This week we continue week 5 of the Journey of Lent, a journey of 40 days through the Wilderness with Jesus Christ towards Easter. We go on a Journey of New Life with Jesus through the wilderness as the Holy Spirit takes dry bones and breaths new life.
Let’s Pray For Peter & Jayne Fleming (global mission workers in Nepal)
Pray for them as they continue to support United Mission to Nepal and Kathmandu International Study Centre from Northern Ireland. Pray that they will be able to return to Nepal soon. Pray that UMN’s agreements with the government of Nepal will be renewed without further delay. Syria & Lebanon Pray for the work and witness of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, especially for their efforts to bring humanitarian aid and education to the many refugees and displaced people in the region. |
One Year Ago Today
On the Monday 23rd March 2020 we started this journey together on “The Blog” Click any of the dates to remind yourself of the early blog enteries. It started off rather simply, Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th were just thoughts based on Trypraying and Tides. But by Thursday 26th there were free Christian Audiobooks and a list of shops offering Home Delivery. It would be a few more days (Wednesday 1st April) before pictures started illustrating the stories. It was Thursday 30th April before the the first Where Is It? appeared. But Does anyone know when the first Jigsaw appeared? |
Do you remember what Lockdown was like when it started a year ago?
A friend posted this list while we were in the midst of the first lockdown, because he wanted to remember what it was like. It is by no means complete, many of the measures are still in place, but it is incredible how quickly we forget some of the details.
Diesel price was £1.12
Petrol £0.99
Schools closed (except for key worker’s children)
Self-distancing of 2 metres becomes normal practice.
Tape on the floors at supermarkets and others to help keep 2 metres from each other.
Limited number of people inside supermarkets, with long queues waiting to enter.
One way system in supermarkets with no going back for forgotten items.
Non-essential shops and businesses are closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled or postponed.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
People struggle to make it home from other countries as flights are cancelled.
Cruise ships are unable to dock as Coronavirus spreads onboard.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
Churches are closed.
Graveyards closed except for funeral services.
Numbers at funerals severely restricted and wakes not allowed.
No gatherings of 2 or more (except with people from within your own household).
Unable to socialise with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels, no hand sanitiser.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitiser and PPE.
All non-essential travel banned.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Police patrolling the streets and calling swimmers out of the sea on the Strand.
Nightingale Hospital set up to cope with the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Visiting stoped in Hospitals and Care Homes
Press conferences daily from the government.
Furlough introduced, the government to pay 80% of employees wages where businesses cannot continue to do so.
Press briefings broadcast on TV every day, with updates on numbers of new cases and deaths.
Hardly anyone on the roads.
Elbow Bumping becomes a thing.
Key workers are concerned about going to work.
Medical workers are afraid to go home to their families.
Supplies of PPE are limited.
A lot has changed over the last year, here is the Strand
In case you missed it on Sunday or simply want to watch it again here is the Getty Family Hymn Sing for St. Patrick’s Day
Also the Concert by Ballyclare Male Voice Choir from Sunday
A couple of weeks ago we congratulated Jasmine on being appointed leader of the Ulster Youth Orchestra. Here is a recording for St. Patrick’s Day made by the Orchestra and introduced by Jasmine.
Facing the Canon this week is Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
Plagues Of Biblical Proportion - A very timely message today.
Everyday we share another instalment of the film about Corrie Ten Boom Part 11 MONDAY
An organ concert from Wednesday March 17, 2021
Program:
1. Sinfonia from Cantata 29, “We Thank Thee, God,” BWV 29 (Bach)
2. “Prelude on a Swedish Folksong (Värmeland, the Beautiful)” (Cundick)
3. “Come, Come Ye Saints” (arr. Elliott)
4. “Slane” (arr. Elliott)
5. Concert Variations on the Austrian Hymn (Paine)
Faith (25 minute video)
Want to have a deeper faith in God and His Word? Watch this episode of Gifts of the Holy Spirit as Jonathan Conrathe explores how faith comes to us and the different types of faith that we can receive when we invite the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. https://t.co/kT98kjhKNf |
This week I continue to suggest a film each day. These videos are free to watch but may take a little longer than the usual video to fully appreciate.
John Wesley
The faith that sparked the Methodist Movement
Statement From PCI
On Friday the Presbyterian Church In Ireland issued a statement expressing “grave concern” at proposals to allow the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to give direction to Northern Ireland’s Department of Health, over the head of the Northern Ireland Executive. You can read the full statement at the end of the Blog today. |
Discover Portrush
Discover Portrush have organised a series of online events this week. They go live each evening at 7:00pm on their Website. https://discoverportrush.com/ |
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw
Derek 14:37
At the beginning of Lockdown the play arena at the crescent was taped off.
Play the "Crescent Monday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=17c9421aceaa
Statement Issued By PCI on 19 March 2021
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has expressed its ‘grave concern’ at proposals to allow the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to give direction to Northern Ireland’s Department of Health, over the head of the Northern Ireland Executive.
In a statement it said, “The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s General Council Standing Committee, meeting today (19 March), noted with grave concern the proposal of the Secretary for State for Northern Ireland to seek powers to give direction to Northern Ireland’s Department of Health.
“To do so at a time when the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is functioning, represents a serious undermining of the devolved settlement, when there is already significant tension regarding other aspects of the way Northern Ireland is being affected post Brexit.
“The Presbyterian Church in Ireland objected strongly to the Westminster government previously imposing laws on Northern Ireland that removed the protection of the lives of unborn children. This damaging step was taken over the heads of our elected Assembly, with the excuse given that the devolved institutions were not functioning at that time. No such excuse for the undermining of devolution can be used at this time.
The statement concluded by saying, “The Presbyterian Church calls upon the Secretary of State not to take the step he proposes and to let the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly seek to find a consensus way forward, in line with the principle upon which devolution is founded.”