One Church

Family

Rooted in

Christ

And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. Colossians 2 v 6 & 7

Contents

Page No. Presbyterian Children's Society ------6 How's your prayer life? ------7 Our Village ------10 Senior members' Evening ------11 An Open Door ------12 Inside Out ------13 Choosing New Elders ------17 General Assembly Report ------14 Our givings to God's Work ------21 , UCB, Bob Gass & ------22 Historical Society ------30

Church Organisations: Flower Rota ------4 Choir notes ------5 Prayer Ministry ------6 Jewels ------6 GB ------8 BB ------9 Sunday School/Bible Class ------11 Congregational Committee Report------24 Cradle Roll ------25 PW ------26 Treasurer's Report ------28 Church Record ------31 Upcoming Events ------32

****************************************** My grateful thanks to all our contributors and to Joe, Marbeth & Margaret for proof reading, printing and getting your magazine ready for distribution. Please do get in touch by speaking to anyone of us or by emailing [email protected] if you can provide any ideas or helpful comments to make this magazine as relevant as possible. With grateful thanks, Claire McDowell. Page 2 Thought for September

They might not admit it, but our children are genuinely looking forward to going back to school. Ellen is probably the most excited, as she is getting ready for a new school. In First Ballyeaston we are also looking forward to a new church year, our election for new elders and a new study course in the autumn.

New beginnings always bring a sense of excitement, hope and expectation and the wonderful thing about Christianity is the fact that God always gives us the opportunity to make a new beginning with him; to confess our sin, to find forgiveness and to turn over a new leaf. As we read in Psalm 103 God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

However, there is a real danger that we take God's grace for granted, because we can easily end up in a cycle of new beginnings and of perpetual good intentions. God wants us to make that new beginning with him through his Son Jesus Christ, but critically He wants our faith to grow and put down deep roots of love in Him.

In the parables of the sower and mustard seed Jesus compares faith to a seed. The seed being planted is a new beginning in itself but the most important aspect of these stories is the fact that the seed grows in the Sower to produce a full ear or in the Mustard Seed a tree which is over ten foot tall.

And in Colossians 2 Paul exhorts the church: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. The key words here are rooted, built up and strengthened in the faith. We do that by taking God's word seriously and by putting it into practice.

I pray that this September will be so much more than a new beginning, but rather the opportunity for each one to grow in faith and to put down deep roots of faith in Christ our Lord and that we cannot help but overflow with thankfulness before the Lord.

Your friend and minister Eddie McDowell

Page 3 Flower Rota September - December 2019

September 1st Mrs M Davis 8th Mrs H McAuley 15th Mrs L Hill 22nd Mrs M Bingham 29th Mrs A Grimason

October

6th Mrs M McNeilly 13th Harvest 20th Mrs J Currie 27th Mrs M Strain

November

3rd Mrs J Woodside 10th Mrs D Cunningham 17th Mrs E Witherhead 24th Mrs L Gordon

December

1st Mrs B Irvine 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th Mrs A Beard

Thank you to everyone for supplying flowers each Sunday. These are passed on to members of our congregation who have been in hospital recently, currently unwell, or indeed suffered a recent bereavement. They are also sent to members in times of celebration too, milestone birthdays or wedding anniversaries etc.

If your allocated date does not suit, please try to swap with someone or failing that please do contact me on 07767 271 089. Anyone who has received flowers in a container from the church please do return the empty container to your District Elder/Visitor or Galbraith Hall. Many Thanks, Ann Agnew

Page 4

A new session is just about to start. As well as practicing for Harvest, Christmas and other special events we will be practicing for the

Templepatrick Presbytery 50th Annual Choir Festival

This will take the form of a concert this year with audience hymns and choir anthems which will take in ‘Ancient and modern’ styles. It will be held in Parkhall Integrated College, Steeple Road Antrim

On Thursday 23rd April 2020 at 7.45 pm

Soloist for the evening will D.V. be Ellen Mawhinney from Hydepark Congregation

Compere D.V. Mr Alan Beattie from Joymount Congregation,

Choir leaders from the Presbytery will be accompanying and conducting.

Tickets will be available closer to the time. Please note this date and plan to attend. The Choir Festival Committee is planning to make this a really special event as audience and choirs join in praise of God.

Please tell your friends so they can plan to attend as well.

Margaret Waugh

Page 5 Prayer Ministry

God encourages us to pray for one another, to encourage one another and to bring our requests before His throne. The Prayer Team believe in the power of prayer and we would encourage you to call on us and allow us the opportunity to lift you up in prayer, whether you seek physical, emotional or spiritual healing for yourself, a friend or a loved one.

