in Portstewart Baptist Church on Sunday 22 October at 6.30pm. For more information or to sign up, go to: www.eauk.org/about-us/ nations/northern-ireland

Correction

In the report about the debate on the second South Belfast Memorial (September Herald p.21) a comment was incorrectly attributed to Sonia Kane. We apologise for this. It should have stated: “In the debate another speaker stated that many women, like her, held a complementarian view and did not support the ordination of women.”

Pictured (L–R): Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney; First Bangor’s minister, Rev Mairisíne Stanfield; and His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Gawn Rowan-Hamilton.

Pictured are (L–R): Bishop Brendan Leahy (IICM co-chair), Prof Daire Keogh (DCU president), Dr Nicola Brady (CTBI general secretary), Rev Dr Livingstone Thompson (Moravian Church), Prof Philip McDonagh (DCU) and Bishop Andrew Froster (IICM co-chair).

Below: Seminar speakers at Caring Together (L–R): Jonny Hampton (REACH Mentoring), Esther Lynch (Biblical Counselling Ireland), Jenny Baines (CARE) and keynote speaker Helen Thorne (Biblical Counselling UK).

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

Entering the 90s Terry McMullan

In the year 1990 we will be celebrating 150 years of foreign mission of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland…

One of the first acts of the inaugural meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in July 1840 was to commission Revs James Glasgow and Alexander Kerr as missionaries to India... By the grace of God and the devoted service of these early missionaries, the Presbyterian Church was started in Gujarat…

The new missionary spirit brought to birth the Jewish Mission in 1842, the Colonial Mission in 1846 and the Continental Mission in 1856. Our first missionaries went to China in 1869 where they established a Presbyterian Church in what was then called Manchuria. The Women’s Association for Foreign Missions, known as the Zenana Missions, a Mission of Irish women to Indian women, was founded in 1873. In the first 100 years of our foreign mission, over 280 men and women were obedient to the call of God to go and proclaim the gospel…

As we look back over the past 150 years it is clear that much has been accomplished through the overseas work of our Church and we have the right to thank God for all that he has done through his devoted servants. But what of the future?

…As we move towards the 90s, we are convinced that we will require more dedicated people to go into God’s world in mission. They will have to be flexible enough to meet the demands of new situations, and they will be every bit as much ‘pioneers’ as were our first missionaries in 1840. We are also convinced that we in Ireland will have to make do on fewer material resources and make more available to the Lord of the harvest, so that his will is accomplished through us in the days ahead.

Second Killyleagh celebration

Rev James Clifford Boggs has celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination. In May 1928 he was installed as minister in Second Killyleagh. Gifts of a bedside table and a lamp magnifier were presented to Mr Boggs (extreme right) by, from left, Samuel Simpson, Rev Fred Bradley and Oliver Priestly, clerk of session.

The people report

Tim Cooke

Next month will mark the first sad anniversary of the Poppy Day massacre at Enniskillen. It will be, unfortunately, another addition to the long list of sad anniversaries which are marked in a quiet way almost every day by someone, somewhere in Northern Ireland.

But this anniversary is sure to have special significance for many people – not least for Dr Robin Eames, Primate of the Church of Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh.

The events of Enniskillen catapulted this approachable and compassionate churchman on to the world stage. He shared in the horror and sorrow of that Remembrance Day. Later, in full view of many millions of TV viewers, he conducted a special service, which counted Mrs Thatcher among the congregation.

“Some viewed Enniskillen as a turning point in our troubles. I fear this has not turned out to be true. I believe Enniskillen has found its place in the process of so many other outrages and tragedies in bringing people face-to-face with the real question – do we support violence or do we support reconciliation?

“The happenings of Enniskillen affected me deeply simply because I was there. I will never forget what I saw or heard. On one hand, frightening and devastating suffering. On the other, courage and faith of unbelievable proportions. In a very real way, my ministry will never be the same again because of what I experienced that Remembrance Sunday.”

Also from October ’88

Shroud of Turin is shown by carbon-dating tests to be a fake from the Middle Ages

Britain bans broadcast interviews with those believed to support terrorism

Les Misérables opens at Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia

Human trafficking happens here

Iam the campaigns and communications officer for an antihuman trafficking charity, Flourish. Flourish was founded just under ten years ago. It was born out of the realisation that human trafficking is happening here in Northern Ireland and a desire to do something about it.

In November 2022, the PSNI raided 27 brothels across Northern Ireland in a major operation against human trafficking. Many of the women connected to this raid were originally from Brazil and were being exploited, in towns like Armagh, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown, Derry, Coleraine, Ballymena, Portrush and Belfast.

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where a person is forced into a service against their will – usually work or prostitution. Control can be physical, financial and psychological. Some examples include sexual exploitation, forced labour, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude and organ harvesting.

It is a crime that is usually well hidden. Often, those who are being trafficked are afraid or unable to escape their situation. Sadly, being rescued is only the beginning of a journey to recovery. There are many barriers to full restoration and survivors are vulnerable to being re-exploited. This is where Flourish steps in. We believe every individual should have the support they need during recovery to go on to live an independent and resilient life.

Our work is carried out through one-to-one casework support and involvement in group-based courses, therapies and activities. The support provided is tailored to the needs of each individual. It can include sourcing safe housing accommodation, liaising and advocating with statutory and non-statutory agencies, sourcing employment or educational opportunities, referrals for mental health support, safeguarding, guidance through immigration and trafficking cases, general well-being support and help to meet physical and material needs, alongside promoting longer-term independence and community integration. Currently we are supporting around 100 individuals, plus 30 dependent children. We often have survivors in our care for several years.

When I joined Flourish one year ago, I was acutely aware of

what human trafficking was, and was burdened to use my skills and time to help those who had been affected by it. Its impact continues in a person’s life long past the time of their trafficking.

I have been specifically struck how every client is so different. Some are so positive and fun. Their resilience and strength in the face of their past and present circumstances is baffling. They ask me how I am and are interested in the challenges in my life.

Some now have seemingly good lives, with stable jobs and opportunities for themselves and their families, but naturally still battle with insecurities, anxieties and trauma from trafficking experiences. They are free but still enslaved by fear.

Some barely speak at all, but when they sit down to paint or draw, create beautiful landscapes directly from their home country where they long to be, but cannot, due to immigration issues or fear of returning to the origin of their exploitation.

It is a reminder that there is not one way to treat each of our clients. They are all different and will need differing support to heal and overcome their past circumstances. As a Christian, it is a reminder that I do not have all the answers. Only God can deliver true justice and complete restoration for these clients, as well as a reminder of how broken and sinful the world is – there are those who knowingly inflict life-long pain and injustice on innocent men, women and children.

What can we do in the face of such sin and pain? We can pray. We can raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking. We can support organisations working in this field.

Flourish was formed on Proverbs 31: 8–9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Each of us can do something and together we can make a difference.

If you would like to consider becoming a ‘Sponsor of Hope’ for Flourish, supporting a survivor’s ongoing journey of recovery and freedom, please go to: www.flourishni.org to learn more, or sign up for the monthly newsletter.

Steph Houston, from Ballyloughan Presbyterian, tells her story of working for an anti-trafficking charity.

…being rescued from human trafficking is only the beginning of a journey to recovery.

Events

‘Foundations’ is an opportunity to join in an evening that helps you take a step back from the busyness of running ministry among children and young people in your congregation.

Leaders can enjoy space and time to listen together with others about effectively engaging children and young people in small groups and also learn how we can help them to make sense of what the Bible says in the real-life settings and situations of their lives. Come as a group from your congregation or on your own. ‘Foundations’ is taking place on the following dates:

u Tuesday 3 October 2023, 7.45–9.15pm

Maze Presbyterian

u Monday 9 October 2023, 7.45–9.15pm

First Holywood Presbyterian

u Thursday 12 October 2023, 7.45–9:15 PM

Moy Presbyterian

To find out more or book a place go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/foundations

Church planting taster day

This event is open to individuals and congregations with a heart for church planting or mission pioneering as well as anyone currently and actively involved in it.

The half day will include a presentation on the vision and strategy for church planting in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, stories of recent practice and the offer of support and guidance to help you or your congregation take the next steps in church planting. Those who feel drawn to be involved in church planting are encouraged to attend, and congregations with a vision to plant elsewhere should come along with their minister and at least three elders or key leaders.

The taster day will take place on Saturday 21 October 2023 at Central (May Street), Belfast.

‘Leading Edge’ offers a five-part programme spread throughout the church year aimed at sharpening skills for leading in congregational life. It is ideal for ministers and others in full-time ministry roles.

The themes explored will include: leading from a place of acceptance; leading in disorienting times; leading well with others; leading without having to feel in control; and leading for a change.

The first event will be held on Thursday 12 October 2023, from 10.30am–1pm in Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church.

To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/leadingedge

Refresh

‘Refresh’ is an opportunity for elders to come together to be renewed and refreshed in fulfilling the calling of eldership.

u Thursday 19 October 2023 (7.45–9.15pm)

Union Road Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt (in person)

u Thursday 9 November 2023 (7.45–9.15pm)

Assembly Buildings, Belfast (in person and livestreamed)

u Thursday 14 March 2024 (7.45–9.15pm)

Second Limavady Presbyterian Church (in person)

To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/refreshforelders

PCI is partnering with Growing Young Disciples to run a brandnew 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

It 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

Discipleshaping Church Today

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

Disciple

shaping Church

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? This is a gathering for ministers, elders, leaders and other interested members to reflect on and consider how we can develop the kind of church life that shapes faithful followers of Jesus.

Hear plenary addresses from keynote speaker Andrew Fellows, have your say in discussion forums and enjoy a light lunch.

‘Discipleshaping Church Today’ will take place on Tuesday 24 October 2023 from 10.30am–3pm in Assembly Buildings, Belfast.

To find out more or to book a place go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/events

Resources

Bite-size is a flexible, downloadable discipleship tool that can be used in any congregation to help young people aged 11–18 learn God’s Word in a way that connects to their lives.

This latest Bite-size module is on the theme of the Bible – it considers what we need to understand about the Bible to help us grow in faith in Jesus.

Along with the existing modules on the themes of ‘Identity’ and ‘Church’, this new Bite-size module is free and can be ordered now from: www.presbyterianireland.org/bitesize

Resources for harvest

It can sometimes be difficult for congregations to find fresh items of praise for harvest services to sit alongside the timeless classics. PCI’s Digital Worship Hub offers some suggestions for music that will help to develop harvest themes.

Go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/worshiphub

News

Survey on climate change

PCI is conducting a survey to hear from a range of people within the denomination regarding climate change. This will help to provide a better understanding of thinking, perceptions and positions within the Church. This research by the Council for Global Mission, along with other data collection, will help shape how PCI can best engage with the issue of climate change and creation care. The survey is anonymous and should only be completed by members of PCI congregations. A link to complete the survey can be found on the PCI website by visiting: www. presbyterianireland.org/ stewardshipofcreation

Clerk visits Adelaide House

Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly, recently visited residents and staff at one of PCI’s residential homes, Adelaide House. Accompanied by Dermot Parsons, Secretary of PCI’s Council of Social Witness, and Wendy Kelly, PCI’s Social Care Support Manager, Rev Gribben conducted morning worship, spoke with residents, had a walk around the building and met staff including the manager, Lisa Gibson.

Update on Malawi after Cyclone Freddy caused devastation

When Tropical Cyclone Freddy moved across the Indian Ocean and southern Africa, it became the longest lasting cyclone in history, as well as one of the deadliest.

One of the worst affected countries was Malawi, with much of the devastation focused on the Blantyre District in the south.

Over 1,200 people in Malawi lost their lives, with thousands more losing their homes and livelihoods.

Aided by funding from PCI, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission responded to the immediate needs of the people of Blantyre. The initial response included targeting 1,100 households with provision of food items, including cooking oil, beans, dried fish and maize flour. Many of these households had lost all means of producing food, so for most of them, it provided a chance to get back on their feet and begin to think about the next steps of rebuilding their homes, planning for the next harvest and restarting their lives.

The needs are still great, with households in need of tarpaulin sheets, mosquito nets, maize seeds, farming tools and opportunities for economic empowerment through village savings and loans schemes. Blantyre Synod continues to respond to these needs.

DIARY DATES

2023

October

Foundations

Maze Presbyterian – Tuesday 3

First Holywood Presbyterian –Monday 9 Moy Presbyterian – Thursday 12

Leading Edge Newtownbreda Presbyterian –Thursday 12

Refresh

Union Road Presbyterian, Magherafelt – Thursday 19

Church planting taster day Central (May Street, Belfast) –Saturday 21

Discipleshaping

Church Today Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Tuesday 24

November

Refresh Assembly Buildings, Belfast (in person and livestreamed) –Thursday 9

December Explore Dundonald Presbyterian –Friday 1

2024

February Explore Clougherney Presbyterian –Friday 23

March

Refresh Second Limavady Presbyterian – Thursday 14

Discipleshaping Church

Renewing mind and body David Clarke

Studies in Romans 12:1–2

‘Therefore’ is a key word in the apostle Paul’s vocabulary. This word, beloved of mathematicians and philosophers (“I think, therefore I am”), ought to be cherished by believers also. While grammarians will describe it as a mere conjunction, comprising only three letters in the Greek text, it is packed with theological significance, providing the crucial link between Christian doctrine and Christian morality.

Paul used the potent word earlier in Romans (see 3:20, 5:1 and 8:1) but nowhere is the link so clear as in his plea to the permissive Corinthians: “You were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

The doctrine Paul has elaborated in Romans chapters 1–8, about the stricken nature of fallen humanity and the redemptive act of God in Christ, together with the assurance that the Holy Spirit provides, led Paul to the rapturous declaration that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Likewise, his excursus on God’s mysterious dealings with Israel (Romans chapters 9–11) culminated in his wonder at “the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (11:33). That summary of ‘God’s mercy’ calls for an appropriate response. It has been well said that “In the New Testament, religion is grace and ethics is gratitude”.

Christian morality, then, in the words of Professor C H Dodd, “is the response to all the mercy of God… It does not begin with a man’s ambition to make himself a fine specimen of virtuous humanity, and so, it may be, to win the approval of God. It begins with the thankful recognition that God, the source of all goodness, has done for him what he could never do for oneself.”

The first plea that Paul makes is one that challenges our sex-saturated society. He summons Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices (v1), by which he means not just our bodily parts but “a human being in all his or her wholeness”.

Contemporary Greek thinkers viewed the spirit as all important, and the body as merely a shackle, a prison-house, a tomb. As a result, some Christians had imbibed the idea that how we use or abuse our bodies is of no spiritual relevance. An early Christian thinker summarised the idea they advanced: “As gold, when deposited in mud, does not lose its beauty, but preserves its own nature, the mud not being able to injure

the gold; so also they say of themselves that, whatever be the character of their material morality, they cannot be injured by it, nor lose their spiritual substance.” Plausible though it sounds, the early church saw it as productive of much evil.

