Such questions as "What has our church planned for the celebration of the new millennium?" were raised in boards and committees a little while ago. In response, the Public Worship Committee has prepared "Worship suggestions" to be used during the season of Advent. Remarking on the millennium that "Jesus is the reason for the season", the authors write that "Jesus therefore ought to be the central character in the churches' millennium celebrations."
"Worship Suggestions", when used in Advent, will lead congregational worship and work meaningfully up to the beginning of the new millennium, indubitably "a momentous milestone in the history of the Christian Church".
In addition, it is hoped there will follow the use of "Worship Suggestions" the entry of the church at large with renewed faith and resolve and enthusiasm into the year 2000.
"Worship Suggestions" comprises a series of four, each with germane readings from the Old and New Testaments, prayers and suggestive hymns. By now every minister should have received these, and their use is strongly encouraged.
Congregations too are planning various ways of celebrating the millennium in their own areas. Mountmellick Presbyterian Church, for example, has decided to send a millennium gospel to every home in Mountmellick and Portlaoise. The gospel chosen is Luke, believed by many to be the loveliest. This gospel has been specially printed by Christian Publicity Organisation for the Jesus 2000 evangelistic outreach project, with the aim of bringing "the true message of the millennium" to people's attention.
An information leaflet about the Presbyterian Church will be enclosed with the gospel. It is estimated that this gospel will go by post to about 800 homes in Mountmellick, and about 2,700 in Portlaoise, with an estimated population of 12,000 being reached. The minister of Mountmellick and Tullamore is the Rev Stephen Simpson, who is assisted by Mr Sam Francey.
At such a critical time as the present in the Mitchell review or its immediate aftermath, it is important to recall the view of the church as represented by the General Board, the most representative and largest of all.
"The board believes that the potential for a peaceful and co-operative future should not be collapsed either over the decommissioning impasse or over any unwillingness to implement the Belfast Agreement. The board calls upon elected politicians to work together in implementing the agreement, and further calls upon paramilitary groups to fulfil their moral obligations in decommissioning their weapons."
"Genetically modified" is a moot matter frequently making newspaper headlines. An environmental panel of the churches continues to investigate the pros and the cons of this controversial and potentially damaging or lifesaving activity (depending on one's source of information) so that a recommendation on the view of the church "can be made."
The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Rev Dr John W. Lockington, presided at the launching of Full Circle - A Story of Ballybay Presbyterians in the hall at Derryvalley, Ballybay, on November 9th. The book is produced in limited edition by Cahans Publications and printed by McArdle, Monaghan. It sells at £20.
Presbyterians have lived, worked and worshipped in this area for well over 300 years. The earliest known presence of a Presbyterian congregation was in the 1690s. Subsequently, there were years of division and resultant formation of a secession church by seceders from Scotland around about 1750. A second Presbyterian community, Cahans, to be followed by Derryvalley in 1799, and second Ballybay some time later made its appearance. However, as recently as 1972 Cahans, Derryvalley, and First Ballybay came full circle to reunite as today's First Ballybay Presbyterian Church with minister the Rev David Nesbitt.
The role of Presbyterians, ministers and members, men and women, is traced in this well-researched sociopolitico religious history. Involvement in the important linen production: tenant rights agitation: support for the United Irish cause of 1798, suffering during the Famine of 1845-46, concern for the best levels of education, compassion for the poor and the effect of modern developments are some of the factors described in this most interesting book.