Spring 1988

 

Dear friends,

 

I wonder which is your favourite season of the year. For many spring is the favourite time because after the long dark days of winter there is a feeling of newness as the trees begin to bud and birds build nests, flowers bloom and lambs are seen in the fields. With the coming of spring there is hope for better days ahead with the promise of summer. Also it is at this time of the year that Easter comes, and if anything points to hope and renewal then the whole Easter story does.

 

Firstly I would like to say that Easter reminds us of a Saviour's Sacrifice. Good Friday comes before Easter Sunday; the death before the resurrection. What a story is told as we look at Calvary. Calvary tells us of the fall of man into sin and his inability to rise from that fall.  If there is no sin or if man can by effort or observance of ritual lift himself from the pit of sin, then there would have been no need from Christ to die and shed His precious blood. But God's Word declares that all have sinned (Romans 3 v 23) and that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9 v 22). As well as telling us of man’s sin, Calvary also tells us of God's love. God didn't leave us to sink into the pit of sin and misery but while we were still in that estate He extended His love to us, (Romans 5 v 8). That love was shown in all its beauty on the cross, because while the spectacle of crucifixion is terrible, yet in that spectacle we see the Son of God who loved us giving himself for us (Gal. 2 v 20). As we continue to gaze at Calvary we see also the story of God's justice. You see God must punish sin.    So many people today think that somehow God will overlook sin and when the day of judgement comes God will overlook all the wrong that they have done. God's Word says that sin separates from God and that God is of purer eyes than to countenance sin

(Habakkuk 1 v 13).    But in Christ, God punished sin because He laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53 v 6 and He who knew no sin bore our sins in His own body on the tree (I Peter 2 v 24), so that the justice of God might be vindicated. If you are reading this and not saved, take a look at Calvary and read the story of your sin, God's love and see that the Christ of God has taken the penalty for those sins and having seen the truth of Calvary seek the cleansing of the blood which can be yours if only you would repent and confess yourself a sinner before God.

Of course Easter didn't end on Good Friday. After the Sacrifice came the victory of the resurrection. Many Churchmen will occupy pulpits at this Easter season and deny the truth of the resurrection. What a contradiction'.    How can anyone claim to be a follower of Christ and yet deny that He rose in victory over death and hell?  Paul the Apostle had to deal with such false teachers in his day also and when we turn to lst Corinthians Chapter 15 we read there his defence of the fact of the resurrection.  To summaries his argument he says that if there is no resurrection there is no faith, and if we have no resurrection we have no hope for eternity. But we thank God today that there are still many who believe and preach the full Gospel which gives hope for eternity to all who believe because the Bible says that "because He lives we shall live also" (John 14 v 19).  You see the resurrection is the proof that God accepted and was well pleased with the work of Calvary and is the guarantee that one day we will also share in that resurrection (Romans 8 v 11). What a blessing to know that today we have a Saviour who is alive and exalted to God's right hand and who will come again to   take us unto Himself.

 

So as Spring speaks of natural renewal of life and hope for a new generation, may many who are dead in sins find new life through faith in the Son of God who died on Calvary and who is today alive and exalted and ready to receive those who will come to Him and may those of us who profess His name continue to contend for the truth of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ upon Calvary's Cross, and His victorious resurrection when He defeated the power of sin, death and hell, which many in these days would seek to deny.

 

Auldwyn Calderwood

 

 

GOOD NEWS CLUB

 

The Good News Club has continued to meet each Monday evening throughout the winter period. Our theme since Christmas time has been the Acts Of the Apostles, with particular reference to the life of Paul. The main truths that we have been trying to teach are that God wants everyone to hear the Gospel, and that every child of God has a part to play in that mission. As always, however, we have sought to include in every meeting something for unsaved as well as for Christian children.

 

We thank God for the continued interest of the children and for their regular attendance and enthusiasm for the Club. All aspects of the meeting continue to be well received, and attention throughout the lessons has been excellent. We trust now that God will in His time bring forth fruit from the seed that is being sown.