Paul’s Jewish upbringing dismissed this Greek idea of a split personality. Besides, since Christ had taken human flesh, our view of the body has been transformed. It is through our bodies that our entire life reveals itself. Hence Paul’s appeal, which was echoed by the apostle John when he wrote: “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he (Jesus) is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Paul’s second plea brings Christians into collision with our secular, post-truth culture. Our minds need to be renewed (v2) as we refuse to be conformed to the spirit of the times. It is a welcome emphasis, for too many Christians absorb the views and imitate the lifestyles of those around them. As someone scathingly remarked: “The modern Christian church is the best disguised set of pilgrims that the world has even seen.”

Others chase after ‘awesome’ worship events, and ever more sensational experiences, without caring much about stretching the mind. Yet the engagement of the mind is essential. When John Bunyan wrote of the character whom he named ‘Temporary’, he sought to explain the man’s lack of spiritual tenacity. “The bottom of all,” he wrote, “is want of a change in the mind and will.”

To these strenuous calls for consecration, Paul appends a promise: “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (v2). It is not always easy to discover God’s will in the perplexities of life, but, contends Paul, the renewed and obedient mind will discover that God’s will is good and perfect.

As we move forward in obedience, we enter into deeper knowledge of God. As Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). With obedience comes discovery.

Our minds need to be renewed… It is a welcome emphasis, for too many Christians absorb the views and imitate the lifestyles of those around them.

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

Life lessons

Rev Prof Gordon Campbell Professor of New Testament at Union Theological College

I was born in east Belfast. Baptised in Bloomfield congregation, I grew up in St John’s, Newtownbreda. My dad had a grocer’s shop in Lower Ormeau, till forced out by sectarian intimidation. My parents sought to give my older brother and me the education they never had. We both attended Belfast Inst. (Royal Belfast Academical Institution), where I developed an interest in modern languages and music. I went on to study them at Queen’s, becoming a French, German and RE teacher for a time.

In today’s Ireland, many languages besides English or Irish can be heard. I hope such diversity will encourage young people here to spread their wings. Personally, every language I can speak or read, including English, has been a key, unlocking a wider world of history, culture or faith. One especially uninspiring French teacher almost confiscated the key for me, yet I lived in France for 16 years and ended up functionally bilingual. My wife Sandra and I have taken particular delight in watching our four children use this key for navigating plural cultures, embracing diversity, and seizing opportunities.

As a family in France, we preserved an Irish core deep within us; in Ireland, we carried something of France deep inside. Authentic discipleship, or appropriate ministry, are lived out in a particular time and place and another culture and language mean special adaptation. In every respect, congregational ministry or theological teaching in France were different from assistant ministry in 1980s Ulsterville or New Testament teaching in Union College since 2007. I’ve always found adapting to change to be an exchange: you lose some things, you gain other things. A sense of serving Christ or his church in both worlds has enriched and defined me.

When the public university chose to withdraw theology, ending nearly a century of collaboration with our college, this threw up both challenges and opportunities for Union’s ongoing mission and ministry. Since 2019, the college has been delivering higher degrees in theology to graduates –ministerial students included – and now awards them under a revised Royal Charter (2021). Since 2022, school-leavers have been returning to Union as undergraduate theology students, in a new partnership with St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

My privilege, as principal, has been to lead a team whose huge energy, effort and enthusiasm for change brought all this about and to see God’s rich grace towards our college at work in students, colleagues and volunteers alike.

Back when I was a student myself in Union College, we were advised that for ministry we needed the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the hide of a rhinoceros. At the time, I think I understood the first two. The third only hit home once I really experienced what it can cost to commend a gospel that demands deep, ongoing and lasting change and had to deal with the painful consequences that may follow.

Growing up a Presbyterian exposed me to the faithfulness of God to believers and their children. I later discovered that a forebear who trusted in Christ, following the prayers of his friends, was the 1859 Revival’s first-recorded convert, and how, in every generation since, there have been people of faith among his descendants. God’s faithful love became a legacy that I can only rationalise as of his making, tangible tokens of which have sometimes caught me unawares in my own life and family. Mostly, though, I realise that we walk by faith, not sight.

The Psalms have taught me how believers never cry out to God more, or more fervently, for strength or wisdom than when their own resources fail them. I’ve seen my limitations, and the utter dependability of a good and loving God, most clearly whenever life has seemed hard – as in times of major transition, illness or challenge. But to borrow Michael Card’s words, following Jesus always means being guided by a hand we cannot hold and trusting in a way that we cannot see.

While still at school, I discovered the restorative power of listening to or making music and I’m trying to tap into this again now. Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, in later life, that without music life would be a mistake; but I identify more with his words as a young teenager: “God has given us music so that above all it can lead us upwards… Song elevates our being and leads us to the good and the true.”

Correction: The Herald mistakenly reported last month that Gordon Campbell had retired. Following his time-bound appointment as principal of Union College, Prof Campbell has resumed his role as Professor of New Testament.

Equipping young adults to follow Jesus

Equip is a ministry aimed at young adults in their 20s and 30s in our churches. We noticed that there was a need to engage Christians who had left full-time education and were perhaps seeking fellowship with other Christians at the same stage of life. This group is particularly important for our churches because they are deeply committed to volunteering in a range of ministries and will be the generation that influences how our churches look and feel in the next couple of decades.

As someone who has worked for a few different churches, across two large denominations, I have noticed this generation being pulled towards churches that are geared towards serving this generation. While I believe a church made up almost entirely of one generation is a mistake, we have to understand why people have been making the move. It is easy to say that younger people are drawn towards a more modern style of worship, but that isn’t what we have heard from our conversations. Instead, two major points have come up again and again. They are

burnt out from serving and are not being sufficiently spiritually fed themselves. Also, they have a feeling that their voice has been dismissed for too long.

Equip seeks to solve these issues. We want to draw young adults together from across the churches in our presbytery, feed them spiritually and send them back re-energised to continue to serve in their local congregations. We hope to send people back not just refreshed, but motivated. Have they learned something from our teaching that can help them serve, or perhaps something that can help their congregation? Have they discovered new praise songs that can be sung by their congregation? Have they made new friends with whom they can have fellowship and grow in faith? Not every church can run an effective ministry for young adults, but when we pull together,

we can really meet the needs of this generation.

I asked Rev Michael Rutledge, minister of Abbots Cross Presbyterian, to describe what led to Equip:

“In 2021, North Belfast Presbytery formed a panel to do a little investigating into the issue of the falling number of young people in our congregations. It arose from a letter sent by a kirk session that was asking for help in this area and questioning how we might respond together as not just one congregation but together as the Church. That panel did a little deeper digging into the situation and presented that to the elders and church leaders of the entire presbytery calling it ‘Crisis?!: the loss of a younger generation in North Belfast Presbytery. An honest conversation.’

“This was a start in having to deal with the fact that our congregations, for the most part, didn’t demographically look like the communities they are a part of. Younger people were largely underrepresented demographically in congregations, but overrepresented in leadership. Long story short: far fewer

They are burnt out from serving and are not being sufficiently spiritually fed…

Jason Sime describes an exciting new initiative for young adults in North Belfast Presbytery.

young people, far more actively involved in church life in service. What has arisen from that is a desire to try to help support the young people we do have, not simply to see them serve but to serve and support them. That’s where Equip comes in.”

Following the North Belfast Presbytery event, I worked to bring together a small group from across the presbytery to help me plan a project. The feedback we got was that we should focus on teaching that can help us live as Christians in an increasingly secular world, and spend time in worship. Everyone we spoke to was keen to ensure that the teaching was soundly biblical and relevant to this generation.

The structure for our evenings is fairly straightforward. As people are arriving, we leave time for fellowship with tea/ coffee and snacks available. We formally begin our time together in prayer and then we are led in praise by a leader or band. Our guest speaker will then lead our teaching session with the option for group discussion afterwards. Finally, we finish our time together with some more praise and prayer.

We allow plenty of time for fellowship at the end. We make it clear that we are not telling people to leave; we have found that people tend to stay for around an hour afterwards. This is great for helping people get to know Christians from other churches in the presbytery.

For our first few events we have also had a bookstall, stocked by the Good Book Company. We have asked our speakers to recommend some books based on their teaching.

To date, we have had three Equip events. Our first was hosted by Whitehouse Presbyterian in April; West Kirk welcomed us in June; and Abbots Cross was our venue in September. Our next event is due to be hosted by Alexandra Presbyterian on Saturday 2 December at 7.30pm. We have been deliberate in rotating the venue each time, not just the church building

but also the location – North Belfast Presbytery stretches from the Shankill in West Belfast and takes in the bulk of Newtownabbey – moving between these areas helps to form a greater sense of a collective in the presbytery. We do not want this project to be associated with a single congregation – we also hope that changing the venue might help us reach young adults across the presbytery.

We have been blessed by the talent of local speakers and members of our own denomination. Michael Rutledge, minister of Abbots Cross, explored how we live in a society that is increasingly

hostile for faith by using the biblical example of Lot. Olwyn Mark, from Union Theological College, explored the theme ‘Why does God care who I sleep with?’ and Rick Hill recently helped us think about how we can be more committed to church and Christian community.

Matthew Houston will speak at our next event on the topic ‘Consume truth’. He says:

“In an age of all-consuming consumerism, how can Christians ensure we’re consuming wisely? In days when everyone has their own changeable truth, how can Christians know we have the unchanging truth? This session will offer answers to these questions, encouraging us that, in God’s Word, we have access to truth which is well worth consuming.” We hope that Equip can continue into 2024 and beyond. Those who have joined us have been encouraged and have told us they feel this has been valuable. We hope the success of this project will be seen in the long term, with Christians in their 20s and 30s enthusiastically serving in their congregations while having their own spiritual needs met.

Equip is not the only solution to falling numbers of the younger generations in our congregations, but we believe it can be an effective start. Encouraging people from different churches to work together can be effective in helping to build God’s kingdom. Our young adults are key to that and we must ensure that we care for their needs, help them understand their identity in Christ and challenge them to be able to live out the gospel every day.

For more information, follow ‘equip_ youngadults’ on Instagram.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

…when we pull together, we can really meet the needs of this generation.

Jason Sime is a community mission worker at Alexandra Presbyterian Church on York Road in Belfast, serving the community in which he grew up.

The art of preaching

Alf McCreary

Recently, I had dinner with an eminent academic who said that the greatest form of communication is still the spoken word, with which I agree totally. Anyone who doubts this should reflect on the rhetoric of Donald Trump or the late Rev Ian Paisley, with their mesmeric power in telling their followers what they want to hear and thereby consolidating their prejudices.

By contrast, the task of anyone who takes to the pulpit weekly or only occasionally is to inspire the congregation, while offering comfort and challenge to individuals for their daily lives that can be easily understood. For almost two decades I spoke regularly in a wide range of churches about the work of Christian Aid and Tearfund, which I had witnessed in so many parts of the developing world.

I had the advantage of mostly using my single, transferable and updated address, but I was always aware of the responsibility. It was then that I understood the wisdom of the late Professor William Barclay, a superb preacher who was Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. He once said that every time he went into a pulpit, he was aware that he was standing on holy ground.

The style of preaching has changed from my youth, when any minister who gave a sermon without notes was regarded by many of his listeners as a genius, even if he – never a she in those days –was merely making up the address as it went along.

There was also a time when long sermons were the norm, sometimes lasting nearly an hour. Members of a congregation rarely dared to tell a minister what they thought of the longevity of the address, even though some of them said privately: “A few more like this will help us to shorten the winter.”

However, styles have changed, and in our pressured society any verbal address of more than 15 or 20 minutes will switch off the listeners. In my opinion, anyone who feels the need to preach for more than 20 minutes should not be preaching – if they cannot say all they want to say within that time frame.

Some years ago, I recall an older minister on holiday supply who on successive Sundays ran out of time before he could complete his sermon. I thought to myself, “Dear God, has this man learned nothing about preaching in the past 30 years?”

I also recall an evening service years ago when the young preacher, not long down from the then Assembly’s College, regaled us for half an hour with his regurgitated lecture notes. Afterwards, I tried to tell him tactfully that if his sermon had been half as short, it would have been twice as effective. To which

he replied brusquely, “It’s good enough for me”. So that was my nose bitten off.

Some of the preachers of days not too long distant were very impressive. I still remember how the late Rev Donald Gillies could make a wonderful sermon from just one short message, arising out of one short text. Another Whitehouse minister, Rev Fergie Marshall, was a superb preacher, gifted with a golden voice and the ability to speak directly to everyone in every pew.

In more modern times Very Rev Dr John Dunlop, a former Moderator, has remained for decades one of the best preachers in the Presbyterian Church, and in the Church of Ireland, Lord Eames, the former Primate, was always a compelling communicator.

There is still good preaching to be heard, and I was most impressed by the high standards of the funeral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II in the nations of the United Kingdom, and also by the welcome given by the Church of Ireland Primate, Most Reverend John McDowell, to King Charles III during his first visit to St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

I respect young people who go into the ministry, but I sometimes wonder if they really want to learn from some of the best communicators past and present. To my mind, there is still too much emphasis on ‘teaching’ – as if the people in the pews had never heard any of the biblical stories previously – and not enough reflection on how this will help them in their daily lives.

I also notice that some preachers read out their sermons, with little or no eye contact. If you do not pause to look at your listeners, and to sense if they are with you or not, there is no way in which you can expect them to remember in any detail what you are saying.

One of the best ways to approach a sermon is to study the New Testament and especially the parables of Jesus Christ, who was an outstanding communicator. His sermons were extremely short, but they were packed with meaning, with compassion and with a deep understanding of the human condition – and they were blessedly effective. If today’s preachers could only model themselves better on the parables and sayings of Christ, which they should do ceaselessly, how much better all their sermons would be.

Alf McCreary is an award-winning journalist and author who writes a Saturday religion column for the Belfast Telegraph entitled ‘Perspectives’.

One of the best ways to approach a sermon is to study... Jesus Christ, who was an outstanding communicator.

A question of values

Local and international headlines were made in July when Nigel Farage had his account closed because his bank said that his views “do not align with our values”. The following month, a man who co-wrote the Father Ted series had the venue for his comedy show in Edinburgh cancelled because the owners said that his views did not “align with our overall values”.

These are just two recent and highly publicised examples where personal values have come into conflict with the values of influential people or groups in wider society. And in many cases, where there is a clash between the values of an individual and a company, it has ended up in a court or tribunal.

