I want to begin by saying thank you to everyone for your support over what has been another incredibly busy church year. Our church simply would not function without the time and commitment you give to the various programmes we run. I also want to pay tribute to Michelle and Heather for everything they do throughout the year. Please continue to pray for both Michelle and Heather as they try to find ways of building relationships, not only with our young people but their families as well.
Michelle Mullan & Heather Hamilton
We will begin the 2023 – 2024 church year by holding an election for up to four new elders. This is always an important moment in the life of any congregation. The role of the elder is very different to any other role in the church. The elder is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the congregation. An elder is often described as a shepherd leader. Someone who gently guides through leading by example, but one who serves by putting the welfare of the congregation first. I would encourage you to begin prayerfully considering who in the church might fit such a role. Who is faithful in prayer, who are the servants in our congregation?
On the subject of prayer and bible study, we will be changing the night of our bible study and prayer meetings. Over the last couple of years, we have been meeting on a Monday night, this will now change to a Thursday. We will use Thursdays as a time to study bible books and topics. The plan is to run a series of blocks of teaching with a gap between each block. The focus on Thursday nights will be bible study, we will then move our prayer time to every other Sunday evening which we will use as a time of Prayer & Praise. Our Sunday morning prayer time before the church service will continue as normal.
Please do give careful consideration to coming along, bible study and prayer are the basic building blocks of the Christian faith along with the opportunity they provide to build supportive Godly friendships within the church.
The new church year will bring something new as I take up the role of Convenor of the vacancy in BallywillanPresbyterian Church. This will mean I will be away from Portstewart once a month to preach in Ballywillan. Please pray for the congregation in Ballywillan as they come to terms with a vacancy and seek God’s will for the start of a new ministry and era.
2023 was a significant year in the life of our nation. After the death of her Majesty the Queen, King Charles III was officially crowned as King and Defender of the Faith. We marked this in church through the planting of a second tree in the church lawn. It was good to be able to bring the congregation together and take a photograph marking the occasion for posterity.
The big event of the last few months was the Festival of Crafts and Talents. It was wonderful to see the church filled with so many beautiful examples of art and craftwork. The presence of so much talent during worship on the Sunday added much to the service. The festival raised in excess of £2000 which was split evenly between PW mission funds and our own church finances.
Thank you to everyone who donated items to be displayed, those who set the display up and everyone who baked and served tea and coffee in the hall over the whole weekend. Your work was being talked about as far away as the General Assembly where people stopped me to say how much they had enjoyed the exhibition.
The events committee have been as busy as ever. The Northwest 200 breakfast another day of hard work, but one that was as successful as ever. This against the backdrop of the sad and sudden death of Betty Kennedy. Betty was a much loved and valued member of our congregation and of the events committee, she will be greatly missed.
Some of you may remember Bertie and Ann Hunter who were members of our congregation at one time. Bertie and Ann both emigrated to Canada in the early 60’s, Bertie from Coleraine and Ann from Ballywalter. It’s incredible to think two people from opposite ends of Northern Ireland would then meet and marry in Canada living a very happy life together there.
Eventually the call of home was too much to resist and so the pair returned home in 2005 and were valued members of our congregation for 10 years before returning to Canada because of Bertie’s poor health. Sadly, Bertie died in 2021 in Canada. It was wonderful then to be able to welcome Ann and other family members to Portstewart in May for a memorial service which allowed friends and family to pay their respects.
We had the joy of another two baptisms in our congregation. It was an honour to be able to baptise Hugo and Ottilie Stewart in June. Please continue to pray, not only for Hugo and Ottilie but for all the children and families within our congregation. As well as baptisms we also welcomed Jacob Morrow into full membership of our congregation.
Kirk Session and Committee have been extremely busy this last year. We have been grappling with understanding what our mission ought to be. Our mission is the reason we as a church exist. This might sound quite a straightforward task, but it was anything but. After much discussion and an incredibly honest look at what we have been doing this is what we have arrived at. Our mission is to be a people who worshipGod, serveour community and proclaimthe good news of Jesus Christ. We want this statement to be central to everything we do as a church. This will mean all our activities will have to incorporate some form of worship, service to the community and proclamation of the gospel. We are still working on our vision statement that will help us achieve this goal.
We held our annual Holiday Bible Club as an afterschool club at the end of June this year. This was another successful club on top of everything we’ve been doing throughout the year. Thanks, has to be given to Mrs Taylor and her staff who have made us welcome. It is a privilege, not a right, that we have the access to the school that we are allowed. The Holiday Bible club ended with a service on the Sunday, and it was such an encouragement to see children from the club along with their parents in the church.
As is the way with every church year the business of life is always marked by moments of sadness. Since my last letter we have mourned the loss of three valued family members and friends.