You can contact me by phone, text or email.

Tel: 07484 767 751 Email: [email protected]

Jean Woodside

The Presbyterian Children’s Society

We will be having our annual collection for The Children's Society this year and will be taking contributions from Sunday 1st September until Sunday 24th November. Envelopes may be placed on the collection plate any Sunday during this period. If you would like a donation to be collected from your home please ring Jean on 93 324185 or Lily on 93 323450 and this can be arranged. Thank you for your continuing support.

Jewels Ballyeaston Young Women's Group Planning meeting on 17th September in Pots of Coffee.

Contact Ashleigh on 07921 147 666 or Kimberley on 07850 352 664 for more details.

Page 6 How’s Your Prayer Life?

Prayer can easily turn into a neglected part of our spiritual walk, a selfish wish list, or a last resort in desperate times. But we are called to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians. 5:17) and, through the blood of Christ, we can access the “throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16).

God promises us in His Word that He hears every word that we pray to Him. Like a good parent, He is waiting, ready and willing to listen to our worries, concerns and needs. Whether we are seeking forgiveness, strength, or healing, prayer provides the channel to communicate with God and receive supernatural strength and power!

The following prayer quotes may help and encourage your prayer life.

“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther

"True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth." - Charles Spurgeon

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. - Philippians 4:6-7

Page 7

Come along to our Registration evening on Friday 6th September at 6.30pm!

Details of different sections, times and leaders (from age 3 upwards) will be given out on the night. All times will remain the same as before except for Seniors & Brigader sections which are moving back to a Monday night. Uniform can be ordered on the night. All girls must attend to receive their mark!

For more information please contact Jayne on 07703006640.

Page 8

Our start dates for the new session are:

Anchor Boys (P1-P4): Monday 9th September 2019; 6.30pm to 7.30pm Brann Hall, Second Ballyeaston Presbyterian

Junior Section (P5-P7): Friday 13th September 2019; 7.00pm to 8.30pm Brann Hall, Second Ballyeaston Presbyterian

Company Section (Year 8 to Year 14): Monday 9th September 2019; 7.30pm to 9.15pm Brann Hall, Second Ballyeaston Presbyterian

We're looking forward to seeing everyone back again and welcome all new members. If you require any further information please get in touch!

Thanks, Gardiner McAuley [email protected]

Page 9 Our Village A few updates on behalf of the village committee.

Great News! Once again the village has won the Green Flag Award 2019/20 from the Keep Northern Beautiful Organisation. This is the 3rd year that the village has won this award and is one of only three non-Council maintained sites in to gain this award. The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised certification for environmental quality management for parks and open spaces. Thank you to Paul Edge and his assistants who do a great job in looking after the church ruin.

You may also have noticed that we now have a Speed Indicator Device on the Lower Ballyboley Road just on the approach to our church halls from . Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) detect and display real-time vehicle speeds in an attempt to change drivers’ speed behaviour i.e. encourage you to slow you down as you drive through the village! We are one of 12 local villages within the Antrim & Council area to receive these. This project received financial support through the GROW South Antrim Village Renewal Scheme.

Finally a Date for your diary The Village Committee is organising a Table Quiz to be held in the 1st Ballyeaston Lecture Hall on Saturday 30th November at 7-45pm. Everyone will be made very welcome. Page 10 Senior Members' Dinner in First Ballyeaston Lecture Hall on Saturday 21st September at 6.30pm. Entertainment: James Strange & Linda Lindsay. Anyone wishing to attend please give your names to your district elder before 14th September. Thank you.

Bible Class &

run each Sunday morning from 10.30am until 11.15am.

Sunday School meets in the MacConnell Hall and is for children in their pre-school year up until P7. It is led by Arlene Boyd and a small band of willing teachers who help your children to learn choruses, prayers and stories from the Bible for their age.

Bible Class is for teenagers who have moved into secondary education, they meet in the kitchen in the Lecture Hall. Anne Gardiner helps them to delve deeper into the Bible and explores with them God's Word and the relevance for their lives...there are generally some donuts/hot chocolate or some other sugar-filled snacks!!

Please do encourage your children to come along to Sunday School and/or Bible Class to help them learn about God, His Love and His Word in order for them to develop their own relationship with Him.

