Presbyterian Herald December 2024/January 2025

DECEMBER 2024/ JANUARY 2025

CARING IN GOD’S WORLD

Amelie Gray wins the Moderator’s art competition

GO MAKE DISCIPLES…

FAILURES OR EXAMPLES?

Equipping young people for ministry Challenging our attitudes to poverty

If you hope for change in the world...

Will it.

Woliso Dobi, mother of six, with members of the Okiminata Self-Help and Radio Listening Group at their weekly session learning information vital to building resilience to climate extremes in their high risk community in Ethiopia.

Your Faith is life-changing; so is your Will.

Turn your lifetime of hope into the change you want to see in the world with a gift in your Will.

Our free resources will make leaving a gift in your Will simple.

Visit: caid.ie/giftsinwills Scan here to find out more.

Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. © Christian Aid 2024.

CONTENTS | DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025

FEATURES

12 Why the virgin birth?

Moderator’s Christmas reflection

14 Making connections Outreach in Stewartstown

16 Why reconfigure PCI’s ministry?

The Deputy Clerk explains all

18 Present for one another in God’s family of the church

Expressing life together as God’s people

20 Hunger pains

PCI’s 2024 World Development Appeal

24 The good news of Christmas Rural chaplaincy outreach

36 Sharing faith in ‘third places’ Witness and evangelism in ordinary life

38 Racing for his glory

Why reconfigure PCI’s ministry? p16

Paralympians share experiences of faith in sport

40 Let the church declare and display Christ together

The Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation

42 Leaving a meaningful trail

The Presbyterian history of St Andrew’s College, Dublin

44 Compassion at Christmas

The work of the Presbyterian Children’s Society

REGULARS

4 5 6 7 8 27 35 46 48 49 53

Letters Culture Watch News Life lessons My story Mission Connect Norman Hamilton Reviews In this month Life in PCI Niall Lockhart

Cover illustration: Barry Falls December 2024/January 2025 No. 864 £2.20/€2.60 Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org

The good news of Christmas p24

Racing for his glory p38

CONTRIBUTORS Rev David McCullagh is minister of Annalong, having served as a PCI global mission worker in Malawi (2013–2018). He is married to Pamela and they have three daughters.

Rev Liam Rutherford is minister of Ballydown Presbyterian Church and a member of PCI’s World Development Appeal committee.

Deborah Sloan is a member of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church. She is married to Russell and has four daughters. Having left a career in academia, she is now a freelance writer.

Jason Nicholson is Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Children’s Society and a member of Mersey Street Presbyterian Church.

Editor: Sarah Harding

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 Subscriptions and Advertising: 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 Edward Connolly; Hazel Gilliland does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. Advertising will not be Design and Layout: included if the product or service is deemed to be in conflict with the Church’s Edward Connolly official views, or if it is inappropriate for a church magazine. It is not Herald policy Printing: to include any editorial content along with adverts. The editor reserves the right W & G Baird Ltd 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.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

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EDITORIAL

Overcoming adversity

In our recent Herald survey, readers shared that they enjoyed reading about other Presbyterians – hearing the stories of individuals and congregations across our denomination.

In this edition we have two lovely stories of Presbyterians overcoming adversity in their personal lives. Twins Chloe and Judith MacCombe are visuallyimpaired paratriathletes who competed in the Paris Paralympics after only turning professional three years ago. And Andrew Hamilton, who was born with cerebral palsy and then lost his sight four years ago, shares his journey of campaigning for disability rights.

Chloe, Judith and Andrew’s determination and resilience in the face of difficulties are truly inspiring.

They each testify to God’s goodness and how, in his sovereign power, he can use all situations for his good.

This is helpful to ponder as a denomination at a time when PCI is planning to reconfigure its ministry. Deputy Clerk, Dr David Allen, outlines why this is a necessary step that PCI must take. But he also makes clear that the work is the Lord’s, not ours, and we must seek his will in all decisions: “We want to do more of what he wants us to do for him, and do it better – in the power of the Holy Spirit, in faith and obedience.”

In his ‘Life lessons’, PCI’s Financial Secretary, Ken Swarbrick, echoes this in his advice to congregations: “I would encourage you not to make ministry decisions for primarily financial reasons. Pray, pray again and then pray some more, then make ministry decisions because you believe in your heart that they are God’s will for this world.”

Rev David McCullagh reports on the recent Lausanne conference in Korea where representatives from churches across the globe met to discuss the issue of evangelism in a changing society. It is clear that challenges face us all, no matter where we live. David says: “…every church community will have to take a stand in this age for the gospel and it won’t be easy.”

Despite adversities, we have a wonderful reminder at Christmas that we are not alone. We celebrate that Jesus came into the world to be with us – Christ Immanuel. In his reflection, the Moderator describes the virgin birth as “the invisible God becoming visible…in order to reveal God to those who have eyes to see.”

This festive season, let’s not only see him but fix our eyes on him. Happy Christmas to all our readers.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

LETTERS Supporting the World Development Appeal Dear Editor I want to thank Presbyterians for their ongoing support of Tearfund, especially through this year’s World Development Appeal.

At Tearfund, we deeply appreciate the long-term partnership with PCI as, together, we seek to follow Jesus where the need is greatest.

This year’s appeal focuses on Tearfund’s work in Rwanda: equipping churches to bring transformation and find solutions to the problem of food security in their communities. I visited Rwanda while preparing for this appeal, and was reminded again of the impact of friendship and partnership with brothers and sisters around the world.

Meeting with the President and Vice President of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, we heard stories of growing churches and answered prayers. We heard of a Church boldly meeting the challenges on its doorstep, in the equipping of God’s Spirit; a Church that

serves its neighbours and its nation.

We also met with a local Presbyterian minister, Pastor Joseph. He described, and indeed we saw, what this means in practice: groups of women meeting to read the Bible, pray together and save and invest small amounts of money in micro-businesses, families owning and farming land together to increase their productivity and security; hearts and mindsets changed, with the Church leading the way.

I listened and prayed with many people on that visit.

Some whose stories are shared as part of this year’s appeal. People who left an indelible mark on my life as I witnessed their faith in God and their generosity to their neighbour, never mind their tenacious courage and perseverance.

Please know that while you may never have the privilege of meeting many of these people, your generosity has made a lasting difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities, indeed whole nations, over the years. Thank you for playing your part in that!

Chris Thompson Tearfund’s NI Director

Patrick Mitchel reflects on what’s been in the news recently….

T

his December we enter the season of Advent. If you’re wondering why I’m talking about Advent at the start of a Culture Watch article, it’s because to ‘think Christianly’ about the culture in which we live we first must know where we are.

Historically, the main focus of Advent is on the second coming of Jesus Christ. Perhaps that surprises you but there’s great wisdom and richness here. We live in the overlap of the ages between Jesus’ first and second coming. This means that, on the one hand, we live in a world where the powers of sin and death continue to wreak havoc in God’s good creation.

Advent allows us to look into this ‘heart of darkness’ with neither a naive optimism that ignores suffering and injustice nor with hopeless despair.

Yet, on the other hand, culture is a fantastic arena of human creativity – think of your favourite food, language, architecture, art, music, clothes, technology, books and so on.

Building on God’s mandate in Genesis 1 to Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply”, humans have been busy ever since producing a kaleidoscopic array of life-giving culture.

In Scripture, the new creation to come will be filled with perfected human culture (Isaiah 65:17–25 and Revelation 21). So, during Advent we also look forward with hope.

Given this two-sided nature of human culture, I’m going to look at one news story that illustrates the destructive power of sin, and one story that points to the redemptive work of God. A dark story is told in the recently released For Our Daughters documentary which has made a major impact online (you can watch it on YouTube). While focused on the American church, we know too much these days to dismiss the issues raised. In it, women recount their stories of sexual abuse by male leaders. It’s a devastating tale.

Victims who should have been listened to and supported were blamed, silenced and threatened. Sin was covered up to protect the powerful. At one point, a woman comments that vilifying victims was “part of the culture”. I had to stop the video to think how can a church called to follow a self-giving and loving Lord who welcomed marginalised women into his kingdom develop such a toxic, un-Christian culture? (The

programme links it to distorted theologies of male supremacy combined with an idolatrous form of Christian nationalism.) Thankfully, there are excellent resources available on how to build an authentically Jesus-shaped church culture that respects, listens to and affirms women.

I’d recommend Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer’s book A Church Called Tov (tov is the Hebrew word for good or goodness).

A more hopeful story comes out of the recent Fourth Lausanne Congress in Seoul where 5,000 leaders from across the world gathered around the theme of Christian mission. While the church in Ireland (and the West generally) may be declining, it’s growing exponentially elsewhere. By 2050, it’s estimated that 77% of Christians will live in the ‘global south’. The congress issued the ‘Seoul Statement’ which celebrates the unity in diversity of the global church.

In the church catholic, no human culture can claim preeminence. All human cultures must bow in submission before the God of all wisdom and as they do so, they each make their contribution to our understanding of Scripture and proclamation of the gospel. In this way, God unites us together to declare and display his glory in all our diversity (Seoul Statement para. 31).

Immigration is rarely out of the news these days, especially during elections. But a fact rarely reported is how it includes the arrival of brothers and sisters from all over the world.

I rejoice to see the increasing cultural and ethnic diversity in Irish churches. Many churches here now comprise of worshippers from over 30 nationalities or more. If a handy definition of culture is ‘the way we do things around here’ then a key challenge for churches is being open to learn new ways of ‘doing things around here’ – gradually to change culture by being open to genuine mutual exchanges of ideas and deep relationships. Such unity in diversity embodies the good news of the gospel at a time of a rising tide of racism and xenophobia within Ireland and the UK and elsewhere.

It also provides a foretaste of God’s kingdom where one day believers “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” will stand “before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9).

Patrick Mitchel is Director of Learning at the Irish Bible Institute in Dublin and an elder in Maynooth Community Church.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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NEWS | IN THE ROUND Call to prayer Presbyterian churches across Ireland joined in a day of prayer for the Middle East, which was called for by PCI Moderator Dr Richard Murray.

In a letter to PCI ministers, Dr Murray said, “I would urge you…to encourage the members of your congregation to pray earnestly for God’s intervention to bring an end to war in the region and to lift up to him all those whose lives have been turned upside down by it.”

PCI’s Council for Global Mission has extended financial support to its partner Churches working on the ground, and who are actively reaching out to the displaced. The Moderator has encouraged those wishing to give financial support for the provision of humanitarian aid in the region to channel donations directly through PCI’s relief and development partners, Christian Aid Ireland www.christianaid.ie and Tearfund www.tearfund.org or www.tearfund.ie

Derry meets Derry Presbyterians in Pennsylvania recently invited a retired minister of First Derry to join with them on the occasion of the 300th birthday of Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Contacts between the two churches began around 1997, but unfortunately waned until the present minister of the American church emailed, setting out plans to commemorate his church. These included a visit last April by a group of Pennsylvanian Presbyterians to the UK and Ireland, and Rev David Latimer and his wife Margaret attending a special anniversary church service and homecoming anniversary dinner in the US, where Mr Latimer gave a keynote speech.

Dáil vote ‘far from conclusive’ The recent vote in the Dáil to note the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying has been described as “far from conclusive”.

The report calls on the Irish government to legalise assisted dying in certain circumstances, with 76 TDs voting to note it, and 53 against.

In a joint statement, Rev Daniel Kane (PCI’s convener of the Council for Public Affairs) and Rev William Hayes (convener of the Council’s panel that advises on social, political and economic matters in the State) said, “The fact that two reports, a majority report and a minority report, were published by the Joint Committee in March was a clear demonstration of the deep divisions that exist over this fundamental and sensitive issue.

“With less than 60% of TDs backing the report… there is a sizeable body of opinion in the Dáil, that opposes the introduction of assisted suicide and euthanasia, whose views need to be listened to. In short, the vote was far from conclusive demonstrating that there remains a clear divide on this fundamental issue.”

Referring to the recent General Election, the two ministers concluded by saying, “While the vote does not mean that legislation is imminent, it is indicative of what a new government may do.”

Living and dying well A new hub of resources to help PCI members be better informed and equipped to engage with the subject of assisted suicide and euthanasia is now available on the PCI website.

The debate and discussions around these issues have become extremely prominent in public debate and political discussion.

The Council for Public Affairs is sharing the resources to help people engage sensitively and positively and to address the calls for changes in the laws of our lands. More resources will be added as they become available.

To access the hub, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/ livinganddyingwell

IN BRIEF Herald price The price of the Presbyterian Herald will remain unchanged for 2025.

This means that the cost of an annual subscription, distributed through congregations, remains at £20/€24.

A digital subscription is available for £16 (Euro equivalent) from Issuu – issuu.com/presbyterianireland

Moderator and the welcoming choir at Fane Street Primary School

Moderator on second presbytery tour

Moderator with the chaplaincy team at Musgrave Park Hospital

PCI Moderator Dr Richard Murray has completed his second presbytery tour – this time visiting various locations within South Belfast Presbytery.

It was a homecoming for the Moderator, as his tour started in Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church in Finaghy, where he worshipped from the 1970s until his marriage in 1992.

During his tour, Dr Murray paid a courtesy call on the Lord Mayor of Belfast in City Hall, took part in a service of remembrance at Belfast Cenotaph, met students at Derryvolgie Hall and experienced the work carried out by some of South Belfast Presbytery’s 15 congregations.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

Leaders meet Secretary of State The Church Leaders Group (Ireland) recently met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn, in Assembly Buildings, Belfast.

The evolving relationship with the European Union since Brexit, political stability and legacy were among the issues discussed.

PERSONAL VIEW

Life lessons Ken Swarbrick PCI’s Financial Secretary

I live in Jordanstown with my wife Christine and our two (grown-up) boys, Matt and Tim. I grew up in a Christian home in Greenisland estate with two brothers and a sister. Mum looked after us at home and dad was an ambulance paramedic, but all our lives changed dramatically when he died from cancer aged 39 – exactly 40 years ago this month (at least it was ‘this month’ when I wrote this).

Since then, I’ve finished school, been to Uni, qualified as an accountant with PwC and joined the Inland Revenue (but I’m still a nice person!).

In the 23 years I worked there, I had 11 different jobs, and also did some international development projects with the Department for International Development, working in Malawi, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kosovo. By 2023, I was head of Emerging Technology, leading a team examining the tax implications of things like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency when, out of the blue, someone sent me the advert for PCI Financial Secretary… and the rest is history!

I arrived in the office on 11 September 2023 to work alongside Clive Knox for a few months of ‘handover’ (which was very useful) and moved into the ‘hot seat’ when Clive retired at the end of the year. The Financial Secretary role is very broad, much more so than I was aware of before starting, dealing with everything from Assessment Funds to VAT – no two days are the same.

I’m extremely grateful for the Support Services team we have in PCI, both the staff and the volunteers who support us.

As I write this, the 2024 UK Budget has just been delivered. We live in a world where people are hugely concerned about ‘money’. One of the biggest challenges

we face as a Church is remembering that while we need to live in this financially focused world, we are not of this world.

It might seem odd for the Financial Secretary to say this, but I would encourage you not to make ministry decisions for primarily financial reasons.

Pray, pray again and then pray some more, then make ministry decisions because you believe in your heart that they are God’s will for this world… if Peter can find a coin in a fish to pay the temple tax, God can surely provide the funding for you to walk in his way.

Those of you who know me, will know I love to sing. I don’t really have a favourite hymn (there are just too many options), though I do like the song Blessings by Laura Story. In some ways it’s easy to believe God is in control when everything seems fine, but I suffer from a condition called cluster headaches and it is a great comfort to know that God’s blessing can also come through pain and teardrops.

I don’t really have a favourite Bible verse either. I love the simplicity of Micah 6:8, where God tells us what he requires of us … “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God”. I’m also a fan of Psalm 18. I find that when my cluster headaches are really bad, it’s easy to identify with the psalmist who calls to the Lord in distress. What could be more comforting and reassuring than the majestic, powerful God who is described in verses 7–15 coming to my rescue and lifting me out of that pit of despair “because he delighted in me”.

God delights in me and wants me to be involved in building his church. It’s comforting to know that before he asked me to help, he knew all about my bad habits, my stubbornness, the mistakes I’ll make in drafting financial policies, and so on. He knew, but he wanted me to do it anyway. And he’s the same with you. Let him work in your life… you won’t regret it.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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MY STORY...

Andrew Hamilton, a member of St Andrew’s, Bangor and disability campaigner, shares how overcoming hurdles has inspired him to work for a more accessible society.

Following, yet leading

R

omans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things out by UNCRPD. I also successfully lobbied the Minister God works for the good of those who love him.” This for Communities, and secured £1.5 million funding for is something I’ve tried to remember when facing employment support programmes in Northern Ireland. challenges.

I have also been involved with charities, working on a There have certainly been many hurdles to overcome in my steering group for visually impaired charity Angel Eyes, as 20 years. I was born with hemiplegia (a form of cerebral palsy well as serving on committees for Disability Action. which affects my left side) and a visual impairment, but I While my passion is for disability advocacy, I have also completely lost my sight during my GCSE years at school. campaigned on behalf of young people, serving as a Member This meant I had to change how I learnt, switching of the UK Youth Parliament, and helping formulate the from enlarged text to solely using a screen reader and Department of Education’s youth work strategy in Northern adapting to new technology. I had to Ireland for years to come.

Losing my sight has change my subject choices for A-Level There have been many highlights, such but fortunately, I found a passion for as being able to sit on the green benches of brought me two of my subject choices – History and the House of Commons – only members opportunities...

Religious Studies. of the UK Parliament and UK Youth Then during my A-Level year, I became extremely unwell, Parliament are allowed to do so – with Speaker Lindsay with a long hospital stay meaning I missed too much school, Hoyle even calling me by name to speak. and I had to repeat the year.

