FIRST RATHFRILAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Minister: Rev Trevor Boyd, Dip. Min. The Manse 13 Redbridge Road, Rathfriland, BT34 5AH 028 406 30272 079 5510 2923 Jesus said, A city on a hill cannot be hidden In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14 & 16 We exist as a congregation: To WORSHIP the Lord in a spirit-filled way To learn and obey the WORD of God To WITNESS to our community by word and action that Jesus is the WAY to salvation To support and pray for mission in our WORLD Announcements for 8th March 2015 Sunday 8th March 2015 AM 10.15am 11.00am 11.30am Sunday School Prayer Meeting in Morrison Room Morning service conducted by Rev Boyd who will read from Revelation Chapter 9 and preach on More Trumpets. Sunday 8th March 2015 PM 7.00pm Evening service conducted by Rev Andrew Conway, Assistant to the Moderator of the General Assembly. Rev Boyd along with Robin McConnell will be in Donacloney Presbyterian Church as part of a Presbytery Commission for the ordination of three new elders. Website: www.1strathfriland.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstrathfriland Twitter: @1stRathfrilandP
2 Next Sunday 15th March 2015 Sunday 15th March 2015 AM 10.15am 11.00am 11.30am Sunday School Prayer Meeting in Morrison Room Morning service conducted Rev Boyd, who will reading from Revelation Chapter 10 and preach on the topic of God Speaks. Sunday 15th March 2015 PM 6.30pm Prayer Meeting in the Choir Room 7.00pm Evening worship conducted by Rev Boyd who will start a new sermon series called The Missional Church. Senior Citizens Fellowship Tuesday 10th March 10.00am Tea & Coffee 10.25am Community Singing 10.30am Guest Speaker Mrs Eileen Hamilton Monday 9th March @ 7.30pm in the home of Anne Annett Thursday 12th March @ 10.00am in the Manse Guest Speaker: Mr Robin Sloss From: Men for Missions UK. This meeting will be of interest to all men, women and young people in our congregation. If you are not in the habit if going to Midweek you will be very welcome at this meeting. Wednesday 11th March @8pm
American Visitor...Amazed to See Original Church Records. 3 Church records are of particular value to anyone interested in tracing their family tree as they usually contain the registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. This proved to be the case when Mr Ryan Graham, from the USA, got in touch with the congregation seeking permission to look at the records held in First Rathfriland. Ryan knew of his family connections with the townlands of Drumlough and Lisnamulligan, but was keen to see the records held by the congregations of First, Second and Third Rathfriland Presbyterian Churches, to see what else he could learn about his Irish roots. David Hanna, opened up the archives to Ryan Graham (USA), showing him the original signatures of his ancestors. In his correspondence with the congregation Ryan said, My goal is to find out where my family was from in Scotland. I know they came to Shannaghan (near Katesbridge) in the mid 1700s from Scotland and then moved to Drumlough and Hilltown before leaving for the US in the 1880-1890 time-frame. They ultimately settled in Gunnison, Colorado and started out as cattle ranchers. Ryan s visit to the Church took place at the end of January, when he was met by David Hanna and David Scott. He was able to get access to historical documents in the archives and found information relating to his ancestors connection to the congregation prior to their departure to the USA. Ryan was in awe of being able to gain access to the original documents. In a recent email he said, my trip to Rathfriland was very useful. I found the originals for all of the documents that I knew of. It was amazing to see the original documents. Documents of this age in the US would be kept under lock and key, but here they seem to be rather ordinary. Church Historical Archive Project Work has commenced in archiving historical documents Relating to the history of 1st Rathfriland Presbyterian Church. Anyone interested in contributing further please contact either David Hanna 07876318992 or David Scott 07881410333.
4 Sunday School News The Sunday School will be holding an appeal during the month of March. This is in aid of this years project Emmaus which aims to financially. The young people will launch this appeal in Church on Sunday 1 st March THE SHORTER CATECHISM Quest. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? Ans. 27. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition,(1) made under the law,(2) undergoing the miseries of this life,(3) the wrath of God,(4) and the cursed death of the cross;(5) in being buried,(6) and continuing under the power of death for a time.(7) (1) Luke 2:7., (2) Gal. 4:4., (3) Heb. 12:2-3; Isa. 53:2-3, (4) Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46, (5) Phil. 2:8. (6) I Cor. 15:3-4. The purpose of the Shorter Catechism is to educate children in the Reformed Faith. It is based on the Larger Catechism, which was intended for use by ministers as they taught the faith to their congregations in preaching. The Catechism is in a question and answer format. The catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers. COMMUNICANT PREPARATION CLASSES Would anyone in our congregation wishing to come to the Lord s Table for the first time please contact the Rev Boyd and keep the following dates free for our short preparation classes. The classes will be held in the Choir Room and study materials will be provided. 01/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm 08/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm 15/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm 22/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm 29/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm The Annual General Meeting for First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church will take place on Friday 17 th April at 8.00pm. Please keep this date free and plan to attend to hear about your church. If you have a question for the AGM could you please forward it to the Church Secretary, Mr Murray Annett, to allow time to prepare an informed answer? If you would like to volunteer to take part in the AGM programme please speak to Rev Boyd.
