October 2009 by St Columbas

October 2009

RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Parishioner, HARVEST SERVICES I invite you to attend our Harvest Thanksgiving Services on Sunday 4th October. We are very fortunate that two prominent members from our local community will be preaching at these important services. We look forward to welcoming the Principal of Strathearn School who is also a Diocesan Lay Reader in Ballybeen Parish, Mr. David Manning, to the All Age Worship Service and the recently retired Minister from Stormont Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Dr. Ron Savage, to Choral Evensong. At these services, their inspiring preaching will challenge us as we continue to serve God in both word and deed. We look forward to singing the well known harvest hymns and to hearing the choir sing the anthem “O Lord how manifold are thy works” at Choral Evensong. SHARING Every day we hear more and more news reports about the difficulties that people in the developing world are experiencing. As a parish, we have always tried to support as generously as we can the work being done by different missionary organisations and charities. Our Harvest Services this year take place during the economic recession which is dramatically affecting us all. However, despite our own situation, many people in the developing world are experiencing even greater difficulties. They would consider themselves fortunate to be living in Northern Ireland, even though we are currently experiencing the effects of the recession. At our Harvest Services we will be remembering them in our prayers, in addition to being encouraged to continue sharing something of what God has given us with those who are in greater need. We have indeed much to give thanks to God for at our Harvest Services as these words from the General Thanksgiving Prayer remind us: “Almighty God and merciful Father, we give you hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all people. We bless you for our creation and preservation and for all the blessings of this life; but above all for your love in redeeming the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory. Give us a due sense of your mercy that our hearts may be thankful, and that we may praise you not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Amen. I encourage you to include this prayer in your daily devotions. Yours in His service,

SERVICES IN OCTOBER Thursday 1st 10.30am

St. Michael and All Angels (Transferred) (White) Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry

Sunday 4th 8.15am 10.30am 7.00pm

Harvest Thanksgiving (Green) Holy Communion Reader Trevor Buchanan 1 Timothy 6: 6-10 Gospel Clergy Luke 12: 16-31 All Age Worship followed by Harvest Lunch in the Church Hall Reader Joyce Stevenson Luke 13: 6-9 Prayers Karen McAlpine Preacher Mr. David Manning, Diocesan Lay Reader & Principal of Strathearn School Choral Evensong Reader Gina Greeves Deuteronomy 16:1-2 & 8-17 Reader Gina Greeves John 6: 25-35 Preacher The Reverend Dr. Ron Savage, Former Minister of Stormont Presbyterian Church

Thursday 8th (Green) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry Sunday 11th 8.15am 10.30am 7.00pm

(Green) Hebrews 4: 12-16 Mark 10: 17-31 Hebrews 4: 12-16 Mark 10: 17-31

Matthew 11: 20-30

Thursday 15th St Philip the Deacon (Transferred) (Red) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry Sunday 18th 8.15am

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Holy Communion Reader Paul Stewart Gospel Clergy Holy Communion & Holy Baptism Reader Jennifer Johnston Gospel Clergy Intercessions Karen McAlpine Late Evening Office Reader Robin Haldane

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Holy Communion Reader Michael Davey Gospel Clergy

(Green) Hebrews 5: 1-10 Mark 10: 35-45

9.30am 10.30am 7.00pm

Family Communion Gospel Karen McAlpine Morning Prayer Reader Helen Donaghy Reader Clare Best Occasional Clergy Prayers Holy Communion Reader Fiona Haldane Gospel Karen McAlpine

A PRAYER FOR OUR PARISH

Mark 10: 35-45

O God, make the door of our Church wide enough to receive all who

Isaiah 53: 4-12 Mark 10: 35-45

need human love and fellowship, and a heavenly Father’s care; and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and hate. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet; but rugged enough to turn back the

Romans 3: 1-20 Matthew 12: 1-21

tempter’s power. Make it the gateway to thine eternal kingdom. Amen

Thursday 22nd St. Luke (Transferred) (Red) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry Sunday 25 8.15am 10.30am 7.00pm th

The Fifth Sunday before Advent Holy Communion Reader Elizabeth Miller Gospel Clergy Holy Communion Reader Elizabeth McCaughey Gospel Clergy Intercessions Roberta Rogers Evening Prayer Reader Esther Templeton Reader Esther Templeton

(Green) Hebrews 7: 23-28 Mark 10: 46-52 Hebrews 7: 23-28 Mark 10: 46-52

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12 Luke 19: 9-14

Thursday 29th St. Simon and St. Jude (Transferred) (Red) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry Readers and Intercessors: If you cannot read or lead the prayers on the appointed day, please arrange a swap with someone else on the rota and let the Churchwardens know. We are always delighted to add new names to the Rota of Readers and Intercessors. If you would wish to serve your church in this way, please contact Muriel Arndell (028 90655500). The readings are from Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary and are printed on our parish website:

www.stcolumbas.down.anglican .org

Bishop Thomas Ken 1637-1711

CLERGY PARISH VISITING It is always a great privilege for the Clergy to visit parishioners in their homes. If you would like to request a Clergy Visit please telephone the Rector (028 90471514) or the Curate (028 90653370). In addition to requested Parish Visiting, the Clergy will be visiting parishioners in the following districts during October:

Rector: Ardgreenan Drive Ardgreenan Gardens Barnett’s Lodge Barnett’s Court Barnett’s Court Mews Barnett’s Green Barnett’s Road

Curate: Cheerytree Walk Cheeryvalley Gardens Cherryvalley Park Cheeryvalley Finchley Vale Gilbourne Park, Gilnahirk Gilnahirk Park

HOSPITAL VISITING The Clergy would appreciate being informed if parishioners are in hospital, going into hospital, are being transferred or if they have been discharged and will be pleased to offer them pastoral support. Do not assume they already know the information as situations have occurred recently when they have not been informed. Please telephone the Rector (028 90471514) or the Curate (028 90653370) to enable them to take careful note of the details.