In recognition of my work, I was invited to a garden party I have always tried to make the best of things, and while all at Buckingham Palace. I was also chosen to attend the One this upheaval at such a young age could have got me down, Young World conference in Belfast in 2023, and again in I’ve always believed that God has a plan for me.

2024 in Montreal. Both were opportunities to listen to Losing my sight has brought me opportunities I could inspirational speakers and meet other young leaders. never have dreamt of previously. A trip to a local cinema Life is certainly busy. As well as setting up a non-profit highlighted how inaccessible films could be, and inspired me disability rights organisation called Just Include, I am writing to campaign for the introduction of audio description. It has a toolkit and devising workshops to help other disabled taken a while, and a lot of emails and meetings, but a major people advocate for their rights. As well as all this, I have just cinema chain has now introduced it, which will benefit many. started a degree in Politics and International Relations at This unlocked a passion for politics and campaigning.

Durham University.

I co-authored a report commissioned by the Equality It may not be the path that I would have necessarily chosen, Commission about the implementation of the United but God has led me to something I love, and I’m good at.

Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability Hopefully, I will be able to make a difference, enhancing the (UNCRPD) in Northern Ireland, and have given evidence at lives of disabled people by making society more inclusive. an inquiry into the UK government’s implementation of the Throughout all the uncertainty, my faith has remained Convention. strong. I think my favourite Bible passage of Proverbs 3:5–6 A Private Member’s Bill I have helped with is currently says it all: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not being tabled at Stormont. This will require public on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, authorities in Northern Ireland to meet the standards set and he will make your paths straight.”

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

NEWS | PCI

Events Learn to tackle sensitive issues ‘Hashtags and Hormones’ is an event that will explore why silence is not an option when it comes to addressing sensitive issues with young people.

PCI is partnering with Love for Life to present the same event in two locations – Waringstown Presbyterian on Thursday 6 February, and Wellington Presbyterian in Ballymena on Tuesday 4 March. Both will run from 7.30pm to 9.15pm.

Aimed at parents and those who care for young people, the events cost £5. For more information and how to book, go to www.presbyterianireland.org/hashtags

Event for young people Mark Hawthorne is the guest speaker at PCI’s ‘Explore’ events for young people.

Aimed at 11–16-year-olds, ‘Explore’ will consider ‘Who am I? – Living in our true identity’ at two events.

The first takes place at Clogherney Presbyterian Church in County Tyrone on Friday 28 February, starting at 7.45pm, with a second event at New Row Presbyterian, Coleraine on Sunday 23 March, from 6.30pm.

The same programme will run in both venues. Go to www.presbyterianireland.org/explore for further information.

Fun afternoon for children West Presbyterian Church in Bangor will host ‘Kids’ Big Day Out’ on Saturday 8 March, between 2pm and 4pm.

With ‘God is everywhere’ as its theme, this event for primary school-aged children and leaders has a programme of music, interaction, games and activities while learning together about following God. To find out more and to book go to www.presbyterianireland.org/kidsbigdayout

Kids’ Big Day Out 2024

Exploring leading Presbyterian Women spring event ‘A Servant Heart, Leading Like Jesus’ is the theme of Presbyterian Women’s spring event, which takes place in Assembly Buildings, Belfast between 10am and 1pm on Saturday 8 February.

For women of all ages who are seeking to serve Jesus in their congregation, the event costs £10, which includes tea/coffee and scones.

To book, go to www.presbyterianireland.org/events

To view all upcoming PCI events just scan the QR code

‘Leading Edge’ offers the opportunity to come together with others to explore some key aspects of leading others in the church today.

Taking place on five mornings, spread across a six-month period, each gathering will offer a mix of Bible engagement, equipping for leadership, discussion, personal reflection and learning with others.

There will also be some guided reading and a one-to-one conversation with a course facilitator about the specific challenges or opportunities in your leadership setting.

Themes that will be explored are: 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.

Leading Edge starts on Thursday 16 January. Find out more at www.presbyterianireland.org/leadingedge

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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NEWS | PCI

Events Stirring conversations Helping Christians share their faith with those who struggle to see the relevance of faith will be considered at PCI events taking place in the New Year.

Darin and Joy Stevens, from Start to Stir, will help those attending the events at Assembly Buildings think about how to equip members and leaders to have conversations which really engage those who don’t yet know Jesus.

The first event on Tuesday 28 January, called ‘Stirring Spiritual Curiosity’, is ideal for ministers, elders, church workers and anyone involved in encouraging others to think about life more deeply on a journey towards faith in Christ. The second, for paid children’s, youth and family workers within PCI, takes place on Wednesday 29 January and is called ‘Start to Stir’.

Both events take place between 10.30am and 12.45pm, and are free. However, booking in advance is required at www.presbyterianireland.org/stir There is also a course available. The ‘Stir’ course can be used with little preparation and can be adapted to the needs of each group. More information, including stories from those who have used it and details of how to purchase the resource at a discounted rate for PCI groups, is available at www.starttostir.com/pci

Mission in Ireland

New things

Resources Small groups With a new year approaching, many congregations will be looking for new material to use in their small groups.

PCI has a number of resources that are ideal for the small-group setting, including ‘Finding Our Voice in Prayer’, ‘Proximity’ and ‘Share’.

‘Finding Our Voice in Prayer’ is a resource that can be used by congregations to help re-establish prayerfulness. This practical stepby-step guide has six interactive sessions, each taking approximately one hour to work through and following the same simple pattern: enter in; encounter; explore; engage; every day.

The guides (one for participants and the other for leaders) cost £3.50 each. Video stories of how congregations are experimenting in fresh ways of engaging members in prayer can also be downloaded.

The ‘Proximity’ series is designed to resource relational disciplemaking. Two booklets – ‘Life in God’s Story’ and ‘Habits of a Lifetime’ – are currently available, and include seven or eight sessions that dig into Bible study, personal reflection and practical conversation.

Ideal for one-to-one or small-group discussion, they cost £2 each.

‘Share’ is a resource that helps congregations develop their community witness and personal evangelism. It includes teaching on screen and questions for use in group settings, along with short clips telling stories from around PCI of lives transformed.

It is structured around three important aspects of witness – building relationships, cultivating community and inviting encounter – and costs £2.50.

To order the resources, contact the Congregational Life and Witness office by either emailing clw@presbyterianireland.org or by telephoning +44 (0)28 9041 7246.

Protect

of God’s flock Be shepherds your care, that is under them. watching over 1 PETER 5:2

Mission in Ireland evenings The Council for Mission in Ireland is engaging with presbyteries to support the hosting of ‘Mission in Ireland Evenings’ to share vision, stories and examples of the mission of our Church across Ireland.

The theme for 2025 is ‘New Things’, drawing on the words of Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” This theme aims to highlight some of the new things that God is doing throughout Ireland today, with the hope that it encourages the Church to know that neither wilderness or wastelands prevent the growth of Christ’s kingdom.

The following events are already confirmed, with other events currently being planned across a number of presbyteries; more details to follow: East Belfast Presbytery, Sunday 2 March, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Iveagh Presbytery, Sunday 2 March, 7pm, Ballydown Presbyterian Carrickfergus Presbytery, Sunday 30 March (evening), location to be confirmed.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

02/10/2024

11:32

Elders’ cards

A.indd 1

EldersCards_Protect_

Elders play a crucial role in the leadership, pastoral life and consistent discipleship of every congregation.

PCI has just published a set of four postcard-sized prompts for prayer on themes relating to the ministry of eldership: know, lead, feed and protect the flock.

Each card has a verse of Scripture, a prompt on which to reflect, suggestions for prayer and a practical application to carry into the work of eldership.

The cards can be used by elders in their personal devotional life or by kirk sessions in devotional or prayer times.

The resource is sold as a pack containing all four cards and costs £1.

Contact +44 (0)28 9041 7246 or email clw@presbyterianireland.org for further information or to order.

Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org

News

DIARY DATES

Deaconess appointments Recently qualified deaconesses, Heather Healy and Cathy Smith, have both received calls to congregations.

Following the successful completion of their studies at Union Theological College and training in a number of congregations, Heather Healy (top) has been appointed as deaconess in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church and Cathy Smith has been appointed as a deaconess in First Holywood.

Travel fund Applications are now open for the Concorde Travel Fund, which aims to help young Presbyterians finance their travel overseas for short-term service.

It is open to members of a PCI congregation who are aged between 18 and 25 years old at the time of travel outside the British Isles. Previous fund recipients are ineligible.

The deadline for applications is 31 March, and further information is available at www. presbyterianireland.org/concorde

Deadline approaches

January

Applications are currently being accepted for the next cohort of mission pioneers.

Pioneers are those who go first, pave the way and initiate connection with those outside the church to engage them with both the gospel and Christian community. PCI, through its Council for Mission in Ireland, wishes to identify and recruit mission pioneers who can be involved in this kind of work across Ireland.

The role is for those who feel called to be involved in church planting, new evangelistic outreach or pioneering mission. All applicants will be assessed in terms of suitability before being assigned a programme of apprenticeship and training, some of which will be alongside ongoing service.

The closing date for the next cohort of applications is 31 January. For more information, go to www.presbyterianireland.org/missionpioneers

Leading Edge

Stormont Presbyterian – Starts Thursday 16

Stirring Spiritual Curiosity Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Tuesday 28

Start to Stir

Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Wednesday 29

February Hashtags and Hormones Waringstown Presbyterian – Thursday 6

Presbyterian Women spring event

Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Saturday 8

Ideas for praise and worship this Advent

Explore

Find suggestions for six themes for praise and worship for the Advent season based on the Gospel of Luke on the PCI website at the Digital Worship Hub. Each week gives an overview of the theme with suggestions for four traditional hymns or carols.

In addition, there is a weekly suggestion for the choir, options for a video praise song for listening and reflection and an option for the congregation to learn a new song.

March

Clogherney Presbyterian – Friday 28

Mission in Ireland Evenings

East Belfast Presbytery in St Andrew’s Presbyterian – Sunday 2 Iveagh Presbytery in Ballydown – Sunday 2 Carrickfergus Presbytery – Sunday 30

Hashtags and Hormones Wellington Presbyterian – Tuesday 4

Prayer calendar

Tides

The Blaze the Bee initiative encourages children and families across PCI to pray for global mission.

In December, we are praying for PCI’s World Development Appeal, entitled ‘Hunger Pains: Scarcity to Abundance’, which this year will raise money for projects in Rwanda.

In January, please pray for Indonesia. In 2025, Blaze is going to help us pray around the world for countries where PCI has friends and partners. Watch out for the new calendar coming before the start of January.

To download the Blaze prayer calendar, go to www.presbyterianireland.org/ blaze

Discover afresh what regular engagement with God and his Word can mean for your life by subscribing to ‘Tides’.

This daily devotional is created and written by contributors from across PCI, and is an opportunity to read God’s Word, reflect on what he is saying and learn how to respond. Visit www.presbyterianireland.org/ tides

Kids’ Big Day Out

Bangor West – Saturday 8

Explore

New Row Presbyterian – Sunday 23

April Discipleship Today Forum for young adults Fisherwick Presbyterian – Tuesday 1

Discipleship Today Forum (PCI children, youth and family workers) Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Thursday 3

Herald December 2024/January 2025

11

Why the

virgin birth?

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

…the virgin birth is about the invisible God becoming visible.

PCI Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, offers a reflection for Christmas.

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nyone wanting to understand the real message of Christmas has to understand what is meant by the virgin birth. That a young girl could become pregnant without the involvement of a man was something that seems unbelievable. That’s why, when the pregnancy was first announced to Mary, she asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).

When Joseph heard of it, he also found it unbelievable for “Joseph being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). This is exactly what we would expect at any talk of ‘a pregnant virgin’, yet soon the virgin birth became undeniable. I want to give you two reasons why C.S. Lewis was later to call the incarnation, “the Grand Miracle”.

Firstly, the virgin birth is about the invisible God becoming visible. It was an event where God the Son graciously took upon himself human flesh in order to reveal God to those who have eyes to see. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus had a human mother but he had no human father because God was his father.

Explaining how this happened is, of course, impossible. The Bible offers no explanation for curious human minds, rather it invites us to wonder and worship. Mary was told by the angel in Luke 1:35: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God.” In other words, the child born to Mary was unique.

And then as we study Jesus’ earthly ministry, we discover he displayed divinity in all manner of ways. In the

gospels we find him forgiving sin, casting out demons, raising the dead, stilling the weather and receiving worship. In addition, Jesus made claims which, if not true, would be blasphemous – “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” and “I am in the Father and the Father in me” ( John 14:9–11). God became visible in Jesus.

Secondly, if Jesus had been conceived naturally, he would have inherited original sin. Like us, he would have been sinful and in need of a Saviour.

However, the virgin birth meant he was different to us and able to become our Saviour.

The evangelist Billy Graham once stood on an anthill, causing death and destruction to the little creatures.

He told his sons that the only way to help the ants would be to become an ant and show them how to rebuild their lives. That’s a hint of what Jesus did when he became man. Not only did Jesus come to live the perfect sinless life but, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). The cross was where Jesus atoned for human sin, but it was also the place his humanity was again on display. On the cross Jesus experienced thirst and suffered pain.

On the cross, when the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, blood and water flowed out. Eventually when he died, Jesus died a very public human death.

In summary, the virgin birth reminds us that the baby in Bethlehem had two distinct natures. This is ably summarised by the answer to Question 21 of the Shorter Catechism. “Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?” The answer is: “The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,

…if Jesus had been conceived naturally, he would have inherited original sin.

who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.”

This mysterious truth ought to reassure us of the love and goodness and grace of God. God was willing to reveal himself in One who so perfectly fulfills Isaiah 9:6: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In his life on earth, Jesus was all this and so much more.

The virgin birth should also be a great comfort to us. God knows what it is like to be a human being, though admittedly without our sin. He knows the power of temptation, the betrayal of friends, the pain of suffering, the loneliness of leadership, the misunderstanding of family, the loss of loved ones, the limitations of finance and the power of love. It’s no wonder the writer to the Hebrews says: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16).

And finally, the virgin birth demands a response from us. That the human race was in such dire straits that God had to become man and die on a cross is a humbling reminder of the seriousness of our sin. Yet by repenting of sin and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ we will discover that he is mighty to save and can rebuild our lives.

This Christmas, may we all praise God for the virgin birth, as in the words of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing: “Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, the Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.”

Herald December 2024/January 2025

13

CONGREGATIONAL STORY

Making

connections

Rev Alan Dickey talks about an outreach initiative in Stewartstown on behalf of volunteers of Café Connect.

Daphne enjoying some craic with the customers

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wonder have you ever felt under pressure because you have been told you must be an evangelist?

Evangelist is a specific role in the New Testament, and not one for every Christian. However, that does not mean the Lord doesn’t want to use us. In his first letter, Peter writes to Christians living in a culture where the good news is not understood and they are viewed with suspicion. He says, “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But An outside view of the café

do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). In many ways, those words have guided the reasons for opening Café Connect in Stewartstown, County Tyrone.

The idea for a café began with some members of First Stewartstown who wanted to create an environment for meeting and befriending members of the wider community. It is hard for people to ask questions about our hope in Christ if they don’t know us well enough to see that hope.

Another community café had been running in Stewartstown for a couple of years, but didn’t reopen after lockdown, so some of our members thought that we should try something similar. Initial discussions, involving the kirk session, explored the possibility of using the church halls, but we realised that a neutral venue would be more welcoming and comfortable for the wider community.

It provides a neutral space where people are made welcome regardless of their cultural, political or religious background.

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Two of the volunteers (Ros and Sandra)

A vacant shop unit belonging to Stewartstown Development Association was generously made available at a reduced rent, and after remodelling, the café was opened in October 2021. We were very grateful for financial support from the T.B.F. Thompson Trust Fund and a Tyrone Presbytery outreach fund that helped cover some of the set-up costs.

You may wonder what the Shorter Catechism and a café in Stewartstown have in common, but the answer to Question 11 was very much evident in the months leading up to the opening of the café. Many from the congregations of Albany, Brigh and First Stewartstown, others from the community, and Stewartstown Development Association came together at different times and in different ways to provide what was needed. Question 11 in the catechism asks: What is God’s providence?

And answers: God’s providence is his completely holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing every creature and every action. God’s supervising care is active at all times, but there are moments when we see it more clearly, and we thank him for it.

The café opens on Thursday and Friday each week, from 10am to 3pm.

It is staffed by volunteers, mostly from

our three congregations, and some from the local community. The food is sourced locally, with some suppliers donating what they make because they see the benefit of the café to the town.

It seats about 25 people, and serves tea, coffee, scones, traybakes, light lunches and desserts. The two hours over lunchtime are usually the busiest, but there is a steady flow of people throughout the day. The café operates on an honesty system, with customers making a contribution as they see fit.

This helps to make the café accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. To date we have covered the running costs and we are very grateful for the generosity of our customers.

Some might only visit the café on their way through Stewartstown, however, most customers are local people who call in on a regular basis, some making a point of visiting each day it is open. Those who keep coming back enjoy the friendly atmosphere, the food and the relationships that have developed.

The café exists as a place to build cross-community relationships. It provides a neutral space where people are made welcome regardless of their cultural, political or religious background.

One of our volunteers, who has lived in Stewartstown for over 40 years, appreciates that the café gives her the opportunity to get to know her neighbours and get beyond the ‘hello’ and ‘how are you?’ comments. Another volunteer, who has always lived in Stewartstown, said that for the first time she has had the opportunity to talk to and get to know people who she only knew by name.

Some of our regular visitors love the

…we have become more aware of how, for some, the church is a very strange place…

fact that they have somewhere to be with other people, to chat, relax and enjoy the food and good company.

One lady often says that the café is the best thing to have happened to Stewartstown. Other customers will bring flowers for the staff, and a couple even bought a birthday cake when the café had been open for one year. Mid Ulster District Council has awarded the café ‘Chatty-Café’ status, which means it has been recognised as a good place to go for those who are feeling lonely or isolated.

