A training programme is on offer to all church members participating in work with children. It is the product of a partnership between the Union Theological College, Belfast, and the youth and education boards of the Presbyterian Church. Courses in the programme call for part-time study over periods from 10 to 12 weeks. Already the response to the offer is described as gratifying, with many Presbyterians as well as members of other churches throughout the country enrolling. Some 56 people have already taken the course leading to a Children's Ministry Certificate, and 47 have studied for the award of a Certificate in Youth Work. These courses are believed to be the first of their kind on offer in Ireland.
Apropos this partnership and resultant training courses, the youth officer of the church, Ms Roz Sterling writes: "We have recognised a need to prepare many people in the church who are willing to give their time to these vital aspects of ministry. Sunday School and conventional youth work lays an important foundation for spiritual growth in the lives of young people. But the traditional understanding of how this is done has had to change.
"Modern youth culture has become a complex area for many in the church. The partnership of the youth and education programme with the Union Theological College allows participants in this new training programme to get a better understanding of the nature of effective contemporary youth and children's work."
Students for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church presents a burgeoning part-time and evening class prospectus at the Union Theological College today. A flexible approach to theological education is a result. A wide range of students - an estimated 200 at present - have access to a top quality library, and research facilities, such as used in full-time theological education.
All ladies who are members of the Presbyterian Women's Association (PWA) or young women's groups in the congregations are invited to a reception for women on Tuesday, June 5th, from 10.30 a.m. till 11.30 a.m. in room 308, Church House, Belfast. Ms Margaret Myer, PWA executive secretary, describes it as an occasion where all might pop in for a cup of coffee, and informally meet missionaries, deaconesses and members of the executive committee.
Anyone proposing to attend this year's Overseas Board's Residential Conference should write soon for booking forms to the Overseas Office, Church House, Belfast, BT1 6DW. The conference will be held on October 12th/13th at Loughry College, near Cookstown. The organisers stress that the conference is not for overseas board members and missionaries alone. Anyone interested in learning more about the church's work in missions overseas may attend.
Mrs Shelia MacDougald, representative of TEAR funds for over 30 years, worked throughout Ireland to gain support for the fund. From a room in her south Dublin home, she carried work of great compassion for the deprived overseas. However, of late, the executive felt the need for an extended presence in Ireland. This led to the recent opening of the new offices in Overseas House, Rathmines. A former missionary of the Presbyterian Church to Kenya, Mrs Kate O Cleallaigh, will run the office. This Morning Service, a television programme to be transmitted on RTE 1 on July 8th will feature the work of Tear funds.
The opening meeting of the Presbyterian general assembly will be held in Church House, Belfast, on June 4th at 7 p.m. At this service of worship, open to the public, the Moderator for the year 2001/02 will be installed. The service will be broadcast by Radio Ulster. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated in the nearby May Street church on Tuesday June 5th at 9.30 a.m. During sessions from June 5th to 8th, business meetings will be held. Prayers will be held Wednesday to Friday at 12.151 a.m. and will be led by the Rev Alistair Morrice, who will speak at the assembly rally on Wednesday evening at 7.45 p.m.
"Finders, Weepers, Losers, Keepers" are the themes for youth nights on Friday and Saturday, June 8th-9th, where the guest speaker will be Mr Mark Oestreicher, a youth specialist in the US.