OCTOBER SIDESPERSONS’ ROTA Sunday 4 . ............................................................... Linda and Mark Wilson th

Sunday 11th.............................................................. Roberta and John McKeown Sunday 18th.............................................................. Dawn and Garth Macartney Sunday 25th.............................................................. Yvonne and Eddie Cadden

FROM THE RECTOR’S DIARY... October 1st...............................Holy Communion 2nd ...........................Parish Office & ParishVisiting 3rd..............................Decorating of Church for Harvest 4th..............................Harvest Services in St. Columba’s

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR HARVEST

5th..............................Parish Visiting

Saturday 3rd October, 10.30am – 12.30pm

6th..............................Staff Meeting & Mothers’ Union Opening Service (evening)

No flower arranging skills necessary

7th..............................Parish Office & Parish Visiting

Willingness to help is all that is required.

8th..............................Holy Communion

Children and young families will be particularly welcome to help with the decorating

9th..............................Parish Office & beginning of 24-40 Prayer in Lagan Area Deanery 11th...........................Church Services in St. Columba’s

Refreshments in the Rectory!

12th...........................Institution of the Rev. Jonathan Pierce in St. Finnian’s, Cregagh

HARVEST LUNCH

13th...........................Staff Meeting, Lagan Area Deanery meeting & Hospital Visiting 14th...........................Parish Office & end of 24-40 Prayer in Lagan Area Deanery

There will be a Harvest Lunch in the Church Hall immediately after the morning service on Sunday, 4th October. This will be a good opportunity to enjoy fellowship with each other and to support the Building Fund Appeal by placing our voluntary donations in the box provided. Those attending are requested to get a ticket in advance for catering purposes from either Kathleen Acheson or Roberta Rogers.

15th...........................Holy Communion & Parish Visiting 16th...........................Parish Office & Conduct Healing Service in St. Anne’s Cathedral 18th...........................Church Services in St. Columba’s & Preach at Harvest Service in St. Dorothea’s (morning) 19th...........................Parish Visiting 20th...........................Staff Meeting & Fundraising Committee Meeting

PRAYER REQUEST BOX

21st............................Parish Office & Finance Committee Meeting

Members of the Prayer Chain Group were very encouraged to hear at their recent meeting that many parishioners are using the Prayer Request Box. Those wishing to have a person’s name included on the Parish Prayer List, please simply place their Christian name in the Prayer Request Box by using the white cards provided on the table at the back of church.

22nd .........................Holy Communion & Parish Visiting St. Columba’s Select Vestry Meeting 7pm

Should you wish to have a person’s name removed from the Parish Prayer List, please place their Christian name in the Prayer Request Box by using the yellow cards provided on the table at the back of church. This is to ensure that the Prayer List is always kept up to date with the names of those who are ill or experiencing difficulties.

26th.............................Parish Visiting

The Rector

23rd.............................Parish Office & Parish Visiting 25th.............................Church services in St. Columba’s 27th.............................Staff Meeting & Hospital Visiting 28th.............................Parish Office & Parish Visiting 29th.............................Holy Communion & Parish Visiting 30th.............................Parish Office & Parish Visiting

KNOCK KNOCK, IT’S THE CURATE!

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES Sunday, 13 September 2009, was our opening session of Sunday school but it was also one of the sunniest days of the year, so our numbers were not quite as high as expected. However, we all began by colouring in Bob the Builder and Wendy for the fundraising ladder before working on our new books. These books recommend a number of activities for each lesson and today we pretended we were at the Last Supper, with comfortable cushions to sit on as well as completing other activities, such as word searches. Sunday school is fun so let’s see lots more children coming along to each session. We are also trying to get together a rota of parents who can help out when required, as well as possibly recruiting a new teacher. If you feel you would like to help in either capacity, please see the Rector or the Curate. th

PROGRAMME for OCTOBER 2009 Sunday 4th October Sunday 11th October Sunday 18th October Sunday 25th October

10.30am All age worship (Harvest) 10.30am Sunday School 9.30am Family Communion 10.30am Sunday School Beth Cairnduff

MOTHERS AND TODDLERS ARE BACK!! DAY.........FRIDAY MORNINGS

Well, October is indeed upon us, and I am now getting into some sort of routine in the parish, the mix of meetings, services, preaching, prayers, organisations, office work, hospitals and visits around the parish. One thing I am quickly learning is that there is no such thing as a “normal” day when it comes to ministry in St. Columba’s, which is great! As we come to October, one of the major events which is taking place within the Diocese is 24-40 prayer, which you will read about elsewhere in the magazine. I would really like to encourage you to pop down to Willowfield and see what this is all about. Whilst in college in Dublin I was asked, along with another colleague, to arrange a similar event for the students. I wasn’t sure how it would go down but it was quite amazing. We set out various areas in a room for prayer. We had space for people to pray silently, places where people could write down their prayers, places where people could curl up on a sofa and pray, kneelers where they could kneel. This 24-40 event is not on its own, across the globe there are people praying continuously 24-7 in rooms, in churches, in shops. I was amazed at the different people of all ages who responded in college to come up to the prayer room and to pray. It is so important that we pray, and this event is all about setting a little bit of time aside to pray by yourself or with others if you wish, in a slightly different way than we are used to. If you wouldn’t normally pray, I would encourage you to take the opportunity to drop into Willowfield and see what is going on!

