Presbyterian Herald March 2018

MARCH 2018

a lifeless ordinary

WHOLE LIFE WORSHIP Worship that extends beyond a Sunday morning

DISAGREEING WELL Have we lost the art of courteous debate?

CHRISTIANS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCE Recognising our internal bias

#noquestionof flimits

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WHY DOES A LOVING GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? DOESN’T EVOLUTION DISPROVE GOD? AREN’T ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME? WHY DOES GOD CARE HOW I LIVE?

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CONTENTS | MARCH 2018

FEATURES 16 Eastern European evangelism

Richhill congregation builds connections with Poland

18 My Place

United Appeal supports inclusive children’s ministry

20 Whole life worship

Worship that extends beyond a Sunday morning

22 Disagreeing well

Have we lost the art of courteous debate?

33 A Camino adventure

Rev. David Cupples shares a journey of a lifetime

36 Christians and cultural difference

A Camino adventure p.33

Recognising our internal bias

39 Hope for girls

A challenge for the church to be countercultural

REGULARS 4 6 8 9 13 14 15 24 25 42 44 48 49

Letters News In this month…

As I see it Life lessons My Story Arthur Clarke Talking Points Mission Connect Reviews Life in PCI Crossword Betsy Cameron

March 2018 No. 809 £1.00 (€1.20) 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

Christians and cultural difference p.36

Hope for girls p.39

CONTRIBUTORS Dr. David I. Smith is Director of Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College, Michigan. He is senior editor of the International Journal of Christianity and Education.

Ruth Sanderson lives in Co. Down with her husband Harry. She is a freelance radio/television presenter and producer.

Editor: Sarah Harding Subscriptions and Advertising: Elaine Huddleston; Lisa Skinner; Suzanne Hamilton Design and Layout: Edward Connolly Printing: Nicholson and Bass Ltd.

Dr. Claire Rush is a volunteer leader in Islandmagee Presbyterian GB, advocacy coordinator for Girls’ Brigade Ministries and vice-president of Girls’ Brigade International.

Rev. David Cupples is minister of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church. He is married to Rosie and father to Ellen and Peter.

The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor.

Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. The Editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertisements or letters.

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

Herald March 2018

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EDITORIAL

LETTERS Ministerial dress code

Building relationships

Poking fun at a well-known saying, comedian Steve Martin once said, “Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticise him, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes!”

Understanding and respecting others whose views are different to our own is a valuable character quality to possess. Unfortunately, as Ruth Sanderson highlights this month, the ability to disagree well is becoming a lost art.

With the advent of social media, it is easier to broadcast opinions behind the safety of a computer screen and therefore comments are often more vehement and less gracious. Ruth says, “The ability…to kick an opponent or make a point in 150 characters is the new ambition.”

Part of being able to metaphorically walk in someone else’s shoes is possessing the humility to acknowledge that we are not always right. Our opinions, whilst passionately felt, should not be immune from constructive, useful and courteous debate – something our denomination has always held dear.

Perhaps part of our inability to disagree well is our eagerness to assign labels to people. If someone holds a particular viewpoint on one issue, we easily assume their views on a whole host of other issues, as well as creating distance with a ‘them and us’ mentality.

The intriguing psychology behind this sort of behaviour is outlined by Dr. David Smith in his article, ‘Christians and cultural difference’, where he describes how we are culturally biased even before birth. The way we view others from different backgrounds has fascinating consequences for how we read the Bible and understand our faith.

Jesus certainly did not judge others and Dr. Smith focuses on the story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well (John 4) to illustrate this point. Throughout the gospels, we clearly see His counter-cultural example for how we should treat the ‘other’ in society.

Our God is a relational God and He must long for us to break down barriers and love others as we love ourselves.

PCI’s newly appointed Moderator-Designate, Rev. Charles McMullen, affirmed this last month after the election when he said, “The key word for me is ‘relationship’, our relationship with God in Christ, our relationship with one another in Christian community together and the sense of building relationships as we share the love of Christ with outsiders.”

Relationships are built on two-way communication, both sides essential for a fruitful outcome. As Dr. Smith says, “It turns out that I need my neighbour, and that a willingness to listen and not just proclaim is required by respect for the truth.”

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Herald March 2018

Dear Editor With reference to the Dec 2017/ Jan 2018 Herald, I was interested in the ‘Letters to the editor’ from Dec 85/Jan 86. What a pity we did not pay attention to Rev. Desmond Mock.

When I first attended the General Assembly around 1980, at least 50% of those attending were wearing clerical collars and the remainder were laity.

In the last couple of years one would have difficulty finding 20 clerical collars in the house.

This does not mean that there are less clergy in the house, just that they no longer wear their clerical collars. This lowering of standards is also evident in the way some members of the house approach the rostrum to speak in a debate. In recent years, it has become acceptable to go up in shirt sleeves and open collar.

My wife and I retired last year and moved from a rural church to a large urban church. Since we came here we have had a new minister installed. Not one Presbyterian minister there on the day was wearing a clerical collar. We had Church of Ireland, Methodist and Roman Catholic clerics there, all in clerical collars.

Rev. Mock also mentioned the ‘Geneva style’ preaching gown.

Apart from central table at the General Assembly, I cannot remember when I last saw a Presbyterian minister wearing a gown, Geneva or otherwise.

The present habit of not wearing the clerical collar is

also apparent in the dress code of ruling elders. It saddens me to see them distributing the elements at Communion services wearing jeans and open-necked shirts.

Perhaps some of the readers of the Herald can tell me why this lowering of standards appears to be confined to Presbyterian circles.

Elder emeritus Monaghan

Praise for Essentials

Dear Editor Having completed the ‘Essentials’ discipleship study, the members of First Omagh Presbyterian Church Bible study group asked that we communicate to those who developed this course their appreciation for an excellent, thought-provoking study.

The aim of Essentials is to encourage people to reflect on and live out the essentials of discipleship. Each of the eight studies had excellent Bible teaching, personal testimony from people living in and worshipping in both parts of Ireland, and opportunities to discuss the practical application of each passage. The local element was much appreciated, and many hope that the team which developed this resource would be encouraged to do something similar in the future. These studies produced thoughtful discussion and offered opportunities for people of all ages and of all stages in their Christian journey

Letters to the Editor Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org

to examine how they could develop further as disciples of Christ.

The quality of the material was excellent with professionally produced short films to accompany each study. The booklets were well designed and the guidance for reflection left opportunity for all participants to think about how it should impact on their lives. While cost should never be a factor, the low cost of this material means that it can be accessed by anyone.

The studies guided us from the call of Jesus through to the challenges of continuing our discipleship journey with Him. If your congregation

Please note: Letters are limited to 300 words and may be edited for clarity and length. They will only be published in the Herald if the author’s name and address have been supplied to the editor. On request these will be withheld from print. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The views expressed in the letters are not necessarily those of the Editor or PCI.

has not already adopted this study, we recommend highly that you give it your prayerful consideration.

J. Brian Wilson, convener of Discipleship Subcommittee Audrey M Hodge, clerk of session First Omagh Presbyterian Church

Ministers’ Wives’ Association Dear Editor I am writing to highlight an organisation within our Presbyterian Church which seeks to encourage the wives of ministers.

The Presbyterian Ministers’

Wives’ Association organises only two events so as not to put any further demands on those who are already deeply committed in the position of supporting their husband’s ministry at a local and presbytery level.

The Assembly lunch is held annually on the Thursday of Assembly Week. This year the date will be 7th June and will be held in Jurys Inn, which is located directly opposite Assembly Buildings (convenient to car parks and Europa bus and train stations).

Biannually we also organise a conference. The conference this year is entitled ‘Being a Woman of Influence’. We are delighted

to welcome Mrs. Linda King, the pastor’s wife in Calvary Baptist, as our speaker. This is being held in Assembly Buildings on Saturday, 10th March from 10am-2pm (morning coffee and scones on arrival and a twocourse buffet lunch is included in the cost of £20).

Invites go out though presbytery and salaries so if you do not receive them please ask your husband. These events are an ideal opportunity for the wives of ministers, licentiates and students for the ministry to meet together for fellowship and encouragement. We hope you will avail of them.

Marlene Nelson Secretary of Association

McMullen to be next Moderator The next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland will be Rev. Charles McMullen of West Church, Bangor, County Down.

Known as the Moderator-Designate, Mr. McMullen will officially take up office as the Church’s most senior office bearer and principal public representative when he is formally elected and installed as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the Assembly’s opening night in June.

The Church’s 19 presbyteries met independently across Ireland at the beginning of February to elect a successor to the current Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, from a list of three ministers.

The 57-year-old minister received nine votes and will be the Church’s fifth Moderator to come from Bangor and the 179th since the election of its first Moderator in 1840.

Speaking after the result, Mr. McMullen said, “I am simply overwhelmed to have been elected Moderator-Designate and commit myself to the Lord for His help and guidance over what I am sure will be an exciting, challenging and enriching year that lies ahead.”

The election takes place annually and this year there were three nominees who needed to receive a simple majority of votes from the 19 presbyteries to become Moderator-Designate.

Along with Mr. McMullen, Rev. Brian Boyd, of Kells and Eskylane, and Rev. William Henry, of Maze Presbyterian Church, were also nominated.

Mr. McMullen received nine votes from the presbyteries of Ards, North Belfast, South Belfast, East Belfast, Carrickfergus, Coleraine and Limavady, Derry and Donegal, Dublin and Munster, and Monaghan.

Six presbyteries – Ballymena, Down, Omagh, Route, Templepatrick and Tyrone – voted for Mr. Boyd while Mr. Henry received four votes from the presbyteries of Armagh, Dromore, Iveagh and Newry.

Born in Omagh, Mr. McMullen attended Omagh County Primary School and Omagh Academy, where he was head boy. Along with his family he worshipped at the town’s Trinity Presbyterian Church.

With a lifelong interest in languages, Mr. McMullen graduated with joint honours in French and German from Trinity College Dublin in 1982 and was awarded his MA in 1985. In 1982 he went to St. Antony’s College, Oxford where he studied Modern European History and completed his master’s degree by thesis in 1987. In the meantime (1984-1987), he attended the Church’s Union Theological College in Belfast.

On leaving Union, he was licensed in Trinity Presbyterian, Omagh in 1987 and ordained as assistant minister in Harmony Hill, Lambeg in 1988, before being called to Legacurry Presbyterian Church near Lisburn, where he was installed in 1991. In 1999 he became minister of Bangor West.

Talking about his call to the ministry, he said, “There is nothing as satisfying and fulfilling as sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others.

A definite call to the ministry began to take shape in my late teens during the ministry of Rev. Bill Clarke, who involved me in church services, allowing me to read lessons and prepare prayers and talks.”

In describing his ministry, Mr. McMullen said, “The key word for me is ‘relationship’, our relationship with God in Christ, our relationship with one another in Christian community together and the sense of building relationships as we share the love of Christ with outsiders.”

Bangor West, which was established in 1961, is a large congregation on the outskirts of the town, with some 1,100 families of around 2,700 people.

Describing his congregation, Mr. McMullen said, “West Church is characterised by loving relationships, deep spirituality with an emphasis on prayer, the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the simple joy of life itself. A diverse place that is home to traditionalists, evangelicals and charismatics, as well as people from many different Christian faith backgrounds. It is not a perfect place by any stretch of the imagination, but many continue to find a personal faith in Christ, healing, restoration and renewal, which is wonderful.

“At West, my overall passion is to see renewal come to the traditional church, finding new ways of expressing timeless truth to people of all generations so they can find fullness of life in Jesus Christ.”

He is married to Barbara (they met at the 1990 General Assembly) and have three adult children.

Herald March 2018

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NEWS | IN THE ROUND PCI in Church-State dialogue

The Moderator was among Church leaders who met Irish ministers as part of a ChurchState structured dialogue process.

Dr. Noble McNeely, along with Dr. Trevor Morrow (convener of PCI’s Republic of Ireland Panel) and Rev. Trevor Gribben (Clerk of the General Assembly), joined representatives of the Church of Ireland and Methodist Church in Ireland for the meeting with ministers in Government Buildings, Dublin.

After the meeting, Archbishop Richard Clarke, on behalf of the three Churches, said, “We welcomed the opportunity to meet the Taoiseach and his

ministers today as part of the Church-State dialogue, which we were assured will be a continuing and constructive two-way conversation. Our wide-ranging discussion included many of the most important and pressing social and ethical matters relating to contemporary Irish society.”

The agenda for the meeting included migration, direct provision and overseas aid, the impact of Brexit on Ireland and Northern Ireland, abortion and the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, homelessness, social housing and wider economic and education issues.

Delegation meets DUP At the end of January, the Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely led a PCI delegation to meet the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster MLA, and other DUP representatives at Parliament Buildings. Commenting after the meeting, Dr. McNeely said, “As a Church committed to working with others for the common good, we welcomed the opportunity to engage with political representatives and were pleased to be able to discuss a range of important issues facing our society.

The DUP leader said, “Churches and faith organisations have a huge role to play in Northern Ireland, dealing with a range of people in our society and communities.

“It is an encouragement to me and my DUP colleagues who were present at the meeting, to hear that the Presbyterian Church are active in positive projects and working together for the good of those they minister to. Often the Church can feel like a lone voice, but it is important to continue political engagement to articulate the views of those who hold their faith dearly.

“I was delighted to meet the delegation in what has been a challenging and busy period at Stormont. I look forward to meeting your new Moderator in the future and building upon the existing positive engagement.”

Concerns expressed over abortion proposals

Moderator visits President Higgins PCI Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, has visited the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, at Áras an Uachtaráin, the official home of the President in Dublin.

The Moderator was invited to the Áras by President Higgins as part of his week-long tour of the Church’s Presbytery of Dublin and Munster.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. McNeely said, “It was a privilege and a pleasure to spend some time with President Higgins…I was able to bring him the greetings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and had the opportunity of presenting him with a copy of a special book called The Presbyterians in Ireland: An Illustrated History, which tells the story of the Church, its history and people, their faith and contribution to Irish life down the centuries.”

The presentation dedication in the book was in Irish and English and included two verses of Scripture from the book of Proverbs. The Moderator was accompanied by his wife Florence and Stuart Ferguson, clerk of the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster.

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Herald March 2018

A referendum on whether to reform the Republic of Ireland’s strict abortion laws is due to be held by the end of May. The announcement follows a debate by senators and TDs on the Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution in Ireland, which recommends legalising abortion on request until 12 weeks and after 12 weeks on health grounds.

Members of PCI’s Council for Public Affairs have expressed “grave concerns” about such a move.

Writing to members of the Irish Parliament, Dr. Trevor Morrow and Dr. Norman Hamilton said they believed the vast majority of Irish citizens “regarded every human life as having dignity, value and worth” and this included both the mother and the unborn child.

“In affirming life, well-being and human dignity, it is important that we work together to ensure that the best possible care is provided to women, their children and families in times of crisis, including practical, emotional and spiritual support,” they wrote.

With regards to recommendations that would legalise abortion on request until 12 weeks and after 12 weeks on health grounds, however, they expressed their “grave concerns”. Noting that 97% of abortions in England and Wales in 2016 took place on health grounds, they wrote, “Even if the recommendation of abortion on request is excluded, the health proposals on their own will create similar provisions to those in Britain, which have, in practice, brought about abortion on request.”

IN THE ROUND | NEWS Real Hope quiz

Moderator visits Dublin and Munster

A table quiz in aid of Real Hope is taking place in Antrim on Wednesday, 14th March.

Set up by Northern Ireland native Barbara Moisevici and her husband Marian, Real Hope is a Christian charity, which shares the love of Jesus with vulnerable children and young people who are presently, or have previously been, in the care system in Romania.

Real Hope was in a position to bless many people at Christmas thanks to many gifts it received.

This included a number of hand-sewn bags donated by the Girls’ Brigade from First Antrim Presbyterian. These bags were filled with gifts and given to children in the orphanage.

The March fundraiser will take place at Starbucks at The Junction, Antrim, with the quiz starting at 7pm.

Marian and Barbara are in Ireland until 17th March and are available to visit churches and various groups. Contact Lynda Little on 07973 459186 if you would like them to speak at your group.

Residential homes and a school were among the places the Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, visited as part of his recent tour of Dublin and Munster Presbytery.

The week-long tour was an opportunity for Dr. McNeely to see some of the work that PCI members are doing in their local communities. As well as going to Clontarf School, residential homes for people with a disability and sheltered accommodation for older people, the Moderator visited nine congregations, primarily in the south-east of the country.

Speaking ahead of his tour, Dr. McNeely said, “This will be my third and final presbytery tour as Moderator and Florence and I are looking forward to spending a week with colleagues and seeing the great work that they are doing in the name of Jesus in the communities where God has called them to serve and

encouraging them in that service.”

During his tour, Dr. McNeely preached in Malahide Presbyterian, Howth Presbyterian, Greystones in County Wicklow, Arklow Presbyterian and in St. Andrews, Blackrock, Dublin.

He visited the joint charges of Enniscorthy and Wexford and Athy and Carlow, while in Dublin he went to Abbey Presbyterian and Adelaide Road. He also visited Maynooth Presbyterian, one of PCI’s newest congregations, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in November.

The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Dr. Laurence Graham, joined the Moderator on a visit to his Church’s Dublin nursing home, Mount Tabor. Dr. McNeely also saw Tritonville Close, PCI’s sheltered accommodation complex for 40 older people in the Sandymount area of the city, and Peacehaven Trust’s residential accommodation for people with a disability.

Henry Cooke on the move Following a request from Union Theological College, May Street has agreed to donate several artefacts which have links to the Belfast church’s first minister, Dr. Henry Cooke.

The cleric, known to many as the ‘Black Man’ after the statue that stands outside RBAI in College Square East, Belfast, was also president of Union College.

The donated items include a plaster statuette of Dr. Cooke, an oil on canvas half-length portrait of the minister, a miniature silhouette profile portrait, a formal portrait photograph and an informal portrait photograph of a bearded Dr. Cooke.

Laurence Kirkpatrick, Professor of Church Inspecting the Henry Cooke statuette and paintings at May Street are (left) History, and Paul Gilmore, from Union College, Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick from Union Theological College and Robin are planning to have the items restored and Morton, congregational secretary, May Street Church. refurbished and eventually they will go on display at the college, with a suitable acknowledgement to Dr. Stafford Carson, Principal of Union College, May Street. said, “This is an appropriate setting for them, for not The statuette was a prototype for the ‘Black Man’ only did Cooke preside over the faculty, but for many statue and it has now been placed on the windowsill years the faculty room has been home to the grant in the faculty room where the oil on canvas halfand seal of the Regium Donum for which Cooke was length portrait is hung. the Crown agent.”

IN BRIEF Fresh NI political talks welcomed The Presbyterian Church in Ireland welcomed the latest round of talks aimed at restoring devolution.

In a letter to the new Secretary of State Karen Bradley, the Moderator Dr. Noble McNeely and Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Trevor Gribben, said, “It is our prayer that you and other political representatives will be able to find a way forward… As a Church, we want to see the establishment of good government as soon as possible.”

Presbytery supports health workers

Ballymena Presbytery has expressed its support for frontline health staff.

In a statement, the presbytery thanked all frontline health staff and those who provide care in the community for “their dedication and professionalism as they seek to deliver safe and high quality medical care under the current immensely challenging working conditions…

“As an expression of our pastoral concern, and as an encouragement, our ministers will continue to lead their congregations in praying for you at this very difficult time.”

PCS applications encouraged The Presbyterian Children’s Society is preparing for its spring collection and would encourage applications.

Applications should be received by Monday, 23rd April. Application forms and further details are available from the Society’s website: www. presbyterianchildrenssociety.org

Herald March 2018

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IN THIS MONTH...

March 1943

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

The return of the evacuees Rev. W.J. Harrison

The Church at large will never know the anxious times experienced by those churches in the city which suffered such serious depletion of their numbers as a result of enemy air raids.

It was generally believed that German raiders would never come to Belfast… But the unexpected happened and we were caught unprepared…

One will not readily forget the sad plight of those soot-begrimed people, who in a steady stream poured into the rest centres, dazed and bewildered and silent…

The following day there began that exodus from the city which will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it…For the most part, the evacuees were kindly received and provided for in the districts to which they went…

We have reason to feel proud of the action taken by our Church to meet Evacuees in Montgomeryshire an unparalleled situation.

The launching of the Moderator’s Fund for the relief of distress. The response to the appeal sent out was a revelation of the generous spirit of our people...