 

We were able to supply the children with Bibles of their own just before Christmas time and it has been a joy to see them bring their copies with them week by week (well, most of them at any rate).   We have also been able to hold a regular Sword Drill as a result, and this has proved a very popular item indeed on the weekly agenda (as any of you who can remember taking part in Sword Drills in your own youth will no doubt be able to appreciate).

 

We are very much aware of the Lord's presence in the Club, indeed on a number of occasions He has quite clearly and definitely shown us of that, as He has supplied the various needs of the Club as they have arisen. Please pray that God will continue to bless the meetings and that He will draw to Himself each and every one of the youngsters who attend.

 

Extend an invitation to any child you know who may wish to join us on a Monday night at 7 o'clock between now and the end of April. Remember the Lord's command to ........

 

Suffer the little children to come unto me.

 

Mark 10 v 14

 

 From the 22nd to 24th January about twenty-five of the young people went to Sea-view House, Kilkeel for our annual 'Week-end' and I can truth- fully say that a great time was had by all. Pastor Chambers was our guest speaker, and much was to be learnt from his messages on Christian communion, Christian character and Christian commitment.

 

Since the young people's weekend, our speakers have been John McFarland (31st Jan.), Trevor Kirkland (14th Feb.) and on the 28th Feb. the young married couples from Limavady took our meeting. These meetings were very well supported, and it has been very encouraging to see an increase in numbers at our meetings.

 

The young people are looking forward to our annual outing on Easter Monday.  As yet we haven’t decided where we are going but I would encourage the young people in the church to support us and come along for a good days fellowship.

 

We look forward to seeing new faces at our meetings and we would ask you to pray that God will continue to bless the Young People’s Fellowship and that it will grow from strength to strength.

 

Alison Calderwood.

 

EVERY DAY WITH JESUS

 

Meet Him in the morning, each recurring day,

Let His radiant sunshine flood your misty way:

Let Him stand between you and the tempter’s wile;

Greet Him in the morning, talk with Him awhile.

 

Meet Him at the Noontide, when life’s cares distress,

Let Him bear the burden of your weariness;

When perplexing problems press on every hand,

Meet Him at the noontide, He will understand.

 

Meet Him in the evening, as the shadows fall,

Victories and failures - tell the Master all.

Life will overflow, if He takes highest place;

Meet Him in the evening at the throne of grace

 

Wonderful Redeemer, Councellor and Friend,

Matchless in His mercy, loving to the end!

With your joy and sorrow, meet Him here today:

Meet Him there tomorrow, dwell with Him for aye.

 

From Alexander's Hymns No. 391.

 

 

B is for Ballee our Bethel by the way

A is for the angels who guard us day by day

L for the Lord the King of all Kings

L for the love and the blessings He brings

E for Eternity with Christ the Lord

E is for everyone who accepts Jesus’ Word.

 

B is for Ballymena the vineyard we're in

A is for all born in iniquity and sin

P is for prayer to the Father above

T is for trust in our Saviour of love

I is for I who will truly believe

S for Salvation I gladly received

T for the temple my Saviour’s abode

Because I now walk on God's narrow road.

 

I change, He changeth not.

 

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

 

See then that you wa1k circumspectly,

Redeeming the time because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5: 15,16.

 

On 9th December we had a visit from Mrs McFarland and Mrs Allen from Newtownards.  Mrs McFarland testified and brought a message from the Lord and Mrs Allen brought messages in song.

 

Our Christmas dinner took place on Saturday 19th December when we went by bus to Castle Erin in Portrush.  A good time of fellowship was enjoyed by all who attended. Our thanks to Mr Desmond Shaw for driving the bus for us.

 

At our Missionary meeting in January Mr G. MacCorkell brought slides and told us much of the work carried out by  the Gideons in different parts of the world. In spite of the great number of scriptures that we saw being distributed, many among school children and young people, there still remains a hunger for more copies of God's word in many lands and we were all challenged to give and pray that many more might hear of our Saviour.

 

Mr James McKeown was our speaker in February and all present were richly blessed as he spoke about "Being joyful Christians". He also told us something of his work in the Belfast Bible College.