Values matter a great deal, both personally and in public. Yet, as we all know, living up to our stated values is a huge challenge for us all – for we are all fallen people in a fallen world. And that is one of the reasons why the work of God’s Spirit and the guidance of Scripture are so necessary – day in, day out. But wider society struggles too. All too often we see scandals in businesses, politics, charitable organisations, public bodies and in many other groups and professions. Key values are set aside for whatever reason, and devastation often follows.

Our Church has grappled with the very difficult task of promoting values that we believe are for the well-being of the whole of society, alongside the need to have them enshrined in law so that the vulnerable are protected and abuse is curtailed. This usually means that legislation has to take human rights into consideration – an area in which other groups are always very active, as they seek to have their values upheld as well. In an increasingly secular state, their values tend to prevail, and Christian values often, though not always, tend to be downgraded or ignored.

Nonetheless, if we are to be faithful to Scripture, it seems to me that we need to be committed to doing lots of work all the time to promote biblical standards and values right across every area of public interest. A few examples will suffice: Given that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24), how should God’s people respond to the statement by the head of the World Meteorological Organization that the “Era of global boiling has arrived”, given that July was the hottest ever month across the world? He also warned that “climate action is not a luxury but a must”.

And what is a God-honouring response to the trafficking of desperate people across the English Channel in flimsy and dangerously overcrowded boats – given that each and every one

of them is made (like us) in the image of God? Or, with verses such as Proverbs 31:8–9 ringing in our ears, what must we do to help care for the ten million people in poverty in the UK, or the one in three people in Ireland who are living alone, and are at risk of poverty?

If you are like me, you find that the complexity and the scale of such issues is way ‘beyond your ken’! And you feel helpless in the face of such overwhelming need. Yet to sit on the sidelines is a reaction that is not known in Scripture. So, I do have the privilege, as well as the responsibility, to do whatever I can, no matter how small that may be.

I can actively support the food bank in my local congregation (poverty), or take more care in what I buy – looking particularly at where it comes from and how it is packaged (climate change). Issues of biblically-based reconciliation and facing the horrors of our past have also been on my radar for some time. I can actively support some groups/organisations/charities that can make a difference. They can be local or international; based in church or in wider society; large or small; longstanding or more recent.

And of course, there is the ministry of prayer – whether for situations, organisations or individuals. I always feel inadequate in this, but try to persevere, not least because of the encouragement of Romans 8 where Paul admits: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

God valued us so much that he gave his only Son to die for us. My faith in Christ means that what matters to him can –and should – matter to me. A wider world, turning aside from the Lord, seems unable to agree on what it should value and practice. Seeking to promote biblical values, which mirror the heart of the living God, seems such an obvious thing to try to do – doesn’t it?

Norman Hamilton considers how our Christian values must compel us to act in society.

…you feel helpless in the face of such overwhelming need. Yet to sit on the sidelines is a reaction that is not known in Scripture.

Norman Hamilton

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

All is safely gathered in...

All is safely gathered in e’er the winter storms begin…

The harvest season is a time of joy and celebration on farms across the country. The rewards of a year’s hard work have been safely stored away and it is right that our thoughts should turn first to God for his bountiful provision.

Following the flood in the days of Noah, God gave him and his family a promise that seedtime and harvest would not pass away – and that promise rings true each and every year. Seedtime may have changed in practice – ploughing the fields is frowned upon as it releases carbon to the atmosphere so minimum tillage (min-til) is the order of the day and the seed is precision drilled rather than being scattered on the ground. But the dependence on God’s provision of the sunshine and the rain in suitable proportions remains the same.

Psalm 104:14 says: “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth

food from the earth.” The production of food lies at the core of everything a farmer does and while they have found this year particularly tough economically, with significant drops in the prices they receive for products such as milk, beef and lamb, we are greatly blessed to enjoy a climate that allows a bountiful harvest without the climate disasters seen in many countries.

In times gone by, the whole population would have had close links to the land for even when not actively farming, they were only one or two generations removed from the land and had a deep understanding and appreciation of what was involved in the production of food. Now there are only 25,000 farms in Northern Ireland and many of these are

run on a part-time basis by farmers who have a secondary source of income.

There have been big changes in the structure of farming in the last 40 years. In 1984 there were over 8,000 dairy farms; now there are only 3,000, with the number of farmers growing cereals falling from 8,000 to 2,000 and those growing potatoes dropping from 6,000 to just 380. While these figures reflect the trend towards farms specialising in a single enterprise, they also point to a steady decline in the total number of farms.

But whatever the scale of the farming enterprise, the joy of a completed harvest remains as strong as ever.

The traditional image of harvest celebrations is the end of the grain harvest in the autumn, with imagery of ‘bringing in the sheaves’ with rejoicing. In more modern times, the grain harvest has moved earlier in the calendar, commencing in mid-July with winter barley and winter wheat crops. These are so-called as they are sown in the autumn and have germinated and commenced

Robert Irwin offers a thoughtful reflection on this harvest season.

Farming remains the most dangerous occupation in the country…

growth before the winter sets in. They are then ready to make the most of favourable spring weather and are ripe by mid-July. This of course brought its own problems this year as July was so wet, but most years it is a more preferable time for the harvest than September/October.

The potato harvest too is spread over a longer period, with earlies in the shops since June, although digging the main crop remains a job for the autumn months, as does the apple harvest. Vegetable harvesting can continue right through the winter to meet ‘just in time’ demands of supermarkets.

But the majority of farms in Northern Ireland do not grow any of these crops. The only crop they grow and harvest is grass, saved in the form of silage for winter fodder, with harvesting commencing in early May and running right through the growing season. The true harvest for the grassland farmer is the milk and meat produced from their livestock.

Whatever the crop being harvested, suitable weather is all important and making the most of weather windows has shaped the development of farming down the decades.

Getting as much crop harvested when a suitable day comes along has dictated that tractors and equipment have got larger and faster with each generation. Much of the harvesting is now done by contractors as individual farmers find the purchase of high-speed machinery to be out of reach, as well as a lack of available labour to help with the extra workload.

The equipment is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Tractors today are highly computerised and can be fitted with GPS navigation systems, while many of the major tractor manufacturers are now developing driverless models.

Harper Adams University in Shropshire has several years of experience of the ‘Hands Free Hectare’ project where a field has been cultivated, seed sown,

sprays and fertiliser applied and crop harvested, all without anyone entering the field. Each stage is completely automated.

GPS systems on tractors have become the latest target for thieves and there was a spate of such thefts earlier this summer in Northern Ireland.

The issue of rural crime is never far from the minds of farmers. It is hardly a new phenomenon as even Jesus referred to it in the parable about thieves breaking into the sheep fold. Sheep rustling still goes on, as does the theft of other livestock and machinery – quad bikes seem particularly attractive to thieves. Do pray for those who live in fear of repeated thefts.

Farm safety is also often in the headlines. Farming remains the most dangerous occupation in the country and many readers will have seen the hardhitting safety advertising produced by the Health and Safety Executive. Harvesttime and the associated rush to make the most of breaks in the weather heightens many of the safety risks around farms, with much vehicle movement and long hours that dull the alertness to dangers. Do pray for the safe keeping of farmers and additional helpers or contractors at this busy time.

While farmers have always been proud of their role in producing food for the nation, culminating in a harvest of grain, potatoes, vegetables, apples, milk or meat, there has in recent years been increased scrutiny of their role as custodians of the countryside.

Many farmers endeavour to do what they can to live in harmony with nature. A common desire is to improve a farm before handing it down to the next generation. Now much of that care for biodiversity is becoming a prerequisite for any government support. Planting of hedgerows and woodlands to create wildlife habitats is expensive but with suitable assistance farmers have shown

their willingness to co-operate in these endeavours.

The farming sector has always met challenges and crises head on and come through difficult times. BSE, foot and mouth, Covid – farmers’ resilience has shone through. Now they face the challenges of climate change. Farmers fear having swingeing limits on stock numbers imposed on them in order to reduce emissions, restricting their ability to provide for their families.

Farming should be seen as part of the solution rather than simply part of the problem. Farms are currently undergoing carbon audits and producers will hope that any negative impacts of livestock farming will be balanced by the positive carbon benefits of crops, grassland, hedges and trees that proliferate across our beautiful countryside.

Part of the solution may be the growth in energy crops, with significant amounts of grass already being fed to anaerobic digestors and other specialist energy crops may follow. But many farmers question the ethics of restricting food production or using land to produce energy rather than food in a world where millions still face starvation.

There are many challenges facing the farming community on a daily basis but it, and indeed each of us, can lean on this promise from Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Robert Irwin is as elder in First Portadown and former editor of FarmWeek newspaper.

…whatever the scale of the farming enterprise, the joy of a completed harvest remains as strong as ever.

Renewing the call to eldership

David Thompson promotes new training for elders this autumn – to refresh and encourage them in their ministry.

For Presbyterians, the office of eldership has always been considered a high calling. Indeed, something of the privilege and responsibility of that call pulsates through passages like 1 Peter 5:1–4 where we read:

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you

Quotes from the elders’ survey

to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

Eldership is approached out of gratitude for Christ’s sufferings, its energy flows from desire, not duty, and an eagerness to serve. It demands the setting of a good example of consistent Christian living and promises the anticipation of lavish eternal reward.

“I was ordained at the end of January 2020, not long before the first lockdown. I feel I am still learning about the role and what is expected of me from other elders, the minister, members of my district, others in leadership roles in the congregation and members of the congregation.”

“Since I joined session, we seem to have spent an incredible amount of time on tactical and reactive items, as opposed to more strategic initiatives around the spiritual growth and advancement of our congregation and surrounding community.”

“For me personally, the demands on my time are a constant challenge. With increasing work demands and ageing in-laws, it can be difficult to navigate and maintain a healthy rhythm and you can easily become overstretched.”

“As elders, we can fall into the trap of being so busy keeping the ‘mechanics’ of church life going that we don’t leave any room around the edges for visionary thinking or taking time to invest in our spiritual development as a body of leaders.”

“It seems that the level of discontent has grown over the last few years. It is often the case that one person wants one thing and

The high bar of eldership Eldership is a high calling in another sense. It sets a high bar and asks a lot of those who occupy the role.

Before and during the pandemic it was increasingly evident that elders play an ever more important role in the ongoing ministry and future prospects of congregations. This involves sharing the pastoral load, acting as gatekeepers, facilitating necessary change, inspiring and enthusing others and in general, setting the tone and tenor of congregational life.

then almost the next person you talk to wants the exact opposite. This is hard to manage as an elder, both practically, emotionally and even spiritually.”

“The longer I have been an elder, the more I am engaged in the life of the church and have both the privilege and pleasure of spending more time with people in one-to-one, group settings and ministry meetings.”

“I love to get alongside people, and I am so grateful for how this role allows me access to people when they are walking through a difficult time. I have also been greatly encouraged at the volume of new communicant members being added to our fellowship, despite the challenges of Covid.”

“I believe as elders if we can be encouraged to grow in our faith, be open to fresh spiritual ideas and work closely together as a kirk session, then we can develop our skills to provide leadership and direction to the congregation with a confidence that will encourage others in their walk with God.”

“This survey has been an encouragement. To see that there are those who are aware that things have changed and are now beginning to focus their work on encouraging elders is very welcome indeed.”

Additionally, with the issue of decreasing numbers of ordained ministers in the denomination, the likelihood is that elders may have to be encouraged, envisioned and equipped to step up to take more hands-on responsibility in roles such as leading worship, discipling and pastoral provision in more complex situations.

Consequently, the need to focus on investing in, supporting and developing eldership has become increasingly pressing. This will involve a variety of aspects. One is to create the kind of pipelines in congregations that will offer opportunities to younger members to develop leadership giftings that are appropriate to becoming future elders. Another revolves around electing new elders, in helping congregations and prospective candidates understand the role of eldership. This will probably mean that we need to revisit our models and material for preparing elders elect for ordination and ongoing service.

Perhaps the most pressing need, however, is to find ways to enable those in eldership across our Church to be refreshed and renewed in their calling.

Reflections on eldership today

Around the turn of the year, PCI considered the results of a snap survey that sought to gain the views of two elders from each presbytery on how they saw the challenges and opportunities of eldership today.

There was widespread agreement that the expectations of eldership were increasing, whether as a result of the demands of congregational members, in terms of navigating the increasing complexities of church life and winds of change in society, or because of a diminishing number of active leaders with whom to share the load.

Particular aspects of eldership identified as challenging included: trying to prioritise visiting while managing the

demands of a busy life; getting church life going again after the disruption of the pandemic; and maintaining spiritual freshness.

More positively, elders surveyed were encouraged by the committed ongoing ministry of many members of their congregation and one-to-one conversation in visitation and pastoral care.

When responding to a question about areas in which elders are most in need of encouragement, by far the greatest response was in how to find their voice in speaking up as members of kirk session in decision-making. Maintaining spiritual freshness and a personal devotional life, engaging with fringe members and visiting in situations of bereavement or other challenging life circumstances also featured highly.

of church life. There will be a mix of encouragement from Scripture, input from elders and space to talk together. The very essence of our Presbyterian understanding of eldership is that it is a ministry that is always exercised together with others in a congregation, presbytery and the wider Church. So, it is fitting that we have an opportunity to come together to listen, learn and gain a new sense that, under God, we are all in this together as we go forward.

An appetite for coming to anything extra to the demands of our own congregational activities is only beginning to be regrown across the Church, but our hope is that kirk sessions will prioritise coming to the ‘Refresh’ evenings together and return back to ministry in their congregations renewed in their calling.

our Church

be refreshed and renewed in their calling.

An opportunity to be refreshed and renewed

In response to the survey, PCI is taking a first step in seeking to encourage elders through a series of evenings in the next church year.

The ‘Refresh’ evenings offer an opportunity for elders to come together to be renewed and refreshed in fulfilling the calling of eldership. Whether participants have been an elder for a long time or have been elected recently to the role, they can come along to be envisioned and equipped for leadership in their congregation in the next season

Event details

‘Refresh’ will take place on the following dates and locations from 7.45–9.15pm:

• Thursday 19 October 2023

– Union Road, Magherafelt

• Thursday 9 November 2023

– Assembly Buildings, Belfast

• Thursday 14 March 2024

– Second Limavady

While encouraging in-person participation, if possible, kirk sessions or individual elders will also be able to register to join a livestream of the Assembly Buildings evening.

To book a place, or to register to join by live stream, go to:

www.presbyterianireland.org/ refreshforelders

…the most pressing need… is to find ways to enable those in eldership across

to

…we don’t leave any room around the edges… to invest in our spiritual development as a body of leaders.

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

Faithful witness in Co Sligo

Sarah Harding chats to long-time member of Ballymote Presbyterian Church, Edith Thorpe.

