Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

The post The Passionate Life : 3 appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

There are 13 candidates from Holywood Parish who will be publicly declaring their faith in front of their family and friends, before Bishop Harold prays for each one of them.

Also joining us will be four candidates from our neighbouring parish of Knocknagoney and two from St Finnian’s, Cregagh.

Afterwards there will be some tasty treats in the Parish Centre.

Please join us as we celebrate together.

(No services at 5.30 or 7pm on Sunday, 12th May)

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Our teams will be accepting sponsorship which will go to continue to support the work of Ahsa with some of the poorest in the slums of Delhi, and support the church and community in Kkalwe near Luwero in Ugdanda. Teams from the church visited both Delhi and Kkalwe last year, and their reports are available online.

The results are now in – congratulations go to Deirdre, who completed the entire course in 4 hours and 52 minutes! Team Holywood Parish Two completed the relay in 4 hour 12 minutes 21 seconds, with Teams One and Three only 11 and 12 minutes behind them! This means that the team from 2012 continue to hold the Holywood Parish record time of 4 hours 11 minutes and 50 seconds.

You can still sponsor the teams online at charitygiving.co.uk/hpc-marathon-2013

The post Belfast City Marathon 2013 appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

The post The Passionate Life : 2 appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Set against the backdrop of some of the world’s greatest need, Live 58 tells inspiring stories of Christians and churches who are working to transform their local communities around the world.

On the night, we will be joined by guests including: Tim Magowan, Tearfund’s Northern Ireland Director; Peter Yarr, an experienced financial services advisor; Helen Sloan, Manager of Storehouse North Down; and others who will participate in a panel discussion after the film about how we can help put a stop to extreme poverty in our lifetime.

This Holywood Churches Together event, is open to all. The screening will take place on Friday May 10, 7:00-9:30pm at Holywood Baptist Church. Tickets are FREE, but limited, so be sure to book your place for what is sure to be a popular event, by visiting http://live58holywood.eventbrite.co.uk or by phoning 028 9042 3622.

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Our teams will be accepting sponsorship which will go to continue to support the work of Ahsa with some of the poorest in the slums of Delhi, and support the church and community in Kkalwe near Luwero in Ugdanda. Teams from the church visited both Delhi and Kkalwe last year, and their reports are available online.

You can sponsor the teams online at charitygiving.co.uk/hpc-marathon-2013

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The treasure hunt will begin from the Parish Centre at 4:00p.m.

Please bring your own meat and drinks for the barbecue.

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: Luke 24:36-49

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The Society will meet in the church grounds at 7:00 p.m. to travel to the Titanic Quarter.

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Bring your own picnic. Admission is free.

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This event will now take place on Friday 17th May 2013 at 7:30. Ticket holders for 22nd March 2013 will be admitted.

The evening’s programme will also include Music for A Spring Evening, featuring a wealth of local musical talent.

Tickets are priced at £10 which includes refreshments and are available from the Parish Office.

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Key Passage: John 11:1-57

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Key Passage: Isaiah 53

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“31:13″ is an opportunity to be inspired in worship through movement.

It is very informal and lots of fun, using music, silence, flags, ribbons, fabric, plastic swords(!) and whatever we can find to help us get our bodies moving.

Each session takes inspiration from a Bible passage, which we use as a launching point as we focus our thoughts on the One in whom we live, move and have our being.

All adults welcome, whatever your ability level and experience. 31:13 is a safe place to explore and experiment with movement as part of your worship.

Apparatus and drinking water is provided. Please wear a couple of comfortable layers of clothing and appropriate footwear.

We collect £2 from participants at each session to help us purchase additional materials. Each session takes place in the Parish Hall.

For further reading, why not have a look at an article about 31:13 that was recently published on the Diocese of Down and Dromore website.

Jeremiah 31:13 Then the young women will dance for joy: the young and old men will join in. I will turn their mourning into laughter and their sadness into joy; I will comfort them. (CEB)

Upcoming dates:

This term we are meeting on the THIRD TUESDAY of each month, and the FIFTH Tuesday, where appropriate!

• Tuesday 21 May 2013, 7–9pm
• Tuesday 18 June 2013, 7–9pm*

*18 June will be especially suitable for adults and children. Children must be supervised by a parent at all times.

To be kept informed of upcoming 31:13 sessions, please get in touch.

What participants have been saying:

“Awesome experience. First exposure to this arena. As the weeks progressed and I started to ‘get it’, it just got more and more powerful.”

“Brilliant – feel I’ve got a lot from the workshops – feel I’ve grown a lot.”

“Just amazing experience; very uplifting. Could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us through the dance.”

“At the end, you feel so refreshed and full of energy.”

“Really enjoyed it – uplifting.”

“Love the unity and the sense of God’s presence.”

“What a wonderful evening! Looking forward to the next one.”

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Bring your own needles and materials.
Knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch, etc.
Whatever your skill level!
Be ready for a chat; tea, coffee and biccies!

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Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:8-14

Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key passage: Luke 20:9-16

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Palm Sunday, 24th March

8am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Worship
11.30am Morning Prayer
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7pm Worship Etc.

Monday, 25th March

8am Holy Communion
7pm Late Evening Office

Tuesday, 26th March

8am Holy Communion
7pm Late Evening Office

Wednesday, 27th March

8am Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion with Intercessions
7pm Taizé Service

Maundy Thursday, 28th March

8am Holy Communion
7pm Agape Meal (please let your fellowship group leaders or Pauline in the office know if you are planning to come)

Good Friday, 29th March

8am Holy Communion
10am Family Service
12noon An Hour at the Cross
7pm Good Friday Devotion for Choir & Congregation

Easter Sunday, 31st March

5.45am Dawn Service in the parish grounds
8am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Communion
11.30am Holy Communion
5.30pm Holy Communion said
7pm Worship Etc.

The post Holy Week and Easter Sunday 2013 appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

• Mumra Rings
• Lady Hat Bag
• Marmalade Moon
• Sarah Jane Fasions
• Nails and beauty by Heather
• Wood ‘n’ Earth Floral Creations
• Akushla Cards and Chutneys.

Over £2,000 was raised on the afternoon. The organisers wish to thank everyone involved. All the proceeds will go to the work of Asha, a charity works to educate, empower and improve the lives of the poorest in the slums of Delhi.

Photos:

view the photo set on Flickr »

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Key Passage: 1 Peter 5:1-7

Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 5:13-20

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Key Passage: James 4:13-5:12

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Key Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-19

Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 4:1-10

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You are invited to our Mothering Sunday combined service on 10 March at 10:30am.

This will be in place of our usual services at 9:45 and 11:30am.

See you there!

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Key Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-22

Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 3:13-18

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 3:1-12

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Key Passage: Matthew 25:31-46

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Things to read during Lent:

• Bishop Harold’s suggested reading
• Lent for Everyone – a daily reading from Matthew and devotional by NT Wright, bible reading plan at YouVersion.com
• Devotions for Lent – daily readings focussing on Jesus, bible reading plan at YouVersion.com
• 40 days of Lent – daily readings on Jesus’ ministry, bible reading plan at YouVersion.com

Things to do during Lent:

• 40acts.org.uk
• Wednesday nights with St. Mark’s, Dundela

The post Resources for Lent appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Its about encouraging people in this generation to grow and share a faith that is biblical, heartfelt, mature and risk-taking.  We are going to be gathering together in a project that will unashamedly seek to challenge us to develop Christian disciplines and characteristics that will saturate every part of our life and resonate with society.

Download the info card to find out more.

You can check out Foundations on Facebook and follow @FoundationsIre on Twitter.

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 2:14-26

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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Key Passage: James 1:1-2:13

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Listen:

Downloads:

• Audio (.mp3)
• Notes (.pdf)

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There will be fashions, flowers, hats and bags, local crafts and beauty.

Admission is free by ticket only, available from the Parish Office.

All donations will go to Asha. Read about our team’s visit to Delhi with Asha here.

The post Tea and Trinkets appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Key Passages: Psalm 3:1-8; Psalm 4:1-8

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Key Passage: 1 Cor 12:1-12

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The Vicar, Rev’d Roger Elks, said, “We are so privileged to be hosting this premier and to be involved in producing what will undoubtedly be a very popular work. The cantata follows the gospel story from Palm Sunday to the Ascension in 7 movements. I know that other churches and choirs will be keen to sing this in the future.”

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Key Passage: Acts 8:14-25

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Key Passage: Acts 8:14-25

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On Saturday 26th January at 7pm in the Parish Centre, Holywood Parish Church will host a Burns Night Céilidh, including haggis, neeps and tatties.

Live music will be performed by the Sullivan Upper Traditional Group. There will an an opportunity to hear more of our vision to help the school in Kkalwe.

Tickets, priced at

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“Hi Friends,
 

Many of us joined together at the City Hall in Belfast at 8.30am on the 15th of December to pray for the peace and prosperity of our city and our nation. Firstly we would like to say thank you for joining us in prayer and thank-you for your continued prayers. It was so encouraging to see Jesus-followers from all walks of life gathering together and praying. It was also encouraging to hear reports from the Police that the trouble they had been expecting that afternoon did not materialize.
 

We recognise though that more prayer is needed in these difficult days and that a one-off gathering will never be enough. We have a steadfast belief that our God cares about our whole society and that He is deeply moved by the prayers of His people. We have been chatting about a way we could continue to pray for peace in our land together in the days ahead. At the City Hall it struck many of us that there was a beautiful, powerful and dynamic sense to the corporate aspect of our prayers and we would love to develop this special sense of unity further.
 