TIME..........9.45 to 11.45am PLACE............CHURCH HALL

FUN AND GAMES FOR ALL! COME AND MAKE FRIENDS OVER A CUPPA!

ALL AGE WORSHIP TEA AND COFFEE A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Alzheimer’s Society last month during tea and coffee at All Age Worship. We raised a wonderful amount of £182.10 and Alan was delighted with the most generous support shown by parishioners. Amy ran her race on Sunday, 13th September, and the total proceeds raised for Alzheimer’s was just over £350. We have our Harvest Lunch on Sunday, 4th October, so our next tea and coffee will be in November. If you have a particular charity you would like us to support, please let me know as I am always looking for new charities.Don’t forget the Harvest Lunch on Sunday, 4th October, immediately after the 10.30am service. Proceeds will go towards the Church Building Fund. See you there.

And finally …It has been great to get around the various areas of the parish in September and meet parishioners. Again, if I have happened to have missed you, if you were out when I called, please do not hesitate to give me a ring on 90653370 and I’ll arrange a time when it is more convenient, perhaps in the early evening. Robert

THE AFTERNOON GROUP Come along and enjoy a nostalgic trip (without even leaving your seats!) as Mr. Wesley Thompson, a member of the East Belfast Historical Society, takes us “Down Memory Lane”. We meet on Monday, 12th October – Time 2.30pm – At the usual place! May

Many thanks, Roberta

PARISH ORGANISATIONS

St. Columba’s, Knock

SOMETHING FOR YOU? SUNDAY 10.30am Sunday School (2nd, 4th, 5th Sundays) Beth Cairnduff (3-5 yrs) 90874047 Joyce Stevenson (5-8 yrs) 90583381 Alan Boyd (8-13 yrs) 07979 830122 8.00pm Beatitudes Choir David Beattie 90797125 MONDAY 2.00pm Ladies Bowling Phyllis Newton 90482113 2.30p.m. Afternoon Group (2nd Monday) May Preston 90489884 7.30pm Men’s Club John Robb 90581438 TUESDAY 10.30am Ladies Badminton Muriel Jowett 90659984 2.00pm Ladies Badminton Kyleen Clarke 90797155 8.00pm Mothers’ Union (1st Tuesday) Irene Gray 90653438 8.00pm Activity Group (except 1st Tuesday) Maureen Irwin 90795155

WEDNESDAY 7.30pm Bible Study Group Trevor Buchanan 90657697

King’s Road, Belfast

7.30pm Senior Badminton Club Jill McDowell 07754 405511 7.45pm Ladies Guild (3rd Wednesday) Lilias Smith 90592039 THURSDAY 9.30am Art Club Bob Killen

90790210

7.30pm Senior Badminton Club Jill McDowell 07754 405511 7.45pm Choir Practice Gerald Hill 90422101 FRIDAY 9.45am Mums & Tots Anne Clarke 90651412 3.45-5pm Toddler Mini Soccer 3-5yrs Tim Wareing 07740 120788 6.30pm Doves Karen McAlpine

90424390

6.30pm Brownies Beth Cairnduff

90874047

8.30pm H2O Mark Wilson

90761040

Young Families Group (Social events as arranged) The Rector 90471514

Please note, requests for the occasional use of Church premises must first be submitted to the Premises Convenor, Alan Rogers, on 90656183 10

FLOWER FESTIVAL Celebrating the life of St. Columba (Northern Ireland Group of Flower Arrangement Societies)

Friday 4th – Saturday 5th June 2010 10am – 9pm Sunday 6th June 2010 2pm – 6pm For Enquiries and bookings contact: Moranne Noad – Tel: +44 (028) 90 793704 / email: noadfamily@hotmail.com Morning coffee, lunches and afternoon – high teas available Group Catering by arrangement – Contact Kathleen Acheson Tel: +44 (028) 90 597707 Website: www.stcolumbas.down.anglican.org/flowerfestival

