The PCI Family Holiday takes place in the week immediately following the Easter weekend each year. It offers something for everyone. Families who come along can expect a time to relax, a range of activities and the opportunity to make new friends. Over the years, many families have found the holiday to be a place in which they can spend time away together and enjoy fellowship, support and encouragement.
It offers something for everyone. Families who come along can expect a time to relax, a range of activities to enjoy together and the opportunity to make new friends.
Accommodation is provided in Castlewellan Castle in a variety of rooms suitable for families of all sizes and all meals are included.
“We’re just home from Family Holiday and it was brilliant!” “We spent four days with new friends, listening to God’s Word and praising him together.”
You can also find out more about the Family Holiday by contacting the Congregational Life and Witness department by telephone +44 (0)28 9041 7246 or email clw@presbyterianireland.org
The Family Holiday 2024 will take place from Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 April 2024.
Funding for this holiday is available the Presbyterian Children’s society.
The Youth Fellowship meets tonight. This is an important opportunity for our young people to spend time reading and discussing the word of God to discover how it applies to their lives. Please pray for our young people, pray that they would mature in their relationship with God.
Monday 27th November
Several of the ladies in our congregation meet each Monday for coffee. Pray for all the relationships within our church. Pray that we would become a family, brothers, and sisters in the Lord.
Tuesday 28th November
The congregational committee meet tonight. Give thanks to God for our committee and pray for them as they seek to be good stewards of our buildings and finances.
Wednesday 29th November
Poverty continues to be a blight on our society. An increasing number of holiday homes within Portstewart create a pressure on housing for families living in the area. A higher-than-average proportion of pupils in the primary school require free school meals. Pray that we as a church would learn how to best respond to the needs in our community.
Thursday 30th November
This evening is the last night of our bible study on the life of Elijah. Thank God for the opportunities we have to read his word together, and to talk about what that means and how it applies to our lives. Pray that we as a church would be able to find ways of creating opportunities for others in our community to read the word of God.
Friday 1st December
Treasure Hunters continues Sunday by Sunday. Give thanks to God for Wendy Porter and her team of helpers who provide a valuable environment for children to hear the stories of the bible, some for the first time. Pray that God would use these stories to reveal himself to our children and their families.
Saturday 2nd December
Michelle continues to run our youth clubs on a Saturday night. Pray for Michelle as she connects with the young people but also that she would be able to build relationships with their families.
This morning we welcome Christine Craig, a ministry student, to our church. Pray for Christine, not only as she leads worship but as she studies and prepares for ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Pray also for Thomas Black who continues his placement with us and takes part in today’s service.
Monday 20th November
This morning Michelle will be taking the nursery – primary 4 assembly in the school. Pray for Michelle, the children, teachers and all who work in the school. Pray that the current planned industrial action can be resolved and that children will not be adversely impacted.
Tuesday 21st November
Kirk Session is meeting tonight. Pray for our Kirk Session as they seek to give leadership and provide pastoral care within our congregation. Thank God for each elder and continue to pray for Helen, Samantha, and Julie as they prepare for the congregational meeting and vote on Sunday.
Wednesday 22nd November
We continue to be blessed with more children being born in our congregation. Thank God for Allistair and Samantha Nicholl’s baby daughter Esme Poppy who was born on the 5th of November. Pray for Esme, Samantha, Alistair, and Riley. Ask God’s blessing and protection over them.
Thursday 23rd November
Our community coffee time continues today between 2 and 4 pm. Pray for all who make this happen and for the people who come in and use it. Ask God that this would be a time when new friendships are formed.
Friday 24th November
Stuart and Joe continue to visit those who are sick and bereaved as well as routine pastoral visits. Pray for Stuart and Joe. Pray that their visiting would bring comfort and encouragement. Above all pray that God would be honoured and glorified through those visits.
Saturday 25th November
Another busy church week ends with the Blaze and Chill youth clubs. Pray for the children and young people who come along to both these clubs. Pray that among the fun and games they would see something of the love and grace of God.
Thomas Black is a candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thomas will be joining us for a short placement as part of his application process. Please pray for Thomas.
Thank you for taking the time to pray with us this week.
Sunday 12th November
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 kjv) This morning we give thanks to God for the sacrifices of so many in the defence of freedom and justice. Pray for the families of all those who mourn the loss of loved ones because of man’s inhumanity to man.