 

The fourth Wednesday of each month still finds a few of us gathered for prayer for these different needs that are brought before us from month to month and although we may be few in number God is always there to hear and answer prayer. Are we really redeeming the time or are we failing to pray as we should for one another, our church, our land, our missionaries and those who cannot pray for themselves.

 

Moreover as for me God forbid that 1 should SIN AGAINST THE LORD in ceasing to pray for you.

 

1st Samuel 12: 23

 

Jean Kelly

 

Bible Quiz No. 1 (Selected)

 

1.         How old was a girl whom Jesus raised to life?                            Mark 5 v 41 & 42

2.         How many times have we to forgive?                                                            Matthew 18 v 22

3.         Name a woman who was smitten with leprosy ?                           Numbers 12 v 10

4.         What street did Saul live in at Damascus?                                           Acts 9 v 11

5.         How many women were in Noah’s ark?                                         Genesis 7 v 13

6.         Who shut the door of the ark?                                                                        Genesis 7 v 16

7.         Who prayed three times a day?                                                     Daniel 6 v 10

8.         Name Ruth’s mother.                                                                          Ruth 1 v 3 & 4

9.         Name the woman who made a coat for her son every year.                 1 Samuel 2 v 19

10.       What did Solomon build which took him 13 years to complete?            1 Kings 7 v 1

11.       What age was Josiah when he became King?                                      2 Kings 22 v 1

12.       How old was the oldest man in the Bible?                                             Genesis 5 v 27

13.       Name two animals that David had slain.                                         1 Samuel 17 v 34 & 36

14.       How many foxes did Samson catch?                                                 Judges 15 v4

15.       Was David killed or did he die a natural death?                           1 Kings 2 v 10

16.       Which is the longest verse in the Bible?                                       Esther 8 v 9

17.       What kind of wood was Noah’s ark made of ?                           Genesis 6 v 14

18.       What is the last word in the Bible ?                                                        Revelation 22 v 21

 

 

Three Crosses

 

Three crosses standing side by side, of broken law a sign,

Two for their own transgressions died

The middle one for min.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,

Lest I forget Thine agony,

Lest I forget Thy love for me,

Lead me to Calvary.

 

Tune: “King of My Life”

 

M Robinson

 

 

MISSIONARY FOCUS

 

Far far away in heathen darkness dwelling

Millions of souls forever may be lost

Who who will go Salvation’s story telling

Looking to Jesus counting not the cost.

 

Friends as I write this missionary report the words of this hymn brings a challenge; first of all we think of heathen darkness, and we realise that this is true of many lands across the sea, but sadly we see it becoming more and more a reality in this little province where we live, especially the young people, they just don't seem to care about the

things of God, yes and many of the older folks too, how sad it is to realise that many in our own land have no bible, never been to Sunday School or Church and are as dark about the things of God as the heathen, yes friends it's true, the devil seems to have blinded their eyes and twisted their minds in such a way that they are harder to talk to than those in heathen darkness across the World. O dear Christian friends that we would all get a vision of these souls all around us as they march day by day down the road to a lost eternity, 0 that we might see the mission field that is all around us, and let us ask God what would you have me to do Lord? The verse says millions of souls forever may be lost, and that includes many from around our own homes wherever we are and the districts where we live. Who who will go? is the question - I trust that we all might answer it as we should and go and tell Salvation's story to our neighbours and friends, Looking unto Jesus counting not the cost. I trust that we will all accept the challenge and get on with the Master's Work.

The news from the different mission fields across the world has been good. From Brazil we learn that two young men have trusted Christ as Saviour and it's all well worth the praying and the going even for two souls. Praise God!       It would take a full magazine to tell you all the news from the different prayer letters and I know that many of you get these prayer letters so all I would do is ask you all to keep on praying that God would continue to work.          Sam and Anna has been encouraged by seeing one of the young people in the camp coming to know Jesus as Saviour. Please do pray on for Geoffery and Gillian that God will undertake in a mighty way in the next few months and that everything will go well for both of them. James McKeown has been enjoying God's blessing in his ministry lately so keep on praying for James and Audery.

