IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

A different way to worship

Due to the current restrictions on worship services, many congregations across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), and other denominations, prepared for a very different form of worship yesterday, Sunday. They creatively used live streaming and pre-recorded messages via websites and social media platforms. PCI’s Moderator, Rt Rev Dr William Henry, has welcomed these initiatives, and also begin a series of Sunday worship services for the wider Presbyterian family that will be available on the PCI website.

Dr Henry’s pre-recorded service, which lasted around 45 minutes, followed closely a usual Sunday worship service and included a children’s talk and song, prayers, three hymns and Dr Henry’s sermon. The only element that was missing was the offering.

Speaking to the Church ahead of Sunday’s virtual service in a short video posted on social media, the Moderator said that we were living in exceptional days, “While you are not able to meet in that place that has been so familiar to you, that place where God has drawn alongside you, I know that many congregations will be livestreaming their service of worship this weekend.

“[However], if your own church isn’t, we want you to be able to connect with what our own denomination will be putting on the PCI website. I want to encourage you to check in over the next few months and as Moderator, I want to take a lead in bringing our people together, just to have a sense of who we are as a Presbyterian family. I want to remind you that our worship is not cancelled…”

The service, which was pre-recorded in Dr Henry’s own church, Maze Presbyterian near Lisburn, included the following hymns: ‘King of love my shepherd is’, ‘Leaning on the everlasting arms’ and ‘All my ways are known to you’. For the children, there was the familiar song (with actions) ‘Our God is a great big God’. The theme of his children’s talk was about the things that we do not understand. His main talk focussed on the Book of Habakkuk, and how this particular prophet struggled when there were no easy answers.

Dr Henry ended his short message with part of Psalm 23, ‘The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.’

The first in this series of Sunday services is available on PCI’s website and via the denomination’s Facebook page

Good news from Ballylesson

Holy Trinity Ballylesson has had an amazing response from the wider community to their Foodbank collection point. Rector, Mervyn Jamison said, “We joined the local BT8 Coronavirus Community Support page and folk have been coming from all around to leave food stuff in. We’ve also set up our coffee machine outside, with social distancing and sanitiser applied. The church is also open every day for personal prayer from 8.30 am to 12 midday.”.

Belfast Bible College MA Theology information livestream

BBC state – “We’ve changed this event to be a livesteam on our Facebook page. Join with us live to hear more about our MA Theology.

“This is a 30min information livestream about our MA in Theology: Bible and Ministry in the Contemporary World. It will have an overview of the course and details about how it works from our Postgraduate Coordinator – Dr Charlie Hadjiev and then information about applying for the course from our Recruitment Coordinator – Jonny Beggs. This is a great opportunity to be informed about what the course has to offer and to ask any questions about it to our staff.

“This course is designed for leaders by leaders and offers a fresh approach to studying theology. It focuses on the needs of the Church in its mission to carry the Gospel meaningfully into communities and effectively influence society. You may be a leader in your church or organisation, in your community, part of a ministry, or at your workplace. This maybe something new to you or you may have decades of experience.

“Booking is not required but you may wish to let us know that you’re tuning in to assist with planning and register your interest in the course.”
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9030 1551 Email:
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info@belfastbiblecollege.com []
[[] https://www.belfastbiblecollege.com/ ]

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