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Joy at Ballycairn as new minister is Ordained and Installed

Ballycairn Session, Treasurer and Organist with Rev Clarke Deering. Front Row L-R:- Mr William Clarke (Elder); Mr William Steele (Clerk of Session); Rev Clarke Deering; Mrs Rosaline Ruffell (Elder); Miss Joy Rainey (Elder); Mrs Edith Douglas (Organist). Back Row L-R:- Mr David Gowdy (Treasurer); Mr Stephen Gilbert (Elder); Mr Oliver Hull (Elder); Mr William Dornan (Elder); Mr Eric Patterson (Elder); Mr Marvin Gowdy (Elder); Mr Victor Sinclair (Elder).
Ballycairn Session, Treasurer and Organist with Rev Clarke Deering. Front Row L-R:- Mr William Clarke (Elder); Mr William Steele (Clerk of Session); Rev Clarke Deering; Mrs Rosaline Ruffell (Elder); Miss Joy Rainey (Elder); Mrs Edith Douglas (Organist). Back Row L-R:- Mr David Gowdy (Treasurer); Mr Stephen Gilbert (Elder); Mr Oliver Hull (Elder); Mr William Dornan (Elder); Mr Eric Patterson (Elder); Mr Marvin Gowdy (Elder); Mr Victor Sinclair (Elder).
Front L-R - Mrs Rosaline Ruffell (Elder); Rev Robert Love (Convener of Vacancy), Rev Clarke Deerin; Rev Wilfred Orr (Moderator, South Belfast Presbytery); Miss Joy Rainey (Elder). Back L-R - Mr Stephen Gilbert (Elder); Mr William Clerk (Elder); Mr Cecil Graham (Clerk of Presbytery); Mr Oliver Hull (Elder); Mr William Steele (Clerk of Session); Rev Alexander Wimberly (Vacancy Commission); Mr William Dornan (Elder); Mr Eric Patterson (Elder); Mr Victor Sinclair (Elder).
Front L-R - Mrs Rosaline Ruffell (Elder); Rev Robert Love (Convener of Vacancy), Rev Clarke Deerin; Rev Wilfred Orr (Moderator, South Belfast Presbytery); Miss Joy Rainey (Elder). Back L-R - Mr Stephen Gilbert (Elder); Mr William Clerk (Elder); Mr Cecil Graham (Clerk of Presbytery); Mr Oliver Hull (Elder); Mr William Steele (Clerk of Session); Rev Alexander Wimberly (Vacancy Commission); Mr William Dornan (Elder); Mr Eric Patterson (Elder); Mr Victor Sinclair (Elder).

ON Friday 6th November, after a vacancy lasting two and a half years, Ballycairn Presbyterian Church Installed its new Minister.

Mr Clarke Deering, Assistant Minister at Harmony Hill, received the unanimous call from Ballycairn during the summer and his Ordination and Installation took place on the same evening.

Friends and relations of the Deering family travelled from all parts of Northern Ireland for the Service and fellowship afterwards. Over 20 members of 1st Monaghan Presbyterian Church, Rev Deering's home congregation, arrived by bus to support their friend and former Elder. With the members of Ballycairn out in force, the Church was over-flowing and the solemn and uplifting service was a wonderful experience for everyone.

The Church Choir, under the leadership of Mrs Edith Douglas, led the praise and the Moderator of South Belfast Presbytery, Rev Wilfred Orr, officiated.

The Rev Alexander Wimberly, Minister of McCracken Memorial, took the Scripture Reading and Prayer and the Choir sang the anthem 'My Tribute' by Andrae Crouch.

The hymns were specially chosen by Rev Deering — 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation, 'When I survey the Wondrous Cross', 'Lord I come before your throne of Grace' and 'Tell Out my soul, the greatness of the Lord!'

The Presbytery was constituted by the Moderator and the Standards of the Church were read by Presbytery Clerk, Mr Cecil Graham. Prescribed questions were put to Mr Deering who replied affirmatively and subscribed to the Confession of Faith.

With the congregation standing and Mr Deering kneeling the Act of Ordination and Installation took place after which all sang the Aaronic Blessing.

L-R: Mrs Hazel Deering; Rev Clarke Deering; Rev Deering's parents Mrs Ruth Deering and Mr Herbert Deering. The Deering family:- Front row LR:Mrs Hazel Deering; Rev Clarke Deering; Rachel Deering. Back row L-R: Stewart Deering; Conor Deering; Roger Deering. 
L-R: Mrs Hazel Deering; Rev Clarke Deering; Rev Deering's parents Mrs Ruth Deering
and Mr Herbert Deering. 		 The Deering family:-
Front row LR: Mrs Hazel Deering; Rev Clarke Deering; Rachel Deering. Back row L-R: Stewart Deering; Conor Deering; Roger Deering.  
Convenor

Rev Robert Love, Convener of the vacancy, gave the sermon and charge to the Minister and Congregation and the service ended with a seven-fold Amen sung by the Choir. After a supper provided by the ladies of Ballycairn, tie Moderator brought greetings to Rev Deering from the Presbytery of South Belfast.

Mr Mervyn Jackson, Clerk of Session of 1st Monaghan, spoke highly of Mr Deering and the qualities he brought to his home Church, while Rev David Knox and Mr Nicholas Trimble reminisced about the time he spent at Harmony Hill.

All wished Rev Deering God's blessing in his new charge. Mr William Steele, Clerk of Session in Ballycairn, referred to the long vacancy Ballycairn had endured but emphasised the unanimous decision arrived at by the Hearing Committee and then the Congregation.

He spoke of the great hopes the congregation have for the future and he extended a heart-felt welcome to Rev Deering, his wife Hazel and children Rachel, Roger, Stewart and Conor.

Greetings

Responding to the greetings Rev Deering reflected on his time in 1st Monaghan where he experienced great satisfaction working with youth and where he feite the call of God to the ministry.

Speaking fondly of his time at Harmony Hill he said he could not speak highly enough of the help given him by Rev David Knox and the congregation. It was there he said he learned to be a minister.

Rev Deering praised the support and love he received from his wife and family over the many years he spent preparing for this day and he is now looking forward to ministering to the people of Ballycairn congregation and district.

The evening concluded with song from Jinhyeog Glissman and the Harmony Hill

20/11/2009