Ode To A Golf Ball

24-40 PRAYER

20th SEPTEMBER – 31st OCTOBER 2009 40 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS PRAYER ACROSS THE DIOCESE Could you pray for one hour? That idea is a daunting one for many of us but on Sunday, 20th September, the Diocese of Down and Dromore will begin a 40 day season of continuous prayer and we are all invited to be part of it. 24-40 Prayer isn’t, however, just a giant prayer meeting! A fresh pattern of prayer modelled on the 24-7 Prayer movement will be used, something that will be new to many of us, including myself, but which has roots in a much older tradition of praying around the clock. Right across the diocese, in specially set aside spaces, which will be decorated with pictures and prayer ideas, and equipped with aids to help make prayer easier for us. These prayers will take place in each of the Area Deaneries on a rota basis for a period of five days and then, like a relay race, the baton of prayer and a “Big Prayer Book”, in which prayer requests and answers are written, will be passed on to the next Area Deanery. Prayer requests can also be made online at www.24-40prayer.org. The designated prayer space for our Area Deanery will be in Willowfield Parish Church from 8pm on Friday, 9th October to 8pm on Wednesday, 14th October. Each of the parishes in our Area Deanery has been given specific slots of one hour each to fill. St. Columba’s have been allocated the following time slots over the five days: Friday 9th October 8pm – 9pm Opening Service in Willowfield Parish Church (All Welcome) Saturday 10th October Sunday 11th October Monday 12th October 2am – 3am 2pm – 3pm 8am – 9am 2pm – 3pm 8pm – 9pm 11pm – 12midnight Tuesday 13th October 11am – 12noon 11pm – 12midnight

Wednesday 14th October 1pm – 2pm 7pm – 8pm Closing Service (All Welcome)

If you like to sign up for any of these slots please place your name on the rota which is on the main church notice board. This is to ensure that there is an unbroken night and day prayer vigil with someone in the diocese praying every hour of the approximately 960 hours. In addition to the individuals who will have specific responsibilities for each of these hour slots, anyone who would like to go to Willowfield Parish Church at any hour of the day or night during the five days will be very welcome. While it’s the initiative of the Bishop and the Deans of Down and Dromore Cathedrals, I believe it’s an exciting opportunity to pray for one another, our churches and our communities, so please get on board! The Rector 12

HARVEST HYMN

In My Hand I Hold A Ball, White And Dimpled, Rather Small. Oh, How Bland It Does Appear, This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

We spray the fields and scatter The poison on the ground, So that no wicked wild flowers Upon our farm be found. We like whatever helps us To line our purse with pence; The twenty-four-hour broiler-house And neat electric fence.

By Its Size I Could Not Guess, The Awesome Strength It Does Possess. But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell, I’ve Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep-freeze Are ours from working hard.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same, Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game. It Rules My Mind For Hours On End, A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

We fire the fields for harvest, The hedges swell the flame, The oak trees and the cottages From which our fathers came. We give no compensation, The earth is ours today, And if we lose on arable, Then bungalows will pay.

It Has Made Me Yell, Curse And Cry, I Hate Myself And Want To Die. It Promises A Thing Called Par, If I Can Hit It Straight And Far. To Master Such A Tiny Ball, Should Not Be Very Hard At All. But My Desires The Ball Refuses, And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep-freeze Are ours from working hard.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies, And Even Disappears Before My Eyes. Often It Will Have A Whim, To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

John Betjeman (Reproduced by kind permission of John Murray (Publishers) Ltd)

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land, It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand. Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul, If Only It Would Find The Hole. It’s Made Me Whimper Like A Pup, And Swear That I Will Give It Up. And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow, But The Ball Knows ... I’ll Be Back Tomorrow! 13

BOTHAR REVISITED The photographs featured on our centre pages speak volumes for themselves. They represent different Ugandan rural families of up to twelve adults and children, whose lives have been transformed by the gift of a goat. It is abundantly evident that the Irish goats have quickly adapted to their new and very different surroundings since the beginning of the year. Many have already kidded and supply two litres of nutritious milk each day, as well as manure for the familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vegetable gardens. Much loved members of their respective host families, the goats have been given beautiful names such as Hope, Happiness, Gift, Charity, Patience and Blessing. These wonderful animals provide renewed hope, essential nourishment, improved health and a means of income for their impoverished new owners, who, in turn, express their everlasting gratitude to Bothar and the generosity of parishes such as St. Columbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

We are delighted to hear from Helen, daughter of parishioners Beth and Mervyn Cairnduff, about her wonderful experience with Girl Guiding Ulster, while camping in Canada this summer.

CANADA ‘09 Hello everyone, its Helen here! As most of you may know, during the summer this year I went to Canada with Girl Guiding Ulster for ten days as one of a party of twenty four, comprising twenty girls and four leaders. On our trip, I learnt a great deal about myself and how to be more independent, such as being able to hand wash my clothes etc….... I had a brilliant time and it was a wonderful way to meet new people from Northern Ireland as well as from other parts of the world. This was the first time I had been away from my family for so long which was a challenge in itself!

visited the CN Tower which had amazing views over all Toronto, finally completing our trip shopping in the Eaton Centre. Then it was time to go home. This was a very emotional time as everyone had become such good friends. Believe it or not there were no arguments or fall outs between any of us! I know that I have made really great friends for life and I would just like to say thank you to Girl Guiding Ulster for giving me the opportunity to go on such an amazing trip, one that I will always remember. Helen Cairnduff

We had to meet at Guide Headquarters at Lorne for 6 am on Tuesday, 4th August, to travel down to Dublin where we caught our flight, but 26 minutes into the flight the pilot announced that we would be landing in Shannon to pick up some more passengers, which delayed us quite a long time. We arrived at Toronto Airport at 5:30pm Canadian Time. As soon as we walked off the airplane the heat hit us and, of course, all of us had on our heaviest clothing so by the time we got to the coach, we were all glad that it had air conditioning! It took us three hours to reach the campsite from Toronto. The camp was a provincial Canadian Guide camp called Doe Lake. The camp has been running for sixty years. By the time we arrived there it was 11pm Canadian time which meant we had been travelling for 24 hours and none of us were exactly in the best mood! Thank goodness the campsite already had the tents up for us. We all went to bed - some of us fully dressed! The next morning jetlag hit and the majority of us were up before 7am to the surprise of our camp counsellors, who had arranged for our breakfast to be put back to 10 o’clock to let us all have a lie in.