At times, the conversations take a spiritual turn, and we get the opportunity to speak about the good news – this is what we hope and pray for. About a year ago, we started a Bible reading group that meets for one hour each week in the café. So far, we have worked our way through Mark’s Gospel and Philippians, and this autumn we will start into Matthew’s Gospel.

Between eight and 10 people have been attending, most of whom found out about the Bible reading group through visiting the café.

There have been other additional benefits to opening the café, which in hindsight, we should not have been at all surprised by. The volunteers have built closer relationships with each other, they pray for each other, support and encourage each other in ways that go beyond just running the café.

It has encouraged the congregations to think more about the church’s calling to be a witness in the local community.

Alongside this, we

have become more aware of how, for some, the church is a very strange place and just how much groundwork and relationship building we need to do before getting the opportunity to share the reason for the hope we have.

In those instructions of Peter’s that the article began with, he tells us to set apart Christ as Lord. That’s what we are trying to do as we get to know and serve the people of Stewartstown, but we also look to him to provide those opportunities, in his time, when our neighbours ask us for the reason for our hope.

Someone recently asked if we thought their church should open a café. Each congregation is unique, each congregation has a different membership profile, a different culture, a different community and context. What is working for us in Stewartstown at present, may look different in the future, and may not work at all in other contexts. Wherever you are, set apart Christ as Lord, and always be prepared to give an answer to your neighbour when they ask for the reason for your hope. So, the important thing is to meet and get to know your neighbours, and pray, and be gentle and respectful.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

15

Why reconfigure PCI’s ministry?

Following debate and discussion at the last few General Assemblies, Deputy Clerk, Dr David Allen explains why ‘reconfiguration of ministry’ is such an important topic for PCI to grapple with.

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t’s happened with local branches of banks and post offices. It’s talked about with schools and hospitals.

Is it going to happen now with Presbyterian churches?

Restructuring, realignment, redeployment, reorganisation, rationalisation. Lots of words beginning with ‘r’ can be used. But whatever the word, it seems to boil down to the same thing – an organisation trying to cut costs and save money by having fewer of them, whether it’s banks, or post offices, or whatever. It might make financial or business sense, but many can be left feeling that the people who use them get a reduced service, with the most vulnerable in society being disadvantaged most.

In the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the favoured word beginning with ‘r’ has been ‘reconfiguration’.

‘Reconfiguration of ministry’ is a phrase that’s been used a lot at the past few

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

General Assemblies. Some presbyteries have been talking about it already, and some kirk sessions and congregations have had to engage with it.

The Assembly in June 2024 accepted a report that was the culmination of three years’ work and consultation across the Church. In doing so, it agreed that a process of reconfiguration of ministry should take place across the denomination.

So, is this just the Church’s version of corporate speak, which really means closing churches and linking others so that money and ministers are saved, but ordinary members get a reduced service? Or is the Church different, and is there more to it?

PCI has lost about onefifth of its contributing families over the past 10 years…

Reconfiguration of ministry – why?

Why does the Assembly believe it needs to do this? Is it really necessary?

Could we not just carry on as we have been for many years, with the odd tweak here and there?

There are a number of things about this that Herald readers will know to be true.

There’s a shortage of ministers.

Readers will know that by looking at the back pages of this magazine, and noticing that the list of vacant congregations has been getting longer and longer. By 2027, there will be more than 70 vacancies in PCI. That’s about one-fifth of all our charges.

There’s also a decline in numbers.

PCI has lost about one-fifth of its contributing families over the past 10 years, with the picture much worse in parts of Belfast particularly. Some Herald readers will know this by

looking around them in church on a Sunday morning, and seeing spaces where there used to be people.

None of us need to be reminded that there has been a cost-of-living crisis over the past few years. It costs more to live than it used to. That goes for churches as well, because they have to pay for heat and light, insurance, repairs and salaries. These have all gone up, so it takes more to make ends meet, and that can be a real challenge for many congregations, especially when there are fewer people needing to pay for more.

One other thing that readers may or may not know, is that we have too many meeting houses – more than we need, with some of them in the wrong place – not close to where people are. The temptation can be to think that there was a time when we did need them all, and they were all fairly full. But that’s not true. Some of our churches were built because of disagreements and splits, where some people left a church, and they went up the road, or across the fields, and built another meeting house. When the General Assembly was formed in 1840, and the different churches came under the one denominational umbrella, very few of the extra ones were closed, they were kept. Most of them are still in use, around 185 years later. So, we have too many church buildings, but it’s getting harder to maintain them all, and harder to justify retaining them all.

All of these things are true, and if PCI was a business, we would be tempted to manage this decline, to keep what seems strong (or big), and close what seems weak (or small) in order to save money and ministers.

But PCI isn’t a business, it’s part of the church of Jesus Christ. He is our Head, and we are to follow and obey him. The Lord Jesus doesn’t call us to manage decline, but to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. He calls us to be salt and light in society. He calls us to worship him and be more like him. He gives us a spiritual mission, not a materialistic one – to evangelise and witness to him.

He calls us to take up our cross and

follow him, to live sacrificially, to be in the world but not of it. He calls us to be fruitful, with the fruit of the Spirit, and look out at harvest fields – people to be gathered into his kingdom.

So, while we might be tempted to look inward, circle the wagons, and hold what we have by managing the decline, that’s not what we hear Christ calling us to do in his Word, that’s not why we have been given the Holy Spirit, and that’s not why PCI is having a reconfiguration of ministry.

Rather, it’s because we want to be

Everyone will be affected by this and everyone has a part to play – above all by praying. As in all that we do, unless the Lord builds the house, the labour is in vain. So more than anything, we need to ask the Lord to build his Church; in his mercy to pour out his Spirit upon us, to work in us and through us; to be pleased to use us as his instruments across this island, and to give us wisdom, faith and obedience to follow his lead and submit to his will.

The Lord Jesus doesn’t call us to manage decline, but to go into the world and make disciples of all nations.

Please pray for:

more like what he wants us to be. We want to do more of what he wants us to do for him, and do it better – in the power of the Holy Spirit, in faith and obedience. We want to look out and reach out to those around us – those we share this island with, whoever they are. And all of that means using the resources that the Lord has entrusted to us as faithfully and effectively as we can, so that we can be and do what he wants today, and in the future.

This is why PCI is having a reconfiguration of ministry. It’s definitely not to manage decline, it’s to use more effectively what the Lord has entrusted to us, in ministry and mission, praying that he will enable us to be and do what he wants, right across the island of Ireland, today and in the future.

This will affect all of us in some way or other, in our congregations and presbyteries. As well as that, it will affect the Church as a denomination too, because alongside this reconfiguration, the Church is reviewing its central structures and buildings – Assembly Buildings, Union College, how we train our ministers.

Again, this is so that we can be and do what the Lord wants.

The Lord to work – to bless, to pour out his Spirit upon us and to build the church of Jesus Christ.

Your elders – as they are involved in this at congregational level, seeking to promote the life and witness of the congregation in the local area.

Your presbytery – as they look at the configuration of ministry across their whole presbytery area and plan for future ministry and mission. Pray that they would be bold in their trust and obedience of the Lord, sensitive to his people in local congregations and discerning in identifying new areas of work and witness, burdened for the lost.

The Linkage Commission – as it is involved at a denominational level, especially its Reconfiguration committee. Its role is to support presbyteries as they draw up plans in their presbytery areas. Pray for the Commission, as it is responsible for how resources (people, money, buildings) are used right across our 19 presbyteries.

The groups that are reviewing our denominational structures and buildings – that the Lord would give them clarity in what is a very complex task, and that he would show us how best to use what he has entrusted to us, for the church and the kingdom.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

17

Present for one another in

God’s family of the church

David Thompson highlights some of the challenges experienced in expressing our life together as God’s people today and ponders some opportunities to think about that differently.

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’m sure you have noticed how it is a feature of a lot of our worship services that we decide to keep our distance from one another. In a large building that is no longer full, rather than sit beside each other, the worshipping congregation is dispersed here, there and everywhere, usually as far from the front as possible. What is it that makes us choose to do that?

Why is it that sitting beside someone else in church, unless they are family, has come to feel so much like the invasion of personal space?

This kind of physical arrangement of the worshipping congregation may be symptomatic of a wider approach to our participation in the life of the church. Often it has come to look a lot like that begins and ends with me and my personal relationship with God, to

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the exclusion of the New Testament’s picture of church as a community of brothers and sisters in the family of God. The ‘one another’ sayings scattered throughout the New Testament paint a picture of church that is up close and personal. Among many other things, we are told we are to: greet one another (Romans 16:16); care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25); serve one another (Galatians 5:13); love one another ( John 13:34); be

Why is it that sitting beside someone else in church…has come to feel so much like the invasion of personal space?

devoted to one another (Romans 12:10); build one another up (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11); be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32); bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2); comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18); encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11); speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19); pray for one another ( James 5:16); stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24); and show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).

It is difficult to imagine doing any of that while keeping our distance from one another. It all sounds so up close and personal, perhaps even uncomfortably so in today’s individualistic, privatised world.

The challenge of time, the opportunity of space

More of our time, or more of ourselves?

Present for one another in God’s family

One of the current challenges to expressing and experiencing the kind of life in community that the New Testament pictures the church to be is a widespread sense of time poverty in our lives today. It is common to hear people say how busy their lives feel.

There may be many reasons for that, driven both by expectations others have of us and expectations about life that we place upon ourselves.

Allied to this feeling of busyness, is a growing expression of weariness.

It can’t just be coincidence that as many of the institutions in society which are the biggest employers show signs of cracking under the strain of underinvestment and staff shortages that the stresses and demands that result take an ever-increasing toll on the population as a whole. Time, energy and appetite for participation in church life all seem to be suffering as a result.

However, conversely, where intentional space is carefully and creatively crafted for people to be together beyond the worship service, there are signs in congregations of a growing desire for participation by members in wider aspects of church life. That can be true of early morning prayer times, daytime Bible studies for mums with young children, occasional get-togethers in men’s ministry, even a cup of tea in the church hall after the service.

Perhaps the change is from big and often, to little and less often, but maybe that is proving a better fit for the rhythms and routines that shape most of our lives today.

Whatever the truth of whether we really are time poorer, or that we always have time for what is really important to us, requests to give more of our time to church activities aren’t yielding the kind of responses that they used to in previous generations. Might it be that church life has grown bloated, overly segregated by age and gender, heavy with too many meetings for meetings’ sake?

Perhaps a better way to think about increasing congregational participation in church life is to ask not that we give more of our time, but how we can give more of ourselves when we are together.

How can our gatherings continue to provide space for Scripture, prayer, praise, necessary business, but also create space for sharing, discussion, conversation that enable us to actually engage with one another? What would it mean for a midweek Bible study to strike that balance? A kirk session meeting? A young people’s discipleship group? A meeting of Presbyterian Women? A Sunday school class?

That will require more than a change of programme however, it needs a re-programming of our understanding that we come to participate with others in church life, not to consume or spectate as an individual. For some of us that will be more immediately comfortable than others, but we can all grow into it. The more reflective, listening introvert has as much to give and receive as the more outgoing, talkative extrovert.

Shaping the right environments for being together goes such a long way towards developing a different culture for living together as the people of God. Even the way we set out the chairs can make all the difference.

There are times for us all to be sitting facing the front. But there are also times for us to be sat facing one another. Thinking more deeply about that and pushing past our innate desire to be together in the well-worn ways that are safe and familiar to us can be an important first step in being present to one another, towards genuinely being present for one another in the family of God.

Even the way we set out the chairs can make all the difference.

So, let’s ask questions about how we will be together, as well as how often.

When is the best time, as well as how much time we have? What do we hope to achieve when we meet, as well as what do we have to get through?

God calls us to be present for one another in his family. Why not start by shuffling up the pew on Sunday to at least get up close, if not personal, with that other person who just happens to be your brother or sister in Christ?

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

Herald December 2024/January 2025

19

Hunger

pains

Liam Rutherford reports on this year’s World Development Appeal (WDA), ‘Hunger Pains: Scarcity to Abundance’ which is supporting projects in places across the world where the pain of hunger is a daily reality for many. Liam’s report focuses on one of these projects, based in Rwanda.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

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visited Rwanda for the first time in March 2024 with little idea of what to expect. Mostly when I hear ‘Rwanda’ I think ‘genocide’, because of the horror of 30 years ago.

Rwanda turned out to be a beautiful, green, hilly country with a modern, bustling, high-tech capital city. I was impressed at how clean Rwanda was; I think I saw one piece of rubbish in the week I spent there.

Following the genocide in 1994, the country’s political leadership and church leaders worked hard for peace and reconciliation. We heard some horrific stories – one family being reduced from 107 members to only five in a matter of weeks – and of widespread collusion in the genocide by church leaders.

Today Rwanda is moving on rapidly with modernisation and development.

Kigali is the cleanest, greenest and most high-tech capital city in Africa and regularly hosts international conferences.

Rwanda has a population of 13 million and is about 94% Christian, with a small Muslim minority (2.3%).

About 43% of the population are under 15 years of age.

However, 90% of the population remains dependent on subsistence farming. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa with its 13 million people living in an area only twice the size of Northern Ireland.

Imagine if we had 6.5 million people living in our province! Then imagine that 90% of us were dependent on what

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa…

issue and one which Tearfund is keen to tackle through the churches.

Tearfund is working in Rwanda alongside churches of all denominations to help strengthen them through a programme called Church Community Transformation (CCT).

CCT gives churches the vision and training to work for the transformation of the society in which they live.

Tearfund first assigns a CCT trainer to implement the programme through a local congregation. It works in four stages.

Stage 1 (first year). Identify facilitators in a local congregation and train them.

Stage 2 (second year). Church transformation – the facilitators help the congregation to first describe itself as it is and then what it should be.

Stage 3. Community mapping – the facilitators help the church to research who is living in the community and assess any problems and needs. Then the church has to describe what they would like this community to become.

Stage 4 (third year). Implementation – assessing which problems can be tackled first and which problems will need outside advocacy to attain. For example, getting access to land to farm it.

Tearfund’s NI Director Chris Thompson says Tearfund is more committed than ever to the central place of the church in this kind of work: “Only the church can bring holistic transformation. That’s why we want to expand this work, with a vision of 7,000 congregations across Rwanda implementing CCT in the next five years. We’re working closely with the

main denominations to achieve this bold vision.”

We spoke to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda) – Rev Dr Pascal Bataringaya – who spoke enthusiastically about the work of CCT and how it was helping church members. So what does CCT look like on the ground?

Delphine’s story Delphine lived on the streets for many years, having been abandoned by her family. She got money in any way she could and her children were born on the street. Her second child was born blind and this brought Delphine to breaking point. Delphine heard that there was a church in the community who might help her.

Delphine met a lady named Serapie who is a CCT facilitator, trained with the support of Tearfund in Rwanda.

Serapie had been working with a Presbyterian church in the city of Huye to envision the congregation to be used

by God to transform its community.

With the support of this church and a self-help group, Delphine was shown how her life could be turned around.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2) is a verse that touched Delphine’s heart and she came to faith. Through small savings and loans she now has enough food to feed her children, send them to school and keep a roof over their heads.

Delphine is overjoyed that her blind son has come to faith and she now eagerly shares her faith with women who are living as she once did.

we grew in our own gardens!

I looked in vain for a hill without houses built on it, each one sitting in its own small plot of land. Rwanda sits just south of the equator and at sufficient altitude to be blessed with a climate which allows crops to grow all year round. But nevertheless, these tiny plots provide only a basic living and therefore between 50% and 66% of the population are affected by poverty.

Many of the problems in society are rooted in poverty – homelessness, abandonment, alcohol and drugs. This means that food security is a major Herald December 2024/January 2025

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…food security is a major issue and one which Tearfund is keen to tackle through the churches.

Emmanuel’s story

Claudine’s story Claudine was living in poverty and then her son became seriously ill, as a result of which his legs were amputated below the knee. This brought Claudine to a place of absolute desperation.

Then in 2017, she joined the CCT programme through the Presbyterian Church in Huye. Things changed as she became involved in a small prayer group. She became part of a small savings and loans group and by 2018 she was able to engage in small income-generating projects and through a scholarship programme was able to send her disabled son to school.

Claudine recalls being particularly struck by Isaiah 50:7: “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.” For a single woman with a disabled son, this was a revelation.

Later on, her son was supported through a Tearfund partner organisation to have prostheses fitted and he is now walking and getting to and from school independently.

Claudine had nowhere to live and 22

Herald December 2024/January 2025

now has built her own house. She was living in poverty and now can feed herself and her family. Claudine was embarrassed and ashamed and now she testifies publicly to all that God has done for her. She was alone and now she belongs to the church family.

Claudine was struggling with despair but now she says, “Our God is a God of peace.”

Emmanuel was an orphan who grew up on the street and became involved with illegal drugs and alcohol at an early age. One day, he was sitting outside a bar and was approached by a CCT facilitator who asked him what he was doing with his life. “Please, you are still young. You don’t need to be involved in these things. Please come and I will take you to where other people are on a journey of transformation.”

Emmanuel went and found a group of people singing and praying and happy in their lives. Some of the group shared Bible verses and Emmanuel was struck by the words of Job 28:28: “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.” He said to himself, “I need this wisdom”.

Soon Emmanuel was also part of the savings and loans programme and started a small business selling biscuits and sweets. From his profits he built a house where he now lives with his wife and children and grows a great variety of vegetables and even has pigs and goats.

Emmanuel describes himself as a transformed person. He is encouraging other street children to come and join the church and receive Jesus as their Saviour. He says, “There is not any other place where you can get peace apart from being near the Lord.”