Dear friends Prayer is the secret to God's work everywhere:

Abraham            Prayed and Lot was saved (Genesis 18 - 19).

Moses                  Prayed and the People were saved (Exodus 14).

David                  Prayed and was delivered from his enemies (Psalm 18).

Elijah                Prayed and God gave him victory over the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18)

Hezekiah               Prayed and his enemies were put to death in their camps (2Kings 19)

Ezra                Prayed and people recognised their guilt.

Stephen               Prayed  and looked up into Heaven and saw the Glory of God. 

 

Keep on Praying !!

 

Desmond.

 

I often wondered how on earth I'd get to know the Lord,

For I didn't want to have to pray or read God's holy word.

The pictures and the football too had such a hold on me

That I couldn't understand it how He’d ever set me free.

 

Twas on a Saturday afternoon just shortly after two,

I called into Joe Gardner's shop having nothing else to do

And while talking to my friend George Leith, God's spirit strove within

Saying meet your friend to-morrow night and go to church with him.

 

Now the devil being on the dole at once he got to works

Said he my friend don't go to-night at a meeting there's no sport

T’would be nicer walking in the lane beside your lady friend

 Listening to sweet words of love she’d whisper now and then.

 

Now listen here said I my boy to-day I'm twenty-four

For all these years I've listened you I want to hear no more.

You're the biggest liar in the land you are without a doubt,

So shut your mouth and leave me now before you get a clout.

 

So we went to church that Sunday night and had a glorious time,

But no appeal was made and so I didn't stay behind.

And once outside 0 what a night the rain came pouring down,

We climbed into our leggins and put our faddies on our crown.

 

Yow the devil tried another time said he best make for home,

The rain is pouring from the sky you'll be wringing to the bone.

If you stay out this night said he you'll surely catch the 'flu,

And you'll get a lecture from your Dad, now mind I’m telling you

 

He did his best to turn me back but didn't just succeed,

He even tried to tell me "Sure it's time you had a feed".

You're getting very hungry and you feel in rotten form,

There’s a fire in your little room and your bed is nice and warm.

 

But praise the Lord I overcame the devil and his ways

He gave me grace to say I’ll trust Thee, love Thee and obey.

And 0 what peace I have tonight when I think of Calvary's Cross,

And of Him who died upon that tree that we might not be lost.

 

Mrs McCausland

 

 

The troubles that afflict the just,

In number many be;

But yet at length out of them all,

The Lord doth set them-free.

(selected)

 

Praise the Lord!

 

Dates for your Diary

April

3rd        Mr Howard Martin             Mrs Jean Lucas

10th      Mr Trevor Kirkland                       Mr & Mrs Matchett

17th      Mr Leslie Armstrong                    Mr Alan & Mrs Connie Forster

24th      Mr Harry McCullough            Lurgan Male Voice Choir

May

1st        Pastor Hamilton Moore  Mr Bob Cole (6th Anniversary Service)

8th        Mr Jim Johnston                       Mr Billy Wetherall

15th      Mr Ken Brown                  Mr Billy Gray

22nd      Mr Lawrence Kennedy            Mrs Anna Irons

29th      Mr Lawrence Kennedy            Mr Wm Warwick

June

5th        Mr Billy Kernohan             Miss Sadie Morrison

12th      Mr Billy Kernohan              Mrs Sally Fleming

19th      Pastor Hamilton Moore  Miss Beverley Murray (Young People’s Day)

26th      Mr Auldwyn Calderwood            Mrs Martha McClintock

 

Mr and Mrs James Kerr are now responsible for Tape Minsitry along with Mr Martin Campbell

 

Youth Sunday to be held on Sunday 19th June this year.

Guest Preacher: Pastor Hamilton Moore, Magherafelt

 

We wish to express our sincere thanks to Mr & Mrs Robert Craig for all the effort they put into the work of the Tape Ministry and that  of caring for the Church property during the past 2 years and take this opportunity of wishing them good health and God’s richest blessing as they enjoy their retirement.

 

Mrs Sally Fleming has now been appointed caretaker and we trust she will find the work somewhat rewarding.

 

 

[BACK]   [HOME]