Moneyreagh church has an encouraging start
The first of the diocese’s new church plants met for worship in Moneyreagh on Sunday 20 October. In a very encouraging start, about 40 people came along to ‘Moneyreagh Community Church” which will meet each week at 11.00 am in the village’s Community Centre.
Revd Mervyn Jamison leads the church and was delighted with the first gathering: “I was really encouraged with the turnout on Sunday. Granted, about 10 of the 40 were well–wishers, however we had 5 people there who came because of the leaflet drop the previous week. The remainder were from the village and surrounding area who have heart for mission.”
The combination of good coffee, cupcakes and ‘church’ took place in an informal setting around tables and the service was a relaxed mix of singing, prayer, liturgy and preaching. Mervyn took Acts 2: 42–47, ‘The Fellowship of the Believers’, as his first text. He will be unpacking The Apostles Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer over the next four weeks and will also be exploring these during the mid–week gathering on Wednesdays 7.30–9.00 pm, beginning on 13 November.
The service finished at 11.45 am, however most people sat on, chatting at the tables enjoying fellowship and the children all headed to the wonderful play park.
Of course the Sunday service is just one aspect of the life of the church whose aim is to become part of the fabric of the community. John Beattie, co–leader and a resident of Moneyreagh, is a member of the Community Association and in November the church hopes to be active in the local school, taking assemblies and RE classes. Mervyn and John have also attended the Community Prayer meeting, where they were warmly received and have also made contact with the local ministers.
Please do remember to pray for the fledgling Moneyreagh Community Church.
Have a look at some photos from Sunday in our gallery here.