Betty Kennedy died on the 4th of May 2023
Alfie Ferguson died on the 4th of June 2023
Denise Sloan died on the 6th of June 2023
Please continue to pray for the life of our church and I pray that you find the summer months both relaxing and revitalising. Julia and I plan to enjoy our holidays this August and we look forward to seeing you all again in September.
Ladies, Friday 16th June 7.30-9.30 in the minor hall, we are launching Secret Sister for Portstewart Presbyterian Church..
Secret Sister is where you pledge to pray every day for a year, for another lady out of the church, though they will not know it’s you praying for them…thus SECRET sister.
This is a great opportunity for any women who attend or are connected to Portstewart Presbyterian Church, to get to know each other better, grow in their faith and have fellowship together.
On the secret sister night we will have fun, a yummy sweet supper (so come hungry) and a Fashion Me Perfect workshop, where you can learn how to work out what colours and shapes suit you best.
On that night you ll fill out a form giving your name, address, birthday (if you d like to) and prayer requests. These will be thrown into a hat and you pick one out, and that will be the lady who you will pray for. There will be a basket in the church foyer where you can leave cards or small gifts for your secret sister to encourage them through out the year. If you can make the night please let Helen Davies, HazelWalker or Wendy Porter know. If you can’t make the Friday night but would like to be part of Secret Sister, please let us know and we ll give u a form to fill out which can be included on the night.
The funeral of John McDowell which took place in Portstewart Presbyterian Church at 2pm on Monday 24th April 2022.
John was an incredibly well-known man in Portstewart, whether it was through the newsagent’s shop, his association with the local Masonic Lodge or the retailer’s association. John, born in the tram station house at the crescent before moving just across the road on Enfield Street was baptised in this church and went on to serve on our committee.
After working for a short time as a teacher, John really became part of the beating heart of the community in Portstewart when he and Maureen took over Maureen’s father’s shop McIntyres. John was a keenly involved in amateur dramatics, an excellent singer and accomplished tap dancer.
John is survived by his wife Maureen and sons Colin, Alan, Owen and David as well as his grandchildren Josh, Lucy, Katie, Michael, Cory, Oliver, Ellen, Ross, Harry, Anna and James and greatgrandchildren Helena and Max.
We live in a world that is constantly changing, and for Christians we can be left wondering where we fit into this new reality. The book of Daniel helps us come to terms with a new culture and still remain faithful to God.
It was a special St Patricks Day 2023 for one member of Portstewart Presbyterian Church. Nan Hayes was delighted to receive a 100th Birthday Card from the King.
Born on the 17th March 1923, Nan has been a Portstewart girl all her life. She was from good farming stock, learning from an early age what it meant to work hard on the family farm. Nan enjoyed those farming days.
It’s incredible to imagine the changes Nan has witnessed over her 100 years. Even this method of congratulating and celebrating her 100 years was unthinkable until recently.
One thing that hasn’t changed over Nan’s 100 years is her faith. She remains very much a woman of faith in Jesus Christ. One of the highlights of the year is the visit to celebrate home communion with her.
Nan, thank you for your wisdom, your laughter and your prayers and many happy returns on such an incredible birthday.
Every Sunday we send Bertie the Bookworm home with a treasure hunter to read and learn whatever story our treasure hunters have been learning. These are the photographs of his adventures.
Mervyn was never one to be left out
Mervyn Get’s in on the actionMervyn’s big day out Mervyn Belted Up I like bananas
Easter is almost upon us a time to switch off and hopefully enjoy some early spring sunshine with the family. Is that all Easter is? Another holiday, another opportunity to do something different?
At Portstewart Presbyterian Church Easter is about much more. Easter is a celebration of all that Jesus has done for us through his life, death and resurrection. Why not join us to hear and experience the Easter Story through our special services.
Just before the school holidays we welcomed the children of Portstewart Primary School into our halls for a special telling of the Easter story using the senses. Read more here
The theme for our Easter Services is Confidence, hope and power. On Palm Sunday we will think about the confidence we have in Jesus as our King and High Priest. When the children come into the service after Treasure Hunters we will have a special sensory telling of the Palm Sunday story.
On Good Fridaythe annual churches walk of witness begins at 11:00 am in the Harbour Hill Carpark. This is a wonderful opportunity to walk through the promenade stopping occasionally to hear the story of Jesus passion and death. Then at 7:30 in the church we will have our annual Good Friday Service. The sensory theme to Easter continues in this service as we celebrate Communion together.
It’s an early start on Easter Sunday as we meet on the Harbour Hill at 6:00am for the annual Dawn service before going to Burnside Presbyterian Church for a hearty breakfast.
At 10:30 our Easter Sunday Service will be a packed celebration of new life and resurrection power. The praise group will sing for us, girls from our GB will also sing King of Kings and we will will celebrate the sacrament of Baptism. A packed service full of life and joy and all the while our treasure hunters will still be available for any child of primary school age.