In Proverbs 11:11 we read ‘By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.’ We are inviting you to join with us in setting the alarm on your phone or watch for 11.11 each morning and evening to take a few moments wherever you find yourself to continue to pray and speak blessing over our city and our leaders. Praying that God would give wisdom, courage and grace to us all at this time and that peace and hope would return to our streets. You can do this alone or with friends/work-colleagues, for as long as you feel is practical. 11:11 is simply an easy hook to help us remember to pray together and speak blessing, but if that time doesn’t work, obviously feel free to pick another time that you can pray blessing over our land.
 

It would be a special and powerful thing if hundreds of Jesus-followers all over our country were speaking blessing over our city and nation over the next number of days at the same time.
 

Lord let your kingdom come in Belfast and this nation…”
 

– Jasper Rutherford
– Alain Emerson
– Andrew Masters
– David Dickinson

The post A Call to Prayer appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

The last days have been tragic and difficult ones in Northern Ireland, and especially in East Belfast which is in the Diocese of Down and Dromore. Protests have taken place about a decision of Belfast City Council to fly the Union Flag only on designated days on Belfast City Hall, rather than 365 days a year, and many of these protests have led to scenes of violence and mayhem, which have become a regular occurrence, and which have been broadcast throughout the world.
 

Lying behind all of this is the sense in parts of the loyalist community that they have lost a great deal over the past years, especially in terms of identity, and that has led to a fear of the future being uncertain. These protests have given a platform to a new generation of younger ‘loyalists’ who have never been through the suffering of the earlier ‘troubles’ but who have imbibed the sectarianism of the past. It is also happening alongside the dangerous re–grouping of dissident republicans which has been the concern of the police for some time.
 

Those who have experienced the divisions and violence of the past in Northern Ireland are deeply concerned about the potential trajectory which is in place at the moment. The adrenalin flowing, the sense of purpose and significance provided by violence, and the urban myths spread all too easily by social media – often believed and passed on without being checked out – are a dangerous and heady mix.
 

I have personally observed at first hand some of the violence, the throwing of petrol bombs and bricks at the police, the threatening atmosphere of gathered crowds in the semi–darkness, the burning of cars, and the fear in old people and families living nearby as their neighbourhoods are rubbished. I have asked how the Gospel of the Prince of Peace can be proclaimed and lived out in this context, and I have been brought back again and again to the vulnerability of the Christ–child, born in a world of dangerous political intrigue and power–broking.
 

I am asking all of our Christian brothers and sisters wherever they are, to pray for us: for wisdom for the churches in what they say and live, for the grace of God to extend even to those intent on destruction, and for the Spirit of Love and Peace to be poured out again, so that we may learn to live together in harmony and to love one another with the costly love of forgiveness and reconciliation across all divides.
 

+Harold
Down and Dromore

The post Bishop Harold requests prayer for East Belfast in the light of recent violence appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Key Passage: 2 Corinthians 3:18

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Alpha is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith. The course will meet over ten weeks on a weekday evening, when we’ll join for a meal together, a talk and a group discussion in a relaxed setting. It’s the perfect place to meet new friends and ask the big questions of life in a safe environment.

You can register your interest in the next Alpha Course here (at a date to be determined), and feel free to contact Jim or a member of staff if you’d to discuss issues of faith in the meantime.

Register here:

[contact-form-7]

The post Alpha Course appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

view the photo set on Flickr »

God became a child
 
“Mighty God” (Isa 9.6) is the name of this child. The child in the manger is none other than God himself. Nothing greater can be said: God became a child. In the Jesus child of Mary lives the almighty God. Wait a minute! Don’t speak; stop thinking! Stand still before this statement! God became a child! Here he is, poor like us, miserable and helpless like us, a person of flesh and blood like us, our brother. And yet he is God; he is might. Where is the divinity, where is the might of the child? IN the diving love in which he became like us. His poverty in the manger is his might. In the might of love he overcomes the chasm between God and humankind, he overcomes sin and death, he forgives sin and awakens from the dead. Kneel down before this miserable manger, before this child of poor people, and repeat in faith the stammering words of the prophet: “Mighty God!” And he will be your God and your might.
 
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger : reflections on Advent and Christmas, 2010 Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky.

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Key Passage: Malachi 3:1-4

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‘The INN Crowd’ – A Christmas Musical by Roger Jones
Friday 14th December, 7.30pm
Tickets from the Parish Office

Sensational Saturday! – for children in P1-P7
Saturday 15th December, 5pm
A small charge to cover food, in the Parish Centre

Alternative Carol Service
Sunday 16th December, 7pm

All-Age Carol Service
Sunday 23rd December, 10.30am
(no services at 9.45am or 11.30am)

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
Sunday 23rd December, 6.30pm
followed by mince pies and mulled wine
(no services at 5.30pm or 7pm)

Christmas Eve Family Worship
Monday 24th December, 5pm

Midnight Communion
Monday 24th December, 11pm

Christmas Day Holy Communion
Tuesday 25th December, 8am

Christmas Day All-Age Service
Tuesday 25th December, 10.30am

The post Christmas Events appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Tickets are available now from the Parish Office.

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A service for Advent Sunday with music and readings will take place in Church on Sunday 2nd December 2012, at 17.30.

Photos:

view the photo set on Flickr »

The post Darkness to Light appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Our wonderful Asha minibus driver and our friend from Zakhira came to take us to the airport and presented us with garlands of fresh marigolds and an early Christmas card each from Zakhira. We were sorry to say goodbye, and took a final picture with them before we went into transit.

Next stop Dubai, then on to Dublin and home by lunchtime tomorrow. We’re all looking forward to seeing our families, and to telling them all we’ve been up to!

The post And goodbye to Delhi… appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Unfortunately Deirdre took ill with a tummy bug last night so she went home to rest after the debrief, while the rest of the team went their separate ways. Simon and Jim each went to separate slums to share God’s word in two more prayer meetings, while the rest of the team went back to Zakhira to spend the afternoon with new friends and say more emotional goodbyes.

Our last afternoon at Zakhira was taken up with making Christmas cards, skipping, board games, frisbee, and the ladies were treated to a compulsory henna treatment for their hands and arms. The painting at the centre was finally complete so Noel at last got an opportunity to connect with the boys, who had all been presented with football shirts when we first arrived today. The team were then presented with gifts from the ladies of Zakhira and it was time to say goodbye. Needless to say, there were a few tears. Sadly on the way home Claire took ill too so she took to her bed when we got back.

Here are a few more pictures from our day.

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We were both humbled by the faith of these women. Following their singing (we arrived just before three and they had already been going for about an hour), some of them gave their testimonies and Jim spoke. After that, most all of them came up for prayer.

The experience was humbling and powerful. After the service, we were taken back to the church / cell leader’s house (across the alley) and treated to the best Indian chai tea we’ve ever had.

The post A light in the darkness appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

Hazel and Deirdre put the animal face masks that the boys made yesterday to good use in a dramatic and musical retelling of the story of Noah, and then the boys spent a happy hour making brightly decorated Christmas cards to bring home. The hokey cokey was also a great success.

Meanwhile, a group of Year 11 boys arrived – they had hear that the Year 11 girls had been studying report writing yesterday and wanted to do the same. They wrote reports on the first Test match of the current series, and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the players and the match. Take note, they predict another Indian victory in the second Test, by two wickets.

Jim and those of the team who hadn’t been out to visit some of the Asha ladies went this morning and were warmly welcomes into people’s homes, were made to feel so welcome and had the privilege of being asked to pray for them. It was an Inspiring and humbling experience.

After a delicious (…) lunch in KFC, we won’t back to revisit the Nativity with the girl’s class’s and make Christmas cards. The girls also made their handprints on our painted tree, and were delighted with the results.

Jim and Simin went out to visit Christian groups in other slums, and met some amazing people. More in the next post.

Dr Kiran was due to visit at 3pm and the women of the community gathered expectantly and laid out the Centre’s best rugs to sit on. She was a little bit delayed and the Holywood team had a ‘let’s do the show right here’ moment and sang some songs and did a little Irish dancing while we waited. It was Riverdancetastic (and well done Tegan and Pauline for the impromptu routine).

When Dr Kiran arrived, to hugs all round, she spoke to the community and several ladies and girls spoke about how Asha had changed their lives. We heard from Sujata who had lived in seclusion in her house until she made friends with Shini, the community worker. Now she had the confidence to help others and be a community health worker for Asha. Preeti, the President of the Children’s committee in her part of the slum told us how she has organised teams to collect money to get shawls for the old people. They had one collection for Diwali and will have another at Christmas. Even if you don’t have much, said Kiran in response to Preeti’s contribution, it’s important to nurture a generous spirit. We heard from Ranu, the first person in her slum to go to university. She spoke to us in English. Her parents are very proud of her. She has just graduated BSc Hons in Chemistry and wants to do her MSc and become a chemistry professor.

We presented Rani the Asha team leader in Zakhira with the embroidered memento of our visit which we had brought, and thanked everyone for the welcome they had given us. It was an emotional moment as we looked around the little room at the people who have opened their homes to us and shared their stories with us. Big things and little things came back to us, and we will each be sharing those stories with our friends and families.

Especially after Agra station yesterday, we are so thankful for the rays of hope we have seen in Zakhira – the social transformation, but even more so, the transformations in individual people’s lives.

