Lisburn.com

 

Exiles Forum

Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Mayor is special guest at Lenten service and lunch in St Mark's

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.

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.

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