Photography: Jamie Trimble

At the General Assembly in June, it was decided that three congregations in the Republic of Ireland should be dissolved by the end of this year: Wexford, Enniscorthy and Ballymote. PCI’s Council for Mission in Ireland has plans for fresh expressions of worship and faith in the Wexford/Enniscorthy area, while it is hoped that members of Ballymote will find a new home in Sligo Presbyterian, a vibrant and growing congregation 15 miles away.

Rev David Clarke, minister of Sligo Presbyterian and convener of Ballymote, explains, “The shifting demographics have meant that sometimes our churches are not in the places they need to be. Ballymote is a good example… I suppose it’s about being targeted in our approach so that churches are where people are.”

Edith Thorpe is a long-time member of Ballymote and is a shining example of Presbyterian faith and witness in the area. Originally from Clones, Co. Monaghan, she married husband Wilson, a PCI mission worker, in 1962, and for six months after the wedding they lived in a caravan in Enniscrone, in the area in which he carried out mission and outreach.

The idea that PCI was once happy that its mission personnel lived in caravans is slightly perplexing. Edith laughs, “My mother was absolutely horrified”. But it doesn’t seem to have bothered Edith

that much: “I was young in those days, so didn’t mind. We had a solid fuel stove and we were comfortable.”

At this point, in conversation with the minister of Ballina at the time, Wilson was made aware that there were a number of vacant manses available in the Sligo area. The minister encouraged Wilson that Ballymote manse would be a good base for him to conduct his work, so the young couple set up home there. However, conditions initially weren’t a huge improvement on the caravan. Edith says, “When we came down to the manse there was no running water in it. We had to depend on water from the roof.” It would be some years before they got running water put in, as well as a septic tank, although at least it had electricity. She smiles, “To me that was luxury when we had electricity. Looking back, I might say they were hard days, but when I was there, I didn’t feel they were hard.” She adds, “The Lord was very much there… I mightn’t have stuck it as much if he hadn’t been!”

Although the manse has been vacant again for some years and is sadly overgrown, it was once a picturesque home that passing strangers would stop and photograph. Edith and Wilson enjoyed many happy years there together and it was where they raised their five children – three girls and two boys.

Ballymote is known locally as Graniamore, or the Meeting House. Edith says, “If you asked for the

Presbyterian Church, I don’t know where they’d send you!” When she and Wilson arrived in the 60s it was already a small congregation of only 12 families, although in a more distant time before that, it would have been larger, when more people of Protestant faith lived in the local area. Edith says, “I have a feeling that when Ireland became a republic, there was a lot of emigration… I know of one family who had an awful winter and sold up, took the donkey and cart, got the train at Ballymote, then the boat and ended up in Canada.”

Despite being such a small congregation, Edith has fond memories of the ‘socials’ that the church held, which often resulted in marriages. There were also the many sales that were organised, either to raise money for church funds or for charity, which brought in the

“I just count every day as a bonus. And I enjoy every day.”

David Clarke and Edith

locals from all sides of the community. She has always been fully involved in congregational life, having been the treasurer in recent years and the organist for nearly 30 years, a role that she has relished: “If the song choice is left to me, I usually have a psalm.”

Edith has certainly had difficult times while at Ballymote. Her daughter Grace died in her twenties, as a result of motor neurone disease. Another daughter, Rhoda, died a few years ago from cancer. Husband Wilson also passed away, from a brain haemorrhage, when he was just 67.

Despite these tragedies, Edith’s commitment to God is unwavering. “It hasn’t affected my faith. I knew they were prepared to go – I knew that they loved the Lord. It was hard in the beginning, but the Lord undertook – ‘My grace is sufficient for you’. That’s a very staunch thing with me. I just took it that whatever happened, I was walking in the Lord’s will.”

Although Edith has many memories caught up in Ballymote, she is not regretful to leave. “I have as much to be in the dumps about Graniamore closing as anyone because I have great memories. But I don’t feel any hurt. I feel sorry that the witness is closing, but then I think, ‘Who are we witnessing to?’ I look at it that the Lord has been good to Graniamore for all those number of years.”

She already knows many people in Sligo Presbyterian and is looking forward to being a part of the congregation. It is clear that Edith is Presbyterian through and through and would not consider moving to another denomination.

Even when she was a student nurse in Liverpool, she made sure she went to a Presbyterian church. She recalls, “I shared a room with a Catholic girl from Monaghan. One day we were walking out and we met the Catholic chaplain. He said to me, ‘I haven’t seen you at mass’. And I said, ‘No Father, you haven’t. I’m Presbyterian.’ ‘Shake hands,’ he said. ‘We suffered together!’”

Presbyterians are certainly not as plentiful in the South as they are in the North and while the label is sometimes mistrusted in the Republic, or confused with the Free Presbyterian Church and implications of Ian Paisley, David Clarke thinks it is a helpful label in the Sligo area.

“Presbyterianism has reasonably good connotations here and it lets people know that we are an established church, that we’re not a cult and we have a history.”

David says he’s delighted to be a minister in Sligo. “When I felt called into ministry, I had a particular passion for the Republic and I always hoped and prayed that at the end of my time at Union I might end up in a church here.”

He’s been minister there now for five years and says, “It’s quite a diverse congregation; we have lots of new people joining us”. It’s also a church where numbers swell in the summer as holidaymakers attend. Both David and

Edith agree that Edith will fit right in, although she’ll probably finally retire from her duties of organ playing.

At 87, she is very pragmatic about what each day will bring, another sign of her complete trust and acceptance of God’s will in her life. She says, “I’ve an appointment in the health centre for the end of January, and I say to myself, ‘Will I be here for that?’ I just count every day as a bonus. And I enjoy every day.”

She is certainly not unaccustomed to a little adventure every now and then, though. She recently attended and thoroughly enjoyed the Gettys ‘Sing!’ concert in the SSE arena in Belfast, even though she didn’t get home until 3am the next morning. She laughs, “I was telling them at church the next day where I was and what time I got home. They said, ‘You’re mad Edith – you’ll be dead!’ And I just said, “Well if I die, I’ll die happy.”

The shifting demographics have meant that sometimes our churches are not in the places they need to be.

Edith and husband Wilson

Mission Connect

The Lord’s provision

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.

Encouragement at Friendship House Carol Reid

Creating a space to talk and listen Hazel Reid

The stone of help Naomi Leremore

Highlights from a busy year Ben Day

The Lord’s provision

Gary and Mary Reid

Celebrating a big year!

Rev Lachlan Webster

Including October prayer diary

Encouragement at Friendship House

Carol Reid

South Belfast Friendship House is situated on Sandy Row and seeks to share the gospel with those who live in this innercity area. Currently, this is done through the afterschool clubs that run throughout the school year and our parent and toddler group.

At each of our afterschool clubs, along with other activities, we share a Bible story with the kids; seeing them engage each week and asking really good questions has been a really encouraging time. Our parent and toddler group has gradually grown in numbers, and we now have a close-knit group attending each week.

During the week, we faced challenges with how to engage our older boys in the programme, but we were encouraged that, even when it didn’t seem like we had their attention, they were the first back the next day, waiting at the door 20 minutes early.

Another encouragement throughout the week was how the kids formed so many great friendships with the leaders.

Over the summer, we ran a Bible club for one week, each day serving the kids lunch and running a programme with them. It was amazing to see God providing for this week, right from when the planning began. God provided an amazing team of people to help on each day of this club. It was such an encouragement to see the team working together, each member bringing their own gifts and abilities.

Our theme for the week was focused on the life of Jesus through the book of Mark and ended with what it looks like to follow Jesus. For many of the kids attending, this was the first time they had heard this good news. Along with this, we taught them a memory verse each day, played games, had a quiz and a themed craft or activity.

We were blessed with a great turn-out of kids who came back faithfully every day. We were encouraged to see a lot of new kids coming along and we pray that they will come to our afterschool clubs as well throughout the year.

By the end of the week, we noticed a change in their engagement – they were getting involved with the memory verse and quiz time and were much more settled. This was an answer to prayer for the team and we were so encouraged to see it. We pray they will remember what they have heard about who Jesus is. Another encouragement throughout the week was how the kids formed so many great friendships with the leaders. The kids looked up to them and then were more excited to return each day and take part in all the activities.

Overall, we are very thankful to God for his faithfulness throughout the week and trust he will continue to work in the Sandy Row area in the year to come.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for the seeds sown at the summer Bible club, particularly with the older boys.

• Give thanks for the growth in numbers at the parent and toddler group – pray that it will continue to be a time of support and encouragement to all who come each week.

• Pray for the afterschool clubs, that the boys and girls will continue to attend and that more will come along too.

Children’s worker, South Belfast Friendship House

Creating a space to talk and listen

Hazel Reid

Deaconess, First Broughshane with additional duties in chaplaincy at Causeway Hospital

Much of my work is done within the context of suffering – in the church, hospital and hospice, where people are going through so much pain and sorrow. Illness, tests, treatments, terminal diagnosis, dying and bereavement. All of us experience these eventually – times when we can feel crushed and broken.

In Philippians 3:10 Paul says: “…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Trouble, pain and suffering can transform us if we allow it and we can become more like Jesus. While there may be questions about suffering that are not easy to answer, many people I visit are so brave and courageous as they endure so much physically, and as they face up to their illness and possibly death. Often, there is a desire on their part to make amends with others and with God, to be less judgmental, more accepting – even in their suffering they express much love and compassion to those around them. They are so appreciative of the kindness and care they are receiving.

Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33). He also told a parable about two houses: one built on sand, the other on rock. The winds came and beat on both houses, the rain pelted down and, well, we know which house stood firm – the one built on rock (Matthew 7:24–27). Our rock is Jesus. We don’t fall with a great crash like the house built on sand.

As a deaconess, and also in chaplaincy, we can create a safe space for people to talk about their pain and suffering and we can support and accompany them in it. It doesn’t lessen their pain in the storm, but they don’t feel alone and abandoned in it. In listening, we can hear soul talk – we can provide a space where suffering is not judged or minimised, but heard and acknowledged, as well as giving opportunities for the gospel and prayer.

Did you know that there is a difference between empathy and sympathy? Sympathy expresses concern through a doorway; empathy enters the place of suffering to offer companionship and hope there.

Suffering can be transformational – we follow one who was despised, rejected, a man of sorrow and familiar with grief. Suffering may seem pointless but we are not alone in it – God is with us and he is at work. Above all, we have that anticipation of resurrection power and life promised to all through faith in Jesus Christ.

Please pray:

• For the congregational life and witness of First Broughshane Presbyterian Church.

• For those who work and serve in Causeway Hospital.

• For all involved in caring for patients in the NI Hospice.

As a deaconess, and also in chaplaincy, we can create a safe space for people to talk about their pain and suffering and we can support and accompany them in it.

The stone of help

“He is my Ebenezer” is a phrase often used in Kenya when someone is giving their personal testimony. It alludes to the faithfulness of God in the past and up to the present point and place in time. The name Ebenezer comes from the dramatic incident recorded in 1 Samuel 7:3–14.

Samuel had told the people of Israel to come and worship God at Mizpah. But while they were there, the Philistine army drew near to attack them. In fear, the Israelites beg Samuel to keep praying and ask God to rescue them. God answers Samuel’s prayer with a loud voice of thunder, which throws the Philistines into confusion and they flee in panic. The men of Israel are filled with confidence and pursue their enemies, driving them back in defeat.

Afterwards, Samuel set up a special stone between Mizpah and Shen to remind Israel of this amazing victory: “He named it Ebenezer (which means ‘the stone of help’), for he said, ‘Up to this point the Lord has helped us!’” (1 Samuel 7:12).

Samuel’s stone would serve as a marker of how far God had taken his people. They had further to go, but it was good to remember just how far they had come. It’s interesting to note that God continued to help his people fight the Philistines, ensuring their territory was not invaded again for as long as Samuel lived.

Memorial stones can remind us to be thankful for what God has done in the past to help his people. They can prompt us to pause and reflect on God’s faithfulness to us today. And they can serve as an encouragement to us as we look ahead.

This year, the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) department of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA)

is celebrating 40 years of existence. The milestone is worthy of marking and there are ongoing discussions around how this will be done. How can we give God the glory for how far he has brought us – for his faithfulness down through the years? What should the next step be in going forward with this ministry?

Some suggestions include: Setting aside one Sunday in November to let past and present TEE students lead the services in all 1,000+ PCEA congregations.

Raising awareness of our programmes through social media #TEE@40.

Building a permanent structure for housing the department. Can we rejoice with our Kenyan sisters and brothers in saying: “He is our Ebenezer and up to this point, the Lord has helped us”?

Please pray:

• Thank God that he has helped the TEE department to grow and develop. Praise him for this time being set aside to mark the 40th anniversary of its beginnings in the PCEA church.

• Ask for God’s guidance and blessing on the plans and preparations for the celebrations taking place in November 2023. Remember the strategies being employed to raise awareness about the TEE courses, asking that many will hear and join the programmes.

• Pray especially for the director of the TEE department, Rev John Gatu, as he leads and shares his vision for the future of this ministry.

Naomi Leremore Global mission worker, Kenya

Memorial stones can remind us to be thankful for what God has done in the past to help his people. They can prompt us to pause and reflect on God’s faithfulness to us today.

Highlights from a busy year

Ben Day

Youth and young adults co-ordinator, Kilbride Presbyterian Church

Ihave been in the role at Kilbride now for nearly ten months, which is crazy. They have absolutely flown by! It has been a time of transition and learning, but one of extreme value. Coming to Kilbride last December, my wife Emily and I immediately felt the love, welcome and hospitality of its members. These values are something that should always be attributed to Christ’s church and are ones that I have really tried to bring into the forefront of my ministry here.

evening. With a more laid-back programme, but still including a Bible talk, team games and grub, we saw promising engagement, with existing relationships – forged through our youth club, BB and GB – developed and strengthened.

…we saw promising engagement, with existing relationships – forged through our youth club, BB and GB – developed and strengthened.

Over the last few months, we have been busy. Here are a couple highlights:

Back in May, I worked with Greater Ballyclare Youth for Christ to help deliver their ‘moving on up’ classes for P7 students making the transition to big school. This was a great time and helped continue develop links with our local primary school, which are already strong, along with continuing to build relationships with young people in our local community. It was greatly encouraging to see them actively engage with the material we brought to them.

Later, in the summer, we had the privilege to run our holiday Bible club (P1–P7) and our youth summer club (Year 8+). Both ran in the evening, with the holiday Bible club first, then quickly followed by our youth summer club. It was a real blessing to see an average of 70 children come to our holiday Bible club each evening, where they were entertained with a packed programme of Bible talks, crafts, games, snacks, memory verses and our nightly recap presented by Bert and Lola. After a short turnover, our youth summer club began where, again, we saw the Lord bless our time together with an average of 50 young people joining us each

Our memory verse for the week was John 3:16: “For God so love the world, that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Many of the children on the Monday knew it already, which was fantastic, but those who didn’t quickly learned. It was encouraging to hear them recite it as we told them about how God has the greatest, true love for each and every one of them. This is something I pray we will see them come to know for themselves. All we can do is faithfully follow the Lord, but it is he who changes hearts. My prayer is that in this community we will see hearts of stone turned to hearts of flesh.