1st Rathfriland PW Group, are holding an Irish Night on Tuesday 17th March 2015 at 8pm in the Church Hall. 5 We hope to have Banbridge Accordion Orchestra and other guests celebrating Irish poets, song writers, musicians and missionaries associated with County Down. We would like to invite all members of the congregation and their friends to this special evening. To facilitate catering arrangements, could you please put your name on the sheet provided in the Vestibule. P.W wishes to thank most sincerely all those who contributed to all our mission boxes. The magnificent sum of 3310.97 has been raised to date. All this money will be sent to Church House so that P.W can continue to support our missionaries and deaconesses at home and abroad. Monies collected in Leprosy Mission boxes amounted to 437.00. Anyone wishing to take a box should contact Mrs Myrtle Wilson or Mrs Jean Annett. Ladies of the PW celebrating their recent 65th Anniversary.
6 Holiday Bible Club Planning Meeting on Mon 30th March at 7.30pm in the Morrison Room. Christian Trade Show On Saturday 28th March, our church has a stand at The Christian Trade Show in Loughbrickland Orange Hall. This is an opportunity to tell others about the work of our church and learn from other Christian organisations. If you would like to help on our stand speak to Rev Boyd. Annual PW Trip This year our outing is on Saturday 30th May, leaving at 9.00am sharp. We plan to visit Hillmount Garden Centre for coffee and then travel into Belfast for some afternoon shopping. We will end the day with a meal in the Belmont Hotel on our way home. If you would like to join us please add your name to the list with your choice of menu. Gospel Mission 2016 Would you be willing to pray, plan and prepare for our Mission by serving on the Mission Sub-Committee? For more details please contact Rev Boyd. 353rd First Presbyterian Rathfriland Girls Brigade Company 23rd Annual Display Thursday 19th March 2015 Rathfriland High School @ 7.30pm Special Guest: Lesley Beare Everyone Welcome
7 Kirk Session Acknowledges Senior Elder s 90th Birthday. The members of Kirk Session, acknowledged the service given to the congregation of First Rathfriland by of one of their senior Elders Mr Billy Harbinson recently celebrated his 90th birthday and to mark the occasion the Rev. Boyd accompanied David McDowell (Clerk of Session) to present Billy with an inscribed KJV Bible. A gift from the Elders. Billy was delighted with the gift and was found to be in great form. We wish him, his wife Maud and family, every blessing for the future. BADMINTON CLUB - SATURDAY 14th MARCH Badminton Competition against 2nd& 3rd Rathfriland. The competition will start at 7.00pm in Hamilton Hall, Newry Street, Rathfriland. 365th First Rathfriland Presbyterian Boys Brigade Company 23rd Annual Display Friday 27th March 2015 Rathfriland High School @ 7.30pm Thank You! All congregation members welcome. Many thanks to everyone who supported the Presbytery Rally in Ballydown Presbyterian Church on Sunday night past. Would anyone in the congregation who would be interested in hosting a student aged between 18-25? If you think you can help, please contact the Rev Boyd to discuss details. The minimum period would be three months up to a maximum of twelve months.
Close to Home Conference This conference will be held on Friday 20th March 2015 in Assembly Buildings Belfast from 9.45am-4.00pm. The conference will be addressed by Rev Dr Stafford Carson on how to integrate young people into our church family. Cost is 15.00 per person if booked by 27th Feb 2015 on 02890417247. This conference will be a great benefit to those involved in Sunday School, B.B./G.B., R@FT and Kirk Session. Rotas FLOWER LIST 8 th March - Miss Ina McCracken 15 th March - Mrs Margo Groves 22 nd March - Mrs Helena Malcomson AUDIO VISUAL 8 th March - William & Aaron McConville 15 th March - David Scott & Andrew Warburton CRECHE 8 th 15 th March - Lorraine McConville & Heather McDowell 22nd & 29th March - Lynne McDowell & Jayne McDowell 5th & 12th April - Joanne Annett & Sharon Gracey CHILDREN S CHURCH 8 th &15 th March - Colin Boyd & Robin McConnell 22nd & 29th March - Noelle Hanna & Margaret McConnell 5th & 12th April - Jill Morrow & Debra Kinley If Children s Church and Crèche dates don t suit, please swap with someone else on the rota or in emergency COUNTING MONEY AFTER MORNING SERVICE March - Mr & Mrs Robert Newell, Mr & Mrs David Scott & Mr & Mrs Murray Annett April - Mr & Mrs Desmond Cheney, Mr & Mrs Mark Bronte & Lindsay Gracey & family. CHURCH DOOR WELCOME ROTA March Colin McDowell & John Bell COMMUNCATION WITH OUR CONGREGATION We are reviewing and seeking to improve communication with our congregation. It would be helpful if you could text your name and telephone number to Rev Boyd on 07955102923 If you are or know anybody interested of joining the Church Announcement Sheet team please contact: Mr Jim Harbinson - Mobile: 07759 702430 or Email: jim.harbinson@btinternet.com for more information If you have any information to share with the congregation please forward it to David Scott by 6pm on the Thursday prior to publication EMAIL: davidhscottuk@yahoo.co.uk or Phone/Text: 0788 141 0333 Website: www.1strathfriland.co.uk Twitter: @1stRathfrilandP Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstrathfriland