Burnside Blog
Monday to Friday each week you will find a new post on our Church Blog.
This includes -
Podcast - Beside The Burn
Prayer Suggestions from PCI - Let’s Pray
Articles that we may find thought provoking
Music that we may find inspirational
Bible verses to make us think
Jigsaw Puzzle for some fun and competition.
It isn’t always possible to keep up to date with the blog everyday so there are links below to the previous Blogs each week, so that you and catch up with any that you have missed.
Read Monday’s Blog Here
Beside The Burn
“Beside The Burn”, is our daily devotional podcast.
This week we are meditating on The Lord’s Prayer and Imagine If God Answers Prayer
Each episode offers Bible teaching, prayer, and quiet reflection.
You can watch the Podcast by clicking the video above or you can listen via the Podcast software on your device https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/burnside
Comments
If you find something helpful or you want to share an insight with others, or record your time for completing the Jigsaw, please comment at the end of today’s blog.
Additional Content
If you have any material that you think others would appreciate please send links to Email and I will try to include them in future blogs.
Let’s Pray For Prison chaplaincy, Rev Graham Stockdale
Please pray for Graham in his ongoing chaplaincy work in HMP Maghaberry and, on an interim basis, in HMP Magilligan. Pray for those he encounters through his role searching for hope and help.
Kells, Co Meath
Give thanks for the continued witness of this small congregation and their convener, Rev Alan McQuade. Pray that they may know God’s help and presence as they meet for worship week by week.
Word For Today
You may well have the printed copy of the Word For Today but you can also read it at the link below.
https://www.ucbireland.ie/word-for-today/todays-word-for-today/
Jigsaw
Many of you have been asking if the Jigsaws will feature photographs from our holidays, so over the next few weeks I will try to include as many as I can.
The puzzle today is the Bassenwaith Station Tea-room
Best Times For Yesterday’s Puzzle:
Janice 2:06
Jean 2:46
Derek 3:04
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=21a9288eaf3f
Monday to Friday each week you will find a new post on our Church Blog.
This includes -
Podcast - Beside The Burn
Prayer Suggestions from PCI - Let’s Pray
Articles that we may find thought provoking
Music that we may find inspirational
Bible verses to make us think
Jigsaw Puzzle for some fun and competition.
It isn’t always possible to keep up to date with the blog everyday so there are links below to the previous Blogs each week, so that you and catch up with any that you have missed.
Read Monday’s Blog Here
Beside The Burn
“Beside The Burn”, is our daily devotional podcast.
This week we are meditating on The Lord’s Prayer and Imagine If God Answers Prayer
Each episode offers Bible teaching, prayer, and quiet reflection.
You can watch the Podcast by clicking the video above or you can listen via the Podcast software on your device https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/burnside
Comments
If you find something helpful or you want to share an insight with others, or record your time for completing the Jigsaw, please comment at the end of today’s blog.
Additional Content
If you have any material that you think others would appreciate please send links to Email and I will try to include them in future blogs.
Let’s Pray For Prison chaplaincy, Rev Graham Stockdale
Please pray for Graham in his ongoing chaplaincy work in HMP Maghaberry and, on an interim basis, in HMP Magilligan. Pray for those he encounters through his role searching for hope and help.
Kells, Co Meath
Give thanks for the continued witness of this small congregation and their convener, Rev Alan McQuade. Pray that they may know God’s help and presence as they meet for worship week by week.
Word For Today
You may well have the printed copy of the Word For Today but you can also read it at the link below.
https://www.ucbireland.ie/word-for-today/todays-word-for-today/
Jigsaw
Many of you have been asking if the Jigsaws will feature photographs from our holidays, so over the next few weeks I will try to include as many as I can.
The puzzle today is the Bassenwaith Station Tea-room
Best Times For Yesterday’s Puzzle:
Janice 2:06
Jean 2:46
Derek 3:04
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=21a9288eaf3f
FUNDRAISING
The following Article is from the Belfast Telegraph and might give some inspiration to anyone wanting to fundraiser for Burnside.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/features/businessmen-in-their-80s-take-a-leap-of-faith-to-raise-70k-for-church-repairs-its-been-on-the-bucket-list/a469541718.html?errorCode=0
Businessmen in their 80s take a leap of faith to raise £70k for church repairs: ‘It’s been on the bucket list’
Two lifelong friends in their eighties have taken a leap of faith to raise funds for their church by completing tandem skydives.
John Burns (80) and 81-year-old Gordon Cunningham, from Maghera, have known each other since they were boy scouts.
Maghera Presbyterian Church treasurer Jonathan Armour came up with the idea of a skydive to raise funds for essential repairs to the building, including replacing the outdated heating system.
Speaking to Sunday Life after leaping from 15,000 feet, John said: “I loved every bit of it. We’re glad to finally get it completed for the church, especially after a few aborted attempts due to bad weather.
“Neither of us has skydived before, but it’s been on the bucket list. I wanted to tick it off before I get much older.
“Life is not measured in the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the number of times your breath is taken away. This one certainly took my breath away.”
