CONNECT 18 May - Sept '21

connect

Your guide to what’s going on in Waringstown

Jun - Sep ‘21 Edition 18

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Welcome to another Connect magazine.

Edition 18 brings up six years of this humble community newsletter and it also marks the end of my time as leader of the editorial team. Its been such an encouragement to see Connect being well received, and most of all bringing people together across the community of Waringstown.

It’s great to return to a printed edition so stick the kettle on and take a few minutes to enjoy the local articles that have been carefully crafted for your enjoyment!

‘He who has ears’ is the teaching series for this season at Waringstown Presbyterian and Stuart Hawthorne unpacks the thinking behind this on page 4. Following that ‘Homeward Bound’ shares local musician, Tom McConnell’s journey back to the village, followed by a piece on the ‘Duke Of Edinburgh Scheme’ by Joe Lyons on page 8.

The Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund marks its 50th anniversary this year and page 10 tells the story of how it all began from the home of Josie and Walter Kerr in Waringstown. Page 12 provides a heart-warming letter from the anonymous Miss Clare Moss that I’m sure you will enjoy.

‘Getting Better’ is stark reminder from Andy Soye of the urgent need to look after our planet with some practical actions we can all take to help with this. Summer programmes Shine and GLO are highlighted on page 16, and following that we have an update from the Neighbourhood Watch.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Neil Harrison

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see an fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:3

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Welcome

Building update on the Mill Hill As you are all probably aware we are in the throws of a new build at WPC, erecting new halls and offices to the rear of our church building. This work has been in the planning for many years, and we are just thrilled that it is taking place. It is very quickly beginning to look like something that we pray will help us to serve our mission in Waringstown and further afield. We want all of our community to use and benefit from this building when it is completed, and we pray it will help in many ways in that respect.

The site was cleared in February and for 8 weeks you may not have noticed a lot going on as much ground work was required to get a good foundation. Matthew 7: 24-27 reminds us of the wise man who builds his house on a good foundation of rock!

On 19 April the steel arrived and by the end of that day the first uprights were in place. Work has progressed at great speed since and it is now possible to see the size and shape of the construction being put in place.

Our congregation are excited and we hope you are too as we look forward to a completion of the work around late February/early March 2022.

Please feel free to take a drive down into the site at any time to have a peep and a chat if you see me about!

God bless Brian Taylor WPC Project Liaison Officer

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples” Psalm 96 v 3

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In 2020, 84% of UK adults owned a

smartphone. In 2021 experts reckon that smartphone users worldwide will reach 3.8 billion. The statistics are telling us that globally, more people own a mobile phone than a toothbrush! Plenty of tooth decay…but at least the world is online!

On average in the UK, people spend 2 hours and 34 minutes online, every day, on their smartphones. For Generation Z (those born roughly between 1997-2012/15) that figure will be a good bit higher.

50% of smartphone owners now check mobile devices first thing in the morning and more than 1 in every 5 minutes spent online is spent on social media.

In 2019 there were 204 billion apps download worldwide and more than ever before we live in a world were smartphone users expect to get immediate information on their device. Statistics also tell us that we live in a society where 66% of people are addicted to their smartphones - just pause and look around you next time you’re in a coffee shop…perhaps setting your own device down as you do so.

Smartphone technology means that we live in a world of information overload.

Instant information, interesting information, yet also dangerous and damaging information. Instant messages, interesting messages, yet also dangerous and damaging messages. We are quite simply being bombarded with information and messages coming through the little shiny device in our hands.

In his book, Counterfeit Gods, New York based Presbyterian pastor, author and theologian Tim Keller explains: “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” The question is then presented: how can we identify these idols? How can we tell if we are worshipping what is essentially a ‘counterfeit God’?

Keller responds with this answer: “A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”

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Church Life

This definition highlights many things - even good things - in our lives that can become ‘ultimate’ things, things that become so central to our existence that should we lose them we find ourselves - at the very least - feeling lost and deeply frustrated.

Take that thought into an honest assessment of how we view our smart phones. How much are they subtly absorbing our hearts and imaginations more than God does? How do we react when we lose our device and find ourselves ‘disconnected’ from our online world? More concerning still, how central and essential to our lives have our smartphones become?