The work done by the licentiates and students in various districts where evacuees were to be found in fairly large numbers, their visitations of these people, the compiling of lists of names, addresses, and church connection, was a piece of invaluable work that enabled us to keep in touch with our scattered flock…

I think we are right in saying that most of the evacuated families have now returned home, and the majority of them have been visited and restored to the fellowship of the church. Owing to the distances to be travelled to and from church in the country, some families were not as regular in their attendance as was their custom at home. For this reason also many of the children got out of the habit of attending Sunday school, and this made our work very difficult when they returned. However, persistent visitation achieved good results…and the numbers in attendance are steadily approaching normal…

With the return of the people to the city, we are finding further opportunities for assisting families who suffered financial loss through the air raids…

The evacuation and return of our people has, on the whole, been good, for they have discovered the church’s concern for their material and spiritual welfare, and there is now noticeable a revived interest in the church’s message and a yearning for something they have been missing out of their lives…

Also from March ’43 8

Herald March 2018

Greer Garson wins best actress at the Oscars

Two attempts to assassinate Hitler fail

Ministering to a university

Rev. James R. Boyd, Irish Secretary of the Student Christian Movement …Today the university faces up to the increasing challenge of communism.

The alliance with Russia coupled with our inescapable sense of deep gratitude to that great nation makes the Marxist claims more than ever insistent. Our students have, as a rule, got no vital, all-out demanding faith in terms of which they can evaluate these claims. It is not surprising to find them perplexed…

News of the churches

While the congratulations of the Church have gone out to Rev. Phineas McKee, of Downshire Road Church, Newry, on his nomination to the Moderatorship of the General Assembly, sympathy will also be extended to him in the news he received about a fortnight ago that his youngest son, Lieut. Jim McKee, was reported missing in north Africa…

Accidental explosion destroys HMS Dasher and kills 379

AS I SEE IT...

School governors play a vital role Harold MacConnell

T

adequately. I appeal to kirk sessions to identify those who could hanks to our excellent education system, everyone serve with distinction. No particular qualifications are required in today’s society is expected to be able to read and and the Education Authority does provide training in specific write, however that was not always the case. One of areas of work. the principles enunciated by the reformer John Calvin May I, as a governor for over 40 years at both primary and was that people ought to be able to read the Scriptures for post-primary level, appeal to those who have the interest themselves. To achieve this, the reformed church successfully in what happens in our schools and wish to ensure that the tackled the challenge of teaching young people to read and educational experience provided is the very best foundation on write. Great strides were made by our Presbyterian forefathers which young people build their lives in a world of rapid change. in laying a solid foundation for the education of successive I regard being a governor as a calling from God in the same way generations. Through the years, however, it became apparent that people have a sense of call to missionary work overseas. As that a properly organised system of education was essential a governor we carry responsibility for the to equip children and young people with spiritual and material well-being of our important skills of literacy and numeracy, I regard being a governor young people. In today’s society, all of us to meet the challenges of the day as well as seizing the opportunities that were as a calling from God in face the challenge of making our society a better place and ensuring that our young available to an educated population. This the same way that people live in a community of which they challenge was addressed by successive can be rightly proud. Only the very best governments and a state system evolved. people have a sense of is good enough for the young people who Major strides towards a unified system call to missionary work pass through our schools. Every Christian of education came about when the must have a burden for the society and 1947 Education Act was introduced overseas. community in which we live. Our Church in consultation with those bodies and has risen to the challenge through its churches that had already been making social outreach in many different areas such as provision for the provision for the education of young people. These bodies handed over control of the schools with the clear understanding elderly. It is important that we have a burden for the education we provide for our young people. that the transferring bodies would continue to have the Just as our Church, through its youth organisations and the opportunity to make an input into education. This involvement Christian education it provides, seeks to play a pivotal role in became known as the transferor representation system. This the lives of our young people, so we should see what happens role allowed all who had been involved in the past to have in our schools as an extension of that work. The responsibility the opportunity to continue. The local minister was usually a involved must not be used as a reason for the Church to stand member of the board of governors. He would also have been aside or fail to play its full part. We must not allow this vital involved in the inspection of RE as well having the opportunity role to fall by default on the part of our denomination. Our to teach RE. forefathers worked sacrificially to ensure that our denomination The role played by transferor representatives today is a far had a meaningful and important role to play in our schools. cry from that initially provided for by the 1947 Act. Successive Surely we want our young people to receive the best training education authorities have given increased responsibility to possible in a rapidly changing world. elected governors, who are chosen from a number of interested Now in retirement, I could convince myself that I have done parties – transferor representatives, teachers, parents and my bit and it is up to others to take up the challenge, but surely the education authority. With greater responsibility comes if God has given us gifts it would be wrong for us not to use increased time commitment on the part of those concerned. them in the service of others. Is God calling you to this service?

One of the consequences of the increasing workload has been the unwillingness on the part of many, particularly ministers, to serve on boards of governors. I fully understand the constraints on a parish minister’s time, but in every congregation there are those who could fulfil the role of a school governor very

Rev. Dr. Harold MacConnell is minister emeritus of First Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church and is chair of both Ballyclare primary and secondary schools’ boards of governors.

Herald March 2018

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NEWS | PCI

News Exploring dementia issues A round-table discussion on dementia, involving a number of people who care and advocate for those with the condition, took place in Assembly Buildings in Belfast recently.

Organised by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), the group discussed various issues, including ways to increase support for people with dementia and their carers, funding for service providers and how to make the church more dementia-friendly.

Lindsay Conway (Secretary of the Council for Social Witness) said, “Approximately 20,000 people in Northern Ireland and 55,000 in the Republic of Ireland are living with dementia, and these numbers are expected to increase significantly in the years ahead unless there is greater focus on prevention.

“As a Church we have taken a number of steps to help those with dementia and their carers, including the creation of dementia gardens, adapting the interiors of our homes and training all our staff in dementia care.

“It is clear, however, that we can and must do more to support people with dementia and their carers, and we look forward to building on the connections we have made today with other organisations as we look at how the church can become more dementia-friendly.

“The continuing absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland obviously presents challenges in terms of key decisions that need to be taken

Kids’ Crew needed Volunteers are being sought to help out with this year’s Kids’ Big Day Out. If you are 14 years old or older and are fun-loving, committed, motivated and able to assist with the kids’ programme and zones, then please consider registering to be part of the Kids’ Crew.

Contact clw@presbyterianireland.org for further information.

Fresh Light volunteers sought PCI is looking for volunteer counsellor supervisors for Fresh Light – its counselling ministry, which seeks to bring comfort, strength, peace, hope and transformation in the difficult seasons of people’s lives.

Operating from a Christian understanding of life and the world, volunteers are committed to standards of best practice and ethics in their counselling, a service which is open to adults and available to all faiths and none.

Speaking about the opportunity and the value placed on the ministry, David Thompson, Secretary of the Council for Congregational Life and Witness, said, “Recent indications are that the counselling ministry provided by Fresh Light remains a valued part of the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and a vital specialist supplement to the pastoral care provided in local congregations across Ireland.

“In order to ensure standards of good practice are maintained and

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to expand the reach of Fresh Light, the appointment of counselling supervisors is an important next step in the development of the service.

“We hope that those with supervision experience will be excited about offering their gifts to contribute to a ministry that offers the wisdom and love of Christ, in a practical way, to those most in need.”

The closing date for applications is Friday, 9th March and full details can be found on the PCI website.

Those taking part in the round-table discussion were: Dr. Norman Hamilton (convener of the Council for Public Affairs), Linda Wray (PCI’s Residential and Supported Services Manager), Rev. John Seawright (convener of PCI’s Older People’s Services Committee), Gavin Norris (PCI Public Affairs Officer), Rosemary Gibney, Michelle McMillen, Lorna Conn (Dementia Together NI), David Hooks, Barry Smith (Alzheimer’s Society), Lindsay Conway (CSW Secretary) and Norma Picking (manager of PCI’s residential care home Adelaide House).

on funding and other issues. However, we are determined to work in partnership with others to raise awareness of dementia and to make sure that it is on the political agenda,” he added.

Support for Kinghan Church from Markethill Lindsay Conway, Secretary of PCI’s Council for Social Witness, and Jill Shanks, from Kinghan Church for the deaf and hearing impaired, visited a Church of Ireland ladies’ coffee morning group in Markethill.

Jill gave a presentation on the work and witness of the members and friends of the Kinghan Church.

Lindsay and Jill were well received and want to thank the many people from Markethill who have faithfully supported the Kinghan Church over the past years.

This year the Markethill Festival again gave generously to Kinghan

Church, and having opportunities to talk to local people about the work is very much appreciated.

Many thanks to Rosaleen Kerr from the Markethill group who organised the trip.

Omagh home celebrates 25 years Harold McCauley House achieved a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years of work and witness in the Omagh community at the end of last year. PCI’s only nursing home opened in 1992.

The Harold McCauley House cookery book, produced to celebrate this special anniversary, gives over 200 pages of various delicious recipes, tried and tested by the expert catering team at the home. It costs £10 and is available from the Social Witness office. All proceeds go to the home.

Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org

News Middle East visit PW president Elma Leeburn visited Lebanon recently in order to get alongside and encourage women of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), PCI’s partner church in the Middle East.

The visit was also an opportunity to see NESSL’s work with refugees who have fled conflict in Syria.

Events

Summer teams Ten denominational summer teams will be travelling the length and breadth of Ireland during the summer of 2018.

They will work alongside and in support of local PCI congregations as they reach out to their local communities through holiday Bible clubs, teen drop-ins and community service projects.

Team membership is open to everyone over the age of 16.

More information and application forms can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/ summerteams

March

Lasting legacy Millisle and Ballycopeland Presbyterian will host an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of Amy Carmichael’s birth on Thursday, 19th April at 7.30pm.

Amy Carmichael, one of the world’s best known and inspirational missionaries, was born 150 years ago in Millisle, Co. Down, where she attended Ballycopeland Presbyterian Church with her family.

As a young adult, she served the Lord locally, founding a mission in Belfast to the ‘shawlies’ (women in the mills who wore shawls), before devoting her life to missionary service overseas.

Amy spent most of her life in India, where she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship in 1901, an organisation devoted to rescuing girls and young women who were enslaved in Hindu temples.

She also wrote numerous books which continue to inspire many in their Christian life and service today.

Simple Worship in the Smaller Church She said, “It has been a fascinating and challenging experience, in particular meeting some refugee women in the cities of Tyre and Sidon and learning how the Lebanese church is reaching out with the love of Christ. As a result of the continuing conflict in Syria, Lebanon’s population has grown considerably.”

Mrs. Leeburn was accompanied by her husband Ian, Women’s Ministry and PW Development Officer Pauline Kennedy and PCI’s Global Mission Secretary Rev. Uel Marrs.

The group visited one of the six refugee schools that NESSL has set up. The schools were supported by last year’s PCI Youth and Children’s project ‘Journeys of Promise’.

They also visited the headquarters of the Bible Society of Lebanon.

DIARY DATES

Two regional events aimed at helping those who organise and lead worship in the smaller church will take place on Thurs., 26th April.

Simple Worship in the Smaller Church will offer simple ways to worship that lead others to meaningfully engage with our Father.

The guest speakers are Sam and Sara Hargreaves.

The first event takes place from 10.30am to 12.45pm at Union Road Presbyterian, Magherafelt and the second is at Ballydown Presbyterian Church between 7.45 and 9.45pm. The price is £5.

For further information contact the CLW office: tel. +44 (0)28 9041 7246; clw@presbyterianireland.org

Handling the Word course North Belfast Presbytery – Saturday, 3rd

Taking Care refresher training Ballynure Presbyterian – Thursday, 8th

Mission in Ireland evenings

East Belfast Presbytery – Sunday, 11th Omagh Presbytery – Sunday, 11th Ballymena Presbytery – Wednesday, 14th Templepatrick Presbytery – Sunday, 18th Derry and Donegal Presbytery – Wednesday, 21st

‘Taking Care of All’ adult safeguarding conference

Kids’ Big Day Out Wellington Presbyterian Church in Ballymena will host Kids’ Big Day Out on Saturday, 21st April from 1.45-4pm.

Kids’ Big Day Out is an event for primary school-aged children and their leaders or parents.

Tickets are on sale now and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Both children and their leaders need to purchase a ticket, which cost £4 each (euro equivalent).

Mission in Ireland evenings A number of Mission in Ireland evenings will take place at a variety of venues throughout March.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr. Noble McNeely will speak at the East Belfast Presbytery event at Belmont Presbyterian Church on Sunday, 11th March, while Rev. David Bruce (Secretary of the Council for Mission in Ireland) and a prison chaplain will address the Omagh Presbytery evening at Drumquin Presbyterian, on the same night. The East Belfast event starts at 7pm, while the Omagh evening begins at 7.30pm.

The Ballymena Presbytery evening takes place at Killymurris Presbyterian on Wednesday, 14th March, starting at 8pm, when Rev. Richard Houston from Lucan Presbyterian and Belfast City Mission’s Andy Williamson will speak.

David Boyd (an Irish mission worker in Dublin) and deaconess Heidi England will address the Templepatrick Presbytery evening, which takes place at Muckamore Presbyterian on Sunday, 18th starting at 7pm.

Newtowncunningham Presbyterian Church hall will host the Derry and Donegal Presbytery event on Wednesday, 21st at 8pm. Billy Patterson, a retired Irish mission worker, is the speaker.

The final Mission in Ireland evening sees Rev. David Bruce address Carrickfergus Presbytery at First Larne Presbyterian on Sunday, 25th starting at 7pm.

Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Thursday, 15th

Transform

Crumlin Road Gaol – Friday, 23rd

April Family Holiday

Castlewellan Castle – Tuesday, 3rd to Friday, 6th

Celebration of 150th anniversary of Amy Carmichael’s birth

Millisle and Ballycopeland Presbyterian – Thursday, 19th

Kids’ Big Day Out

Wellington Presbyterian, Ballymena – Wednesday, 21st

Worship in the Discipleshaping Church conference

Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Wednesday, 25th

Simple Worship in the Smaller Church

Union Road Presbyterian, Magherafelt – Thursday, 26th Ballydown Presbyterian, Banbridge – Thursday, 26th

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NEWS | PCI Taking Care of All | Conference

Taking care of all

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few weeks ago, two of our congregations made headline news: Aughnacloy in relation to a burglary and the serious injury of an elderly lady; and Dundrod when one of its members, a retired teacher in Crumlin, was murdered.

Both incidents are dramatic reminders of the vulnerability of people living alone.

The General Assembly in 2016, in preparation for the production of the Church’s Adult Safeguarding policy and guidelines, agreed the ‘Taking Care of All’ statement: “Christ calls us to love, care for and value everyone. This gospel imperative of loving our neighbour as ourselves leads us to respect all as individuals, treating each with dignity and empowering them to reach their full potential.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland seeks to reflect Christ’s compassion for everyone and to safeguard all those who come into contact with the mission and ministries of the Church, by preventing harm and protecting those at risk.”

As a Church or as individuals following God’s commands and the love of Christ, we have not needed international conventions or legislation; we have Scripture, the biblical imperative, to care for one another, to look after the widow, to love our neighbour. The aim of this policy is to improve safeguarding arrangements for adults who are at risk of harm from abuse, exploitation or neglect.

In Northern Ireland, it has been jointly developed and published by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. It sets out how the Northern Ireland Executive intends adult safeguarding to be taken forward across all government departments and their agencies and in partnership with voluntary, community, independent and faith organisations.

For the first time in the whole area of safeguarding, the Churches were involved from the drafting stage to implementation. The policy

is clear and states the following: “The language of adult safeguarding previously focused on protection and used the term ‘vulnerable adult’. This was widely misinterpreted, often used out of context and, for some, the term implied weakness on the part of the adult, which many found unacceptable. This policy moves away from the concept of ‘vulnerability’ and towards establishing the concept of ‘risk of harm’ in adulthood. It places the responsibility for harm caused with those who perpetrate it.”

As a Church, we have a duty to protect all who are members or participate in the life and work of our church community. Harm, abuse or exploitation can happen anywhere, even in churches. With the introduction of government guidelines and operational procedures, along with the increased awareness of adult safeguarding issues in society, the Council for Social Witness is organising a day conference on Thursday, 15th March entitled ‘Taking Care of All’.

Together with our well-established Taking Care programme it is envisaged that the Adult Safeguarding policy and guidelines will ensure that we reduce the risk of harm, abuse or exploitation for all within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and should be an integral part of congregational life; it should be monitored by kirk sessions and should not be seen as another burdensome policy but as the living out of the gospel imperative to love and care for one another.

This conference is for anyone in your church who has contact with adults at risk, whether through pastoral visiting, leading the senior members’ group or as an elder.

We look forward to seeing you there.

As a Church, we have a duty to protect all who are members or participate in the life and work of our church community.

Lindsay Conway is Secretary of PCI’s Council for Social Witness and faith community representative on NIASP (Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership).

Speaker profiles

Joyce McKee has worked as a probation officer and social worker. She is currently the Regional Adult Safeguarding Officer in the Health and Social Care Board, where she promotes, develops and enhances adult safeguarding arrangements across Northern Ireland. She is also an elder in Hillsborough Presbyterian Church and a member of PCI’s Taking Care committee.

Event details Taking Care of All Tuesday, 15th March 2018 Assembly Buildings, Belfast 10.30am-3pm Free event

Veronica Gray is the Director of Action on Elder Abuse (NI), a role that includes influencing policy and practice to prevent abuse and harm of older people. She has almost 20 years’ experience working in the community and voluntary sectors across Ireland with particular experience and knowledge of adult safeguarding and protection issues.

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Taking Care of All Email: csw@presbyterianireland.org Tel: +44 (0)28 9041 7234 Web: www.presbyterianireland.org/ events

MY STORY...

Alana Cochrane, whose parents are PCI global mission workers in Portugal, describes how her background of changing cultures has helped strengthen her faith.

Life as a third culture kid

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have been a third culture kid (TCK) for most of my life.

There were no other Christians in my class and of the I don’t quite know where I belong – I look and sound 800 students who went to my school there were about eight as though I am from Northern Ireland but I also speak Christians in total. Luckily, in my last year of school I got to Portuguese, having spent the majority of my life in know a Brazilian Christian who was in the same year as me.

Portuguese-speaking nations.

This was a huge encouragement. Many of my friends consider I lived in Brazil for my first five years and from the ages themselves to be atheists or agnostics which made friendships of five to 10 I lived in Northern Ireland. We then moved to tricky as I did not want to go out and get involved in the same Portugal where I lived for nine years. Currently I’m a student things as they did. In school if I gave my Christian perspective studying Culinary Arts Management at Ulster University on any issue, I was shot down as being intolerant. One student (Belfast campus). After being back a short time in Northern always jibbed, “So have you forsaken your religion yet?”

Ireland, I am already noticing some big differences between In terms of church, I struggled a lot. A more established being a Christian in NI and being a Christian in Portugal. evangelical church might have 10-20 young people, but being Portugal is a country in which 89% of involved in church planting is more the population identify themselves as complicated as there was just me and my In school if I gave my Roman Catholic. However, only 19% of sister. As the church plant began to grow a these attend Mass on a regular basis. There Christian perspective on few families came, but they had little kids are Catholic churches on every corner and or pre-teens. any issue, I was shot older people still go there regularly, but Being back in Northern Ireland has most young people my age consider church down as being intolerant. been great because there are so many to be irrelevant and unnecessary.

Christians. It’s quite overwhelming that Many of my peers assumed they were Christians just because in Derryvolgie Halls (where I am currently living) there are 87 they were born in a Christian country. Some were shocked other Christians the same age as me. It’s amazing that I’m not when I told them that I went to church every Sunday. What the only one who wants to study the Bible or go to church. I made me stand out even more was also have the opportunity to get involved in ministry, which I’m the fact that I didn’t attend a Catholic enjoying a lot. At university the Christian Union has a visible church but a Protestant evangelical presence on campus and there is no opposition towards them. church. This is very rare in Portugal There is definitely more openness about being a Christian, even as less than 1% of the population amongst non-Christian peers on my course. are evangelical Christians. To make Even though being a Christian in Portugal was very hard, I matters even more complicated, when think that living there has made my faith much stronger as I asked what my parents did, there was learned how to stand up for my faith as a follower of Jesus. If I no notion of what a Presbyterian had lived in Northern Ireland, my life would have been much minister or missionary was. The easier but perhaps there would have been no reason for me to common word within church circles for a minister is ‘pastor’ depend on God so much. which is the same word for ‘shepherd’, so when my sister or I told our friends that our dad was a pastor, they asked if we liked living in the countryside and how many sheep we had!

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PERSONAL VIEW

Life lessons Sam and Sara Hargreaves Authors of Whole Life Worship: Empowering Disciples for the Frontline.

We both began leading worship in our local Baptist churches as teenagers – Sara in her native Sweden, Sam in Hampshire.

We then met while studying Theology, Music and Worship at London School of Theology. Following our graduation and marriage we worked for two churches as worship and youth ministers, before beginning itinerant ministry with engageworship as a ministry of the Music and Worship Foundation charity.

admire, however, are those faithful servants who remain true to their calling, year in, year out, working tirelessly for the Lord without any fame or recognition.