Starts Sunday 8th September 2019 at 10.30am

Page 11 An Open Door - Maud Kells with Jean Gibson

Readers of the Presbyterian Herald will already have had the privilege of sampling some of the highlights of this book and getting a flavour of Maud’s remarkable story. The straightforward, matter of fact style in which the book is written makes it easy to read but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be challenged by its content.

Maud Kells cites her only reason for writing this book as being ‘to give glory to our wonderful Lord Jesus’. Her story is told against the backdrop of constant civil unrest, war and corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country hugely rich in natural resources but a large proportion of whose people live in extreme poverty. She tells how she walked into a situation where previous missionaries had been killed and took up the work of Church and Bible School and established a hospital compound. Throughout each chapter of the book her reason for writing is very clear – all glory goes to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

She tells of how she journeyed from a difficult entry into the world, when the attendant doctor told her father, “It will be a miracle if she survives.”, through nurse and midwifery training and then Bible College, through the ‘open door’ which God provided to finally begin her work in DRC in 1968. She illustrates her total devotion to and dependence on God by telling the stories of life in DRC with all its up and downs, triumphs and disasters, challenges and rewards.

Maud seemed to be all things to all people and at times when she felt she could no longer cope she battled on, trusting in her Lord, who never let her down. It is clear from her account that although she was the main player in her situation, she needed the help of many others – both local Congolese and folk of other nationalities engaged in various types of mission work, supporting each other. Help from home also plays an important part and reading this book will perhaps provide a new perspective and renewed encouragement to commit to vital prayer and practical support for missionaries.

Now at 80 years old, Maud has finally released her work in DRC into the hands of others and gives all the glory to God. I wonder if that doctor ever heard the story of her ‘miraculous’ life?

Page 12 Most of us think our congregation is a welcoming place.

But is it?

How would we know? Who could tell us? What things, that seem familiar to us, might seem weird to others? What would it be like to come in as a visitor for the first time? Most importantly, what does it look like to welcome others as Christ welcomes us?

In our midweek starting on Wednesday 1st October in the Galbraith Hall 8-9pm we will explore together what it means to be a welcoming church. Themes covered will be:

▪ An outward facing community: Genesis 18:1-15 ▪ Not like us: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ▪ On the door: Matthew 25:31-46 ▪ Another culture: Ephesians 2:11-22 ▪ Another country: Matthew 2:1-12 ▪ Another capability: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 ▪ Another view: Mark 10:17-27 ▪ Making space for others: Luke 10:25-37

We would love for as many people to come along as possible, to share in this journey together.

Page 13 General Assembly PCI 2019

I want to take this opportunity to thank Kirk Session for allowing me the opportunity to attend this year’s General Assembly as a ruling elder representative of the Congregation along with our minister Rev Eddie McDowell.

This year’s Assembly was held from Monday 3rd June to Friday 7th June in Church House, Belfast and, as always, covered a wide variety of business from spiritual to practical matters concerning the day to day organisation and operation of the Presbyterian denomination in Ireland. I was able to attend three of the four days dedicated to the business of the Church and was reminded of the tremendous amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes by many dedicated people, not just during the week of assembly but throughout the whole year.

I was impressed by the efficient way in which the business sessions were carried and also by the gracious and often humorous manner in which the debates and discussions were conducted. Before each business session the Moderator, the Rev William John Henry opened with prayer and, during debates, paused for a moment or two for prayer and reflection if he thought it appropriate. It would be impossible in a short report to detail all that happened at Assembly but I will outline some of the events and issues discussed.

On Tuesday morning Assembly received delegates from other Churches both local and worldwide and it was interesting to hear delegates from the Greek Evangelical Church and the Presbyterian Churches in East and Central Africa telling their stories and commending the Presbyterian Church here in Ireland for their prayers, help and support in the past.

Following this the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, conducted by the Moderator was observed by a packed hall. The Moderator whose theme for the year is “Enjoying God" used verses from Psalm 103 as the text for his address. The act of communion, which was carried out in complete silence, was perhaps the outstanding event of the Assembly week for myself.

In the afternoon the main item of business involved the setting up of Page 14 a task group on how best to clarify the vows taken at admission to full membership to the Church and at baptism. This group has been asked to report to the Assembly in 2020.

On Wednesday the main topics for debate included: Global Mission, Developing a strategy for dealing with the increasing problematic migrant situation, Concern at the lack of political progress in Northern Ireland and How PCI might become more involved in dealing with the past and legacy issues in Northern Ireland. In October 2019, a book called Consider Grace will be published exploring how Presbyterians responded to the troubles from 1968 to 2000.

