There is a rhythm to the church year, and early spring in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland sees the hosting of a number of ‘Mission in Ireland Evenings’. A series of mid-week and Sunday evening meetings in different churches, that showcase the work that is being done at home, across the island.
With the help of the Church’s Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI), the special information evenings are organised and hosted by the Church’s regional presbyteries. Entitled ‘Declare and Display’ this year there are 13 evenings, which highlight different work and projects, people and ministries, church plants, chaplaincies and individual churches, that make a difference – all of which are supported by the wider denomination through the work of the Council and the United Appeal for Mission.
CMI’s Secretary, Rick Hill, encourages those with an interest in mission at home and the work of the Church across the island to come along. “Over the years, our Mission in Ireland Evenings have become a much looked forward to series of events. Taking place throughout March, church members and members of the public have a great opportunity to discover more about the work of the Church, as we give a flavour of the missional activity that takes place on our own doorstep.“
Mr Hill continued, “While they take place at a time of challenge for the Church, we want to continue pointing to the need to reach out. Each of the meetings will have a mix of speakers, who are engaged in different aspects of work. Those attending will also see a specially commissioned video that highlights the work being done by our congregation in Galway city.
“The theme ‘Declare and Display’ runs throughout the evenings and is taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:8, when the Apostle Paul tells the Church, ‘…we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you, not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well…” The evenings will emphasise how the work of mission involves both public proclamation and practically demonstrating the love of Christ through what we do,” Mr Hill said.
The Mission in Ireland Evenings began this week with the first in Downshire Road Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of Newry, when the Rev David Curran, who leads PCI’s church development project in Wexford, spoke about the work there, while Rev Colin Dickson highlighted the work of the Church’s International Meeting Point (IMP) as it serves those from overseas who come to make their new home in Belfast.
The convener of the Council for Mission in Ireland, Rev Ben Walker, welcomed everyone who is interest in mission at home to come along. “In many ways, this isn’t about us, it is about stories of God at work from Wexford to West Belfast and beyond; what is happening through our prison, universities and rural chaplaincies, the work of our mission pioneers, home mission congregations and the work of projects like the IMP. I was delighted to hear that there were around 100 people at our first evening in Newry this week.”
“Most people think of mission as something that happens overseas, and much good work is being done by our global mission workers in different countries, but I hope that those who come are encouraged by what is happening here at home. In the video that we show at all of the events, we hear from Rev Helen Freeburn, in our United Church Galway, about the work of the church. She talks of a church that is diverse, as people from dozens of countries attend, as they build a community and family together.
Mr Walker continued, “I think Helen speaks for all of us, when she says in the video, ‘Declaring and displaying the love of Christ is really important for us as a church, as we seek to come along side people who are in particular need…[and] as we seek to be a light in the city and county to declare and display God’s goodness and the good news of the kingdom.’”
The last in the series of meetings takes place in Molesworth Presbyterian Church, Cookstown, in the Presbytery of Tyrone on Sunday 29 March at 6.30pm. This final Mission in Ireland Evening will hear from two of PCI’s chaplains and their work: Rev Kenny Hanna, PCI’s rural chaplain, and Rev Nigel Craig, chaplain to Queen’s University, Belfast, as well as Union Theological College, and Stranmillis University College, which are also in the city.
There are lots of these meetings taking place throughout March and a full list of dates and venues can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/events
