As we begin a new year why not make setting aside time for prayer part of the rhythm of 2024.
Sunday 14th January
It is good to remember that we are not the only church meeting this morning. Please pray for the congregation in Burnside Presbyterian today. Thank God for the ways in which they witness to their community. Pray that God would be pleased to add to their numbers because people are coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
Monday 15th January
The after-school Glow Club has so many people wanting to come that some children are on a waiting list. Thank God for the popularity of this club, pray for leaders that allow all children to come week by week. Pray also that as the children sing, play and listen to bible stores that a seed would be planted in young lives that the Lord will bring into full bloom.
Tuesday 16th January
The congregational committee meet tonight. Thank God for the work, much of it unseen, that is carried out by the committee. Pray for wisdom and direction as the committee tackle issues such as reducing the deficit in the church accounts and what modernisation is needed throughout our buildings.
Wednesday 17th January
Accia Path, who run the English classes for Asylum Seekers is holding an information day today. Thank God for the way in which the churches have been working together to help not just with English lessons but in many other ways. Pray for our country that as we develop our immigration policy that it would be based on justice, fairness and compassion for the oppressed.
Thursday 18th January
The Bible Study group meets tonight to think some more about the book of James. Thank God for the way in which people have been drawn to this and for how they have been engaging with scripture. Pray that this group would grow not just in numbers but depth of understanding and faith.
Friday 19th January
We seem to be entering a period when our public sector workers are increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied resulting in more industrial action. Pray for our public sector workers. Pray they would know the value we place on them. Pray also for fairness, justice, and a sense of what is possible to prevail as various pay and conditions negotiations take place.
Saturday 20th January
Pray for the families in our congregation and community. Pray that they would find the time to spend quality time together. Pray for relationships within families and communities. Thank God for the support networks that already exist within our community and pray that more people will make use of them.
As we begin a new year why not make setting aside time for prayer part of the rhythm of 2024.
Sunday 7th January
This morning we begin a new series on the book of James. Take time to read this short book and then ask God what it is he is teaching about who we are and who he is. James talks about scripture being like a mirror. Pray that we would see our true reflection in the mirror of God’s word.
Monday 8th January
The vacancy in Ballywillan continues to progress. Tonight, the kirk session in Ballywillan is meeting. Pray for both Kirk Session and congregation at this uncertain and unsettling time. Pray that the congregation would know both the assurance of God’s presence and his sovereignty. Pray that his will would be done.
Tuesday 9th January
Give thanks to God for generosity of our congregation in meeting our United Appeal target. Pray for the work of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland as well as the many partner churches throughout the world. Pray that the United Appeal would be a blessing to those who benefit from it, but also pray that in giving churches and congregations would be blessed knowing that real partnerships in the gospel are possible because of the united appeal.
Wednesday 10th January
Pray for the people of Portstewart. As with any community there is great need in Portstewart. There is a limited supply of affordable housing, families are struggling to make ends meet and the pressures of life leave a mark on relationships. Pray that as the church builds friendships and partnerships among the community that the good news of Jesus Christ would bring hope and light to what for some is a dark tunnel.
Thursday 11th January
Members of our congregation have been in hospital over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Others have had muted celebrations because they have been living with uncertain diagnosis for themselves and loved ones. Pray for all who are sick, or whose loved ones are unwell. Pray for healing but pray also for a sense of peace and assurance whatever the future may hold.
Friday 12th January
Today take time to pray for the Baptist congregation in the town. Pray for Lee Jennings the new outreach pastor who has recently moved to Portstewart from Liverpool. Pray that he and his family would settle into not only a new town and church, but a new culture and way of life.
Saturday 13th January
Youth club starts back tonight. Pray for Michelle and her team of leaders as they seek to provide a safe space where children and young people can enjoy themselves. Pray for the relationships Michelle is developing, not only with the young people but their families, ask that she would have opportunity to not only talk about the gospel but to show the gospel.
Just to start things off, I did NOT want to write this. This is only happening because of a series of very unfortunate events in which I made one joke about writing this thing and-oops!- now I actually have to. The moral of the story? Don’t make jokes in a car full of GB leaders, or else you’ll end up writing a newspaper article when you know nothing about writing newspaper articles.
Anyway, you’re probably here to read about that big badminton match we went to; and I’m going to tell you about it from my perspective! What a shocker.
It all began in my house, where I, who knows about as much about badminton as a toddler does about engineering, was about to go to play in a badminton competition. Scary stuff! I was trying not to worry about it too much, you know, just doing things to calm me down. That was when my mum called me down and gave me the worst news of the day; even worse than having to go to school that morning, even worse than reminding me of my physics exam the following week for the TWENTIETH TIME.
I had to put my hair up.
To you, this may seem normal. But not for me. You see, when I put my hair up I tend to look a little bald, especially in photos. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with being bald, but with my facial structure I tend to look more like I’ll be marching in the troops instead of the Girls Brigade. And so, after a back and forth argument over whether I looked like an egg in photos from the age of 3-13, we settled on some pigtails that made me look like I had just leapt out of High School Musical.
I had to put my hair up.
To you, this may seem normal. But not for me. You see, when I put my hair up I tend to look a little bald, especially in photos. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with being bald, but with my facial structure I tend to look more like I’ll be marching in the troops instead of the Girls Brigade. And so, after a back and forth argument over whether I looked like an egg in photos from the age of 3-13, we settled on some pigtails that made me look like I had just leapt out of High School Musical.
That’s when the car pulled up outside. I grabbed my bag, walked out and questioned every decision that got me to this point.
The first bad event of that evening happened in that very car. For some reason I’d put my seatbelt on while also wearing my bag, which led to me spending the entire journey with the mass of two people under one seatbelt. It was thoroughly uncomfortable.
Eventually we made it to the competition, and once we entered the hall where it was taking place I felt like I’d been swept up by a tsunami of girls, all wearing GB hoodies. Our group was actually the odd one out, only two of us were wearing our hoodies (including me, so haha). Anyway, we had to wait for ages for the thing to actually start, cause they had to go over all the boring stuff like rules and whatever.
And then began what I ever-so-fondly call the ‘Sitting and eating oranges phase’.
It’s kinda in the name, really. We just sat for about half an hour talking and eating Jaffa Cakes and Oranges- though, the oranges were SO GOOD. They were the perfect water to orange ratio, I’d honestly recommend! Oranges aside, we finally ended up playing. I was on Team A (Amazing, Awesome, Actually the best at the game), and the other two were on Team B (Bad, Beastly, BADminton- kidding don’t attack me guys pleaseee!!).
Team A went first, and the game went as you’d expect. We won! I’ll skip most of it cause it wasn’t really interesting.
…Until the 2nd game. We went on, figuring the game would go as normal, but about halfway through the match my teammate HIT A GIRL IN THE EYE WITH THE SHUTTLECOCK. It was a little funny, only a little. And we won that game so, you know, all’s well that ends well.
The 3rd game wasn’t as good though. Apparently the finalists were actually really good at the game, and I was horrible at it, they figured out that I wasn’t as good and you can guess where it went from there…we lost.
WE GOT SECOND THOUGH!!
And maybe we didn’t win, but you know what they say! First is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the hairy chest.
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.
