The agm of Damask Community Outreach, a community organisation attached to Seymour Street Methodist church in Lisburn, was held on June 9th. The organisation is involved in youth work, a parents and toddlers group, after-school work, advice drop-in, a befriending service, counselling and tea dances. The work involves 64 volunteers with two paid employees. Rev Richard Johnston, Director of Belfast Central Mission, was the guest speaker and spoke of three key points about community outreach: all people are created in the image of God; if God loves everyone equally, what are we doing about it; and whatever our response, it must be specific to our community – one size does not fit all. He finished by asking,“Who God is calling us to be in our community”.
The Methodist Conference started on Wednesday and continues until tomorrow. This conference will mark a change in two long-term positions in the Church. Stanley Graham is retiring as Lay Treasurer of the General Purposes Fund for the past 32 years – a demanding position dealing with the expenses of the Methodist church at a national level. In addition Rev Dr David Rock will step down as General Secretary and Team Leader of the Irish Methodist Department of Youth and Children’s Work (IMYC), a position held for the past 15 years during which the team has grown in number and impact. Rev Dr Rock is returning to circuit ministry. Gillian Gilmore succeeds him.
Belfast Community Gospel Choir (BCGC) is Northern Ireland’s first and only multicultural gospel choir. They are made up of over 100 auditioned singers from all over the province and their goal is to spread the message of love, joy and peace through their music. They will be holding a fundraising concert tonight for mental health support work in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Volunteers run sensory, musical and creative therapies with individuals suffering from acute mental illness within mental health care homes, psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation centres. The venue is Banbridge Leisure Centre at 7.30pm and tickets priced at £12.50 are available from Lauren Arlow on 0044-7545649276.
The Surf Project aims to break down barriers and pre- conceptions that people may have towards God and the Church by running different events throughout Ireland and abroad in a relaxed and creative environment, catering for all types of groups regardless of their background or ethnic diversity. The Surf Project is supported by the Methodist Church in Ireland and works in partnership with various organisations and denominations.
They have limited places left for Summer Swell, a five- day residential surf camp aimed at bringing young people together for surfing, community and the opportunity to learn more about God in a creative and culturally relevant way. The event is open to young people aged 12+ regardless of background. The event runs from July 3rd-8th for 12- to 15-year-olds and July 31th- August 5th for 15- to 17-year- olds. See thesurfproject.org/summer-swell/.
The Surf Project will also be leading the RTÉ TV Sunday Service tomorrow, with support from the Girls’ Brigade of Manorhamilton in Leitrim, a group which is open all abilities and all ages. The Girls’ Brigade is an international, interdenominational Christian uniformed organisation founded in Dublin in 1893. It’s aim is to help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility, to find true enrichment of life.