Simple worship is coming to Father God, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is easy to think that we need a lot of other things to make worship happen – music, atmosphere, traditions, or a certain type of leader. All these can be used by God, but they are not the heart of worship. It also means making the most of whatever God has given you.

So you may not have many musicians, or much technology, or the ideal building. But God has given you people and a particular local context, so we encourage you to find out what gifts are within your congregation and allow God to use them in leading you in worship.

In today’s society everyone is too busy. We pack our lives with activity and avoid any downtime by being constantly attached to phones, laptops and other screens. Recently we’ve been trying to be more aware of saying no to some things, to make time for silence and solitude, and to keep a healthy rhythm of Sabbath rest. It feels counter-cultural, but God has lots of wisdom about this in the Bible so we’re trusting Him to lead us.

We need to see our daily lives as places where we can continue to worship God, whether or not we are singing. Paul encourages singing in Colossians 3, and then immediately says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” That suggests that doing a good job in our work, or completing our tax return honestly, or caring for a sick relative, or mowing the lawn can all be done as worship to God. We need to send our congregations out to continue worshipping.

The ‘service’ may be over but our ‘service’ to God continues on.

We have recently got involved with a local Christian charity called Azalea which works with women caught in sexual exploitation. It is heartbreaking to see the way God’s precious children are treated by individuals and society. But it is also hugely encouraging to see the way that unconditional love breaks down barriers with these women, and the way they are responding to sung worship, Bible study and consistent input into helping them walk free.

We travel around a lot, meeting congregations, entrepreneurial church workers as well as high profile ministers, and this is a real privilege. The people we most

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We love hanging out as a family with our two kids, playing board games, building Lego or watching a good film. We try to get out to Sweden as often as possible and spend time in nature there. And we also love cooking and eating good food!

We get frustrated when churches narrow down worship to a very limited set of activities. We worship the creator God who flung stars into space and made animals, plants and humans of wonderful diversity. We long for congregations to be empowered to bring their God-given creativity into church services, or be encouraged to use it out in their lives.

We are both reading Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. It is very helpful in pointing out how we need to grow in emotional maturity as well as Bible knowledge or ministry activity. We are trying to start putting some of that into practice!

Sam and Sara Hargreaves will be the guest speakers at ‘Worship in the Discipleshaping Church’ on 25th April from 10.30am until 3pm in Assembly Buildings. They will offer biblical foundations, practical frameworks and a wealth of usable examples to fire the imagination of ministers and others who lead Sunday services with a discipleshaping emphasis. For more information or to book a place go to www.presbyterianireland.org/events

REFLECTIONS

So a great salvation Arthur Clarke Study in 2 Timothy 1:9-10

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n Tolstoy’s War and Peace there is a memorable scene in then of the Assembly’s College, came to address a group of the Russian headquarters when a messenger brought to young people seeking an explanation of election. Professor Kutuzov, the old commander in chief, the first news of Haire simply said, “Scripture teaches two truths; God from all Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. After years of terrific eternity decreed the election of His people. In this life people strain and agony to which the soul of Russia had been subjected must make real choices. These two statements are true and I and the old soldier’s tactical decisions had been derided, the have nothing more to add.” Whether such a statement satisfies tidings sounded incredible. A staff officer was about to fill the scholars among, I do not know. But I confess I have used it the vacuum of sound with some unimportant remark when innumerable times throughout my ministry.

Kutuzov stopped him with his hand. Finally, the old man The securer of our salvation is Jesus Christ alone. He turned away to where the sacred icons stood against the wall. abolished death and brought immortality to light (v.10).

Then suddenly and unrestrainedly he cried: “Great God. My Scripture speaks of death in three dimensions. There is Lord and Creator! Thou hast heard my prayer! Russia is saved!” physical death, the separation of the soul from the body. There Then he burst into tears. is spiritual death, the separation of the soul from God. Then With an even greater sense of relief and there is eternal death, the separation of victory, Saint Paul asserts in these verses The only thing we bring both body and soul from God forever.

(2 Timothy 1:9-10) the scope and source These three conditions, though terrible, of our great salvation, all the work of God, to our personal salvation are a just reward. “Christ abolished death”. whom H.R. Mackintosh called “the great is our need of it.

With assurance, we quote this text in Doer of redeeming things.” the presence of physical death, while The scope of our salvation is outlined experience teaches us to add that while in three phrases; God has “saved us”, “called us to a holy the reality of death holds no terror for the Christian, the act life” and “brought life and immortality to light through the of dying can be trying and emotionally shattering. Wisely this gospel”. Salvation is a majestic omnibus word denoting the apostle declared, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 comprehensive purpose of God by which He justifies, sanctifies Corinthians 15:26) and shall ultimately glorify His people. Forgiveness, holiness Only God possesses immortality in Himself, but Christ won and immortality are all aspects of our “so great a salvation”. immortality for us through His self-giving death and passion.

The only thing we bring to our personal salvation is our need When time shall be no more we shall share in His immortality of it. C.S. Lewis, in an essay, employed an insightful metaphor, with all the saints. apposite to this issue. He wrote: “If a traveller in the desert In conclusion, we can note the stages of God’s redeeming misses the well, does it really matter how many jewels he carried purposes. First there is His eternal gift of grace to us in Christ. in his knapsack or how jovial were his companions?” As Jesus Then we have the historical appearance of Christ, to abolish said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet death by His death and resurrection. The third is the personal forfeit his soul?” call of God to sinners through the presentation of the gospel, The source of our salvation is God Himself, “not because of leading to the moral transformation of believers by the ministry anything we have done but because of His own purpose and of the Holy Spirit. Then finally we await the perfection of glory grace. This grace was given us in Christ before the beginning when “all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.” of time” (v.9). In Scripture, nowhere unpacks the mystery of “Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this election and we should be wary of any teaching or teacher who world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in claims to unlock this truth which has baffled the finest and Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea. It’s God’s gift from start to most pious minds in Christendom. Years ago, when I was an finish!” (Ephesians 2, The Message) assistant minister in a Belfast church, Professor J.L.M. Haire,

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CONGREGATIONAL STORY

Eastern European evangelism Alastair McNeely describes how building a connection with a church in Poland has blessed his congregation, Richhill Presbyterian Church.

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fter celebrating the birth of the Reformation last year, we are surely saddened at the state of the church of Jesus Christ in Europe. For centuries, Europe was the centre of Christendom and sent missionaries and church planters all over the world. However, today, Europe is the only continent where the church of Jesus Christ is in decline. Secularisation, materialism and immigration have introduced many different lifestyles and religious beliefs to Europe.

The great challenge is for the church in Europe to present the gospel of Jesus into this multicultural and multi-religious context. While those of us in the North will soon leave the European Union, we are still Europeans and we have the privilege and responsibility to reach the nations of Europe with the help and hope of the message of Jesus.

As a congregation in Richhill, we were seeking to partner with gospel-centred ministries in Europe. Over the years, we have fostered relationships with SMILES and Project Romania, both working and serving in Romania. Teams from our church go out to Romania on a regular basis.

However, we were very keen to partner with a church planting work somewhere in Europe. It was not easy to find a ‘natural fit’ for this kind of partnership.

In the providence of God, we came into contact with a young Ukrainian church planter working in Krakow, Poland.

Not only was Saszko reformed by conviction, he was also being challenged

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about planting a Presbyterian church in Krakow.

Aleksander Saszko Nezamutdinov was born in Lviv in western Ukraine and came to faith at the age of 12 while attending a Baptist church in his home town. After

Although there are 38 churches within 1.5 miles of the city centre, Krakow still remains spiritually darkened by unbiblical traditions and fear. attending Bible college, Saszko had a one-year internship with a Presbyterian church plant in Lviv. It was in this year

Jenny and Saszko

that he became convinced about reformed theology, and it has shaped his ministry philosophy ever since.

Saszko strongly believes that the gospel should be shared in a culturally sensitive way. With this in mind, Saszko and his leadership team are seeking to bring back to life forgotten reformed liturgical practices which Poles would be more comfortable with. Christ the Saviour Church seeks to be a church for Krakow, a church founded on grace, a church that is a loving community, and a church committed to discipleship, evangelism and church planting.

Richhill Presbyterian Church has been in partnership with Saszko for over four years. Teams of various sizes, as well as individuals, from the congregation have visited Krakow to help with outreach work, English language ministry, hospitality, culture outreach nights and university student ministry.

One of our members, Jenny, spent three months during her gap year being involved in the various outreach events already mentioned and also teaching a catechism class. Saszko has been with us in Richhill a number of times, building up relationships and sharing the vision of this church plant among local congregations. He has completed the ‘City-To-City’ church planting course in New York and is seeking ordination

We believe that this is an exciting new ministry in Krakow and is a great opportunity for our denomination to find a partner in mission in Europe.

through the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine.

Christ the Saviour Church has a small but growing number of worshippers from all kinds of backgrounds. Recently a young woman from Uzbekistan with a Muslim background has come to saving faith in Jesus. We believe that this is an exciting new ministry in Krakow and is a

great opportunity for our denomination to find a partner in mission in Europe.

There is a great need for long-term workers for the church plant. English speakers are always well received in Krakow, as most Poles either speak English or want to. Saszko has a genuine love for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and is very interested

Jenny’s story I am a member of Richhill Presbyterian Church and spent some of my gap year in Poland. Last February I took the two-and-a-half hour EasyJet flight to Krakow, to live and work there until April. My purpose was to support the Christ the Saviour Church plant as they engaged the local Krakowites with the church.

My role also involved studying the people of the city, to help the church discover how best to reach out to them through practical work such as teaching English, running English nights and simply grabbing coffee with students.

Having visited Krakow previously, I thought I understood something of Poland and its culture, but now I am very aware of how truly wrong I was.

On the surface, life in Krakow appears much like our own; people work, go for walks, eat in restaurants and love a good cup of tea (minus the milk, which is totally bizarre, I know!). But living there and forming wonderful relationships with people, it became so evident to me how culturally different Poland is compared to our island.

Anything outside of the Catholic Church is generally considered a cult and not Christian. In this context, with this perspective, the church plant’s challenges are very great indeed. God provided glorious opportunities for me to show and speak the gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching

in partnering with congregations and individuals. He can be contacted at nezamutdinov@yahoo.pl For more information Rev. Alastair McNeely can be contacted at amcneely@presbyteriaireland.org Rev. Alastair McNeely is minister of Richhill Presbyterian Church.

English, lecturing students and helping Saszko in the English club ‘Vox Box’. We were presenting the gospel of truth and justice, a gospel in which people are saved by grace through faith not works, and a gospel of hope for all people of all nations.

Our misconceptions within Ireland about Eastern Europeans are vast and wide. Many of us have preconceived opinions and speculations, and sadly we show little grace towards people who are not that different to us; be that in language, mannerisms or ethnicity.

Our own country has many churches and traditions, yet hundreds of thousands still do not know Christ.

Poland is the same. By going out there to invest in the church for a short time, my misconceptions have been extinguished, and God has taught me how much every single person needs the gospel. Although there are 38 churches within 1.5 miles of the city centre, Krakow still remains spiritually darkened by unbiblical traditions and fear.

There were and are many challenges in trying to reach Polish people for Christ, but the ultimate encouragement is knowing that the gospel transcends all cultural barriers. When the church proclaims biblical truth, many will come to know Jesus in a real, personal and intimate way.

Jenny Douglas Herald March 2018

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UNITED APPEAL

Rose Lowry, aged 8

My Place

Lisa Skinner looks at how United Appeal for Mission is helping congregations to be inclusive in their children’s ministry. A new event called ‘My Place’ focuses on reaching out to children with special needs and their families.

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tatistics show that most Christians come to faith before the age of 14, which is why PCI believes in having a vibrant children’s ministry, one that impacts the lives and faith of children within PCI and within the communities around our congregations.

Ruth Bromley is PCI’s Children’s Development Officer and is instrumental in equipping Presbyterian churches to maximise their potential in their work with children. In her role, Ruth encourages children’s leaders to share Christ in relevant and engaging ways. She runs the events ‘Little Day Out’ and ‘Kids’ Big Day Out’ (attended by 500 children and 175 leaders from across Ireland) and has recently been facilitating a new event called ‘My Place’, which seeks to ensure that children’s ministry is accessible for all.

Ruth also oversees the children’s ministry certificate at Union College and participates in the regional training of leaders through ‘Road Trip’. She supports and resources children’s workers across

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the denomination and will often spend an extended period of time with one congregation, helping them to reshape their children’s ministry.

The Youth and Children’s Project is coordinated by Ruth each year and she has just put together a resource on schools’ ministry, providing ideas for congregations to connect and build relationships with local schools. In the coming months she will also take the lead in producing a resource on Sunday morning children’s ministry, exploring different models that may prove useful.

It is thanks to United Appeal funding that Ruth is able to do all of this and more; through this work children are meeting Jesus and being blessed in their walk of faith.

If difficult questions aren’t asked…we will fail to meet the needs of children and adults who have extra needs...

Inclusive children’s ministry My Place is an evening event, exploring together what it might look like to be an inclusive church. Children with special needs and their families often find it difficult to come to church and to practically and emotionally connect with the worship.

Ruth says, “It can be stressful because our churches tend to be places of calm and order and these children and young people can be loud and can ‘spill over’ our pews as it were. Within PCI we long to have those children and their families walk into a church and think of it as somewhere that they belong, somewhere they can call ‘my place’. We all need community and none more so than the families of those with learning disabilities.

“For us, the My Place training is just the start of a conversation around how we enable children with special additional needs to enter into worship with us and to be blessed by our children’s ministries.

How can we include those for whom a lifelong developmental disability affects how they view and interact with the world around them, and how they interact with others in that world? The

Stephen Lowry and Ruth Bromley

body of Christ has many parts and if we aren’t including all parts of that body, can we really call ourselves a church?”

Rev. Stephen Lowry is the ordained assistant minister in First Holywood Presbyterian Church and father to Rose, an eight-year-old girl with global developmental delay. He explains, “One of the most helpful things for parents of children with special needs to know is that their church family are asking questions about what is the best way to accommodate covenant children such as Rose, who just don’t seem to fit in with the current model of children’s ministry.

If difficult questions aren’t asked, then we will keep doing what we always do and we will fail to meet the needs of children and adults who have extra needs, who should be valued members of our congregation.”

Designed for local PCI ministers, elders, children’s workers, parents and church members, My Place considers the biblical teaching behind the mandate to be more inclusive; the personal experiences of parents of children with special needs; and the wisdom of experts in the field of special education; as well as providing space to discuss ideas and ask questions.

We’re so much stronger when we can tackle these things together.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” This rings true for all children regardless of mental or physical ability. As one of the My Place trainers, Sarah Hill, reminds us, “God doesn’t stop revealing Himself at a certain IQ. So bring your children and young people to Jesus and let Him reveal Himself to them.”

Ruth says, “My Place is only possible to run because of the generosity of PCI congregations all across Ireland. Events like this help us to understand this issue better and enable us to be people and places of welcome for all.”

As Stephen confirms: “We’re so much stronger when we can tackle these things together.”

The next My Place event takes place in Ballygawley Presbyterian on Wednesday, 2nd May. The event is free to attend, but please register your interest online at www.presbyterianireland.org Further information is available by emailing clw@presbyterianireland.org or telephoning +44 (0)28 9032 2284.

To watch a short film of Ruth Bromley and her work involving My Place, please visit www.presbyterianireland.org/unitedappeal

Herald March 2018

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Whole life

worship

Ahead of PCI’s upcoming day conference, ‘Worship in the Discipleshaping Church’, Charles McMullen outlines how his congregation has benefited from exploring worship as a whole life concept rather than just a Sunday morning activity.

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y farming uncle has often reminded me that I have never done a day’s work in my life. By that he means ploughing fields and lifting heavy straw bales, but I am sure that the sheep I have to guide on a Sunday in my congregation can occasionally be just as difficult and demanding as the wayward ones he used to look after on the hills of Co. Tyrone.

During the autumn here in Bangor West, we used excellent video clips, prayers and responses as part of a sermon series on ‘Whole life Worship’, based on a book and accompanying resources by Sam and Sara Hargreaves written for the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC). The preaching material was developed and used by our home groups and we also included particular applications for J Club (our Sunday school) and Young West for our teenagers.

Whether we are leading a church service, herding sheep, making tea or supporting our rugby team on the terraces, every aspect of our lives ought to be offered as an act of worship. The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:1 puts it succinctly: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walkingaround life – and place it before God as

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an offering.” In their book the Hargreaves quote Miroslav Volf: “There is no space in which worship should not take place, no time when it should not occur, and no activity through which it should not happen. All dimensions of human life are the ‘temples’ in which Christians should honour their God.” Particularly challenging is the need to hold both gathered and scattered worship as equally vital. We meet together on a Sunday to refocus our lives on God, to remember His great story of redemption in Christ and to receive His empowerment to go back out into the world, so that we can live His life of love (Ephesians 5:1). Our Sundays should also validate our many opportunities to serve Him during the week. As the Hargreaves write: “To allow our worship in church to draw from our experiences of glorifying God on our frontlines. And for our gathered worship to inspire and equip us to be sent out far richer, more fruitful scattered lives of praise.”

Church on a Sunday should not pull up the drawbridge and detach itself from the everyday realities of life…

The fundamental point is that church on a Sunday should not pull up the drawbridge and detach itself from the everyday realities of life in its joys and sorrows, health and suffering, confident faith and searching questions. It is so easy to retreat into the victorious language of Zion in our preaching, but fail to encourage people on their daily journey with God as they relate to one another in their places of industry and commerce, or discuss politics and contemporary issues.

The psalmist often hurled questions at God from the deepest places of sheer brokenness and unanswered prayer. What will our Sunday songs and message look like to the recently made redundant businessman, the wife grieving her husband’s loss, the middle-aged man crippled by loneliness, or the elderly lady longing for the familiarity of a traditional hymn because in a world of change those childhood memories are important?

That said, in our gathered worship we want to bring people beyond their emotions and painful personal circumstances to find their hope, trust, confidence and rest in God alone.

Sam and Sara Hargreaves devote a considerable section of their book to what they describe as 3-D worship – the vertical dimension which is our relationship with God, the horizontal which underlines the corporate or body

aspect of being church together and a third dimension which is about relating to the world all around.

The vertical aspect invites us to the mountaintop where we can survey the greatness and power of God all around.

If our songs have a narrow focus on ‘I’ or ‘me’ and Jesus dying for me, then we run the risk of being drawn more and more into ourselves. We need to be lifted out of ourselves and in the process engage not only with God, but also those around us. As we share life more fully together, we become ever more fully ‘present’. In the third dimension we engage with those spheres outside the church doors, including work, education and social issues, to name but a few.

Songwriter Stuart Townend wrote these words: “Jesus, this is my devotion: all my life to know You, every day to walk with You. Saviour, You’re my deepest longing, You’re the One I live for, teach me, Lord, to walk with You.” He makes this observation: “We seem to have lots of songs that focus on the experience of worshipping – ‘Here I am Lord in Your presence’ type songs. So in recent years I’ve tried to create songs that will be relevant to the other six days and 22 hours of our week!...It’s a reminder to be ‘God-aware’ in all the different parts of our lives – from morning to evening and night, in my thought-life, in the things I say, in the good things…and in our most desperate moments.”

One of the most moving comments I have received in a long time came after a Sunday service on whole life worship, from a deeply committed Christian accountant as we shook hands: “I really feel validated in my place of work.”

His remarks struck me for a number of reasons.

It is so easy to retreat into the victorious language of Zion in our preaching, but fail to encourage people on their daily journey with God… Firstly, although it is important to remember those in full-time Christian service at home and overseas, when was the last time we gave space in one of our church services to hear from a businessman, teacher, or policeman struggling daily with issues of truth, honesty and integrity, or what it means to be a follower of Jesus in his or her particular environment?

Secondly, our ‘real missionaries’ are those who stand on the frontline at the school gates or in supermarket queues, unsure about how to share their faith but really wanting to know how! For many in

CONFERENCE

Worship in the Discipleshaping Church Wednesday, 25th April Assembly Buildings, Belfast 10.30am-3pm Cost: £15 (including lunch) How can our worship on Sunday connect and empower us for the lives we long to live for Christ out in the world, Monday to Sunday? This will be explored at the Worship in the Discipleshaping Church day conference.

Guest speakers are Sam and Sara Hargreaves, who are authors of the Whole Life Worship book and Whole Life

the congregation I sense a real desire for ongoing discipleship and encouragement in this area.

Thirdly, whole life worship underlines not only the importance of coming together in church, but the need for our liturgy to reflect gratitude for everyday life. In a world so marked by painful division and endless stress, how wonderful it would be to bring the blessing of Christ into every encounter and conversation. Jesus saw a world in a blade of corn and rejoiced at a couple’s wedding in Cana of Galilee. He delighted in the beauty of creation all around Him and took many illustrations from everyday life. I like the idea of deep spirituality that combines a real joy of life.