Here are a few pics – hand-painting, Irish dancing, De Kiran arrives to a hug, Preeti tells the meeting about her work as a children’s committee member, Hazel and Rani with the plaque, the women listen to Dr Kiran

The post Day three at Asha centre appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

The journey took three and a half hours, through flat farmland with peacocks in the palm groves, big, black pigs truffling through every rubbish tip and girls in bright saris, farm workers in checked wraps and children in neat school uniform crossing the railway track in the middle of empty countryside.

In several towns we went through, the shanty dwellings near the railway track had bright advertisements such as “Advanced School of Commerce – State exams, police, banks etc”. The desire to join India’s economic revolution is clearly strong for many people, but Rani (Zakhira Project leader) said yesterday that often parents in slum areas want children to work (for understandable reasons) and that it is an important priority to motivate them to encourage their children into college.

And so we got to Agra. The Taj Mahal – what can you say? It was lovely, and the proportions and decoration were like a symphony. See photo below, because words don’t do it justice. It was built by Persian artisans, and their descendants still live in Agra and repair the Taj on Fridays when it is closed.

We also saw Agra Fort, and the monkeys running on the roofs and in the battlements entertained us greatly. The fort is in “Indo-Islamic” style, deliberately. The last but one Moghul Emperor, who built it, had a policy of assimilation, which resulted in a remarkable architectural fusion of styles.

After such an early start, we were glad to collapse in Costa Coffee for a cuppa before our train back to Delhi.

The train back was delayed and we had an hour of standing at Agra station. Perhaps we were tired, but the beggars, poor families sleeping on the platform as they waited for a train, rats and pollution made us all feel a little far from home. It was hard to watch three child beggars and not to give them something. Someone gave them a box of Pringles, and they didn’t know how to open them, but once they figured it out, sat down on the platform and ate them and then began to play football with the box.

There were cockroaches on the train. Rachel dealt with them womanfully with the Rough Guide and some dettol wipes. Casualty list – Roaches four, Holywood Parish nil. See photo, below. We mislaid our bus ( or to put it more fairly, the driver didn’t meet us where he said he would) and made it back to the hotel at 12.30am. Now that’s a LONG day!

Our experience at Agra, and our conversations today make us more glad than ever that Asha is doing the work it is doing to bring hope to people who would otherwise have none.

The post Halfway house – Agra appeared first on Holywood Parish Church.

The second slum we visited in the afternoon was the Abedkar slum, the very first slum that Asha began the work in 24 years ago. Asha’s influence here could be very clearly seen, as it was a much brighter place and the gathering of women and children much stronger. This time Simon spoke from Matthew’s gospel. The main difference here though was the clear enthusiasm of the women and children. They were so keen that we could barely get them to stop singing so Simon could preach (they sang for half an hour but could have gone on far more!). Not only that, but during Simon’s talk they were responding verbally with clapping and hallelujahs – something less common in Holywood – and afterwards they were nearly pushing their way to the front to be prayed for!

In all, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions for us both as we ministered to these women and heard their stories. That feeling was all the more highlighted by our white knuckle ride back to the hotel this evening in a tuk-tuk with our new friend and faithful translator Melvin.

Below you’ll find pictures documenting our day…

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The boy’s class were waiting for us, waving and shouting “hello” at the entrance to the slum. In the morning, Hazel, Pauline, Rachel and Deirdre visited the Asha ladies in another part of Zakhira, which Rani said was the poorest area. More in the next post. Noel and one of the community centre team got painting, and bonded over a shared love of Doing The Job Right. They got the whole main lobby painted today! And Nisam, our Year 11artist, deserves a special mention for his initiative. There’s a picture of him at work on his self-designed mural below.

Tegan, Ruth and Claire made animal masks and drew rainbows with the boys’ class of around 15 this morning. They used some of the donated books to brush up the boys’ English animal vocab (which was perfect!) and their own Hindi vocab, which was less so, although we all remembered Murgi, which is hen.

The rainbows gave a great opportunity to talk about colours, and some of the boys have a real creative flair. They also have enormous powers of concentration (compared to kids at home), and worked on craft projects intently for two hours, only leaving when it was time for their school day to start at 1pm.

In the afternoon, we had over 30 girls of all ages, in two classes. Hazel and Deirdre sang and told stories in the computer room, while Ruth, Tegan and Pauline were victims of their own success, with an enormously popular bracelet making workshop in the courtyard. The smiling faces of both women and children as everyone showed off their names in beads were a real picture.

Rachel had a chance to chat to Azim about life at university. Internet access is a real problem for him. Meanwhile, Claire had a group of year 10-12 girls who wanted to practice report writing in English and to chat about Ireland and pop music. Attempts to teach Claire Bollywood dancing foundered but Tegan called past and a rendition of “I’ll tell me Ma” was awarded 10 out of 10.

Here are some pics, including the painting team and Nisam.

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Then we thought about it. We are impressed that the community centre has a plumbed squat-toilet. But the slum houses don’t. Imagine you are a mother with 5 kids, living in one room, with no toilet. Where do they go? Where do they go without being in danger? How do you keep your home sanitary? The Zakhira ladies all deal with these issues every day, and manage amazingly well. As we thought it over, International Toilet Day seemed like a really good idea.

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The boys come for an English class in the morning, and the girls in the afternoon. In the morning, the boys
learned songs in English with gusto, made animal face masks and even the older boys (12-14) loved colouring in. The gifts from Claire’s colleagues were really appreciated, and everyone carefully took one sheet out of a book and spent ages meticulously colouring all of it (photo following). Simon showed the older boys our pictures of Holywood, and they were very interested in the High Street. “Ah yes,” they said, “Audi, BMW, Nissan jeep”.

In the afternoon, it was the girls’ turn. They threw themselves into making props for the Nativity play, and on a first run through, Christmas had come early (photo follows). Again, the colouring books went down very well. They tries to hand the finished sheets back at the end, and were delighted to realise they could keep them.

Meanwhile, the painting squad got stuck in to brightening up the computer suite and classroom with murals. We began to fill the walls with a rainbow, a tree (which will be a tree of handprints), flowers, butterflies and insects. We left the wall under the whiteboard blank. A Year 11 student, Nisam, and his friend, who were helping out around the centre, got involved. His favourite school subject is fine art, and when we asked if he’d fill the wall below the whiteboard, he sketched for a few moments, and came up with an explosion of overlapping flowers with a spray of butterflies above – based on our designs, but full of life, verve and real design flair. He will join the painting crew again tomorrow.

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We met a couple who do piecework for a flip flop manufacturer. They get 30 rupees for cutting a grain sack of pressed rubber into thongs by hand, which takes 2 of them 1 day. For comparison, a can of coke in Delhi is 45 rupees.

We also met some ladies knitting on a corner – more piecework, but beautiful, intricate children’s jumpers on fine needles.

The Asha volunteers each look after their own lane – about 25 families. They keep vaccination records, accompany people to hospital, engage with local politicians and people come to them with any problems. They are STRONG women. Most of them have taken out micro loans from Asha to start a small business – one has a husband who has a van, another sells bindis and henna door to door, another sells vegetables from her home. Their homes are tiny but painted, clean and tidy, with a fridge and TV.

One lady, the vice president of Asha in Zakhira, invites her neighbours in (see photo) and told us how they had engaged with local politicians and got water and electricity 3 years ago. She has lived in Zakhira for 42 years and says things are really changing.

Another lady, Anand, proudly showed us her grandson’s child health chart. It shows his vaccinations, and has a graph on the back to track his weight against the norm. His mother showed us how well his chart tracks the printed target curve.

Several of the ladies asked us to pray for their families, and we were honoured to be able to do that.

The reality of slum life came home to us when a boy ran up and shouted a message to Rani the community organiser. A child of about 10 had got knocked down by a train. An asha volunteer had gone to hospital with him. Rani explained that as the slum backs onto the railroad (no fences), the kids cross the track for a shortcut and this happens quite often. She said he had not died, but had no further news.

What a mixture of open sewers, laughing children, grinding poverty and hope.

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There was a quote from Mahatma Ghandi at the entrance – “if we are to have real peace, we must begin with the children”. It was good to be there the day before we meet the kids in Zakhira, and we hope that in some small way, we can add to the work of making all this real for these kids.

And on the way home, we experienced the Delhi rush hour. The metro is clean and modern (London Underground take note!) and very well used, but there are 14 million people in Delhi and most of them seemed to be on the metro at 6pm this evening. Sardines have spacious accommodation by comparison. Rachel couldn’t fit into the train in the crush and rush and had to get the next one, but (London Underground take note!) it arrived one minute later and we were soon reunited.

Here are the meet and greet team from the Mela with one of their posters.

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After the service, we were invited to stay for a cup of tea, and asked some of the parishioners where we should go for lunch. One gentleman sent his daughter with us to show us where the YWCA’s restaurant nearby was, and then his family joined us for lunch in the YWCA’s quiet garden.

They had Indian and European food (a picture of Tegan and her lunch follows!) which was delicious, and we very much enjoyed hearing about life in Delhi from Vijay, his wife Elizabeth, and their student children. We were really touched and completely taken by surprise when Vijay bought us our lunch! We heard about generosity in church and we experienced it over lunch. It was a very special meal.

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We stumbled through our variety of explanations, and she said it better than we could have – when Asha goes into a slum community, they work to enable people to understand that they have an inherent dignity as a person made in the image of God, that caste, creed or nationality doesn’t change their value. We are REALLY looking forward to meeting some of the people Asha is partnering with.

