Annual General Vestry Meeting

Tuesday
16 April, 2013
at 7.30 p.m.
in the Church Hall

This is the annual business meeting
of the church and
all parishioners are welcome.

Please note that only registered
Vestrypersons are entitled to vote.

An open letter to all parishioners
from the Select Vestry 19th March 2013

Dear Parishioner,

We are taking the time to write to each and every one of the parish family on a matter which is of great importance. This letter has the full support of the Church Wardens and the Select Vestry.

The Annual Report will be available next month and we thank you for your financial support in the last year and in previous years.

Unfortunately we have both good and bad news. We will start with the bad news. The bad news in this case is that as a parish we are not paying our way. Our expenditure is exceeding our income and this has been the case for a number of years.  At a special meeting of the Select Vestry to review the financial position it was agreed that the church family needed to be informed so that they had the opportunity to respond.

That brings us to the good news.  It is not a crisis situation and experience around the Vestry table would suggest that when the parish family is made aware of the situation the family members respond.  They rise to the occasion.

We think that there are a number of reasons for this situation.

As a consequence of the recession the cost of living has gone up significantly in the last number of years. Everything you turn to costs so much more today than it did even five years ago and while individuals have through the FWO and Restoration Envelopes increased their giving to God’s work in the parish, generally speaking our giving has not kept up with the cost of living.

We also recognise that for many of our church families the recession has been very difficult with pay freezes, redundancies and limited opportunities for our young people.

Like many families the Select Vestry is examining our outgoings and seeking to maximise value for money but we also need in these challenging times to turn to you and ask for your help,

So how can you help?  We have a number of suggestions and the first suggestion will cost you nothing.

Have you Gift Aided your Offering ?

Those of you who are taxpayers and who are currently giving to the church but have not signed a gift aid form could decide to do just that. In simple terms, this means that we as a Parish will get back from the Taxman the income tax which you have already paid to him on the amount you are giving to the church. This is at absolutely no cost to you but the parish benefits by receiving back from the Taxman a further 25% of what you have already given, to God’s work. 

Are you a Regular Giver?

You may already be a regular giver or you might like to become a regular giver.  Thank you for what you have given in the past but regular, faithful giving by parishioners is still the backbone of all Parish finances and your help would be significant. It may be that you already have Free Will Offering envelopes but have not been using them regularly. Maybe in the past you put in an envelope on those Sundays you attended Church and have discarded the other envelopes. In truth if many more people committed themselves to regular weekly giving it would transform our parish finances. Maybe envelopes do not work for you.  It is perfectly acceptable to set up a Standing Order each month payable to the church and this has the added benefit of enabling both the parishioner and the church to budget. It may be that a combination of a Standing Order and Envelopes would work for you. Whatever way you give, the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Regular Contributors

There are of course a substantial number who give on a regular basis and again we would thank you for that. On this occasion, we would also ask you to prayerfully consider increasing the amount you contribute each week. As already mentioned the faithful realistic giving of parishioners is our core income. We know you will give it your thought.

Together we can do it and get our finances on a more secure footing. 

We pray that the Lord will richly bless you and your family in the year ahead.
Yours sincerely,

________________________                 _____________________
Revd. Nicholas Dark                                                                        E. Joan Greenfield
Rector                                                                                

           Hon. Secretary to the Select Vestry

Our December meeting takes place on Thursday 6th December at 8.00 pm, when we shall hear about the work done by the charity, Barnardo’s. Members are reminded to bring items for baskets/hampers which will be distributed to needy families in the Lisburn City Area by Barnardo’s.

Margaret Nelson

Revisit Mothers’ Union in 1942

In the November 2012 Edition of the Parish News we read that the Mother’s Union in Magheragall was older than we thought.  A little bit of further research has turned up the June 1942 Edition which gives details of the first meeting of the Mothers’ Union in Magheragall.  We have reprinted that maga\ine so that you can read just what was happening in the parish 70 years ago.

Extract from Magheragall & Eglantine
Parish Magazine June 1942

Magheragall Parish
Curate in Charge: Rev A.V. McCallin, B.D.

Sunday Services:
Morning Prayer, 11.30 a.m.
Evening Prayer, 6.30 p.m.  (Variable in winter months),
Holy Communion - at Morning Prayer, 1st and 3rd Sundays; at evening Prayer, 5th Sunday.
Sunday School, 10.15 a.m.