Please pray:

• That God would continue to work in the lives and hearts of the young people in our local community.

• That God would also open the parents’ hearts to him, through what their kids say but also through chatting to the leaders.

• For strengthening of relationships between the church and local schools.

• For all the various ministries here at Kilbride – that they would never lose sight that God is to be glorified centrally in them all.

The Lord’s provision

We are grateful to our Lord for who he is and how he has gone before in all things. Travelling what appeared at times to be insurmountable pathways, he made a way and led us gently on – all the while bringing us to himself.

Through our Lord’s provision and enabling, much has been completed. Within Olkinyei, at Empiris Land, our Lord has blessed the local people with a nursery classroom (which will also be used as a meeting place to worship him). The classroom has been furnished with 25 children’s desks, a teacher’s desk and chair, alongside a filing cabinet and storage cupboards stocked with books, including many Bible stories, stationery, teaching and writing materials, playdough, toys, games etc. Furthermore, rainwater catchment systems have been put in place, with two large tanks catching rainwater from the classroom’s roof. Another smaller water tank has been put in place to catch rainwater from the newly constructed pit latrines, with the water tapped to a sink to enable good hygiene practice.

Also, within Olkinyei, at Isintin Primary School, which is a PCEAsponsored government primary school, our Lord provided all that was required for a playpark to be purchased and put in place, and it warmed our hearts to hear the children’s laughter reverberating around the school grounds as they played. Additionally, many boxes of books and school items were provided.

In an area called Siana, God provided a nursery classroom to be built high up in the hills, alongside pit latrines and rainwater catchment systems (similar to those at the classroom at Empiris Land). This classroom has also been furnished with 25 children’s desks, a teacher’s desk and chair, a well-stocked toy box and well-

stocked cupboards. A lectern was also provided as the people have been meeting below a tree for many years, and now can praise our beloved with a roof over their heads.

Our minister, Rev Dr Mwaura Kabaiku, travelled into Olkinyei and then made the very arduous journey to this high hill in Siana to dedicate both these buildings, and we are so grateful to him for his dedication. Our Father enabled that in both these places the children would be blessed with teddies, and rulers and pencils inscribed with Bible verses. Additionally, the mothers were given crocheted blankets.

It is our hearts’ desire that all the little children who will be blessed through these buildings and their contents, and the playpark, will come to Jesus as their personal Saviour and that he will bring them to himself and they, and their families, will worship him for who he is and his loving provision for them.

Please pray:

• Rejoice with us in the goodness of our Lord, who has so graciously provided for the beautiful Maasai children.

• Please pray for the precious souls of the Maasai children – that they will come to know Jesus as their personal Saviour, and desire to live for him.

• Continue to pray that God’s Holy Spirit will work mightily in the lives of the Maasai people within Olkinyei and Siana, and that many will fully surrender their lives to our Lord, desiring to be obedient to him.

Gary and Mary Reid Global mission workers, Kenya

It is our hearts’ desire that all the little children who will be blessed through these buildings and their contents… will come to Jesus as their personal Saviour…

Celebrating a big year!

Rev Lachlan Webster

Craigavon Presbyterian Church

2

023 has been a big year for Craigavon Presbyterian Church as we mark the 50th year of worship on our site in the heart of central Craigavon. The highlight of our celebrations was a special birthday service and lunch where Frank Sellar was our guest preacher, in his capacity as convenor of the Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI), under which we sit as an urban mission congregation.

This celebration gave us the opportunity to reflect back on God’s goodness and faithfulness to us as well as reinvigorating our desire to keep building on the wonderful foundation this current generation has inherited from the saints who have served before us here in our precious community.

At our most recent tenure review, we were challenged by presbytery and CMI to focus on three specific areas over the next seven years: local mission, infrastructure and leadership. With just under 70% of our members living within three miles of our building, we are well positioned for evangelising through godly neighbourliness. Where large-scale events and mission rallies no longer have the impact they once had, intentionally loving our neighbours and gently winning the right to be heard has proved to be an effective method of opening doors for gospel conversations. We pray that as we witness this way, we will continue to see positive responses to invitations to church services and activities, as well as the steady trickle of people then coming to faith – in which we have been so blessed in recent years. Regarding infrastructure, the growth we have been blessed with

in recent years has been a huge answer to prayer; however, we now feel like an expanding family squashed into a small home. It’s a good problem to have but a problem all the same. Prior to Covid, we began exploring the possibility of developing our buildings to better accommodate our church family as well as our outreach into the local community. We are beginning to explore this again and are prayerful that God will guide us to his will in this process as well as providing the resources we require.

Finally, we praise God for the elders, committee, and ministry and organisation leaders he has blessed us with and we pray that newer members will continue to step up to opportunities to serve. God willing, we will conduct an election of elders next year.

Please pray:

• Praise God for his blessings, protection and faithfulness to Craigavon Presbyterian Church over the past 50 years.

• Pray that all of the members would intentionally engage in godly neighbourliness and that they would continue to see fruit from this.

• Pray for wisdom as they begin to actively explore developing our buildings.

• Pray for God’s guidance as the congregation develops leadership within our church family.

…intentionally loving our neighbours... has proved to be an effective method of opening doors for gospel conversations.

n CHAPLAINS – For Kenny Hanna and the team during this harvest time – that they will have meaningful conversations with people they meet. Pray for them in their preparation and planning of talks and preaching.

n EDUCATION – For our children as they begin a new school year – give thanks for our education system and the safe haven that school can provide for those children who may be vulnerable. Pray also for families struggling with costs of school uniforms and supplies, giving thanks for organisations such as Christians Against Poverty that provide advice, help and hope.

n HOME MISSION – For Kilkenny – pray for the congregation as they meet each week to worship together, that they would grow deeper in their faith and love in Jesus Christ.

n VOLKER AND JINHYEOG GLISSMANN – For the health and safety of the whole family.

Pray for Malawi, as the last few months have brought many challenges. With the price of maize and all other commodities rising fast, pray for the country and for the authorities as they seek to deal with inflation.

n HOME MISSION – For Aghada and Cork – pray for the congregations as they gather for worship each week, that they would meet with the Lord Jesus and that they would be drawn to walk more closely with him.

n CARLISLE HOUSE – A residential substance misuse treatment centre. Pray for staff – that they may have the strength to face daily challenges. Give thanks for the professional skills they bring to this work. Sustain them in the knowledge that all they do is an effective witness to the love of Jesus. Pray for the new intake of service users within the next few weeks.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Jack McQuillan (Christchurch, Dundonald and Tullycarnet) – pray for Jack as he begins his role as a community outreach worker, that relationships would be cultivated with personnel in the community.

n OLDER PEOPLE SERVICES COMMITTEE

– For this committee, remembering the convener, Joyce McKee, and committee members as they make plans and decisions for the coming year. Remember too PCI’s Older People Services – Adelaide House, Corkey House, Harold McCauley House, River House, Sunnyside House, Trinity House and Tritonville Close.

n SPECIAL MINISTRY IN WEST BELFAST – For the new weekly Bible study that has recently commenced – that people in the local area would be drawn to study God’s Word with others.

n DEREK AND JANE FRENCH – For Bilbao International Church (BIC), with so many of its activities resuming in September. Give thanks and pray for the BIC leadership as it plans and considers the identity and future development of the church.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s health care chaplains, as they show Christ’s compassion and mercy through their interactions with staff, patients and their families.

n CSABA AND ILONA VERES –Give thanks for the church team from Hajdúböszörmény and Krisztian, and the team in Bodaszőlő, who faithfully share Jesus with the needy community around them.

n SOUTH BELFAST FRIENDSHIP HOUSE –

Pray for the staff team at Friendship House in South Belfast and for the new project leader starting soon. Pray for opportunities and wisdom as they seek to expand the ministry to different age groups in Sandy Row.

n HR DEPARTMENT – Give thanks for the HR Department as it supports managers in the Council for Social Witness in staffing each of PCI’s services with people who have the right skills and experience for each role. Pray that the right candidates will come forward and that the selection panels will have the wisdom and discernment to know God’s will in making their appointments.

n DEACONESS –For Sylvia Santos Bryce serving in West Church, Ballymena. Pray for Sylvia as she serves the congregation pastorally, that the love of Jesus would be apparent in each encounter.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Toni Bassett in west Belfast. Pray for Toni as she begins her role working with refugees in the city. Pray that through her conversations, people will know God’s love.

n DEACONESS – For Hazel Reid serving in First Broughshane. Pray for Hazel as she visits those who are suffering; help her to be a safe space for people to seek support and prayer.

n RUSSIA – For St Petersburg University. Pray for the new students starting their theological studies – many of them have to work part-time to pay for their studies. Pray for God’s provision, for part-time jobs – and that the students would adapt well in the new environment.

n CARE STAFF – Pray for new care staff joining the Council for Social Witness, that they will settle in quickly and develop good working relationships with staff and residents. Pray also that they will have a real commitment to providing the best possible care to our residents.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s forces chaplains as they provide pastoral care and seek to share the gospel and God’s love with people.

n ZAMBIA – Give thanks for the recent meeting of Zambia Synod’s General Administrative committee. Pray for the Synod’s leadership team as it implements strategic priorities, and for each congregation to be salt and light in its community.

n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – For the staff team and volunteers at International Meeting Point in both north and south Belfast. Pray for wisdom and discernment as they navigate challenging and painful circumstances of people’s lives.

n PAKISTAN – For the lives of around 250 Christian families that have been shattered by a wave of persecution in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, with 26 churches burnt down. Pray for the ongoing emergency response undertaken by PAK Mission Society and for God’s protection and provision for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

n CHURCH PLANTING – For the Church Planting Taster Day happening on the 21 October – that congregations seeking to plant would be envisioned and individuals drawn to consider becoming involved in this work.

n COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

– For these professionals who visit our services on a regular basis. Pray that God would open their eyes to see his love through the residents and staff they meet and that our services would stand out for all the right reasons and continue to show God’s love in action.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’S prison chaplains as they care for inmates and share the gospel in personal ways – that through their conversations people would find new life and hope in Christ.

Csaba and Ilona Veres

Sylvia Santos Bryce

REFLECTIONS Somewhere in outer space Ruth Sanderson

Ihave recently started working on a really interesting project with a bunch of academics. Although, truth be told, I feel like an absolute fraud walking through the hallowed halls of the university where it’s based, my swipe card at the ready. The 18-year-old me – the former terrible student who barely knew what the inside of a lecture theatre looked like – gives a little chuckle from somewhere in the past as I pretend to casually go toe to toe with some of the best and brightest minds in the world…

“Oh yeah, I know exactly what you mean,” I lie. I find myself saying, “Gosh, that’s so interesting” a lot. They’ll see through me soon enough, though, I have no doubt.

The project in question is exploring some of the ethics concerning space colonisation. Happily, I’m just the one asking the questions – the academics can come up with the answers!

As the world grows to the limits of a sustainable population and continues to use up the valuable resources Earth has to offer us, one must ask – where does humanity go next? Is it the natural condition of mankind that we will always want to explore? Will we always look at our surroundings and decide to push out to the next frontier of habitability? Whether that’s creating cities in deserts, reclaiming land from the sea, staking claims in a ‘wild’ west, or simply deciding that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

However, the next frontier may be a necessary one.

It’s tricky, especially as we in the UK grapple with the fallout of the Empire and ask tough questions around British colonialism. Can the lessons being learned from the past few hundred years really apply to space? After all, so many of the moral wrangles of colonialisation come from the subjugation of indigenous peoples, seizure of their lands and erasure of their societies.

Some argue that evidence of microbial life on other planets still constitutes ‘life’, and that, quite frankly, if something (or somewhere) doesn’t belong to you, then you can’t just take it. Even if you were able to square that particular ethical circle, there are others to wrangle with at every turn. What does a country or individual have to do to claim a planet? Would they have to physically land on it? Plant a flag? Form a government? And if so, is that fair? Would ‘finders keepers’ be the new motto?

If such a planet contained valuable minerals, surely other countries would want to lay claim to it too? Which then poses

another question – would governments be the ones making the decisions? At present, it looks like the people who will be going to inhabit space first will be the multi-billionaires who can fund colonisation programmes. There have been several such ambitious projects targeting Mars, funded by private individuals. It’s fair to say, though, that any new-builds on Mars are still pretty far off – to which the bankruptcy of at least one of these projects can attest.

Let’s pretend then for a moment that it’s possible and happening. Who decides which laws are imposed on any interstellar population? Who provides and controls the oxygen? What about the rights of any new population born into a new colony? What tethers a people back to the home planet? Who gets to go? Would a planet colony be a new Utopia or a potential penal colony for the undesirables of Earth?

Science fiction, you might say – yet the reality of it is getting closer and closer. There is a great book by the journalist Tim Marshall that explores the current and evolving realities of how space is carved up between nation states and private entities. Current proxy wars are already being played out through satellites and extraterrestrial weapons systems. The air above our heads is becoming the place where power plays are going on as we continue life as usual on terra firma

The more I consider the endlessly unfurling questions around the subject, the more an old familiar Sunday school tune has been playing in my head. (Sing along if you know it…)

“Somewhere in outer space, God has prepared a place For those who trust him and obey.

Jesus will come again, although we don’t know when The countdown’s getting closer every day.”

When I was a child, I always considered that God did, in fact, live in outer space and that’s probably where heaven was. That song is now taking on new resonance for me as I consider these ethical, largely theoretical questions. Even if humankind does, somehow, make it to Mars, to Venus, to beyond our galaxy – if, in a millennium, our descendants call themselves Martians or Venusians – we can rest assured that God, our God, who lives in us, and who made the universe will be there. He will fill every inch of it. If we believe that he is the same yesterday, today and always, then we know he will be wherever and whenever humans exist.

As the world grows to the limits of a sustainable population… where does humanity go next?

What next for Ukraine?

It took just one post on social media and within 24 hours Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA), the relief and development wing of the Reformed Church in Hungary, was overwhelmed by the response. Around 1,000 people had volunteered to join with its staff team as it sought to meet the needs of refugees pouring over the border into Hungary from Ukraine. This eagerness to volunteer was then followed up by great generosity from many sources nationally and internationally, in providing much-needed humanitarian aid.

Distinctive to HRCA’s response was its ability not only to deal with the needs of refugees at its 21 crisis-care centres at the airports, train stations and border crossings, but to channel support through churches and aid organisations within Western Ukraine itself. The Hungarian Reformed Church has some districts beyond Hungary, in neighbouring countries, including the Transcarpathian Reformed District, a Hungarianspeaking community located in Western Ukraine.