And for those of our relatives who want to know if we’re eating OK, yes, we ate Indian and chinese tonight at a family style restaurant on a street of shops (including, oddly, lots of gents wedding outfitters) near the hotel. All human life was out, pedestrians, stray dogs and rickshaws jostling for space with cars and tuk-tuks, all beeping incessantly while stall holders shouted at us “Look! Madam! Only 150 rupees!” A few kurtas (Indian tunics) were purchased. “For suitably modest work wear” was the excuse, but the colours are amazing.

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We’re at the airport and logistics are only slightly challenging!

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we are entering into November, which, in the Church of England, is now called Kingdom Season. It is a month of memory, with its celebration of All Saints’ Day, often a remembrance of those who have died in the previous year, and always the remembrance of those who sacrificed much – or all – because of war, and still continue to do so, to this day.

As the nights draw in, and the weather becomes colder, it can be a time of the year that is heavy with memories – some of which are laden with grief – that give a sombre cast to life. But the lectionary readings for the Sundays in this season – Mark 12.28-34; 1.14-20; 13.1-8 – remind us that the darkness in nature, and the darkness in our lives are not the ultimate truth. The Biblical witness to this culminates on the feast of Christ the King, the Sunday before Advent Sunday, with John 18.33-37. Jesus says, ‘For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’ (John 18.37)

When does Jesus say this? Just before his death, when the day seems the darkest. But Jesus is not the king of an earthly kingdom, which must die and collapse. His kingdom is of another place, and death cannot conquer it.

So, in these dark, damp, often sad days of November, let us remember this is the Kingdom Season! Indeed, for those who are in Christ, all of time is the Kingdom Season, for the Kingdom is here and it is now.

Jesus calls you in these dark days to be the light – his light – proclaiming in word and deed that the Kingdom is coming, and is indeed already here, within you, and among you.

Blessings to you and yours in this wonderful Kingdom Season!!!

Yours in Christ,

Simon.

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view the photo set on Flickr »

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Members of the Prayer Ministry team are available every Sunday, just ask a church warden or member of staff if you would like to receive prayer.

You can also request prayer online here, whether for yourself or a friend.

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Food packages are intended as short-term relief only; by partnering with established and skilled charities and organisation, help and support is given to find long term solutions, to see lives dramatically changed, encouraging and developing independent, sustainable, healthy lifestyles.

You can help support Storehouse through donations or volunteering time to collect and collate food items.

How you can help:

Pick items from the following list

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Food packages are intended as short-term relief only; by partnering with established and skilled charities and organisation, help and support is given to find long term solutions, to see lives dramatically changed, encouraging and developing independent, sustainable, healthy lifestyles.

You can help support Storehouse through donations or volunteering time to collect and collate food items.

How you can help:

Pick items from the following list only please, and as you select the items in the shop, pray for the household that will receive them. Bring your items with you to church on Sunday, and place them in the Storehouse trolley.

Items you can donate:
• tinned meat • tinned meals • tinned fish • tinned vegetables • tinned potato • tinned soup
• cuppa soup • baked beans • tinned spaghetti • pasta • pasta sauce • super noodles
• stir-in sauces • tinned fruit •  long-grain rice • tinned custard •  tinned rice • tea bags
• coffee • long life milk • sugar (small bag) • breakfast cereal • dilutable juice • biscuits • crisps
• toilet roll • soap (bar) • shower gel (male / female) • shampoo  • deodorant (male / female) • toothpaste and brush • razor (male / female) • nappies (all sizes) • baby wipes • household cleaning products

- items in red bold text are particularly needed this week (updated 25th March 2013)

If you have any questions or would like more information, or would like to find out about volunteering with Storehouse North Down, please do not hesitate to contact Jeremy, using the form below.

You can find out more about the work of Storehouse at storehousenorthdown.com

Want to ask us something?:

[contact-form-7]

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The School is taught by Simon Richardson, and the current course is on 1st Peter.

There is no charge for this course.

Downloads from the course are available here.

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We will have a special morning service for harvest on Sunday 14th October at 10.30 am (instead of the usual 9.45 and 11.30 services).

This will be followed by a simple parish lunch of soup and roll in the Parish Centre, on a first-come first-served basis.

We’re also launching Storehouse collection at all our services this week. Storehouse provides emergency food packages to 70-80 families or individuals in the North Down, Greater Belfast, Co. Antrim area every week. Set up by Belfast City Vineyard church in 2008, the charity has helped over 5,000 households, loving and serving the most vulnerable in our communities. They work with the Simon Community, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, East Belfast Mission, NICAS, NIACRO and many more, ensuring responsible and holistic assistance to those in the greatest need. We join with Stormont Presbyterian and many other churches in supporting Storehouse with food items.

Food packages are intended as short-term relief only; by partnering with established and skilled charities and organisation, help and support is given to find long term solutions, to see lives dramatically changed, encouraging and developing independent, sustainable, healthy lifestyles.

Items you can donate:
• Pasta • Cereal • Tea bags • Tinned meat • Tinned soup • Tinned potatoes • Tinned meals
• Cuppa soup • Cereal variety pack • Super noodles • Tinned dessert • Baked beans
• Tinned vegetables • Biscuits • Tinned fish • Tinned fruit • Pasta sauce • Crisps • Long life milk

Download and print this handy shopping list to take with you!

Please don’t bring anything for Storehouse that isn’t on this list, as it can’t be distributed.

See storehousebelfast.com to find out which items are needed particularly this week.

If you are interested in volunteering with Storehouse, please speak to Jeremy or get in touch here:

[contact-form-7]

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Key Passage: Ephesians 3:14-19

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Key Passage: Mark 9:38-50

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Key Passage: Isaiah 6:1-8; John 4:1-26

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Key Passage: John 4:1-26

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We are thrilled to introduce up-and-coming young flautist Robert Catney, who will be performing for us on Saturday, 13 October at 7.30pm in the church building.

Robert hails from Newtownards and is a full-time music student at the South-Eastern Regional College in Bangor. He passed his Grade 8 practical flute examination at the tender age of 16 and will be sitting his first Music Diploma this November.

A special programme of music has been prepared for our recital, ranging in style and period, with select pieces and entire works by composers from J.S. Bach to George Enesco, and including a fiendish piece famously played by the man with the golden flute himself, Sir James Galway!

Tickets are available for a small charge of £5 and are available by contacting the Parish Office.

Saturday, 13 October
Holywood Parish Church
7.30pm

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Key Passage: John 4:1-26

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Key Passage: Mark 7:24-37

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On Saturday 22nd September at 7pm, the Uganda mission team will host A Taste of Africa.

There will be a hog roast and African food, music, dancing and original Ugandan crafts available to purchase.

Tickets are priced at £10, which includes food, and are available from the team or the Parish Office. (BYOB.)

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On Sunday 16th September at 5:30pm we will have a service of Choral Evensong.

You are welcome both to the service and to join with those present for tea, coffee and buns afterwards which will be in the Parish Centre.

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Key Passage: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

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Listen Again…

Tuesday: Jesus, Lord of the Church

Wednesday: What Jesus wants in his Church

Thursday: What Jesus doesn’t want in his Church

Friday: Rewards and Consequences

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We are extremely grateful to Phyllis Hancox and Heather Magowan for their many hours of hard work.

A quick reference manual and CD is available should anyone wish to trace their family history.

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What would be the perfect summer weather for you? Would you prefer high temperatures or cooler breezes? Perhaps there is no such thing as the perfect summer, or even the perfect anything. As the song I beg your pardon states “Along with the sunshine there’s got to be a bit of rain sometimes”.

The Christian view of the world is that it is good but not perfect; that into the very fabric of life is woven a weakness or fault that can be seen in every thing and every person. We all hope for something better, just as we hope for good weather in the summer, but, deep down, we make room for disappointment. It might rain, things might go wrong, our friends may fail us.

When I became a Christian my life did not become perfect. I still had my problems, my church was not perfect, my friends we not always loving. What changed was my hope. Knowing that God had sent Jesus to his imperfect world gave me hope. Firstly hope that, however bad it got for me, I could cope with Jesus by my side. Secondly hope that, in the end, Jesus would make me and the world perfect.
As August comes to an end I know that it was a good summer, despite camping in 30 mile and hour winds in Cornwall. And, my prayer for each of us is that, as we reflect on our years, we will have known the gift of Jesus, “life in all its fullness”, even amidst the things that have gone wrong.

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Key Passages: Revelation 4-5

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The team arrived on Saturday evening to be greeted by Roger, Liz & Sarah with mug of tea in hand and our wonderful accommodation for the week already set up.

Having changed out of our travelling gear, we headed down to the beach for games, a barbecue and a dip in the sea! Not for the faint hearted.

It was off to bed for an early night knowing we had church in the morning and a full day of planning and preparing the upcoming week’s events including drama, concert and praise rehearsals, making discussion plans, clearing rooms… Many were heard commenting that they had never seen a group of teenagers work so hard in their lives!

And so after months of meetings and rehearsals finally MONDAY ARRIVED, with 21 children eager to learn about Jesus and have fun.

Susie sang, Roger spoke, Moyra, Chris & Jamie played the music; we all had fun. After a morning of madness the kids left with smiles on their faces and we started setting up for Tuesday.

Tuesday wasn’t slow in turning up and it brought with it 38 kids, almost double, and we did it all again…

After an evening of clearing up and getting ready for Wednesday we went to bed not knowing to expect our sunny week in Cornwall to turn into a rainy, windy Northern Irish-esqe one! With 4 tents left flooded and the rest lost, being blown away, there were some weary faces at breakfast the next morning.

