Preparing the Way of the Lord
During our services ahead of and over the Christmas period we are thinking about the theme 'Preparing the Way of the Lord', following through the lead up to the birth of Jesus from Luke 1.
| Sun 23rd Nov | Prayer answered - Luke 1:5-25 |
| Sun 30th Nov | Ministry foretold - Luke 1:5-25 |
| Sun 14th Dec | When John was born - Luke 1:38-66 |
| Sun 21st Dec | Zecharaiah's joy - Luke 1:67-80 |
| Sun 21st Dec | Church Family Carol Service at 4.00pm followed by tea and mince pies |
| Thu 25th Dec | Christmas Day Service at 10.30am |
| Sun 28th Dec | Learning and preparing - Luke 1:80, 2:40,52 |
A special offering for the Presbyterian Children's Society will be collected at the Carol Service and a special offering for the PCI World Development Appeal will be collected on Christmas Day.
Christmas provides an opportunity to tell you about the plans we have as a church family, and to give you some dates for the upcoming season and the new year. Before we turn to these things, however, here's a question for you to think about as you read: What do you see around Donaghcloney that you may not notice in Waringstown and that you won't find in the Bible? Can you guess the answer? Read on!
Like every year before it, 2025 has brought many changes. Some homes have welcomed new arrivals and now are experiencing the joy and excitement of preparing for Christmas with a baby in the house. Other families have endured the pain of bereavement in this past year, or are carrying burdens of care, and will find this Christmas very different. As a church family, we are led by the grace of God to share with one another in all our joys and sorrows, and to care for one another in love (see Romans 12:1-13). Please do remember each other in your prayers, and think of practical ways to show kindness.
Whatever our circumstances, Christmas reminds us of God's wonderful grace and goodness towards us. There is a Light that shines more brightly than any other and pierces the darkness of our deepest nights. In the words we use for the familiar Christmas Carol,
Shepherds first saw the light;
Heard resounding, clear and long, far and near the angel song,
"Christ the Redeemer is here!"
Like every year before it, 2025 has brought many changes. Some homes have welcomed new arrivals and now are experiencing the joy and excitement of preparing for Christmas with a baby in the house. Other families have endured the pain of bereavement in this past year, or are carrying burdens of care, and will find this Christmas very different. As a church family, we are led by the grace of God to share with one another in all our joys and sorrows, and to care for one another in love (see Romans 12:1-13). Please do remember each other in your prayers, and think of practical ways to show kindness.
God willing, we will celebrate the coming of the Saviour in our Church Family Carol Service on Sunday 21st December at 4.00pm. Make a note of the date and time and plan to come, if you are able. As in previous years, the loose (undesignated) offerings collected at the Carol Service will be forwarded to the Presbyterian Children's Society, which provides grants to many families connected to PCI congregations. After the service, tea / coffee and mince pies will be served from the Hagan Room. Then, as well as the Carol Service, we will have a Christmas Day Service at 10.30am on Thursday 25th December (d.v.). For many of us, Christmas Day is a day like no other in the year. You may be cooking mounds of food, opening presents, assembling toys, pulling crackers, visiting relatives and much more beside. Make the day truly special by taking time to worship and adore. Unless you are one of the few who have to work on the 25th, why not arrange for all your family to come with you to church on Christmas Day?
No sooner will Christmas be over than we will be ushering in the new year. We are praying that 2026 will be marked by an outpouring of God's grace throughout our community, for His glory and our good.
At the start of November past, Iveagh Presbytery decided to encourage all of its congregations to engage more earnestly in prayer in 2026. It agreed to ask the Very Rev Dr John Dixon to preach at a presbytery-wide event on Sunday 1st February at 7.00pm in the meetinghouse of Scarva Street Presbyterian Church, Banbridge (d.v.). At Dr Dixon's suggestion, Presbytery also agreed to hold a preparatory meeting on Wednesday 7th January at 8.00pm in the church hall of Magherally Presbyterian Church. This preparatory meeting is for all church members who already meet with others to pray, whether in a church prayer meeting, or a midweek or "small group" context. Please note the dates for these presbytery-wide gatherings, and plan to attend them if you can. The Lord is pleased to use the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes. These meetings will encourage us to be much in prayer.
Along with other churches in Donaghcloney and Waringstown, we already have been praying much for 2026. Together, we are working towards a special Gospel Outreach in the first half of May. "Bridge to Life" is planned as a two week tent mission, and our prayer is that many in the villages and surrounding area will come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at this time. The next of the prayer and praise evenings for "Bridge to Life" will be in our meetinghouse on Tuesday 20th January, from 7.30-9.00pm. As the plans for the mission continue to be rolled out, avenues for practical service are emerging. What could you do to be part of this effort? In whichever way you serve, pray.
The title chosen for the mission brings us back to the question at the top of the letter. Around the village of Donaghcloney, you see at least two bridges across the River Lagan. Bridges are not so noticeable in Waringstown - not unless you know where to look! But the word "bridge" never appears in the Bible. And yet, people in Bible times did cross rivers. Some crossings were remembered as being highly significant; remember how Joshua led the Children of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promised Land? Indeed, there are Bible scholars who maintain that the word "Hebrew" means "one who has crossed over," and this may well be true. Crossing over can mark a decisive change. It is a move from one side to the other, a leaving behind and a coming into something new. And the bridge takes you across.
The Bible may not use the word, but it proclaims that God sent His Son into the world to be the bridge. To all who trust in Him, Jesus is the Bridge to Life. By Him, God the Father rescues us from the dominion of darkness and brings us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). Our prayer is that, in the year 2026, many in Donaghcloney, Waringstown and the surrounding area will be led to the Bridge, and will be carried across to Life.
Do join with us in this prayer. If you feel that you personally haven't crossed the Bridge to Life, please speak to someone in our church family about this. We would love for all of us to enjoy this Christmas, and enter the new year, with our faith firmly set in the Lord Jesus, and knowing His transforming power. To quote the carol again:
Son of God, O how bright,
Love is smiling from Thy face; strikes for us now the hour of grace
Saviour, since Thou art born.