And perhaps as a minister I ought to learn to lift the occasional bale of hay to find out what it is really like in the real world! On the other hand, I wonder if our church culture can allow us to create far too many activities and organisations by which we often judge our success.

‘Whole life worship’ is refreshing because it reminds us of the overall importance of being in that place of first love on Sundays and week days (Revelation 2:1-7).

Rev. Charles McMullen is minister of West Church, Bangor, and Moderator-Designate of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Worship Journey Pack. They will offer biblical foundations, practical frameworks and a wealth of usable examples to fire the imaginations of those who lead Sunday services with a discipleshaping emphasis in PCI congregations.

Further information is available from the CLW office at +44 (0)28 9041 7247 or clw@presbyterianireland.org To register for the event go to www.presbyterianireland.org/events

Herald March 2018

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Disagreeing well

Ruth Sanderson discusses the joy of debating and the seemingly lost art of disagreeing well.

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n the top shelf of a bookcase in my childhood home, there sat for years, a small silver trophy. It was about the size of an egg cup and was thickly covered in dust. Sadly, it was the only tangible prize I had ever won, and it was displayed (at first) with pride. Under the dust, you could just make out the words ‘Ruth Sanderson. Winner. Debating Club – 3rd Form’.

Now, those who know me will probably be unsurprised that I was in the debating club, and even though I was the only third year in debating club, I was, nevertheless, chuffed by getting my gong.

Skip on several decades and once again, debate is on my mind. Our world is full of it at the minute, from political discourse about the merits of right and left, to Brexit and all the machinations which go along with it, a woman’s reproductive rights, equal pay, gender equality. Yet along with these national scale discussions, come anger, and the opposite of debate – a kind of antidebate.

Have you noticed how polarised and personal disagreements are now? How many politicians have you seen react angrily and say something coarse or

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degrading about a person who disagrees with them? How many times have you made an assumption about someone because they don’t hold the same views as you? I know I certainly have – much to my shame. Lately, I spent the day with a man whose own political and cultural views are the opposite of my own. I made a gross assumption about the kind of person he would be before I met him. Yet I found him gracious, kind and willing to discuss our differences in a reasoned and logical way. Why had I automatically assumed that he would be an ogre?

Whether we like it or not, rational debate is a necessity in a democracy.

Being able to live in a society where we can disagree on fundamentals without being locked up, persecuted or killed. It’s when this reasoned, healthy exchange of views turns toxic that we run into problems. Or when both sides of a

Debating is a joy, it is a God-given gift to be able to rationalise our thought process and to be gracious to others.

disagreement do not accept that another view is tolerable or worthy of expression.

It’s all too easy to shut down an argument, but should we? Or should we be encouraging more and more debate in order to exchange views in a healthy way?

Let’s take a moment to think about the central role which healthy debate has had in our society over several millennia.

It was the foundation of the Roman Republic and of Greek society. The debates in the senate were epic, and the art of arguing your corner was a public spectacle as well as a political must.

Even to this day, the Socratic method of debate and counter debate is still taught to law students. Most politicians have either taken a Bar exam or been part of a debating team.

In the Bible, in Acts 17, we read that Paul “reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” He didn’t shout them down or bring the wrath of God on them – he reasoned. He used his mind and his knowledge to construct arguments which bound up his case.

In Luke, we learn of the young Jesus debating with rabbis in the temple.

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” The Jewish idea of yeshivas (a Jewish seminary) was based on the chewing over of, reasoning and arguing of ideas and interpretation of Scripture.

In the 1500s, Martin Luther took part in debates in Heidelberg and Leipzig.

This was a rational way of putting forward his new doctrine – to answer, respond, challenge and so on. We Presbyterians were borne out of a cerebral need to understand and reason out our faith in our heads as well as our hearts.

The Enlightenment’s foundation was rational thinking and exchange of ideas... so why doesn’t it feel so reasonable anymore? When we consider the most public of debates – the American presidential debates – why do we have Donald Trump glowering over Hillary Clinton’s shoulder and interrupting her more than 50 times in one session?

Much of how we take part in public discourse has now moved out of the debating chamber and online. The scale and breadth of social media is profound and we won’t know the true extent of the sea change for years to come. Suddenly, the ability to argue both sides of an argument, and seeing someone else’s point of view has been defenestrated. The ability, though, to kick an opponent or make a point in 150 characters is the new ambition. Those disagreeing with one another rail at anyone who will listen – and, indeed, anyone who won’t.

Twitter’s problem is its encouragement of the individual’s ‘broadcast mode’,

where the superficial appearance of a conversation is, in fact, two or more people simply stating and restating their views with ever-intensifying fury. Hacked off with someone? Block them. Too shy to block? Mute (the word is telling).

However – and to argue the other side of the argument – Twitter has no entry level requirements. It is democratic; therefore, it lets people exercise discussion in a public sphere, albeit in a severely limited way.

We must listen to the views of others without making assumptions about them as individuals…

As a journalist, it is my job to ask questions, to listen to the answers and report it. Yet it has made me acutely aware of what a rarity basic curiosity is. We simply will not listen. How many times have we seen two people exchanging views without listening to each other? How often do politicians talk over one another and shout the other down? Refuse to let someone finish a sentence? How many times have you interrupted someone with an alternative view? Listening doesn’t mean collaboration with an alternative opinion – it’s simply extending the courtesy which you would expect.

I wonder if one reason people now get so angry when faced with someone

they disagree with, is because they don’t know why they hold their own viewpoint in the first place. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to argue your point calmly and rationally; not in anger, not attacking someone, but laying out – like a lawyer – the facts which support your particular standpoint.

We must also never assume that we are always right – life is not always black and white. It is contextual, it is nuanced.

Debate is about being persuasive – changing a point of view is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of learning.

Growing up, my family would sit around our kitchen table debating everything from global politics and religion to ice cream flavours. As iron sharpens iron, we learned how to hone arguments, to respond rationally, to think on our feet and to be gracious to the views of others – of course this didn’t always happen in practice! Yet it held us in good stead for later life. Debating is a joy, it is a God-given gift to be able to rationalise our thought process and to be gracious to others – to use our minds as well as our emotions, and as we do so, perhaps even change our viewpoints.

As Christians, surrounded by a world which will contradict us at every turn, we need to know why we believe what we believe. If we imagine representing Christianity in court, we must make a reasoned argument in confidence and humility. We must listen to the views of others without making assumptions about them as individuals and most of all, we must approach everyone in love.

Herald March 2018

23

TALKING POINTS

Loneliness

Norman Hamilton looks at the ever-increasing issue of loneliness.

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oneliness is a national scourge that affects millions of Of course, some do not want any attention, but they are very us. The co-chair of a recent commission set up by the much in the minority, especially if they are older. Offering and MP Jo Cox before she was murdered, said: “In the last showing friendship to others is a happy discipline, and usually few decades, loneliness has escalated from personal involves both spending time and giving practical help. Few misfortune into a social epidemic. More and more of us live of us want to be lonely or become lonely. Most of us would alone. We work at home more. We spend a greater part of our want to have people with whom we have a warm and mutually day alone than we did 10 years ago. It sometimes feels like our beneficial relationship around us most days, but if we have not best friend is the smartphone.” invested in others, then they don’t invest in us.

Reading this, you may well feel that you are one of those Loneliness is not just a huge social issue. There are profound afflicted by this scourge, for people can often feel lonely even implications for mental health and physical well-being. It is also though they may have a busy and full life. Many of us have lots of great significance for the journey of the soul. If I am lonely, of acquaintances, but very few friends. then I have almost nobody to pray with or talk to. There will The commission’s research is truly be no one to lead me to Christ in the first frightening. Over nine million adults in Our rampant privatising place, or help me grow in Him if I am the UK are “often or always” lonely. Over a believer. of our thoughts, hopes, already half of parents (52%) have had a problem So, what can we do? Allow me to offer with loneliness – with 21% feeling lonely three clear suggestions: fears and needs means in the last week. 50% of disabled people • The report of the Jo Cox Commission that few of us allow will be lonely on any given day. More on Loneliness should be eager reading than one in three people aged 75 and over others to get too close to for all ministers, members of kirk sessions say that feelings of loneliness are out of and congregational committees, so that their control, whilst for 3.6 million people us. No wonder we often we understand properly the scale of the aged 65, television is their main form of scourge amongst us. feel lonely. company. The British government has • The leadership of every congregation taken the report so seriously that the Prime Minister has just should re-examine the quality of fellowship amongst its appointed a Minister for Loneliness. A good response, but a members, with a view to widening its scope and deepening its terrible indictment of how we live. impact.

I sense that the experience of loneliness by those of us • The relationship between pastoral care and evangelism connected to a church is not much different from those with should be explored, so that those on the margins of the little or no church involvement. I have written before of our congregation and those outside it can be supported, encouraged often-impoverished understanding of fellowship which is so and helped along the road to active faith in Christ. very different to that of Paul the Apostle. He wrote: “Because Personally, I would like to explore further the extent and we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not experience of loneliness, and would greatly value your help in only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians this. If you are open to sharing your experience with me on a 2:8). Our rampant privatising of our thoughts, hopes, fears and totally confidential basis, I would love to hear from you. My needs means that few of us allow others to get too close to us. address is 71 Rosses Farm, Ballymena, BT42 2SG and my email No wonder we often feel lonely. Yet shared lives, by definition, is norman.hamilton@btinternet.com combat loneliness.

Please do get in touch if you would like to! Thanks.

Whilst it is clear that there is no easy solution to the problem of loneliness, it is equally clear that lots can be done to ease its pain. The fascinating story of the Good Samaritan told by Jesus in response to the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ offers a clear starting point. The story points us to anyone in need, but to no group or individuals in particular. There are lonely people Rev. Dr. Norman Hamilton who are literally our local neighbours, living in the same street, Norman Hamilton is the convener of the just along the road or round the corner.

Council for Public Affairs and minister I have never really understood why we are so often reluctant to get to know our neighbours, or actively seek to care for them. emeritus of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church.

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MARCH 2018

Mission Connect

A craft event in Senhora da Hora

Bearing fruit in Broughshane Hazel Reid

Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.

Prayer is the most effective weapon James and Heather Cochrane Knowing and growing at camp Daryl Edwards A story of pain and hope Gary and Mary Reid Celebrating 25 years Caroline Crawford

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.

Physical and spiritual healing Eddie Spence

Including March prayer diary

Bearing fruit in Broughshane

Hazel Reid

Deaconess, First Broughshane Presbyterian Church

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he PW theme this year is ‘Grow and bear fruit’ taken from the that the fruits of the Spirit develop in us. We grow together and first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. It seems that by helping others grow, we grow. We don’t grow in a meaningful those in the Colossian church were concerned about how way sitting at home by ourselves; it’s as we talk, eat, pray, read the they were growing in their faith. Paul assures them that evidence Bible, repent, cry and sing that we grow together, as part of Christ’s of their faith, hope and love were hallmarks of growth and indeed body with Him as our head. they were growing into maturity, as people of God and His church.

Another powerful way God helps us grow is through the pruning Reflecting on the PW theme, I’ve come to see that this is a process: “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it good concern to have and a valid question we as Christians will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2). People who have come and churches should have – are we “bearing fruit in every through hard times can be more fragrant, more Christ-like and good work and growing more attractive as a Christian. in the knowledge of God?” Growth is possible when your People who have come through hard times (Colossians 1:10). We know heart is broken, when someone can be more fragrant, more Christ-like and from Paul’s letter to the you love dies, when fears Romans that it is God’s plan overwhelm you, when you lose more attractive as a Christian. and purpose for us to “be your job, when that relationship conformed to the image of His breaks down and you don’t Son”, so in growing we should be becoming more and more like know how to fix it, when the cancer returns and treatment hasn’t Jesus, displaying His likeness in all we do. worked, when you fail that important exam.

As I consider this, it is a real encouragement and source of joy as Again, through my observations on growth, sadly I have seen I witness this in our congregation, both during pastoral visitation growth hindered by “bitter roots”. “See to it that no one falls short and on a personal level. There is an increasing and continued of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause desire for seeking God’s face in prayer, and, also to meet with Him trouble and defile man” (Hebrews 12:15). Too easily we can allow in His Word, whether this be at the prayer meeting, small group resentments, disappointments, grudges and dissensions to choke Bible studies or meeting one-to-one. growth in our lives and to cause trouble in the church.

Often during a visit with folks going through hard times, I witness My prayer is that we will continue to grow, to flourish and thrive, much love and care in the form of a meal delivered, a taxi to a growing into maturity, giving honour and glory to God both now hospital appointment, a text, a card or a visit of encouragement. and in the days ahead.

It’s as we experience life together, coming alongside one another, Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

Prayer is the most effective weapon

James and Heather Cochrane Global mission workers, Portugal

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ortugal is a spiritually dark place. It is not easy to reach situation and in other places in southern Europe. People here are people with the gospel. Some have no interest, others are so far removed from the gospel, there is no Protestant culture, and superstitious of this ‘foreign religion’ we talk about. However, many remain very closed to ‘foreign’ ideas (perhaps a consequence our purpose continues to be the same – to proclaim Christ, the of almost 50 years of dictatorship, which only ended in the midonly one who can rescue 1970s). people from darkness and But, church planting does We have been convinced that it is through prayer not bring them into light, through merely rely on human His precious blood and the that God will break down barriers in Portugal… methods, actions, plans and forgiveness of sins. strategies. If we want the and that people here will be moved out of the When we think of church kingdom of God to advance planting many tasks or actions overcome the spiritual kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. and come to mind – sharing the darkness so evident around gospel, preaching, teaching, us, we need to be mindful that spending time with people and preparing Bible studies. These church planting is first and foremost a spiritual task, and prayer is often form part of an overall strategy or plan and various methods one of the most powerful weapons we have to carry out this task. are employed to carry out the tasks. In Senhora da Hora we have So often it is easier to prepare a sermon, a youth Bible study or an tried open-air work, outreach programmes, teaching English, evangelistic event. These things are tangible and measurable. And youth work and evangelism on the streets, all with the purpose of yet, while they are good, the best thing available to us is prayer. making Christ known to those who don’t know Him. Sometimes For some time, we have been convinced that it is through prayer it can be very discouraging as we see very few visible results that God will break down barriers in Portugal, that there will be an for the many hours of labouring. At other times, it can be more openness for Christ’s name to be made known and that people encouraging as we see God at work – for instance, this year God here will be moved out of the kingdom of darkness into the has very clearly been working to rebuild our church planting team. kingdom of light.

The more time we spend in Portugal, the more we wonder Please continue to pray. Prayer is hard work, it requires us to wait about what is the best strategy for reaching the Portuguese. We on God, but it is a very effective weapon that God has given to His have read books written by church planters in America, Australia people, as we serve Him in Portugal, in Ireland and in the world. and the UK, but their contexts are so different, and it is difficult Pray that God’s sufficient power would be made known here in to see how their strategies or methods could ever be used in our Senhora da Hora and in God’s church around the world.

Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

Knowing and growing at camp

Daryl Edwards

Cootehill, Drum and Kilmount Presbyterian churches

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arren DePaul in the book Gospel-centred Youth Ministry says, to get involved and will be encouraged with the arrival of other “Discipleship in the context of youth ministry is leading, Christian young folk their own age. teaching, and modelling to our students what it means The third summer event, also for teenagers, is called ‘intents@ to be a lifelong learner who is following and growing in Jesus the castle’. This exciting initiative began in 2017, between a Christ…While our programmes are of some value, we should view number of different churches in the Cavan/Monaghan region with them not as the end but as the means to connect with students volunteers from different denominations, including Presbyterian, relationally, pushing them to know and grow in relationship with Baptist, Church of Ireland and Elim churches. The presbytery youth Jesus Christ.” committee supported it financially along with many local people, How this works itself out in dispersed rural communities can be who supported fundraising events to keep the cost to campers something of a challenge! Conscious that programmes are not down. The camp is based at the International Scout Centre at an end in themselves, we have Redhills, Co. Cavan which is reviewed some of our activities on our doorstep and a great Pray that through all these activities, alongside resource, even if there is no and events.

Work with young people of mobile phone reception! the life and witness of the local fellowships, secondary school age, based The camp has two around events facilitated by a components: a camp for the young people will “know and grow in good network of leaders, are teenagers – pointing the relationship with Jesus Christ”! now held once or twice per young people to Jesus, as well month. There is a good core as encouraging those who participating, which is essential, but there is always room for more. are seeking to follow Him; and the Berean programme for young The summer holiday Bible club will be organised again this year adults, who, in addition to helping with camp logistics, participate by local helpers and will be based around Ephesians 2:8-10, under in an intensive discipleship study programme. the title ‘Pirates’. Give thanks for the team of local volunteers, for One member from our group is on the leadership committee, the children who will attend, and for the encouragement this has some young adults completed the Berean programme and a few been in recent years. It is also a great opportunity for some older of the young people went on the camp. A taster day has been teenagers to get involved as junior leaders. organised for 10th March and we hope to bring our youth group Later in the summer we hope to host a PCI summer outreach down for the day in a ‘try before you buy’ scenario. Please pray team between our group and the Bailieborough group. This team that the taster day will encourage folk to come on the camp. Pray will have a more regional feel, with the team organising children’s too that through all these activities, alongside the life and witness work in Bailieborough and youth work based in the Cootehill area, of the local fellowships, the young people will “know and grow in but with some overlap. Pray that local young people will be willing relationship with Jesus Christ”!

Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

A story of pain and hope Gary and Mary Reid

Global mission workers, Kenya

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n her face was etched the sorrows and trials of many years. of youthful, resolute strong-mindedness; the other full of deep Deep incised lines had been drawn when her daughter, love, compassion and grace, her hardships visibly engraved on her seven years before, had fled, on her wedding day, to us loving face. at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa Acacia Grove Mission Seven years before we had spoken to the mother and said that seeking help. (She was still raw from her circumcision and did Christ had called us here to show His love not only to her daughter, not want to have to face the but also to her and the whole overwhelming prospect of family, and we had prayed …surely He desires that we pray for those marriage that day, whilst she with her, seeking our Lord to was still but a child, and so was close to her, comforting whose lives He writes into our own storyline, draw supported through school as and strengthening her. It is one of our Maasai Seeds of through time that mists clear for His glory.

Hope children.) and the beauty of God’s love But her mother was beaten. is made apparent in all its As in so many cases, in the father’s eyes she was the one who beauty. Only one who has shown such grace, mercy and love to had failed to bring up an obedient, respectful child and his anger their child can fully understand the pain that we ourselves have burned against her. We clearly remember that day and the many caused our Father and deeply appreciate His incredible love, tears that were shed. mercy and grace towards us.

Time passed, wounds healed but some wounds leave scars.

The story of the Prodigal ever rings deep in our hearts. We have Fast forward seven years and this same teenager would again received our Father’s forgiveness, grace, mercy and love again and flee; this time on the back of a motorbike to be with the young again, and does He not desire that we do the same for others? man she wanted to be with. But her plans would not prosper, and As the mother sat with us and recalled that day seven years she would fall off that bike and find herself greatly pained and previously, she welcomed Gary’s praying with her and her injured. daughter, and together we sought our Lord’s blessing upon this Her mother took her deeply loved daughter and cared for her. beautiful Maasai lady and her precious daughter. She has returned Her injuries would restrict her mobility, but her beautiful mother to her schooling and is determined to finish. Stories take time to would carry this new burden and comfort and nurse her. write and the great storywriter knows how the story will end and So seven years later, almost to the day, this deeply-loved, surely He desires that we pray for those whose lives He writes into determined one would return to the Mission with her mother and our own storyline, for His glory. as we looked at them, both our hearts ached for them: one so full Thank you for praying for the precious souls of the Maasai.

Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

Celebrating 25 years Caroline Crawford

Home manager, Harold McCauley House

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e are delighted to have achieved a significant milestone this is ‘creating community’ which optimises relationships between for Harold McCauley House as we are celebrating our care homes and their local community, and provides us with an 25th anniversary. Harold McCauley is our first and only opportunity to give something back. In past years we have been nursing home under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, which very successful and this year we have chosen R.U.T.H. (Raising Up opened in 1992. the Hurting). This is a Christian charity which offers friendship, On 29th November last year, we incorporated our family day with practical support and guidance to hurting people in their area the first part of our celebration. We were blessed with a wonderful of need i.e. homelessness, addiction, mental health issues etc. meal for 150 people prepared by our catering department. We We devised a Christmas fireside quiz and the proceeds of this are also compiled a recipe book, Recipes for a Happy Home, which enabling residents in our home to make up toiletry bags, which was supported by recipe will be presented to the charity contributions from residents, which will distribute them This special day provided an opportunity to staff and families, past and accordingly. We are grateful present. Further copies are for the generous support from give thanks to all those who have availed of available for sale, and all our local Supervalu, Boots and our services over the years. proceeds will enhance our Lislimnaghan Parish Church residents’ comfort fund. The which gave toiletries and book was launched by well-known Northern Ireland chef, Jenny proceeds to assist us.