Come along to some or all and celebrate the story of Jesus wonderful grace offered to all.
As part of our Easter Celebrations in Portstewart Presbyterian Church we welcomed the boys and girls from Portstewart Primary School into our halls to not only hear, but experience the Easter Story.
Children from Portstewart Primary School
The children were able to see and hold palm branches as they heard the story of Jesus triumphant entry into Jeruslaem told through video and story telling. Some children had their feet washed as the story moved on to the upper room and that incredible moment when Jesus stooped to wash his disciples feet.
A table was set, complete with bread and juice, which was broken and poured out for the children to enjoy as they heard about that last supper Jesus enjoyed with his disciples.
As the story took a more sinister turn some of the children drunk from a cup of vinegar as we tried to understand Jesus prayer in Gethsemane, Father if this cup can be taken from me, before the story moved onto his arrest and crucifixion. A rope to be tied up with, nails and hammer to handle, a crown of thorns to be worn all helped us understand the sacrifice Jesus made for each one of us.
Just as the temple curtain was torn in two at the point of Jesus death, so the curtain on our stage opened, revealing the glory of God in all of it’s fullness. The barrier between sinful man and holy God forever removed.
At Jesus tomb we had the opportunity to roll back the stone and look inside. The only thing to be found, folded grave clothes and the announcement, He is not here, he has risen.
Thank you to all the children and staff in Portstewart Primary School for helping to make the Easter Story come to life.
This Sunday (5th of March 2023) we begin a new Sunday morning series thinking about the grace of giving. The offering, in all of its forms; Free Will Offering, Building Fund, United Appeal as well as other special appeals, is an integral part of our worship.
God has freely given to us, our response is to freely give in return, to the work of the church as well as improving the conditions of our fellow man.
In this series we will talk about the vision of our church. What is it we are being asked to give to and for what purpose.
The series will begin with Stuart setting out the vision for the work of the church and how we as a congregation can get involved in turning that vision into a reality.
Martin Hampton, convenor of the United Appeal Panel will come and speak to us on Sunday 12th March about the work and importance of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s United Appeal.
This series will not be just another appeal for money, or an urging for the congregation to give more. The generosity of the congregation has already been recognised in how it has given to the United Appeal, World Development Appeal and the Moderator’s Appeal for Ukraine. Rather this series will aim to help us understand the place of our giving in the context of our worship of God.
Why not come along and find out more about how we can partner in the work of the church at home and abroad over the next 4 Sundays at 10:30 am.
Commitment really is something that Noel Lyttle takes seriously. Not only is Noel one of the longest serving elders in Portstewart Presbyterian Church, but he has also been coaching junior football with Coleraine FC since 2007 and was honoured by the club on St Valentines night of all nights, marking his final season with the U14’s as he plans to retire at the end of the season aged 86.
Noel (Back row centre) with his U14 team
Noel was born on Christmas Day 1936 in the City Side of Londonderry. He attended Ebrington Public Elementary school and played on the school football team, but was only able to take part in friendly games as there was no football leagues. Noel’s footballing career was briefly interrupted when he moved to Foyle College. This was a rugby playing grammar school, football was not allowed.
During those years Noel played for Boys Brigade but again this was limited to friendly matches with other BB Companies.
At 17 ½ he went to Stranmillis teacher training College and played for their team (Kings Scholar) In division 2 of the Northern Ireland Amateur League. Unfortunately this is where his footballing playing days ended as he suffered a foot injury which required surgery meaning he could never play in the league again.
He graduated and returned to Londonderry where he taught at 21 years old in Clondermott Secondary School, there at 21 years old he was given his first team to coach. In 1959 he became Secretary of Londonderry Schools Football Association and held that office for 14 years. They developed a league which started with 6 schools and ended up with 25/26 schools involving both primary and secondary level. He was nominated from Londonderry School FA to represent them at the Council of Northern Ireland Schools Football association. Travelled for over 40 years once a month to Belfast for meetings. During that time he was 1 year Chairman and 24 years treasurer of NISFA. He was one of three delegates from NISFA who represented Northern Ireland at British Schools Football Association. He did this for 23/24 years. During those years he did one year as Chairman of British Schools FA and one year as President of European Schools FA.
Also during this time was Principle of Primary Schools Carlisle Road Londonderry, then Broughshane and finally Portstewart Primary School. He coached school football teams in each school until he retired in June 1998.
He went back to coaching football when his grandson James was 5 in approximately 2007 at Coleraine FC (Irish League Club). They started football academy and he got his IFA Coaching certificate. Noel now is 86 years old and is one of four coaches for Coleraine`s Under 14s alongside Stevie McCann, James Watters and James Mulholland
Well done Noel on a life of commitment and service in your community and congratulations on becoming a life member of Coleraine Football Club.