Monday 13th November
This afternoon our after schools’ clubs meet in Portstewart Primary School. Pray for this important work among the children attending the local primary school. Pray for the school, teaching and non-teaching staff. Pray also for the children and their families that they would know how much they are loved and valued by us as a church, but also by God their creator and Jesus their saviour.
Tuesday 14th November
PW meets tonight. Give thanks to God for this important ministry among the ladies of our congregation. Thank God for all the women who do so much to ensure the life and witness of this church is maintained.
Wednesday 15th November
Last week our GB packed over 20 shoeboxes. Thank God for all the boxes that will be sent not just from this congregation but from across to the church to families who have little in comparison to us. Thank God for the real expressions of joy on so many children’s faces when these gifts are handed out.
Thursday 16th November
Our world continues to tumble further and further into turmoil. Pray for the many places where suffering seems to reign, and misery dictates how people live their lives. Thank God for his sovereignty and the promise that he will bring all suffering to an end. Pray for that day to come.
Friday 17th November
Stuart is convenor for Ballywillan while they are vacant. Pray for Ballywillan, and the many other vacant congregations across our denomination. Pray for especially for those congregations who are enduring or facing long vacancies.
Saturday 18th November
Joe Fell continues to faithfully visit in our congregation. Thank God for Joe, pray for him as he ministers among us. Pray also as he does this while facing illness within his own family.
Each Sunday morning we publish a prayer diary which is designed to help us pray more regularly throughout the week. We would be delighted for as many people as possible to join us in prayer.
Sunday 5th November
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19 nlt) Take time this morning as we come to the Lord’s table to remember what he has done for each of us, as individuals and a collective.
Monday 6th November
As the weather turns colder and people begin to make decisions as to whether they can afford to heat their homes, pray that our society would become fairer. Pray for our local economy remembering Jeremiah’s words to the exiles, that if Babylon prospers, they will prosper.
Tuesday 7th November
This evening there is a special meeting of Presbytery to discuss how the Presbyterian Church in Ireland responds to the fact it cannot provide ministry in the way it always has to many of our congregations. Pray for wisdom and sensitivity in these discussions. Pray also for those congregations who have been vacant for a long time and have little prospect of calling a minister of their own.
Wednesday 8th November
At the time of writing the events in Gazza and Israel show little signs of improving with more and more civilians caught up in the fighting on both sides of the war. It’s hard to believe this is a land where Jesus demonstrated so much love and compassion. Pray for all who have been caught up in the fighting, pray for the day when God finally beats the swords into ploughshares, breaks the shield and burns the spear.
Thursday 9th November
Robin Gawne, our treasurer, has been reporting an improving picture for the church finances, however the church still operates at a significant deficit. Pray for our finances, pray that God would provide not just for the church to keep going, but for the means that we would be able to continue to reach our community for Christ.
Friday 10th November
Thomas Black is a candidate for the ministry from 1st Coleraine. Thomas will be joining us for a four-week placement on Sunday as part of his application process. Pray for Thomas, pray that he would know God’s blessing and presence, but also that he would know God’s leading as he continues to explore God’s call on his life.
Saturday 11th November
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent. Thank God for the ending of wars, pray for those who still suffer the effects of war, and pray for those who have been caught up in war.
In my last letter I paid tribute to the work Michelle and Heather have been doing amongst families and young people in our church and wider community. It is with regret that we have had to say goodbye to Heather, not from the church, but from her role as youth and family worker. Heather has started a new position as events co-ordinator at Trinity Care Home in Garvagh. While we must learn how to cope without Heather, I have no doubt that Trinity will be blessed as she brings her own unique brand of humour and inventiveness to this new role. Thank you for all you have done Heather.
Another big moment in the life of our church has been the completion of the first stage in our election of elders. As a church we sought permission from Presbytery to elect up to four new ruling elders. I am delighted to be able to confirm that that the names of Helen Davies, Samantha McPeak and Julie Watters will be put to the congregation on Sunday 26th November at our congregational meeting. Please do pray for Helen, Samantha and Julie as they put themselves forward and hopefully undergo training prior to being ordained sometime in the new year.
It was a blessing to be part of the baptism of Alice Pollock, daughter of Jason and Rachel Pollock, on Sunday 8th October. Please continue to pray not only for Alice but for all our children and young people.