Let me introduce Psalm 115, written thousands of years ago. It’s a Psalm that exposes the folly of idolatry at the time it was written, encouraging people to praise the only God worthy of their worship. Contextually, the Psalmist is writing about idols of metal and wood but reflect on how these words could very well be written about the powerful little silver device in your pocket.

Read those words again.

What, or more importantly who, are we trusting in?

Who are we listening to and taking our lead from in life? In a word of constant information and instant messaging there remains an unchanging God who continues to speak. The question is always, are we listening?

Psalm 115 2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

Our current sermon series in WPC is called “To Those Who Have Ears” - a line taken from the end of each of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. The voice of Jesus Christ echoing down through the ages and still being spoken today says: “To those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Search for ‘Waringstown Presbyterian Church’ on Youtube and Facebook for all online services and updates on church life.

Article by Stuart Hawthorne Minister WPC

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Homeward Bound.

Tom McConnell, Worship Paster, Singer/ Songwriter, Recording Artist and Music Producer is the eldest son of Elaine and Philip (a former minister at Waringstown Presbyterian Church.) Tom was educated at Waringstown Primary School and Banbridge Academy, before heading to Edinburgh to pursue a degree in Music. After 6 years working in London as a Worship Leader, he has returned home with his wife Alanah, a Tandragee girl, (good choice - we approve), and baby Mona.

I really got to know Tom when he came to Banbridge Academy. He fondly remembers many happy hours making music in all sorts of bands, Scripture Union and acting /singing in plays and musical productions, although he insists he hates musicals. (I WAS SHOCKED!). Law was in the mix as a university option, but Music won out when he realised he wanted it to be more than just a hobby.

Tom is a superb musician and I can say that with some authority as his former music Following teacher. He studied classical and jazz piano and is an excellent drummer, guitarist and vocalist. He was attracted to Edinburgh by the jazz scene, (I’m sure that fact that Alanah was also going to be studying there isn’t even worth mentioning! ). He was involved with a number of groups in Edinburgh, but perhaps the most successful was Tequila Mocking-bird who played Edinburgh Castle in May 2011, as well as a headline show in the musical mecca that is Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar. In the third year of his degree course Tom was accepted as an exchange student to University of Washington in Seattle. This proved to be a really defining year for him.

Tom “gave his life to Jesus” as a small child and that faith matured in his senior years at school. At Edinburgh he felt restless and when the opportunity to go to Seattle came up, he saw it as a chance to distance himself from God. God however had other ideas. He ended up in a student house with 13 people, and half of them were Christians.

Naturally they assumed a pastor’s kid would want to go to church and as most of them attend Mars Hill he was swept along with them.

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Church Life

God really surprised Tom. The music and worship was fresh and unexpected. Tom had been exposed to cutting edge music in worship before, but he told me right from hearing the first chord he felt this was on another level.

This was his kind of worship music. He particularly loved the way they took old hymns and rejuvenated them. Within 6 weeks of arriving in Seattle, Tom had joined a band at church and was on staff as an intern. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

He returned to Edinburgh to complete his degree a different person.

He had a greater sense of purpose and he was delighted when Mars Hill offered him a job as a worship leader.

Tom and Alanah got engaged in 2014 after graduation.

He was disappointed however when the Mars Hill opportunity fell through. Alanah went on to study for her PGCE while Tom spent a difficult period gigging wherever he could. The highlights from this period included collaborating with world champion beatboxer Shlomo and performing at the Royal Albert Hall. However, it’s tough being your own manager and administer, while performing and trying to write and record material.

Noting Tom’s frustration, his dad suggested if he felt God was leading him to be a worship leader, then he should look for jobs in the UK. Good advice Philip! He applied to St James, Muswell Hill in London and was appointed as Music & Young Adults Minister; he had a very fruitful ministry from September 2014 - September 2017. His next job was at St Mark's, Battersea Rise for a further 3 years as a Worship Pastor, returning home to Northern Ireland in 2020.

Tom and Alanah got married in 2015 and last year little baby Mona arrived in June to brighten their lives. They are currently living in Waringstown and, during lockdown, Tom turned his passion for good quality coffee into a business - Waringstown Coffee.

Check out Tom’s music on Youtube, or his Facebook page, and maybe order some coffee while you are at it.

Article by Sandra McCurdy

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Given the recent passing of Prince

Philip, I caught up with volunteer Joe Lyons, to hear more about the local impact of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme over many years.

