The first Poppy Festival in Portstewart Presbyterian Church was an incredible success and a fitting way to pay tribute to the great sacrifice of so many over two world wars and countless conflicts since. The exhibition provided an accurate insight into life during both wars, in no small part because of the generosity of Matthew McGee who allowed his private collection of memorabilia to be put on public display.
Those visiting the exhibition were presented with incredibly personal accounts of war time experiences as Noel Lyttle explained how his father and three brothers all went off to the first world war together, and amazingly, all returned safely. As well as the medals and photographs Noel was able to show visitors a new testament, given to all soldiers, with an inscription from the commanding officer. This new testament was over 100 years old.
Mark Niblock brought with him medals belonging to the Hayes brothers, members of Portstewart congregation, and who both, sadly, died in battle. These medals are all the more interesting and significant because the Hayes brothers’ death pennies, medals presented to the families of all who fell, are on permanent display in the vestibule of the church. A fitting way to connect not just the festival but the whole of remembrance with our congregation.
It is fitting to express our thanks to all who organised, stewarded, donated and baked for the festival. If you missed the festival then please enjoy the pictures below and why not watch the special evening service celebrating remembrance day and the festival.
This morning Stanley is leading worship while Stuart is in Ballywillan. Pray for Stanley, pray also for Stuart and the congregation of Ballywillan as they are updated on how the vacancy is progressing.
Monday 28th October
This week is traditionally the beginning of the communion season. A week of reflection and preparation as communion Sunday approaches. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23) What so we worry about? What pre-occupies our minds? Lay this before the Lord and seek his peace.
Tuesday 29th October
Search me, God… see if there is any offensive way in me…(Psalm 139:24) What are the things we need to confess to God? What are the sins, the actions, the secrets no-one else knows and we strive to keep hidden but we know they need to be brought into the light of God’s grace.
Wednesday 30th October
Search me, God… and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:24) What does it mean to follow Jesus as his disciple? What does it mean to rest in Christ alone for our salvation? Pray that God would draw us closer to him, deepening our relationship with him.
Thursday 31st October
Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (Psalm 113:5-6) Take time to thank God for the incredible way in which he not only reaches down to us, but stoops, bends, humbles himself to come to us. Thank God that we don’t have to attain his glory and position because he comes to us.
Friday 1st November
This evening is our pre-communion service when we will be welcoming 6 new communicants. Thank God for the growth there has been in our church membership over the last three years. Pray for our new communicants that they would find not only a family to be nurtured in, but a place in which they can serve.
Saturday 2nd November
This evening is our family light party. Pray for Michelle and her team who are putting this together. Pray that at a time when so many people are obsessed with all that is dark, the light of Jesus will shine.
This morning is our GB enrolment service. Take this opportunity to pray not only for the girls but their families. Pray also for the captain (Julie Watters) and her team of officers and leaders. Start children off on the way they should go, and even they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Monday 21st October
Each Monday morning Stuart meets with Michelle to plan the week ahead. Pray for Michelle as she builds trust with our young people. Pray also that she would be able to develop relationships with the families of our young people.
Tuesday 22nd October
Portstewart Primary School annual harvest service is being held in the church this morning. Thank God for the privilege of hosting this service and pray that this would be a positive experience of being part of a church community for all who will attend.
Wednesday 23rd October
The vacancy in Ballywillan Presbyterian Church continues. Pray for the Kirk Session as they seek to find a way forward. Pray that God would be clear in directing not only the Kirk Session but the one he has appointed to continue his work among the people of Ballywillan. Pray that the congregation would remain in good heart and not be discouraged.
Thursday 24th October
The bible study group meets tonight at 7:30 in the minor hall. Pray for wisdom as we read through God’s word and try to understand how it applies to our lives, culture and society. Pray that we as a church would have an increased confidence in the word of God and a willingness to accept it as God’s word to us.
Friday 25th October
Pray for the witness of our church. Our buildings are situated in prime locations surrounded by schools and local families. Pray that as we worship and seek to be part of the community in which we have been placed that Jesus would be honoured and glorified. Pray that we as a community of God’s people would be a light to those around us.
Saturday 26th October
As we approach another Sunday morning, pray that as we worship God we would encounter and experience his presence in such a way that we are changed by him. Truly me soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1)
Kim Leadbeater MP has introduced her bill to legalise assisted suicide to the Commons. It will have its Second Reading on 29 November. At this point, MPs will have a chance to debate the issue of assisted suicide, and it is possible that a vote will take place.
Throughout history, the Church has strongly opposed assisted suicide and euthanasia. God’s word teaches us that human beings, made in God’s image, are to be protected and cherished. This is especially true for those who are vulnerable, broken, and powerless.
The UK is a world leader in palliative medicine, following the pioneering work of Christians like Dame Cicely Saunders. The beauty of palliative care is it offers total care, addressing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of the patient. This support – not state-assisted suicide – is what governments need to invest in for years to come.
With huge pressure in the media and politics, we face the worst ever threat of assisted suicide becoming law. I urge you, please, to write to politicians to share your concerns. We have set up a simple web page to help you contact your MP. You can amend the template emails we’ve provided, add your name, and hit send. Perhaps you could also forward this email to a friend and ask them to write too? If an MP replies, please let us know by emailing mail@care.org.uk or phoning our office on 020 7233 0455.
In an increasingly busy world Harvest is the opportunity to pause and take in the goodness of God.
This year in our harvest morning service we will be asking what does it mean to Taste and see that the Lord is good. We will of course be surrounded by flowers and vegetables as well as the numerous offerings for the food bank. Surely God’s goodness goes beyond the church decorations, and what is it to taste such goodness? Taste is something we experience, it is one of our 5 senses and so we will seek to experience the goodness of God. There will be a very practical way of experiencing God’s goodness as we will be having lunch together immediately after the service.
In the evening we will continue this theme of experiencing the goodness of God, but this time we will ask how can we know God’s goodness in a difficult season of life. Where is the goodness of God in illness, or bereavement, or unemployment? We will look at God’s promise to restore the lost years found in Joel 2:25. And I will restore to you the years the locust hath eaten.
Why not come along on Sunday 13th October at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm to not only celebrate but experience the goodness of God – regardless of your situation.