As well as celebrating Alice’s baptism we also gave thanks to God for the harvest. Thank you to everyone who used this as an opportunity to make donations to the foodbank. We were also able to give flowers and other produce to some of our own families who for one reason or another have had a challenging year. I know your generosity and kindness have been much appreciated.
In what has been a busy start to the church year we enrolled our GB company on Sunday the 22ndof October. GB is an important part of the life and ministry of our church. We have just over 60 girls registered to our company and over 50 of them, along with their families, were in church for the enrolment service. In a world and at a time when the church laments how attendance has dropped over the years, it’s good that we can welcome so many people from our community into our buildings and to be part of our worship.
So much of the work being done with children and young families is not seen Sunday by Sunday, however we should be aware that there is a lot of work bring carried out. Across GB, youth club, the after-school clubs, our mums and tots and treasure hunters, we are working with 150 different children on a weekly basis. As you can imagine this is a big undertaking and so we would ask you to consider how you could help. We are always looking for people who can volunteer, but we also need people who will commit to praying for our young people, leaders and the work that is being carried out.
Our bible study on a Thursday night has been well supported this year. We’ve just finished a six-week course on the book of Colossians and are about to start a 5-week study on the life of Elijah which will run every Thursday throughout November.
Our new Prayer and Praise on the first and thirdSunday of the month has also been encouraging. It’s been wonderful to see the Centenary Room so well filled that we’ve struggled to fit everyone in.
If you’ve never been to a bible study or a prayer time before, why not consider coming along. It’s been wonderful to see so many new faces, and some older ones who haven’t been in a while, coming on a Thursday and Sunday. These evenings are a great opportunity to get to know people a little bit better as well as growing in our faith.
The busyness of church life keeps on going. The next significant date in our church diary will be our communion season. Pre-Communion will be on Friday3rd November with communion on Sunday 5thmorning and evening. This year we will be welcoming some new communicant members into our congregation. Martha Hall will come into full membership by confession of faith, and we also welcome Ronnie and WinnieCrooks as well as Kerry McCammond by means of transfer. Ronnie and Winnie come to us from Wellington Presbyterian while Kerry comes from 1st Antrim. I’m sure you will join me in wishing God’s richest blessing on each of our new members as we look forward to how they enrich us as a congregation.
This year the Remembrance Day parade comes to our church. We will be welcoming representatives from the Royal British Legion and of course the various uniformed organisations.
What has been a busy and celebratory start to the church year has also been marked by moments of intense sadness. On Thursday 12th October Eilen Linton died after a long battle against illness. Her funeral was from our church on Sunday 15th October. Please pray for Eileen’s husband, Albert, as well as the wider family circle.
I want to thank you for your continued support and prayers. I very much look forward to Sunday mornings, as we worship together. There is something special and unique about God’s people gathering in worship, so much so I want to leave you with this encouragement from the book of Hebrews: not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25) My prayer is that we will continue to be an encouragement to one another by meeting with one another as we meet with the Lord week by week.
Each Sunday morning we publish a prayer diary which is designed to help us pray more regularly throughout the week. We would be delighted for as many people as possible to join us in prayer.
Sunday 29th October
Our Kirk Session meeting last Tuesday was a joint meeting with Burnside as heard a presentation from an organisation called Safe Families. We heard about the need for churches to be a source of support and friendship to families who are finding life difficult for various reasons. Please pray for families in our community. Pray for unity and continued togetherness.
Monday 30th October
This evening Stuart is meeting a candidate for the ministry who will be taking part in a short placement within our congregation. Currently it is estimated that our church has a short fall of 70 ministers. Pray for ministry within our church, pray also for vacant congregations who endure long vacancies because of this shortfall.
Tuesday 31st October
Today is Halloween, a time when ghosts and ghouls are seen as harmless fun. Yet there is an evil reality that ought not to be meddled with. Pray especially for the protection of our children, ask that they would be filled by everything that is good, holy and righteous. That they would celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit and shun all that is evil.
Wednesday 1st November
There are many in our congregation who are unable to get to church as they once did. With this comes a sense of loneliness and isolation. Take time to pray for some of the people we no longer see Sunday by Sunday. Why not also take time to visit with them and remind them that they are still loved and part of our church family.
Thursday 2nd November
Tonight, we begin a new 5-week course on the life of Elijah. Pray that as we take time to study and think about God’s word that we would see more clearly just what Jesus Christ has done for us. Pray that our faith would be strengthened and so we would be better equipped to share the gospel with friends and neighbours.