Bristow. She gave us a cooking demonstration and talked about Over the years our category of care has changed to include her career. She also held a question and answer session and seven beds to care for residents with a diagnosis of dementia autographed our recipe book for everyone. It was a wonderful day alongside their complex needs. We are facilitating training called of food, fellowship and catching up with good friends.

‘Best Practice of Dementia Care’ in conjunction with the University On 4th February we had the second part of our celebration of Stirling. This has proved a popular framework for staff regarding by having a thanksgiving service in our home. This special day implementing person-centred care for our residents and families. provided an opportunity to give thanks to all those who have We are privileged to have such a well-loved and excellent availed of our services over the years, and also to past and nursing care home, made possible by our dedicated team of staff present staff, suppliers, volunteers, visitors and friends who through the years who embrace our mission statement ‘People have contributed so much to the homely atmosphere we are matter to God’. immensely proud of.

We look forward to the next 25 years as we thank God for His Each year we support a charity in conjunction with ‘My Home blessing every day, remembering Galatians 5:13: “Through love Life’ (City University London) and Age UK. One of the objectives of you should serve one another.”

Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

Physical and spiritual healing

Eddie Spence

Evangelist, Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church

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ast August my wife Vivienne and I spent two weeks on explain what God’s grace was and such things were no hindrance Connet, our little steel boat. On the last night of our holidays to asking Jesus into your life. As I spoke, I could see the relief that we moored up at our jetty and I settled down to watch came over him, as years of anxiety lifted from him. The next day, Dad’s Army and Vivienne to her puzzles. At around 10.30pm I with tears of joy, he warmly hugged me telling me he accepted felt a little shiver running through my body and I mentioned it Jesus as Saviour and Lord. He and his wife took communicant to Vivienne. Within 24 hours I was being rushed to hospital with classes recently and are now communicants of the congregation. the potentially life-threatening infection, septicaemia. Even This was the deadly disease of misunderstanding, until the Saviour though I felt extremely ill, I brought healing. was unaware how serious it As I spoke, I could see the relief that came over A humorous irony was, as my temperature rose and I began to hallucinate. I For a number of years, I’ve him, as years of anxiety lifted from him… lay in hospital for a week until been meeting with an older the doctors found the source man who holds to the belief he accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord. of the infection. The doctor that Jesus is not God. His confirmed that the large understanding is that the Old amount of bacteria entering my bloodstream was like a nuclear Testament does not mention anything about this man Jesus, then bomb going off in my organs and it would take some time for my suddenly He appears. As he puts it, “This man Jesus just appears body to recuperate. It was a deadly disease I didn’t know I had from nowhere.” As we chatted about this I asked him what his until the doctor brought healing. favourite hymn was. “All to Jesus I surrender,” was his reply.

Saved by the Saviour Some folks have been attending Ballygomartin Church for decades. For a number of years, I spent every Tuesday with one such man, sharing stories, jokes and oft-times the message of the gospel. Recently, after one such sharing, I asked him if he was saved, i.e. had he ever accepted Jesus as his Saviour and Lord? He told me that he always felt he couldn’t because he swore when he lost his temper; this apparently was the residue from suffering a stroke. Well, as an evangelist, the door was open wide for me to

Prayer points Thank God for His continued blessings in the congregation. Please pray: for folks who have come to faith and others who have taken communicant classes and become new communicant members of the congregation; for the election of new elders and that wisdom will be evident in the choosing and in those chosen; and for unity, peace and harmony as we live out the Christian life and witness to each other and the community.

Mission Connect | Herald March 2018

MARCH 2018

Please pray for...

1 SPAIN – Pray for Grupos Biblicos Unídos (a Spanish Christian student organisation) as it seeks to reach non-Christian students with the gospel and develop Christian leaders who in future will contribute to the growth and development of evangelical churches in Spain.

11 PORTUGAL – Give thanks for the group of believers who meet in the church plant in Senhora da Hora, praying that they would be salt and light in the local community. Pray too for James and Heather Cochrane and their colleagues Pedro and Amada as they lead the church plant.

2 URBAN MISSION – Rev. Robert Love and the congregation of Taughmonagh. Give thanks for encouraging Sunday evening events attended by local people, and pray that more people will come to faith in Christ.

12 URBAN MISSION – Pray for the urban mission congregation of Strand in east Belfast, and for the minister, Rev. Danny Rankin.

13 DEACONESS – Michelle Purdy, serving in Ballyclare. Pray for her work at the food bank and that each person who receives a food parcel would know that the welcome and help they receive is a representation of how God loves them.

3 DEACONESS – Sonya Anderson, serving in Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee.

14 KENYA – Stephen and Angelina Cowan serving in Tuum, engaged in training and skills development, sharing the gospel, nurturing believers and developing Christian leaders.

15 HOME MISSION – Rev. Rodney Thompson and Glenelly congregation. Pray for more of the saving grace of God to be seen among the members and give thanks for signs of awakening among some.

Stephen and Angelina Cowan

4 JAMAICA – The United Church’s outreach to the vulnerable, especially the elderly, neglected children, one-parent families, drug addicts and those living on the streets.

5 IRISH MISSION – Philip Whelton, Irish mission worker serving in Arklow. Pray for the people who come to the community Bible study, that they will be strengthened and encouraged in their faith.

6 HOME MISSION – Carrigart and Dunfanaghy congregations, and for the minister, Rev. Andrew Watson. Pray that Andrew and the church members will be filled with the Spirit and that their lives may shine compellingly for Christ.

7 MALAWI – David and Pamela McCullagh as they serve with Scripture Union Malawi. Pray for David as he delivers training to staff and volunteers.

8 HOME MISSION – Rev. Gary McDowell and the congregation of Greystones as they seek to reach out to the community of Greystones and beyond. Pray for wisdom to know how best to do this.

9 CHAPLAINS – Rev. Mark Proctor in his role as chaplain in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, giving thanks for the frequent opportunities he has to share Christian hope with patients and their families.

10 ADDICTIONS – Pray for all who are trapped by their addiction to alcohol or drugs, that they may be able to break free and know the sustaining love of Jesus. Pray for their families as they struggle to cope with the addiction of those closest to them.

16 HOME MISSION – Moville, Greenbank, Carndonagh and Malin congregations, and for their minister, Rev. Stewart Glendinning.

Remember them as they seek to lead others to Christ.

17 PAKISTAN – The work and witness of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. Pray for Christians in the country suffering persecution, that they will remain strong in their faith. Pray too that Christians will have opportunities and the courage to share the message of salvation with their neighbours and friends.

18 URBAN MISSION – St. Columba’s congregation in Lisburn, and Rev. Rodney Cameron, who was installed as minister in the congregation in January, as he settles into ministry there.

19 SUICIDE – In recent years there has been a steep increase in suicide rates in Ireland.

Pray that God will move powerfully in the lives of those who are in such physical and mental pain that they feel driven to attempt suicide.

20 DEACONESS – Tracey Nicholl serving in St. James’s Ballymoney, leading services, women’s Bible study, craft club and pastoral visiting.

21 ENGLAND – Christopher and Nivedita Benjamin as they reach out to the Gujarati community in London. Remember them as they prepare ‘Manna’, a weekly Christian meditation, and pray for those who receive it.

22 HOME MISSION – The congregation of Smithborough (which is currently vacant).

Pray for the congregation’s ongoing ministry and outreach work.

23 COMMUNITY OUTREACH – John McCandless serving in Mountpottinger and Mersey Street congregations in east Belfast.

Pray for wisdom as he seeks to bring the unchanging gospel into ever-changing communities.

24 KINGHAN CHURCH – Pray for the members of the Kinghan congregation during this vacancy period. Give thanks for the continuing witness of the Kinghan Church and pray that members will be able to work diligently as a team.

25 MALAWI – Lyn and Johnny Dowds and the work of the David Gordon Memorial Hospital in Livingstonia. Pray too for their children at boarding school in Zambia.

26 HOME MISSION – Rev. Helen Freeburn and Galway congregation. Pray for the Spirit to continue to move powerfully in the congregation’s worship and witness to the glory of God. 27 CHAPLAINS – Wisdom for John Coulter, chaplain at the Ulster University (Coleraine campus), as he seeks to provide a useful chaplaincy ministry in a radically and fastchanging university context.

28 NEPAL – The United Mission to Nepal (UMN); seeking to serve the people of Nepal, particularly those living in poverty.

Linzie Cobain

29 NIGHTLIGHT – Linzie Cobain and the work of Nightlight in Belfast. Pray that God would continue to bless the conversations staff and volunteers have with people on the streets.

30 LOCAL SUPPORT AND FRIENDS GROUPS – Give thanks for all those who so freely give of their time and skills to support residents and tenants in PCI homes and units.

31 HOME MISSION – The life and witness of Carlow and Athy congregations and for the minister, Rev. Stephen Rea.

www.presbyterianireland.org/prayer

A Camino

adventure

David Cupples describes his life-changing experience of walking the famous Camino pilgrimage, during a two-month sabbatical last year.

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t started in a bookshop in the little village of Vezelay, south of Paris in August 2015. I was flicking through a booklet on the Camino and the lights went on in my head. I had been looking for an idea for another sabbatical, something really different for me, and this was it! This was the adventure that ticked all the boxes and presented me with an opportunity for all-round growth and development. Nineteen months and many hours of preparation later – researching, reading, buying equipment, training at the gym and on long walks – I set off for Dublin airport on Monday, 3rd April 2017. From Wednesday, 5th April until my return home on 31st May, I walked 670 miles from Aire-sur-l’Adour in southwest France to Finisterre on the Atlantic coast of Spain, incorporating the 500 miles of the famous Camino de Santiago, which starts at St. Jean Pied de Port and ends in Santiago de Compostela.

Camino is the Spanish word for ‘way’, ‘path’ or ‘road’. This is the most famous of medieval pilgrimage routes, based on the legend that the body of James the Apostle was buried at Santiago after his martyrdom, recorded in Acts 12. Interest in this walking route revived in the 1980s and now hundreds of thousands of people walk all or part of it every year.

Simplicity

Few are pilgrims in the traditional sense; most are there for pure enjoyment, or to reflect on their lives in a general way, but not with any specifically religious purpose. Of course in our Western European society, there is an openness to spirituality in a very vague kind of way. “I think there must be something out there,” said Onya, a German student.

As an evangelical Christian, I went out to spend time listening to God in all the ways I knew how. First and foundationally there was the reading of Scripture. Keeping my backpack as light as possible, all my books and Bible were on a Kindle. I read through Deuteronomy and the gospel of John. After leaving the albergue (hostel) no later than 8am, and following breakfast, I looked for a shady spot and read my chapter for the day. I meditated on it as I walked along and usually tried to listen to a hymn or piece of music on my phone that linked with it in some way. The words of hymns, old and new, never failed to move me. In fact, the whole Camino was a very emotional experience for me. Life became very simple but much more intense. With less busyness you become more attentive to everything that is happening within you and around you.

There was listening and learning from the Lord in a broader sense of learning life and faith lessons in all experiences.

First, there was the complete and blissful change of routine. There was rest for the weary mind combined with the exhilaration of rigorous daily exercise; though of course you take it at your own speed. There was the physical and Herald March 2018

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psychological challenge – would I be able to do this? But one lesson everybody learns on the Camino is that you can do much more than you think you can.

Especially with a little help from your friends – a lesson in what church is meant to be.

The first week in France was the most solitary of my entire life. There were no other pilgrims. I was staying in guesthouses and hotels and most of my walking was done on my own. So be prepared for that if you decide to go.

Creation speaks of its maker and the scenery along the Camino in all its variety is a theatre of God’s glory for the child of God. I had chosen a number of devotional classics from different centuries for my Camino readings. I found that there was little time or energy for daily reading, but I took Sundays off, stayed in a small hotel with a private room, and enjoyed my quiet days of reading there. How foolish would it be to take a sabbatical and not observe a weekly Sabbath.

Everybody had a notebook or journal with them to record their thoughts and feelings and I was no different. I recorded

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I think I have a more trusting approach to life and ministry now. thoughts on my phone as I walked along, took lots of photos, and then journalled daily and on my Sabbath. When my first Facebook post proved popular, it turned into a daily update. My book Peregrino, which came out in November, is based on my journal and Facebook blogs.

The discipline of simplicity was experienced in laying aside the comforts of home and reducing life to a simple daily rhythm and routine of eating, walking, talking, washing and sleeping. That’s it! You are not a tourist, so it is quite an ascetic experience.

Sometimes I longed for my nice comfy bed at home as I spent another night on the top bunk in a dormitory with 20 or 30 people, but usually I was so tired I appreciated the chance to lie down anywhere.

Evangelism We hear much today about emotional intelligence and developing interpersonal

skills. I went on my own so I was free to meet people. I met them from many countries, asked them to tell me their story, shared in their laughter and tears, and sought to understand. Invariably they then asked me to share who I was and in that respectful setting I was able to share the good news of Jesus. I will never forget the look on the face of Lisa, a science graduate from Germany, as she exclaimed with amazement, “You mean to say, Jesus is a real person?” I do hope she meets Him some day. I know I was a link in the chain.

This was all to develop my pastoral skills and to enjoy other people. I laughed a lot, learned a lot. I think of Lena from Denmark who wept non-stop for two hours as she told me her sad life story, but it did her a lot of good. Of course, much of the conversation was superficial, but it could also become very deep and personal very quickly. It is easy to talk like that to strangers.

Hearing God I didn’t have set prayer times. I found I was in a place and attitude of prayer, anywhere, everywhere talking to the Lord about what I was reading, hearing and experiencing. It was a praying life, a nonstop dialogue.

The voice of God came to me powerfully and personally on four distinct occasions in this overall context

of spending time with him. First was an assurance of His care. On the second day, after I had got lost, by a remarkable providence, I was brought back onto the right path. That moment dealt with all my initial fears. The second time was two weeks later when, in the space of one hour, a succession of Bible verses was brought to mind that shed light on some questions I have carried throughout life. The third occasion was a sustained dialogue near the end of the Camino in the middle of the night about friendship with God, accompanied by copious tears.

The last moment of deep encounter was in Santiago when reading a book – God challenged me about living the rest of my life as a pilgrim, like Abraham.

The one spiritual discipline missing in my plans was service. Then I thought that perhaps my church and local community might be prepared to sponsor an old guy like me doing a really long walk. They did big-time. Between gifts and book sales I have raised £56,000. This has been divided between the work of Dr. Jany Haddad, a surgeon and pastor in Aleppo in Syria, and Rev. Colin and Marjorie Dickson, serving with PCI in Amman, Jordan.

The adventure ahead The big question is: has it made a longterm difference in my life? Well, firstly it was an unforgettable experience which I

The Christian life is the great adventure and training experience of growing more like our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. received from God as a gift to be enjoyed.

On the Camino you view everything as a gift. I experienced on four occasions a car or person showing up out of nowhere when I was totally lost. I think I have a more trusting approach to life and ministry now.

God is going ahead, preparing the way, working all things for my good and will show me what I need to do to walk with Him and play my part. I think I now have a deeper faith in his Fatherly care and providence and I am less tempted to try to sort out all the problems I come

across. The stick will move when the river rises.

Would I do it again? Yes absolutely – and hopefully when I retire. There are so many lessons I would love to share and stories I would love to tell. They are all in my book, Peregrino. But the best way to listen and to learn all the things the Lord might want to teach you is just to go ahead and do it yourself – even part of it.

It is something you will never regret. The Christian life is the great adventure and training experience of growing more like our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask God to show you some new step you could take on that journey. Buen Camino!

Rev. David Cupples is minister of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church.

Books available for purchase (not postal delivery) from ICM Books, 115 Dunkirk Road, Lurgan; Carlisle Bookshop, High Street, Omagh; Real Life Bookshop, Enniskillen; or contact David Cupples directly on dcupples57@gmail.com

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Christians & cultural difference David Smith outlines why our culture is so significant to our understanding of faith and the Bible.

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resumably at some point in your existence you were mostly an unformed human being, not yet embarked on the path of being specifically Irish, or Chinese, or Polish, or Portuguese in your cultural preferences and behaviours. The long process of learning to talk, and walk, and eat, and think pretty much like the people around you had not yet begun. You belonged to the human race at large; if you were suddenly transplanted to a different cultural location you would not have anything to unlearn. When do you think that began to change? At what point in your life did you begin to be inducted into the cultural community in which you grew up?

When I ask this question in groups, people start discussing events from their early childhood, like their first exposure to certain foods, or the first rhymes they learned, or how they were dressed. Not many focus on the time before they were born. Yet the process begins very early indeed.

How would you ask newborn infants about their cultural preferences? Gerry Altmann, in his book The Ascent of Babel, describes experiments in which newborn babies were given teats connected to a pressure-sensitive device able to detect when and how fast they sucked. In this way they could trigger a recording of a story their mother had read aloud during the last month of pregnancy or a new story, or, in another instance, a recording of their mother’s native language or of a new language. They had not been pondering plot structure or grammar while in the womb, but they had heard sounds from the outside world, and already at birth they preferred the rhythms of the familiar story and the cadences of the mother’s native language.

When it comes to culture, it seems that we are biased at birth. We are always already from somewhere.

As we grow, this process intensifies.

Our community works on our manners, our behaviours, and our words. Our schools offer a curriculum shaped by the assumptions and priorities of our time and place. The rhythms of our work and play, the very categories we use to think and sing and hope and dream with, taste of the community in which we are shaped. This tends to remain invisible to

us, because as long as we stay within our own circles, the way we ‘do human’ just feels normal. It works, it is what everyone does. It is other people, we feel, who are peculiar, foreign, hard to understand; we just do human.

It turns out that I need my neighbour, and that a willingness to listen and not just proclaim is required by respect for the truth.

This very human tendency to identify our particular cultural preferences with the way things ought to be (and to fight tooth and nail if the familiar, comforting cadences seem threatened) is part of the reality into which the gospel speaks.

Christ comes to people shaped by a particular time and place, welcoming into the kingdom of God from the beginning “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs” (Acts 2:9-11). All are welcome, yet there also comes repentance and sanctification, and some cherished cultural boundaries have to give way –

The church has always… wrestled with how to live as the body of Christ when we have been so deeply shaped by different sets of cultural habits, preferences, assumptions, and identities. before long in Acts we have Hebrews and Greeks arguing about food distribution (Acts 6:1) and we see the unlikely scene of Jews praying with Samaritans (Acts 8:14-15). The church has always, since its beginning, wrestled with how to live as

the body of Christ when we have been so deeply shaped by different sets of cultural habits, preferences, assumptions, and identities.

This came home to me recently through a New Testament passage that I thought I knew well. Chances are you are familiar with the story too – the one where Jesus is travelling, stops by a well, and asks a Samaritan woman for water ( John 4).

The conversation turns to her need for living water before Jesus mentions the woman’s five past husbands and lack of marriage to her present partner. They end up discussing the proper place to worship, and Jesus says that true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth.

Many a preacher has seen here ideal material for a sermon about evangelism.

Jesus meets an unbeliever and deftly turns the talk from refreshment to repentance. Yet if you look more closely, the conversation is a little odd. The transition from water to living water is smooth, but then when the woman asks for the living water, she is told to go get her husband and come back. This seems abrupt. Why does Jesus suddenly switch from water to husbands? A few moments later there is another lurch. When Jesus points out her history of husbands, the Samaritan woman suddenly wants to talk about which temple is the right place to worship. Again, this comes out of the blue. Why the sudden switch?

For years I had a story in my head that made sense of it all. I had heard it in sermons and read it in books, and when I pulled Bible commentaries from a library shelf, I found that almost all of them had the same story in mind. It goes like this. The Samaritan woman is a sinner who needs to repent from her immoral past. (“Though not a prostitute...” one commentator began). Once she seems ready to talk about eternal life, Jesus exposes her sin so that she can repent and believe. (“His obvious wish to reform her life…” wrote another). This makes her uncomfortable, and she does her best to wriggle out of the spotlight by changing the subject to temples. Better to talk religion than to face actual repentance.

It was a tidy story. But then I came across an account of how some women in Afghanistan read the passage, and their reading shook my confidence that I had it all wrapped up. Before turning Herald March 2018

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to their reading, let’s think for a moment about why I read this story the way I did and why Afghan women might read it differently.

Psychologists have studied how people in different cultures explain events – the kinds of causes we instinctively reach for to make sense of things.

Westerners tend, on average, to prefer internal explanations of behaviour. For example, in answering the question: “Why did she help me?” Westerners tend to answer, “Because she is a nice person. Because something good inside her made her do it.” Westerners tend to think of themselves as individuals who make free choices based on their own character, and they interpret others through that lens. Asians (again on average, individuals differ) have a stronger tendency to reach for external explanations. When explaining why someone helped, they might say, “There was no one else around.

She was the nearest person. Something in the situation made her help appropriate.”