However, in July of this year, the Reformed Church in Hungary sought to build on its ongoing humanitarian response by holding a conference of

Church partners from 17 countries and interdenominational bodies to consider ‘what next?’ for Ukraine. It was convened by Bishop Zoltán Balog, presiding Bishop of the church, in collaboration with Bishop Sándor Zán-Fábián of the Transcarpathian Church District, representing 60,000 members and 108 congregations in Ukraine. The conference sought to bring together unique and diverse perspectives on just peace and reconciliation, especially from those who have a history of experience of war and conflict, including partners from South Korea, Lebanon and Syria. Challenging and stimulating as it was to grapple with the topic of advancing peace in Ukraine, for me personally as PCI’s representative, a highlight of the conference was when the delegates travelled together into Western Ukraine for a two-day visit. Setting off from Budapest early on

Sunday morning, there was a degree of apprehension as our two mini-buses approached the border. However, advance notification of our arrival had been given and we passed through the checkpoints uneventfully. Late morning, we found ourselves driving through some beautiful, rather tranquil Ukrainian countryside, so many fields full of sunflowers. Then, out of the blue, we passed through another checkpoint – two men in high-visibility jackets with clipboards stopped us briefly, apparently looking for local men who had failed to report for military duty!

Members of the Hungarian community have not had such an easy time since they found themselves living as a minority in Ukraine, following the break-up of Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of the First World War. It became especially difficult during the Communist era when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. On visiting the Bishop’s Headquarters in Beregszász (Berehove) we saw the memorial to Transcarpathian Church District ministers who had been imprisoned or martyred during that era. Even since then, the Hungarian community has not always received fair treatment or equal opportunity.

I reflected that we may not have provided any solutions but there was a power in simply showing up.

Uel Marrs reports on his summer visit to Hungary and Ukraine, where he attended a conference with 17 other partner Churches, to show support for what the Church there is dealing with.

Nonetheless, now in wartime, many of those remaining sought to ‘turn the other cheek’ with hundreds of young Hungarian men signing up for military service, and provisions being supplied for military divisions engaged on the front line. By the 500day point in the war, there were signs of growing, mutual understanding and improving relationships with the majority community. At the same time, an estimated 10,000 members of the Transcarpathian Church District had left Ukraine, mainly the more mobile, younger members. Yet, with church attendances significantly in decline, the Church’s 76 ministers and many elders made a commitment to remain in the country. It’s an unprecedented social and economic environment, with many traumatised and despairing people, the elderly, the sick and the poor, dependent on support, as well as families broken by war and suicide on the rise. The people are living with the uncertainty that at any moment missiles might strike.

Arriving into this context, we travelled to worship with the Christian community in the village of Nagydobrony (Velyka Dobron). We found the church almost full for the special service, perhaps around 800 people. I reflected that we may not have provided any solutions but there was a power in simply showing up. I was especially moved by greetings expressed on behalf of the partner delegation by Rev Najla Kassab of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), who is currently President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and Rev Dr Harout Selimian, President of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria. Speaking from their wartime

experiences in Lebanon and Syria, they were able to declare confidently to those gathered: “Do not be afraid, God is with you!” having themselves spent countless hours underground in the bomb shelters of Beirut and Aleppo. They spoke of being weary, traumatised but determined to keep going, of being committed to what can too easily be blurred by conflict, to living beyond prejudice and walls of separation, to seeing the image of God in all.

With local authority budgets overwhelmed, partner funding from around Europe, including support from PCI’s Moderator’s Appeal, has helped to maintain institutions, church infrastructure, provided generators and fuel, indeed a whole range of support. It was fascinating to hear of one wellchosen gift that proved particularly meaningful. It was a tractor that was especially well received by the community and viewed as a symbol of hope. It affirmed the community’s identity, dignity and sense of agency, of those within it still being able to do things for themselves, an expression of confidence that normality would return one day. The community so appreciated every expression of prayerful and practical accompaniment.

We received short, inspiring overviews of the work by and with the community there during 2022 through its Diaconal Coordination Office. Virtually every church, school, community hall, elderly

home and hospital had accommodated more than 10,000 internally displaced people. Produce was brought from the farms. Community kitchens, like one we visited in Kisdobrony, worked in cooperation with the Church’s Women’s Association to provide 30,000 hot meals for the neediest. The bakery provided 74,000 loaves, helping some 16,000 of the displaced. It was inspiring to visit a local Hungarian school at which the principal, with tears in her eyes, spoke so fondly of the displaced children who had more than doubled her class numbers. We saw the school library that had been turned into a bomb shelter, windows blocked up and steel doors installed because no institution is presently permitted to operate in Ukraine without a bomb shelter.

Bishop Sándor Zán-Fábián was so thankful to God that aside from one attack in the area, they can still walk freely in the streets. Despite all the hardships, he pointed out that the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia had designated 2023 to be a year of hope. I could not help but reflect that having humbly surrendered its limitations and inabilities to the Lord, this church was in itself a most wonderful sign of hope in the world.

“At least there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground, and its stump dies in the soil, yet at the scent of the water, it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant” (Job 4:7–9).

Uel Marrs is PCI’s Secretary for the Council of Global Mission.

The people are living with the uncertainty that at any moment missiles might strike.

The delegation in Transcarpathia At the worship service in Ukraine

Presbyterian donations reach £1.5

million

Uel Marrs gives an update on how money from the Moderator’s Appeal for Ukraine has been used.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, around 8 million people were internally displaced, with a further 6 million fleeing to neighbouring countries and beyond. Over time, some 4.5 million were able to return to Ukraine, but the war continues and so many find themselves far from home.

Shortly after the outbreak of war, a Moderator’s Appeal was launched, encouraging Presbyterians to contribute towards the emergency relief effort. Eighteen months on, £1.5 million has been donated, by far the biggest total ever recorded for a Moderator’s Appeal. These funds have been channelled through Tearfund, Christian Aid Ireland and Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA), the relief and

development wing of the Reformed Church in Hungary, all working in neighbouring countries, with some initiatives in Ukraine itself.

HRCA has faced a mammoth task given the 25,000 refugees who poured into Hungary and also in seeking to reach the many displaced arriving in Western Ukraine. It set up information hubs and provided food, hygiene kits and trauma counselling, as well as offering spiritual support. Looking ahead to 2024, its focus will be weighted towards helping refugees integrate socially and find employment.

Christian Aid’s support has included essential medicines, shelter, hygiene kits, food packages and cash when needed – for tens of thousands of displaced people. In Odesa,

Humanitarian aid coordinator Andriy delivering food supplies to a local community in Vorzel, Kyiv region, Ukraine. Photographer: Maia Mikhaluk

Southern Ukraine, working through local partners Blythswood Care and Heritage Ukraine, support was provided for a temporary shelter for displaced people. This included help towards running costs, bed linen, mattresses, blankets, clothing, towels, kitchen utensils and more. Almost 5,000 meals were funded, as well as counselling and legal advice services to help people officially register as displaced, access pensions, benefits and passports. Activities such as playgroups provided the children with some emotional support.

Ivanna (not her real name) is a mum of three children aged four to seven. She escaped the fighting in Mykolaiv in Southern Ukraine, arriving in Odesa in May 2022.

“From the first day of the war we were living in the basement in our place in Mykolaiv. When we went up on the street there was shelling so we chose to leave,” she says.

In Odesa, Ivanna met Heritage Ukraine, which provided her with food as well as three months’ worth of hygiene kits, containing items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hand sanitiser and tissues. After staying with her sister in her apartment for a number of months, Ivanna’s family were eventually able to find an apartment to rent. However, when their generator broke down, leaving them without electricity, Ivanna’s family was also provided with temporary housing in a shelter for displaced people.

“We’ve received a lot from Heritage Ukraine – food kits, hygiene kits and also warmth and love,” Ivanna says.

The Moderator’s Appeal contributed towards Tearfund making a real difference through its partner on the ground, Integral Alliance, also facilitated by local churches, providing both food and non-food items, as well as cash grants.

In Moldova, for example, a network of 24 churches already located in affected communities participated in Tearfund’s response, coordinating support to where the need was greatest. Church volunteers have helped by packaging and delivering food supplies, evacuating women and children from the conflict zones, manning refugee support phone lines and organising play and care for children.

Tearfund’s long-term focus will be on healing from trauma and peacebuilding via its established network of churches and partners in Ukraine, Moldova and the surrounding countries.

PCI partners have expressed their deep appreciation for PCI’s sustained and generous donations, underlining the impact made in supporting the displaced and refugees whose lives have been devasted by war, and who continue to value our prayers so much.

Ivanna (not her real name) pictured with her three children in their rented apartment in Odesa. Credit: Heritage Ukraine/Blythswood Care.

Looking ahead to 2024… focus will be weighted towards helping refugees integrate socially and find employment.

The tension in Kyiv grew increasingly palpable throughout January and February 2022. Although the Russian invasion had started in Spring 2014 and had already taken some 15,000 lives, the US had been predicting a further full-scale invasion since the autumn of 2021. I first became concerned in late November when Putin explicitly denied that he would invade.

US intelligence had information that the Russians would surround Kyiv, which has been our family’s home since 2007, when my wife Sarah and I first came as missionaries to work alongside the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine at the Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine (ERSU). We began to stock our seminary building with food and a generator to receive refugees in case Kyiv was spared attack. On 12 February, when I learnt that the US embassy had begun destroying its computers and files, we agreed with my seminary colleagues that it would be better for us to temporarily relocate.

As I led our church plant Bible study group the next day, our sadness at having to leave was heightened by the fact that none of our Ukrainian friends believed

God’s mercy in the midst of brutality

the full-scale attack would happen. For many people, that view changed with Putin’s speech on 21 February (in which he denied Ukraine’s existence) –Ukrainians understood this as a clear declaration of war (if not the genocide that would actually ensue).

Back in Kilrea, Northern Ireland, we continued to pray for the best while still anticipating the worst. Even the howling storms that week seemed portentous. We awoke on 24 February to the horrible confirmation of war (and snow covering the ground). At 5am in

Kyiv, my colleague Fedir was awoken by loud noises. At 5:11am, our colleague Valerii in Odesa messaged him saying, “I hear the launch of missiles from the sea”. A minute later in Kyiv, Fedir’s building started shaking from a series of explosions. There were missile strikes across Ukraine including Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv, while Kherson was occupied. There are Presbyterian congregations in all of these cities.

Realising refugees would not be able to come to Kyiv, the remaining seminary staff evacuated to Western Ukraine. Six people and their luggage squeezed into our family’s small car for the trip to Lviv. Traffic and queues for rationed petrol turned a six-hour journey into 36 hours. This was not the first time that Fedir, originally from Donetsk, had had to uproot his family to flee Russian missiles. For the next six weeks, my colleague Oleksii and our administrator Iurii would help transport some of the floods of

Our Ukrainian Presbyterian ministers remained with their people fully conscious of the real risk to their own lives.

Alister Torrens, a missionary to Ukraine, from Moneydig Presbyterian, gives his perspective on the war so far.

National Police of Ukraine. Wiki Commons

refugees to the border.

Sarah and I had lived in Kyiv during the Euromaidan protests of 2013–14 and knew many neighbours and congregants who had risked sniper fire on Independence Square to stand for a more democratic future for their children. But even we were struck by the heroic bravery of so many of our Ukrainian friends on 24 February, especially my fellow Presbyterian ministers. While their congregants remained in the city, not one of our ministers considered leaving their cities. That’s heroic – firstly, because on 24 February the whole world believed that Russia would quickly prevail, and secondly because when Russia invaded the Donbas in 2014, numerous Protestant ministers were tortured or murdered. Our Ukrainian Presbyterian ministers remained with their people fully conscious of the real risk to their own lives.

Three of our seminary students immediately volunteered to join the army, our administrator joined six weeks later. One of our students, Kirill was already doing alternative service as a medic at a hospital in Zaporizhzhia. From day one of the full-scale invasion, he was plunged into the gory trauma of trying to save the lives of the guys defending their homeland – bodies ripped apart by mortar shells. Almost all of his time outside the hospital is spent volunteering and fundraising to buy needed medical supplies for clinics, hospitals and the frontlines.

Our seminary soon received offers of humanitarian aid for Ukraine from all around the world (a large portion of it from folk in the PCI). Because the Ukrainian banking system remained functional, we could instantly put funds on to the debit cards of those who needed it in Ukraine. This included oneoff sums for refugees fleeing to safety in the West. We were able to buy medical supplies for Kirill and others.

In one tragic case, we were able to help pay for a complex operation for fiveyear-old Mikhail with shrapnel lodged in his skull. His family of five had been fleeing Nikolaev in their car when the Russians threw a grenade at it, instantly killing the boy’s mother and sister. We have been able to provide petrol and bulletproof jackets for many volunteers taking supplies into dangerous cities, and help repair their vehicles. Another of our students, Mikhail from Odesa,

has personally organised aid trips into Russian-occupied territories, where the needs (and risks) are greatest. We were also able to provide a bulletproof jacket for his drivers. A graduate of our online Bible college has severe cerebral palsy. He lived with his frail mother in a town that last April looked like being seized by the Russians. Thankfully, we were able to urgently evacuate them to Kyiv. Evangelicals continue to be at the forefront of much of the volunteer work.

During those first days and weeks, everyone pulled together to do what they could to fight for Ukraine’s survival. With the enormity of the pastoral needs, many Ukrainian ministers will remember it as one of the busiest periods of our lives. With some of our Kyiv church plant in Finland, Poland or other parts of Ukraine, we continued our Bible studies via Zoom. This fellowship became even more precious, both for those in countries in which no one else speaks their language and for those facing daily stress in Kyiv. As the sickening cruelty of war crimes seemed to daily plunge to new depths, Psalm 7 was of special comfort to our family and our church plant. David speaks of his innocence in the matter of which his enemy accused him, and he asks God to judge his enemy such that the evil of the evildoer will return upon his own head.

ERSU resumed classes in late April 2022 by Zoom. We also offered a free crash course in chaplaincy and will soon be offering a course to help pastors better counsel those traumatised by the war.

Since last October, I have returned to Kyiv four times for our seminary modules. All of our churches continue to meet for worship. Life in Kyiv, now far from the frontline, continues as normal in many ways, and as I drive into the seminary there are the usual rush-hour traffic jams. Less normal are the frequent air raid sirens – heard several times a day and sounding every bit as eerie as in WWII films. In May of this year, the Russians targeted Kyiv with 159 objects – kamikaze drones and hypersonic, cruise and ballistic missiles. Last winter, the streets and motorways were pitch black as the Russians targeted the electricity network. Thousands of families have been forcibly separated by the war. The death toll is huge. Yet God’s mercy has been evident. Against all initial expectations, and in answer to prayer, the Russian army abandoned Kyiv and all northern Ukraine at the end of March 2022. This ensured the survival of Ukraine and her churches. God has enabled the seminary training of Ukraine’s future pastors to continue. God has blessed ten Ukrainian families (we helped place) right here in Northern Ireland. From Londonderry to Portadown, families that lost everything in Mariupol or fled shelling in Mykolaiv or the Donetsk region have found love, generosity and a home away from home with sponsoring families in PCI. Please keep praying for Ukraine.