The Assembly also considered an interim report on the future of the Guysmere site in Castlerock and approval was given to further explore the possibilities of developing this site as an Outdoor pursuits Christian based centre controlled by PCI. A memorial from South Belfast Presbytery asking that the Assembly pass a notice of motion to rescind the decision taken last year preventing the respective Moderators of PCI and the Church of Scotland from attending each others' Assembly was defeated by a two thirds majority.

The afternoon and evening sessions on Thursday dealt with the issues of Training. As a result of a call for prayer last year, 15 students had been interviewed at Easter as potential students for the ministry. The dismissal of the Rev Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick and the adverse impact that his comments on radio had had on Union College, PCI and the link with Queen’s University were also on the agenda. Other issues such as United Appeal, Charity registration, Data Protection, and a host of other mundane but important issues were presented to the Assembly by the various task groups, councils and committees.

Friday morning, the final day of meetings, started with a private session where the Judicial Commissions presented their reports, and happily there were no major issues presented. Following on from this, a resolution that the experimental evening business sessions of the Assembly be discontinued from 2020 was defeated when an amendment was table by a member of the youth assembly who argued that the experiment should be allowed to run for at least another year to try and encourage younger people to attend. Lively discussion took place in this debate with the amendment winning the Page 15 day. Perhaps an example demonstrating that democracy is still alive and well in PCI.

In summary, I found attending the Assembly an enjoyable experience: attending the business meetings, being part of the worship sessions, catching up with people I haven’t seen for years, and meeting and talking to people for the first time. It has all reminded me that, as a Congregation, we are part of the larger denomination of PCI which itself is part of the world wide reformed Church of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is Him and Him alone that we are called to serve. Robert Hill

Page 16 Choosing New Elders

During the church year 2019/20 we will be having an election for new Elders. This process will commence in September 2019. The task of choosing new elders is very important. Elders provide important leadership for the congregation and the Bible has some clear words about leadership in the church and the qualities that elders in the church must possess.

In 1 Timothy 3 the key phrase in verse 2 is “above reproach”. We should not make the mistake of thinking that a person needs to be perfect before they can become an elder. But neither should we make the mistake of thinking that the eldership is for any well-meaning person who is willing to serve. The qualifications for the eldership are considerable. And the majority of people do not qualify.

Paul specifies three areas where an elder should be above reproach:

1. An elder must be above reproach in their life at home.

Verses 4 and 5 say "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of Christ’s church?)”

Paul’s logic is clear and powerful here. If a person can’t cope with the lesser, how he is going to cope with the greater? If a person has difficulty managing their own family, will they really be capable of managing the church? Paul is saying that in the home and the church the same principles apply. The church is like a family that needs loving and compassionate leadership.

He also says that the home of an elder must be a hospitable home. That was very important in biblical times when there weren’t many restaurants or hotels, and when visitors and travellers had to be entertained. But hospitality doesn’t just mean an open door. It means an open heart. It means a generosity, a desire to be practical in one’s Christian love for others. An elder is someone whose home and whose heart is open to others. The evidence that a person has these qualities to use in the service of Christ and the church is seen primarily in the home and among their own family.

Page 17

2. An elder must be above reproach in their commitment to Christ and to the church.

Verse 6: “He must not be a recent convert or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”

An elder must be a committed follower of Jesus Christ and must have given evidence of that commitment. In other words, an elder must not be a new Christian or someone who is spiritually immature. They must have a track record of Christian discipleship and give evidence of Christian maturity.

But when a person is ordained to the eldership, they must answer a number of searching questions with regard to their faith and belief. An elder must subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms and acknowledge that their teaching is “founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God”. That demands maturity, thoughtfulness and understanding. Elders must not only be Presbyterians in terms of their church membership, but also in terms of their basic beliefs and convictions.

Elders must not only be committed to the doctrines of the church; they must be committed to the life of the church. You are looking for people whose primary field of Christian service will be the life and witness of your congregation. There are many organisations that people may be involved in which are excellent and good. But for a person who is an elder in the church, their first love, their primary commitment, will be their work in their own congregation. That is why those whom you should consider for the eldership should already be giving some leadership in the congregation. In electing elders you should aim at building a team, a team that will work together and will support one another.

3. An elder is to be above reproach in their life before the world.

Verse 7: “He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

At first sight verse 7 seems strange. What does the outside world know about Christian maturity and spiritual gifts? You might say “Absolutely nothing!” Yet the world outside is not totally blind or Page 18 stupid. They recognise a person or principle and integrity when they see one. They soon discover who is to be trusted and who is to be respected. The people you choose need to be people who are known outside of the church for the consistency of their lives, for their Christian commitment and for their grace, moderation and self- control.

