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DROMARA Reformed Presbyterian Church has said
farewell to its minister of 13 years.
The Rev. John Hawthorne is leaving Dromara to
become minister of Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church; he
preached his farewell sermons on Sunday, April 9.
Mr. Hawthorne was installed in Dromara in
June 1993, having previously served as minister in Fairview and
Tullyvallen and in the Limavady congregations.
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Mr. Harold Kerr (left) and Miss Maureen Skelly
(right) of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church
present gifts to the Rev. and Mrs. Hawthorne as they
prepare to depart for Dervock. BL17-506
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His first farewell address was based on
Pilate's question at Jesus' trial -'What then shall I do with
Jesus who is called Christ?' In the evening he based his sermon
on the Apostle Paul's address the Ephesian elders �'So now
brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among
all those who are sanctified.'
After the service, Clerk of Session Mr.
Harold Kerr and church Elder, Mr. Gordon Bond, paid tribute to
Mr. Hawthorne, to whom a cheque was presented on behalf of the
congregation. Miss Maureen Skelly presented a gift to Mrs.
Hawthorne on behalf of the ladies of the congregation, in
recognition of her contribution to the Womens' Missionary
Association and to children's work.
Stephen Bond, representing the Covenanter
Youth group, thanked Mrs. Hawthorne for the warm hospitality she
regularly extended to the group, in token of which Louise
Chambers presented her with a gift. Gareth Kerr and Alison Bell
also presented gifts to all six members of the Hawthorne family.
Mr. Hawthorne replied on behalf of his wife and himself.
The Rev. D. Porter, minister of Second Dromara
Presbyterian Church, speaking on behalf of the local ministers,
emphasised the fellowship and unity enjoyed between all the
ministers of the local churches.
Dromara Boys' Brigade Captain Mr. Ian
McCullagh thanked Mr. Hawthorne for his involvement as BB
Chaplain - a role shared by three other ministers in the Dromara
area - and presented gifts from the BB to Mr. Hawthorne and to
Michael Hawthorne, who had been a member of the company for 10
years.
Mr. Nathan Hawthorne, on behalf of the whole
family, noted some of the problems but more especially the
privileges of being brought up in the manse.
Mr Bond closed that part of the programme
with prayer and tea was served in the Church hall to all who
attended.
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