er a up und o r G e p of th Most e at the cam d a h suns

pers aking dam m e ir f p m At a ca

This is of car our homema d paddle board and de raft out !! I mad e the

There is so much that I could tell you all but I’d have to write a book to fit it all in! So here is a summary of what I did. We undertook many activities from canoeing to paddle painting, high ropes courses to wilderness survival, sailing to making dream catchers. We had campfires by the lake in the evening, where the campfire was actually on a raft in the middle of the lake. Unfortunately, many of us were badly bitten by mosquitoes and I myself was one of the worst affected, having to get tablets when I came home to finally get rid of them. I had a brilliant time due to the good weather, fantastic food (all cooked for us!) and the lovely people who looked after us. By the end of the camp I didn’t want to leave and there were many tears shed on the day we departed. After the camp, we went on to Toronto and stayed downtown in the city for three days. Many of us were very glad that there were real beds! We went to Niagara Falls one day, then to Canada’s Wonderland Theme Park the next, and on the final day 16

METHUSELAH’S DIET

H2O

Hello Ladies, At our forthcoming meeting on Tuesday, 3rd November, the guest speaker will be Mr. Ken Craig on “God’s Wonderful Creation”. Ken is a very popular, well known speaker, and this promises to be a really entertaining evening. As well as this, we will have a Mothers’ Union Enterprise “Box”, giving us the opportunity to support the work of the Mothers’ Union by purchasing Christmas cards, diaries and calendars etc. So do please come along and enjoy hassle-free Christmas shopping! Look forward to seeing you then, and thanks as always. Irene

LADIES GUILD NOTES The Ladies Guild will meet on Wednesday, 21 October, at 7.45pm, for what promises to be a very interesting evening. Anya Dolan, the Education Officer for the Opera House, is coming to tell us what goes on “behind the scenes” at the theatre, and we will have a special supper that evening. st

The November dates for your diary are: Sunday, 15th November, at 10.30am, church service and blessing on our 50th Anniversary. Wednesday, 18th November, Celebration Dinner at Shandon Park Golf Club. We warmly invite friends and past members, and ask that anyone interested should please contact Eileen Anderson on 90203684, or Yvonne Cadden on 90657388, for information and menu details. Lilias Smith

Methuselah ate what he found on his plate, And never, as people do now, Did he note the amount of the calorie count, He ate because it was chow.

H2O started back on Friday, 11th September. As a comeback treat, we went to “Pirate’s Golf” at the Ice Bowl. Everyone had great fun, although some people got a little wet unexpectedly! It was easy at the start, but the further we all got, the harder the course became. After a while, some people, who were rather disappointed with their lack of success, became a bit fed up with playing properly and started to cheat! It was a good laugh. It was lovely to have our curate, Robert, join us (he wasn’t one of the cheaters!).

He wasn’t disturbed as at dinner he sat, Devouring a roast or a pie, To reflect it was full of saturated fat, Or a couple of vitamins shy. He cheerfully chewed each species of food, Unmindful of troubles or fears That his health might be hurt by some fancy dessert, And he lived over 900 years!

Over the next few weeks we will be finishing off painting the H2O meeting room. We hope that more people will come along. In October, we hope to go to Urban Assault at Dundonald. We need at least fifteen people for this outing, so if you want a good night out, please come along and see what it’s like. Details will follow. We meet every Friday at half eight in the church hall, if you find yourself at home doing nothing come and join us!

AND YET... Jesus had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer.

Hollie

Had no army, yet kings feared him.

OCTOBER DATES

He won no military battles, yet

2nd Oct..............Pizza Night in the hall.

LADIES BOWLING After the disappointing summer weather it is good to be indoors again. We look forward to our usual friendly matches with Knock Presbyterian, Kirkpatrick Presbyterian and St. Dorothea’s. Phyllis Newton 18

He conquered the world.

9th Oct.................Hall.

He committed no crime, yet

16th Oct...............Provisional date for Urban Assault.

they crucified him. He was buried in a tomb, yet

23rd Oct...............Half Term Break.

He lives today!

6th Nov ...............Hall. 19

We are indebted to Ross, elder son of parishioners Doreen and Cyril Thompson, for sharing with us his fascinating experiences during his return visit to Serbia this summer, and the mission work in which he became deeply involved.