The gospel transforming lives What I saw in each of these people is the power of the gospel to transform lives. They all came from poverty and lived far from God. And yet, as they encountered the living God through his Word, they were transformed.

Then there was the obvious joy as they related what God had done for them. Emmanuel’s testimony almost reduced me to tears. I have deliberately avoided spelling out their past actions.

But they do not avoid telling how they once lived and where God has brought them from.

There was also their concern to see others rescued as they had been. They wanted to share their faith and talk about the Lord and what he had done for them.

And then, finally, there was the care and concern of the church to reach out to the lost, the last and the least in the name of Jesus.

I was reminded of the woman Jesus met at Simon the Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:36–50). Simon had not even respected Jesus enough to wash his feet or give him a kiss of welcome. An unnamed woman came along who had lived a sinful life and her notoriety went before her. Yet it was this woman who did for Jesus what Simon had refused to do and poured out her love for Jesus.

Why the difference? Jesus said it himself: “Her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” And it’s not that Simon was forgiven less than the woman – for his sins of pride are even more deadly. But he had no perception of how much forgiveness he really needed.

I am left wondering if this goes to the root of our problem. We love little because we have no idea how much we have been forgiven. If we did, we

would be jumping up to tell how much the Lord has done for us. We would be giving generously to the Lord’s work. We would be making the most of every opportunity to support the advancement of the gospel and the salvation of the lost.

All those we met, including Rev Joseph Muhire, a Presbyterian minister who features in the WDA video, were keen to pass on their thanks to PCI for its interest in what they are doing – they thank you in advance for supporting the work through Tearfund.

Rev Liam Rutherford is minister of Ballydown Presbyterian Church and a member of PCI’s World Development Appeal committee.

Find out more To find out more about PCI’s 2024 World Development Appeal, to watch the video, or to make a donation, please scan the QR code or go to www.presbyterianireland.org/ worlddevelopment

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The good news of

Christmas

Kenny Hanna highlights how the Rural Chaplaincy team are making the most of the festive season to reach local communities with the gospel message.

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hristmas is filled with opportunities. Opportunities to engage with the communities in which God has sovereignly, deliberately and carefully placed us, as local Presbyterian Church in Ireland congregations.

I believe that, at Christmastime, cynical societies are slightly more open to the possibility that there may be a spiritual dimension to life, a dimension they generally dismiss. Of course, I understand that this greater openness to the spiritual may be, with some at least, no more than Christmas sentimentalism. That said, we should not simply dismiss the opportunity that Christmas provides.

Belfast-born academic C.S. Lewis can help us here. Lewis, himself once hard against Jesus and the gospel,

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

was “surprised by joy”, he tells us, in his spiritual autobiography of the same name. In it, he records how God sought him and brought him to Jesus. Writing in another book, Lewis gives us an insight that encourages us to make the most of the particular opportunities Christmas presents.

In Mere Christianity, he considers: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the

…at Christmastime, cynical societies are slightly more open to the possibility that there may be a spiritual dimension to life…

…we have the news a hopeless society desperately needs to hear, and respond to… most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

It is this longing we all have for something more, something better; a deeper satisfaction which nothing in life can bring us: we can tap into this at Christmastime, and, in fact I think, all the time.

At Christmas, we typically hold worship services and other outreach events, where we invite our community to come to us and hear about Jesus.

There is real merit in this. For we understand that when Jesus came into his world, he came as “Immanuel (which means, ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:23). Therefore, when people come to our carol services etc., they experience the life-changing ingredients of Jesus’ gospel and Jesus’ people, brought home to us by God’s life-giving Holy Spirit.

As well as inviting people to come and join us, I would humbly suggest that we also go out into our communities and bring Jesus’

Christmas message to the people God has placed us amongst. There were a couple of ways we, in Rural Chaplaincy, tried to do that last Christmas. We were fortified with the practical and prayerful support of PCI congregations, without whom these events would not have been possible. While we were unsure how either of these attempts would go, we knew that lots of people were praying for us. If you are one of these people – thank you so much.

Attempt number one of going into our community with the Christmas message of Jesus, took place in Hilltown. Hilltown is a village where Presbyterians are a very small minority, but where we are warmly welcomed.

Our event was held in the Downshire Arms hotel, in partnership with Hilltown and Clonduff Presbyterian

Churches. The hotel is the venue for our monthly Bible study and we enjoy an excellent relationship with them. Seeking to build on this, we held an event called ‘The Real Story of Christmas’. The evening included Christmas carols to traditional music (beautifully accompanied by the Qua family of Tullyallen Presbyterian). This was interspersed with a storytelling approach to sharing Jesus’ good news, which was essentially three short gospel talks. The event finished with excellent Christmas-themed food, provided by the hotel.

We were delighted that 77 people attended, many of them local. There was a wonderful sense of God’s presence and we want to give God all the glory for his abundant blessing. We plan, God willing, to hold ‘The Real Story of Christmas’ event again this year, on Thursday 5 December. Please pray many local people will come along and that God will open hearts to love and follow Jesus, who is ‘the real story of Christmas’.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Rural Chaplaincy team: Kenny Hanna, Jim Henning and Simon Walsh

A second way Rural Chaplaincy went out into our community with Jesus’ good news last Christmas, was through ‘Carols at the Co-op’ – held at Rathfriland Co-op livestock market in early December. We are so grateful for our partnership with a number of Presbyterian churches in the area, without whose help the event would not have happened, including: First Rathfriland, Second and Third Rathfriland and Brookvale, Clonduff and Magherally.

Drumadonnell Primary School also sang, really enhancing the worship.

This was the very first event to take place at the brand-new sales ring at Rathfriland mart. The mart is extremely kind to us, not only hosting the carol service, but warmly supporting Rural Chaplaincy, week by week.

We had no idea at all of who, or how many, would come along. So we were lost for words to discover that the new sales ring could not accommodate the 350–400 people estimated to have attended – all brought along by God. We ran out of room and had to open the doors into the (empty) livestock pens! People from across the community came along, with lots of young families 26

Herald December 2024/January 2025

and young people part of the crowd.

There was a real sense of God’s presence and great liberty to preach Jesus’ good Christmas news.

We plan, God willing, to hold a ‘Carols at the Co-op’ again this year, on Friday 13 December. Please pray that God will draw people to put their faith in Jesus, as God’s gift of salvation to them.

Reflecting on these two Christmas events, where Rural Chaplaincy went out into our local community with Jesus’ good news, we are so thankful to God for his gracious blessing, showing us his love that we in no way deserve. We recognise that God used local churches and Jesus’ followers therein, to help make IN ASSOCIATION WITH

The Story of Christmas

Thursday | 7.30pm 5 December Downshire Arms Hotel, Hilltown

You are invited to join with us to discover the Real Story of Christmas... ...Jesus coming into our world, shared through carols with traditional music, and storytelling.

these events happen. Local Christians invited family, friends and neighbours along, helped out in a multitude of practical ways, and faithfully prayed for God to be at work.

This Christmas, it is so good to invite local people to come and join us, at worship services, and other outreach events, where they can hear about Jesus.

I would also humbly suggest that we also go out into our communities and bring Jesus’ Christmas message to the people there. For we have the news a hopeless society desperately needs to hear, and respond to: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Carols at the Co-op RATHFRILAND CO-OP LIVESTOCK MARKET 7.30PM – FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER

DEC 2024/ JAN 2025

Mission Connect

Green shoots in Bangor

A living God gives a living hope Tracey Nicholl

Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.

Supporting people Frances Craig What is your name?

Naomi Keefe A different approach Volker Glissmann Green shoots in Bangor Ben Cavan

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.

Long-term faithfulness in the seemingly small Rev Philip Poots

Including Dec/Jan prayer diary

A living God gives a living hope

Tracey Nicholl

Deaconess, St James’, Ballymoney “That is why we labour and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).

that through this outreach God’s love is shown and that people know he cares for them.

In 2019, we asked our congregation to donate toys and baby items that were still in good condition but were no n 2018, as a congregation, we were considering how longer needed. Our congregation was so generous that we we could reach out to our community and offer help in had a full room of toys and all the things that a baby would whatever way was needed. We are now in our sixth year of need. It was in November 2020 that we had the opportunity helping our community in to begin our Christmas Ballymoney with items of toy giveaway. Because of We pray that through this outreach God’s love is lockdown, we had to make school uniform.

When we first began, shown and that people know he cares for them. individual appointments for we had three clothes people to come and take rails and two tables of away whatever they needed. shoes. On that first Saturday, 17 families come through We didn’t intend to repeat this, but we have and it is now an the door. We were nervous that people wouldn’t want to annual outreach. come to receive preloved items of school uniform but it has Over the years, we have had some wonderful conversations grown, unfortunately because of the need. At the time, I with people. I have had the opportunity to pray with some had contacted the local council who had said that it was the and we have heard some very sad stories. It makes me and the ‘working poor’ who were now in need; those who earn too team who organise these events very grateful for everything much to receive benefits but not enough to make ends meet that we have, as life can change in an instant. We do know, in the current cost-of-living crisis. however, that our living God gives us a living hope.

This year we have 17 clothing rails and we use every available Please pray: table we have. Between 220–250 families came to our church hall on the five Saturday mornings we opened this year. People • For the families who are in need, that they would know the can contact our ‘Living Hope Community’ Facebook page at help and provision of God. any time to ask for items or to donate items. It has been an • That many would come to realise the living hope offered by added bonus that people who come to get items bring along the living God. other items their child no longer needs, so it is a great way • For Tracey and the team as they continue to serve the needs of recycling. We have built good relationships with our local locally. schools and with those who come through our doors. We pray

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Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

Supporting people Frances Craig

Project lead, Gray’s Court

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n the 10-year period between 2012 and 2022, drug related mankind. The Gospel of Luke especially makes reference to the deaths in Northern Ireland rose by 98%. Alcohol specific many times when Jesus ignores social norms and treats people deaths rose by 45.9% in the same period. From October 2023 who have been marginalised in society with acceptance, love to March 2024, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and compassion. assessed 5698 people as homeless.

Sean (not his real name) is in his 30s. He moved into Gray’s Supporting People, a Court after completing department of the NIHE, detox in a specialist unit in a The ethos of Gray’s Court is based on the provides funding for hospital and the residential accommodation projects treatment programme at example of how Jesus…demonstrated the for homeless people. Gray’s Carlisle House. Sean had Court Supported Living is been an accomplished love of God to mankind. one of those projects. footballer. He had a home Founded in 2000, it derives with his partner and three its name from Rev Henry Gray who with the support of PCI and children. Through his addiction to opiates, he gradually lost his Carlisle House Substance Misuse Treatment Centre, recognised health, his home and his family. He slept rough on the streets the need for a safe environment to support people in the early of Belfast for three years. Earlier this year, he almost lost his stages of recovery. life. When in hospital he was visited by his estranged teenage Gray’s Court specialises in providing short-term supported daughter and was struck when he saw the pain she was in accommodation for homeless adults who have engaged in because of her love for him. This was the turning point for him. treatment for drug/alcohol misuse and who wish to rebuild Sean is now settled in Gray’s Court, very appreciative of their lives free from the use of substances. This is achieved by having a home to come back to every night. He is studying the provision of a safe and therapeutic environment.

Maths and English and wants to get qualifications so that Located in Cliftonville Avenue in north Belfast, it consists he can help others like himself. Most importantly, he is of seven one-bedroom self-contained apartments with a developing his relationship with his daughter and is on track to communal living area for group meetings; shared laundry reconnecting with his sons. facilities; a garden with vegetable planters; and a small gym.

Please pray: When a new resident moves in to Gray’s Court, we work with them to formulate a person-centered support plan, which • For those whose lives have been taken over by substances, encompasses accessing permanent housing, addressing health and their families. issues, preventing relapse, engaging with education, training, • For all the services who minister to the needs of the homeless. voluntary work or employment, reconnecting with religion and • That the substance misuse services may get the financial culture, and addressing any judicial issues. We provide regular support they need to cope with this growing need. activities, including reflection groups, walking groups, nutrition • For Gray’s Court – for strength and wisdom for the staff in workshops and this autumn we will be facilitating art therapy. how best to support each person who comes through its The ethos of Gray’s Court is based on the example of how doors and that the project will continue to be sustained.

Jesus in his earthly ministry demonstrated the love of God to

Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

What is your name?

Naomi Keefe

Global mission worker, Brazil

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ll of the young puppeteers, together with the older end. When he died, death could not hold him because he is adult volunteers, in both Peixinhos and Beberibe were stronger. Jesus rose from the dead and lives forever. ‘Prince really excited about ‘fishing’ together at the Christmas of Peace’ – Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. evangelistic street events. Needless to say, their ‘plastic fish’ Because of sin, we are by nature enemies of God, separated now have lots of new names on them to pray for. ‘Names’ from him. But through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus offers was something that we looked at during various evangelistic us forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Thus, we can have outreaches. Our puppets peace with God and peace in shouted “Rebecca”, “Miguel”, our lives when we turn from ‘Names’ was something that we looked at during our sin and trust in him.

“Maria-Clara”, “Pedro”, “Cristiano Ronaldo”, when As we look out at the ocean, various evangelistic outreaches. asked what their names were we have no idea where the at our street evangelism ‘fish’ are, as we simply can’t events. see them. It is sometimes easy to think there are no ‘fish’ yet If you think about it, when were you given your own name? our Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Probably when you were born, or maybe your name was our Prince of Peace knows exactly where the ‘fish’ are. He just chosen nine months before you were born by your parents. wants each of us simply to listen to him, trust his Word and More than 500 years before he was born, Jesus was given four put out our nets, rods, and lines and go ‘fishing’, obeying his special names. instructions.

Through puppets, speaking, songs and using our large M&M sweet, which this time represented the word ‘Maravilhoso’ Please pray: (‘wonderful’ in English), the folks in both Pexinhos and Beberibe shared the message of the Messiah as they went • Give thanks for the ‘fishing’ events in both Pexinhos and ‘fishing’ in their local communities.

Beberibe.

We used the verse in Isaiah 9:6 as our theme: “For to us a • For the Good News Club and the ´Coffee with God´ Bible child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be study group in Peixinhos, together with the ‘Reading in the upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Park’ activities in Beberibe.

Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

• For all the volunteers aged 5–75yrs in both Peixinhos and ‘Wonderful Counsellor’ – Jesus came to be the one who Beberibe, that they will continue to listen to God, trusting teaches and advises us. ‘Mighty God’ – Jesus is God. ‘Everlasting him to show when and where to go ‘fishing’.

Father’ – Jesus is eternal. He is God, with no beginning or

Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

A different approach

Volker Glissmann

Global mission worker, Southern Africa The Glissmanns are living in Malawi. Jinhyeog is involved in a local primary school as a music teacher. Volker works off-campus as a programme developer for TEEC (the Theological Education

by Extension College) in Johannesburg, South Africa, and does grassroots theological training in Malawi.

survey course (which he described as a course that only scratches the surface of biblical stories).

Then, we had another meeting with the principal of the International Bible College Berea (IBCB), Blantyre. We further discussed the possibility of using ‘Knowing God’, our discussion-based Old Testament course, as a substitute he week before last, I sat down with a friend I have for their residential ministry training Old Testament course. known for many years to chat about what I actually do in Interestingly, the principal also valued our approach not to Malawi. He is a ‘retired’ lecture but to use homemissionary back in Malawi for workbooks followed …the biblical, story-based grassroots material is study a short visit to the theological by discussion. That will make college he helped set up much better suited for the learners at the College. all the difference to the and develop in Blantyre. Our learners. conversation was prompted We will arrange a few test by one we had a month before, about creating a theological lessons for the College to understand the course better. This curriculum. is a very unexpected but exciting development as the biblical, What is so interesting about the discussion is that I am story-based grassroots material is much better suited for the mostly involved in non-accredited grassroots theological learners at the College. Anyway, the icing on the cake is that we education here in Malawi, while for my South African work, I are just about to start the translation project of ‘Knowing God’ am concentrating on university-level training. Here in Malawi, and ‘Knowing Jesus’ into Chichewa. Hopefully, we can use the the focus is on grassroots training, while in South Africa, the new translations when we start training. focus is on a government-accredited framework for theological courses, out of which we develop appropriate universitylevel training. But my friend works with pastors with limited Please pray: secondary school education (many of whom prefer training in the vernacular, Chichewa). Here in Malawi, we have been • Give thanks to God for opening an unexpected door for one experimenting for a few years with a course design that is of our courses. nearly entirely based on the biblical story and answers to • For the discussions and the test run, so that the material can questions that are raised when we read the stories, while at the be fine-tuned to the needs of the pastors in training. Pray same time guiding the students to a deeper appreciation of also for the translation project. the overall story of God. • For the health and safety of the whole family, especially At the end of our discussion and the explanations, my visitor during this time of transition. was very excited and wanted to replace their Old Testament

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Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

Green shoots in Bangor

Ben Cavan

Community outreach worker, Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church

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aving been in post for two years now, I have seen including a regular cohort of around 30 parents and children God move in both small and significant ways. When I coming to our bi-monthly ‘Messy church’. Those who attend started at Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church, the task engage wholeheartedly, listen well and are willing to have of bringing in young families seemed exceedingly difficult. great conversations afterwards.

