An open invitation is extended to all Presbyterian Women (PW) as they worship God together and launch their theme for 2016/17, This is the Day, with guest speaker Elaine Duncan and praise led by Graham Hawthorne.
Elaine Duncan is chief executive of the Scottish Bible Society which supports the translation, production and distribution of the Bible around the world.
She is not only enthusiastic about people having a Bible in their own language, but also in helping them to understand it and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Further seminar
This annual event takes place in the Assembly Buildings in Belfast on Thursday, May 5th, at 2pm and again on Friday, May 6th, at 7.15 pm. A further seminar
This is your Day – Joining with God in His work Every Day
featuring Elaine Duncan is planned for Friday, May 6th, from 3pm to 3.45pm. More details can be found at
[ presbyterianireland.org/pwOpens in new window ]
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One of the PW’s major strengths has been its support of the denomination’s overseas work. In the aftermath of the earthquake on April 25th last year, the world learnt that in a short space of time more than 9,000 people had been killed and more than 23,000 people had been injured as a result of the tremors that had struck the Himalayan nation.
Many schools, hospitals, roads, communication links and water supply systems were badly damaged. Half a million houses were totally destroyed, a further 270,000 damaged and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people lay in ruins.
One year on, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) global mission secretary Rev Uel Marrs has thanked those who gave to the Moderator’s Special Appeal for Nepal, which has raised more than €700,000.
Three partners
“These funds were distributed equally between our three partners, Christian Aid, Tearfund and the United Mission to Nepal, who had deployed emergency response teams on the ground.
“They worked with a range of local partners to provide medical assistance, food, clean water, emergency shelter, and blankets to the most vulnerable,” Uel Marrs said.
“Our partners have each expressed their deep appreciation for the donations they received from the PCI Nepal Appeal. In passing on their thanks, I would like to add our thanks to everyone who contributed in such a generous and timely way, to help those whose lives were devastated by the disaster.”
Relief efforts
Peter Lockwood from First Bangor Presbyterian is a civil engineer who serves as the United Mission to Nepal’s (UMN) programme adviser. He became heavily involved in UMN’s earthquake relief efforts. These were focused on several localities in the Dhading District, one of the worst affected areas of Nepal.
In expressing his appreciation for PCI’s support, he said, “A sincere thanks for all the support given, the financial support has been very generous, the messages of support very uplifting, and the prayer support absolutely essential. UMN will continue to work to serve the people of Nepal, particularly those who live in poverty, seeking fullness of life for all in a transformed Nepali Society.”
