It gives me great please to present the Session Report for 2004.
Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to our most senior elder, David (D C) Morrow, who passed away last November. We thank God for his long life and service to this congregation. To his family, and also to those who have lost loved ones during this past year, we ask God to bless and sustain you. We remember those who are and have been suffering due to illness and pray that God will send His Holy Spirit to help heal their pain and suffering.
Session continued to put a lot of time and effort into Vision and Strategy for the future of our congregation and community. Thanks for your prayers and with God's help we continue to strive to follow His eternal plan and purpose under the leadership of our minister, Mairisine. We thank God that He gives her the strength to serve all of us in love, above and beyond the call of duty. We pray protection for Mairisine, David, Jonathan and Daniel and also a home coming back to Ballynahinch in the near future.
Part of vision is investing in our young people and Session felt it was time to appoint a full-time Director of Youth Ministries. Miss Clare Hill felt the call of God to come to First in October. She has settled in remarkably quickly, developing relationships and befriending the young people.
Another investment is Master's Commission. Session was glad to take up the offer of Lloyd and Brenda Rindels to bring MC to Ireland, empowering young adults to go deeper with God and respond to His plans and purposes for their lives. Please continue to pray for MC and Lloyd and Brenda for protection and also their physical well being.
Remember all the young people of our church in your prayers and also the incredible leadership in Sunday School, Bible Class, uniformed and non-uniformed organizations.
For our older folks I would like to invite you to come along to the Friendship Circle where you can enjoy a bite to eat and a chat.
Another part of Vision and Strategy is worship; therefore, to enable us to understand it better Mairisine preached a series of sermons on worship with biblical teaching on how it developed from Moses to the present day.
Central to worship is music and I want to thank the choir under the excellent leadership of our Director of Music, Richard Gill, for leading us so well.
Session has taken the decision to move the May Communion Service to the second Sunday in the month from now on.
I want to put on record our thanks to Hubert and Mardie Gibson for over 45 years faithful sacrifice making ready the Communion elements.
Presbytery visitations have been replaced by Presbytery consultation and our AGM will form part of this when some members of Presbytery will be in attendance.
Session formulated questionnaires to be filled in by members of the congregations. Hopefully, by now you will have received one and returned it, but if you need a questionnaire please speak to me.
As well as reaching out into our own community, we also need to look further afield. I am sure all of us who were there remember Mairisine bringing us Cathy Bollaert's greeting on Christmas morning and how she was at the beach in Sri Lanka. Little did anyone know the devastation that would follow less than 24 hours later in the wake of the tsunami. We know that God has a purpose for our lives and we thank Him that Cathy is there at this time and that we, as a congregation, through Cathy, are able to help our fellow man, even in a small way.
Finally, as some of you will know I have taken the decision to retire from the office of Clerk of Session. I thank my wife and family, the congregation, members of Session and especially our Minister for their support during my time in office. I wish my successor, Jackie Scott, every blessing and I know that the role is being passed into a safe pair of hands.
Once again, thank you one and all and thanks to our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, without whose help I would not have been able to fulfill the calling.
Yours in Christ
W GAVIN MARTIN
Clerk of Session
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Letter From The Manse
Session Report
Committee Report
Treasurer's Report
George's Report
Home Groups Report
Youth Ministry Report
Masters Commissions Report
Sunday School Report
Fusion Report
Youth Club Report
Scouts Report
Beavers Report
Guides Report
Brownies Report
Rainbos Guides Report
Cygnets Report
PWA Report
Young Woman's Group Report
Choir Report
Bowling Club Report
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