Blog Archives

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘REBUILDING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Let’s Pray For Care homes
Give thanks for the staff in care homes run by PCI and others, asking that God would continue to keep them safe as they serve the needs of residents under continuing difficult circumstances.
Pray for residents of care homes and their families, asking that they would know God’s peace and reassuring love in these times of disruption and upheaval.

Mayflower - The Pilgrim Fathers (41 minute audio)
On the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers’ voyage to the New World in The Mayflower, Dr Sharon James reveals what led them to flee England, their hunger for God’s Word and their deep faith in his sovereign providence.

The Psalms in Suffering
The psalmist prepares us for the road of suffering and gives us ahead of time a hymnbook to help us express the reality of God’s goodness when the walk of faith feels like making our way through impenetrable fog.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/true-god-wont-ever-let/

Who In The Bible Social Distances?
This article helps us to find help from the example of this person in the bible. The Great Physician for COVID-19.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/great-physician-covid-19/

Is God still speaking today?
Does God still speak today? Watch this message from Berni Dymet to explore the many ways that God speaks to us today and learn how to test the prophetic words of others, so that we can discern what is good and apply God's Word to our lives.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21321/255197

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Janice
Frances 3:36
Derek 4:01

Play the "Portballintrae" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=2a5a891662bf

1 Comment

Wednesday 23rd September 2020

23/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘REBUILDING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video. Today we come to 1 Peter 2:4-10

Burnside At Home
Listen again to Norman reading 1 Peter 2:4-10

Burnside At Home
Listen again to the first talk from Sunday

Burnside At Home
Listen again to Louise singing Cornerstone

Prayer
On Wednesday the focus for the Blog is prayer

In this moment
A prayer that we might be refined by our experience of God

Lord, you have promised to be like a refiner’s fire,
proving and purifying our lives as your people.
You refine us like silver and test our lives like gold.
In these last months we have suffered grief and known all kinds of trials.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of our faith
- of far greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -
may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
It all sounds so stirring and heroic when we read it on the page of Scripture,
but, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of old in the fiery furnace,
we have felt the heat of the flames that have licked around our lives.
We’re not sure whether we shine brighter,
or we are in danger of shrinking back from the lessons you have taught us.
But we want your refining to redefine our lives as your people,
and as your church.
Help us to take confidence that as we have walked through the fire,
we have not been burned and the flames have not set us ablaze.
Already refined by the experience of pandemic and lockdown,
give us a fresh faith to call on your name,
and to know that you will answer us and say, ‘They are my people,’
so that we can reply with new vigour, ‘The LORD is our God.’
As your work in us is further revealed by fire in these days,
and that furnace tests the quality of our life and witness,
may we be further refined into your ways for us -
reformed, remoulded, reshaped, re-polished, reignited,
for your glory.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Let’s Pray For PCI global mission workers
Give thanks for PCI’s global mission workers and partners across the globe, asking that God would bless their work and encourage them in life and witness as they continue to minister for him in a multitude of settings and circumstances.
Pray for grace, patience, creativity, resilience, wisdom and safety for PCI global mission workers as they serve far from home and loved ones in these strange and disrupted times.

Global Mission
Remember to pray for the PCI Global Mission Workers. This is a video update about Volker & Jinhyeog Glissman.

Scripture Union
The latest prayer letter from Andrew Neill the North Coast E3 worker is now available.
View it below and watch the video update from Andrew.

e3nc-oct-2020-prayer-points.pdf
File Size:	3385 kb
File Type:	pdf

Peter & Anna Crawford
For Your Prayers
Church - We miss community. We have visited a number of churches, and we are still looking for a community where we can begin to contribute and to be part of, ideally a smaller newer church plant.
Volunteering - We would like to get involved in a small way in some of the many projects being undertaken in the city, but need wisdom to know how and when to begin
Relationships, - We have been in our building just over a month now and already getting to know some of our neighbours, Effie, Elsa and Maria. Pray that God would lead us into meaningful relationships with some of our neighbours.
Discipling - We long to see people grow and mature in Christ, and are asking God to lead us and direct us. Pray for individuals with whom we can do this.

