The Ulster Defence Regiment was raised in 1970 and played a vital role in the fight against terrorism. This came at a heavy cost; 197 soldiers were killed and a further 58 killed after leaving the regiment.
These deaths resulted in 120 wives widowed; 2 husbands lost wives; 158 children lost a father; 1 child lost her mother.
The local battalion was 5 UDR based in several locations in County Londonderry. 5 UDR lost 27 soldiers while serving, this included William Gordon who was killed alongside his 7-year-old daughter Lesley when a bomb exploded under their car.
13 soldiers were killed after leaving 5 UDR.
On 1st of October at Portstewart War Memorial a plaque honouring the memory of Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers killed will be unveiled and dedicated at 3:00 pm.
1n 1992 the Ulster Defence Regiment merged with The Royal Irish Rangers to form the Royal Irish Regiment. Thus, ending 22 years of active service.
A thought from Stuart
Scripture tells us very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die (Romans 5:7). I don’t know if we would dare to call ourselves good people, but certainly those who gave their lives so valiantly considered their cause to be a good cause. It is right that we show our gratitude, remembering such sacrifices.
The very next verse in Romans 5 goes on to tell us But God proved his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… (Romans 5:8) Jesus Christ showed the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate expression of love when he died knowing we are not good, yet he deemed us worthy.
The sacrifice of brave soldiers throughout history, and through every conflict unfortunately had to be repeated over and over again in order for freedoms to be won and secured, and even today we cannot take those freedoms for granted as war again rages in Europe.
Yet Jesus sacrifice is a once and for all sacrifice, a sacrifice which achieves all its goals, a sacrifice that guarantees our freedom in God, if only we would accept it.
As we rightly remember the sacrifices of the brave at the war memorial, how will we remember the sacrifice of the only righteous one, Jesus Christ? Jesus told us how we are to remember. The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent. (John 6:29)
One of the questions asked of the church most often over the last 18 months has been, when will your mums and tots reopen? We are now delighted to be able to say that the answer to that question is Wednesday 14th September at 10 am.
Delighted to Announce
As if this wasn’t enough good news, we are also delighted to announce that we will be forming a partnership with our local primary school. This exciting new partnership will see the church linking with the school enabling parents to see inside and meet some of the staff, while the children will enjoy story times, as well as becoming familiar with some of the faces who may well become their teachers in the very near future.
Serving the local community
Mrs Taylor, principal of the primary school spoke of her excitement at the church and school linking in this way “It’s important that our local mums and dads along with their children get to see there is something special about their primary school.” Mrs Taylor went on to talk about the importance of the primary school serving the local community.
It’s important that our local mums and dads along with their children get to see there is something special about their primary school.
Mrs Taylor, principal of the primary school
Why not come along ?
If you have children of pre-school age, if you’re wondering how you will entertain them this incoming year, why not come along to the Mums and Tots in Portstewart Presbyterian Church Halls, we’d love to see you.
Very few families are not impacted in some way by cancer.
When it came to the ‘door’ for Ian Harbinson and Julie Peake-at different times, it impacted their lives massively. Ian went through surgery and treatment for a pancreatic tumour and Julie faced likewise for breast cancer. Both had been in ministry, Ian as a PCI minister and Julie as a deaconess with PCI.
“give us this day, our daily bread”
Matthew ch 6
Together they felt God’s direction to support others on a cancer journey, and jointly formed Semeron Cancer Support. Semeron is the Greek word used by Jesus in the original New Testament for ‘this day’ in Matthew ch 6 -“give us this day, our daily bread”.
Many cancer sufferers come to new appreciation of the worth of ‘this day’ which God has given. As Christians we want to live fully for God in ‘this day’ and share His grace and the hope He alone can give.
Open to all – Saturday 17th September.
On Saturday 17th September, Semeron is holding an event for cancer sufferers and their loved ones at Lodge Hotel Coleraine with guest speaker Hazel Reid, who is a chaplain at Causeway Hospital and has been impacted by cancer in her immediate family.
It is open to all, and begins at 10AM running until 12noon.
To help with arrangements and catering please confirm you plan to come either through registering on Semeron website www.semeron.org or phoning Ian on 07458038402.
It is with regret the Kirk Session of Portstewart Presbyterian church receives the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It was on her 21st birthday speech in 1947 the then Princess Elizabeth made this promise:
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
There can be no argument that Her Majesty kept her word, often putting aside her own hurts precisely because to do so was for the betterment of her people, she set the example in faithfulness in service.
At the heart of what has been an unprecedented reign has been the Queen’s Christian faith. We have watched and listened to her Majesty Christmas after Christmas discovering more about her faith through her speeches. We’ve seen how seriously she took the many services of worship she attended at the great cathedrals not just in the United Kingdom but across the world.
This attendance at worship was more than simply a royal duty, it was a personal choice. She was regular at worship be it at Windsor, Sandringham or Balmoral.
A central plank of her Royal duty has been the weekly audience with her Prime Minster, a role she performed with complete discretion and integrity.
While a country now mourns the loss of our Monarch, a family mourns the loss of a mother and grandmother. Our prayers are with the King and Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, Duke of York, the Count and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well as the wider Royal Family.
Girls’ Brigade is a fun and exciting youth organisation that provides a full range of enjoyable activities that caters for all girls aged 3-18 years. It is a great place to meet new friends and we encourage girls to be more confident and to be free to be themselves.
