"Well done, good and faithful servant"...It is with profound sadness that these notes are being compiled due to the recent death of our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth. Not so long ago we celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, and now we enter a period of national mourning for Her Majesty. We give thanks to Almighty God for her faithfulness in His service in our realm, the Commonwealth and the world.
It has indeed been a special year with Her late Majesty's Jubilee celebrations, and more recently our Quatercentenary and Bicentenary celebrations at the Blackhill and St Luran's respectively. The present church, designed by John Nash, was dedicated on 8th August 1822, and to mark the occasion, the Archbishop preached at a special service on Sunday 14th August, and refreshments served afterwards in Gortalowry House. We currently look forward to our next Bicentenary event - the Belfast Community Gospel Choir Gospel Concert on 24th September.
PARISH HALL RENOVATIONS: Work continues on the Parish Hall with the replacement of the roof and windows and other necessary repairs. In the meanwtime the main hall is out of action, but the upper hall acomplex is available to enable organisations to proceed.
SUNDAY SERVICES continue at 9am (Holy Communion 1) and 11am our variety of morning services throughout the month.
SUNDAY SCHOOL has resumed at 10am and we would encourage a return of our children to this key aspect of our Christian outreach in the parish.
ORGANISATIONS once again are back in action at various times...
CHANGES in times for the Mothers' Union and Bowling Club should be noted:-
- Mothers' Union on the first Thursday of the month at 1030am in the Upper Hall;
- Bowling Club meets each Thursday in the Upper Hall from 2-4pm.
New members are welcome to both organisations!
LOOKING AHEAD, we encourage parishioners to shake off the "Covid Blues" and join us again in worship in church and fellowship in the hall. Watching services on 'livestream' is no compensation for becoming involved in live in-person worship!
HARVEST WEEKEND: We thank God for His faithfulness in meeting all our needs in our Harvest Weekend which returns to its pre-Covid format with 3 services:-
- Harvest Youth Night on Friday 14th October at 7pm when we invite our young people across the youth organisations to church with the guest preacher being Mr David Brown who is our Diocesan Development Officer for Youth and Children's Ministry. We want to see a good turnout from youth and their parents and leaders!
- Harvest Eucharist at 9am as usual;
- Harvest Sunday School at 10am;
- Morning Harvest Service at 11am;
- Sunday Evening Harvest Praise at 7pm with guest preacher the Rev. Dr Adrian Stringer (Desertlyn and Ballyeglish).
MOTHERS' UNION: Our branch got off to an encouraging start in September with the rector giving an illustrated talk on the recent Holy Land Pilgrimage. The programme continues as follows:-
- Thur 6th October at 1030am - autumnal flower arranging;
- Thur 3rd November at 1030am - Guest Speaker;
- Thur 1st December at 1030am - Christmas Tea Party.. Imagine!
DIOCESAN SYNOD meets on Wed 19th October in the Synod Hall after Holy Communion at 10am in the Cathedral.
BEETLE DRIVE: our Explorer Scouts are hosting this event on Thursday 10th Novemberin the Upper Hall in support of 2 members, Daniel and Euan, who are part of a 40 strong Ulster contingent selected to join 50,000 explorers in the World Jamboree in South Korea next year. It's a long time since any of our scouts were so honoured! Well done, lads!
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY falls on 13th November and our parish Remembrance Service moves to 1140am to accommodate the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph at 11am.
"SPIRIT OF WINTER" is our seasonal Floral Presentation in St Luran's on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December to celebrate our Bicentenary, something of our return to normality and the beauty of this season of the year which incorporates both Advent and Christmas. Plan to attend! Time and details of opening will apear in due course.
August/September 2022 News
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