In the second half of verses 6 and 7 Paul gives us reasons for urging caution in the choice of elders. He talks about falling into disgrace and the devil’s trap. In choosing elders a door is opened for the devil to enter the affairs of the church and to throw it into confusion. When that happens, Satan wins and the church loses. The church may put the wrong person in the wrong position and the results may be devastating for the person concerned. When leaders in the church behave inconsistently and in a way that denies their calling, damage is caused outside the church as well as inside. People on the outside will be drawn to the church, or repelled from the church, on the basis of how elders live and behave. That’s why you need to choose good people.

Perhaps you are thinking, “What an impossible task! How can I ever decide who to select?” It’s important to remember that these biblical qualifications are God’s requirements for leadership. Christ is the Lord and King of the church. Our goal in selecting elders is to bring honour, glory and praise to Jesus Christ. Leaders, like the members of the congregation, must be people who rely totally on the grace and mercy of Christ. They can’t do it in their own strength. They need God’s grace. So, be careful, be wise and be prayerful as you make your choice.

Here is the section from the Code of our church that outlines the qualifications and duties of ruling elders:

“The duty of ruling elders as members of Kirk Session is to work together with the minister in the oversight and government of the congregation, for the upbuilding of God’s people in spiritual fruitfulness and holy concord, and for the extension of Christ’s kingdom among men. Ruling elders, by their calling, share equally with ministers in responsibility for practical witness both within the congregation and in the wider world. In the discharge of his duties Page 19 each elder should be assigned a district or special responsibilities within the congregation in which he may more particularly represent the Kirk Session by visitation, private counsel and report.

“To be chosen for the office of the eldership in a congregation a person must be a voting member of that congregation and a regular attender on its ordinances. He should be circumspect and exemplary in his conduct, both in the Church and in the world, of acknowledged piety, endeavouring to maintain the worship of God in his family and held in esteem by the people. Women shall be eligible for election on the same conditions as men.”

Questions to consider as you make your choice:

• Is this person a committed Christian?

• Have they a track record of Christian discipleship?

• Do they do a good job in managing and leading their own family?

• Are they actively involved in some form of leadership in the congregation?

• Do they have a good reputation in the local community?

(Reproduced from PCI, Board of Christian Training leaflet 'Choosing New Elders'.)

In all things be prayerful in your decision making.

Lord, Thank you for our church family, every member with and without responsibility, bound together in love for You. We pray for the spirit of wisdom and discernment to guide our thoughts as we choose nominations for new elders in our congregation. Let us give You the utmost Glory in all things. Amen

Page 20 Our givings to God's work - A Presbytery Perspective

Below is an extract from the report of the Presbytery Finance Committee to the Presbytery at its meeting in May 2019. Templepatrick Presbytery Finance 2018 Summary of Returns No. of Givings per paying Families Assessable family Congregation Total Contrib Income 2017 2018 First Antrim 446 262 152,914 559.81 583.64 High Street 254 236 86,905 570.51 368.24 Greystone Road 318 224 98,925 442.07 441.63 First Ballyeaston 313 239 95,388 384.25 399.11 Second Ballyeaston 280 203 94,586 433.96 465.94 Crumlin 93 77 45,767 579.23 594.38 First 172 140 90,428 586.67 645.91 Second Donegore* 167 112 64,881 531.34 579.29 215 171 80,026 445.20 467.99 Hydepark 127 112 60,502 394.22 540.20 Lylehill 58 53 23,506 490.96 443.51 Kilbride* 492 297 118,346 401.95 398.47 161 156 71,840 470.15 460.51 Loanends 132 113 62,445 477.25 552.61 Muckamore 228 202 142,189 763.12 703.91 First 128 99 42,897 476.06 433.30 Duneane 94 75 48,047 645.20 640.63 Second Randalstown*155 110 72,152 556.90 655.93 O C Randalstown 300 273 115,197 410.04 421.97 Templepatrick 352 284 145,038 495.85 510.70 * Congregation has been vacant for all or part of the year.

The average givings per family for 2018 across the Presbytery was £497.95. We are one of the lowest contributors in the Presbytery.

Page 21 Ballyeaston, UCB, Bob Gass & Belfast….. how are they all connected?

For a number of years now we have made daily Bible notes freely available in the vestibule of our church called The Word for Today and the Word 4U (young adult’s version). These are produced by UCB (United Christian Broadcasters). UCB is a leading Christian media charity which produces radio, TV and publications.