Article by Louise Dunn

What is WBB DofE? WBB DofE is Waringstown BB’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. Our BB is linked to Waringstown Presbyterian and Holy Trinity Church of Ireland and we offer boys of all ages, backgrounds and abilities a programme of fun and adventure that is designed to educate, challenge and inspire.

In 2009 we took a group of BB boys to Scotland to climb Ben Nevis and their continued enthusiasm for outdoor adventure prompted us to begin the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

We are now into our tenth year and so far, we have had over 200 participants who, between them, have earned over 400 Awards. I help look after the expedition section but our DofE co-ordinator Ian Abraham looks after all the admin and online data for every young person. He deserves a medal!

Who is DofE for and what does it offer?

DofE is for 14–24-year-olds and taking part can be a life-changing experience. When people think about DofE the first thing that comes to mind is the expedition; walking, camping, rain, blisters, pot noodles, more rain and millions of midges!

The expedition section (which occasionally happens in sunshine) is only one part of the Award. Other sections are equally as important and involve helping in the community, becoming fitter, developing new skills and working as part of a team.

Earning a Bronze or Silver Award is a fantastic achievement but gaining your DofE Gold is a really big deal. Gold Awards are presented by a member of The Royal Family and recipients can attend a special Gold Award Presentation at Hillsborough Castle, Holyrood House in Edinburgh or St. James’ Palace in London.

Did you ever meet the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip?

Yes, I did. The first time I met Prince Philip was at St. James’ Palace when I was accompanying a group of seven guys and seven girls who were there to receive their Gold Awards. We waited in a spectacular state room, the Duke entered and I was introduced to him. During a brief conversation he asked me where we were from and when I told him we were a Boys’ Brigade group from Waringstown in Northern Ireland, he took a quick look at our girls, leaned in towards me and whispered, ‘They let some strange looking fellows into the Brigade these days.’

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Church Life

He had a chuckle and then proceeded to chat to the group and was genuinely interested in what they had accomplished to achieve their Gold Awards.

You said you help look after DofE expeditions. Do you remember your first time in the mountains?

My first ‘expedition’ was with Waringstown BB a long, long time ago. I was about twelve years old and leader called Jim McKenzie took a few of us into the Mournes. My parents bought me a rucksack for this big adventure (which I still have) and from Newcastle we walked up through the forest, followed the Glen River and camped at the top of the valley. The view towards Murlough beach was fantastic and when daylight faded, the night was still, the stars were amazing, the sausages I cooked tasted like the best sausages ever, and I was hooked on the hills.

Joe Lyons

It doesn’t matter if it’s Kilimanjaro or Kilbroney, mountains seem to give me something that lasts way beyond standing on a summit or experiencing a view. I always remember John 1 v3 and take time to stop, be still, look around and marvel at God’s creation.

Mountains are good for the soul.

Have you any advice for young people who may be interested in DofE?

Go for it! The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a brilliant programme to get involved with.

The benefits of achieving a DofE Award at any level are endless and will give you skills, confidence and an edge over others when applying for further education or a job.

You will also make a difference to other people’s lives, be fitter, healthier and make new friends. You’ll probably get rained on during your expedition but one thing is for sure, DofE will give you memories that will last a lifetime!

For information about WBB DofE you can follow Waringstown BB on Facebook, WBBDofE on Instagram, or visit our churches websites - www.waringstownpresbyterian.com - www.donaghcloneyparish.co.uk.

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TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY - 50 YEARS ON “Kidney disease is a devastation for young and old alike and for this reason I am hoping to start a Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund”.

Those were the words in the Belfast Telegraph of the late Josie Kerr MBE on Wednesday 21st July 1971.

Josie and her husband Walter had married in 1958 and set up home at Ballynabragget where Josie served as Post Mistress for many years. Her husband Walter farmed whilst Josie attended to the Post Office duties.

“I was delighted when I first discovered I was expecting a baby shortly after Walter and I married, but it soon became clear all was not well” Josie commented back in 1981 to the Belfast Telegraph.

Before Josie’s first pregnancy she had always been strong and healthy, but at the time, her illness was described like a ‘bolt out of the blue’.

Kidney failure however was to have life changing effects for Josie and Walter.

Toxaemia, an acute temporary kidney failure was a rare complication of pregnancy which had killed three babies of theirs but almost took Josie’s own life as well.

Josie began to think about ways in which she and Walter could raise funds for Kidney Research.