Rev Alister Torrens and wife Sarah are missionaries to Ukraine with ITEM. Alister is the principal of the Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine (ERSU) in Kyiv (https://seminary.ersu.org/en/) and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. He grew up in Moneydig Presbyterian Church, which the family attends when in Northern Ireland. Alister leads a bi-weekly Bible study for Ukrainian refugees in NI and can be contacted at alistert@gmail.com

As the sickening cruelty of war crimes seemed to daily plunge to new depths, Psalm 7 was of special comfort…

Five-year-old Mikhail, who had shrapnel lodged in his skull.

Caring for ministers

There are times when we all need support and encouragement to, as Martyn Lloyd Jones put it, “keep on keeping on” in the missional work and witness of Christ in church ministry. Ministers and their families, like everyone else, face stresses and strains and at times a weariness of spirit that has been identified by PCI as a significant challenge. In order to support our serving ministers and families, a panel has been set up to encourage presbyteries, individuals and congregations to better provide caring pastoral support to ordained ministers, their spouses and children.

Recently, when swimming in the ocean, I realised that I get into the freezing water quicker and enjoy the experience far more when I have the companionship of others. When helping with catering for church events, it seems less tiring and much more fun when I work with a group of people. After an hour of gardening, I can lift a bin-load of debris far easier with the help of another. Studying the Bible in a small group allows me to see different shades and colours of the text that I would not have noticed on my own. When we share tasks that are demanding, they are eased by the support of others. A problem shared is a problem halved.

One of the great features of our denomination is its presbytery structure.

Extra support

This has helped the Church to grow and adapt to meet the changing needs of our world in a Christ-like and biblical way. It also provides a great structure for pastoral support to its members.

While many ministers and their families have given themselves wholeheartedly and unstintingly to their congregations over many decades, it is evident that in recent years there have been some who have struggled with problems, including change of location, isolation, discouragement and burnout.

evaluated what was already happening but also considered aspects of care that could be developed and improved.

To encourage and promote mutual support, the panel – under the convenorship of Rev Niall Lockhart –held a conference in May in Assembly Buildings. The then Moderator, Dr John Kirkpatrick, attended and addressed representatives from all 19 presbyteries. Both John and his wife Joan offered prayer ministry on the day and have also made themselves available should anyone wish to contact them at any time.

The conference facilitated discussion within presbytery gatherings. Each group

Two wives of ministers shared personal experiences of what it had been like for them to relocate to another congregation with children, to places and jurisdictions that were unfamiliar to them. One had moved from North to South and the other from South to North. Each shared their own issues, not readily understood by many. While their husbands had a ready-made support structure within church, kirk session and presbytery, that was not the case either for wives or for children who had also left everything that had been familiar and comforting. At a time of great stress through a house move, change of congregation and neighbourhood relocation, spouses and children can feel overwhelmed and need help to find networks that enable them to feel they belong to both a new church and locality. While ministers are out of the home most evenings, preparing for services at the weekend and with little or no family support to help with child minding/babysitting, this can present huge challenges.

Simple acts of kindness are always remembered, especially toward spouses, who – unlike their ordained partner –do not have an immediate role in the life and witness of the congregation. Home-baked goodies, the provision

The panel recognises that there may be some issues that require more than local support and fellowship, and so the role of Inspire Workplaces was highlighted. This organisation provides free, confidential and independent support from trained independent professionals.

• Republic of Ireland: info@inspirewellbeing.ie

• Northern Ireland: hello@inspirewellbeing.org

• Rev Niall Lockhart can be contacted at: nlockhart@presbyterianireland.org

It was hard moving with three children and settling them into three separate schools

Claire Sellar outlines the work of one of PCI’s panels, aimed at supporting the pastoral care of ministers and their families.

of meals or the offer of walks were highlighted as vital. The kindness of convenors and clerks of session praying for and enquiring after children by name, recognising that they had left schools, friends, community and spiritual fellowship and had been uprooted from all that had been familiar and safe meant so much at a time of vulnerability. As the panel’s strapline says: “Thank you then for doing the small things that make a difference. They matter.”

It is hoped that from this short conference presbytery representatives will

Sharing experiences

intentionally engage with and develop support for ministers living alone, for ministers and spouses with children or with special needs and others caring for elderly family members. Just as we all thrive on company and mutual support while swimming, catering, gardening or

The following are quotes from families who have either moved from the South to the North or the North to the South:

“It has been a joy meeting new people and not least those from overseas who share a common love of God.”

“Those who take time to help with orientation are worth their weight in gold. Explaining how bins are collected may not be glamorous, but very necessary as systems North and South are very different.”

“Those who brought dinners for the first week, so we had time to unpack boxes and find local grocery stores, were so helpful.”

“We were deeply appreciative of those who showed us the best places for coffee, the easiest places to park and introduced us to their friends.”

“We will never forget the kindness of people who invited us into their homes, especially at Christmas and Easter time when we were far from our own extended family.”

“Friends who came to visit us from the other side of the border were a genuine blessing.”

“It means a lot when members of the congregation recognise that you may have left elderly parents, children or grandchildren behind and that life can be really lonely.”

“It was hard moving with three children and settling them into three separate schools, a new church and new community.”

“With no family support, help with small children was such a blessing.”

studying the Bible, so manse families also flourish when thought about and cared for even in small ways.

Claire Sellar is a member of the Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families panel. Married to Frank, they have served in Adelaide Road, Dublin and Bloomfield, Belfast. Claire trained as an occupational therapist and is now part-time Presbyterian chaplain in the Ulster Hospital.

“The adjustments in moving to another jurisdiction where the laws, culture and education system were totally different caused me and my teenagers great stress. Recognising this, we reached out to the Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families panel. Each of us were helpfully signposted to Christian counsellors, which has been useful for us all.”

“I knew when I married my husband… that I would be moving somewhere, sometime, to minister in partnership. We recognised the importance of God’s call on our lives individually and jointly. This helped us to be sure of God’s leading when we were approached by a new congregation. If we both had a positive response to the call it was good but if either of us had a negative reaction to the call, it was not meant to be, so we never pursued the approaches from those congregations.”

“Leaving a church with a strong emphasis on youth ministry to one that didn’t was a challenge for our teenagers.”

“I will always remember the lady who called with a plate of cookies for our family.”

“Friends came and prayed with each of our children and us in our new manse. That showed such care.”

“Particularly in the early stages, but also on occasions even after a number of years in a church, the ‘because you’re not from here’ weaponisation of personal ‘cultural’ differences can be used in a new place of ministry in an ungodly way. This ‘cultural contextualisation’ has sometimes proven to be a poisonous ‘snake bite’ in our manse family garden.”

…manse families… flourish when thought about and cared for even in small ways.

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

Sermons from the Schemes

Edited by Mez McConnell

£13.00

This book is a collection of 14 talks given by 20schemes church planters and ministry leaders. Mez is known by many as the co-founder of 20schemes, born out of a vision to plant or revitalise 20 gospel-loving churches in Scotland’s poorest housing schemes (estates).

Each chapter deals with a different aspect of ministering in deprived communities where, by and large, the people attending these churches have no history of going to church. Those familiar with Mez’s background and ministry will therefore not be surprised that topics such as dealing with addiction and abuse are covered. However, what was perhaps more unexpected but relatable to any church setting, were the chapters dealing with issues such as doctrine, prayer, the importance of church membership and church discipline.

The book should appeal to anyone involved in ministry, outreach or leadership roles. The chapter on doctrine, written by Andy Prime, with the subtitle ‘Atonement and election – the gift of salvation applied to the graft of ministry’, is particularly encouraging, reminding the reader that when we consciously or unconsciously are selective about who’s worth investing in, election reminds us that “God’s grace is powerful, that God’s grace is irresistible”. So we keep on persevering in the work God to which has called us.

Memorable Moments

Jim Rea

CEDRIC WILSON

£14.95

Jim Rea, author of Memorable Moments, is a retired Methodist minister. In 1985, he founded the East Belfast Mission where he then worked for 21 years. His life’s ministry has been almost exclusively in areas of conflict and he has witnessed some of the most horrific events of the Troubles.

He is a natural when it comes to storytelling. For 30 years he was broadcasting Just a Moment on Downtown Radio, as well as telling stories on BBC Radio Ulster’s Thought for the Day.

Memorable Moments is the third collection of short true stories that he has published. In it, he introduces us to a wide variety of interesting characters, mostly from around Northern Ireland, and most of whom will be well known to you. The stories contain profound insights, imparted with kindness and humour, and are usually based on an unexpected moment that suddenly changed someone’s life.

Memorable Moments, like his earlier books, is easy reading, full of stories that grab your attention, each with several photographs and each one ending with a challenging spiritual application. They are the type of stories that you can turn to again and again to lift your spirits and sustain your faith when times are tough.

This book would make an excellent Christmas gift.

With These Hands

Leanne Mallet

AUTHENTIC MEDIA

£10.99 «««««

When I first began reading this book, I wasn’t sure how much I would be able to relate to Leanne’s experiences – how wrong I was! Leanne takes us on what is a very personal journey, but the lessons she learns as she travels resonate with us all.

When Leanne is diagnosed with breast cancer, she is full of fear. However, as she goes through a series of appointments and treatments, she learns to lift every detail of her life to the Lord. As she says, “In life, there will always be… circumstances that we are presented with that seem set in stone, immovable… but… how we look at these things is in our hands.”

Leanne’s experiences changed her outlook on life completely. Reading her story highlights how we need to focus on what matters in life and make an effort to use the gifts God has given us in our sphere of influence. She reminds us that being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from the storms of life, but when they come, “we know whom we are standing on and with”.

One part of the book I found useful was when her husband and daughter wrote about how Leanne’s cancer affected them. This gives insights into how to support a friend or relative who is suffering in any way. Not everyone who has a cancer diagnosis will have as positive an outcome as Leanne, but she is able to remind us that whether there is a miracle or not, God is good and all that matters is that it is well with our souls.

GRACE PUBLICATIONS

REVIEWERS

JF – Judith Finlay is a member of First Comber Presbyterian Church HG – Hazel Gilliland is an administrative officer for the Herald

Safe All Along

Katie Davis Majors

AUTHENTIC MEDIA

£19.99

Like many of us, Katie Davis Majors knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and anxious by life events.

Katie’s book starts by reflecting on a life event that takes place at the River Nile and how this event presented anxiety in her life and shaped her thoughts. As a mother of 15 children, most of whom she and her husband Benji have fostered or adopted, Katie shares her experience as a missionary in Uganda and how she has navigated the distractions and worries that at times have created uncertainty in the future and the peace that God gives to those who look to him for guidance and comfort.

This book will reach out to those with family responsibilities and busy lives; each chapter is based around a different reflection that many will identify with.

The book is beautifully written. Katie embraces you into her world and offers practical advice from what she has learned and how God has guided her through the seasons of life and the struggles that may come with it, but always with a focus on hope.

As Katie says: “The life that God planned for us likely won’t be all still waters and calm quiet – in this world you will have trouble – but he will be with us in the waves, in the rapids, in the storms.”

SH – Sarah Harding is the editor the Herald

JC – Rev Jim Campbell is minister emeritus of Cooke Centenary

BH – Barbara Huddleston is a member of Second Comber Presbyterian

Sound of Freedom

Jim Caviezal (who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ) stars in this Hollywood blockbuster that has been an unexpected success in the States, grossing more than the new Indiana Jones movie.

Made five years ago, it suffered a delay to the big screen because of production company bureaucracy.

The film has also been dogged with controversy in the States, marred with rumours of conspiracy theories and caught up in left-wing/right-wing politics. However, this has undoubtedly increased its profile, which hasn’t done it any harm at the box office.

Based on true events, it tells the harrowing story of a brother and sister, who are abducted from their home in Honduras and sold into the sex slave industry. Jim Caviezal plays Tim Ballard, an American who works for Homeland Security, who saves the brother and then quits his job to venture into the depths of the Colombian rainforest to save his sister.

Director Alejandro Gómez Monteverde manages to avoid salacious and graphic details of the abuse, but still gets across the sickening horror of what children sold into slavery go through. It is certainly not an easy watch.

Judging the film purely on its cinematic effectiveness, it is a topquality production with some great acting. Caviezal is the only one who disappoints at times, with a touch of overacting, but the rest of the cast give stellar performances. In particular, the

children playing the brother and sister are outstanding and Bill Camp, who plays a reformed cartel accountant, delivers a monologue on why he works to free children that is simply an acting masterclass. Regardless of any controversy that surrounds the film, or the artistic licence taken in many instances, there is no getting away from the reality that it is an important watch. The statistics given at the end of the film are truly horrifying – there are 27.6 million trafficked people worldwide, and almost 20% of them are children. As Caviezal tells someone in the film, cocaine is a valuable commodity but can only be sold once; however, children, who can be sold five or six times a night, for at least ten years, are far more lucrative.

The film has been criticised for encouraging people to go and see it rather than give to trafficking charities, but this seems a bit unfair. We can hear statistics and feel overwhelmed by them – trafficked children are faceless to us and so it is easier to feel apathetic. This film brings this evil right before our eyes – we cannot unsee the horror that it presents. And nor should we. This issue is a massively important one because of the rate at which it is growing. In the last five years there has been a 5,000% increase in child porn images online. It is an evil that is out of control in our world, but is still largely hidden. This film is bringing that into the light and demands that we know about it and try to stop it.

It is particularly moving to see images of the real Tim Ballard at the end of the film and some of the actual footage of his rescue missions. It brings it home that this wickedness is real and it damages the lives of millions of children and their families around the globe.

This is a film that needs to be seen.

A momentous day for Hillsborough Presbyterian

The congregation of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church recently celebrated the opening of its Jubilee Community Garden.

After many months of discussions, planning and consultation, the project came to fruition on 20 May 2023 when it was dedicated to the glory of God by the minister, Rev Dr Allen Sleith and officially opened by Bill and Helen Dunlop. Having a combined service of 75 years as elders, Bill and Helen have also served the congregation for decades in multiple roles.

The garden is open to all – members of the congregation as well as the local and wider community – which was clearly evidenced among the large numbers who attended the official opening. In planning the transformation of what was a somewhat neglected area within the property bounds, much care was taken to ensure a space suitable for and useable by all age groups and abilities. Much emphasis was placed on ecological and biodiversity issues with the inclusion of features such as fruit trees, wildflower areas, a willow seat, a bug hotel and bird houses. Winding wheelchair friendly paths, a range of seating and a three-sided, covered, seated canopy all contribute to a garden that provides opportunity for relaxation, reflection, recreation and socialising.

