Local churches unite for Women’s World Day of Prayer

The Rev Brian Gibson and ladies from churches in the Lisburn area who took part in the ‘Women’s World Day of Prayer’ service in Railway Street Presbyterian Church.

Local churches united in various venues throughout the whole Lisburn area on Friday evening (6th March) for the Women’s World Day of Prayer. Lisburn area churches held their main service in Railway Street Presbyterian Church. The service, was led by Mrs Jean Gibson, Northern Ireland Manager of Care for the Family who is also a member of Railway Street. The speaker was Mrs Hazel Loney, All Ireland President of the Methodist Women and a member of Cairnshill Methodist Church. Dr Bertha Cowan presided at the organ. The praise was led by the choir comprised of ladies from churches in the Lisburn area.

In a challenging address, Mrs Loney spoke of how the Apostle Paul used the example of the human body to symbolise the nature of the Church, which he referred to as the “body of Christ”. She emphasised that all the various members playing their part and working together was central to the theme; and explained that unity in diversity could also express this same truth. Mrs Loney went on to speak of the amazing truth that God has left the church as His representative body here and how within the body we can have ‘oneness’ without ‘sameness’. In conclusion she recalled the great prayer recorded in John 17 where Jesus prayed “that they may be one even as we are one” thus leaving us with the thought that our life within the body of Christ should reflect the unity within the Godhead.

On Thursday morning (5th March) a service was held in Thompson House - the speaker was Mrs Jenny Smyth who has served with the Church Missionary Society in Sudan and Uganda, and is a member of Lisburn Cathedral. On Friday afternoon Friday (6th March) a service was held in Blaris Fold; the speaker was Miss Margaret Young, a local preacher of the Methodist Church and a member of Magheragall Methodist. Roberta England, also a member of Magheragall Methodist presided at the piano.

Maze area churches held their service in St Matthew’s Church, Broomhedge - the speaker was the Rev Joanne Megarrell; Moira area churches held their service in The Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Magheralin - the speaker was Mrs Maureen Jones; Dunmurry area churches held their service in Kilmakee Presbyterian Church - the speaker was Mrs Daphne Wilson; Dromara area churches held their service in the Church of Saint John, Dromara - the speaker was Mrs Christine Fleming; Boardmills and Killaney area churches held their service in First Saintfield Presbyterian Church - the speaker was Claire McIntyre; Glenavy and Crumlin area churches held their service in St John’s, Crumlin - the speaker was the Rev Donna Quigley.


Jean Gibson (leading the service) is pictured with Dr Bertha Cowan (at piano) and the combined choir comprising of ladies from churches in the Lisburn area who led the praise at the ‘Women’s World Day’ of Prayer service in Railway Street Presbyterian Church.	Hazel Loney (left) and Jean Gibson attach figures to the tree symbolising the oneness of the worldwide church.

Betty Patterson (left) and Margaret Young pictured at the ‘Women’s World Day of Prayer’ service in Blaris Fold.	Margaret Young (left in back row) is pictured with Roberta England - Pianist (left) and Elizabeth Bridgett (right) and residents who attended the ‘Women’s World Day of Prayer’ service in Blaris Fold.

07/03/2009