Their mission? …to offer every person, in every place, every moment of the day, the opportunity to hear, watch or read the word of a God in a relevant and engaging way.

UCB is a charity which receives no funding from the TV licence fee, has no paid-for advertising on radio or TV and is 100% supporter- funded.

The Word for Today, published by UCB, was written by Mr Bob Gass and his wife Debby for the past 25 years. Unfortunately, Bob Gass died on 5th June 2019. The ‘Word for Today’ was written by him in response to UCB’s challenges in launching Christian radio in the UK as the government wouldn’t give them any radio space or time. Bob realised then, that one of the most read parts of a daily newspaper is often the horoscope section. He wrote, ‘Thank God we don’t need horoscopes, but I realised that by reading them, people want guidance, encouragement and they want answers’. So, he set about writing a daily devotional which UCB could give out for free. In 1994, UCB Word For Today was printed for the first time. It was just 3,500 copies, but in 25 years, that mailing list and supporter base has grown from 3,000 to over 400,000. The Word for Today is also sent out via email and if you listen on DAB radio or through the UCB Player App on your phone to UCB1 or UCB2 radio stations you will hear the Word for Today, a spoken version of the daily bible notes available in our vestibule. Up until 6 months ago this was read by Bob Gass himself.

So what has this got to do with Belfast… well he was born in Belfast of course!

He was brought up with his siblings by his mother as his father died when he was young. Bob always described his mother as a formative Page 22 influence in his life, encouraging him to attend church as often as possible. 'Every week, she took us to church and I always remember that after the morning service, I would go to two Sunday schools - the Brethren and the Presbyterian. I once said to my mother, ‘my friends only go to one Sunday school, how come I have to go to two?’ ‘It’s a back-up plan’, she would say, ‘just in case you weren’t listening the first time.’ We also went to a Sunday night service, the prayer meeting on Monday, Bible study on a Wednesday and the youth service on a Friday.'

He was just twelve years old when he committed his life to Christ through the ministry of Pastor McConnell at Whitewell Metropolitan. He always had a heart for people and a burning desire for them to know Jesus. Bob preached his first sermon when he was 13 years old and left Belfast for America when he was 18. A pastor and his wife took Bob in and invited Bob to speak at his church. Over the months that followed, Bob would record his sermons and the pastor would critique Bob’s speaking style and give him advice on delivery and speaking. He never went to college but the pastor kept him on the straight and narrow. He became a pastor of a church in Canada and then moved to Bangor, Maine. His life then took some twists and turns and he gave up ministry in the church setting. He did some TV Evangelist & radio work. Then after getting married to Debby in 1991, also from Belfast, they got involved with UCB and the rest they say is history! You can learn more about Bob Gass and his life on UCB website www.ucb.org.uk or www.bobgass.com. The current issue of Word for Today also has more information about his life.

The latest quarterly UCB Word for Today is currently sitting on the table in the vestibule. Why don’t you pick one up? Take it and Read it or perhaps you already do in which case take an extra one and pass it on to someone - the most precious gift!

"Jesus is the most exciting, thrilling person and we need to let people know how it’s possible to have a living relationship with Him. If I had a million lives to live, I would live them all for Jesus." Bob Gass (1944-2019)

Page 23 Congregational Committee Report – August 2019

Bequest – The late Mrs Annie Fenton recently left a very sizeable bequest to First Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church. Consideration is currently being given to using some of the money to employ a Youth and Family worker for three years with two thirds of the cost being met from the bequest and the reminder to be met from general church funds. The details about the exact role of the Youth and Family worker are still to be clarified. The property committee has been considering changes to the front area of the church to allow disabled access and to make better use of the space to either side of the choir box – this matter is still at an early stage and some of the bequest may be used to finance this work.

Tables – Seventeen tables of various heights and colours have been purchased for use by the Girls Brigade, Sunday school and other groups. The members of committee are very grateful for the donations from the Gilmore and the Cunningham families, which will be used to purchase the tables.

Fascia on the McConnell and Lecture Halls – new fascia and guttering is due to be installed on these halls to reduce future maintenance.

Lighting in the Church – Some of the globes surrounding the lights in the church have started to crack and Trevor Agnew has carried out some temporary repairs to the globes. Unfortunately, the globes and light fittings are getting very difficult to obtain and the lighting units are inefficient compared to new lighting units. The property committee are currently considering the options to replace these units and are very grateful to Trevor for carrying out the necessary repairs and for his on-going work to maintain the electrical systems in the church, halls and car parks.