BACK TO SERBIA As most of you here are aware, partly thanks to the support money that I received from this parish, I was able to serve God through a two month internship in Serbia over the summer. Now, Eastern Europe is not a part of the world that most people are particularly familiar with and, more often than not, the reaction I get when I mention Serbia is, “Isn’t it rather cold up there?” thinking that I am referring to Siberia. Regarding its history, for a long period of time, Serbia was part of Yugoslavia, ruled by Marshal Tito as a communist state. After Tito’s death in 1980, the various individual provinces that comprised Yugoslavia, such as Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia began to break off and declare independence. Sometimes this brought fighting and bloodshed, as in Croatia’s case, sometimes it didn’t, as with Slovenia. It was in the midst of this that the dictator Slobodan Milosević came to power in a wave of Serbian patriotism. This resulted in hyperinflation and a bloody civil war, largely between Milosević’s forces and people who lived in the autonomous province of Kosovo. Because of this, NATO, under the direction of President Clinton, ordered military intervention to force the Serbian people to oust Milosević. Somehow, America and Britain figured that the best way to do this was to bomb civilian targets with weapons that were already considered illegal by all international treaties. One of the Serbians I worked with told me that the bombing was so bad that, when a munitions dump was hit in her town causing a mushroom cloud, she became convinced that NATO had dropped a nuclear weapon. Later, Milosević was indeed overthrown by his people and later died in prison. In the years to come, Serbia became peaceful once more, although it is still shrinking, as various different provinces continue to declare independence. Three years ago, Montenegro broke off and, just last year, with American backing, Kosovo declared itself as a separate state, although most Serbs refuse to accept this. Serbia desperately wants membership of the European Union, but due to the rigid demands of membership given out by the EU, this will not happen for a good few years, at the very least. In size, Serbia would roughly be comparable to the island of Ireland. It has extremely fertile soil, is mainly flat in the north and mountainous in the south. Its capital is Belgrade with the cities of Novi Sad and Niŝ coming next in terms of size. In my experience, the people are friendly and extremely hospitable. While my group and I were there we found that regularly buying food for ourselves was unnecessary, as other people kept insisting on feeding us. As regards to religion, the vast majority of Serbs are Serbian Orthodox, although this is largely a simple label of cultural identity rather than signifying true belief. The Roman Catholic Church is also recognised but Protestantism is often considered as some sort of sect or cult, closer to Satanism than anything else. In reality, the country is spiritually dry, with most Serbs tending towards agnosticism. This said, if you gain their trust, they will listen to anything you have to say on the subject of religion. In contrast, Serbia also 20

has a large population of Roma people who are not only largely Protestant, but extremely open to both evangelism and discussing religion. My experience of Serbia over the summer came from working with an American missionary organisation called Josiah Venture. This group targets countries in Eastern European, working usually with local organisations to set up evangelistic camps for young people. Because of the leery attitude Serbia has towards Protestantism, the Serbian camps are always advertised as being camps for the purpose of improving English through conversations with native English speakers. The evangelism is done covertly, through acts of Christian ministry and in one-toone discussions. This year, there were five summer interns who served for two months: two from Northern Ireland (myself included), two from the USA and one Serbian Roma, our main base being in the city of Novi Sad. We helped with two camps, the first being a pilot camp for people from two small towns called Sremska-Mitrovica and BaćtaTopola. This camp was unusual as the number of students was not only small, but their level of English was pretty low. This meant that we had to evangelise through physical acts of service as opposed to discussions. However, this camp ended up being extraordinarily successful. Not only did every one of the students appear to get something positive out of it, but we also saw God working throughout the camp. To give an example, one student was a chain smoker but throughout the entire course of the camp he did not feel the need to light a single cigarette. Also, at the same time, his father had an inflamed knee that, apparently inexplicably, became better as the week went on. The second camp, which was for students from Novi Sad, was, in many ways, very different. In the first place, it was an established camp, so not only was the number of students larger but approximately 80% had been to the camp in previous years. Secondly, because the students were from a large city, they all spoke English to a conversational degree, allowing us the opportunity to really talk to them. Again, God worked his hand at this camp. To use one of many examples, there was a young man at this camp who was regularly beaten by his father and so he smoked and cursed a great deal. However, by the end of the camp he was tearfully asking to hear more about God’s word. There was also a girl who two years ago had been a heroin addict and still suffered from psychosis because of this, but now considered herself to be a believer, all due to the camps. Personally, I believe I could see God’s reflection out in Serbia this summer, and I have every intention of going and seeing it again next summer, if not sooner, and I ask everyone here for their support. It can be through prayer, which in many ways is the most important. It can be through donations, or it can be through man-power. Short-term missionaries are always welcome, any time of the year. According to the grapevine, there are plans for an Irish team to be sent out to help with one of the camps next year, and if any younger or older people want to assist with this then I am sure that they would be enthusiastically welcomed. Just remember that mission and the spreading of God’s Word is the duty of every Christian believer, and it is a duty that should be embraced openly. Ross Thompson 21

THE END OF THE WORLD AND it came to pass in the year 2009, that verily, the Lord came unto Noah, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see all manner of evils, financial greed in abundance and the end of all flesh before me. Build me another Ark and save two of every living thing, along with a few good Christians, if you can find any.” And lo, He gave Noah the CAD drawings, saying, “You have six months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for forty days and forty nights.” Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. “Noah!” He roared, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?” “Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but things have changed. I needed Building Control approval and I’ve been arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbours claim that I should have obtained planning permission for building the Ark in my garden because it is development of the site, even though, in my view, it is a temporary structure. We had to then go to appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission for a decision.

to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no! And in July I had to pay off racketeers as insurance against the local kids taking the wood for the Eleventh Night bonfire. When I started gathering the animals, the USPCA sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Nor was I aware that marching the animals on to the Ark two by two constituted a parade, so I had to apply to the Parades Commission for permission. Then the Borough Council, the DoE and the Rivers Authority ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission on how many disabled carpenters I’m supposed to hire for my building team. The trades unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I have to hire only accredited workers with Ark-building experience. Then Harland & Wolff stepped in, and said the project hadn’t been subject to normal tendering practices as they hadn’t been allowed to present a

Then the Department of the Environment demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Finding the wood was another problem. All the decent trees have Tree Preservation Orders on them and we live in a Site of Special Scientific Interest set up in order to protect the lesser spotted owl. I tried

business plan, so the whole thing went to judicial review. It didn’t help that the judge’s grandfather had worked on the Titanic and thought I was taking the mickey. To make matters worse, Customs and Excise seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. After several neighbours accused me of being ‘on drugs’, the Assets Recovery Agency took some persuading that I had managed to put this project together without any visible means of income after I said I was relying on divine intervention.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least ten years for me to finish this Ark.” Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?” “No,” said the Lord. “Your local government has beaten me to it.”