Wednesday was geared towards the evening concert we were putting on for the local parish in Lelant Church, so after holiday camp we had an afternoon of rehearsal and sound check, and 7.30pm we put on a wonderful concert featuring individual pieces from Sarah, Jamie, Chris, Alex, Bethany, Moyra, Emma, Susie and Helen.

The best of the evening was, however, yet to come, as the  short intermission (not in itself the highlight) was followed by the massed voices of The Carbis Bay Team Choir singing excerpts from ROCK written by Roger Jones with narration from Joanne Hughes. It was all very well received. As was the team’s trip to McDonalds thereafter.

Slideshow:

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Key Passage: Mark 8:27-30, 9:2-7

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Mr Wilson, who has also served in many capacities within the church and Diocese of Down and Dromore, was presented with a plaque and gift.

The Rev’d Roger Elks, Vicar, gave thanks for Mr. Wilson’s contribution to parish life, especially in connecting those in the community with the news and activities of the church.

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SNoReSMAC (Summer Non-Residential Sport, Music & Art Camp) is going to be AMAZING this year!

Here’s what’s happening: SNoReSMAC 2012 Timetable and info

Please let us know you are coming (so you get fed!)

Print off these CONSENT FORMS and bring them with you, filled in by a parent/guardian.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Roo & Mark

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As a community we will be challenged to begin to consider a new standard of living—a personal economic threshold oriented not around the size of a monthly paycheck, but around the value of enough.

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Key Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

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On Saturday 23rd June the 3rd Annual North Road Triathlon will take place at Campbell College and the Comber Greenway, in aid of our missions fund, helping the poorest in Dehli, the church in Kkalwe and resourcing a holiday club for schoolchildren in Carbis Bay.

The event consists of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and a 3 to 5 km run.

Entrants may compete in 1, 2 or all three stages. You can sign up through the Parish Office, or contact Sarah Hardacre for more information.

Sponsor the competitors
You can sponsor the competitors online now at https://www.charitygiving.co.uk/3rd-NR-triathlon

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The Kkawle team will host a Quiz Night on Thursday 14th June, at 7:30 pm, with quizmaster John Thompson.

Teams of up to six are welcome to test their knowledge in an evening of fun and light refreshments for parishioners and guests. Entry is £5 per person, with proceeds to the mission to Kkawlwe. Please give your team names to Eddie Officer to enter.

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Look out for a weekend of special events on Saturday to Sunday, 16th to 17th June.

This summer a team from HPC will travel to Carbis Bay, Cornwall, to run a week of events for children in the local parish. In June, there will be a car wash, ice creams and cream teas in support of the team.

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Key Passage: Acts 6:1-7

Transcript

This morning as we come to God’s word, let just take a moment and pray. Heavenly Father we thank you for your words. Speak to us now from it and to help us to understand our role in your big plan, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

You know, growth is an interesting thing isn’t it. It’s an issue that is viewed differently from different perspectives. Our daughter Eva now nine and our son Ethan coming eight this summer are growing up before our very eyes. They’re at that stage it’s like you turn around or just blink for a moment and look back and suddenly it’s like a centimetre or two taller just added to their height and they’re just growing like weeds. From their perspective it’s great because they think I just wanna be a year older, they can’t wait. The truth is we’re all growing even though the growth may look slightly differently for some of us the older we get.

As we grow and get older growth brings various challenges, doesn’t it. I mean there’s the sentimental challenge. From our perspective Eva and Ethan’s growth is bittersweet. We think back to the time when they were so small and so cute and lovely at that age and we think, wasn’t that great, we want to bottle them up then but then they grow up and get a little bit bigger and of course we look forward to their growing older and growing into in reaching their potential but we just want to bottle them up right now and keep them where they’re at and enjoy life with them right now.

In addition to sentimentality, growth brings with it other practical challenges to think about as well. Keeping the kids in shoes, keeping them in clothes, we know what that’s like. Perhaps more interesting problem that I’ve found with Ethan anyway is his ability to eat vast quantities of food. At breakfast in the morning, at dinner time and in the evening Ethan is able to and often does eat adult portions of food – eight years old and it all goes in and he looks no different for it; no doubt it’s going to fueling the growth that is happening in this body as you just look at him.

Growth brings challenges at every stage along life’s journey and it’s true not only for people but as we know it’s true for organizations it’s true for churches as well. And throughout the book of Acts we discovered that one of Luke’s main aims in writing to us the book of Acts is to outline the history of the churches growth in the early church, from its birth at Pentecost which we’ll be remembering next Sunday morning, to Paul’s journey journey to Rome and taking the gospel there at the very ends of the book. We see this ever widening effect of the gospel on an ever increasing number of people. And throughout the journey we see the church grow. And it’s a lovely thing. On the day of Pentecost itself, after Peter preached a sermon and explained to people what had happened, in Acts 2:41 we see that three thousand people were added to their number that day and the church was born. Then it says at the end of the chapter seven in response to the early church’s life, in their example and the community, their witness, the Lord added to their number daily those who are being saved. Acts 4:4, the same continues where following Peter and John’s arrest many who heard the gospel believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand, in addition to the women and children. Chapter five verse fourteen, following healings and many miraculous signs amongst the people, it says that more and more men and women believed and they were added to their number. So powerful a force the early church was, the religious establishment of their day, they got a bit jittery and they tried to stop them. They put the apostles in jail, in chapter five. They even wanted to kill them in order to try to stop this movement of the church from spreading and potentially undermining the Jewish faith. But considering the potential of the consequences that this might have, in the end it says that they let the apostles go, at the end of chapter five and the church continued to grow.

This is the pattern that we continue to see the right to the book of Acts and then it’s the same pattern that has continued right through the history of the church, both here and all over the world. But with this growth we discovered this morning that the church also met various other challenges along the way. We picked this up at the beginning of chapter six, where with a number of the followers of Christ increasing, verse one, if you have it before you there, certain practical issues were rearing their heads too. Not only did the church have to deal with the external opposition as it were from the Jewish leaders who were jealous and unbelieving and wanted to crush the fledgling movement, but the early church also now had to deal with the internal challenges that threatened the ministry of the apostles too.

In those days all the converts that came to church were Jews, and these Jews fell into two different categories the Grecian Jews who grew up outside of Palestine and spoke to mainly Greek; and then there were the Hebraic Jews, who grew up inside of Palestine and spoke mainly Hebrew and Aramaic. And as you can imagine both sets of Jews I had different attitudes and different outlooks on life as a result of their spiritual and cultural heritage. You might think back to, it’s trying to think of what it might be like that today, it might be like maybe putting a Frenchman and an Englishman together into a room and telling them to find a way forward. I don’t know. You had a bunch of people here to have a common religious experience but different cultural backgrounds, and maybe even different expectations.

And the problem that we meet here in these verses is that the Grecian Jews were starting to feel hard done by. Following from Jewish tradition it seems that they had developed in that day a system in the Church of taking care of and feeding the widows in their midst and this was a good thing. It was good because I’ve not only were widows of specific class of people in that time who would have been in particular need because there would’ve been nobody there to care for them. But caring for widows was also part of what God had said all along that is people ought to be doing, and so if they didn’t help the widows, they would not only did been disregarding God’s plan for them, as a church and as a people but they would’ve brought the church into disrepute with the people around them and society. The other Jews of their day who were looking on and were wondering are these people for real or are they just quacks? And so the early church here, they were doing and that was good news. They were helping the widows but the problem is is that they were only helping certain widows.

Somehow the Grecian Jews were being overlooked for the daily distribution of food. And due to the cultural rift between these two segments of the church, it would seem that a problem of discrimination had sprung up. This can happen, can’t it, even still today whether it’s because of cultural or racial tensions or maybe just differing expectations of what should happen in church from different age groups, whether it’s because of differing tastes and styles of worship or music, or just simply differing ideas on how to deal with problems and concerns as they arise. Conflict and discrimination can happen even in the church. These days today it would seem the more often than not the easy solution when something crops up this a bit difficult to deal with, as it seems easier to just up sticks and maybe just pop down the way to the church down the street. But in those days this was the only church there was. When difference a rose there was no choice at all but to call a spade a spade, to meet the issue head on, face up to it and deal with it. And all move forward together.

And so there was this relational issue here that had popped up and it needed to be addressed because if it wasn’t, division threatened the church. The Grecian widows deserved equal treatment. They deserved better and something had to be done. But there’s also another issue here that needed to be addressed and we see that arising as well from the Apostles’ response. It was the potential destraction that faced the church leadership. Serving these widows was in everyone’s mind a very important thing to do. It was an important responsibility, it was a privilege in which to engage. But it was just one responsibility among many that the apostles had to uphold. And it would have been tempting for the apostles when heard this problem come to their desk to  think to themselves, “Well I guess the answer here to this problem as I look at it is  just to put more hours in in order to get the job done. If I work harder, everything will get done, and everybody will be happy.” If you want to do a job well you’ve got to do it right, we’ve all been said. Or it could have been tempting for them to say, “Well I’m going to be a bit more balanced that that, I realize I only have certain number of hours in the day and in order to maintain my sanity and my work-life balance and time with the family, there’s only so much that I can do as one person, so since feeding the widows is right now a more pressing issue than going around and teaching people about Jesus Christ and helping them in their faith, maybe I just need to feed the widows and spend a bit less time doing that other stuff, teaching God’s word and caring for people spiritually. I’ll do the practical because that’s what’s in my face.

