BIBLE WEEK UNDERWAY
Last night, Tuesday 26th August saw a capacity congregation gather in Willowfield Parish Church in East Belfast for the first evening of the second annual Bishop’s Bible week.
Prior to the main event, Bishop Harold and Diocesan Youth Officer, Andrew Brannigan spent some time speaking with a large number of young (and not so young) people from parishes across Down and Dromore Diocese who had been involved in summer mission trips this year or last. The groups included those from Shankill Parish, Lurgan who had travelled to Uganda, the DDYC (Down and Dromore Youth) team that went to Argentina, representatives from Hillsborough Parish who had just returned from Egypt last week and a number who had been to Paraguay and Sudan. A finger buffet was provided by members of Willowfield Parish.
Bishop Harold introduced Bishop Derek Eaton, this year’s speaker to the congregation. Bishop Derek’s chosen theme for the week is “Keeping the Faith in Hard Times”. For his first address, he looked at the context of Timothy and the relevance of this message for us today. It is important, he stated to remember that a word of encouragement comes in Isaiah 55, where God proclaims "My ways are not your ways".
He then spoke on the theme for the evening, a challenge to the local church – a local community with a global vision (1 Timothy 2:1-7), affirming that
The Church’s prayer concerns everybody
God’s desire concerns everybody
Christ’s death concerns everybody
Proclamation concerns everybody
Worship was led by Willowfield Praise Band, under the guidance of Stephen Mayes and included “I stand amazed in the presence”. Organist, John Little, presided over the hymns, including “There is a name I love to hear”.
Jane Corbett from Dromore Cathedral, who has spent time in Maridi Diocese in Southern Sudan, introduced a video clip of an interview with Bishop Justin Badi Arama, Bishop of Maridi. In the video Bishop Justin spoke about the hard times he and his people have faced in recent years, but their faith and trust in the Lord has seen them through. The film was recorded by Neil Brittain on Bishop Justin’s recent visit to Northern Ireland. Canon David McClay, Rector of Willowfield led the prayers and Scott Mackey, Diocesan Communications and Projects Officer read the lesson.
The event continues each night this week at 8pm in Willowfield Parish Church
Photographs courtesy of John Kelly ©