Living For God In Exile (30 minute Audio)
Have you ever wondered what it is like to live for God in exile? Listen to this engaging Bible study as Phil and David discuss the stories of Daniel and Esther and how they remained faithful to God even in exile and far from home.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21335/252822

Righteous in Christ
Want to understand what it means to be found righteous by God? Watch this powerful episode of Discipleship Explored to uncover the incredible truth that it's only because of Jesus' death on the cross that we are found righteous by God and explore how this knowledge can help us develop the right attitude towards God and others.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21321/200501

Faith Hope & Love
In the penultimate blog in the These Three Remain series, Rev Stephen Richmond, minister of Donegal Town and Stranorlar, reflects on the three pillars of faith, hope & love and how they have sustained him in all the unknowns of the pandemic
http://bit.ly/3kjcTmu

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Janice 1:48
Derek 4:24
Frances 4:50
Lynne 5:08

Play the "Balintoy" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=15e2443e6d3d

1 Comment

Tuesday 22nd September 2020

22/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘REBUILDING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Let’s Pray For Government
Give thanks to God for government charged with the responsibility of leading through the period of the pandemic, asking that he would give wisdom in exercising finely balanced judgement and making difficult decisions.
Pray for unity in government in Westminster, across the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom and in Ireland as we continue to face difficult days in our islands.

Sirens (30 minute audio)
Explore the Old Testament prophets with this insightful Bible study. In this episode, Phil and David explore the 13 prophets who became warning sirens to the nations of the need to repent and turn back to God. Listen now to gain a new understanding of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21335/252432

Lessons I am learning about friendship
Helen Johnston, member of Elmwood congregation in Lisburn and Mission Support Officer for PCI, reflects on what she has been learning about friendship during the coronavirus pandemic and #lockdown
https://bit.ly/2Yn1V6P

Transformed As Disciples
We talk about being 'transformed' when we become a Christian, but what does that actually look like? What does it mean? Watch this episode of @DiscipleshipXP on UCB Player to find out!
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21321/200502

Why Didn’t Job Blame God?
Have you ever felt like everything in life is going wrong? Job did too. In this episode of Bible Biogs, we look at his story: why didn't he blame God when his fortunes changed?
Listen NOW on UCB Player! https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21333/300588

Jigsaw

Play the "Balintoy Bay" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0aeeb08dc036

1 Comment

Monday 21st September 2020

21/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘REBUILDING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video. Today is Nehemiah 2:11-20

Burnside At Home
Listen again to the reading of Nehemiah 2

Listen again to the message based on Nehemiah 2

Rebuilding A Home With God
Yesterday in our Service I mentioned the story of the family who were building their house and wanted to do so on the foundation of Scripture, so when the building process started they went round every room and wrote appropriate bible verses on the walls and floors. You can read the full story here with all the bible verses.
https://www.southernmadesimple.com/bible-verses-for-building-a-home/

Let’s Pray For The Refined initiative
Give thanks for all those who have contributed to the These Three Remain initiative, providing content for resources, blogs, podcasts and prayers and how it is has helped the Presbyterian family in Ireland to encounter God together as a denomination during the pandemic and lockdown.
Pray for the launch of the Refined initiative this week, asking that God would use it to enable us to move on to a forward footing in our life and witness as a denomination as we transition to the next phase of our response to living through the pandemic.

Moderator’s Service
Continuing his weekly service of worship for the whole Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Presbyterian Moderator, Rt Rev Dr David Bruce, continues his journey through the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Today he explores the theme, ‘A distinctive Church’.

Recorded in the Weir Chapel in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, the Moderator will continue to bring this service to the wider Presbyterian family during the autumn. Today, Dr Bruce looks at the final section of Ephesians chapter 4 - verses 25-32. “It is a section of Paul’s letter which faces head-on the difference the gospel can make in the life of anyone. Here, Paul explores some challenging questions about truth-telling, anger management, the way we speak to each other, honesty and the benefits of kindness,” Dr Bruce said.

https://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/September-2020/The-Sunday-Service-A-distinctive-church.aspx

Walk This Way
Want to understand the relationship between the Old Testament and the New? Watch this engaging episode of Harvest TV as Greg Laurie joins Joel C. Rosenberg in Jerusalem to explore the significance of Jerusalem in God's plans throughout the Bible.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21321/257369

The Good Shepherd’
This is a spoken word piece written and performed by Dai Woolridge and is part of Bible Society’s Sunday Streaming resources.