Parochial Organization:
Monday, 8 p.m. Girls Guild
Tuesday, 8p.m. Choir practice
Thursday, 8 p.m. Better Britain Brigade

Magheragall Parish

Mothers Union
On Friday, 1st May, the opening meeting of our newly formed Branch of the Mothers Union was held in the School at 8 p.m. There was a large attendance. Mrs Noble, of Lurgan, in an eloquent address, gave an outline of the aims of the Mothers Union. Mrs McCallin was appointed President, and Mrs Moore, Secretary. The other Officers have not been appointed yet. All ladies in the Parish, who are in sympathy with the aims of the Mothers Union, may become members. Future arrangements will be made known by announcements in Church and Magazine.

The Confirmation Service will be held (D.V.) on Friday 12th June, at 8 p.m. in Ballinderry Parish Church. About 30 of our young people are to be

presented. Bishop Hind, formerly of Fukien, China, will administer the rite. Please pray for those young boys and girls that their confirmation maybe a time of much blessing.

The B.B.B. (Better Britain Brigade) are still collecting waste paper. Be ready for us when we come. All kinds of waste paper, cardboard boxes, etc. Required.
We hope to observe Sunday, 28th June, as Young Peoples Day in our Parish. There will be a Special Children’s choir. Rev. W.J. Gransden, Rector of Lurgan, and Rev. J.G.King, Rector of Derriaghy, have kindly consented to preach. Collections above normal will be given to the Diocesan Board of Religious Education.

Our deep sympathy goes out to all our Parishioners who are in sorrow through loss of loved ones. We were all deeply stirred by the sudden call of Bertie Leckey, after a week’s illness. We pray for his mother and friends that the “God of all comfort” may support them. This, indeed, is our prayer for all bereaved. 

Parish Register June, !942
Baptisms
22nd March – Raymond Thomas McCurry Mullaghcarton
26th April – Deborah Dawn Lindsay, Lissue House.
8th May – Florence Balmer, Cross Lane, Magheragall
24th May – Cyril Irwin Lynch, Knocknarea

Marriages
4th April – Robert Johnston, Muckamore, to Maud Alice Boyd, Ballymacash
7th May – Harold William Charles Pine, R.N., to Lilian Georgina McCaw, Lissue House.

Deaths
26th Feb. – James Smylie, Moneybroom
19th March – Mary McCluskey, Knockmore
20th April – John Thornton, Drumscill
21st April – Thos. Hazley, Moneybroom
9th May - Florence Balmer, Cross Lane, Magheragall.
16th May – Albert John Leckey, “Brooklands,” Mullaghcarton 

Bible Study

There will be an informal 6 week Bible Study, course title ‘How to walk the walk you talk’ on Ephesians chapters 1 to 5.   It essentially aims to help you learn to walk in the way of a true believer of Christ, reflecting God’s character and ultimately showing a difference that faith makes in your life.

It is one of a series of books by Precept Ministries International.   The ministry was founded to enable people to study the Bible for themselves.  This involves simply observing the text by asking questions who, what, when, where, how and why and reflecting on the meaning of what it is saying.

It starts on Tuesday 29th January at 7:30 pm for 40 minutes in the Committee Room and the first one will be led by the director of Precept Ministries N.Ireland – Valerie Murphy. 

The following five  Bible Studies will be held fortnightly on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm on the following dates:-
12th February           26th February
12th March               26th March
9th April

The Bible Studies will be followed by an optional prayer meeting from 8:10 pm - 8:30 pm.    

Cook Book

The Cook Book has now been published and is available for sale.  We decided to call it  “Favourite Recipes”  and it  includes recipes from Jeffrey Donaldson, Patrick Kielty, Dame Mary Peters, Samantha Cameron, Ally McCoist, William Leathem, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.  All the recipes which were submitted have been included.  Many thanks to all parishioners and friends who contributed recipes – the book could not have been produced without your co-operation.

The price of the book is £5 and it would make a lovely Christmas present, so please start buying or taking a number to sell to your friends.   The church funds will benefit from every book sold.

Thanks are due to Laurence Chambers for allowing his painting of the church to be used for the front cover, to Aileen Dixon and Margaret Leslie who helped to sort recipes and proof read the text, to those who advertised, those who donated gifts of money and all those who assisted in any way.