Children’s Corner! Read the story of how Jesus restored the daughter of Jarius to life and of the healing of a woman when she touched the cloak of Jesus in Mark 5:21-41. Find the words from the Word List to complete the Word Search puzzle. F

H T

M S

N A

M T

N F

O P

O G

Q L

W R

W D

N I

O W D

N F

Q K

H G

M M

Q W O

Q D

H H X

H A

O W J

N S

Q I

O S

Y S

M P

O H N V

O T

H A

O A

N R

Q H D

Q N F

M Q T

N Z

M A

O L

O H S

O G

W W Q H A

BOAT CROWD SYNAGOGUE RULER JARIUS JESUS DAUGHTER WOMAN BLEEDING TOUCHED CLOAK FAITH HEALED DEAD BELIEVE PETER JAMES JOHN WAILING GIRL STOOD WALKED ASTONISHED EAT (answers on the next page) 22

ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT SWINE FLU IN CHURCH

THERESA OF LISIEUX (1873-97)

(Letter from the Reverend Eustace to his nephew Darren)

Theresa of Lisieux should be the patron saint of teenage girls and young women who want to make the most of their lives, despite being constricted by family and school or work. She grew up in a strict, devout Roman Catholic middleclass family in France, one of four sisters. Her father was a watch-maker. Like her sisters, Theresa entered a Carmelite convent at the age of fifteen, and stayed there. She was never able to go anywhere, do anything extraordinary, or hold any responsibility. She died at the age of twenty four of tuberculosis. Yet this quiet young Carmelite nun became so nationally popular that she was declared patroness of France fifty years after her death. Not bad for someone who didn’t get out much!

The Rectory St. James the Least

So how did Theresa do it? By not intending to do it at all. Theresa never set out to become famous: instead, she quietly determined in her spirit to seek God, and, having found him, to honour him in her life, to live as closely as she could to the teaching in the gospels. The result was a life so spiritually radiant that her convent asked her to write a short spiritual autobiography of her pilgrimage. Theresa obliged with ‘L’Histoire d’une Ame’, which soon became so popular that it was translated into most European languages and several Asiatic ones. Theresa also prayed for people who were ill, and there are many reports of miraculous healings that took place in answer. After Theresa died in 1897, her book just went on selling. People found the artless sweet simplicity of her observations on her pilgrimage as a Christian utterly compelling. She reminded people of what Christianity was really all about: simple but utter devotion to Christ, not endless outward observance of religion. Theresa helped many in the Roman Catholic Church in France to remember the first principles of their faith. ANSWERS TO WORD SEARCH ON PREVIOUS PAGE F

Q F

E D

My dear Nephew Darren parishioners during the current flu The concern you show for the welfare of your re of the continued effectiveness unsu epidemic does you credit – although I am ing smiles of your ‘greeters’ will be of your ‘ministry of welcome’, when those beam fecting the hymn books after each hidden behind surgical masks. And surely, disin s simply dissolve in the end? page the t Won’ service, is a little too enthusiastic? t sniffles to sit encased in large Also, must you condemn those with even sligh ely to make newcomers feel that plastic bags behind glass screens? That is unlik r before heard of passing the neve they are being warmly welcomed. And I have it a little odd? think le peop t Won’ on. peace with gardening gloves congregation to paddle through a Finally, I must observe that obliging your entire ual practise. It will make people disinfectant pool as they leave the church is unus ede that the architecture of the conc I ugh feel they are in the public baths – altho two buildings has much in common. attack here at St. James the Least. We take a rather more robust attitude to viral nded during the Black Death and, The use of the chalice was only reluctantly suspe her teeth in it, has been used at lost on Clapt Mrs apart from the one Sunday when from the virus since it could never every service since. Colonel Addleshaw is safe a glare from Lady Millcheam and m, survive the alcohol levels in his blood strea . yards red hund a at bug would freeze any unwelcome hold future services in the open Dear, romantic Miss Mompesson suggested we wig yet again in anything greater air, but the thought of Mr Charnley losing his ons in full sail, made the idea galle like ng than a light breeze and the choir looki hett to sit with everyone else Melc Lord e oblig d woul it as unworkable – especially ay papers unobserved by Sund the and not in the family pew, where he can read the rest of the congregation. benefits to the health scare. It has There have, however, been some unintended bishop, explaining that we are far too enabled me to cancel the coming visit of the ining the spread of the contagion, conta concerned for his health. Also, as a way of anyone to call at the Rectory. allow not do and rs hione I have stopped visiting paris village school and risk the to visit All evening meetings are suspended, I refuse not stopping to talk to that clear it made contaminating the children and I have ravaged by the disease. villagers in the street saves them from being it would be a sadness I could learn Should the flu epidemic continue for some time, to bear. Your loving uncle, Eustace