But as we read, we find that the apostles did neither of those things in order to solve the internal challenge. They didn’t just work harder, they didn’t just put more hours in the day themselves in order to sort it, they they didn’t say “well I’ll just not do this over here, that’s also important.” Instead  they came together and they agreed that there were priorities that needed to be maintained. The word had to be preached and the widows have to be fed and neither could be compromised. The apostles, they couldn’t do it on their own. They needed help, otherwise they may get distracted from carrying out their calling. And so inspired by the Holy Spirit they set up this enhanced leadership structure in order to deal with the needs of the church. Under their authority the verses say here that they chose seven godly men and they empowered them and they released them to go and to get the job done. They delegated their authority to responsible and gifted people and the result was the problem was solved and unity was maintained.

The practical issues were addressed and the apostles were able to get on doing what they were called to do, what they and they alone could do in that sense in that space. And they spent time in prayer and preaching the word and going around spiritually caring for the people and their flock.

As I close I just wanna make a few couple of observations to draw a few parallels between what was happening then and what is happening in our day, and I’ll be brief. You know where no different than the early church and so many respects. Today the work of the church could fall down or grind to a halt if their leadership tried to do it all itself, and this is a lesson that church leadership, our church leadership, has to wrestle with and continually grow into all the time. Appropriate delegation that raises up and empowers and releases people to ministry and tackles need according to people’s gifts and abilities. Equally the church could fall down if the clergy get distracted and lose sight of their priorities, putting more time into things that other people could do an not into the things that we alone are called to do. And this is something that you can pray that we are able to guard against.

But the work of our church will also hold fall down if unlike like these seven men who were chosen in that day you don’t see yourself and your part in the work of the church as an important calling as well. The seven men, when they were chosen they were gifted and they were called and they were chosen and they were empowered and they were released to go off and to meet this need, they saw their part in the work of the churches being every bit as important as the calling of the apostles in advancing the work of the church and God’s Kingdom. Every bit as important. You see it as Christ’s body we are designed to function together as a whole. Each part plays its part in making the body function as Christ intended it. And with these functions there’s no real hierarchy in God’s eyes. All the jobs are important; all the jobs our service. If one part falls down they all fall down and the beauty of this passage that sits before us this morning is that Lukr shows us the potential that the church has as the body of Jesus Christ to meet the challenges that we face together. Servers of the word and servers of the table, feeding both spiritual and physical hunger, working together to meet spiritual and practical needs in order to see God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Just as physical growth brings challenge and change to our physical bodies, physical growth also brings challenge and sometimes even change to the church. Becoming sentimental and longing for the past or burying our heads in the sand about issues that we face in the present isn’t an option. It wasn’t then it’s not now. Working together to come out with positive solutions to see God’s kingdom come in this church, and more lives change and reached with a message of Jesus Christ, that is possible. That is an option. That is the only options before us. It’s the benchmark that the early church set for us, and it’s the calling that Luke calls to our attention today.

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father we pray as we respond to this message that you help us to hear your call to play our part, but also support one another whatever calling we find ourselves in this church and beyond, as we work together to bring your kingdom here on this earth by the power of your Spirit at work in us, in Jesus name. Amen.

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The service also saw four of our young people baptised by full immersion by Roger. Worship was lead by Roo and the band.

After the service the Parish Centre hosted a reception of coffee, tea and puddings.

Photos

view the photo set on Flickr »

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Over 200 guests enjoyed freshly prepared curries and side dishes and were treated to Indian dancing, music and poetry. The evening also saw an Auction of Promises, with all proceeds going to support the work of Asha.

Thank you to everyone who supported the evening.

Video

Photos

view the photo set on Flickr »

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Key Passage: Acts 6:1-7

Transcript:

This morning as we come to God’s word, let just take a moment and pray. Heavenly Father we thank you for your words. Speak to us now from it and to help us to understand our role in your big plan, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

New growth is an interesting thing isn’t it. Its an issue that is viewed differently from different perspectives. Our daughter Eva now nine and our son Ethan coming eight this summer are growing up before our very eyes. They’re at that stage is like you turn around or just blink for a moment and look back and suddenly it’s like a centimeter or taller just added to their height and they’re just growing like weeds. From their perspective it’s great because they think I just wanna be a year older, they can’t wait. The truth is we’re all growing even though the growth may look slightly differently for some of us the older we get.

As we grow and then get older growth brings various challenges, doesn’t it. I mean there’s the sentimental challenge. From our perspective Eva and Ethan’s growth is bittersweet. We think back to the time when they were so small and and and so cute and lovely at that age and we think, wasn’t that great, we want to bottle them up then but then they grow up and get a little bit bigger and of course we look forward to their growing older and growing into in reaching their potential but we just want to bottle them up right now and keep them where they’re at and enjoy life with them right now.

In addition to sentimentality, the growth bring with it other practical challenges to think about as well. Keepin the kids in shoes, keeping them in clothes, we know what that’s like. Perhaps more interesting problem that I’ve found with Ethan anyway is his ability to eat vast quantities of food. At breakfast in the morning, at dinner time and in the evening Ethan is able to and often does eat adult portions of food – eight years old and it all goes in and he looks no different for it; no doubt it’s going to fueling the growth that is happening in this body as you just look at him.

Growth brings challenges at every stage along life’s journey and its true not only for people but as we know it’s true for organizations it’s true for churches as well. And throughout the book of Acts we discovered that one of Luke’s main aims in writing to us the book of Acts is to outline the history of the churches growth in the early church, from its birth at Pentecost which we’ll be remembering next Sunday morning, to Paul’s journey journey to Rome and taking the gospel there at the very ends of the book. We see this ever widening effect of the gospel on an ever increasing number of people. And throughout the journey we see the church grow. And it’s a lovely thing. On the day of Pentecost itself, after Peter preached a sermon and explained to people what had happened, in Acts 2:41 we see that three thousand people were added to their number that day and the church was born. Then its says at the end of the chapter seven in response to the early church’s life, in their example and the community, their witness, the Lord added to their number daily those who are being saved. Acts 4:4, the same continues where following Peter and John’s arrest many who heard the gospel believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand, in addition to the women and children. Chapter five verse fourteen, following healings and many miraculous signs amongst the people, it says that more and more men and women believed and they were added to their number. So powerful a force the early church was, the religious establishment of their day, they got a bit jittery and they tried to stop them. They put the apostles in jail, in chapter five. They even wanted to kill them in order to try to stop this movement of the church from spreading and potentially undermining the Jewish faith. But considering the potential of the consequences that this might have, in the end it says that they let the apostles go, at the end of chapter five and the church continued to grow.

This is the pattern that we continue to see the right to the book of Acts and then it’s the same pattern that has continued right through the history of the church, both here and all over the world. But with this growth we discovered this morning that the church also met various other challenges along the way. We picked this up at the beginning of chapter six, where with a number of the followers of Christ increasing, verse one, if you have it before you there, certain practical issues were rearing their heads too. Not only did the church have to deal with the external opposition as it were from the Jewish leaders who were jealous and unbelieving and wanted to crush the fledgling movement, but the early church also now had to deal with the internal challenges that threatened the ministry of the apostles too.

In those days all the converts that came to church were Jews, and these Jews fell into two different categories the Grecian Jews who grew up outside of Palestine and spoke to mainly Greek; and then there were the Hebraic Jews, who grew up inside of Palestine and spoke mainly Hebrew and Aramaic. And as you can imagine both sets of Jews I had different attitudes and different outlooks on life as a result of their spiritual and cultural heritage. You might think back to, its trying to think of what it might be like that today, it might be like maybe putting a Frenchman and an Englishman together into a room and telling them to find a way forward. I don’t know. You had a bunch of people here to have a common religious experience but different cultural backgrounds, and maybe even different expectations.

And the problem that we meet here in these verses is that the Grecian Jews were starting to feel hard done by. Following from Jewish tradition it seems that they had developed in that day a system in the Church of taking care of and feeding the widows in their midst and this was a good thing. It was good because I’ve not only were widows of specific class of people in that time who would have been in particular need because there would’ve been nobody there to care for them. But caring for widows was also part of what God had said all along that is people ought to be doing, and so if they didn’t help the widows, they would not only did been disregarding God’s plan for them, as a church and as a people but they would’ve brought the church into disrepute with the people around them and society. The other Jews of their day who were looking on and were wondering are these people for real or are they just quacks? And so the early church here, they were doing and that was good news. They were helping the widows but the problem is is that they were only helping certain widows.

Somehow the Grecian Jews were being overlooked for the daily distribution of food. And due to the cultural rift between these two segments of the church, it would seem that a problem of discrimination had sprung up. This can happen, can’t it, even still today whether it’s because of cultural or racial tensions or maybe just differing expectations of what should happen in church from different age groups, whether it’s because of differing tastes and styles of worship or music, or just simply differing ideas on how to deal with problems and concerns as they arise. Conflict and discrimination can happen even in the church. These days today it would seem the more often than not the easy solution when something crops up this a bit difficult to deal with, as it seems easier to just up sticks and maybe just pop down the way to the church down the street. But in those days this was the only church there was. When difference a rose there was no choice at all but to call a spade a spade, to meet the issue head on, face up to it and deal with it. And all move forward together.