In general, Asians are more likely to think of themselves as part of a network of obligations and circumstances that limit the role of individual choices.

So, back to our Samaritan story. I recently ran across a passage in Kate McCord’s In the Land of Blue Burqas that describes what happened when Afghan women encountered the story in John 4. What was immediately obvious to them was the woman’s shame after she had been used by a series of men. They took it for granted that no woman can arrange her own marriage.

Five times she had been married without a say in the matter, and the latest man did not have the decency to give her marriage.

Carrying this much dishonour, the woman would have been unable to worship at either of the temples, yet Jesus tells her, astonishingly, that God can find her where she is, for worship is about spirit and truth. Here was a different story to make sense of the conversational turns. The woman came to the well alone because of her shame. The many

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husbands were not her choice. The situation forced on her had pushed her to the margins. As the conversation turned to eternal life, her inability to join worship came to the front of her mind.

Jesus was indeed calling her to faith, but

When it comes to culture, it seems that we are biased at birth. We are always already from somewhere. perhaps He was ministering to her shame more than to her sin.

Leave aside for a moment debating the correct interpretation. That matters, but my concern here is different. What struck me as I read the passage from McCord’s book was that in several decades of reading the story of the Samaritan woman, I had simply never asked myself whether or to what degree she had chosen her relationships.

Why would that question, one that now seems obviously relevant, never occur to me?

Because of the contours of my cultural identity. I am male, Western, comparatively well off, modern, the product of an individualist society that enjoys certain freedoms and takes certain privileges for granted. I tend to assume that I can make my own choices about such things as whom to marry, and that these choices are motivated from within myself and rest on my own shoulders. And I tend to think others can do the same, because

I share the human tendency to imagine that my world is normal and that others are basically like me. These are the ways my cultural formation and my life experience incline me to think. Research on cultural difference predicts that I would think this way, and that I would be likely to read John 4 the way I did.

What if this leaves me, as a Western, male, privileged reader, sitting in judgment on the Samaritan woman in the story while Jesus was freeing her from such judgment? Hmm, not quite a prostitute. She clearly needs to repent before the discussion of God and eternal life can continue. As I read her this way, with whom does this align me in the story? Jesus? Or perhaps just the men in the Samaritan town?

Does this leave everything relative, with each person locked in his or her own culture? No. Quite the opposite. It means that the perspectives that arise from my culture, from my local formation, may not have a monopoly on truth. Yet it is precisely because the truth is out there that I need to question and test my own cultural sense of things. For that reason I need others, others who were not formed in quite the same way that I was, others who might see different things and raise different questions and help me to see where I was just clinging to familiar cadences, and not to the truth. It turns out that I need my neighbour, and that a willingness to listen and not just proclaim is required by respect for the truth.

(Parts of this article are adapted from Christians and Cultural Difference by David I. Smith and Pennylyn DykstraPruim, Calvin College Press, 2016.)

Dr. David I. Smith is Director of Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan and was a guest speaker at Stranmillis College’s summer school: ‘Christianity and Culture’.

Hope

for girls As International Women’s Day is celebrated this month, Claire Rush addresses the negative messages young women today are facing and challenges the church to offer a counter-cultural message of hope and affirmation.

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t was a normal Monday night at Girls’ Brigade. The young women were sitting around chatting and laughing.

Beauty and celebrity magazines appeared from their bags and soon the air was filled with the flicking sound of crisp pages as they chatted about who was wearing what and which celebrity was dating who.

“So, what’s the message that you receive about what it means to be a girl from reading that magazine?” I asked curiously. The girls paused and pondered before writing down some thoughts on

pieces of paper. “I’m not thin enough” wrote one. “I’m not rich enough” wrote another. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised by these responses, but the words on one particular slip of paper hit me like a sucker punch: “I am not enough”.

Today, too many girls (and too many women) still believe that they are not enough.

A few years on, and those four words still resonate with me. Today, too many girls (and too many women) still believe that they are not enough. One of the most heartbreaking statistics of 2016’s Girls’ Attitudes survey – capturing the voices of 1,627 girls and young women (7-21) in the UK – was that 69% of girls feel like they’re not good enough.

Girls’ self-esteem has plummeted and mental health issues like depression and anxiety have increased. Last year a UCL (University College London) report suggested one in four 14-year-old Herald March 2018

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(Age 7-10)

SAID THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT THEIR VALUE IS BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE*

girls reported symptoms of depression (including feelings of loneliness, selfhatred and feeling unloved). Our culture is full of identity thieves who are bombarding young people, particularly girls, with paradoxical messages that subvert their God identity – that they are the image-bearers of God with unchanging value and worth.

Thursday, 8th March is International Women’s Day; a day to celebrate women and also shine a light on the challenges that many still face. Using recent research such as the Girls’ Attitudes survey and amplifying girls’ voices (including some from Girls’ Brigade), what are the messages about what it means to be a girl that are being communicated in popular culture today?

Be a living doll “Girls are feeling huge pressure to fit in and be more like what society wants of them so they can feel better about themselves.”

Megan, 16 Natasha Walters in her book, Living Dolls, argues: “Living a doll’s life seems to have become an aspiration for many young women, as they leave childhood behind only to embark on a process of grooming, dieting and shopping that aims to achieve the bleached, waxed, tinted look of a Barbie doll.”

From a very young age, the toxic mix of consumerism and liberal capitalism teaches girls that their bodies are projects to be improved upon. On the other hand, boys are taught that their bodies are vehicles to navigate the world in.

Dr. Steve Biddulph, psychologist and author of Raising Girls, argues: “Today’s advertising actively creates anxieties.

This amounts to nothing less than a war on girlhood... Every aspect of a girl’s appearance now presents an opportunity to fail.”

Our culture continues to evaluate girls’ worth on their physical appearance.

Worryingly, one-third of girls (7-10) said that other people make them

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Herald March 2018

61% of girls

47%

(AGE 11-21) HAVE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE CRITICISING THEIR BODIES*

believe that their value is based on their appearance and 61% of girls (11-21) have experienced people criticising their bodies.

The reality is that we as a church sometimes don’t help dispel myths about appearance. Pamper nights in youth groups, focusing on nails and make-up, can unconsciously reinforce the idea that a girl’s value is dependent on how she looks.

The sexy lie “Girls feel pressure to show off their bodies all the time and it intensifies our desire to be perfect. We’re so much more than our sex appeal.” Emily, 16

As a church, we also need to continue to demonstrate by example that women and men are both called to make an important and equally valuable contribution.

Linked in with the pressure to be a ‘living doll’ is society’s manipulation to get women to invest in what Dr. Caroline Speldman describes in her fantastic TED (online media outlet) talk as “the sexy lie”.

We live in a sexual objectification culture which treats (primarily) women like commodities, largely ignoring their personality, talents and gifts. This objectification culture is marketed to be empowering for women by celebrities like the Kardashians but, the truth is, it’s fundamentally disempowering for everyone concerned. A subject acts, but objects are always acted on. There’s no power in being a sex object – it will always be a less equal and passive position. Many young girls are being robbed of their self-worth as they’re reducing themselves to a collection of body parts to be scrutinised on social media and beyond.

of girls

1/3

of girls

(AGE 11-21) SAID THE WAY THEY LOOK HOLDS THEM BACK MOST OF THE TIME*

We’re seeing the painful results of girls being bombarded by this culture. 47% of girls (11-21) in the Girls’ Attitudes survey said the way they look holds them back most of the time. Sadly, girls tell us that intense appearance pressure prevents girls from doing everyday enjoyable activities like playing sports, speaking up in groups, and having their photo taken.

Stay in your box “Gender stereotypes have had a negative impact on me by making me feel the need to conform to what is expected of me as a girl from a young age. I was taught that girls should like pink, play with Barbie dolls and that you could only play certain sports if you were a boy.” Jessie 20 Girls are telling us loud and clear that gender stereotypes are limiting them.

According to the Girls’ Attitudes survey 2017, 55% (7-21) say gender stereotypes affect their ability to say what they think. Girls as young as seven feel the need to conform with these stereotypes perpetuated across different aspects of life – social media, fashion, advertising, school, families and even church.

Stereotypes are a widely held (but fixed) and oversimplified image or idea of what girls and boys should be like/ do. We need to remember that gender stereotypes are a social construct; the culture around us defines what are ideals of masculinity and femininity.

Stereotypes that girls identify as harmful and limiting are that certain subjects/ sports are for boys or that boys are more likely to be strong and brave.

Hope I’ve met young women in the UK, Ireland and across the world who are challenging the status quo. Despite the culture surrounding them, girls are refusing to be limited and demonstrating that they are, in fact, limitless. Girls are generationshapers, hope-bringers and transformers of culture. More importantly, they are joining in with God’s mission of restoration on earth.

Surrounded by a popular culture which both screams and whispers to girls “you

55% of girls

are not enough”, how can we, as the church, empower a generation of girls to live in gospel hope?

Cultivate identity capital Girls’ Brigade believes there’s a need for a counter-cultural hope-filled narrative for girls. With the deficit of self-worth and self-esteem among young people, our anxiety-inducing culture is draining all their identity capital reserves.

Identity capital means that each person knows who they are and whose they are (Ephesians 1:11-12). In other words, we need to enable young people to understand that they’re God’s image bearers with inestimable value and unchanging worth created for a mighty purpose. The church has an amazing capacity to bring this truth-focused message to young people in our broken world. Our message is literally ‘Good News’.

With the barrage of toxic messages in the media, it’s not enough to simply aim to empower girls with body confidence.

We need to be intentional about cultivating identity capital in girls from a very young age through helping them encounter the living Jesus in relevant and relational ways.

Girls’ Brigade believes in the value of gender-specific groups and has developed faith-based fun and innovative programme materials for girls, specifically helping them to build their self-esteem in Christ each week. In local GB groups, women leaders are equipping girls to navigate this confusing culture, as well as helping them to cultivate courage and resilience in fun and safe environments.

Activities such as touch rugby, other sports and social activism demonstrate to girls that their worth lies in much more than what they look like. Over the past 125 years, GB has had five generations of women investing in the next generation of girls – amazing!

Let girls lead Currently there are more men called John than women running FTSE 100 companies. It’s encouraging that despite

HOUSE OF COMMONS WOMEN AND EQUALITIES COMMITTEE REPORT 2016:

2/3

OF GIRLS ARE SEXUALLY HARASSED IN SCHOOL

these challenges, two-thirds of girls aspire to be leaders. Sadly, while girls identify leaders as brave and powerful, they struggle to see themselves in this way, identifying these qualities as primarily masculine characteristics.

As a church, we also need to continue to demonstrate by example that women and men are both called to make an important and equally valuable contribution. We can do this by equipping and releasing the God-given gifts of all the church.

Many young girls are being robbed of their self-worth as they’re reducing themselves to a collection of body parts to be scrutinised on social media and beyond.

For some of us, this will require intentionality, especially if you’re a male leader. For many guys, it’s natural to raise up and invest in other guys as leaders.

But we also need to create space for girls to lead as well, and equip them to do so.

By acknowledging that young women can lead and inspire us, we’re recognising that God uses all genders and people of all ages in His mission of restoration on earth.

69% of girls

(AGE 7-21)

FEEL LIKE THEY’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH*

*Girls’ Attitudes survey of 1,627 girls and young women (7-21) in the UK 2016.

(AGE 7-21) SAY GENDER STEREOTYPES AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK*

behaviour. Sadly, a report from the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee in 2016 revealed that twothirds of girls are sexually harassed in school. School, families and the church also need to equip boys to navigate this confusing world, and to view and treat girls with respect. Men have an important role to play in the way that they interact with the girls and women around them.

Ultimately, we need to work together to create a culture of worth for everyone and to recognise and act on the truth that each of us has equal worth and value, regardless of what we look like or what our gender, age, race, or ability is. This is the hopeful message that Jesus brought to us and He’s calling us to follow in His footsteps today in our homes, in our youth groups, and wherever He has placed us.

Let’s enable girls to be the generationshapers, hope-bringers, and transformers of culture that God created them to be.

Because if His great commission is to be fulfilled, women and men need to work in partnership for the gospel.

Dr. Claire Rush is a volunteer leader in Islandmagee Presbyterian Church GB, advocacy coordinator for Girls’ Brigade Ministries and vice-president of Girls’ Brigade International.

Don’t perceive this as a ‘girl problem’; it’s our problem When half the church is limited and losing confidence, everyone is affected.

These statistics and prevailing attitudes hurt boys and men too. Our popular culture is also communicating a toxic version of masculinity to boys. Boys are learning through media and the proliferation of pornography to view and treat girls as sex objects. As a result, for some boys, a girl’s value is only in how attractive they are to the opposite sex and their ability to meet their sexual needs. This is then reinforced in Herald March 2018

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REVIEWS

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

The Answer Jeremy Camp SPARROW

£12.93

«««««

This is the 11th album from award-winning American singersongwriter Jeremy Camp. His style is pretty straightforward pop-rock and the songs have a familiarity, both musically and lyrically, that make them easy to pick up quickly.

The title track, The Answer, is one that could work for a congregation, and is the crux of the album, setting up Jesus as: “The answer to every question/ The one solution to every fear/ I know my help and where it comes from/ Jesus, He is the answer.”

This is one of my favourite tracks on the album, along with My Father’s Arms (which reminds me a bit of the Andy Flannagan song, Open Arms), which explores the Fatherheart of God: “And I’m standing on the shores of majesty/ No matter how far I run I can never outrun His love/ My Father’s arms are holding me.”

Jeremy Camp has a similar sound to Casting Crowns and Third Day, so if you enjoy those artists, then this could be another one to check out, but I think some of his previous albums have an edgier, more contemporary sound. You might enjoy this one more if you listen to those first.

This album focuses on the majesty of God, His strength, love and saving grace. In my own context, I think we are unlikely to use these pieces in corporate worship, but it’s a reasonably enjoyable album to listen to, as an aid to personal worship.

LI

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Herald March 2018

Learning from Lord Mackay: Life and Work in Two Kingdoms J Cameron Fraser SOS BOOKS

£9.50

«««««

Cameron Fraser, a Canadian Scot, has written on the life of Lord Mackay, not simply to give us an insight into the character of this man, but also to assess how he acted with integrity as a Christian believer in the public square.

He does this at two levels. He tells us an inspiring story of how James Mackay from humble beginnings became not just the Lord Advocate of Scotland, but under Margaret Thatcher, the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. He was a judicial giant but at the same time a humble follower of Jesus.

He had been raised in the very conservative Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland where he came to faith and became an elder of that Church. It was this Church which sought to discipline him for attending the funeral mass of a close friend and colleague.

Those who encountered him in the legal profession and in politics, according to Fraser, describe him as a gentle, clearthinking and gracious man.

The second level, which makes this biography fascinating, is Fraser’s assessment of not just the manner in which Lord Mackay carried out his duties, but the rationale as a Presbyterian as to how he acted as a leader in both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world.

It is in the political judgments he made, specifically in his role in the House of Lords, and his reflections on the establishment principles in terms of how the church and state might interact that we see the stature of this man. It is also an example for us today as to how to be a servant of Christ in civil society.

TM

The Fifth Pillar – a Spiritual Pilgrimage Noel Davidson and David Zeidan AMBASSADOR INTERNATIONAL

£9.95

«««««

This autumn I had the privilege of attending one of the launch meetings of this newly published book where I heard the story of the man described in it. I was touched by his humility and genuine love of Northern Ireland and how he appreciated the prayers and support of the Christian community here.

The book was first published in 1993 and has now been republished to include new chapters, written by Noel Davidson, bringing the story up to date.

It is the story of a young man, Nabil, born in Syria and brought up with his brother by loving and devout Muslim parents. Nabil struggled to embrace the faith of his family as fully as they wished and in his late teens he was sent to Mecca to perform the Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

In a variety of ways God spoke to Nabil, sometimes in a remarkable way and also in simple friendships. The book tells how he came to give his life to Christ. It also tells of how he met his Polish wife, Renata, and of the difficulties they faced knowing that he could never return to his native Syria as it could cost him his life to do so.

Nabil always wanted to have opportunity to present the gospel in Arabic to the Muslim world and through the book we see how God made that possible through writing and broadcasting.

I would recommend the book as it gives real insight into the life of a Muslim family and outlines the huge difficulties faced by a Muslim as they consider embracing Christ.

CF

REVIEWERS

LI – Louise Irwin is part of the worship team at Kirkpatrick Memorial TM – Dr. Trevor Morrow is a former Presbyterian Moderator

A Functional Art: Reflections of a Hymn Writer Timothy Dudley-Smith OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

£19.99

«««««

Timothy Dudley-Smith, the retired Bishop of Thetford, has written 450 hymns in a long life of service to the church. Twenty of his titles are included in our Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook, notably Tell out, my soul. He has written an account of how he learned the ‘functional art’ of hymn writing by studying the best work of those who proceeded him and by much trial and error.

Dudley-Smith celebrates the ‘hymn explosion’ of the post-war era, praising such contemporary writers as Graham Kendrick, John Bell, Brian Wren and others. He also calls on helpful examples from the work of the masters: Wesley, Watts, Newman, Ellerton, Cowper, etc.

He takes us through many aspects of hymn writing with the wisdom born of much experience. He explores content and form, meaning and language, rhyme and metre, creativity and criticism. This book is full of good advice for aspiring hymn writers and full of guidance for people in the pew as to what good praise should consist of.

Dudley-Smith focuses on giving God alone the glory through Christ. Every word of a hymn should count, i.e. should contribute to the impact of the whole.

Poetry should be the handmaid of piety.

The book is crammed with comments and anecdotes concerning every conceivable aspect of this very important ‘functional art’. All of us who rejoice in the church’s praise will benefit from his insights.

DC

CF – Christine Finlay is a member of PCI’s World Faiths Panel DC – Denis Campbell is minister emeritus of Blackrock - St. Andrews and Bray PA – Phil Alcorn is an administrative officer for PCI’s Creative Production Department

Good News Rend Collective CAPITOL

£8.99 (£1 off RRP at Faith Mission)

««««« It’s almost impossible to stop your toes tapping to the joyful sound of Rend Collective. Their melodies have a simplicity and their lyrics are straightforward truth that appeal across generations.

There is something very special about being able to worship with your whole family together. Rend do this with meaningful, joyful songs of worship. As I listened to this album, my eight-year-

Journey back to joy Dai Hankey 10PUBLISHING £2.99

«««««

If you are anything like me, you will know how hard it is to face up to your greatest failures. Sadly, you will also know how running from repentance can rob you of the deep, spiritual joy of God’s presence. This was something that King David knew all too well, as he did all he could to hide his affair with Bathsheba.

In Journey back to joy, Dai Hankey helps

old was almost immediately joining in and picking out her favourites.

Unsurprisingly, one of her highlights (and mine) was the lead single of the album, Rescuer: “He’s our rescuer/ We are free from sin for evermore/ Oh how sweet the sound/ Oh, how grace abounds/ We will praise the Lord forevermore.”

Rend’s sound is both modern and familiar; these lyrics and rhythms are not a million miles away from the songs sung at gospel meetings I went to with my grandparents. There are plenty of songs in this album that could be picked up by congregations, suitable for all ages: Hymn of the Ages, Resurrection Day, and Rescuer, just to name a few. There are also some that lead us in a more thoughtful direction, and help us to worship in the times we live in (No Outsiders, Weep With Me and Yahweh).

This is another great collection of songs from Rend, that I expect we will be using to help us worship in many contexts over the next few years, for the whole church family.

LI

us to consider the spiritual journey from David’s greatest high – dancing joyously and unashamedly in the streets as the ark is brought into Jerusalem – to his greatest low in adultery with Bathsheba. With brutal honesty, Dai shows how we can all, at times, face the same dilemma as David – to hide from the depths of our sin and brokenness, or to face the painful yet liberating journey back to joy through repentance.

Dai pulls no punches as he tracks David’s journey. With honesty, humility, and a dose of good humour, this book helped me rediscover, as David did, the supreme importance of listening to and acting on God’s Word. True, lasting joy is found not merely in salvation, says Dai, but in the Saviour we run to.

As helpful as it is short (at only 63 pages) it can be read in an hour, but the lessons within will be remembered for a long time to come. No matter whether you currently identify with David’s joyful dance through Jerusalem, or his painful fall, this book has timely lessons and reminders for us all.

PA

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LIFE IN PCI Memorable anniversary year for Alexandra Last year saw Alexandra Presbyterian Church celebrate its 75th anniversary, and it was an exceptionally memorable 12 months for the Belfast congregation.

The year began with services led by former minister Rev. Clifford Wright, former member Dr. Trevor McCormick and the then Moderator Dr. Frank Sellar. Alexandra’s minister Rev. Samuel Newell, having been unwell for some months, retired at the end of January and his years of service in the Top left: Wesley Lewis (captain of 58th Belfast BB company) with Heather Lewis, Jillian McConkey, Phillip Massey and church were marked by a thanksgiving and farewell service David Barr at the dinner to celebrate 75 years of advancing Christ’s kingdom among boys in north Belfast. followed by a reception.