Josie with fellow committee members Joe Raffo & Grace McCullough

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Church Life

And so it was in 1971 that Josie made an appeal in the local newspapers, asking that if any readers would like to help, they should communicate with Josie at Ballynabragget Post Office, Lurgan. Through the support offered from ex-patients of renal units, family, friends and neighbours, the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF) was formed, and the charity celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

NIKRF is Northern Ireland’s leading charity funding Kidney Research and the oldest to promote organ donation.

There remain many support groups throughout the province who work tirelessly each year to fundraise for Kidney Research and with your help, they could expand further.

Unfortunately, the annual Waringstown Cavalcade, a key fundraising event for the NIKRF, will not be taking place Josie and Walter at the platform at the annual in 2021 owing to the on-going Waringstown Cavalcade Covid-19 restrictions, but if you would seek to support the work of the NIKRF, you can simply visit www.kidneyresearchni.com for more information.

If you feel you would like to volunteer with NIKRF in helping make a difference and are interested in fundraising, then why not get in contact- info@kidneyresearchni.com Betty- 028 91479699 Ann- 028 40662131

“There is always great grief at the death of a child. We remember how King David lamented when his little son was dying “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

In the province we have a saying “The old must die, the young may die”, Alas, how many babies still die to our common loss. There are many causes of infant mortality but one of the most pitiless killers is toxaemia” Josephine Kerr 1971 Josie and Walter and their dog Diane in 1981

Article by John Harrison

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BANANA BREAD, ELBOW BUMPS AND THE 2 METRE RULE This is an amusing and heart-warming, fictional letter describing life in Waringstown during the pandemic, written by guest writer ‘Miss Clare Moss’! We hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Dear Anna, January is normally a time of tradition up our lane. My Dear Aunt Kate grumbles upon the energy needed to pack her Christmas tinsel back into ‘The Cubby Hole”. My tradition is to be pleasantly surprised as she re-discovers her Rosemary Connolly Flat Stomach plan video – filled with good intention. My late Uncle Norman got her the video for her big present back in ’87. He limped badly throughout his latter years.

Where exactly is Wuhan?

When the bell called the children to a new term, word was spreading that come February, Mr McKittrick would park his buffer for the last time. Aunt Kate and I will miss his care free stroll home from school, past the Big Pink House. Aunt Kate is terribly fond of Sam and has talked about him every day since Ian Abraham told her he had started up-cycling stuff. Aunt Kate is looking forward to seeing him scooting past in his helmet.

It was about this time too that we heard ‘The Midway” was on Propertypal. The blow’ins don’t even know where it is – but we’ll miss it. Aunt Kate liked to wink at Half Laps and it was a great spot for a new wire brush, a couple of welding rods and a poke.

All said, things were getting serious with this Covid-19. Marie-Louise Connolly was on talking about it every night before ‘The One Show’. Wuhan had even constructed a temporary hospital quicker than Davy Gilmore could knock up a double garage with an outside loo.

My Aunt Kate is very clever. She knew straight away that we were going to get time to think. Staying home and staying safe made a lot of sense. The folk needed masks and I went back to the cubby hole and pulled the old Singer sewing machine into the scullery. We sewed every night to the wee hours and gave them out to people that needed them. Everyone that came to the gate told us that Waringstown was doing itself proud.

We went a dander one evening in the good weather and did the big treasure hunt. I loved looking at the nice drawings everyone had put up in the window of their good room. Orla’s verge out her front looked very well, it was a joy to see. We had to do the treasure hunt in a clockwise direction and everyone was doing the same. That was the rules. It was great to see Waringstown had people who thought about everyone else.

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Community News

We heard about the baking, checking, lifting, laying and simply being there for each other. Dewart’s didn’t run out of toilet paper once, and we all marvelled at how some folk could get a 12 pack of Andrex in the front door – every night – unseen. We even heard that folk from Oaklands were travelling into Parkgate and had found Charmin Ultra – in white! Magherana and Clanconnel were left to cut up their kitchen roll. The Lawns were reduced to one square at each sitting.

I loved doing the clapping every Thursday. The noise from everyone in the village wafted up past us and Aunt Kate rattled the poker off the griddle. We were proud of our NHS friends and neighbours and it sounded like everyone else was too.

Aunt Kate and I would just like to say a massive thank you to all the people who cared for us so well. To the folk, that shared their family with those who needed them – day after day after day.