However, as the Bible says, “Nothing is impossible for God!” One final encouragement was our summer outreach. Last (Luke 1:37). While there year we ran our first holiday hasn’t been a mass influx, Bible club and had 25 Christian ministry can be a slow process that there have been ‘green children. This year we had shoots’, with a handful of almost 60 children. Not only requires patience, but worth the wait. young families now coming that, but parents were very on a regular basis and young appreciative and supportive people who were attending one organisation now attending of what we did, and children listened well and received another. I trust that God is working in hearts and that at the reminders of what they learnt over the week. I also had the proper time he will reap the harvest. privilege to partner with the other local churches to run As much of my role involves getting plugged into various Ballycrochan CSSM. We had around 250 children attend, many organisations, I have had the opportunity to go deeper of whom professed faith and asked telling questions. I am in relationships with people of all ages. Although not all excited to see what God will do this upcoming year! these people attend church on Sundays, I have seen them open up to me more as a relationship has developed. This is encouraging, highlighting that Christian ministry can be a slow process that requires patience, but worth the wait. Not only have relationships developed with individuals, but also with the local primary schools. I have delivered RE lessons and Please pray: assemblies, which are great opportunities. Indeed, we ran a prayer space event in the church at Easter which was enjoyed • A ‘Lads and Dads’ ministry didn’t really take off. Please pray by teachers and pupils alike. that God would give wisdom on how to move forward with Not only does my role involve working within the this. congregation, but it also involves reaching out to the • For patience as the work can be slow at times, and that trust community. Having established a drop-in for teenagers, this in God would grow more and more. now has around 25 young people and we were even able to • That Ben could go deeper in relationships and be able to have our first youth weekend this year. In addition, we have run have more faith-based conversations. various community events which have attracted many people,

Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

Long-term faithfulness in the seemingly small

Rev Philip Poots

Moville, Greenbank, Carndonagh and Malin Presbyterian Churches

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ould his feet even reach the pedals? What was the first term faithfulness of his people even in the seemingly small, hymn he played? Could he hold a world record? Those we witness people who show us that God’s kingdom building were some of the questions I thought about when project is worth all of their lives.

Greenbank Presbyterian’s organist passed away last year.

These congregations in Inishowen (Greenbank, Moville, Campbell Rankin had sat at the organ for 81 years and, while Carndonagh and Malin) are full of stories of long-term not a world record, his long service deserves to be recorded. faithfulness in the seemingly small, stories of how people in the Long-term faithfulness in the seemingly small should not go pews have knuckled down, put their shoulders to the plough unnoticed or be undervalued and kept going against the or unappreciated, but odds and against the tide of …we witness people who show us that sometimes it can. the world for the sake of the How can that happen? kingdom. They have done God’s kingdom building project is Part of the answer lies in this knowing that Jesus has how we can be drawn to the specialised in taking the worth all of their lives. spectacular over the simple, seemingly small and doing but there is something much, remembering the call deeper being diagnosed in our hearts when we quickly brush to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of pass the Sunday school teacher, elder, organist, caretaker, the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain” (1 person on the sound who counts their work in decades rather Corinthians 15:58). than days. Part of the answer lies in value, both the value placed on and the value assessed from, that things are only Please pray: worth something if the bloom is big while maybe not noticing that the long-term faithfulness in the seemingly small has • Give thanks for those who see serving Jesus as worth all of allowed space for a shoot to grow in soil that took all that time their lives and have served him faithfully even in the ‘small’ to be ready for planting. things.

From the outside looking in, sitting down at an organ, • For continued long-term faithfulness as these congregations playing a tune and having people sing along seems like a reach out to family, friends and community. small thing. From the outside looking in, a home in which a • For Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to sink into the hearts grandfather smiles as his granddaughter gives thanks for the of the people as they continue to serve. food, seems like a small thing. From the outside looking in, a • That we will see Jesus more clearly, love him more deeply, small number of people gathered in rural meeting houses in follow him more closely, resemble him more keenly, and Donegal seems like a small thing, but as the decades pass and serve him more faithfully. all of these continue, we witness God honouring the long-

Mission Connect | Herald December 2024/January 2025

DEC 2024/ JAN 2025

Please pray... n GLOBAL MISSION – Give thanks for Derek and Jane French, who are based in Bilbao, Spain, and for the gathering and the distribution of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Pray that many children would be blessed as they receive their boxes and that God would work in their hearts as they read ‘The Greatest Gift’ booklet that shares the gospel message.

n RESIDENTIAL CARE – Peacehaven Trust has three residential properties for adults with a learning disability in Greystones, County Wicklow. Pray for Michael Williams (manager) and the staff. Remember the residents as they attend activities. Pray they will be happy and fulfilled in their daily lives.

n CARE STAFF – Remember staff within PCI’s residential or nursing facilities as they go about their working day. Care for residents at the end of life can often be a demanding, but rewarding and humbling experience. Pray for staff as they address complex needs of residents who require palliative care. n RURAL CHAPLAIN – For the Christmas outreach initiatives planned in Rathfriland and Hilltown. Also give thanks for the new opportunity to regularly visit Crossmaglen Livestock Market.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Josh McCance and the work of church planting in Balbriggan. With many new believers coming along to the church, pray that the Holy Spirit will work in bringing spiritual maturity in people’s lives. n GLOBAL MISSION – For Edwin and Anne Kibathi and for the London, Luton, Reading and Birmingham congregations, especially that those who signed up for the discipleship programme would be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ. n SPECIAL MINISTRY IN WEST BELFAST – For the monthly services taking place on the first Sunday of each month in Cultúrlann.

Pray for more people to be drawn into the weekly Bible study. n URBAN MISSION – For the congregation of Rathcoole as they seek to reach out in their local area.

n SOUTHERN AFRICA – Give thanks for Volker and Jinhyeog Glissmann and for the training materials, ‘Knowing God’ and ‘Knowing Jesus’. Pray for the translation of these materials into the Chichewa language and that they would continue to be used effectively in theological training of pastors and church leaders in both grassroots and residential settings.

n DEACONESSES – For all deaconesses as they continue to serve, encourage people in their faith and reach out to others with the love of God. n SOUTH SUDAN – For the church in South Sudan to be united and empowered in its witness to Jesus Christ, not least as it advocates for the full implementation of the country’s peace agreement. Pray for greater trust and determination among political leaders so that they might work together to ensure a general election takes place.

Robert Dalzell

n HEALTHCARE CHAPLAIN – Give thanks for the appointment of Rev Lindsay Blair in the new role of lead chaplain in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, based at Altnagelvin Hospital. Pray for Lindsay and the chaplaincy team as they provide holistic spiritual care for patients, families and staff.

n SOUTH BELFAST FRIENDSHIP HOUSE – For Robert Dalzell in his ongoing work as project leader. Give thanks for new initiatives and pray that many children, young people and families would be drawn into the programmes.

n GLOBAL MISSION WORKERS – That PCI’s global mission workers would know the Lord’s refreshing of body, mind and soul over Christmas and renewed vision, sustaining grace and guidance for the work they have been called to undertake during 2025. n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – Thank God for the opportunity to show the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and share the gospel every day with people from the nations around the world. Pray for Rev Colin Dickson as he settles into his new role as project leader. n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Angela Hamilton in her role in West Kirk, particularly for the women’s Friday fellowship and the weekly Bible study group. n PORTUGAL – For Rev Celso Dias Alves (Executive Secretary) and Rev Manuel Luzia (President), that they may be guided and encouraged in giving leadership to the Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal. n PRISON CHAPLAIN – For Rev Gary Aitcheson as he serves as a part-time chaplain in Magilligan. n HOME MISSION – Give thanks for Wallace Moore following his recent call to the congregations of Corboy and Mullingar.

Pray as he prepares to commence this new ministry and for the congregations.

n FAMILIES – For families caring for children or adults with a learning disability. Give thanks for special schools, adult centres, training units and supported employment schemes. Pray for those involved in the provision of these services.

n GLOBAL MISSION – For Gary and Mary Reid, and the church families in Maasailand.

Remember especially the church leaders, that they may be granted wisdom as they seek to guide the precious flock entrusted to each of them by the Lord.

n RESIDENTIAL CARE – Lawnfield House in Newcastle, County Down is a residential respite care home for those with a physical disability/mild learning disability, sensory impairment or older people. Pray for staff and service users in the home, that they will know God’s presence in their daily routines. Remember family carers who will benefit from some time free from caring responsibilities.

n DEACONESSES – Give thanks for the recent appointments of Cathy Smith as a deaconess in First Holywood and Heather Healy as a deaconess in Fisherwick. Pray for them as they prepare to commence these roles.

Gary and Mary Reid

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – Give thanks for all the community outreach workers working in PCI congregations. Pray for new initiatives during 2025, that many people, young and old, will come to faith in Jesus Christ. n FORCES CHAPLAINCY – For PCI forces chaplains and members of the forces, especially those who are serving overseas at present. Pray for their health, safety and protection at all times.

n MYANMAR – That God would intervene to bring an end to civil war in Myanmar, and that the international community would play a more significant role in negotiations. Pray also for the leadership and members of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar, that they would know God’s peace and protection. n IRISH MISSION – For the ongoing work of Philip Whelton in Arklow, particularly pray for the weekly Bible clubs. n UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS – For part-time university chaplains who seek to balance opportunities in the university with their ongoing congregational responsibilities.

www.presbyterianireland.org/prayer

TALKING POINTS

Prioritising compassion Norman Hamilton looks at how we can show kindness to those who are hurting.

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aybe I have missed too much in the past, but very important, but investing time, prayer and probably also I never remember coming across the levels of some of one’s own resources seem essential over the medium distress and pain in wider society than I see to longer term. Sometimes great need comes suddenly, but and sense at present. In most of the circles in my experience is that most often it is built over a period of which I move I come across broken or breaking marriages, time, and cannot be ‘fixed’ in a day or two. I have found that abuse, parental despair, isolation, loneliness, and profound giving time to people is a very special gift to them, and a need materially, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. huge blessing to me too.

Outside my immediate world, there is another world of easy I hope that I am allowed to say that investing time in and widespread drug taking, intense vulnerability, violent people after Christmas is arguably more important than aggression and a myriad of relationships in profound trouble. doing it all before Christmas. January and February can I can hardly bear to watch the national TV news, where be very dark days – both with the weather and in people’s the most intense suffering is happening across the world to lives – so there is often both a special need and a special ordinary people like you and me. Mega sin is rampant. opportunity opening up to us to be channels of grace into Yet we are well into the season of ‘goodwill’, accompanied the lives of others. by abundance in some circles and And yet, I do have to acknowledge profound scarcity and real apprehension It is surely a privilege to that there are some situations that are in others. Food, treats, parties, presents, way beyond my capacity to handle at all help bring a happier toys and gadgets are being promoted well – even with the Lord’s help. And Christmas to others in 24/7, yet large numbers of people are in those situations, I pray earnestly for struggling with life at so many levels.

God’s wisdom and guidance as to what the Lord’s name…

Even if I have overstated the scale of advice to offer; what to do, or not to do; despair and distress, these next couple what to say or not to say. Sometimes, of months will be exceedingly difficult for many people – I simply have to invite the Lord to exercise his sovereignty indeed the first Monday in January is colloquially known in the situation, for it is way beyond me. And sometimes I in some legal circles as ‘Divorce Day’, at the start of a week struggle to even exercise real faith in that prayer, yet I am when there is a surge in enquiries about family separation. glad that God’s sovereignty is not dependent on my helping So, I have been trying to think through what I might it along! be able to do as an ordinary Christian given that, by any One final thought. There are many people whose calling standards, my family and I are in a pretty good place. I offer and role in life is to help and support others in need. It is these thoughts for you to mull over and shape in your own all too easy to take them and their work for granted, often way for the circumstances in which you and those around because we either don’t see what they do, or rarely have cause you find yourselves. to call on them ourselves. Might I urge you as a Christmas The first response surely is to prioritise compassion and blessing to say thanks to them, pray for them and if possible, understanding before doing anything. Many times, like pray with them. It is surely a privilege to help bring a in Matthew 14:14 and 20:34, Jesus is said to respond in happier Christmas to others in the Lord’s name – not least compassion to people around him (for example, in Matthew because he himself knows the intensity of need and distress 9:36 where people are described as being harassed and in this deeply troubled world. Christmas and Calvary are helpless like sheep without a shepherd… how up to date is inextricably linked. this verse!). Personally, I like the description of compassion as ‘intelligent kindness’ where sensitivity to the issues and the dignity of others are at the forefront of anything I might try to do to help.

A further response is, I suggest, to look beyond the Norman Hamilton immediate pressures and prepare for a longer-term relationship with someone in need or a family under Very Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is a former pressure. Certainly, helping as best one can with the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in immediate turmoil and pressing needs is very necessary and Ireland.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Sharing faith in ‘third places’

Deborah Sloan looks at the concept of the ‘third place’ and suggests it’s an important consideration for witness and evangelism.

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his summer, in a very slowmoving queue at Rome Fiumicino airport, an 89-yearold man shared his testimony with me. We had never met before. We had simply struck up a conversation as we manoeuvred our suitcases towards the baggage drop-off. We only had around 20 minutes together.

It’s unlikely I’ll ever see him again. In fact, I don’t even know his name. But by the time we parted, he had made a profound impression on me.

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As he told me the story of losing his wife and setting off from his home in Florida to travel around Italy, he showed me the picture of Jesus he had as his screensaver. Then, he explained how he had come to faith. Even though he had tasted great personal and professional success, his heart was cold.

Third places are often described as ‘spaces of encounter’.

When his wife died, it was as if God opened his eyes to the emptiness inside him. He recognised his brokenness. He decided he wanted to commit his life to Jesus.

Perhaps having an encounter like this with a stranger in an airport isn’t that unusual. As people travel more than ever before, airports are now considered prime examples of what are known as ‘third places’. The ‘third place’ is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to refer to any public or social location

where people interact with each other outside of their home (the ‘first place’) or their work (the ‘second place’). Third places are often described as ‘spaces of encounter’. They share a number of characteristics. They are neutral ground.

People are under no obligation to be there and can come and go as they please. Status is irrelevant. There are no barriers to entry. There is no pressure to perform or conform. They are accessible to everyone, from all stages and walks of life. While not necessarily the only thing that can happen there, conversation tends to be one of the main priorities. Third places are likely to have regulars in them, but they are always welcoming to newcomers. You might enjoy the company of people you already know or come across people you don’t know. Examples of third places can include anything from coffee shops to libraries, gyms to parks, golf courses to hair salons, post offices to exercise classes, anywhere you might experience connection with others.

For all sorts of reasons, including increased remote working, the growing cost of living, the pervasiveness of social media and the residual legacy of the pandemic, third places have gradually been disappearing from people’s lives over the last few years.

But, hanging out in online third places like Facebook or Nextdoor or Instagram can never replace a physical third place. Third places are integral to building relationships. They create belonging. They play a significant role in developing individual and collective identities. And when more and more people are describing themselves as lonely and isolated, they are essential for good mental health and wellbeing.

Basically, we need third places for society to thrive.

“Do you know them?” my children will often ask when I finish a conversation with someone in a bakery or a bookshop or an airport terminal. They find it weird. Talking to strangers is something they have been actively discouraged from doing and it isn’t something they particularly want to do either. And one of the main reasons we may be losing the impact of third places is because of a generational moving away from

…it is increasingly important for Christians to be aware of the…third places in their local area. up-close interaction. Modern life is now organised in such a way that it is easy to be anti-social. We can avoid engaging directly with anyone. We can text rather than talk, order via an app rather than across a counter, get online deliveries rather than step into a supermarket, use self-checkouts rather than deal with a cashier, meet colleagues via a screen rather than in an office, put on headphones during our commute rather than speak to our fellow passengers. While we may be forever reachable on our smartphones, we’re progressively unreachable in our human forms. One recent survey, for example, found that one in five people have never spoken to their neighbours, and admit there is no one in their neighbourhood they could call on for support.

So, what does this all mean for Christians? Church is, of course, also a third place. It is somewhere people come together for fellowship and community. Both regulars and newcomers are welcome. There are no entry criteria. Conversation is prioritised. Shared identity matters.

But, with fewer people coming across the doors of churches, it may be an established third place for some, but it is not a third place for everyone.

Therefore, it is increasingly important for Christians to be aware of the other third places in their local area.

Where do people gather? What activities are they engaged in?

These offer a real opportunity to be missionally minded. Cafés, libraries, gyms and leisure centres still exist and there are people searching for something in all of them. As we consider using third spaces intentionally to reach those who don’t yet know Jesus, we can use Jesus himself as our example. When he said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” he didn’t just mean the synagogues and the city gates, he meant places like the well

where he met the Samaritan woman.

The woman was there at noon, the hottest part of the day, because she was an outcast in her community. She came when she knew she wouldn’t bump into anyone else. But Jesus was there and after meeting and talking with him, she encouraged others to make their way towards him. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony,” John 4 says.

It only takes one conversation.

Interestingly, studies show that rather than stopping at small talk, chats with strangers tend to go deeper more quickly. There is less fear of judgment.

And when people open up about their circumstances and struggles to someone they don’t know, they are often expressing a yearning for spiritual meaning in their life. One of the most powerful things we can do is simply tell them our own story. Those who try it are usually surprised by how easy it is to share their faith with someone they have just met. The question is though – how much room are we leaving in our lives for these types of experiences? If we are always busy with home, work and church, are we recognising how God can be using us in a range of other third places? Do we see this as a vital part of our witnessing and evangelism?

My encounter in the airport in Rome still lingers with me. Psychologists note that these so-called ‘minimal social interactions’ can make a real difference to us. They can boost our mood and make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves. We can leave such encounters lifted, changed, feeling like we have been touched by something.

It is probably because we have experienced the presence of God. The Present initiative encourages us to think about being present where God has placed us to be his witnesses. For more information, scan the QR code or go to www.presbyterianireland.org/present

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Racing for

his glory

Paralympic twins, Chloe and Judith MacCombe grew up in the Presbyterian congregation of Cumber in Londonderry. Freshly back from competing in Paris, Sarah Harding caught up with the pair to discuss their thoughts on faith and professional sport.

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hloe and Judith MacCombe are visually impaired paratriathletes who came sixth and eighth respectively in their event at the recent Paris Paralympics. The pair turned professional just three years ago, and Chloe describes the whole Paris experience as “phenomenal”.

