NEWS BRIEFS

Patrick: A celebration of Ireland’s patron saint

With members of New Irish Choir and Orchestra on Saturday 7th March, 7:30PM in 1st Ards Presbyterian Church. Tickets: Adults £12 | Under 12 years £5

For more information or to buy tickets phone 07933092400, email [ office@firstards.org.uk ], visit [ www.firstards.org.uk ]or call into Ards Evangelical Bookshop.

Café Church at Glencraig

The rector of Glencraig, Revd Catherine Simpson, has introduced a new Café Church style service on Sunday evenings.

‘SIX THIRTY’ is an informal gathering in the church hall and has become a space to make connections with God and one another.

Catherine says: “We started SIX THIRTY as an outreach to people who have little or no Church connection, or who don’t relate to traditional expressions of church. What we have discovered is that Café Church appeals to every generation and background.

The feedback has been positive. Folk who come along have described it as a ‘non–threatening environment’ where they experience space to hear from God, good Bible teaching and encouragement to live out their faith.

Catherine (above) continues: “It’s an ideal space for those who have done an Alpha course and are keen to continue their faith journey or for those exploring what faith is all about and wanting to reconnect with the local church. It has also been a great place to foster community within the parish and new friendships have been formed within the church family as people worship and serve together.

“We’ve been running for nearly four months and each week we’re welcoming new faces but there is always room for more!”
Format

From 6.15 pm people are offered coffee/tea and treats, with praise from 6.30 pm, an interactive talk and opportunities for prayer ministry. For younger worshippers there is a craft and activity table to match the theme of the evening.

SIX THIRTY Café Church is on every Sunday evening from 6.15 pm apart from the first Sunday in the month which is a service of Evening Prayer. The next SIX THIRTY is on 8 March.

Divine Mercy Conference packs RDS

The RDS was packed with people of all ages last weekend for the Divine Mercy Conference.

The three-day event is in its 29th year and ran under the theme ‘Deliver us from evil’.

This was spoken about extensively by guest speakers which included Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, Fr Peter Glas, Fr Pat Collins, Maria Steen from the Iona Institute and Fr Brendan Walsh SCA.

Around 3,500 people attended on the Saturday. There were stalls at the event from religious orders, pro-life groups, Catholic publications, pilgrimage groups and many more.

New priest-in-charge in Greenisland

The Rev Jacqueline Mould was introduced as priest-in-charge of Greenisland Parish at a service in the Church of the Holy Name on Tuesday February 25.

Jacqueline is pictured with the Ven George Davison, Archdeacon of Belfast and Bishop-elect of Connor, the Rev Brian Lacey, Rural Dean of North Belfast, and the Rev Canon Tom Keightley, former rector of Belvoir Parish, who was the guest preacher.

The church was packed with well-wishers from both Greenisland and Belvoir, and also from Templepatrick and Donegore, where Jacqueline’s husband, the Rev Jeremy Mould, is rector.

Hillsborough Day of Prayer & Fasting

Hillsborough Parish held a Day of Prayer & Fasting on Ash Wednesday to mark the start of Lent and as part of a special focus on drawing closer to God.

Some 117 parishioners signed up for a 30 minute prayer slot and took it in turn to pray between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. The church was open from seven in the morning and people could pray there, at home or wherever they felt comfortable. They were supplied with prayer points prepared by the Ministry Team and those praying were so intent in covering all the points that most went well beyond their allocated prayer slot!

At 7.30 pm, the Rector, Canon Bryan Follis, conducted a BCP Penitential Service and at 9.00 pm – for those preferring something more informal – he led a time of prayer. This developed into a Prayer Walk and about 20 parishioners walked Main Street and prayed at various points for the wider Hillsborough community and the church’s mission to it.

Seven decades of choir service recognised

Audrey Anderson has been a faithful member of the choir at St Colmanell’s Parish Church, Ahoghill, for an amazing 70 years!

At the All Age Service on Sunday February 23, Audrey was presented with a gift from the choir, led by Michael Ashcroft, and a bouquet of flowers, presented by the Brownies and Rainbows, on behalf of the wider church family. Also in the picture is the rector of Ahoghill and Portglenone, the Rev Dennis Christie.

God in creation