A special one-day retreat for anyone in a congregational leadership role within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has taken place to enable participants to pause, reflect and seek God’s direction for the next season in their ministry. Those taking part reported ‘a real sense of God’s presence and the affirmation of his love and provision for what lies ahead.’
The retreat took place in Groomsport Presbyterian Church, overlooking the entrance to Belfast Lough in County Down, and was organised by the all-Ireland denomination’s Council for Congregation Life and Witness (CCLW). It included a mix of short Bible reflections, prayer time, space for personal contemplation, and reflective worship.
Secretary to the Council, Rev David Thompson, helped lead the one-day event, “As a Church we recognise that we are going through a period of change, especially with the ongoing process known as ‘reconfiguration of ministry’ which is looking at how PCI ministers across the island.
“This was the first time we have held a retreat for congregational leaders, which drew a variety of people of all ages and stages who occupy a range of roles in congregational life. Some of our leaders are thinking about what lies ahead for them, or have a sense of needing to expand their existing giftset for ministry beyond where they are at the moment. It may be time to slow down, take stock and set their hearts for the next season of ministry that they see coming into view,” he said.
“Adapting to change often requires finding the inner resources to respond in God’s strength, so we hope that taking this time out to attend the retreat has helped in this personal process of reflection. At the same time, while listening to God and pondering what he is saying, I hope that it has been an opportunity to take the implications of that into their leadership role with a freshly rekindled faith and fire for the future.”
In the run up to the retreat, participants were provided with short devotions on the theme of ‘The Next Stretch’ to reflect on, so that they could come with hearts and minds already attuned. On the day itself, devotions focused on chapters 14-17 from John’s Gospel, which enabled participants to reflect on how God accompanies those on the next stretch of their life and ministry.
The day itself was led by Rev Dr Karen Campbell, former minister of two County Antrim congregations and the current General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches, Colin Neill, who is a member of Craigavon Presbyterian Church, Rev James Rogers, minister of Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church, and Rev David Thompson.
The CCLW Secretary concluded by saying, “By bringing together the teaching of Scripture and a sensitivity to the current realities of leading in the contemporary church, with space to get outside into the sunshine and stunning scenery, participants reported a real sense of God’s presence and the affirmation of his love and provision for what lies ahead.”
The day concluded with The Lord’s Supper.
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