Top right: Rev. Ian Cahoon (right) with his wife Grace following his ordination and installation as minister of Alexandra With Alexandra vacant, the congregation commenced Presbyterian Church with Alexandra’s clerk of session Mervyn McCormick and his wife Elizabeth. the procedures to call a new minister, ably led by vacancy Bottom: Wesley Lewis (captain of 58th Belfast BB company) addresses former members and friends at the reunion dinner, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the company. convener Rev. Ronnie Hetherington, who shared the pulpit with the assistant minister Jonathan Porter. Sunday services provided an opportunity to invite back more former ministers and assistants. The congregation shared with Dr. Ian McNie, Rev. Brian McDowell and was privileged to have Dr. Martin Smyth participate during some times of worship.

The theme for the year was ‘Reconnecting’ and this Alexandra did in various ways. ‘Reconnecting with God’ meant sharing special times of prayer, especially for the vacancy, and celebrating with thanksgiving services for the PW and Boys’ Brigade company. ‘Reconnecting with the family of Alexandra’ entailed a picnic and a church barbeque.

‘Reconnecting with the community’ saw the congregation distribute invitations to all homes in the parish, enjoy an evening of entertainment by the HM Royal Marine Band and host a LCAP Health Day. The Nite Lite team facilitated a Christianity Explored course in Crusaders Social Club.

The 58th BB company also celebrated its 75th At the end of November, Alexandra’s prayers were answered when anniversary by holding a special weekend in April with North Belfast Presbytery led the service for the induction and installation a display and thanksgiving service at which Rev. Ivan Ferris was the of Ian Cahoon, who the congregation warmly welcome along with his speaker and the BB Centenary Male Voice Choir led the praise. In October wife Grace and young son James. a reunion dinner saw over 100 guests attending, including many former There has been a great history of blessing over 75 years in Alexandra and members. The special guest was the Belfast BB Battalion Chief Executive the congregation believes that with God’s leading, the best is yet to come.

Paul McCarroll.

North Antrim churches join to mark Reformation Five north Antrim churches have been remembering, through five of their Wednesday midweek meetings, what happened 500 years ago, in 1517, when the German theologian and monk Martin Luther famously nailed his 95 Thesis to the imposing doors of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

Explaining, Rev. Scott Moore (minister of Dervock Presbyterian) said, “Many view Luther as a schismatic, an erratic individual that brought about a split in the universal church. We, as five congregations – Ballyclabber Reformed Presbyterian, Ballyrashane Presbyterian, Ballywatt Presbyterian, Dervock Presbyterian and Rev. Scott Moore (Dervock Presbyterian), Rev. Philip Dunwoody (Dervock Reformed Presbyterian), Rev. Ross Collins (Ballywatt Dervock Reformed Presbyterian – used this special Presbyterian), Rev. James Blair (Ballyclabber Reformed Presbyterian) and Rev. Philip Kerr (Ballyrashane Presbyterian). anniversary for an occasion of unity in the gospel.

“Luther’s aim was to build up the church through a better grasp of God’s Word, which in the 16th century would only have Reformation Day on 31st October, the churches held a united midweek been understood by clerics who could read Latin. Helpfully, Luther is in each of the meetinghouses, where one of the ministers spoke on one credited with coining five maxims: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) – of the five maxims. the Bible alone is our highest authority; Sola Fide (faith alone) – we are “Not only did we enjoy exploring God’s Word through these saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ; Sola Gratia (grace alone) – we Reformation statements, but as around 150 people gathered together, are saved by the grace of God alone; Solus Christus (Christ alone) – Jesus we enjoyed praising God, especially through the psalms and we hope Christ alone is our Lord, Saviour, and King; and Soli Deo Gloria (to the that our fellowship and unity was a witness to the wider community. glory of God alone) – we live for the glory of God alone.”

“Luther said, ‘Peace if possible, truth at all costs’. Thankfully, we five As there were five Wednesday evenings in November, following congregations enjoyed both,” added Mr. Moore.

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

Clare welcomes new minister Norman Cully, Robert McClelland, clerk of session John Clarke and John Mason are pictured with the new minister of Clare Presbyterian in Co. Armagh, Rev. Philip McClelland (centre), following his ordination and installation.

100th birthday in Ballylinney Betty McGuigan, a lifelong member of Ballylinney Presbyterian Church, celebrated her 100th birthday recently. She is pictured receiving greetings from the Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, and his wife Florence.

Also included are Betty’s daughter Amanda and minister of the Co. Antrim church, Rev. Emerson McDowell.

Anniversary marked in Clones The 60th anniversary of Dr. Andrew Rodgers’ ordination to the ministry was marked at Clones Presbyterian recently. Dr. Andrews was ordained in the church on 12th November 1957. At the conclusion of the service, Maeve Vance spoke of the esteem in which Dr. and Mrs. Rodgers are held by the Clones group of congregations. A framed print of an old 1920s postcard of the Diamond in Clones was presented to them by Roy McAdoo on behalf of the four congregations, while Ivy Gibson presented flowers to Mrs. Rodgers. Pictured are: Mrs. Gibson, Mr. McAdoo, Mrs. Rodgers, Dr. Rodgers, Mrs. Vance and Rev. S. Stewart.

Ordination anniversary celebrated in Burnside Rev. Terry McMullan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland on Friday, 8th December. Eden Craig, on behalf of the Co. Londonderry congregation of Burnside, presented Mr. McMullan and his wife Joyce with a gift and flowers. Looking on is Rev. Richard Gregg (Burnside minister).

Church hall reopens in Cootehill Cootehill church hall recently reopened after being extended and renovated.

Pictured with the Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, and his wife Florence are members of the kirk session, project team, Rev. David Bruce (Secretary of the Council for Mission in Ireland) and Rev. Stephen McNie (moderator of Monaghan Presbytery).

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LIFE IN PCI

Donemana retirements A number of Donemana session members retired from their posts during 2017. Standing are: Derick Gamble (current clerk of session), Valerie Allen, Thomas Allen (who is retiring as clerk of session, but is remaining an elder) and Rev. Stuart McCrea. Seated: Joe McDonald and Billy Allen (retiring elders).

Long service recognised in Derry The choir of First Derry Presbyterian Church recently invited five of its long-term members to afternoon tea to mark their retirement from the choir and to express appreciation. Altogether, this faithful and loyal quintet of singers gave over 200 years of service to their church. Seated are: Elsie Turner and Edith Birch. Standing are: Joan Little, Roy Wright, Dr. David Latimer (minister) and Harriet Little.

New elder in Eglish Geoff McMinn was recently ordained and installed as an elder in the congregation of Eglish by Tyrone Presbytery. Pictured alongside Mr. McMinn (centre), and his wife Vanessa, are Rev. Mark Dodds (the congregation’s minister), Rev. Jackie Spence (moderator of presbytery) and Eakin Kyle (clerk of session). It has been a busy time for the Co. Tyrone church as its hall was recently reopened after renovation and extension.

Armagh Road raises charity funds Irene Bowman (chair of the fundraising forum of Armagh Road Presbyterian Church, Portadown) presented a cheque for £2,300 to Kerry Anderson from Air Ambulance NI. The money was raised during an annual charity golf day. Also pictured are Rev. Christina Bradley (minister of the Co. Armagh church), Michelle Bowman (secretary to the forum), Carol Burrows and Helen Fleming (forum members).

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Herald March 2018

New hall dedicated in Raloo A service of dedication for Raloo Presbyterian Church’s new hall at Crosshill, Co. Antrim took place recently. The service was led by the Moderator Dr. Noble McNeely.

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

180th anniversary celebration at Newmills The congregation of Newmills recently celebrated 180 years of Presbyterian ministry in the County Tyrone village. The minister of the congregation, Rev. David Brownlow, is pictured welcoming the Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely, and his wife Florence to the church.

Dromore retirement John Virtue has retired as clerk of session of Dromore Presbyterian in Co. Tyrone, having held the position since January 2000. The occasion was marked when Rev. John Hanson presented him with a Bible.

New elders in Howth and Malahide

Anniversary marked in Second Limavady

Adriaan Smuts, Hylton Banks and William Lane have been ordained and installed as elders in Howth and Malahide Presbyterian. They are pictured with minister Rev. Alastair Dunlop (left) and clerk of session Margaret McKenna.

Second Limavady recently marked the 50th anniversary of the ordination of its minister emeritus Rev. Tom Mawhinney by presenting him with a gift. Pictured are Rev. Geoffrey Jones, Mervyn Hood (clerk of session), Mr. Mawhinney, Lucinda Mawhinney and Heather Hood (elder).

Fundraiser in Newtowncrommelin Newtowncrommelin Presbyterian’s fundraising efforts have raised £9000, which has been split between Friends of the Cancer Centre and the Cancer Fund for Children. Cheques were presented by Alison Marshall on behalf of the Co. Antrim congregation to Renee Reid and Rachel Quinn (teen and young adult specialist nurses from Friends of the Cancer Centre) and Neil Symington (children’s specialist with Cancer Fund for Children). Pictured are David Marshall, David Gillan, Mr. Symington, Jo-anne Crawford, Ms Quinn, Linda Paul, Ms Marshall, Scott Wharry, Ms Reid, Imelda Scott, Rev. George Johnston and Mary Marshall.

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Centre For Ministry studies SUMMER SCHOOL 2018 Times and Seasons:

Exploring transitions in life, the local church and the world 20th-24th August 2018 Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen How do we navigate our way through the various seasons and transitions in the journey of life and ministry within an ever changing world?

Rev. Marylee Anderson Mrs Gabrielle Dench Rev. Neil Glover Rev. Dr Jim Gordon Rev. Dr Ken Jeffrey Dr David Smith Rev. Professor John Swinton Bible Studies

Visits

Worship

Seminars

Talks

Fellowship

Residential £450; Non-Residential £250 Contact: Clare Davidson clare.davidson@abdn.ac.uk, 01224 272138 ‘A centre of excellence that provides world class education and training for people involved in Christian ministry at home and abroad.’ www.abdn.ac.uk/sdhp/centreministrystudies

CROSSWORD

Ministry Studies Summer School Presbyterian Herald Advert.indd 1

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ACROSS 1 Jesus made this for sinners like us (9) 6 Winter athlete (5) 8 Arguably the most crucial meal of the day (9) 9 Old Testament prophet (5) 10 Change (5) 12 To use or work machinery (7) 13 Owls do this (4) 16 His blood makes us white as this (4) 17 Most up to date (6) 21 This often grounds aircraft (3) 23 In the hymn this is said to be far off (5-4) 24 Faith gives us this (4) 25 The initials of a record company (3) 26 Jacob’s new name (6) 27 Our God (6) DOWN 1 Keep this day holy (7) 2 All God made (8) 3 Rulers of world soccer (inits) (4) 4 Mordecai’s cousin (6) 5 Not pleasing at all (13) 7 One of the 3 “R”s (4) 11 The lilies don’t do this (4) 14 Fish-eating birds of prey (7) 15 Often in the name of a tall building (5) 18 An elongated chocolate and cream cake (6) 19 In the direction of (2) 20 It’s round and goes round (5) 22 A famous fashion label (5)

22/01/2018 13:47

REFLECTIONS

Musée des Beaux Arts Betsy Cameron

T

he old stories are the best. And by old, I mean ancient. clothes or wondering whether we’re low on milk. It’s not that I love myths and legends, especially the stories I’m unconcerned or callous; I just have things that need to be bequeathed to us by the Greeks. They certainly made done, and I’m left puzzling over the question: how do I, as a a large and lasting footprint on Western civilisation, Christian, respond to the suffering and sadness of this world? influencing the shape of our language, giving us a template for Suffering is also much closer to home. Right in our midst establishing our modern democracies and leaving us stories that are people carrying unimaginable burdens and enduring huge help us understand more deeply what it means to be human. sorrows. We are not always aware of what another person’s There is a cautionary element in the stories, and tragedy is never battle is, but even when we are, we may struggle to know how to far away. We have the tale of Narcissus, who fell in love with respond meaningfully. And that’s the problem: it’s not that we’re his own reflection, Pandora who could not contain her curiosity, inured or indifferent to suffering; we’re often just overwhelmed Orpheus with his enchanting music, Odysseus who wandered and unsure of what we should do. and Penelope who waited faithfully. And then there’s Sisyphus, When I lived in Malawi, I learned a great deal from the condemned for eternity to push a boulder people and the culture. Some lessons have up a hill, watch it roll back down and then come much later as I have looked back …it’s not that we’re start all over again. Pardon my shallowness, and reflected on things from the vantage but it reminds me of laundry and dishes. point of time. The hospital staff on the inured or indifferent to The dramatic story of Icarus, the boy station would put on an amazing suffering; we’re often just mission who flew too close to the sun, is familiar nativity play every Christmas, and I always to many of us. We recognise all too well overwhelmed and unsure found it strange that the story of the baby that important distinction between striving in the manger stretched to include all the of what we should do. and overreaching, that intoxicating pride grisly bits like Herod’s slaughter of the that leads to folly. The story of Daedalus innocents. That’s not part of the Christmas and Icarus has been the inspiration for many artists and writers story, I would think, and then file it away as just another quirky through the ages. Musée des Beaux Art, by W.H. Auden is one anecdote to tell people about. But I feel differently about it now. such work. It is – bear with me here – a poem about a painting Malawians well understood the place of suffering, whereas we about a myth. The Renaissance painting it alludes to, The Fall might cherry-pick all the nice warm, fuzzy bits of the story – of Icarus by Bruegel, depicts the final plunging of Icarus into the baby, the mother, the kindly barn animals – and turn away the sea as people nearby continue calmly on with whatever from the darker reality that God in Jesus came into a world in they were doing, oblivious or indifferent to the tragedy right in which violence and danger and suffering were never far away. front of them. Auden’s opening lines gives us pause for thought: It may seem strange to return to the Christmas story in the “About suffering they were never wrong,/ The old Masters: middle of Lent. But we are fast approaching Easter, a story how well they understood/ Its human position, how it takes with a happy ending, to be sure, but one that forces us to place/ While someone else is eating or opening a window or acknowledge that when Jesus came to us to show us what God just walking dully along.” Auden explores the idea that suffering is like, we said ‘no’ in a spectacularly violent way. We can’t turn happens right in front of our eyes while we are preoccupied away from that. When we read the stories of Jesus, we must with our own concerns. keep our eyes wide open, aware that the stories are bigger than The poem hits me hard; I recognise the difficult truth it tells we might have thought, and we must be open to the idea that that we turn our backs or close our eyes to the suffering that they may lead to uncomfortable places where we have to ask is all around us. I feel ashamed of my own complicity. The ourselves hard questions. media brings images from far-flung places into our comfortable homes: refugees fleeing atrocities, cities reduced to rubble by bombs, starving people in drought-stricken countries, but my attention span is so short. Before I can absorb the horror of what I have seen, I am thinking about the next load of

Herald March 2018

49

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Herald March 2018

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11/04/2017 19:44

Dungannon Presbyterian Church is seeking to appoint a

Youth Worker Applications are invited to develop youth work in our congregation.

This is a new full-time position, for 37.5 hours per week (may include evenings and weekends), for a fixed term of three years.

Salary will be in line with PCI salary scales (Band B points 1-4) depending on experience and qualifications.

A commitment to the Christian ethos of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is essential.

Details of the job description, personnel specification and application form can be obtained from: Rev. Alan Thompson Tel: (028) 8772 2125 Email: thompson501@btinternet.com

DIRECTOR

of Christian Unions Ireland Part of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students The future of Christianity in Ireland will be shaped in no small part by the witness and ministry of Christian students in university and college campuses throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Christian Unions Ireland (CUI) is a stable and growing movement. Our mission is to inspire and equip students to become passionate lifelong followers of Jesus Christ. Today we work on most campuses and colleges in Ireland, through our network of Christian Unions. We encourage and help our CUs to be mission teams on campus, living out the Christian gospel.

We are now looking for the person to lead Christian Unions Ireland into the next chapter of its history.

The Director of CUI is responsible for: – Development and implementation of CUI’s strategic goals; – Leadership of the staff team; – Development of relationships with supporters; – Maintenance of a persuasive Christian voice in wider culture.

The Director will be committed to the doctrinal basis, and to the values, of Christian Unions Ireland.

Closing date for applications: Saturday, 31st March 2018 at 6pm.

Further details about this important opportunity can be found on the CUI website. The closing date for applications is 16th April 2018. www.cui.ie

Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church

Finaghy Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Belfast

is seeking to recruit a

Families Worker (part-time)

This exciting post will be part of the ministry team helping to build relationships with families, both within the congregation, and in the wider community.

The job (20 hours per week) will involve some evening and weekend work. The salary will be in the range of £20,297 - £21,790 per year (pro-rata) – depending on experience and qualifications.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday, 6th April 2018 (late applications will not be considered).

For job description, further information and application form please contact Dr. Alistair McCracken (a.mccracken1@ntlworld.com) Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church is a church set in south Belfast. It currently has a membership of 250+ families and offers a range of inter-generational activities throughout the week to cater for the local community. We are looking for someone who is sympathetic to the Christian ethos of the Presbyterian Church.

This position requires the ability to form and develop relationships with parents, grandparents and guardians of children who are part of our congregation or our local community.

Church Administrator

Applications are invited for this part-time (25 hours per week) post based on a two-year fixed term contract, to join an established ministry team at Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church.

The post holder will focus on the specific area of administration.

There will be overlap with other ministries, and effective communication, integration and coordination will be necessary.

Salary scale (depending on experience) £18,750 -21,000 per annum Closing Date: 20th March 2018 Application forms and job description/job specification from: The Secretary, Finaghy Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, 191/193 Upper Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT10 0LL. Tel: (028) 9062 6561 Email: lowe.memorial@tiscali.co.uk

Glastry Presbyterian Church is seeking to appoint a

Praise Coordinator

We are looking for someone who enjoys traditional and contemporary praise played on piano, organ, and other instruments and who will lead the development of all aspects of praise within the church.

The successful applicant should have a passion for leading and encouraging worship with all ages and must share the kirk session’s vision for the congregation and wider community.

Please contact Mr. Will Taylor (clerk of session) for an application pack. Email: glastryfarm@btconnect.com Closing date for applications is Monday, 16th April 2018.

Herald March 2018

51

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

2 LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

ANNALONG: REV. S.S. JOHNSTON: Mr. Jim Hanna, 209 Kilkeel Road, Annalong, Newry, BT34 4TW.

GORTNESSY: REV. P.E. LINKENS: Mr. Ross Hyndman, 32 Temple Road, Strathfoyle, Londonderry, BT47 6UB.

BAILIEBOROUGH, FIRST; BAILIEBOROUGH, TRINITY, CORRANEARY & ERVEY: (Reviewable Tenure - 7 years) REV. D.T.R. EDWARDS: (Bailieborough, First) Mr. Fred Gilmore, Lisgar, Bailieborough.

(Bailieborough, Trinity) Mr. Bert Coote, Kells Road, Bailieborough. (Corraneary) Mr. Eddie Martin, Ardmone, Canningstown, Cootehill. (Ervey) Miss Jean Archibald, Largy, Drumcondrath, Co. Meath.

BANGOR, HAMILTON ROAD (ASSOCIATE): REV. T.W.D. JOHNSTON: Mr. Tom Clarke, 85 Churchill Park, Bangor, BT20 5RW. CARRICKFERGUS, DOWNSHIRE: REV. J.W.D. ROGERS: Mr. Graeme Ritchie, Rose Cottage, 287 Upper Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 8PW. CLOUGHWATER: REV. J.A. BEATTIE: Mr. I Davison, 19 Rockstown Road, Ballymena, BT43 6QS.

BALLYBLACK: REV. R.J. STEVENSON: Mr. Alex Warden, 92 Bowtown Road, Newtownards, BT23 8SL. BELVILLE: REV D.S. HENRY: Mr. Jack Parks, 95 Dromore Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6HU.

SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED BALLINDERRY: REV. W.J. HENRY, Minister of Maze BLACKROCK – ST. ANDREWS: REV. DR. K.P. MEYER, Minister of Sandymount – Christ Church

COLERAINE, FIRST: REV. R.S. McMULLAN: Mr. Joe Cassells, 25 Queen’s Park, Coleraine, BT51 3JS.

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

COOKSTOWN, FIRST: REV. D.S. BROWNLOW: Mr. Gordon Black, 21 The Dales, Cookstown, BT80 8TF.

BOYLE: REV. D.J. CLARKE, Minister of Sligo

CREGAGH: REV. S.P. MOORE: Mr. Dennison Mahood, 229 Cregagh Road, Belfast, BT6 0LD.

BRAY – ST. ANDREWS: REV. C.W.P. KENNEDY, Minister of Dun Laoghaire

DROMARA, FIRST: REV. K.W.J. HANNA: Mr. I. McCullagh, 10 Mullaghdrin Road, Dromara, BT25 2AF.

