Mourne Presbyterian Women

Ann Blue

Mourne Presbyterian Church Kilkeel, was founded in July 1696 and from the early 1900s there has been a women’s organisation as part of church life. Although the name may have changed, the aim has remained the same, that is: to encourage women to become disciples of Jesus Christ in love and unity through obedience to God’s Word, seeking to serve Him using our gifts and talents and to be involved in local and global mission.

The group provides fellowship and gives women the opportunity to meet twice monthly when we spend time getting to know each other in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. This is a lovely way for new members in the church to make friends quickly. Throughout the year there are a variety of programmes ranging from cookery demonstrations, fashion and home spun talent, to missionaries home on furlough giving us an update on their work.

Also throughout the year we are involved in catering, either providing dinner for group outings or funeral teas – a service much appreciated by bereaved families. However the biggest of these is our annual Harvest sale, a very busy day when we provide hundreds of ‘Mourne fries’, soup, homemade breads and cakes to people in town for the ‘Fair Day’. It may be hard work but it is also a day of great fun as we try to keep abreast of all the orders. The kitchen is probably the place where we really get to know one another at a deeper level as we work together.

Of course there is a purpose in all this work and that is to raise funds to help support our missionaries, Deaconess’ work and charities as they reach out to a needy world with practical aid and most importantly, with the good news of salvation, which is, God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Most members will not serve overseas as missionaries but as Christians we are called by Jesus to share our faith wherever we are.

Although we have our own PW group within Mourne Presbyterian Church, we are part of a much bigger organisation throughout Ireland. Each year we hold our AGM in the Assembly Buildings in Belfast and it is wonderful to see the main hall filled to capacity over a two day period as thousands of women share in fellowship as we praise and worship God together.