Horse rider Gordon added: “The freefall was hard to beat. Jumping out of a plane? That’s nothing. You try and take a horse and put him over a big ditch and he’s saying he’s not going.
“When you’re out hunting, you take a ditch and you don’t know what’s on the other side.”
The businessman, who picked up an MBE for services to economic development in Northern Ireland in 2022, continued: “I’m just in it for the ride.”
Five members of the tight-knit congregation of Maghera Presbyterian Church took part in the challenge, including treasurer Jonathan, John’s son Gary, church member Jonny Caskey, as well as John and Gordon.
With a target of £100,000, they have already raised £70,00, well above expectations.
Gary said: “Our target is £100,000. It’s a stretched target, which means it might take a couple of years to achieve.
“The first bit of expenditure is for new heating and electrical systems, which need overhauled and replaced.
“Other works include repair and replacement works to the old bell tower.
“We will also need some work done to the church hall in due course, and maybe down the line, we’re toying with the idea of extension work, but we don’t know yet.
“The church is a listed building, so anything that needs to be done externally won’t be straightforward.”
John, who took over his father’s estate agent business in 1979 before handing the reins to his son, added: “The fundraising event has triggered community spirit from all sides of the community.
“It’s evident that in this area there’s a lot of goodwill from offering the hand of friendship. People have come to us. We’re very appreciative.”
The group has more fundraising events planned, with a concert in the pipeline for early next year featuring John’s band Second Chance.
The group, which has been going for 12 years, play gospel, country and rockabilly, performing in pubs, hotels, at charity functions and in churches.
Both businessmen, whose surnames have been connected with Maghera since the 1600s, are looking to future-proof the church building, which has stood at the centre of the town for hundreds of years.
“The church has been on the present site since 1792, though the church in Maghera has been in operation even longer than that,” Gordon said.
“St Lurach’s (the ruins of a church nearby) has a rich history, and our families go back to the 17th century, though Maghera dates back to the sixth century.
“It’s important to preserve our church building for years to come, which is why the repair and upgrade are essential.”
The following Article is from the Belfast Telegraph and might give some inspiration to anyone wanting to fundraiser for Burnside.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/features/businessmen-in-their-80s-take-a-leap-of-faith-to-raise-70k-for-church-repairs-its-been-on-the-bucket-list/a469541718.html?errorCode=0
Businessmen in their 80s take a leap of faith to raise £70k for church repairs: ‘It’s been on the bucket list’
Two lifelong friends in their eighties have taken a leap of faith to raise funds for their church by completing tandem skydives.
John Burns (80) and 81-year-old Gordon Cunningham, from Maghera, have known each other since they were boy scouts.
Maghera Presbyterian Church treasurer Jonathan Armour came up with the idea of a skydive to raise funds for essential repairs to the building, including replacing the outdated heating system.
Speaking to Sunday Life after leaping from 15,000 feet, John said: “I loved every bit of it. We’re glad to finally get it completed for the church, especially after a few aborted attempts due to bad weather.
“Neither of us has skydived before, but it’s been on the bucket list. I wanted to tick it off before I get much older.
“Life is not measured in the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the number of times your breath is taken away. This one certainly took my breath away.”
Horse rider Gordon added: “The freefall was hard to beat. Jumping out of a plane? That’s nothing. You try and take a horse and put him over a big ditch and he’s saying he’s not going.
“When you’re out hunting, you take a ditch and you don’t know what’s on the other side.”
The businessman, who picked up an MBE for services to economic development in Northern Ireland in 2022, continued: “I’m just in it for the ride.”
Five members of the tight-knit congregation of Maghera Presbyterian Church took part in the challenge, including treasurer Jonathan, John’s son Gary, church member Jonny Caskey, as well as John and Gordon.
With a target of £100,000, they have already raised £70,00, well above expectations.
Gary said: “Our target is £100,000. It’s a stretched target, which means it might take a couple of years to achieve.
“The first bit of expenditure is for new heating and electrical systems, which need overhauled and replaced.
“Other works include repair and replacement works to the old bell tower.
“We will also need some work done to the church hall in due course, and maybe down the line, we’re toying with the idea of extension work, but we don’t know yet.
“The church is a listed building, so anything that needs to be done externally won’t be straightforward.”
John, who took over his father’s estate agent business in 1979 before handing the reins to his son, added: “The fundraising event has triggered community spirit from all sides of the community.
“It’s evident that in this area there’s a lot of goodwill from offering the hand of friendship. People have come to us. We’re very appreciative.”
The group has more fundraising events planned, with a concert in the pipeline for early next year featuring John’s band Second Chance.
The group, which has been going for 12 years, play gospel, country and rockabilly, performing in pubs, hotels, at charity functions and in churches.
Both businessmen, whose surnames have been connected with Maghera since the 1600s, are looking to future-proof the church building, which has stood at the centre of the town for hundreds of years.
“The church has been on the present site since 1792, though the church in Maghera has been in operation even longer than that,” Gordon said.
“St Lurach’s (the ruins of a church nearby) has a rich history, and our families go back to the 17th century, though Maghera dates back to the sixth century.
“It’s important to preserve our church building for years to come, which is why the repair and upgrade are essential.”
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