They say one of their highlights of the Games was having PCI’s Blaze the Bee with them. Blaze is helping children and families in congregations to explore what it means to be a global disciple – he has journeyed all over the world in the past few years, including visiting global mission workers, forces chaplains and even accompanying Moderators on their travels.

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Chloe says, “Blaze is of excitement around.” a proper wee evangelist.

The twins have He sparked a lot of unintentionally forged conversations with a very similar path in people. They would their careers so far. At ask, ‘What’s the bee school they did the for?’ And I would say, same A-Levels, but ‘He’s a global disciple made separate decisions who helps me talk about what to study about Jesus.’ I never at university. It just so knew how to start a happened that this was conversation about exactly the same course Jesus before that.” in the same location – She says the whole Geography at Ulster Judith (left) and Chloe (right) Paralympic atmosphere University, Coleraine. was amazing. “I’ve been describing it to They admit they weren’t particularly people like being at university during sporty at school, but at university they Freshers’ Week, but with the difference tried rugby and rowing. They pursued that everyone was sober. There was a lot rowing for a while, but Chloe says,

It’s…trusting that God has a plan…

– there’s nothing I can do but my best and he’ll handle everything else.”

“When that fell through, we were at a loss of what to do.”

Taking up triathlons happened after a chance encounter with a coach from Triathlon Ireland, who encouraged the twins that triathlons were the perfect next step after rowing. He invited them to a training day in Belfast and it went from there.

In paratriathlon there are several categories of classification, including limb deficiency and impaired muscle power. Chloe and Judith compete in the visual impairment category, which means they race with a guide. Guides are triathletes who also compete in their own right in the sport; it’s important that they are heavily involved in training to ensure a good working relationship.

Both twins have some sight – Judith says: “The easiest way to explain it is – when you go to the opticians and there’s a board with letters that start off big, but get smaller, I can see the top line and the second line, and could probably have a good guess at the third line, but beyond that it’s blurry. Chloe can only see the first two lines, but she can see close up more clearly than me.”

The twins’ visual impairment is caused by a genetic condition. Neither of their parents have the condition, but they have two older brothers and one of them is also visually impaired. The girls were always encouraged not to let

I always say, my position in a race does not define me, instead, it’s who I am in Christ.

their disability hold them back though.

Judith says, “When our brother was growing up, he wasn’t allowed to use it as an excuse, so it was the same for us.

Mum and dad would always encourage us to have a go. If we couldn’t do it, that was fine, but we had to at least give it a go. I think that made us more resilient – growing up we knew other visually impaired people through things like the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People). You could tell who had been more mollycoddled because they were more afraid and tentative of trying things, whereas we’ll give it a go – even travelling by ourselves.”

The girls are extremely close and while competing against each other naturally brings out rivalries, they are also very supportive of each other and train with different coaches to keep any rivalry to a minimum. Chloe says, “I suppose I am quite competitive with Judith to a certain extent, but it’s one of those things that if I’m going to be passed by anyone, I’d rather it be her than anyone else.”

The twins’ faith is an integral part of all they do. Judith says, “The phrase I always aspire to is: ‘humble in victory and gracious in defeat’. Whenever you go out there, if you’re giving 100%, then you’re doing your best and that’s glorifying God.” Chloe agrees: “Racing with respect for others, and with honesty and integrity – having those as the backbone – that’s what’s important. I always say, my position in a race does not define me, instead, it’s who I am in Christ.”

The mental side of professional sport is a huge factor in success, and again, this is where faith plays a big part for the twins. Chloe says, “With every race, it’s not just about position, it’s always a learning experience. You could come first, but still walk away with 16 things you think you can improve. It gives you an opportunity to thank God and to see him working in the races. Three years ago, in one of my first swims, I was really nervous beforehand and

didn’t have the best performance in the end, but I can look back and know that God was with me in the swim because I just felt so calm.”

Judith agrees: “It’s being able to look back, trusting that God has a plan and he knows what he’s doing – there’s nothing I can do but my best and he’ll handle everything else.”

Longer-term, Chloe and Judith would both be keen to move into youth work, but for now, they’re both settled in their sport. And although the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles is a major goal for the twins, they’re just focusing on each race in their schedule as it comes. Having already travelled far and wide to compete, in places like Japan, Abu Dhabi, Tasmania and Uzbekistan, they’re looking forward to travelling more and seeing where the paratriathlon journey takes them.

Chloe says, “There’s definitely an enjoyment factor – we’re not going to keep doing it if we don’t enjoy it. But more importantly, we listen to God in it all and he’s keeping us in triathlon for now.”

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Let the church declare & display Christ together David McCullagh reports on the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation, which took place in Seoul, South Korea, in September.

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n the late 1960s, American Baptist evangelist Billy Graham and British pastor and theologian John Stott met on a number of occasions to discuss the issue of evangelism in a changing society. This led to the 1974 gathering of what is now known as the Lausanne Movement. Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, 2,500 evangelists, missionaries, mission leaders and national church leaders from 150 countries discussed how the global church approached the changes in society as it desired to continue to proclaim the good news of the gospel to all people. From this first congress, the Lausanne Covenant was agreed and paved the way for the following decade of evangelistic endeavour.

Although Graham and Stott never intended any further meetings following the 1974 congress, two more gatherings took place. In 1989 more than 4,000 participants from 173 nations met in Manila to once again discuss the societal changes around the globe and address the need for evangelism in what became known as the 10/40 window. This shaped missionary strategy for decades to

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follow, and created over 300 new working partnerships, focusing on a wide range of critical missional issues, particularly located in the majority world.

As the centenary of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 approached, a third gathering was held in Cape Town in 2010. From this congress, the Cape Town Commitment was agreed, focusing mission and ministry on diaspora groups and emerging mega cities, with the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world. It also became a road map for the Lausanne Movement for the following years. These three congresses have shaped the witness of the global church and the Fourth Lausanne Congress (L4), meeting in Seoul from 22 to 28 September 2024, identified major missional themes in the context of this present age that needed to be

Our mission is to continue to proclaim the truth of Jesus even if we face persecution…

discussed as we look towards 2050.

The L4 congress was years in the planning and formed around a major report entitled, The State of the Great Commission. Taking data from all across the globe, this report identified 25 gaps in the mission of the church.

Based on these statistics, it also projected where the world might be in 2050 in terms of population, religious practice and the advancement of technology and societal engagement with it. This was key in how the congress would address the ongoing work of mission.

Attendance at the congress was by nomination, with at least 30% of attendees being under the age of 30. I was there with Rev Uel Marrs, Secretary for PCI’s Council for Global Mission, and Rev David Montgomery, European Regional Secretary of IFES. Once again, evangelists, missionaries, mission and church leaders and theological education practitioners gathered to think through and discuss the church’s ongoing work of mission to unreached people groups, the 10/40 window and to support the church in persecution. Over 5,000 delegates

attended, representing 202 nations.

As well as plenary sessions we had the opportunity to hear from practitioners in areas of mission and outreach and personal testimonies of how God has been at work in the most amazing of ways.

In a hall larger than an aircraft hanger we sat around tables of six people, pre-selected by the Lausanne Movement, so that each table would have a breadth of the world and experience. I was joined by folks from Costa Rica, the USA, Kashmir, Kenya and Romania. This became the centre for discussion and thinking through the key issues, as well as seeing how we can collaborate together going forward.

We laughed, prayed, listened to each other and shared in tears as we heard from one another of difficult seasons in ministry. In many ways, this was the greatest of times throughout the week and these are relationships that will continue into the future.

Four of the afternoons were spent in what were called Gap Groups. These groups focused on the gaps presented in The State of the Great Commission report. I was joined by brothers and sisters from Pakistan, Botswana and Laos as we thought about reaching the next generation for Christ. Each one bringing their experience in

…every church community will have to take a stand in this age for the gospel and it won’t be easy. mission and working through what it looks like over the next 10 years.

Each of the 5,000 attendees will have their own reflections on the week.

Indeed the 12 delegates from the island of Ireland will each think through specific issues relating to their work and context. For me, there are two major things. The first is that of the church in persecution. On Wednesday morning we were led through Acts 11 and 12 by Patrick Fung, Global Ambassador for OMF. Although persecution first begins in Acts 8, he focused on how Herod ordered the execution of Christians in Jerusalem.

The church saw huge growth, but great persecution. Patrick Fung made this statement: “Persecution never kills the church, but a compromised gospel will.” This is a truth of great hope and challenge.

Our mission is to continue to proclaim the truth of Jesus even if we face persecution so that we will indeed see growth in the church at home and overseas.

The second aspect of learning from L4 has been that of Gen Z. Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2012. This is the most diverse group our society has known in how they engage with technology and their sense of justice. Gen Z are also the most disengaged from faith, yet they seek authenticity in all aspects of life.

Dr Phil Ryken, President of Wheaten College, challenged the congress to take this generation seriously by showing the truth of the gospel as relevant to the lives we all live. We should then mentor this generation and build true friendship with them so that we can all grow together as the church.

Being part of the Fourth Lausanne Congress is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There is much more to be thought through and said as the church learns how we shape mission in the coming decades. But one truth rings through, as shared by Dr Anne Zaki, who also spoke in Assembly Buildings in February this year. From her experience in Egypt, she challenged the global church that “every church community will have to take a stand in this age for the gospel and it won’t be easy.” We rely fully on Jesus to lead us as we take seriously his command in Acts 1:8: “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

You can find out more about Lausanne Movement at lausanne.org and watch the talks from L4 by going to lausanne.org/accelerate Herald December 2024/January 2025

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21 St Stephen’s Green North

Present day St Andrew’s College (collen.com)

Leaving a meaningful trail John Ingram discusses the interesting role the Presbyterian Church in Ireland played in establishing St Andrew’s College, Dublin, the only Presbyterian-founded secondary school in Ireland.

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ssayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said that institutions were the lengthened shadow of one person. He also happened to write the following words: “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

There’s no way he could have known he was writing about the vision and energy that created the only Presbyterian-founded secondary school in Ireland – St Andrew’s College, Dublin. The man who cast that shadow was Rev James Denham Osborne, minister of Rutland Square Presbyterian Church, on what today is Dublin’s Parnell Square.

But what socio-political landscape existed at the time to prompt a bold idea like Mr Osborne’s?

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While the Penal Laws of 1691 had been repealed, and the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland had taken place, in the later years of the 19th century, the oppressive influence of the laws continued to affect the rights of non-Anglicans. One pernicious legacy of the laws was the absence of schools suited to the education of the children of members of the Presbyterian community.

Establishing their own school became essential for Presbyterians to preserve their community’s religious and educational freedoms.

Establishing their own school became essential for Presbyterians to preserve their community’s religious and educational freedoms.

Mr Osborne contacted others and shared his vision. In 1890, a group of Presbyterian clergymen and laymen, appointed by the Presbytery of Dublin to enquire and correspond as to the establishing of a High School on the north side of the city, held their first meeting in the Presbyterian Association in Dublin.

In June 1891, two members of the founding committee visited every congregation in Dublin to establish interest and seek support. The culmination was a general conference of “office-bearers and friends of higher education” on 29 June. The following resolution was passed unanimously

…its real strength is still provided by its foundations…built by the Presbyterian community… by all 35 members in attendance: effects of both the Anglo-Irish War “That this conference is convinced and ensuing Civil War on a city centre it is absolutely necessary that the educational location, student numbers Presbyterian Church should establish dropped, and indebtedness rose. a High School in the city of Dublin To avoid the school’s closure, for the educational requirements in presbytery took over its management the first instance of the Presbyterian again in 1927 as well as some £50,000 Church in Ireland outside Ulster and in school debt. also of boys from Ulster who may be The next crisis, during which sent to Dublin for their education.” individual Presbyterians saw to it that It was four of the busiest laymen the school survived and remained in the Presbyterian community who independent, took place in 1936, then dedicated years of hard work to when past pupil, Dr Kenneth Bailey establishing the College. They were of Trinity College, and parent Mary William Hewat, Alexander Knox Arnott Collen, opposed the plan to McEntire, William F. Moore and amalgamate the High School and William Spence. There were three saw to it that a new endowment fund clerical honorary secretaries: Rev R. was raised. They persuaded presbytery McCheyne Edgar, Rev James Denham that St Andrew’s should be allowed to Osborne and Rev Samuel Prenter. After continue as an independent entity. a great deal of work, including the The St Stephen’s Green building raising of the necessary subscriptions, was sold and the College moved to St Andrew’s College finally opened Wellington Place in Donnybrook its door to students at 21 St Stephen’s that year. And when this site became Green North in January 1894. Four unsuitable in the late 1960s, it was ministers, including the a leading Presbyterian, past Moderator of the General pupil Lyal Collen, son of Assembly (Rev W. Todd Mary Arnott Collen, Martin), remained as who oversaw the sale trustees when the of Wellington Place Church handed the and its Donnybrook management of the sports grounds, school to a group the purchase of of Presbyterian the current site laymen and clergy in Booterstown combined. and the building St Andrew’s was of a brand-new immediately popular school and related with Presbyterian fundraising. families, but also Today, St Andrew’s Rev James Osborne welcomed other faiths, most College is a large, internotably members of the Jewish denominational, co-educational community. college, with flourishing Junior and While there were successes in the Senior Schools. The College offers a early years, the premature death of the wide range of academic programmes; first headmaster, William Haslett, the the Primary curriculum, the Junior loss of almost 100 past pupils in the Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving First World War – men who may very Certificate and the International well have become important supporters Baccalaureate Diploma at secondary of their alma mater – followed by the level. There are 1,250 pupils. Since

Resting on their spades after a job well done – the Taoiseach, Mr Cosgrave, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Dr J.W. Orr, after planting two mulberry bushes to mark the official opening of St Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Dublin. Looking on are Mrs Cosgrave and Mr J. Duke, the school’s headmaster (centre).

(The Irish Press, 29 September 1973)

1984, the College has been fully accredited by both the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the International Baccalaureate.

Where the College finds itself today is in great contrast to its humble, uncertain beginnings almost 130 years ago.

And regardless of its locations, the buildings it occupies, or the numbers of students it attracts, its real strength is still provided by its foundations.

And the true foundations of the College were built by the Presbyterian community, and the service and commitment of its members.

No doubt Mr Osborne would be pleased to see that the constitution of St Andrew’s ensures that two nominees of presbytery are governor trustees.

Rev Alastair Dunlop (Howth and Malahide) and Rev Andrew Gill (St Andrew’s Blackrock and Bray) join a committed group of lay-governors to keep the College on its journey, a journey where there was once no path, to leave a meaningful trail others can follow.

John Ingram is adviser to the Board of Governors of St Andrew’s College and a former governor.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Compassion & care at Christmas

Jason Nicholson highlights the work of the Presbyterian Children’s Society.

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oday, when many people think about Christmas, they often associate it with popular on-screen characters such as Buddy the elf, the Grinch, Scrooge, or even the Muppets. However, the very first Christmas is marked by a different cast of characters. We discover that those on the edges find themselves at the centre of the action, and the unimportant are given starring roles.

In contrast to Hollywood, the Holy Scriptures present a different narrative; one in which the world is turned upside down, or rather right side up.

It’s a distinctive and engaging story in which we encounter many varied individuals – Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Wise Men – each one trying to navigate their way through a world that had almost lost its sense of hope. Theirs was a world not unlike ours today.

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Fear to favour

Yet here, in this sleepy town, preparing to be married, Mary received life-changing news: “The angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favour with God. See! You are to become a mother and have a son.

You are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30–31).

In response, she nervously asked: “How can this happen?” (v34). Her plans had been interrupted and at that moment, despite any heavenly reassurance, Mary didn’t yet fully understand all that would eventually unfold.

Like Mary, many of the applications to the Society for help detail similar unforeseen interruptions. Situations which may be far less dramatic than Mary’s, but no less difficult. Whether it’s a widow caring for three children, or a father experiencing long-term illness, the Society, for almost 160 years, has helped many Presbyterian

Mary, one of our central characters, was a young woman from an obscure town called Nazareth. It was uncelebrated, often characterised by a common Jewish sentiment in the first century: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” ( John 1:46).

The Christmas story is one of faith-in-action, and so too is the Christian life.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

children and their families through challenging times.

Faith to action Practical help, complemented by congregational pastoral care, is essential. The Apostle James clearly understood this biblical principle of care: “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless” ( James 2:14–17).

Eugene Patterson’s paraphrase helps to convey powerfully the necessity to do something when confronted by need: “…God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense”.

For Mary, her thoughts turned quickly to action: “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say” (Luke 1:38).

Mary gave her body to bear God’s Son (Luke 1:26–38). She relinquished her own ambitions and submitted to God’s plan. The Christmas story is one of faith-in-action, and so too is the Christian life. It’s also a story about a great arrival; presence not presents!

Presence not presents Christmas is God’s reminder that he is with us; a promise provided both at Jesus’ birth, and later before his ascension to heaven: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Just as Mary was reassured on her journey to Bethlehem

by Joseph’s presence, we too are comforted, when facing tough times, by the presence and support of others.

The Society, through its regular and exceptional grants, helps to illustrate this important principle.

Providing grants to support around 910 children in 440 families, the Society espouses compassion and fosters a sense of belonging to a Christian community that cares. It is this symbolism and the generous spirit with which the Society administers its grants that is a key aspect of its continued relevance. Beginning its work in 1866 by helping 175 ‘orphans’ (27 of whom had lost both parents), the Society is today helping children from a wide range of backgrounds, including bereavement, separation and divorce, single parenthood, disability, long-term hospital care, prison or unemployment.

In every case, our intention is to ‘get alongside’ families, and to demonstrate unqualified compassion and care.

On receiving their grant, one child poignantly remarked, “Mum, the Church did not fail us when we needed them most.”

There for you…

Another important feature of the Christmas story is availability, captured

brilliantly in the surprising stage appearance of the lowly shepherds.