Joseph of Nazareth
What options did he have on discovering his wife-to-be was pregnant with a baby that wasn’t his? Does it matter that the Bible doesn’t record anything that Joseph ever said? What example was he both for Mary and Jesus? This UCB Bible Biog aims to answer these questions.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21333/303921

Love Your Neighbour
A fascinating Blog article about how we can miss the point of loving our neighbour.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/love-whats-near/

Jigsaw
The times for Friday’s Jigsaw

Janice 6:09
Jean 11:11
Derek 12:23
Frances 18:09

Play the "Mussenden 2" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3ff2d4de418a

0 Comments

Friday 18th September 2020

18/9/2020

2 Comments

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘RE-EMERGING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Psalm 69
Sons Of Korah singing Psalm 69

Frances On Friday

If you regularly browse in Burnside Church Website you will be familiar with the many alternatives it offers, including guidance, information, and entertainment. The latter is usually in connection with the photograph ‘Where is It?’ or the time taken to complete the daily Jigsaw. I suspect that many of us enjoy completing the Jigsaw but don’t always reveal the length of time taken!

One of our Church Members commented to me recently, ‘Janice is hard to beat!’
(I say this with Janice’s permission to use her name.)
May I turn your thoughts for a moment to last Friday’s item on Acronyms, one example being the Acronym for JOY…..Jesus, Others, Yourself?
Linking Janice with her Jigsaw ability, I thought an appropriate Acronym might be
‘Janice Is Generally Successful At Winning!’

The idea of completing a Jigsaw reminds me of ‘many parts making up the whole,’ and is surely very relevant in connection with the Church.
We read in 1 Corinthians 12: 12 NIV ‘Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.’

We are all individuals, but each one working together with others and using the particular talents God has given to us, will produce the unity which glorifies God.
Each person has something unique and special to offer in His service.

The Hymn which I consider to be relevant this week is ‘In Christ there is no East or West.’ John Oxenham was asked to write this Hymn to be included in a Missionary Exhibition in 1908. It gives a clear message of Christian unity.
Frances

Let’s Pray For The food and hospitality industry
Give thanks to God for the possibilities now open to society to enjoy a simple cup of coffee, a meal or a weekend away as the food and hospitality industry finds ways of returning to business.
Pray for the safety of those working in the food and hospitality industries, as they often serve in constricted spaces and encounter many people in their working day.

Do We Need Jesus? (From yesterday’s Tides)
Perhaps today you feel like you don’t ‘need’ Jesus? You are content to run to him in your season of despair but most of the time you manage okay by yourself. Paul has to learn that only in his weakness is Christ deemed to be strong and to be content to trust in the Lord alone. Today we proclaim that Jesus is enough. Though we may walk a difficult path, we continue to worship even in our times of weakness. Today in our humility Jesus is exalted, in our humility he is magnified

Obedient To God (16 Minute Video)
We all know we are meant to be obedient to God – but why? Is it to 'earn points' in Heaven? Or is it something much deeper than that? Watch this episode of @DiscipleshipXP on UCB Player to learn more about what it REALLY means to be obedient in Christ!
https://t.co/KytY4Cn82P

Word On The Wash
Word on the Wash is a Christian event for all the family. It’s a great opportunity for Christians to join together for faithful and relevant bible teaching, worship and encouragement in our Christian lives this year.
This year it took place Virtually, watch the talks and the worship here.
http://www.wordonthewash.org.uk/virtual-wotw-2020/