NOVEMBER MAGAZINE Please note, any articles or photographs for publication in the November parish magazine should be handed or e-mailed to the editor by Sunday, 11th October, at latest. Many thanks

FLOWER ROTA FOR OCTOBER Sunday 4th

Harvest

Sunday 11th

Nan Armstrong

Sunday 18th

Elizabeth McCaughey

Sunday 25th

Caroline Dunbar

FROM THE REGISTERS Our Joys Holy Baptism Sunday 6th September

Aidan George Anthony 75 Jalan Tua Kong, Park East 0209 Singapore

Marriage Friday 21st August Brian Brown & Andreia Negus 23 Tudor Road, Carrickfergus Friday 11th September

Ian Deary & Clare Ennis 65 Liverpool Road, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire

Our Sorrows Christian Burial Thursday 10th September

Joseph Alexander Jeffers 184 Barnett’s Road 26

WHO’S WHO IN ST. COLUMBA’S

PARISH WEBSITE: www.stcolumbas.down.anglican.org RECTOR The Revd. John R. Auchmuty St. Columba’s Rectory 29 King’s Road BT5 6JG Tel 028 90471514 Email johnauchmuty@btinternet.com

PEOPLE’S GLEBEWARDEN John Proctor 13 Richhill Park BT5 6HG Tel 028 90870526 Mob 07989 469773

CURATE The Revd. Robert Ferris The Curatage 3 Sandown Park South BT5 6HE Tel 028 90653370 Email rferris281@gmail.com

SELECT VESTRY Rector, Churchwardens, Glebewardens, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Asst. Hon. Treasurer, Brian Acheson, John Best, Victor Dukelow, Patrick Good, Jennifer Johnston, Elizabeth McCaughey, Moranne Noad, Roberta Rogers, David Sweet

PARISH READER Karen McAlpine 10 Old Quay Court Holywood BT18 OHT Tel 028 90424390

HON. SECRETARY & PREMISES CONVENOR Alan Rogers 50 Cabin Hill Gardens BT5 7AQ Tel 028 90656183 HON. TREASURER Gillian Sadlier 70 Kensington Road BT5 6NG Tel 028 90403278

DIOCESAN LAY READER (EMERITUS) Bryn Harris 22 Dalton Glade Glen Road Comber BT23 5SZ Tel 028 91878816

ASST. HON. TREASURER/GIFT AID SECRETARY/FREE WILL OFFERING Murray Hunter 13 Knockdarragh Park BT4 2LE Tel 028 90761295

RECTOR’S CHURCHWARDEN Patrick Wilson 5 Kingsway Park BT5 7EU Tel 028 90401066

PAROCHIAL NOMINATORS Trevor Buchanan Patrick Good Moranne Noad Meryl Townsend

PEOPLE’S CHURCHWARDEN Helen Donaghy 1 King’s Gate 91 King’s Road BT5 7BU Tel 028 90704932

DIOCESAN SYNODS PEOPLE Emma Hill Elizabeth Leonard Moranne Noad Roberta Rogers Paul Stewart

RECTOR’S GLEBEWARDEN Jim Stevenson 44 Casaeldona Rise BT6 9RA Tel 028 90583381 27

ORGANIST AND CHOIRMASTER Gerald Hill 6 The Coaches Brown’s Brae, Croft Road Holywood BT18 OLE Tel 028 90422101

PARISH WEBMASTER Ivan Roche 49 Richhill Park BT5 6HG Tel 028 90229310 Email ivan@treadmillcommunications.com C of I GAZETTE DISTRIBUTOR Ruth Pugh 147A King’s Road BT5 7EG Tel 028 90483459

ASSISTANT ORGANIST Brian Clements 150 Sandown Road BT5 6GX Tel 028 90793641

BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP NOTES Evan Preston 12 Carrowreagh Gardens Dundonald BT16 ITW Tel 028 90489884

READERS & INTERCESSORS CO-ORDINATOR Muriel Arndell 18 Kinedar Crescent BT4 3LY Tel 028 90655500 SIDESPERSONS’ ROTA CO-ORDINATOR Rosemary Coffey 44 Thornyhill Road Killinchy BT23 6SJ Tel 028 97542198

CHURCH FLOWERS Paddy Nesbitt 30 Knockhill Park BT5 6HY Tel 028 90650716

MAGAZINE EDITOR Ian Noad 36 Shandon Park BT5 6NX Tel 028 90793704 Email noadfamily@hotmail.com

ST. COLUMBA’S PARISH OFFICE Office Hours Wednesday & Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm Parish Secretary: Janet Johnston Tel 028 90656891

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR CO-ORDINATOR John Holland 8 Greengraves Cottages Ballyrogan, Newtownards BT23 4SD Tel 028 91814036

Email: office.knock@down.anglican.org

SAFEGUARDING TRUST The Rector, Select Vestry and Parish Leaders are committed to upholding good practice in the Parish’s ministry with children and young people. Should you have cause for concern or suspicion regarding child welfare in the Parish, please contact a member of the Parish Panel below, or any of the statutory agencies.

The Rector Patrick Good Elizabeth Leonard

028 9047 1514 028 9065 6908 028 9065 3162