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Pictured at a Lenten
Service in St Mark's Church, Ballymacash,
last Sunday morning are L to R: James Walker
- Rector's Warden, Mayor - Councillor Trevor
Lunn MLA, Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn, Miss
Sheila Jennings, Rev Canon George Irwin -
Rector, Mr Kenneth Gamble - Student Minister
and Mrs Frances Moreland - People's Warden.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn MLA and
the Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn were the special guests at a
Lenten Service, Holy Communion and Lunch in St Mark's Church,
Ballymacash last Sunday morning. The Rector, the Rev Canon
George Irwin, led the service and welcomed the large
congregation and gave a special welcome to the Mayor and
Mayoress explaining that the Mayor was no stranger to St Mark's
having been at the church on several occasions in the capacity
of organist. Canon Irwin congratulated Mr Lunn and the other
five councillors on their recent election to the Northern
Ireland Assembly.
After reading the Scripture lesson from Isaiah, chapter 55 v 1-9
the Mayor thanked Canon Irwin for his invitation and spoke of
his Mayoral theme to make Lisburn 'A City for Everyone'. In
bringing the greetings of Lisburn City Council he wished Canon
Irwin and the congregation every success and God's blessing.
Pictured with the church
choir at a Lenten Service in St Mark's
Church, Ballymacash, last Sunday morning are
L to R: Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn MLA,
Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn, Timothy Howe '
Organist and Rev Canon George Irwin - Rector
Timothy Howe on organ and the church choir led the
praise. The hymns were 'On Jordan's bank', 'God forgave my
sin', 'God is here, as we his people' and 'Guide me, O thou
great Jehovah'. The gospel reading was taken from John 2 v.
13-22. Mr Kenneth Gamble, who is in the final year of
training for the ordained ministry, led the intercessions
and administered the chalice at Holy Communion. In his
address, based on the gospel reading describing Jesus
cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem, Canon Irwin spoke about
why Jesus expressed such a strong sense of indignation as to
cause him to drive the money changers out of the Temple and
accuse the religious authorities of failing in their
stewardship. He explained that Jesus' sense of social
justice cried out in protest at the exorbitant charges
imposed on people coming to God's house to worship and offer
sacrifices. He further explained that the money-changing
operation was taking place in the Court of the Gentiles and
thereby preventing non-Jewish worshippers from praying - and
so Jesus speaks out in the strongest possible terms against
the sectarianism and bigotry which shut out the genuine
seeker from the presence of God. 'The scene in the Temple'
he said, 'prompts some uncomfortable questions for
Christians today. Do we worship because of our conviction of
our need of God's love and forgiveness or is worship just a
social custom' Is there anything in our Church life - any
snobbishness, coldness, lack of fellowship, arrogance or
sectarian attitude which keeps the stranger out''
Something cooking in the
kitchen Some of the ladies preparing lunch which
followed the Lenten Service in St Mark's Church,
Ballymacash, last Sunday morning. L to R: Norma
Ahearne, Lyndsay Scott, Nancy Scott, Sylvia
Belshaw (Church Sexton), Irene Doherty and Carol
Hall.
Last Sunday's annual service and lunch is an important
part of the work and witness at St Mark's during the season
of Lent. Proceeds from the lunch will be divided between the
Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme and two overseas mission
projects. The overseas mission projects supported directly
by St Mark's are the Anglican Seminary of St. John the
Evangelist in Kitwe, Zambia and the Sinikithemba project in
Grahamstown, South Africa.
During the service, Miss Sheila Jennings, a member of the
congregation of St Mark's, spoke of her recent visit to
Grahamstown, South Africa prior to last Christmas and
explained how the proceeds from the lunch will be used
directly for the Sinikithemba project, which provides
hospitality to 40 people who are HIV positive.
Prior to enjoying a delightful meal, Canon Irwin said the
Grace and gave a special thanks to the ladies who worked so
hard to prepare it and thanked the congregation for once
again, supporting these mission projects. 12/03/2007
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