Psalm 126 (30 minutes audio)
Last week we looked at Psalm 126 which is an interesting text, if not slightly tricky, at first glance. With its mention of laughter and joy in the first few verses, it seems a celebratory song in need of an accompanying upbeat tune. Upon deeper inspection, however, the text takes a hard turn and calls for restoration through tears and weeping.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/word-of-the-week/when-dry-riverbeds-flow-again-psalm-126/

Obadiah
Obadiah is perhaps a bible book that we don’t know a lot about, if you have some time over the weekend, why not delve a little deeper into this minor prophet. Read this article, and then at the end of the article there are various talks to listen to.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/help-me-teach-the-bible/jonathan-gibson-on-teaching-obadiah/

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Janice 2:10
Derek 3:17

Play the "Causeway Centre" puzzle! As usual something a little bit more time consuming on a Friday.
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0cd20ec05bca

2 Comments

Thursday 17th September 2020

17/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘RE-EMERGING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Let’s Pray For Schools
Give thanks to God for a return to school despite the many obstacles and uncertainties that has involved.
Pray for all those involved in delivering education in our schools, asking God that he would give patience, creativity, resilience and safety as they continue to grapple with necessary restrictions and unusual patterns of teaching and supporting pupils.

Holy Spirit (27 minute video)
Do you have questions about the Holy Spirit? In this teaching with Jonathan Conrathe, we look at the significance of the Holy Spirit: who is the Holy Spirit, and what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Watch now on UCB Player!
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21321/193451

Jesus Rose From The Dead (31 Minute Audio)
What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead? In this episode of 'The Bible in 30 Minutes' Podcast, we examine the days surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Listen now on UCB Player: https://t.co/rjP8tnOONf

Reading Matthew
A fascinating article on how to read Matthew’s Gospel with reference to Jesus and old Testament characters. Matthew’s Gospel as You’ve Never Read It Before.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/matthew-gospel-never-read-before/

The Mayflower
The Mayflower first set sale for North America 400 years ago yesterday (16th September) here are 9 Things You Should Know About the Voyage of the Mayflower.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-the-mayflower/

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Janice 1:29

Play the "Causeway" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=035881e1a744

0 Comments

Wednesday 16th September 2020

16/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘RE-EMERGING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Prism Bible Study Sheet
The Bible Study sheet for week 2 can be downloaded or viewed here.

prism_session_2_web.pdf
File Size:	132 kb
File Type:	pdf

Is Genesis History? (1 hour 44minute Video)
Watch the Full Film looking at Noah and the flood and its place in history

Prayer
On Wednesday the focus of the Blog is prayer. Remember you can join us for at 12 today via Zoom for Prayer and Bible Study.

Let’s Pray For Beirut
Pray for the city of Beirut and its population suffering from the many devastating effects of the recent explosion, asking that God would help them as they respond and begin to try to recover some sort of normality.
Give thanks for the many ways in which help is being provided to the people of Beirut, asking God to bless and use the efforts of all those organisations and individuals involved.

In this moment
A prayer for discernment as life returns to a new normality

Lord of this season of stepping into the future,
I’m beginning to think there might not be much new,
in what is becoming normal again.
It’s so easy to slip back thoughtlessly into old ways,
as the speed of having to get up and going again picks up pace.
I’m in danger of missing what it is that you want to teach me through all I’ve experienced -
the kind of change that you want to bring to my life.
And what if what does become new has novelty value for now,
but turns out to be shallow and worthless?
It’s so easy to have my head turned by the voices of the world,
summoning me to a lifestyle that does not reflect the heart changing ways of your kingdom.
I’m in danger of minimising those core things that you want to bring back into focus -
calling me to prioritise them once again.
It all feels like a bit of a muddle just now,
my head and heart spinning in the messy middle of the road out of lockdown.
So, please grant me a discerning heart,
shaped by attentiveness to your Word,
soaked in prayerfulness,
watchful for what you are doing in and around me,
not so taken up with all the nuts and bolts of what has to be done and how,
that I miss the wood for the trees.
I know life has to return to a new normality,
but may it be one that is further fashioned by the norms of your ways for me.
Help me to trust in you Lord with all my heart,
not to lean on my own understanding,
or be distracted by the ever-changing sound bites of the world.
Enable me to see and acknowledge you in all my ways –
personal, home, family, social, working, church and community life.
Straighten my steps on your path ahead for my life,
as I edge into your new normal.
For the glory of Jesus.

