There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday 17th December immediately after Sunday worship.
The purpose of this meeting will be to appoint new property trustees. The Presbytery Education Board are the current property trustees. These boards are being wound up which means the congregation must appoint new trustees. There are two options.
Appoint trustees from within the congregation. The disadvantage to this option is that these trustees must be kept up to date. People will step down from the role, but there will also be circumstances when trustees die in post. The congregation will then have to keep the trustees up to date and each change will require legal assistance.
Appoint the new Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustee Company. The advantage of this option is that the trustees will always be in place and the congregation will not have to keep appointing new trustees.
What do property trustees do?
Property trustees act on behalf of the congregation when buying or selling land or buildings. Trustees can only act at the instruction of the congregational committee. Trustees cannot make decisions for themselves. Having trustees, as we have done, that are not members of the congregation is not a way of forfeiting ownership or decision making by the congregation.
What will happen at the congregational meeting.
At the congregational meeting the congregation will be asked to approve the appointing of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustee Company as trustees. If the congregation chooses not to do this we will then have an election to elect trustees from among the congregation.
Thank God for the results from our congregational meeting: Helen, Samantha & Julie all received the overwhelming support of the congregation and so will now undergo a period of training before a conferral with Presbytery. Please continue to pray for each of the three new elders elect. Click on the picture below to find out more.
Monday 4th December
As we enter the Christmas period it is good to remember that for some this is a time of great sadness and difficulty. People are on their own, they miss loved ones who have died through the year. For some children it is a time when they become acutely aware that their family is very different to everyone else’s. Pray fro those for whom Christmas is difficult.
Tuesday 5th December
Presbytery will meet tonight. A busy agenda will include nominations for an incoming moderator, discussions around how ministry will be re-configured. We will also seek permission to offer Michelle a full-time position as Youth and Family Worker. Ballywillan will also present their vacancy papers to Presbytery. Please pray for what will be a busy meeting.
Wednesday 6th December
Little Treasurers’, our mums and tots’ group, has been incredibly successful this session. Thank God for the opportunity to provide a safe space for families and an opportunity for parents to meet and talk. Pray for Julia and her team of leaders as they model an example of family worship each Wednesday morning. Click on the picture below to find out more.
Thursday 7th December
We continue to have a few of our members in hospital. Please pray for families who worry about the health of loved ones. Pray especially for those who have been in hospital for a lengthy period. Pray for God’s healing and strengthening.
Friday 8th December
Our tech team, headed up by Alistair Nichol & David Porter continue to provide an invaluable service Sunday by Sunday. Thank God for Alistair and David, but also thank God for the different young people who do so much to help and improve our audio-visual output each Sunday.
Saturday 9th December
Ronnie Hyndman continues to faithfully care for our buildings. Thank God for all that Ronnie does and pray that he would know God’s blessing and presence as he serves the church.
I am delighted to be able to announce that all three of our prospective new elders, Helen Davies, Samantha McPeak, and Julie Watters received well in excess of the required two thirds of the votes cast in today’s congregational meeting.
Thank you to everyone who prayerfully took part in both the initial election and today’s meeting. The next stage for Helen, Samantha and Julie is that they will undergo 6 weeks training and an interview with presbytery. Please do continue to pray for each of our prospective new elders as they continue with this process.
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.