Smelling like sheep, and looking just as woolly, shepherds were often overlooked because of their social status. They were conscientious, willing to spend the night with their flocks.

We won’t, however, find their staffs in a museum, or their writings in a library.

Despite this, the angels reserved their most magnificent announcement for these most unlikely of recipients.

Today, throughout PCI, ministers care for their flocks of people with

Giving to meet the needs of others in our Presbyterian community is essential, especially during these economically challenging times. Last year, the Society provided £680,000 in grants to Presbyterian families in need. This year, the need for sustaining and increasing our income is even greater. May we, like the shepherds, who hurried to Bethlehem to greet their new-born King, display the same sense of urgency to support the needs of children and young people of our Church.

Last year, the Society provided £680,000 in grants to Presbyterian families in need.

Jason Nicholson is Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Children’s Society.

the same quiet dedication to service.

As under-shepherds to the Great Shepherd, our ministers and other pastoral personnel sensitively administer grants on behalf of the Society. They are not mere conduits, but rather gatekeepers, guarantors of CARE FOR FAMILIES confidentiality and faithful In 2023, we gave £679,438 in grants to help Presbyterian child ren. pastoral carers. This Today, we currently help willingness to be available around 910 children in 450 Presbyteria n families throughout Ireland. is critical in getting Please make a donation support out to families to support our ongoing work. when they need it most.

COMPASSION FOR

CHILDREN

Caring community Motivated to serve by the Apostle Paul’s ‘body-community’ motif in 1 Corinthians 12:26, and supported by our ministers who, like the shepherds in the fields over Bethlehem, ‘keep watch’, the Society remains committed to meeting the needs of Presbyterian children and young people.

Contact our office or visit our website for more informa tion.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 3737 Email: info@presbyterianchildr enssociety.org Web: www.presbyterianchildre nssociety.org

Registered with The Charity

Commission for Northern

Ireland NIC101444

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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REVIEWS

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

A Drummer Boy Christmas LIVE For King & Country CINEMA EVENT 12 DECEMBER

««««« ««« «« For King & Country is an awardwinning duo, made up of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone.

Originally from Australia, the brothers emigrated as children to the United States and now reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

For one night only – 12 December – audiences in the UK and Ireland will have the chance to experience the band’s Christmas concert at participating cinemas.

The brothers have over a billion global streams and four Grammy awards to their name and have collaborated with some big stars, like Dolly Parton and Jordin Sparks.

This concert was filmed at their 2022 holiday tour in the States and is an impressive spectacle, visually and musically. As well as Christmas favourites like O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Joy to the World, and Little Drummer Boy, there are also plenty of the band’s top hits, including God Only Knows and For God is With Us. Joel Smallbone said of the event: “There’s something powerful about this season that brings people together, and we hope to share that joy and hope with our fans across the pond.”

Fans will be excited to experience one of the band’s concerts on the big screen, but it’s also a chance for anyone keen to get into the Christmas mood to enjoy a night out that celebrates the true meaning of the festive season.

SH

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

Dementia and the Church Mary McDaniel Cail FORTRESS PRESS

£16.99

««««« «««« «

Rates of dementia are rising. We likely all know someone with dementia or we may have dementia ourselves. This comprehensive book is a practical guide for church leaders and members into this condition which can be so isolating for both the person with dementia and for their carers.

The author says the purpose of the book “is to help churches become a refuge of comfort and support for people who live with dementia”. The book does this well by weaving stories throughout of people living with dementia, including the author’s own father. She outlines what dementia is, the main types and stages, what those with dementia may fear and gives insights into changing roles and relationships within the church.

The author recognises that becoming a dementia-friendly church is a process and includes learning more about dementia, finding out what people would like and need from the church, offering new approaches to worship that better serve people with dementia and providing practical help.

Informed compassion should encompass everything a church does in becoming dementia-friendly. This approach underpins the range of supports and programmes outlined in the book and despite some of the suggestions being more manageable for larger churches, everyone would benefit from the communication tips provided, which were a particular strength of the book.

This is an important read which will guide churches to ensure that all people with dementia and their carers are valued and supported.

LMcC

Church Music Phillip Magness LEXHAM PRESS

£16.99

«««««

Is your congregation singing with vigour and conviction? Is what we sing helping our faith to grow? Is our singing understood as a means of evangelising to those who have yet to know Jesus? This book, a recent addition to the series ‘Lexham Ministry Guides – For the care of souls’, examines a frequently contentious matter, explaining why debates about style divert our attention from what is really important.

The author, a cantor and missionary from the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, refers frequently to the Bible and personal experience to explain why we must sing, what we may be getting wrong and how we could do better. He recounts how diplomatic and innovative responses to problems he has encountered, and which any minister or church musician may face, have won allies and solved practical problems.

Of all the books I have read on the subject, this is the one most likely to be well received by all ministers and church musicians, regardless of what style, ‘contemporary’ or ‘traditional’, one is more at home with. Advocates of both genres are reminded that we all are prone to error. Elders would also benefit from reading this book before making decisions affecting music ministry.

Long ago we dissented from our Calvinist attitude to church music and adopted one closer to that advocated by Luther. In our evolving thinking we failed to provide for our musicians many of the support structures and training that are available in other denominations. This book would go some way to rectifying that deficit.

PG

REVIEWERS

SB – Stephen Bleakley serves as an elder in Cavanaleck Church in Fivemiletown LMcC – Lois McCrea is a member of Howth and Malahide Presbyterian

Let Earth Receive Her King Alistair Begg THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY

£8.99

««««« ««« ««

Christmas is coming, you deserve a treat and perhaps this is it!

Let Earth Receive Her King is a joyous and thought-provoking journey through the story of Jesus’ birth. A supernatural and wondrous event which author Alistair Begg describes as “filled with angels, predictions and miracles”.

Yet this is so much more than a simple, if faithful, retelling of the first Christmas.

Though not intentionally so, it is that real rarity, a thoroughly Presbyterian book, as on every page it considers, collates and gives context to Christmas through the whole of Scripture.

In his introduction, Begg declares his intentions: “The Bible is a two-act drama and to start at the gospels, is to join at the interval”. Beginning at Genesis 1:1 and progressing by 25 daily devotions to the Book of Revelation, day by day, we see the unfolding of God’s gracious salvation plan. From before the beginning of time, to the end of this human world, he, who is to be the baby of Bethlehem, is present on every page.

So, this Advent season, begin early, put up the Christmas tree, string the fairy lights and sample a mince pie, but perhaps also order and begin to read Let Earth Receive Her King. As you read, allow the wonder and glory of God to illuminate and permeate your Christmas. Truly, Immanuel – God with us.

Chapter 21 of this book is ‘Christmas in 11 words’: “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” (Titus 2:11). Go on, give yourself a Christmas treat, buy the book.

SB

PG – Peter Gray is a member of Knock Presbyterian RB – Ruth Bromley is PCI’s children’s development officer SH – Sarah Harding is editor of the Herald RD – Ruth Dalzell is coordinator of youth ministry and congregational discipleship in Second Comber

Hallelujah! It’s Christmas Phil Wickham

AVAILABLE VIA STREAMING SERVICES

««««« «««« « This jam-packed album is full of old Christmas favourites, alongside new music to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Phil Wickham is a renowned Christian singer-songwriter who has written many popular songs we sing in our churches such as This is Amazing Grace, House of the Lord and Battles Belong while also releasing many albums.

Joni Eareckson Tada Kristyn Getty THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY

£6.99

«««««

This new book is part of a great series of stories about the real lives of some ordinary Christians who have done extraordinary things as they have been used by God. Each book tells the story of a Christian (all female) who has either travelled overseas or been involved in sharing the good news of Jesus with others, and has done amazing things as they have followed God.

One of the things I love about this album is how Wickham has woven so many classic Christmas melodies into the new songs he has written. This adds to the warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia as you listen to familiar tunes and lyrics.

There are reimagined versions of God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen, Silent Night and Deck the Halls alongside new songs like A Cradle in Bethlehem (which features his brother, Evan), Worth the Wait and Manger Throne.

All these songs point to the promised coming of Jesus, as God’s Saviour and Redeemer. So many of these songs have rich biblical truths as part of the lyrics, helping us to understand the importance and wonder of Jesus’ birth.

Only one criticism from my husband – for a Christmas album, there aren’t enough sleigh bells! Even still, get ready to have some new Christmas favourites.

RD

This new addition to the series tells the story of Joni Eareckson Tada, who at the age of 17, dived into a lake, broke her neck and became paralysed in a terrible accident. Joni went from being an active, sporty teenager to being wheelchair bound, unable to move her legs and barely able to use her arms. The story goes on to share how her faith in God helped and how she has been used by God to tell many people about him.

I first read the story of Joni Eareckson Tada as a teenager and found her life and faith hugely inspiring, so I think it’s great that there is a book for children to read and see how God can use someone who has so many challenges to do great things for him.

Each book in the series is written by a different author. This one has been written

by Kristyn Getty, from Northern Ireland.

There are also free additional resources to go alongside the book available from www.thegoodbook.co.uk RB

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IN THIS MONTH...

Dec ’94/ Jan ’95

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

Jesus, the church and disability

The teachings of Christ challenge us in many practical ways. One such teaching is found in Luke 14:12–14.

In its context Jesus teaches a Pharisee that instead of inviting his friends, relatives and neighbours, the rich and comfortable of society to lunch or dinner, he should invite the people on the margins of society.

He lists these as people who are poor, physically disabled, blind etc…

Northern Ireland has a much higher percentage of disabled per head of population than does Britain (figures 17.4% adult population NI, compared to 14% adult population GB). With this fact in Building communities mind, I wonder how many of us could count a person with a Ian McDowell, General Secretary of Christian Aid severe disability as one of our close friends? If the answer is as NI and a minister in the Presbyterian Church.

I suspect that many of us could not, then I would contend that people with disabilities are still marginalised, if not from all In 1993 the Christmas sections of society then at least from the church. This is a situation appeal raised £250,000. which should concern us greatly… in New Testament times a In addition, the special mark of the church was its inclusivity of all sections of society. appeal, supported by the In the light of all this then we must ask does the teaching of Moderator, which was Jesus…have something to say to the church? I think it does. There launched in August in are enough clear moral parallels in the situation that we must response to the needs sit up and take notice. The challenge to Christians is to become of Rwanda has raised involved – to meet with and to befriend people. To enjoy and to a record sum of over affirm their value as persons created in God’s image and to share £250,000. with them the life that God has imparted to us in Christ…

Throughout our Church there is widespread support for those who are forced to live in poverty or who suffer because of war, drought, persecution or natural disaster. This is as it should be… …The World Development Committee selects programmes and projects which fit in with their theme for the year…The money is not primarily given to expatriates to spend in order to help people, but to properly approved groups who are planning and working to improve their own conditions… it is used to strengthen the poor so that they can manage their own lives…

We all share in a wealthy community, which Saintfield Road, Belfast shows its wealth more at Christmas than at any Rev Alistair Bill is photographed here, second from right, other time…What better time to take action after his installation in Saintfield Road Presbyterian ourselves for those who do not share in a wealthy Church, Belfast. Also in the photograph are, from left, community or whose community is riven by Rev J.L. Heaney (convener), Rev W.J. Orr (moderator of strife?... presbytery) and Rev H. Courtney (clerk).

Also from Dec ’94/Jan ’95 48

Nobel Peace Prize presented to Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin

Herald December 2024/January 2025

Russian troops enter Chechnya

John Bruton becomes Taoiseach

LIFE IN PCI

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

County comes to First As part of its harvest thanksgiving weekend, First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church held a ‘County comes to First’ event.

Members of the County Down congregation and the local community brought along farm animals, vintage/modern tractors, and classic cars.

Refreshments were served in the church hall, along with children’s activities and games and traditional bread baking. Rev Kenny Hanna and Simon Walsh, from PCI’s Rural Chaplaincy team, were in attendance too.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for the local community to gather together, along with family, friends and neighbours, in a social setting, to celebrate the harvest thanksgiving.

Top left: Rev Kenny Hanna and Simon Walsh, from PCI’s Rural Chaplaincy team.

Left: David McDowell with children Lucy and George along with granny Janice Bell at the Weir’s Milk stand.

Right: Elaine Weir, of Weir’s Milk, pictured with Simon Walsh, from the PCI Rural Chaplaincy team, and Neville Ross, of Edenagarry Eggs.

Moderator visits former charge PCI Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, recently conducted Sunday morning worship in a packed joint service for Hilltown and Clonduff Presbyterian Churches.

For Dr Murray, the occasion marked a return to his former charge, and he was able to catch up with former congregation members at a buffet lunch attended by 150 people. At that lunch, speeches reflecting on Dr Murray’s ongoing legacy from his ministry days in the Iveagh Presbytery churches were given.

During his visit, Dr Murray offered prayers of dedication for Clonduff Presbyterian’s new kitchen renovation.

Dr Murray and his wife, Lynn, received gifts as tokens of appreciation and respect. These

were presented by one of the senior members of Hilltown and by the teenage boys who were the last infants to be baptised during Richard’s ministry in the linkage.

Below left: Rev Ken Nelson (vacancy convener) greets the Moderator. Robert Graham (Clonduff elder) and Lynn Murray are also pictured.

Right: Dr Richard Murray with Shirley Morehead (Clonduff committee member), who organised the catering for the Moderator’s visit, and Marlene Nelson (convener’s wife) in the newly renovated kitchen in Clonduff hall.

Below right: Shirley Morehead (Clonduff committee member), Robert Graham (Clonduff elder), Lynn Murray, the Moderator and Mary Johnston (Hilltown secretary).

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LIFE IN PCI

New elders in Second Dromara The ordination and installation of new elders has taken place at Second Dromara Presbyterian Church, County Down. The new elders – Samuel Bingham, Irene Burrows, Steven Cuthbertson and Jeffrey Patterson – are pictured in the front row. Back row: Herbie Chambers (elder in Second Dromara), Les Carson (elder, Second Dromara), Richard Kernaghan (clerk of session in Second Dromara), Dr Allen Sleith (convener of Second Dromara) and Rev Bob Allely (stated supply).

Faithful service marked in Magheramason

Clogherney retirements

Special service in Roseyards

Mr and Mrs Robert Clarke, who have retired after many years of dedicated service as Free Will Offering secretaries of Clogherney Presbyterian Church, received gifts on behalf of the County Tyrone congregation from Rev Robert McFaul who paid warm tribute to their faithful work.

PCI Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, recently conducted a special 20th anniversary service for Rev Mark Jones, minister of Roseyards Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. Also pictured are members of Session in the County Antrim church.

Rev Graeme Orr is pictured with his wife Mandy and their sons Jonathan, Samuel, Reuben and Benjamin at a reception at Magheramason Presbyterian Church, which was held to celebrate and mark 10 years of faithful ministry in the County Tyrone church.

Retirement in Tandragee Tandragee organist and choir master Warren Brown retired earlier this year having served faithfully for 21 years. The congregation bade him a sad but grateful farewell at a service of praise and thanksgiving for his unstinting and professional contribution to the praise life of the County Armagh church. Mr Brown is pictured (centre front) with choir members, present and past.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

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

Competition in South Kirk The children and young people of South Kirk, Belfast, took part in an art and poetry competition based on John Bunyan’s classic Christian story, Pilgrim’s Progress. Pictured with some of the children are Rev Ivan Steen (minister of South Kirk), Sunday school lead Lauren Bingham (in the foreground) and in the back row, Anne Millar, one of the competition judges.

Birthday milestone in north Belfast Elwyn Wilson celebrated his 100th birthday recently. Clerk of session in Woodvale Presbyterian Church from 1961 to 1993, and an elder there from 1952 to 2000, Mr Wilson now resides in Clifton House residential care home with his second wife, Margaret. He is pictured with Rev Michael Rutledge (moderator of North Belfast Presbytery), Kathryn Wonnacott (granddaughter), Heather Porter (daughter) and Jenny Frazer (granddaughter).

Presentation in Mosside A presentation was made recently to John McAllister on the occasion of his retirement as treasurer of Mosside Presbyterian Church, a position he held for 29 years. He was presented with a gift and cheque by the minister of the County Antrim congregation, Rev André Alves-Areias, who thanked Mr McAllister and his wife Lorna for all their hard work and dedication to this important role in the life of the church.

Ryans treasurer retires Jackie Dodds (right) recently retired after serving for a number of years as congregational treasurer for Ryans Presbyterian. He is pictured being presented with a gift from the County Down congregation by Rev Brian Colvin.

County Tyrone choirs perform Mountjoy and Drumlegagh joint choirs performed a night of Christian music and song to a full auditorium in the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh recently.

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2025 Calendar

Featuring scenes from across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the calendar will be a useful addition to the home or office.

Only £5/€5 each (including postage) To order please visit: www.presbyterianireland.org/pcicalendar or call +44 (0)28 9041 7297

CROSSWORD Puzzle no 294 1

2

solution on page 50 3

4

5

8

6

7

9

10

11

13

14

12

16

15

17

18 20

19 21

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compiled by Harry Douglas

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

ACROSS 1 One hump or two (5) 4 Messenger from God (7) 8 Native of Oslo (9) 9 Spanish sun (3) 10 Russian mountain range (5) 11 Most straightforward (7) 13 Unable to be heard (9) 15 Zero score (3) 16 We are this in God’s eyes (8) 20 Cold store! (7) 21 Valuable item (5) 22 American National Park (11)

DOWN 1 Roman officer (9) 2 This helps you work, rest and play! (4,1,3) 3 Welsh veg (5) 4 Often comes before a fall (5) 5 Porky noises (5) 6 Rapidity (5) 7 A “snitch” (8) 12 To be unwell (3) 14 Mix (5) 15 Naming words (5) 16 Keyboard instrument (5) 17 American state (5) 18 This was rent in two (4) 19 Public school mess! (4) 20 Green creeper (3)

REFLECTIONS

A wonderful treasure Niall Lockhart Studies in 1 Corinthians (2:6–16)

T

he Presbyterian Church in Ireland has always understand his Word (vv11–12); quickens his people to been an outward looking Church. When I was spiritual realities within his Word (v13); and equips his a student at Union, I spent a summer in Malawi people to make wise judgments, at any moment in time, in and one Saturday, while there, I got to be part of the light of his Word (v15). a ‘village mission team’. It was a memorable experience; a Writing over a century ago, Herman Bavinck described joyful procession of young people stepping out together Scripture as being both ‘God breathed’ and ‘God breathing’. on mission. As they went, they sang these words: “I’ve a In any context, culture or generation, God gives his Spirit wonderful treasure, gift of God without measure, we are to guide his church as to how it should apply his Word anew travelling together, my Bible and I.” regarding the church’s identity and the direction upon which The church in Corinth was a church birthed in mission. it is set.

