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A house of prayer - totally dependant on God
A special service was held in Mount Zion Free Methodist Church
on Sunday 17th August to give thanks for the opening of a new
manse. The recently inducted Pastor Nick Serb, led the service
of thanksgiving assisted by past ministers, the Rev Fergus Bell
and the Rev Joe Woods. Joanne Watterson presided on the organ
and together with guitarist Peter Havenaar, led the singing of
congregational hymns, which included �To God be the glory�.
During the service the church secretary, Ronnie Nesbitt gave a
brief history of the manse. In 1969 the congregation was formed
when a group of around twenty-four believers met in the home of
the late Mr and Mrs John Urey. During the ministry of the Rev
Fergus Bell (1991-1995), Mr and Mrs Urey retired and moved to
Ballywalter in 1995; the congregation of Mount Zion Free
Methodist Church bought the house and it became the manse. It
was rented for some time before being occupied by the Rev Dr Tom
Griffith (1999-2000) followed by the Rev Joe Woods (2000-2004)
and more recently by Pastor Serb who was inducted in February
2007. About 18 months ago the old manse was demolished and the
new manse at 51a Mandeville Avenue was erected. Currently
occupied by (bachelor) Pastor Serb, it is soon to have a double
occupancy when he marries his fianc�e Michele Darragh next
December.
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Some members of the congregation and
friends pictured at the dedication of the new manse.
L to R: (seated) Doris Kidd, Mavis Ross and Isobel
McComb. (standing) Maureen Moore and Edith Greer. |
Pastor Nick Serb and his fianc�e
Michele Darragh pictured during the dedication of
the new manse.
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The new manse packed for the service
of dedication.
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Following the service of thanksgiving, the congregation made the
short journey to the new manse for a service of dedication
conducted by Pastor Serb assisted by Ronnie Nesbitt, Norman
Wright and Norman Moore. In dedicating the building, he spoke of
his wish that the manse would become a house of prayer totally
dependant on God. The Rev Fergus Bell gave thanks for the
Christian witness of the Urey family, the owners of the previous
manse and Norman Moore closed in a prayer of thanks giving all
glory to God for the new manse.
18/08/2008
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