And so there was this relational issue here that had popped up and it needed to be addressed because if it wasn’t, division threatened the church. The Grecian widows deserved equal treatment. They deserved better and something had to be done. But there’s also another issue here that needed to be addressed and we see that arising as well from the Apostles’ response. It was the potential destraction that faced the church leadership. Serving these widows was in everyone’s mind a very important thing to do. It was an important responsibility, it was a privilege in which to engage. But it was just one responsibility among many that the apostles had to uphold. And it would have been tempting for the apostles when heard this problem come to their desk to  think to themselves, “Well I guess the answer here to this problem as I look at it is  just to put more hours in in order to get the job done. If I work harder, everything will get done, and everybody will be happy.” If you want to do a job well you’ve got to do it right, we’ve all been said. Or it could have been tempting for them to say, “Well I’m going to be a bit more balanced that that, I realize I only have certain number of hours in the day and in order to maintain my sanity and my work-life balance and time with the family, there’s only so much that I can do as one person, so since feeding the widows is right now a more pressing issue than going around and teaching people about Jesus Christ and helping them in their faith, maybe I just need to feed the widows and spend a bit less time doing that other stuff, teaching God’s word and caring for people spiritually. I’ll do the practical because that’s what’s in my face.

But as we read, we find that the apostles did neither of those things in order to solve the internal challenge. They didn’t just work harder, they didn’t just put more hours in the day themselves in order to sort it, they they didn’t say “well I’ll just not do this over here, that’s also important.” Instead  they came together and they agreed that there were priorities that needed to be maintained. The word had to be preached and the widows have to be fed and neither could be compromised. The apostles, they couldn’t do it on their own. They needed help, otherwise they may get distracted from carrying out their calling. And so inspired by the Holy Spirit they set up this enhanced leadership structure in order to deal with the needs of the church. Under their authority the verses say here that they chose seven godly men and they empowered them and they released them to go and to get the job done. They delegated their authority to responsible and gifted people and the result was the problem was solved and unity was maintained.

The practical issues were addressed and the apostles were able to get on doing what they were called to do, what they and they alone could do in that sense in that space. And they spent time in prayer and preaching the word and going around spiritually caring for the people and their flock.

As I close I just wanna make a few couple of observations to draw a few parallels between what was happening then and what is happening in our day, and I’ll be brief. You know where no different than the early church and so many respects. Today the work of the church could fall down or grind to a halt if their leadership tried to do it all itself, and this is a lesson that church leadership, our church leadership, has to wrestle with and continually grow into all the time. Appropriate delegation that raises up and empowers and releases people to ministry and tackles need according to people’s gifts and abilities. Equally the church could fall down if the clergy get distracted and lose sight of their priorities, putting more time into things that other people could do an not into the things that we alone are called to do. And this is something that you can pray that we are able to guard against.

But the work of our church will also hold fall down if unlike like these seven men who were chosen in that day you don’t see yourself and your part in the work of the church as an important calling as well. The seven men, when they were chosen they were gifted and they were called and they were chosen and they were empowered and they were released to go off and to meet this need, they saw their part in the work of the churches being every bit as important as the calling of the apostles in advancing the work of the church and God’s Kingdom. Every bit as important. You see it as Christ’s body we are designed to function together as a whole. Each part plays its part in making the body function as Christ intended it. And with these functions there’s no real hierarchy in God’s eyes. All the jobs are important; all the jobs our service. If one part falls down they all fall down and the beauty of this passage that sits before us this morning is that Lukr shows us the potential that the church has as the body of Jesus Christ to meet the challenges that we face together. Servers of the word and servers of the table, feeding both spiritual and physical hunger, working together to meet spiritual and practical needs in order to see God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Just as physical growth brings challenge and change to our physical bodies, physical growth also brings challenge and sometimes even change to the church. Becoming sentimental and longing for the past or burying our heads in the sand about issues that we face in the present isn’t an option. It wasn’t then it’s not now. Working together to come out with positive solutions to see God’s kingdom come in this church, and more lives change and reached with a message of Jesus Christ, that is possible. That is an option. That is the only options before us. Its the benchmark that the early church set for us, and its the calling that Luke calls to our attention today.

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father we pray as we respond to this message that you help us to hear your call to play our part, but also support one another whatever calling we find ourselves in this church and beyond, as we work together to bring your kingdom here on this earth by the power of your Spirit at work in us, in Jesus name. Amen.

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Key Passage: Acts 4:32-37

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Key Passage: Acts 4:32-37

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Come along to a special combined morning service on Sunday 27th May at 10:30 a.m. to meet and pray for our three mission teams, who will be travelling to Carbis Bay, Kkalwe and Delhi.

Please note: our normal service times of 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. will not apply on 27th May.

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On Sunday 20th May there will be a special Confirmation Service at 6:30 pm in Church.

Young people and adults will be baptised or, if already baptised as infants, will affirm their faith publicly, and Bishop Harold Miller will pray God’s confirmation of them.

Please join us for this special occasion.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

If you are a regular attender of Evening Prayer or Worship ETC, please note that these services will not take place on 20th May. Please join us instead at 6:30 p.m.

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On Sunday 3rd June 2012 there will be a special Festival Choral Evensong to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee at 5:30 pm in Church. The service will feature music by contemporary composers Andrew Carter and Philip Stopford, sung by the Parish Choir and Jubilate directed by Deirdre Harshaw.

The service will be followed by tea and cakes.

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Undeterred by the cold (7°C), wind and rain, all our teams, runners and walkers successfully completed the course. One of our runners suffered from mild hypothermia in the aftermath but recovered thanks to an emergency blanket, a warm bath, and later some food and a roof!

All the money raised from sponsorship will go straight to the communities we are supporting: to Asha, a charity that works with the poorest in the slums in Dehli, India; to the local church in Kkalwe, Uganda; and to run a children’s holiday scheme in Carbis Bay, England.

Video

Photos

view the photo set on Flickr »

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Key Passages: Jeremiah 29:4-7; Matthew 5:13-16.

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Key Passages: Jeremiah 29:4-7; Matthew 5:13-16.

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Key Passage: Isaiah 58

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Key Passage: Isaiah 58:1-14

How to Respond:
Find out how you can get involved with Storehouse

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Key Passage: Acts 4:1-22

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Key Passage: Acts 4:1-22

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The Wardens’ Report:

The Church Wardens Gillian and Jayne presented the following musical report:

The Vicar’s Report:

During his address, the Vicar commented on how busy the church is with six services during the week and the wide range of activities and groups meeting together. The range of activities is diverse from pre-school praise to Mother’s Union; Alpha course and fellowship groups, Sunday Club and youth meetings. This year has been particularly marked out by the special events celebrating the past including visiting past curates preaching, the flower festival, concerts, the “Thank You” event for volunteers and all the services at Christmas and Easter. Reflecting on the increased activity, the Vicar pointed out that administration has doubled since his arrival twelve years ago. This has been the result of the increased demands by legislation for accounts, health and safety, child protection and personnel issues and the needs of the growing congregation. Advances in technology including the award-winning parish website, audio visual equipment, DVD production for housebound parishioners, monthly magazine production and distribution are signs of the very busy church we belong to. A warm round of applause and expression of appreciation for the 40 years Neville Wilson has spent as editor of the parish magazine was given as we were informed of his retirement. Mr Kevin Quinn will be the new editor.

The Vicar informed us that the staff team was a great blessing to the church and he enjoys the strategic meetings and the care and support he receives from each of them. He also acknowledged the care and support of his wife Liz and his family. He thanked the out-going churchwardens, Jayne Forster and Gillian Cloke for their contributions to church life and the smooth running of services during the past year. The glebe wardens, Billy Lee and Robert Maxwell, Property Committee chairman Bob Campbell were thanked for the work they do in maintaining church property and grounds. The members of the Select Vestry were thanked for their work during the past year and special thanks to those standing down including Noel Henderson after 18 years service, Lorna Thompson, Tom Mullan, Robin Lindsay and Rosemary McClure was expressed.

The Vicar posed the question: was it worth the effort? Was all the effort and activity really worth it? Could the church be run better if it was less complicated, employed less staff, held less services and activities? With less activity he would have less to worry about, less risk of mistakes occurring, more time for people and rest. He demonstrated running costs of the church buildings, tithing and staffing as approximately £235000 if only two services and one curate were employed. He contrasted the cost of additional staffing and modern equipment as £285000, allowing the church to outreach to many more people, families, elderly, youth and the community by providing family services worship etc, youth ministry, sensational Saturday, and alpha courses. The question became: can we afford to lose new people coming in to the church? It makes more sense to provide for growth, being busy and engaging with the youth culture. The Church of Ireland needs to be witnessing to this generation if it is to continue to exist in generations to come. We the church must proclaim the Good News to the world. The buildings and administration are important but transient. The church is built on the foundation of the Gospel expressing hope to the world. The Vicar then asked himself : would he do it all again? Without a doubt. He finished his address by reading a passage from Colossians 1:28-29: “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” He asked the congregation to join him in continuing to contend with all the energy Christ gives us to build our church and God’s Kingdom.

– Heather

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Key Passage: Luke 4:14-21

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Key Passage: Luke 4:14-21

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Key Passage: Acts 3:1-10

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Key Passage: Acts 3:1-10

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You can find out more about this year’s festival at summermadness.co.uk.

Please book through Holywood Parish by contacting Mark (mark@holywoodparishchurch.co.uk). Payment of £100 is required to cover the residential ticket price along with a signed consent form.

For more information, please contact Mark.

Downloads:

• Consent form
• Festival guidelines

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The GAP’s next night out is coming up soon! We’re going out for some Pirate Adventure Mini Golf, followed by bowling, both at Dundonald Ice Bowl.

Date: Friday 11th May 2012, from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Venue: Dundonald Ice Bowl

Cost: £12 each (to cover mini golf plus bowling)

Travel: Meeting and collection are both at the Ice Bowl.

Contact the Parish office to let us know that you are coming, by calling 028 9042 3622, or email mark [at] holywoodparishchurch.co.uk for more info!