Our GB company operates a varied programme through the GB Session that suits all girls. This helps them to work towards badges in four key areas – spiritual, physical, educational and service.
Weekly activities include Bible teaching, games, craft, drama, singing and helping others. Awards can be achieved for regular attendance at company nights.
At Portstewart Presbyterian we meet every Wednesday evening in the church hall.
Explorers (3 – 7 yrs)
6 – 7:00 pm
Juniors (8 – 10 yrs)
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Seniors (11 – 13 yrs)
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Brigaders (14+ Yrs)
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Girls’ Brigade Sections
“Seek, Serve and Follow Christ”
Girls’ Brigade Motto
In Girls’ Brigade you will also:
• Learn to seek, serve and follow Christ. • Grow your faith and find answers. • Build self-esteem. • Discover new gifts and skills. • Get creative. • Be part of a team • Be safe, valued and have fun
We are looking forward to having all the girls back in September and welcoming new ones. We are so excited to see what the new session brings and pray that God will bless everyone involved in Girls Brigade, from the very youngest to the very oldest.
The Girls’ Brigade crest
There are four important features within the crest that have special significance for us as Christians:
In the centre a cross; the symbol of Christ and His Church.
Below the cross a lamp, that our light may shine out upon the world.
Above the cross is a crown; that we may own Christ as our King.
Behind all a torch; the flame of Christ’s living Spirit and our devotion to Him.”
When the Men’s Shed lost their home on the Strand Road in Portstewart a search had to begin to find a new shed. Portstewart Presbyterian Church had an old annex building which was in a poor state of repair, who knew such a crumbling building could spark an important new partnership. The Men’s Shed in Portstewart has a new home!
A place where men can come to learn and practice new skills
The Men’s Shed is a place where men can come to learn and practice new skills be it in the fully equipped wood workshop, playing pool, darts or making models from scratch using state of the art laser cutting equipment.
At the heart of the Men’s Shed ethos is a desire for men to find a place where they can find a company, friendship and very often purpose.
At the heart of of the Portstewart community
Catherine Taylor, speaking at the opening of Portstewart Men’s Shed, talked of the delight that the shed was now situated in the heart of the Portstewart community. That desire to be at the very heart of the Portstewart community is evident as the shed builds relationships not only with the church but the neighbouring primary school as well.
Speaking on behalf of the church Stuart Morrow minister in Portstewart Presbyterian talked about how much he was looking forward to the partnership with the Men’s Shed developing and growing. He expressed his thanks for the work the men had carried out to repair the building.
The Men’s Shed is about more than simply making and fixing things, there is a deep concern for the environment as well. This is shown in how the Shed seeks to source renewable and recyclable resources. It is also evident in their future plans to create a community garden in the grounds of the new building.
Portstewart Presbyterian Church would like to place on record their delight and excitement in all the potential the Be Safe Be Well men’s shed partnership will yield with the church.
This September there is something new in Portstewart Presbyterian Church. Treasure Hunters is about the search for the treasures of scripture for children of primary school age. Treasure Hunters will be every Sunday at 10:30 in Portstewart Presbyterian Church.
Search for the treasures of scripture
Treasure Hunters is open to all children of primary school age
In Treasure Hunters our children will read and learn the stories of scripture through games, memory verses, song and crafts. Treasure Hunters is open to all children of primary school age, children who already attend church activities such as GB and Blaze. Crucially Treasure Hunters is also for children who don’t yet come to anything in the church but have enjoyed the programs we’ve been running in the school.
Treasure Hunters – Further information
The Treasure Hunter program will begin at 10:30 sharp and at 11:10 all the treasure hunters will join the rest of us in church for a family time of worship and bible reading, before being collected by parents at 11:30.
Treasure Hunters will be run and organised by Wendy Porter and her team of helpers.
Wendy
You are welcome
Why not come and join us in our treasure hunt each Sunday morning at 10:30 in Portstewart Presbyterian Church.
It’s been a wet and miserable July and if a visitor were to land in Northern Ireland, they would struggle to know this is our summer. There is of course a very clear reason for believing we are in the middle of summer, A-level, AS and GCSE exam results are out.
Regardless of what grade appears on our results it does not define us.
A grade does not define us
When the envelops are opened it’s important that we understand something of where we get our value. Regardless of what grade appears on our results it does not define us.
Paul writing in Colossians said this:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3: 1-4
The most important thing that can be said about us, is not what grade we get in any given exam, but where our hearts are set, things above where Christ is.
What does define us
The ultimate qualification we ought to seek is the glory that will be revealed in us when Christ returns.
This glory is the salvation of our souls, it is receiving all Christ has done for us on the cross and through his resurrection. This is given to us, not because of an ‘A’ grade, or a grade ‘9’ or whatever else we might get… it is not earned, we don’t revise for it, we’re not tested to see if we are worthy of it. Christ gives to us freely, through faith; we receive this grace when we admit we cannot earn it ourselves and so place all of our hope and trust in Christ.
This is what defines us, this is the only thing in our lives that will have eternal significance.
Set your hearts on things above
To all who get the results they hoped for we offer our congratulations. To those who might be disappointed we offer our sympathies and will do all we can to help you get to where you want to go. But to everyone we say, since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is… remember the one thing that will last through eternity, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