Defibrillator – The Village Community Group are currently seeking a potential grant from the local council to help purchase a defibrillator and this matter is on hold until this source of financial support is considered.

Power-washing – The walls around the lower carparks and some areas surrounding the Church had become very dirty. The members

Page 24 of committee are very grateful to Jim Cahoon for his good work cleaning these areas. The committee are currently in the process of buying a new petrol powered power-washer rather than having to rely on hiring a power-washer or using equipment loaned by members of the congregation.

Data protection – Claire Campbell has been working on a policy in relation to the personal data held by the various organisations within the church. The members of committee are very grateful to Claire for her work in relation to the protection of personal data. Malcolm Downey, Secretary Congregational Committee

Cradle Roll

When a child is baptised, he/she is placed on the Cradle Roll of the Church until they are 4 years of age. The church keeps in touch by sending a birthday card each year. It is hoped that after the age of 4 the child will be coming along to Sunday School, Church and when they start primary school, Children’s Church.

From the 1 April 2019 – 31 August 2019 we wished the following children

02 April Archie McCartney 3rd Birthday 09 May Ellen McDowell 4th Birthday 19 May Jennifer Hamilton 4th Birthday 14 June Harley Crothers 1st Birthday 26 June Samuel J Agnew 3rd Birthday 28 June Jack Witherhead 3rd Birthday

Margaret Waugh Cradle Roll Secretary

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Theme for 2019/20 ‘Restore’

Hopefully after the summer break you have had some time to rest and feel restored ready for a new church year. Our Presbyterian Women’s group aims to provide a safe environment for women to come and spend time together, building relationships, in supporting one another, whatever age or season of life we find ourselves in. We come together to learn more about God and the relevance He has for our everyday life whilst supporting the wider work of our church at home and overseas.

The theme for this year is Restore based on Psalm 23 and in particular verse 3 ‘The Lord restores my soul’. We are all in need of restoration since the Garden of Eden when sin separated us from God. Whilst we will not be fully restored until the day of Christ’s return, God wants to restore our souls each and everyday. He sees the potential in each one of us to become the people he wants us to be.

We usually meet on second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in MacConnell Hall as well as for a number of other events throughout the year. Below is the programme until Christmas. Please do come along to as many evenings or as few as your commitments allow.

Tuesday 10th September - Restore your Body & Mind with Joanne from Wilson Chiro.

Monday 14th October – Harvest Supper Castlegore Flute band & Warren Smyth Gospel singer 7.45pm Lecture Hall.

Tuesday 12th November – Gayle Bunting from Invisible Traffick

Saturday 7th December – Christmas Fair 2-5pm

Tuesday 10th December – 50th Anniversary Dinner. This year we are celebrating 50 years since the start of a women’s group here in 1st Ballyeaston. We will be having a celebratory dinner in Rosspark Hotel and invite all women from our congregation, past members and leaders to attend. Details of the Menu and cost will follow in the weekly bulletin closer to the time.

Page 26 Throughout the church year we also support the PW mission Fund & special projects home and overseas.

The Mission Fund supports the development of ministry among women in the Presbyterian church through resources, training events and conferences. It also partners and supports the Councils for Mission in Ireland and Overseas. Here in Ireland we support the work of the deaconesses in congregations, hospitals, prisons and community projects and the ongoing work of South Belfast Friendship House.

The Special Home Project for 2019/20 is supporting the Council for Social Witness Specialist services. In particular, funding for Thompson house - supported housing for male ex offenders; Carlisle House - residential substance misuse treatment centre; and Gray’s Court - a move-on supported living project.

The Special Overseas Project 2019/20 will support the work of Dar Manhak Al Hayat as they translate into Arabic, and publish, a devotional book to help young Christian girls grow daily in their relationship and walk with God.

We hope and pray there will be something to interest you and most importantly that you will learn more about God and be aware of His restoration in your life and soul as we journey together through this new church year. Claire McDowell, PW Secretary

Page 27 Treasurer’s Report - August 2019

Contributions to the individual funds through envelopes and Standing Orders up to the 28th July: Change Envelope 2009 2014 2018 2019 between 2018 & 2019 Weekly Freewill £31,273 £38,739 £36,710 £34,202 -£2,508 Offering United Appeal £3,862 £2,844 £3,827 £3,341 -£486 Property Fund - £4,327 £3,058 £3,994 £936 Vestibule Fund £10,230

Income and Expenditure up to 28th July 2019:

Fund Fund Fund Balance B/F Income Expense Balance Balance July July 2019 2018 General £15,368 £36,413 £55,668 -£3,887 £16,515 Revenue Property £52,167 £3,641 £3,405 £52,403 £43,830 Fund United £3,994 £3,994 £6,167 Appeal

Thank you to all members of the congregation who have contributed regularly over the past 7 months towards God’s work in our church. Contributions through envelopes and Standing Orders to the WFO and United Appeal are down on last year while contributions to the Property Fund are up.