As with all youth events, consent forms are also required to be signed in advance.

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Key passages: Acts 6:1-7

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Key passages: Acts 4:32-5:11

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Key passages: Acts 4:23-31

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Key passages: Acts 4:1-22

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Key passages: Acts 3:1-20

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Key passages: Acts 2:42-end

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Teams of relay runners, walkers, and individual runners will take part in the Belfast City Marathon 2012 to support our 2012: A Place in God’s World. All the money raised will go straight to the communities we are supporting: to Asha, a charity that works with the poorest in the slums in Dehli, India; to the local church in Kkalwe, Uganda; and to run a children’s holiday scheme in Carbis Bay, England.

Sponsor the teams!
You can sponsor our runners online now at charitygiving.co.uk/2012belfastmarathon, or sign up using the form at the back of church.

Video: Find out more about Zakhira, Dehli, India

Video: Find out more about the mission trip to Kkalwe, Uganda

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On Friday 11th May 2012 at 7:30 p.m. there will be an evening of Indian food, music, poetry and dance in the Parish Centre.

Tickets have now sold out, but you can still support the evening. An Auction of Promises will also be held; advance telephone bids may be placed through the Parish Office.

Download the Auction Catalogue (PDF) now to place your advance telephone bids.

Video: Find out more about Asha and the team visit

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Key Passage: Isaiah 35

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Sunday 1st April

Palm Sunday

8:00 a.m. – spoken Holy Communion, in church
9:45 a.m. – contemporary Family Communion, in church
11:30 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
5:30 p.m. – traditional Evening Prayer, in church
7:00 p.m. – contemporary Worship etc, in the Parish Centre

Monday 2nd April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion
7:00 p.m. – a traditional evening service for Holy Week

Tuesday 3rd April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion
7:00 p.m. – a traditional evening service for Holy Week

Wednesday 4th April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion
10:30 a.m.  – traditional Holy Communion and prayers, in church
7:00 p.m. – A Taizé service, in church

Thursday 5th April

Maundy Thursday

8:00 a.m. –  traditional Holy Communion
7:00 p.m.  - an Agape Meal (bring and share), with contemporary Holy Communion service, in the Parish Centre

Friday 6th April

Good Friday

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion
10:00 a.m. – contemporary Family Service for Good Friday, in church
12:00 noon – An Hour at the Cross – a contemplative service of music, readings and prayers, in church
7:00 p.m. – Good Friday Devotion for Choir and Congregation

Saturday 7th April

Holy Saturday

7:00 p.m. – a contemporary Encounter Easter Vigil of Worship and Prayer, in church.

Sunday 8th April

Easter Sunday

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
9:45 a.m. – contemporary Family Communinion, in church
11:30 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
5:30 p.m. – traditional  Holy Communion, in church
7:15 p.m. – contemporary Worship etc service, in church

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Key Passage: Acts 8:26-40

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Come and worship, pray, read, explore and express and enjoy God’s presence with us.

As with all our Encounter events, you are free to come and go as you are able.

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Key passages: Psalm 139:1-24.

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Key passage: Psalm 139:1-24.

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Key passage: John 2:13-22.

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Key passage: Exodus 3:1-6;10-12; Exodus 4:1-5;10-17.

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Key passages: Exodus 3:1-6;10-12; Exodus 4:1-5;10-17.

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Friday 23rd March, 2012 at 7.30pm in Holywood Parish Church

Featuring:
*The Parish Choir
*Jubilate
*Sullivan Senior Choir
*Jenny Bourke – soloist
*Stephen Hamill – organ
and a host of local musicians

Supporting missions to Kkalwe, Uganda and with Asha in Delhi, India.

Kindly supported by John Gray & Co., High Street, Holywood

Tickets £10 each including refreshments,
available from the Parish Office (028 9042 3622 / 71 Church Road, Mon-Fri, 10AM-1PM)

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Key passages: Genesis 22:1-16

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Key passage: Mark 1:9-15.

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Key passages: Genesis 3:1-24

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Key passage: Mark 2:23-3:6.

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Key passage: Mark 2:23-3:6.

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Key passage: Mark 2:13-22.

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Key passage: Mark 2:13-22.

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Key passages: Philippians 3:12-14

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Key passages: Esther 1-10

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Key passage: Mark 1:21-28.

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Key passage: Mark 1:21-28.

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Key passages: Romans 12:2

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Key passage: Mark 1:14-20.

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Key passage: Mark 1:14-20.

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The School is taught by Simon Richardson, and the current course is on 1st Peter.

There is no charge for this course.

Downloads from the course are available here.

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Key passages: Luke 12:15-21; Luke 10:26-28; Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Hebrews 12:1; Matthew 6:19-21.

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Key passage: John 1:43-51.

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Key passage: John 1:43-51.

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Key passage: Mark 1:4-11.

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Key passage: Mark 1:4-11.

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Dates: Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th February 2012 Arrive at 11.30 and collect at 18:00.

Venue: Cornmill Quay, Annalong. BT34 4QG
(follow the A2 through Newcastle, continue on until you get to annalong the centre is on the left with an anchor outside it

Description of Activities: Mixture of indoor session-based activities (including teaching and worship) and outside recreational activities in the centre including Archery, climbing wall and team games.) There may also be periods of time when your child is in a small group and unsupervised in Newcastle (leaders will be in Newcastle just not assigned to particular groups).

Please return forms and full payment of £50 to the Parish office by 29^th Jan (cheques payable to Holywood Parish Church) Sibling discount applies (2 for £85). Transport to and from Cornmill Quay will be your own responsibility and so we’d encourage parents sharing lifts! Cost cover food, accommodation and activities, but exclude tuck shop spending money and a £2.10 return bus fare in to Newcastle if under 16 and £4.20 16+ yrs.

Download: Cornmill Quay consent form

The following is another consent form NOT related to the weekend, but for anyone looking for the church consent form for activities outside church!

Download: Consent Form  v12

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Featuring local musicians and guests, this promises to be a great evening of family-friendly live popular music.

External link: find SemiPro on iTunes.

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3:30 – 5:30pm: The first Sensational Saturday of the New Year, with lots of fun activities for children in P3 to P7.

5:30 – 6:30pm: ’Bring and Share Supper’ for all the church family

6:30 – 8pm: SemiPro in Concert

For more information, please see Jason or Liz.

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Following on from the success of “Rock” in the summer, the Choir and Jubilate came together to perform “While Shepherds Watched” by Roger Jones under the musical direction of Deirdre Harshaw. In contrast with the summer however, the soloists were recruited from the Choir and Jubilate, making this a truly Holywood performance and one that was remarkable for the wide range of ages involved in it.

The performance started and ended with poems written by Jake Gallagher on the Christmas theme, beautifully read by Anthea McWilliams. The pieces were linked with bible readings by Rosemary–Jayne Brangam and Kenneth Boyd, adding to the seasonal feel of the production.

The pieces within the musical ranged from solos to full choral works as well as a variety of quartets and quintets for the soloists. There were reworkings of classic works such as the “Magnificat”, sung by Jayne Forster as Mary and “In the Bleak Midwinter” with a solo part for Patricia Hollinger. Peter Miller as Joseph led the five adult soloists in the quintet “Come See the Beauty of the King”. Sarah Elks and Alex Hardacre were the junior soloists in the role of young shepherds and sang with feeling and clarity. It must be admitted, however, that one of the most memorable pieces of the evening was the children’s chorus “Sheep” aided by performances from Christine Hall and Jeremy Kinnen as well as Patricia. The backing from the Choir and Jubilate provided a fitting backdrop to the musicality of the whole performance.

After the musical, we enjoyed a wonderful spread of refreshments, utilising the new space in the Old Church to full effect and a vote of thanks must go to the catering team. Special mention must also go to Rosemary Maxwell who produced a huge array of costumes, worthy of Covent Garden. Obviously there is a huge number of people involved backstage, without whom none of this could happen and thanks are due to all of them. However, the final thanks must go to Deirdre Harshaw, whose vision and dedication drove the whole thing, and the performance was a tribute to her musical directorship. We look forward to our next musical event, the Spring Concert.

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On Sunday 18^th December, Bishop Harold Miller came to rededicate the refurbished Old Church. This took place as part of the All Age Carol Service, which was attended by both morning congregations.

video:

photos:

view the photo set on Flickr »

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On Sunday 18th December 2011, Bishop Harold Miller was presented with a cheque for £8,000 for the Bishops’ Appeal representing the surplus and donations from the Flower Festival held in the church in October 2011. The cheque was presented to him by Jayne Forster, the People’s Churchwarden.

The Bishop spoke of the need to remember those in the developing world and illustrated it by a reference to the Christingles made in the service.

From downanddromore.org:

At the all–age service, Bishop Harold expressed his gratitude for the generous cheque. It will greatly help the Appeal’s work in supporting development projects and alleviating the suffering caused by disasters, both natural and man–made.

Bishops’ Appeal is the Church’s World Aid and Development Programme. It was set up by the Bishops of the Church in response to the commands in the Bible to to feed the hungry, lift the burden of poverty from the poor and bring freedom and hope to the oppressed.

It works through partner non–governmental organisations and mission agencies rather than funding development and emergency work directly. Their partners have the local knowledge and resources to ensure that projects for which they apply for funding are of maximum benefit to the peoples and areas in which they work.

Recent successful appeals include relief for the drought–stricken Horn of Africa.

video:

photos:

view the photo set on Flickr »

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Key passages: Isaiah 61:1-4;8-11

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Key passages: Isaiah 9:2-7

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