Friday 3rd November
Schools have been on half term holidays. Pray that both teachers and children will have been refreshed. Pray especially for p7 children who will be making final preparations for the transfer tests. Ask that they will know God’s peace and presence as that day approaches.
Saturday 4th November
Pray for the local churches in Portstewart. Pray especially for the Baptist as they welcome a new outreach pastor onto their team. Pray that as he meets other ministers and church workers that there would be a sense of unity of spirit and purpose for the gospel being shared in our town.
A call to prayer for Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Every day we are witnessing deeply harrowing images on the news and social media of the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, with the number of people being killed or injured growing fast, and a danger of the conflict escalating more widely.
As Moderator, I am writing to ask that on this coming Sunday, 22nd October and in the week ahead you encourage the members of your congregation to pray earnestly for this unfolding crisis.
The Scriptures remind us, when faced with times of great distress and confusion and as we struggle to grasp divine perspective, that we should pour out our hearts to God in lament (Psalm 62 v 8) whilst still resting in the assurance of his sovereignty and providence. So, as we lift up in prayer the land of our Lord’s birth and the communities he once walked amongst, let us remember that Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, who performed so many miracles long ago, is still able today to do immeasurably more than all we ask for or imagine. (Ephesians 3 v 20).
Please pray specifically:
For the Lord Jesus Christ to intervene in his Sovereign grace and mercy
For an end to the conflict and the safe release and return of hostages
For peacemakers to be raised up and leaders of communities and nations to be brought together in negotiation
For the grieving and heart-broken to know God’s comfort
For the traumatised and injured to receive timely, medical treatment and support.
For humanitarian relief to reach the displaced and most vulnerable, many who have lost everything, that they would know God’s protection and provision.
I know this unfolding crisis is already in your thoughts and prayers, and simply want to underline the importance of keeping the matter before your congregation this Sunday and beyond.
Each Sunday morning we publish a prayer diary which is designed to help us pray more regularly throughout the week. We would be delighted for as many people as possible to join us in prayer.
Sunday 22nd October
This morning we read the names of Helen Davies, Samantha McPeak and Julie Watters for the second Sunday as we continue the process of electing new elders. Please pray for Helen, Samantha and Julie as they have allowed their names to become part of a very public process. Pray they would know God’s blessing and presence in the coming days and weeks.
Monday 23rd October
Can these bones live? (Ezekiel 37:3) When Ezekiel was presented with the valley of dry bones, he was asked Can these bones live? As part of the process of bringing the bones to life God told Ezekiel to Prophesy, to speak God’s word to the bones. Take time this morning to remind yourself of God’s word to us, the church today. Read Colossians 3: 1-17 and pray that God would lift our eyes to Christ and everything he has done for us.
Tuesday 24th October
Kirk Session is meeting tonight along with Burnside elders to hear a presentation from an organisation called Safe Families Safe families aims to help families who are in crisis for one reason or another. Pray for both Kirk Sessions, pray for the families in our community who find themselves in a difficult situation and pray that we as a combined Presbyterian witness would make a difference in our community.
Wednesday 25th October
On Sunday morning we welcomed our Girls Brigade into the church for their enrolment service. Thank God for the girls, the leaders, officers and captain of the GB. Pray that the GB would be a place where girls find friendships, love and above all that it would be a place where they see the love and faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ.
Thursday 26th October
Karen Elliot sends birthday cards to every child connected to the church, be that through baptism, Treasure Hunters, GB, Youth Club or the schools club. Thank God for Karen and this important work. Thank God also for the approximately 100 children that we as a church have weekly contact with. Pray that God would bless this work and that it would become a stepping stone to bring more families into our church family and faith in Jesus Christ.
Friday 27th October
The congregations of Moneydig and Second Kilrea where Stuart was minister are still vacant almost 2 and a half years since he moved to Portstewart. This is a story repeated many times over throughout our denomination. Pray for Moneydig and Second Kilrea, pray also regarding the difficulty are church has in finding new ministers and for the new ways it is trying to find to provide stable ministry for many small congregations.
Saturday 28th October
Blaze and Chill (Youth Clubs) meet tonight. Thank God for the work Michelle is doing among our young people. Pray that as she adjusts to working on her own over these next weeks that she would know encouragement and support from us as a congregation, but also that she would be encouraged through the work she is carrying out.