Church went onto the computer. Everyone talked about how good it was. The pews may have been empty – but everyone clicked in at the same time every Sunday and it seemed that Waringstown’s heart kept beating. We might have been down – but we weren’t out yet!

In between lockdowns two and three, Aunt Kate went to get her roots done. While she was there, she heard Brian Taylor telling Roy Harrison that Rev. Hawthorne’s camera worked in both directions. This worried Aunt Kate greatly, especially when she recalled that Sunday she took the tweezers to her upper lip during the sermon.

As the summer came and went, we were so sad to watch our village hurt. We’d been prepared and warned – and while I give thanks that Aunt Kate and I stayed safe, we lost good friends and neighbours to the virus. It was not unusual for us to grow tired and shed a tear sitting at the side of the stove. These were our people, our family, our friends and neighbours. We remember and will miss them all.

However, as the days lengthen and 2021 now unfurls itself before us, we have hope. It never left us. We also have our Sam, back at the crossing, giving us all a wave, and we’re glad to see him. Some things always stay the same and that’s just what we need at the minute Can anyone tell me and Aunt Kate what “Unmute yourself” means?

With Love, Miss Clare Moss

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Getting Better Thankfully, it seems that we are slowly emerging from the worst of the pandemic.

Soon we can get back to normal…

Except that the causes of the pandemic – the destruction of natural places that drives wildlife to live close to people, and the climate change that forces animals to move – are still very much with us. Our health and wellbeing depend completely on the climate and the other organisms we share the planet with. Without urgent action the future looks very bleak.

According to Christiana Figueres, former UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change, “We are in the critical decade. It is no exaggeration to say that what we do… between now and 2030 will determine the quality of human life on this planet for hundreds of years to come, if not more”.

Figueres is very clear: we can’t go back, but if we act, and act quickly to reduce CO2 emissions, there is hope for an even better future. So what can we do? – each of us can do the things that only we can, in our own unique work and home situations, with our unique contacts, talents and resources, to make our village, our country and our planet a better place. Together we can: • Celebrate better – take time to appreciate, and to be thankful for all of the good things that still remain in this incredible world.

• Reuse, reduce, restore, repair, reuse, refurbish, or recycle stuff better (especially plastics!).

• Travel better – consider reducing the number and length of car journeys. Share lifts. Go electric. Use public transport. Try to find alternatives to air travel.

• Insulate better – think about adding more insulation to homes, or put on an extra layer instead of cranking up the heating (see the NIHE website for help with more efficient heating).

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Community News

• Invest better – take time to check whether any savings or pensions are being funded by companies which harm the planet (check their Environmental, Social & Governance credentials online).

• Search better – switch to an online search engine such as Ecosia which donates most of its profits to planting trees.

• Care better – think about joining those who help to look after our local environment by picking up litter in the village (see details of ABC Council’s Adopt-a street scheme on page 19).

• Shop better – buy things that will last longer, from companies that care about the planet.

• Eat better – consider eating more vegetarian dishes and less intensively produced meat. Eat local produce that has a low carbon footprint.

• Grow better – garden and farm in a way that will preserve the long-term fertility of the soil. Plant trees to reduce CO2 levels. Grow wildflowers to encourage biodiversity.

• Help politicians do better – encourage elected representatives to take a lead.

Check that they are following up on their commitments (ABC Council recently set up a Climate Change Working Group which is looking at how to reduce the Council’s CO2 emissions).

• Network better – share information and encourage others to act (consider joining Waringstown Community Development Association’s informal Climate Change network – contact simonbrown2@me.com). Scientist Katherine Hayhoe has said that the most important thing we can do to fight climate change is to talk about it.

None of us can do it all! But if some of us do some of these things, it will make a big difference over the next 10 years. As one humourist quipped, “What if we make the planet a better, happier, healthier place and then find out that the Climate Crisis was just a hoax?!”. We have everything, and nothing, to lose.

Article by Andy Soye

The background image shows an area on the edge of Waringstown where the land-owner has recently planted 8000 trees, to help reduce carbon.

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Shine & GLO - THIS SUMMER Shine is Waringstown Presbyterian’s Annual “Holiday Bible Club”.