Amen.

Pray Like Never Before
A short prayer guide from Evangelical Alliance to download.

pray-like-never-before.pdf
File Size:	243 kb
File Type:	pdf

40 Day Prayer Guide
Over 40 days, this prayer journey will lead you through the four key stages of transition: discerning the signals of change; ending well as you let go of the old; feeling disorientated; and getting reorientated in your new situation.
As you pray through these stages, you’ll learn how to navigate times of transition with God and grow your trust in him – the one who charts the course ahead.
Subscribe via email at the following webpage -
Prayer-Journeys

PCI Podcast
New These Three Remain podcast now out about 'Leading Together' – Rick Hill is joined by elders Rosie Donaldson (Kirkpatrick) and Joe Campbell (First Holywood) as well as Rev James Rogers (Ballynure PCI) and Rev Alistair Bill

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Janice 1:42

Play the "Beach Branch" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3c28c759d666

0 Comments

Tuesday 15th September 2020

14/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘RE-EMERGING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video.

Prism Bible Study Sheet
The Bible Study sheet for week 2 can be downloaded or viewed here.

prism_session_2_web.pdf
File Size:	132 kb
File Type:	pdf

Answers In Genesis (1 hour video)
A talk looking at how science proves the Genesis Flood.

Let’s Pray For Leadership in congregations
Give thanks for elders, ministers and other leaders in congregations who have added responsibilities at this time in enabling churches to wisely and creatively respond to present circumstances for ministry.
Pray for kirk sessions as they meet either digitally or with social distancing, asking that God’s presence, leading and guiding would remain a very present reality in the strange circumstances in which they gather and discuss together.

The Work Of Jesus
Anything Ligon Duncan says is well worth listening to, in this video he shares how 2 Samuel 7 sets us up to better understand the work of Jesus and the God’s kingdom.
https://t.co/c1syR1D6Us

Helicopter Seeds
FarmingLifeNI blog is written by Rev Norman Smyth, minister of First and Second Markethill in County Armagh : One of Norman’s childhood memories concerns the ‘helicopter’ seeds of the ash, and even to this day, how ash trees are still one of the last to ‘wake up’ in the spring. Today, unfortunately many are blighted by an incurable disease. Thinking of trees, Norman explains that from Genesis to Revelation, they form the backdrop for humanity.
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/September-2020/Ash-to-ashes.aspx

Fun-Squasher?
Ever viewed God as a bit of a 'fun-squasher'? Journalist Philip Yancey grew up in a strict church in the south of the US, and that's certainly how he viewed God! He shares his story of returning to faith with J. John.
Listen now on UCB Player!
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21337/244872

More Than Conquerers (4 minute Video)
This short video highlights the challenge of Bible translation. It is a reading of Romans 8:18-39, verse by verse, in 20 languages:
(with subtitles incase you don’t speak all twenty languages) English, Tagalog, Spanish, Chinese, French, Turkish, Russian, Swahili, Ukrainian, Cambodian, Albanian, Kyrgyz, Indonesian, Romanian, Macedonian, Kazakh, Mongolian, Classical Arabic, Masri Arabic, and Kurmanji Kurdish.
There are still millions who have yet to hear the hope of the Gospel – that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

Jean 2:20
Derek 3:50

Play the "Portstewart Strand" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1c4c5b7434b8

0 Comments

Monday 14th September 2020

14/9/2020

Beside The Burn
This week we continue our theme from Sunday of ‘RE-EMERGING’. Each day we develop the theme a little more in a short 5 minutes video. We think about how Noah had to wait on God before being saved and re-emerging into the world and we see how Psalm 40 helps us with that waiting process.

Prism Bible Study Sheet
The Bible Study sheet for week 2 can be downloaded or viewed here.

prism_session_2_web.pdf
File Size:	132 kb
File Type:	pdf