An interesting act of outreach took the form of an outdoor praise service last Sunday evening at Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal. The members of the congregation were joined by musicians and singers from Regent Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards, who made the round trip of more than 300 miles to contribute to this well-received service of hymns and songs of praise.
Numbers are small in Dunfanaghy church but can increase to 200 or more during the holiday season. The Rev James Lamont, for 17 years the minister of Regent Street until he moved to Donegal as minister of Dunfanaghy with a pastoral responsibility for Carrigart, remarks:
"This is the first time in many people's memory that we have tried such an event at Dunfanaghy and its great to have had help from Regent Street, Newtownards. Hopefully, this will begin a strong link between Presbyterians North and South. It is also our hope that locals and holidaymakers alike will see something of our joy in praising God."
The Moderator of the General Assembly, Dr John Lockington, has remarked that "he has looked forward to meeting the many holidaymakers who greatly increase congregations at seaside resorts at this time of the year, and to encourage members in their ministry to visitors to their community."
The Moderator conducted services in Portrush and Portstewart on August 15th. Last Sunday, he conducted services in Newcastle in the morning. In mid-afternoon he made a traditional visit to River House, a residence for senior citizens run by the Presbyterian Residential Trust, where he conducted a service for the residents.
The retirement of the Rev Dr Harold A. Graham as director of the Christian Training Centre in September will prompt recollections of the founding of the centre. In 1980, under what is known as the Magee Fund Scheme, Dr Graham, the first director, was remitted to organise in-service training courses for ministers, elders and others in leadership positions in congregation "and to work in close co-operation with the church's professor of practical theology".
The centre's present "home", at 7 Rugby Road, Belfast, was bought from Queens University soon after the founding of the centre.
Lectures on matters spiritual and practical are given locally within the bounds of almost all the presbyteries, North and South. A Bible correspondence course was started and continues to attract students from many congregations.
Summer schools of theology were also started and were well attended and much appreciated; one has been arranged as a millennium summer school for 2000 with special lecturers Prof Larry Hurtado from the US and the Rev Dr Derek Tiddal.
Training videos are prepared at the centre and available for hire and are widely used. Dr Graham is the author the booklets Living Leadership and Valuable Visiting which are available from Family Books or from the centre.
For a number of years, Ms Samantha Andrews has produced a Passion play called the The Nazarene in churches and halls, both North and South, with amateur ecumenical casts. The play has done much to promote understanding and reconciliation.
Howth Presbyterian Church was the venue some years ago and it was packed for three successive nights, such was the attraction.
It is now proposed, with the support of the four main churches, and the Jewish and Muslim communities and other, to produce The Narazene 2000 in the Point Theatre, Dublin, as well as in venues in Cork and Belfast. It will be televised by RTE on Good Friday, 2000.
The Government millennium committee will support the venture financially on condition it has the backing of all the churches. Mr Fred O'Donovan is artistic consultant; Ms Phyllis Ryan is artistic director; Mr John McColgan (Riverdance) will assist; Ms Samantha Andrews is the executive director. A cast of 200 from communities all over Ireland will include well-known actors and personalities.
Sir Brian Mawhinney, who was chairman of the Conservative Party during its biggest electoral defeat in 150 years, has written In the Firing Line: Politics, Faith, Power and Forgiveness (Harper Collins, £16.99). Mr Mawhinney, who is a born-again evangelical, describes these memoirs as "a personal reflection on his faith, how it grew as he grew, and how vital it was to him as he was tested in the cut and thrust of political debate and in the national decision-making process".
Mr Mawhinney's friend, the Rev Dr Clive Calver, president of World Relief, Chicago, describes the book as being "about a blunt, forthright Ulsterman as well as a humble, honest Christian".