A week in the Summer to gather together, have a lot of fun and learn more about Jesus. It’s a week we really look forward to and we know many children and young people do too. In previous years we pack over 200 kids into the hall and have a great time together. Last year saw Shine looking a lot different, with kids logging onto Zoom calls and watching YouTube videos from their living rooms instead. I guess you could say “If there’s a will, there’s a way! We love Shine far too much to just cancel it and so we’re always going to make it happen in some shape or form.

This year is no different, and with restrictions easing gradually we hope that Shine will have some in person gatherings, allowing us to meet with your children and young people, open up God’s word with them and enjoy being together as we do so!

Shine is for children going into P1-P7 however it also includes an extended programme called Shine Plus for young people going into Year 8 -Year 10.

Any young person going into Year 11 and older are also able to volunteer with the younger age groups. Please get in touch with Suzie on 07706797647 if you’d like to volunteer!

We’d love you to put the date in your diary because, whether online or in-person, we’d love your child to join with us! Please keep an eye on the Waringstown Presbyterian Church Facebook Page, as all details will be posted there.

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Community News

GLO - We at WPC are really excited to share with you dates for our Glo initiative this summer!

After the disappointment of not being able to put together a programme in 2020, we are determined this year to be able to create a week of safe, fun & effective opportunities for people to serve in Waringstown this August.

We are very much in the planning stages of shaping what GLO will look like in 2021.

Government restrictions will surely change as we get closer to the GLO week, which means we’ll be kept on our toes right to the end in terms of planning our events & opportunities. We cannot say for certain right now what we will be allowed to do; things will be different to previous summers. However, what we can say for definite is that we are excited to once again equip people in our community to step out and serve this amazing village & its amazing people.

If you would like to speak into our planning, or perhaps know of an area or issue in the village that needs addressing, please get in touch!

Article by Suzie Taylor & Conor Patton

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH GOES NEXTDOOR The Waringstown Neighbourhood Watch Group, having almost reached its fifteenth year, is now using the Nextdoor online platform for communication with residents across the village. This means that we can reach nearly 1000 residents instantly which is much more efficient than using emails. Please ensure that you continue to read the alerts and tell your neighbours about them.

If you have computer access but have not joined Nextdoor we would urge you to do so. That way you will be to read our security alerts and safety information and spread the word around your friends and neighbours.

Our strong advice is still the same that in the event of you having information about an incident or suspicious activity please continue to contact the police as soon as possible on 101, which is now free.

Crimestoppers, an independent charity which will not divulge your personal details, will also take messages anonymously and refer them to the particular police force e.g. PSNI for investigation. Its telephone no is 0800 555111. Lots of information about the charity can be found on its website – www.Crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you are witnessing a crime in action ring 999 immediately and report what was seen. Then private message us via Nextdoor; or Messenger that is linked to our very popular Facebook page.

Our Assistant Coordinators will be tasked to contact vulnerable residents directly and if they do not have online access they are contacted by phone to alert them in the event of suspicious or criminal activity in the area.

Our constant advice is: ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT, BE CAREFUL ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY AND YOUR PROPERTY. ALWAYS REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE ON 101; CRIME IN ACTION ON 999.

You can join Nextdoor at: www.nextdoor.co.uk

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Community News

LITTER-PICKERS “I hate litter!!” – that’s what gets a number of Waringstown people out with their litter-pickers on a regular basis: some weekly, some fortnightly, others when the weather is good or just when they take the notion. Many pick litter on their own, others enjoy going out in family groups. Some tackle a whole street, some keep to their “own small corner” around the entrance to their home. But the main motivation seems to come from their love for the village and a shared hatred of litter.

Do you hate litter? Join us! Contact Ian (info@waringstown.org) and he will help you to access equipment (gloves, bags and litterpickers) and guidance through the Council’s Adopt-a-street scheme. Or speak to ABC Council directly using the number on the flyer.

CANCER SUPPORT CREAM TEA Weavers Cancer Support Group plan to have a get together afternoon cream tea in Barbara’s garden (98 Milltown Road, Donaghcloney) on Tuesday 7 September at 3pm. This will be provided compliments of Macmillan and social distancing guidelines will be followed. We would also like to extend an invitation to those who during lock down were diagnosed or if you know of someone who would benefit from meeting with us for an informal chat and a cuppa, invite them along. We would love you to join us.

For catering arrangements please confirm your attendance with Barbara on 07808705732

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Facebook Page: Waringstown Presbyterian Church www.waringstownpresbyterian.com

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Community