It is the congregation’s hope and prayer that the establishment of this new garden provides an opportunity for those who visit it not only to experience something of the wonder and variety of God’s magnificent creation, but also to take time to enjoy the peace that the space affords. The garden stands as a constant reminder of the provision and care of our creator God and reflects the church’s love and care both for creation and for all who use it.

Anyone who is in the area of Sprucefield or Royal Hillsborough is most welcome to visit at any time. There is ample car parking space in the church grounds.

Superhero Academy at Kilmakee

In July, the congregation of Kilmakee in Belfast held a holiday club with 42 leaders and 118 children on the theme of ‘Superhero Academy’.

Leader Alastair White said: “We have never experienced anything quite like this before in our congregation. It was a week of Bible-based activities, memory verses, Bible stories and our own Bible superhero song, all delivered in imaginative, fun and memorable ways to enthuse, teach and challenge the children aged pre-school to P7. Many of the children were hearing from the Bible for the first time or of superheroes such as Moses, Elijah, Esther, Joshua, David, Daniel and, of course, Jesus.”

The programme for ‘Superhero Academy’ was developed entirely in-house. Alastair says, “It was first launched in 2022 on a tidal wave of enthusiasm and united purpose that swept across the entire congregation, the Holy Spirit moving evidently among us. ‘Superhero Academy 2’ and our new ‘Superhero Reunion’ have created unique and exciting opportunities for us to speak Jesus into the lives of parents and children. God is clearly moving within our children’s ministry and we give all glory and praise to him and trust in him alone as we continue responding to his prompting.”

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

Birthday milestone at Second Limavady

Rita Ody, a member of Second Presbyterian Church Limavady, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Former Moderator Very Rev Dr Rob Craig, Mervyn Hood, clerk of session and Rev Geoffrey Jones brought greetings on her special day.

PW service at Magherahamlet

Magherahamlet Presbyterian Church in Ballynahinch held a special Wonder Woman (PW) Service on Sunday 23 April with Ann Wilson, overseas vice-president, as their guest speaker. A soup lunch was held afterwards. Ann is pictured receiving a gift from Margaret Broome alongside the choir members.

Centenarian at Dromore

The then Moderator, Dr Kirkpatrick, visited Sarah Robinson after she had celebrated her 100th birthday on 11 April. Mrs Robinson is a member of Dromore Presbyterian Church (Tyrone).

100th birthday in Magherally

Sydney Hopkins, a member of Magherally congregation, Banbridge, celebrated his 100th birthday on 19 August. He was visited by the Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney, and his wife Karen, and by his minister, Rev Nigel Kane.

Belmont installs new minister

Rev William Harkness was installed as minister of Belmont by a commission of the East Belfast Presbytery on Thursday 15 June. Pictured (front row L–R): Chris Steele (clerk of session), Rev William Harkness and his wife Wilma, Rev Jonny Frazer (moderator of presbytery) and Rev Jim Stothers (vacancy convener). Back row (L–R): Rev Mervyn Burnside, Rosemary Hamilton, Rev Stephen Moore (clerk of presbytery) and Ken Brown.

A new elder at Redrock

Colin Dougan was recently ordained as an elder at Redrock congregation, Co Armagh. Pictured (front row L–R) are: Rev Alan Marsh, Rev Philip McKelvey, new elder Colin Dougan, Rev Peter Gamble (clerk of presbytery), Arnold Black (clerk of session, Redrock), along with other representatives of the Armagh Presbytery.

Retirement of organist at Rathgar

Sunday 25 June 2023 marked the last Sunday in a twelve-year period commencing in 2011 when Mr Bob Yeo played the organ in Christ Church Rathgar, Dublin. Bob has been a dedicated and talented member of the congregation. Pictured: clerk of session, Paul Fry, (R) presenting Bob (L) with a Dublin crystal vase engraved with his service details and an image of the church.

Lisbellaw Presbyterian Church celebrates the coronation

On Friday 5 May 2023, the Co Fermanagh congregation of Lisbellaw joined in village celebrations to mark the coronation of King Charles III. Its float ‘Kings of the Past, Kings of the Present, and King of the Future’ won first prize as best float, and its street evangelists handed out over 400 gospel tracts to mark this important event.

Ramelton ordains new elder

John Stewart was ordained and installed by a commission of the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal on 19 March. Pictured are (L–R): Rev Craig Wilson, Rev Colin McKibben (deputy clerk of presbytery), John Stewart, Rev Richard Tregaskis, (minister of Ramelton), Rev Gordy McCracken (moderator of presbytery) and David Armour (clerk of session).

Elders ordained at Druminnis

The Co Armagh congregation recently held a service to ordain Samuel Bingham and William Dunne to the eldership. Pictured in the front row (L–R) are: Rev Sam Finlay (minister of Redrock and Druminnis), new elders Samuel Bingham and William Dunne, Rev Graham Mullan (moderator of presbytery), along with other members of the Commission of Armagh Presbytery.

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Second Comber BB at Trooping the Colour

Members of Second Comber Boys’ Brigade pictured at Horse Guards Parade, London representing the Boys’ Brigade at Trooping the Colour alongside other uniformed youth organisations from across the UK.

Donacloney ordains new elders

Two new elders were ordained by a commission of Iveagh Presbytery in Donacloney Presbyterian Church on Sunday 11 June. Pictured (seated L–R) are: Jim King (clerk of presbytery), new elders Wayne Buttery and Brian Turkington, and Rev Andrew Boreland (moderator of presbytery). Standing (L–R): Rev George McClelland, Richard Fleming and Betty Barrett (members of commission), Ian Williams (clerk of Donacloney kirk session) and Rev Adrian Moffett (minister of the congregation).

Long service recognition in First Coleraine

On Sunday 18 June at morning worship in First Coleraine, presentations were made to long-serving office bearers. Pictured (L–R): Rev James Hyndman (minister of First Coleraine), Ian Hasson (retiring as congregational secretary after 25 years), Jim Archer and Colin McClean (both retiring from active eldership after 48 and 25 years, respectively).

Retirement in Garmany’s Grove

After 36 years as the Co Monaghan congregation’s agent for the Presbyterian Children’s Society, Susan Nesbitt has retired from the role. Pictured are: Heather Smyth (congregational secretary), Susan Nesbitt, Rev Ker Graham and George Smyth (elder).

New communicants at Loughbrickland

On Sunday 4 June, a number of new communicants were received by the Co Down congregation. Pictured (L–R) are: Logan Waddell, Caitlin Hylands, Hannah Donnell, Nina Sneddon, Zara Sneddon, Rev Patricia McBride (minister), Norma Baird, Ellen Buller, Rebekah Donnell, Adele Buller and Fred Cairns (clerk of session).

Retirement in Eglinton

The north Belfast congregation recently said farewell to their minister, Rev Colin Morrison, after serving there for 30 years. Colin and Rosemary Morrison were presented with a specially commissioned artwork by Keith Drury, based on his Belfast Bay theme. Included in the picture are images of Ballysillan Presbyterian, Colin’s home church; Rosemary Presbyterian where he served his assistantship; and Cairncastle PC where he ministered for 10 years.

New elders in First Antrim

On Sunday 25th June, three new elders were ordained and installed by a commission of Templepatrick Presbytery at 1st Antrim. Back row (L–R): Brian Simpson, Very Rev Dr S John Dixon, Fred Hand, David Hoy, and Rev Gareth McFadden. Front row (L–R): Rev Alan Moore (moderator of presbytery), new elders Sam McCormick, Peter McFetridge and Ryan McKeown, and Rev Stephen Lockington.

Drumbo PW celebrates 80th anniversary

Drumbo Presbyterian Women in Co Down recently celebrated their 80th anniversary with a special evening. Judith McLernon welcomed everyone to the dinner and spoke of the valuable work done by past and present members and of the special evenings shared by all. A celebration cake made by Sandra McCormick was cut by Bell McAuley and Violet Spence. In the photograph (front row): Shirley McGregor, Noelle Dorman, Shirley McDonald and Audrey Robinson with Judith McLernon, May Douglas, Sandra Currie and Jean Graham (back row).

4th Newtownabbey BB goes to Ayr

The Boys’ Brigade company of 4th Newtownabbey travelled to Ayr in Scotland for BB camp this year.

First Dunboe Sunday school celebrates 200 years

The Sunday school of the Co Londonderry congregation have celebrated its 200th anniversary. To mark the occasion each child was presented with a Bible on Young People’s Day in June. Back row: Julie Conn (Sunday school superintendent), Lewis Pollock, Callum Fleming, Alfie McFarlane, Jacob Millen, Rev Keith Hibbert, Olivia McKee, Josh Calvin. Middle row: Luke Shannon, Lewis Shannon, Finlay Steele, Poppy Barr, Lilly Hutchinson, Josie Mullan, Lucy Ridgill, Reuben Thompson, Olivia Thompson, Lucas Arthur. Front row: Henry Hutchinson, Zoe Barr, Charlie Steele, Sofia Stevenson, Francesca Giffen, Luke Barr, Joshua Mullan, Adam Shannon, Joshua Arthur.

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.

CARNLOUGH-CUSHENDALL and NEWTOWNCROMMELIN: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 years 70% Part Time Ministry)

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

CLONTIBRET and MIDDLETOWN: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

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

DROMORE, FIRST:

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

2. LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

CLADYMORE and TASSAGH:

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

DROMORE and DRUMQUIN:

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

GORTNESSY:

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

RICHVIEW:

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

SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED

BALLINDERRY:

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

BOVEEDY:

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

CAHIR: (Home Mission)

REV WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Minister of Fermoy.

KATESBRIDGE:

REV N.J. KANE, Minister of Magherally.

TYRONE’S DITCHES: REV J.K.A. McINTYRE, Minister of Bessbrook.

3. DECLARED VACANT

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.

BALLYNAHATTY, CREEVAN and FINTONA:

REV JONATHAN COWAN: (Ballynahatty & Creevan) Mr John Nevin, 116A

Clanabogan Road, Omagh, BT78 1SN. (Fintona) Mr Keith Boland, 119 Blackhill road, Fintona, Omagh, BT78 2LN.

BALLYWILLAN:

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

BANAGHER:

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

BELLAGHY and KNOCKLOUGHRIM:

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

BELVOIR:

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

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

BOARDMILLS, TRINITY:

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

BUSHMILLS:

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

CASTLEDERG FIRST and KILLETER:

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

CASTLEDERG, SECOND AND URNEY:

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

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

DONEGAL TOWN and STRANORLAR:

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

DROMARA, SECOND:

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

DRUMGOOLAND and KILKINAMURRY:

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

DUNDROD:

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

EGLINGTON:

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

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.

GLASCAR and DONAGHMORE:

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

GLASTRY and KIRKCUBBIN:

REV A. GILICZE: Mr James McClements.

GREAT VICTORIA STREET:

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

HYDEPARK and LYLEHILL:

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

KELLS: (Home Mission)

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

KILMAKEE:

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

KILREA, SECOND:

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

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.

LOUGHGALL and TARTARAGHAN:

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

LURGAN, FIRST:

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

MONEYDIG:

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

NEWINGTON:

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

NEWTOWNARDS, SECOND:

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

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.

PORTRUSH:

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

RANDALSTOWN, O.C.:

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

RASHARKIN:

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

RATHCOOLE:

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

RATHGAR, CHRIST CHURCH:

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

RAVENHILL:

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

SCRABO:

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

TULLYCARNET:

REV R.S.J. McILHATTON:

VINECASH:

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

WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR:

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

WATERSIDE:

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

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.

GRANGE with CRAIGMORE:

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

CHURCH RECORD

continued from page 49

NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN:

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

SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET:

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

WHITEHEAD:

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

THE ELDERSHIP

Ordained & Installed:

ANTRIM, FIRST: Samuel McCormick, Peter McFetridge, Ryan McKeown

Died:

BALLYMENA, HIGH KIRK: Harold Smyth

RANDALSTOWN, O.C.: Charles Hall Stewart

THE MINISTRY

Ordained and Installed:

Mark Haugh, as Minister of Waringstown on 8 September 2023

Resigned:

Aaron Ditty, as Minister of Scrabo on 8 August 2023

Philip Cleland, as Minister of Drumgooland and Kilkinamurry on 31 August 2023

Richard Patton, as Minister of Boardmills, Trinity on 3 September 2023

Stephen Richmond, as Minister of Donegal Town and Stranorlar on 7 September 2023

Retired:

David Henry, as Minister of Lurgan, First on 10 September 2023

John Kirkpatrick, as Minister of Portrush on 31 August 2023

Stephen Williamson, as Minister of Ballywillan on 31 August 2023

Died:

David Neville Gray, Minister Emeritus of Portaferry on 5 August 2023

CLASSIFIEDS

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

Accommodation

Northern Ireland

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

PORTSTEWART: 4 bedroom house with private parking to let in quiet residential area (sleeps 6). Short drive to The Strand and 10 minute walk to Tesco. Wi-fi included. Sorry no pets. For further details contact 07855 039712 or patterson.joan12@ gmail.com

BALLYMENA : Residential, student and holiday accommodation available. Tel: 07902 639716

Republic of Ireland

Self Catering

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

For Sale

FOR SALE : Electronic Viscount Organ (no foot pedals). Perfect working order. £350. Contact Mrs Elma Lynn, Secretary, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal. 07808360783

CROSSWORD

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

Piano Tuning

Tel: +44 (0)28 9268 9468

07788 746992

Fitzroy Presbyterian Church

Youth and Children’s Worker

Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Fitzroy Presbyterian Church’s mission is to enable people of all ages to grow in their relationship with Christ and have life to the full (John 10:10)

If you share our vision, have a heart for youth and children’s work and meet our criteria please apply for this post. The post holder will be responsible for the continuing development and co-ordination of the Youth and Children’s ministry within our church, working alongside existing leaders and volunteers.

Salary Scale – Band B of PCI recommended salary scales 2023 (level depending on experience)

To obtain a full job description and application details contact Roberta Clotworthy (roberta@fitzroy.org.uk)

Closing date for applications is 12 noon Friday 10 November 2023.

Islandmagee Presbyterian Church seeks to appoint a

Music Coordinator

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to help lead and develop our corporate praise.

Applicants must be sympathetic to the ethos of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

This is a permanent post of 5 to 6 hours per week. Further details, job description and application form available from

Rev. Peter Bovill 65 Low Road, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, BT40 3RD islandmageepci@gmail.com

07795 694499

The closing date for applications is Friday 27th October 2023.

22 Dec 2024

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