The Income in the second table does not include Gift Aid from the HMRC as we have not received it yet. We hope to receive approx. £18,986 in total. £12,679 will go in the General Revenue Account, £1,623 to United Appeal and £1,247 to Property Account.

Page 28 Having dealt with the church accounts for 20 years it is sad to see that giving from so many has not changed. Please donate just a little more through your weekly envelopes. If every contributing family increased the WFO offering by 50p a week it would mean an additional £6,200 a year. It would make such a difference!

United Appeal – The target for 2019 is £10,035. So far, through envelopes, £3,994 has been collected. If the target is not met by the end of the year in this fund, the balance is made up from the General Revenue Account which then will be pushed further into the red.

Harvest Appeal – This year will be towards the General Church Funds. Envelopes and a letter about our services will be distributed in the middle of September.

The Gift Aid scheme is an easy way for the church to get money back from the Inland Revenue. If you have signed up for this scheme, thank you, but please remember that we can only claim against tax you pay so please check and contact either John Cummings or myself if you are concerned about the amount we are claiming. If you haven’t signed up, why not. We don’t have to make a claim against all you contribute, we only claim what you tell us to. I.e. contribute £300 a year, only claim on £100, church gets back £20. Also please inform us if you have stopped paying tax. If the church keeps claiming and you are no longer paying tax, it is you who will have to pay the Inland Revenue and not the church.

Standing Order If you are a frequent user of online banking it is easy to setup and maintain. You are in control. You decide how much each month and into which funds you want to contribute. Please remember to look at how much you contribute and, if at all possible, consider increasing. There is a form to be completed which can be found at the back of the annual report or email the treasurer.

Housekeeping and advanced warnings

· Please, please, please record the amount you contribute on the front of the envelope. This helps the finance team as sometimes we find envelopes that haven’t been sealed properly.

· It is not necessary to write your name and address on the envelope.

Page 29 · Final contributions for 2019 is the last Sunday in December. Any contributions made after this date will have to be recorded in the next financial year.

· Contributions from congregational and associated groups should be with the Treasurer before Christmas so as to be cleared within the financial year since no monies can be carried back.

Joe Bingham, Treasurer [email protected]

Ballyclare Historical Society Programme September - December 2019

We usually meet at 7.30pm in Old Ballyclare Presbyterian Church on the Main Street (beside Browns Coffee House). Everyone is welcome.

Tuesday 10th September

Speaker: Dr. David Hume. The Border Reivers

Tuesday 8th October

Brian Higginson & Friends

Ballyclare Victoria Flute Band

Tuesday 12th November

Speaker: Robson Davidson. 100 years of Ballyclare Comrades

Tuesday 10th December

Christmas Party

Jack McKinney entertains

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Church Record

Deaths

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV

5th April Mrs Vera English Ballyclare

7th May Mr Robert Cunningham Ballyclare

16th May Mr John Gardiner Ballyclare

7th August Mr James McKernon Ballyclare

Baptisms

"I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come.... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" Luke 3:16

5th May Master Samuel John Heaney

16th June Master Charlie Jacob McFarland Miss Jane Agnes Witherhead

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Upcoming Events

September

Sunday 1st Church Breakfast 10.15am Lecture Hall hosted by members of Childrens Church

Prayer meeting 10.30am Youth Lounge

Morning Worship 11.30am

United Evening Worship 7pm Communion

Monday 2nd - Prayer Evenings 8-9pm Galbraith Hall Wednesday 4th

Saturday 21st Senior Members' Evening 6.30pm Lecture Hall (Details page 11)

October

Sunday 13th Harvest Worship 11.30am Speaker: Keith Gardiner, Tearfund

Harvest Thanksgiving 7pm Speaker: Rev Stephen Simpson, 1st Donegore

Monday 14th PW Harvest Supper 7.45pm (Details page 26)

November

Sunday 3rd Morning Worship 11.30am Communion

United Evening Worship 7pm Communion

Sunday 10th BB Enrolment (2nd Ballyeaston) 11.30am

Sunday 24th GB Enrolment (1st Ballyeaston) 11.30am

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