Margaret Nelson.

Events’ Committee - Update

Thank You Everyone for your contributions and help at
The Parish Car Boot Sale on Saturday 22nd September, 2012.
It raised £924.25.

Thank You Everyone for your help and support at
The Concert on Friday 5th October, 2012
It raised £545.

Thank You Everyone who donated and helped at
The Clothing Collection Saturday 6th October, 2012
It raised £300.   
Do please keep collecting for next year.

Dates of Next Fundraising Event

Clothing Collection

A Clothing Collection is planned for early in the new year possibly Saturday 2nd March, 2013. Items required are Adults and Children`s Clothing, Bedding (not duvets or pillows) Curtains, Soft Toys, Shoes, Belts and Handbags.

Contact Elizabeth Park 028 92 611855.

*  Note, in respect of the reading unless you hear otherwise from the preacher the following would be the general rule,
* Morning Prayer please prepare the Old Testament and Gospel. 
* Holy Communion please prepare the Epistle and Gospel
*The Bible in the pew is the NIV and it is helpful for those following the reading in the Pew Bible if the NIV is used.

Many Thanks

Bronwen

Greetings from “Betty and Bert”
Our Missionary Links
Who spoke at our Family Service in September

Dear Rev Dark, Magheragall Parish and congregation,

Greetings in Jesus name!

It was great to be with you again and Bert really enjoyed meeting you – thank you for your warm welcome to both of us! Thank you also for your support through prayers and financial giving. We know that many of you have been affected by the economic crises and many are going through or been through sicknesses and health problems. We also realize some of you have lost their loved ones since the last time I (Betty) was here. Our prayers for comfort and peace go out for you. It has also been great to see what is going on in the church and to pray alongside you as you reach out to your local community.

We want to encourage you that everything we do on earth for our Lord’s sake will one day be rewarded by him. In the book of Revelation, Jesus promises to reward the work that is done for the extension of his kingdom.

In Revelation 22:12 we read,12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  

As we partner together in our common mission to serve Christ in India to ensure that local churches are empowered and enabled to protect their communities, Christ’s reward is there for us. Christ also is the beginning and end of our lives and mission on earth. 

We also want to encourage you that the salvation that Jesus gives is eternal. In John 6:35 Jesus discloses the great plan of God and the definiteness of that plan.

In John 6:35 we read, 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me  will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

In verse 35 Jesus promises to feed our lives and our souls when we trust him and stay in communion with him. In verse 37 Jesus talks about God the Father giving us to Jesus as his possession, possession that Christ will never throw away. In the next verse Jesus reiterates this fact that this in fact is the Father’s will that NONE of Christ’s treasures be lost but may see the light of the day, when Christ returns in his Father’s, and our Father’s glory on the last day.  Even as we work in India, with our local Church, our desire is that you may grow in the assurance of grace and in the joy of the Holy Spirit, living in holiness and thankfulness to God. Our prayer for you all is what Apostle Paul prayed for the Church at Ephesus in the first century AD:

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Keep in touch and let us know how we can be praying for you.
Blessings,
“Betty and Bert"

Safeguarding Trust

The Church of Ireland’s Child Protection Policy is called Safeguarding Trust. Each Parish in the Church of Ireland has a parish panel whose responsibility it is to administer the policy at parish level. In Magheragall that panel consists of Nicholas Dark, Gil Colvin and Elizabeth Herndon

As a parish we are committed to upholding good practice in the parish’s ministry with children and young people. Should you have any cause for concern or suspicion regarding child welfare in the parish, please contact members of the Parish panel or any of the statutory agencies.

Gil Colvin
Elizabeth Hendron
Nicholas Dark Tel: 9262 1273

FLOWERS FOR CHURCH

Flowers in church enhance the church building for worship and are a fitting tribute to thank God for all His goodness to us.

Thank you to the many parishioners who do already provide flowers. Now is the perfect time for you to think about whether or not you would like to take this opportunity to remember an anniversary, to thank God for His blessings or just to enhance to church for worship. Whatever your reason, just write your name of the Flower Rota which is hanging up in the church porch.

Having chosen your date on the rota don’t forget to ring the Sexton on Tel: 92621033 a few days before your date to arrange access to the church to place your flowers.