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Church News

St Mark's host Family Fun Day

ST Mark's, Ballymacash will get into the Christmas spirit this weekend when they host a Family Fun Day tomorrow (Saturday) from 10.30am - 1pm. The annual Christmas Fair at St. Mark's has been a significant social event for the whole North Lisburn community for nearly 40 years, and everyone at St Mark's thanks those who have who have worked so hard to mount it each year and the many people who support it, thereby enabling the Parish not only to connect with the local community but also to raise funds.

This year they have decided to hold a Family Fun Day which will provide a wide range of activities and stalls and will also fulfill the role of the Christmas Fair as a great social event.

The Fun Day is in some ways a natural development of the Christmas Fair but it will have a stronger emphasis on catering for all the family.

It will include a Café, stalls, Santa's Grotto, Face Painting, Climbing Wall and Bake-Off Competition. Music will be provided by St. Mark's Music Group.

Christingle at Christ Church

THE age old Christmas tradition of the Christingle service will be brought to Lisburn by Connor Mothers' Union and Christ Church Parish this Sunday.

The service will be held in Christ Church at 3pm on Sunday (December 4), and children of all ages will be most welcome.

The service will be followed by seasonal refreshments in the church hall, and there will be goody bags for all the children. Please contact Alberta Miskimmin for further details or to give numbers for catering purposes - telephone: 9079 8033 or email: albertamiskimmin@hotmail.co.uk

Christmas at Elmwood

ELMWOOD Presbyterian Church kicks off its Christmas season with its Christmas Tree Family Service this Sunday December 4 at 11.30am. The service will be led by Rev Andrew Thompson and the children will bring gifts in aid of Belfast City Mission Christmas Appeal. Santa makes a special appearance later that day at the Connect service at 6.30pm. This informal event is for all the family and is built around a programme of music, drama and chat. It aims to be open and welcoming whether you're a regular church goer or not. Children can visit Santa in his Grotto after he has turned on the Christmas lights. Hot refreshments will be served including tea, coffee, mulled wine and mince pies.

On Sunday December 11 the evening service at 6.30pm will be led by the choir when the story of Christmas will be told through familiar carols and readings. The children of Elmwood take their turn in leading the worship on December 18 at 11.30am and the youth present the Christmas story in music and drama at the evening service at 6.30pm. Christmas morning sees an Elmwood family gathering at loam to celebrate Christ's birth together. Finally the new year celebration begins on December 31 at 8pm with a ceilidh and food followed by late night worship to bring in the new year. The Church hopes you find time to join as it celebrates God's precious gift to us.

Vision4kids helps improve lives around the world

VISION4KIDS is a Christian based charity with a vision of helping children and young people around the world wherever there is a need to improve the quality of life.

In everything it does the aim is to also promote the Gospel of Christ and see lives transformed. It is primarily a fundraising unit and divert much needed support to other charities and works already established in various countries concentrating on four main areas: Education, Health, Poverty Relief and Spiritual Need.

Through time the aim is to create and develop our own teams and work directly with children of all backgrounds and needs. Since its launch in February 2011; they have raised over £10,000 supporting schools and orphanages in Nepal, Kenya and Northern Ireland; provided much needed clothing and food to street children in Romania and supported an established NI ministry team to run Bible camps for the underprivileged of Poland.

You can find out more about the charity via the website: www.vision4kids.org.

Ulster Star
02/12/2011