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New venue for Divine Healing Ministries services in Belfast

On Thursday 22nd October 7.30pm at St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland, Ballymacarrett, 212 Newtownards Road, BT4 1GW, we have our first public “in-person” healing service at this new venue for DHM. Br David Jardine will be bringing a message of hope and healing for these times in this beautiful church which was his first parish after ordination. We thank the rector of St. Patrick’s Rev. John Cunningham for the warm welcome and encouragement for these weekly interdenominational healing services; as we have gathered there as a DHM team, there has been a tangible experience of the Lord’s guiding and of being “on holy ground”.

Thank you to all who have already responded and indicated that you plan to attend. There is plenty of space within St. Patrick’s to allow for social distancing and as yet we do not require pre-registering for the service. Among the safety protocols in place, there will also be a track and trace registration as you arrive. Please be at peace if you are unable to attend St. Patrick’s in person; your covering prayer from your home will be powerfully used by the Lord. The services will be live streamed on the Divine Healing Ministries Facebook page.

For those who are attending, we are following the necessary protocols to ensure everyone will be as safe as possible. The rector will also help us in following the clear protocols already in place at the church.

We want to ensure that you and everyone else attending in person enjoys the experience whilst staying safe, so we are putting a number of safeguards in place to minimise the risk of spreading any germs.

All our services will be socially distanced with plenty of available space within St. Patrick’s Church.

Your contact details will be held for track and trace purposes for 21 days.
We will provide hand sanitisers on entry into the building and temperature readings will be checked on arrival. Please be aware that if your temperature is over 37.8C, we cannot allow you to attend the service.

Face masks that cover your nose and mouth will be required for everyone attending the service, unless medically exempt. Please provide your own mask.
If you, or a member of your household are feeling in any way unwell, you should not attend. Also, if you have been in recent contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid 19 please do not come to the service unless you have either tested negative or completed the recommend period for self isolation.
There will be a one-way system in operation.

Doors will open 40 minutes before the service starts.

Singing quietly during the service will be permitted for those wearing masks.
Whilst toilet facilities will be available, we ask that they are only used if necessary, adhering to the guidelines whilst doing so, including using sanitiser before entering and maintaining social distancing while queueing.

St. Patrick’s Ballymacarrett is very accessible with a good size car park at the church and we also have permission to use the car park of the Elim church right beside St Patrick’s should we require an overflow.

Upcoming Schedule

7.30pm Thursday 22nd October – Healing service at St. Patrick’s, Ballymacarrett;
Speaker: Br. David Jardine

7.30pm Friday 23rd October – Facebook Livestream Prayer Ministry with Valerie Murray and Pat Hutchinson

7.30pm Monday 26th October – Facebook Livestream

7.30pm Thursday 29th October – Healing service at St. Patrick’s, Ballymacarrett;
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Rodgers (Pastor of Kingsway Church)

New CD Choir of New College Oxford

Yesterday Media Vita released a new CD by the Choir of New College Oxford conducted by Robert Quinney. Excitingly, several premiere recordings of works by the English Renaissance composer John Sheppard are included, alongside his most celebrated work. Incredibly New College Choir was already 150 years old when Sheppard arrived in Oxford intent on contributing to the wealth of choral polyphony that defined the era.

► Buy CD, download or stream: [ https://lnk.to/Sheppard_Media_vitaFA ]

 C of I Standing Committee agrees a remote meeting of the General Synod of 2020

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met in an online format on Wednesday, 14th October 2020.

The Archbishop of Armagh congratulated the Revd Malcolm Kingston (Photo above) on attending his first meeting of Standing Committee as an Honorary Secretary. Mr Kingston opened with a reading of Psalm 97 and in prayer, asking for God’s guidance for those in political leadership, strength and sound judgment for health professionals, and the protection of vulnerable people, and that the Church’s members would be messengers of hope and peace at this time.

The Assessor summarised the current legal position in relation to meetings of General Synod. The Constitution of the Church of Ireland requires that General Synod will meet in such place as determined by Standing Committee.

The limitations on public meetings, as part of public health restrictions in each jurisdiction on the island, had therefore initially meant that it was not lawfully possible for General Synod to meet this year. Subsequently, the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020, enacted by the Oireachtas, has permitted the holding of meetings – in an electronic format – of governing bodies of charities registered in the Republic of Ireland, provided that the platform allows members to hear the proceedings of the meeting and to speak at the meeting.

Standing Committee approved the following resolution: ‘That the Standing Committee authorises the Honorary Secretaries to arrange a remote meeting of the General Synod of 2020, whereby members are able to participate by means of electronic communications technology in such meeting, to be held on 1st, 2nd, and, if necessary, 3rd, of December, and further authorises the Honorary Secretaries to propose the hours for the General Synod for each day and to conclude any necessary contractual arrangements for the holding of such remote meeting.’

Northern Ireland happiest place to live in the UK

Northern Ireland has overtaken the South West of England as happiest place to live according to a Lloyds Bank survey.

London retains place as UK’s unhappiest place to live
Wales rockets from 11th to 4th place; North East drops from 1st to 11th
Women overtake men as the happier sex

Northern Ireland has come top of the Lloyds Bank Happiness Index, with a score of 52.5, overtaking last year’s title holders, the South West of England, with the cheerful winners becoming even happier following the national lockdown earlier this year.

The Index, now in its second year, is a nationwide annual survey of over 5,000 people, which asks how happy or unhappy people are in their local communities, creating a barometer ranging between -100 (very unhappy) to +100 (very happy). Following an initial survey in March, questions were asked again following lockdown, to understand the extent to which the UK-wide restrictions changed how people feel.

Despite the pandemic, Northern Ireland has improved its happiness score through-out the year, up 5.9 points in June compared to March. Across the UK, happiness dropped slightly, on average, in the 12 months up to March 2020 (42.6 vs 42.5), but recovered to levels slightly above that of the previous year, of 42.9.

Pointers to Prayer

Today we pray for families trapped in Helmand. Civilians are caught up in fighting between government forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan’s southern province and up to 35,000 have already fled their homes.

We pray for all those suffering from COVID-19 at this time, and especially today for those struggling with mental illness in isolation.

Today we pray for cities across Nigeria. Demonstrations against police brutality have escalated in response to attacks on protesters by unidentified men with machetes. We pray for a just peace in Nigeria and an end to police violence worldwide.

Please pray for Church Army key workers who are involved in distributing food and supplies; that they will have new opportunities to make connections with the people who visit.

The Lord bless us and keep us, the Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us, the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us and give us peace. Amen.

 God in creation