Faithful, clear, and relevant proclamation Central to a Reformed understanding of the atoning work of Christ upon the …we are gospel people of Scripture is a confidence that God’s cross had both confronted the culture Word is clear regarding all that we need and given birth to a living church (Acts but…not every issue, on “to know, believe and observe in order to 18:4–8, 1 Corinthians 2:2). which we might disagree, be saved” (Westminster Confession 1:7).

Now, however, the church at Corinth This gives great unifying focus, joyful is a gospel issue. was a church standing at a crossroads. confidence, and clear direction of travel, Pressures from without and tensions for a church that is seeking to step out within placed this church at a moment in its life when it together in mission. faced crucial decisions about its identity and the direction However, alongside this is an acknowledgement that “the upon which it was set. meanings of all passages in the Bible are not equally obvious” The Apostle Paul writes into this context in 1 Corinthians (Westminster Confession 1:7). In practice this means 2:6–16. Here he urges his readers to reflect deeply upon faithful Christians committed to the authority of Scripture, the nature of God’s revealed Word; the treasure on which the primacy of the gospel, and the Lordship of Christ in the the church had been built, and by which it was being called church will, on certain matters, differ in their understanding forward to maturity. of what faithfulness to God’s Word requires. It has always In God’s Word we find “a message” to be believed and been a confessional commitment of Irish Presbyterianism proclaimed (v6). We find “wisdom” revealed that otherwise that we are gospel people but that not every issue, on which would be hidden and inaccessible to us (v7). We meet a we might disagree, is a gospel issue. crucified Saviour, “the Lord of glory” (v8).

God’s Word is a wonderful treasure, his gift to us without Paul could have taken these things as read. He had in measure. As we travel on as a denomination, 1 Corinthians times past spent a full year and a half teaching the church holds out a vision of what it means to be an outward at Corinth (Acts 18:11). We imagine he could simply looking, living, church. Here is a vision of a gospel centred have assumed the Corinthian church’s commitment to the church, tangibly committed to God’s Word and the glory Bible and the gospel and instead used his time to speak to of Christ. Here is a vision of a unified church, joyful and them about other things. Paul, however, does not make this careful in our commitment to each other, as the Spirit leads assumption, rather he contends afresh for these foundational us forward in the culture, context, and days, in which God is commitments, commitments which every generation must calling us together, to participate in his mission to the world. lay hold of and learn to treasure for themselves.

Having set out what God’s Word is in verses 6–10a, Paul moves on in verses 10b–16 to enliven his reader’s Rev Niall Lockhart is minister of Ballyhenry Presbyterian expectations as to what Scripture does.

Church.

Alongside his Word, God has given his church his Spirit (v10). It is the Spirit of God who enables God’s people to Herald December 2024/January 2025

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Festival of Scripture Banners “We lift up our banners in the name of God.” Psalm 20:5

A display of banners depicting the seasonal life of the church, interpreted in textiles using patchwork and embroidery techniques at Second Presbyterian Church Comber, Killinchy Street Comber BT23 5AP Friday 16 May to Friday 6 June 2025 Opening service: Friday 16 May 2025 at 7.30pm followed by refreshments.

All welcome!

Saturdays 17 May to 31 May 11am–4.30pm Sundays 18 May to 1 June 2pm–4pm For weekday bookings during festival period from Monday 19 May to Friday 6 June, please contact Eleanor on

07883 234206

Donations welcome for Mission outreach and Manse Fund

Presbyter an CHURCH IN IRELAND

Appointment of Conveners of General Assembly Committees Applications are invited for the convenerships of the following General Assembly Committees: Support Services Committee under the General Council Congregational Witness Committee under the Council for Congregational Life and Witness Congregational Life Committee under the Council for Congregational Life and Witness Programme, Finance and Coordination Committee under the Council for Congregational Life and Witness These positions are open to ministers, elders and communicant members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Further information for these posts can be obtained from the Deputy Clerk, David Allen, at the email address below or telephone +44 (0)28 9041 7204.

Application forms may be downloaded from the PCI website at www.presbyterianireland.org/convenerships Completed applications should be forwarded no later than 5pm on Friday 14 February 2025 to: deputyclerk@presbyterianireland.org or by post to The Deputy Clerk, Assembly Buildings, 2–10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast BT1 6DW.

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

TI

GETTY MUSIC PRESENTS

CK

L ET I M I S T RE ED M AI N

IN

G

KEITH & KRISTYN GETTY F E AT U R I N G

NEW IRISH CHOIR & ORCHESTRA P LU S S P E C I A L G U E ST S

FRI DAY 2 0 TH D ECEM B E R SOLD OUT

Tickets on sale at www.ticketmaster.ie

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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.

RATHGAR – CHRIST CHURCH: REV LORRAINE KENNEDY-RITCHIE: Mr Paul Fry, 44 Monolea Wood, Firhouse, Dublin 24, D24 A2V3.

ARMAGH, FIRST & TASSAGH: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV JOANNE SMITH: (Armagh First) Mr Ian Kyle, 8 Drummanmore Road, Armagh, BT61 8RN. (Tassagh) Mr Philip Crozier, 68 Bachelors Walk, Keady, Armagh, BT60 2NA.

RALOO and MAGHERAMORNE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV ANDREW WATSON: (Raloo) Mr Geoff McBride, 72 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DU. (Magheramorne) Mr Morris Gardner, 89 Ballypollard Road, Magheramorne, Larne, BT40 3JG.

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.

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.

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

WOODLANDS: REV J. MOXEN: Dr Ian Drysdale, 27 Windslow Heights, Carrickfergus, BT38 9AT.

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

2. LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

BUSHMILLS: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 years) 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.

DROMORE and DRUMQUIN: REV E.T. FRAZER: (Dromore) Mr Lynden Keys, 25 New Park Road, Dromore, Omagh, BT78 3JU. (Drumquin) Dr Paul Booth, 54 Bradan Road, Drumquin, Omagh, BT78 4QQ.

CLOUGH, BALLYMENA: REV T.D. KANE: Mr Ian Johnston, 48 Springmount Road, Ballymena, BT44 9RB.

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

CORBOY and MULLINGAR: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV DR K.D. McCRORY: (Mullingar) Mr Wilson Porter, Joristown, Ruharney, Kilucan, Co Westmeath, N91 A344. (Corboy) Mr Christiaan Potgieter, 2 Pine Grove, Clonbalt Woods, Longford.

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.

DONABATE: ASSOCIATE (Reviewable Tenure – 3 years) REV ANDY CARROLL:

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

DONEGAL TOWN and STRANORLAR: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV ROBERT ORR: (Donegal Town) Mr Oswald Perry, Drumenagh, Donegal Town, F94 N7P8. (Stranorlar) Mrs Audrey Chambers, Magheracorran, Convoy, Co Donegal.

SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED

DUNFANAGHY and CARRIGART: (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission Project REV T.J. BRUCE: (Dunfanaghy) Mr John Sterritt, Moss Road, Cashelshanaghan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, F92 TV21. (Carrigart) Mrs Joy Buchanan, Figart, Carrigart, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO. GLASTRY: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV J. ROGERS: Mr James McClements, 21 New Harbour Road, Portavogie, BT22 1EE. LEGACURRY: REV A.J. THOMPSON: Mr J. Ferguson, 142 Comber Road, Lisburn, BT27 6XQ. LOUGHGALL and TARTARAGHAN: REV ALASTAIR McNEELY: (Loughgall) Mr James MacQueen, 114 Moy Road, Portadown, BT62 1SA. (Tartaraghan) Mr Norman Cornett, 11 Cloncarrish Road, Portadown, Craigavon, BT62 1RN. LUCAN: REV A. CARROLL: Mr Ian Scott, 22 Willsbrook Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin, K78 AP57.

NEWTOWNARDS, GREENWELL STREET: REV S.W. ORR: David Francis, 29 Beverley Walk, Newtownards, BT23 7UQ. OMAGH, TRINITY and GILLYGOOLEY: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV JANE NELSON: (Trinity) Mrs Claire McElhinney, 112 Clanabogan Road, Omagh, BT78 1SN. (Gillygooley) Mr Raymond Smyth, 82 Gillygooley Road, Omagh, BT78 5PX. PORTRUSH: REV DR JOHN COULTER: Prof John Gillespie, 12 Randal Park, Portrush, BT56 8JJ.

56

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.

Herald December 2024/January 2025

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 ANAGHLONE and GARVAGHY: REV D. CONKEY: (Anaghlone) Mr John Logan, 4 Bluehill Road, Katesbridge, Banbridge, BT32 5LU. (Garvaghy) Mr James Smyth, 35 Tullyglush Road, Banbridge, BT32 3TN. 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 and KILLALA: (Home Mission) REV D.J. CLARKE: Mr Geoffrey Shannon, Robin Hill, Carraun, Corballa, Ballina, Co Mayo, F26 A070.

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 BALLYCASTLE: REV G.W.M. GLASGOW: Pat Shirley, 22 Dunamallaght Rd, Ballycastle, BT54 6PB. BALLYKEEL: REV R.A. MORRISON: Mr T. Simpson, 163 Crebilly Road, Ballymena, BT42 4DP. 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. 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: REV B.J. WALKER: Mr Brian Dunwoody, 19 Drumart Drive, Belfast, BT8 7ET. BLOOMFIELD: REV GRAEME KENNEDY: Mr John McKibbin, 19 Rosepark Central, Belfast, BT5 7RN. BOARDMILLS, TRINITY: REV JOHN TORRENS: Mr Adrian Patterson, 41 Cabra Road, Legacurry, BT26 6NB. CASTLEDERG, SECOND AND URNEY: REV ROBERT McFAUL: (Second Castlederg) Mr Bert Huey, Tossa, 8 Listymore Road, Castlederg, BT81 7JG. (Urney) Mr Norman McMullan, 80 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QT. CAVANALECK & AUGHENTAINE: REV RODNEY BEACOM: (Cavanaleck) Dr Charles McKibbin, 9 Tattenabuddagh Lane, Fivemiletown, BT75 0NW. (Aughentaine) Mr John McCrory, Screeby Road, Fivemiletown, BT75 0TP. CROAGHMORE: REV DENIS BANNERMAN: Mr Andy McGugan, 158 Whitepark Road, Bushmills, BT57 8SS. CRUMLIN: REV STEPHEN McNIE: Mr James Livingstone, “Edin”, 56 Largy Road, Crumlin, BT29 4RW. CUMBER and UPPER CUMBER: REV J.R. KERNOHAN: (Cumber) Mr Cecil Pollock, 248 Tamnaherin Road, Londonderry, BT47 3LY. (Upper Cumber) Mr Jack McFarland, 12 Cregg Road, Claudy, Londonderry, BT47 4HX. DONEGORE, SECOND: REV E. McDOWELL: Mr Samuel Gawn, 120 Parkgate Road, Kells.

DROMARA, FIRST: REV M. DAVIDSON: Mr I. McCullagh, 10 Mullaghdrin Road, Dromara, BT25 2AF. DROMARA, SECOND: REV DR A. SLEITH: 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. DUNMURRY & KILMAKEE: REV S. STOCKMAN: (Dunmurry) Rev Gilbert Young, 39 Saintfield Road, Lisburn, BT27 5BH. (Kilmakee) Mr Alastair White, 94 Greenburn Way, Lambeg, Lisburn, BT27 4LU.

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.

GARRYDUFF and DUNLOY: REV C.B. MULVENNY: (Garryduff ) Mr Stanley Lee, 12 Cambourne Park, Ballymoney, BT53 7PG. (Dunloy) Mr Jonathan Gault, c/o 26–28 Church Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6DL. GLASCAR and DONAGHMORE: REV M. McMAW: (Glascar) Mr Alan Little, 38 Loughbrickland Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HF. (Donaghmore) Mr David Shilliday, 21 Cargabane Road, Donaghmore, Newry, BT34 1SB. HYDEPARK and LYLEHILL: REV DEREK WEIR: (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.

KELLS & ESKYLANE: REV M.J.R. NEILLY: (Kells) Mr B. Turtle, 6 Appletree Lane, Kellswater, Ballymena, BT42 2LS. (Eskylane) Mr S. McKee, 14 Eskylane Road, Antrim, BT41 2LL. KILREA, SECOND: REV KEITH HIBBERT: Mr John McIlrath, 9 Moyagoney Road, Kilrea, BT51 5SX. LOUGHBRICKLAND and SCARVA: REV DR MARK GRAY: (Loughbrickland) Mr Fred Cairns, 20 Scarva Street, Loughbrickland, Co Down. (Scarva) Mr Robert Jordan, 3 Station Rd, Scarva, Co Armagh, BT63 6JY. LISBURN, FIRST: VERY REV DR D. BRUCE: Miss Margaret Thompson, 2 Springhill Mews, Lisburn BT28 3QG. LURGAN, FIRST: REV L.W. WEBSTER: Mr Norman McCleery, 12 McCormack Gardens, Lurgan, BT66 8LE. MOIRA: REV DR M. COWAN: Mr Richard Brown, c/o Moira Presbyterian Church, 14–18 Meeting Street, Moira, BT67 0NR. MONEYDIG: REV R.S. McMULLAN: 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. PORTAVOGIE: REV G.J. SIMPSON: Mr Trevor Kennedy, 1 Cairndore Road, Newtownards, BT23 8RD. RANDALSTOWN, O.C.: REV CHRIS WILSON: Mr Alun Coulter, 48 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3DB. RAPHOE and BALLINDRAIT: REV R. EDGAR: Mrs Sylvia Cole, The Common, Raphoe, Donegal.

RATHCOOLE: REV A. CARSON: Mr Norman Creaney, 7 Coolshannagh Park, Newtownabbey, BT37 9LA. STRAND: REV M. BURNSIDE: Mr John Johnston, 7 Helgor Park, Belfast, BT4 2GG. TAUGHMONAGH (Church Extension) REV K.H. VINER: TOWNHILL: REV J.D. McGAUGHEY: Mr R. Dickey, 23 Grange Cottages, Toomebridge, BT41 3GR.

FAUGHANVALE: REV P. LINKENS: Mr Donald Montgomery, 25 Carnmoney Road, Eglinton, BT47 3JJ. continued on page 58

Herald December 2024/January 2025

57

CHURCH RECORD

CLASSIFIEDS

continued from page 57

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.

TRINITY, AHOGHILL: REV N.G. MULHOLLAND: Mr G. Knowles, 67 Tuppenny Road, Gracehill, Ballymena, BT42 2NW. TULLYCARNET: REV R.S.J. McILHATTON: VINECASH: REV PRINCIPAL MICHAEL McCLENAHAN: Mr Thomas Graham, 38 Richmount, Portadown, BT62 4JQ. WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR: REV J.S. MAGUIRE: (Warrenpoint) Mrs Heather Gray, 25 Donaghaguy Road, Warrenpoint, BT34 3RZ. (Rostrevor) Mrs Doreen Henderson, 14 Greenpark Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3EY. WATERSIDE: REV RICHARD TREGASKIS: Mr William McIlwaine, 19 Glenaden Hill, Altnagelvin Park, Londonderry, BT47 2LJ.

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT BALLYCAIRN: REV MORRIS GAULT: Mrs Lucy Mulholland, 32 Blenheim Park, Carryduff, BT8 8NN. 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. NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN: REV JONATHAN BOYD: (Newtownstewart) Mr David Dunbar, 32 Main Street, Newtownstewart, BT78 4AA. (Gortin) Mr Adrian Adams, 32 Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Omagh, BT79 7UE. RASHARKIN: REV W. MOODY: Mr Norbury Royle, 96 Drumsaragh Road, Kilrea, BT51 5XR. SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET: REV DAVID BINGHAM: (Spa) Mr Stephen McBride, 28 Ballynahinch Road, Castlewellan, BT31 9PA. (Magherahamlet) Mr David Whan, 74 Castlewellan Road, Dromara, BT25 2JN. WHITEHEAD: REV P. BOVILL: Mr Warren Heggan, 44 Middle Road, Islandmagee, Larne, BT40 3SL.

THE MINISTRY Retired: Very Rev Dr Frank Sellar, as Minister of Bloomfield, on 3 November 2024 Rev Philip McCullough, as Minister of Townhill, on 31 October 2024

THE ELDERSHIP Ordained and Installed: DRUMACHOSE: Anne Haslett HAZELBANK, COLERAINE: Norman Black Jnr, Jeff Haslett, Alan Marshall Retired: BALLYRASHANE: Norman O’Neill, John Calvin FIRST DUNBOE: Jim Pollock HAZELBANK, COLERAINE: Jill Curry, Ken Ford MAGILLIGAN: Norris McCracken NEW ROW, COLERAINE: Timothy Connor, Robert (Bobby) Holmes SECOND LIMAVADY: Elizabeth McLaughlin Died: BALLYRASHANE: Robin Kyle MONEYDIG: James (Jim) Topping

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Herald December 2024/January 2025

PRES HERALD Quarter page.pdf

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