CHIMES Issue No 45 Spring 2013
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THE CHIMES Issue No 45 Spring 2013 Including Financial Report for 2012 Deerpark Bridge in Antrim First Donegore Presbyterian Church WELL DONE! LET’S KEEP ON! Following God during 2012 has meant we have again seen Him grow and strengthen our Church. This is the story you will read in the following articles about events and organisations! Each one will paint some of the picture of the Worship, Work and Witness of 1st Donegore within our organisations and beyond our church gates. So I say a sincere “thank you” for what you have helped God grow and strengthen during 2012, and for the ways you have loved others in the name of Jesus. “Well done!” But “Let’s keep on!” Let’s keep on making Worship our weekly priority. Let’s keep on making 11am in 1st Donegore the place we meet to praise and thank God - but also the time when God feeds our souls, renews our hope, gives us help and deepens our spiritual health. Let’s keep on seeing God work in lives as we pray at Engage from 10.30am to 10.45am each Sunday. And let’s keep on, or start enjoying the friendship, support and fellowship of GROW - our small groups - which meet Tue & Wed at 8pm and Thur at 10am. Let's keep on in the Work of 1st Donegore we as serve our community and each other. Let’s keep on making that difference in the lives of seniors, adults, parents, young people, children and infants through all our organisations. And as we work to love and serve others let’s keep on relying on God’s grace to encourage, strengthen and lead us. Let’s keep on in the Witness of 1st Donegore as we show the love of Jesus beyond our gates. Let’s keep on strengthening our Witness overseas as we get involved in our “Kids4school” school building project at Msalato in Tanzania this year. Let’s keep on growing our Witness to our district, as we support our partners in local mission - “Storehouse”, “Scripture Union” and “Christians Against Poverty”. And let’s keep on praying for our Witness to Parkgate, as we encourage new initiatives like “Sparks” for children and “Jump 2” for teens. As you read this copy of Chimes and take that backward glance at 2012, can I ask you to pause and notice the things God is doing as 1st Donegore loves, cares for and serves others for Jesus? And as you reflect on all you see, can I also ask you to choose one aspect of our Church life where you can take a deeper interest? “Well Done! Let’s keep on!” This is a paraphrase of the words God used to encourage the New Testament Church in Galatia. God’s words remain a timely encouragement to renew and inspire us for the work of 2013. """Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we will reap, if we do not lose heart." As you read this copy of Chimes, you will naturally be grateful to those who have contributed to and compiled it. You will also be grateful to each of those willing, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who make it all happen. Above all I ask you to choose to make God’s words in Galatians 6:9 your inspiration, so that 1st Donegore keeps on in its Worship, Work and Witness. Thank you all for 2012. Well Done! Let's keep on! Stephen 1 SESSION REPORT Early in 2012 Session learned that the Doagh Fellowship of Churches had agreed to run an Alpha course and following the success of the course that we had run ourselves some 5 years ago, we were very supportive of this proposal. Delegates from 1st Donegore were appointed to be part of the organising team and in due course Sam Pollock became the leader. An invitation evening was held in December and the course is now up and running and well attended. Thanks to Sam for all his hard work in getting things moving and also of course to all others who have been involved. The idea of a Men’s Ministry had been around for a little time and an initial meeting was held in the Templeton Hotel. This initiative developed gradually with a few events being held during the year including a trip to Belfast. Later in the year Brian Gault, a well-known Thalidomide campaigner, agreed to be a guest speaker, due to clashes of dates this was eventually held as an open meeting in early January when we had an excellent presentation from Brian and his wife May. During the year we were sorry to hear that Mrs Elaine Sinclair had decided to step down from her role as a Governor to Parkgate Primary School. Our sincere thanks go to Elaine for her diligent service in this important position. In June plans were made to ensure we did not miss out on the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. With the help of some funding from Antrim Borough Council the Youth Club ran a very successful Community Event with a 'street party' in the Church grounds. We also had our own celebrity present on the day when Sam brought along his Olympic Torch which he had run with a few days earlier. As the Queen had 'invited' everyone to a lunch on Sunday afternoon 3rd June we held our own lunch after Worship and this was also an event that was enjoyed by all. In September Session learned of Grace's intention to retire from the GB from May 2013. This resignation was received with much regret and we thank her for her many years of service as Captain which began in 1979. Work continues at this time to find a replacement. It is very pleasing to see the youth work in our congregation developing and expanding. Session was very happy to approve extensions to both the Youth Club and Sunday School. The first additional event to be held was a praise band evening on a Saturday night which was well attended despite heavy snow! Sunday School has also had a 'Sparks' event on a Friday evening and both are hoped to be repeated on a regular basis over the coming months. 2 Session has been giving much consideration on how to reach those members of congregation who have somehow got disconnected from our everyday life and work. You will probably read about this elsewhere in the Chimes but if not keep an eye out for further details during 2013. John McCullagh Clerk of Session PROPERTY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT This year our main emphasis within the Property sub-committee has been a programme of continuing maintenance. Due to weathering of the existing wooden door and frame a replacement PVC door has been fitted at the rear of the Manse, the original door being beyond economical repair. The central heating chimney at the rear of the church was completely re- pointed and the top few rows of bricks and crown were rebuilt. Unfortunately we have again suffered some glass damage which has been repaired as required. The police are kept informed of these incidents and we hope that they can be minimised with good vigilance by all. To maintain our safety certification the usual inspections of fire extinguishers and fire fighting equipment were carried out. A full electrical test and inspection was carried out in the hall. This included testing of all portable electrical items, emergency lighting and fire alarm system. All organisations are reminded that it is their duty as mandated by Committee policy, to hold at least one fire drill during the year preferably at the start of the season. This can be arranged with John McCullagh at any time. Organisations are also requested to ensure that when putting chairs in the store to the left of the entrance that they are in stacks of 10 chairs high and that a clear passage is left for access to the coat-hooks and switchboard. We would like to thank those people who once again turned out so willingly to assist in our regular grounds clean-up. If anyone else would like to be involved please watch Family Matters for dates for the next 'Super Saturday'! John McCullagh Sub-Committee Secretary 3 BEREAVEMENTS & WEDDINGS & BAPTISMS 2012 Bereavements Mr William Milligan died 10th April Mr John Jamison died 13th August Mrs Carol Todd died 13th October Mrs Jean Hoey died 10th November Marriages Julie Douglas to Michael Johnston 11th February Emma Alexander to Ben Meikle 27th April Jillian Kerr to John Lavery 11th August Louise Glen to Matthew Drennan 18th August Baptisms Naomi Rebecca - daughter to David and Claire Charles on 18th November 1ST DONEGORE'S PASTORAL CARE We all have a “Care for the members of our Church Family” and this is one of the core values at the heart of every Congregation, and it is something in which we are all involved. 1st Donegore is here to show Jesus' love by the way we support and care for each other. Our members do this informally and instinctively, but there is also the formal Pastoral Care that First Donegore provides through Minister, Elders and the Pastoral Care Team. We need your help to provide the best formal pastoral care we can. To do this we need to be informed: - when you or a family member is in hospital. (Changes in Hospital Chaplaincy guidelines mean that a Chaplain won't always call with you, nor let your Minister know) - when other life events mean you or a loved one need the support and encouragement of your Church Family.