CAHIR: REV. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Minister of Fermoy

HARMONY HILL: REV. JOHN BRACKENRIDGE: Mr. Derek Alexander, 24 Downshire Park, Hillsborough, BT26 6HB.

KATESBRIDGE: REV. N.J. KANE, Minister of Magherally

HOLYWOOD, FIRST (ASSOCIATE): (Reviewable Tenure - 3 years) REV. A.C. RANKIN (Acting Convener): Mr. Joe Campbell, 2a The Esplanade, Holywood, BT18 9JG. IRVINESTOWN, PETTIGO & TEMPO: (Home Mission) REV. R.S.G BEACOM: (Irvinestown) Mr. John Dickey, Ardmore House, 47 Pound Street, Irvinestown, BT94 1HF. (Pettigo) Mr. Noel Baxter, Flowerdale, 80 Sydare Road, Ballinamallard, BT94 2DU. (Tempo) Mrs. Carole Trimble, 5 Tullyreagh Road, Edenmore, Tempo, BT94 3GJ. MONAGHAN, FIRST & SMITHBOROUGH: REV. G.A. MITCHELL: (Monaghan, First) Mr. David Hamilton, Aughnaseda, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan. (Smithborough) Mr. John Bole, Glenlough, Smithborough, Co. Monaghan.

ORANGEFIELD: REV. DANIEL RANKIN: Mrs. Ruth McConnell, 36 Raffrey Road, Crossgar, BT30 9NW. NEWRY, FIRST: (Reviewable Tenure - 7 years) REV. D.J. IRVINE: Mr. Stanley Bond, 31 Drumcashel Villas, Newry, BT34 1PT. RANDALSTOWN, SECOND: REV. E.S. McDOWELL: Mr. Fred Hand, 13 Groggan Road, Randalstown, BT41 3HA. RAVENHILL: (Reviewable Tenure - 5 years) REV. W.A. McCULLY: Mr. Denis Marriott, 216 Orby Drive, Belfast, BT5 6BE. RICHVIEW: (Part-Time (60%); Reviewable Tenure – 5 Years) REV. N.S. HARRISON: Mr. Victor Garland, 25 Abingdon Drive, Belfast, BT12 5PX. WARINGSTOWN: VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J.S. CARSON: Mr. David Crawford, 148 Avenue Road, Lurgan, BT66 7BJ. WOODVALE: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 Years) REV. C.J. GAMBLE: Mr. Paul Beggs, 93 Farm Lodge Drive, Greenisland, BT38 8XN.

52

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

Herald March 2018

KILREA SECOND: REV. S.A. MORROW, Minister of Moneydig TYRONE’S DITCHES: REV. J.K.A. McINTYRE, Minister of Bessbrook

3 DECLARED VACANT BALLYCAIRN: REV. ROBERT LOVE: Mr. J.B. Milligan, 19 Glenarriff Drive, Dunmurry, BT17 9AZ. BALLYGOWAN: REV. DR. A.F. NEL: Dr. Roy Harper, 31A Drumreagh Road, Ballygowan, Newtownards, BT23 6LD. BALLYHOBRIDGE, CLONES, NEWBLISS & STONEBRIDGE: REV. C.G. ANDERSON: (Ballyhobridge) Mr. David Jordan, Drumboghamagh, Newtownbutler, BT92 8LL. (Clones) Mr. Tom Elliott, Bellmount, Newtownbutlerm BT92 6LT. (Newbliss) Mr. Thomas McConkey, Killyfuddy, Newbliss, Co. Monaghan.

(Stonebridge) Mr. Gerald Mackarel, Roughfort, Clones, Co. Monaghan.

BALTEAGH & BOVEVAGH: REV. J.G. JONES: (Balteagh) Mr. William Robinson, 46 Drumaduff Road, Maine South, Limavady, BT49 OPT. (Bovevagh) Mr. Boyd Douglas, 279 Drumrae Road, Dungiven, Co Londonderry, BT47 4NL. BELVOIR: REV. B.J. McCROSKERY: Mr. Brian Dunwoody, 19 Drumart Drive, Belfast, BT8 7ET. BURT: REV. JAMES LAMONT: Mr. James Buchanan, Heathfield, Burt, Lifford, Co. Donegal.

CAIRNALBANA & GLENARM: REV. W.F. DICKEY: (Cairnalbana) Mr. T. Montgomery, 133 Doury Road, Ballymena, BT43 6SR. (Glenarm) Rev. W.F. Dickey, 6, Ambleside, Cullybackey, BT42 1RQ. CALEDON & MINTERBURN: REV. A.D. DAVIDSON: (Caledon) Mr. Joseph Lawson, 51 Derrycourtney Road, Caledon, BT68 4UQ. (Minterburn) Mr. Alan Campbell, 46 Rehaghy Road, Aughnacloy, BT69 6EU.

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 CLOGHER & GLENHOY: REV. L.M. KEYS: (Clogher) Mr. David Boyd, Knockmany, Augher, BT77 0DD. (Glenhoy) Mr. Rowland Mulligan, 3 Knockgreenan Park, Omagh, BT79 0DD. CORBOY & MULLINGAR: REV. DR. K.D. McCRORY: (Mullingar) Mr. Wilson Porter, Joristown, Raharney, Killucan, Co. Westmeath.

CRUMLIN ROAD: VERY REV. DR. T.N. HAMILTON: Mr. J. Coleman, 2 Abbeydale Parade, Belfast, BT14 7HJ. DONEGORE, SECOND: REV. JONATHAN BOYD: Mr. Samuel Gawn, 120 Parkgate Road, Kells, Ballymena, BT42 3PQ. DRUMBANAGHER, FIRST AND JERRETTSPASS & KINGSMILLS: REV. B.D. COLVIN: (Drumbanager, First and Jerrettspass) Mr. George Moffett, 16 Glen Road, Jerrettspass, Newry, BT34 1SP. (Kingsmills) Mr. Raymond McCormick, 119 Kingsmills Road, Bessbrook, Newry, BT35 7BP. FORTWILLIAM & MACRORY: REV. J.K. DOHERTY: Ms. Carolyn Crowe, 84 Somerton Road, Belfast, BT15 4DD. GLENDERMOTT: REV. K.A. JONES: Mr. George Walker, 3 Beverley Gardens, Londonderry, BT47 5PJ. INCH: REV. JAMES LAMONT: Mr. James Buchanan, Heathfield, Speenoge, Burt, Co. Donegal, F93 W3K6.

KEADY, FIRST & ARMAGHBRAGUE: REV. S.M. HAMILTON: (Keady, First) Mr. Ronnie Boyd, 113 Keady Road, Armagh, BT60 3AD. (Armaghbrague) Mr. William Henry, 39 Dungormley Estate, Newtownhamilton, Newry, BT35 0HY. KEADY, SECOND & DRUMHILLERY: REV. D.J. HUTCHINSON: (Keady, Second) Mr. David Coulter, 1 College Glebe, Killylea, Armagh, BT60 4GL. (Drumhillery) Mr. George Mitchell, 55 Drumhillery Road, Middletown, Armagh, BT60 3QB. MOSSIDE & TOBERDONEY: REV. A.J. BUICK: (Mosside) Mrs. Mabel Morrison, 284 Moyarget Road, Mosside, Ballymoney, BT53 8EH. (Toberdoney) Mr. Hugh Hill, 5 Castle Park, Deffrick, Ballymoney, BT53 8EW. NEWTOWNHAMILTON, SECOND & CREGGAN: REV. J.K.A. McINTYRE: (Newtownhamilton, Second) Mr. Jim Copeland, 2 Old Mount Road, Newtownhamilton, Newry, BT35 0DS. (Creggan) Mr. Cyril Feely, 20 Cloughogue Road, Cullyhanna, Newry, BT35 0LS. RYANS & BROOKVALE: REV. F.J. GIBSON: (Ryans) Miss Nora Hamilton, c/o Bronte Fold, Rathfriland, BT34 6LU. (Brookvale) Mr. Norman McCrum, 49 Ballynamagna Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5PA. WHITEHOUSE: REV. A.V. STEWART: Mr. Maurice Finlay, 12 Whitethorn, Greenisland, BT38 8FH.

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

Clerks of presbytery please note: Only material received by the General Secretary’s Department by the first Friday of the month can be included in the Church Record.

THE ELDERSHIP Ordained & Installed: AHOGHILL, BROOKSIDE: Richard Cromie, Jonathan McCartney, Richard Petrie CLONES: Caroline McMahon GORTNESSY: Trevor Millar, Richard Manning LOUGHGALL: Alan Beggs, Joseph Johnston, Trevor Martin NEWBLISS: Muriel Martin, Sonya McConkey STONEBRIDGE: Rachel Coulson, Alan Mackarel, Nigel Mackarel Died: ARMAGH, FIRST: Noel Graham KILLINCHY: Judge John McKee WARINGSTOWN: Samuel Chambers VINECASH: Jim Whittle KELLS: David Campbell HARRYVILLE: Tom McKeown COOKE: Mary Ross FISHERWICK: Bill Dale FITZROY: Denis Gough NEWTOWNBREDA: Victor Arnold WINDSOR: John King

THE MINISTRY Ordained & Installed: Stephen Daniel Kennedy, as Minister of Buckna, on 2 February 2018 Susan Jayne Moore, as Minister of Fannet, Milford & Rathmullan, on 20 January 2018 Brent Nickalas van der Linde, as Chaplain to Her Majesty’s Forces, Royal Navy, on 28 January 2018 Ordained & Inducted: David James Clarke, as Minister of Sligo with Boyle, on 13 January 2018 Installed: Rodney David Cameron, as Minister of St. Columba’s, Lisburn, on 19 January 2018 Colin William Anthony Jones, as Minister of Regent Street, Newtownards, on 26 January 2018 Dario Fernando Leal Zamora, as Minister of First Ballynahinch, on 12 January 2018 Stanley Stewart, as Minister of Castlerock, on 3 February 2018 Inducted: Thomas Peter Fleming, as Global Mission Worker, on 21 January 2018 Resigned: Rodney David Cameron, as Prison Chaplain, on 18 January 2018 Colin William Anthony Jones, as Chaplain to the Forces, on 25 January 2018 Dario Fernando Leal Zamora, as Minister of The Living Room, on 11 January 2018 Stanley Stewart, as Minister of Ballyhobridge, Clones, Newbliss & Stonebridge on 2 February 2018 Died: Rev Ernest Edward Hamilton Porter, Minister Emeritus of First Broughshane, on 26 January 2018 Rev Robert Archibald Boyd, Minister Emeritus of Second Ballyeaston, on 7th February 2018 Rev Uel Armstrong, retired, Minister without Charge, on 8th February 2018

TOBERMORE & DRAPERSTOWN: REV. DR. J.A. CURRY: (Draperstown) Mr. G. Dickson Jnr, 7 Strawmore Road, Draperstown, BT45 7JE. VINECASH: REV. DR. M. McCLENAHAN:

DOWN 1 Sabbath 2 Creation 3 FIFA 4 Esther 5 Dissatisfying 7 Read 11 Spin 14 Ospreys 15 Tower 18 Eclair 19 To 20 Wheel 22 Guess

Solution to No. 239

MAY STREET: REV. W.J. ORR: Mr. Arthur Acheson, 56 Quarry Road, Belfast, BT4 2NQ.

ACROSS 1 Sacrifice 6 Skier 8 Breakfast 9 Hosea 10 Alter 12 Operate 13 Hoot 16 Snow 17 Newest 21 Fog 23 Green hill 24 Life 25 EMI 26 Israel 27 Reigns

KELLS: (Home Mission) REV. DAVID NESBITT: Ms. Ruth McCartney, Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath.

A82 PF60.

CROSSWORD

DUNDALK: (Home Mission) REV. T.D. HAGAN:

Herald March 2018

53

CLASSIFIEDS Accommodation Northern Ireland PORTSTEWART LET: Luxury 3 bedroom townhouse in private development. View property on www.northcoastholidaylets. co.uk, for more info telephone 028 90401745 or 07800 802662.

PORTSTEWART: Five bedroom semidetached chalet bungalow overlooking sea coastal road. OFCH. Non smokers. WiFi available. Tel: 028 25582525.

PORTSTE WART: Luxur y 4 bedroom cottage and 5 bedroom townhouse available June-Sept. Call: 07513 826551, Email: pabloguy50@gmail.com Facebook: @ campbellandcorentalproperties Web: www. millcottages.com FERMANAGH: Fermanagh Lakeland.

‘Muckross Lodge’ Bed & Breakfast, Muckross Quay, Kesh. Situated overlooking Lough Erne.

All rooms en-suite, TV, tea/coffee making facilities. Open all year. B&B £25pps, £5 single supplement. Tel: Caroline Anderson 07739 910676.

PORTSTEWART: Sea Holly Lodge. Modern luxury bungalow, presented to the highest standard, 3 bedrooms (1 en-suite) in quiet cul-de-sac. Ten minutes’ walk from promenade, garden front and rear, TV/video, washing machine, dryer, microwave. No smoking, no pets. Available high and low season. Tel: Tommy or Hannah Collins 028 29540645.

Mobile: 07989 397942.

P O R T S T E WA R T / S T R A N D R O A D : Penthouse apartment, 4 bedrooms (2 double, 1 en-suite, 2 twin) sleeps 8. Sea views to Mussenden Temple/Donegal Hills. TV/DVD, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave, electric showers. No smoking, no pets. Town centre 2 minutes’ walk. £395 pw. Tel: 028 90826986 evenings.

WILLAN LODGE, PORTRUSH: Picturesque log cabin set among gardens located in quiet residential area. Three bedrooms (one en-suite). Fully furnished and equipped.

Reasonable rates. Telephone 07989 815312.

PORTSTEWART: A modern 3 bedroom semi-detached house presented to a high standard, with off-street parking and a fully enclosed rear garden. Near local amenities.

Available high and low season. No smoking and no pets allowed. Contact Paula: 07840 123518 or 028 79632163.

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

Piano Tuning Services available throughout Ireland

Tel: +44 (0)28 9268 9468 Mobile: 07788 746992

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.

Republic of Ireland GREYSTONES HOLIDAY HOUSE: Quiet area in Co. Wicklow, 8 minutes’ walk to sea, village and DART to Dublin. Special reductions for clergy. Tel: 00353 012876805 / 0044 118 9787018.

To Let Spain HOLIDAY RENTAL: Beautiful 3-terraced, 2-bedroom villa in Torrox Costa, southern Spain. Sleeps 4-6. Fantastic sea views, pool open all year. Very reasonable rates.

Good availability winter, spring and autumn 2018, but summer booking up fast. All proceeds to help local missionaries and youth work. For brochure email juliechitty@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0034 651653838.

CARLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, situated bet ween Dungannon and Cookstown, willing to cater for groups. Please contact Jennifer: 07901 744838 or Gillian: 07876 464441.

ARMAGH ST AIDAN’S PARISH, Grange, would be pleased to cater for groups visiting the Armagh area. Places of interest include St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Palace Stables, St. Patrick’s Trian, etc. Tel: Charlotte 07736 717181 after 6pm.

MOIRA PRESBYTERIAN WILL cater for groups coming to visit Hillsborough Castle, the forest park, Dobbies, Sprucefield, Lisburn etc.

Morning coffee; lunch; afternoon tea; high tea.

Contact: Mrs. Dorothy Cantley 028 92692454.

The Greatest Story Ever

An exhibition of creative textile art telling the story of Christ Saturday, 31st March Easter Sunday, 1st April Easter Monday/Tuesday All other Saturdays in April All Sundays in April

Catering

For group bookings during the week phone (028) 2564 6306

BALLYGAWLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH “At the end of the motorway not the world.”

Is your group heading west for a trip? Why not avail of the excellent facilities and food provided by our ladies in aid of Ballygawley and Ballyreagh Church Projects in Moldova.

Menus and prices available. Contact Catherine on 028 85557839 or 07519 089895 after 7pm.

Donations in aid of the Church Building Fund

Make a

ST. JAMES’S PW, Ballymoney will be happy to cater for groups planning to visit the scenic north Antrim coast. Morning coffee, lunch or high tea provided. Contact Barbara 028 27663409 or Pamela 028 27665216.

T H E C AT E R I N G T E A M a t Ly l e h i l l Presbyterian (near Templepatrick) will be delighted to cater for morning coffee, lunch or salad high tea. Tel: Kathleen 028 94432701 or 07842 193774.

WILL

MONTH

MARCH 2018

VISITING THE CAUSEWAY COAST AREA? The ladies of Bushmills PW would be pleased to cater for groups. Telephone Doreen Armstrong 028 20741022 or Margaret Picken 028 20731539.

During March 2018

H I L L S B O RO U G H P R E S BY T E R I A N CHURCH will cater for groups coming to visit Hillsborough Castle, the forest park, Dobbies, Sprucefield etc. Morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, high tea. Contact Helen 028 92682664 or the church office 028 92683502.

participating solicitors will waive their will making fee in return for a donation to Northern Ireland Hospice.

VISITING FERMANAGH LAKELANDS? Why not stop off with Cavanaleck PW for morning coffee or high tea. Good food and service guaranteed. Contact Hazel Hopper 028 85941321 or Margery Smith 028 89521212.

For more details or for a list of participating solicitors please on 028 9078 1836, email

PA systems • Loop systems

fundraising@nihospice.org

Projectors & screens • Installation & repairs

Herald March 2018

12 noon – 6.00 pm 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm 10.00 am – 6.00 pm 10.00 am – 6.00 pm 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm

Refreshments available

Church AV Specialists

54

Services VIDEO RECORDING: Professional service for interviews, website videos, short stories, appeals, events, weddings, corporate, church, charity. Tel Phil 07531 779502 www.reelimpressions.com

Ahoghill, Ballymena, BT42 2PA

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION: FLORIDA (villa/apartments) lake views, large swimming pool complete with sun loungers, 10 minutes from Disney. SPAIN (apartments) coastal location, sea views available. N. IRELAND (apartment) north Antrim coast, sea views/minutes from beach.

Contact Gerald 07971 194211 or www. christiancoastalapartments.com

or visit our website.

Charity Number: NIC102337

07855 450887

FIRST BALLYMONEY PW would welcome parties for morning coffee or high tea during the summer. Please contact Mrs. M. Murdock 028 27663622 or Mrs. A. Booth 028 27662757.

St. Colmanell’s Parish Church

Self Catering

alan@audiopromotions.co.uk www.audiopromotions.co.uk

BANNSIDE PW, BANBRIDGE will be pleased to cater for groups visiting the area for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and high tea.

Please contact Marion on 028 40626987.

www.nihospice.org 028 9078 1836

Your Legacy Of Hope And Care

- a gift in your Will to Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke

A gift in your Will to NICHS could not only help your loved ones, but leave a legacy of hope for generations to come.

In Northern Ireland almost half of all adult deaths are caused by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. NICHS are working to change this through funding research and caring for those who are affected by devastating health conditions every day.

A gift to us in your Will could be invested in critical local

research that will change the future for families at risk from our biggest killers.

The smallest investment can lead to the biggest breakthrough.

For a leaflet or further information on leaving a legacy to NICHS, please call us on: 028 9032 0184, or write to NICHS Gifts in Wills, 21 Dublin Road, Belfast, BT2 7HB

Please visit our website to see how our Medical Research Programme has already supported groundbreaking projects and is committed to many more over the coming years. www.nichs.org.uk

Charity Reg No. NIC103593 NICHS_legacy AD_Pres Herald.indd 1

20/04/2016 21:49

30 Days of Prayer is an annual prayer guide that equips Christians to pray with love and respect for Muslim peoples. It’s designed for use during the month of Ramadan, and aims to help Christians gain a better understanding of what it means to be Muslim.

The theme of the 2018 guide is ‘symbols’ in Islam, and through using the guide we gain a fascinating insight into the world of ordinary Muslims.

The prayer guide runs from 15 May 2018 - 14 June 2018, and children’s prayer guides are also available to order. Just visit 30daysprayer.org.uk.

30 Days of Prayer is distributed by Interserve GB and Ireland, but supported by many churches and mission agencies. We believe that ordinary prayer helps ordinary Muslims meet Jesus and that someone else’s journey of faith could begin with you opening your heart in prayer.

*Interserve is passionate about making Jesus known among the peoples of Asia and the Arab world. Our desire is to reach out to Asian and Arab migrants here in Ireland through partnering with the local church, and to listen to God’s heart for the nations both overseas and locally. If you’d like help in unpacking what mission means within the context of your local congregation, or need to build up courage in engaging cross-culturally, please get in touch. Visit www.interserve.org.uk or contact Julie Mehaffy, Ireland Ministry Facilitator at juliem@isgbi.org

Professional Audio Visual Installations 57 Drum Road Cookstown BT80 8QS

T: 028 8676 4059 ¦ www.reasound.com