Building Faith…
[Taken from the current issue of N:Vision, the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe’s magazine.]
To be the local Church living as Jesus intended…
The driving force of the Maghera Parish Caring Association is faith, faith to step out and take risks for God in our community. In the past three years as an organisation we have worked with young people sharing our faith and God’s love. We have built bridges towards peace; we have addressed social issues tackling drug and alcohol awareness, parenting skills, self-harm and suicide.
This year we are looking at the difficult issue of sexual health. The MPCA has shown how a faith biased organisation can work in partnership with secular organisations to do God’s work; IFI, local health, education boards, and the PSNI to name a few. We have shown faith can have a voice. Faith is about learning to listen to God and not the odds. Faith is about vision. Our vision is to share the gospel of Christ working together for all people i the community to build a better today.
Our children’s and family work has continued to go from strength to strength since coming under the umbrella of the MPCA. From the staple church diet of sunday school and youth club, through schools work to Parent & Toddler and after-school groups, our weekly remit has brought us into contact with hundreds of kids and their families.
The summer term has been a great example of this already. We have started two new after-school projects: Explorers, a group with a weekly Holiday Club-style programme, and Kwik Cricket coaching at Ampertaine Primary in Upperlands, where our church plant has been growing over the past three years.
We are incredibly blessed in Maghera, Swatragh and Upperlands to be backed by a church family that - literally - puts its money where its mouth is and seeks to keep bringing Christ into our communities. We keep remembering that our children are not the church of tomorrow - but a vital part of our church right now.
As some of our young people prepare for confirmation we teamed up with our neighbouring parish of Kilcronaghan for two youth events. The first was a Youth Service in Kilcronaghan Parish Church, where worship was led by Mr. JAG and the speaker was our own Rev. Mark Lennox. For the second, we took over the Church of Ireland Theological Institute for a youth weekend and a fun time was had by all. On Friday evening and on Saturday morning the sessions were led by Rebekah McLean who encouraged everyone to explore their faith and put it into action.
On Saturday afternoon the group found themselves in Dublin city centre completing a photo challenge, which concluded with a session on St. Stephen’s Green where Rev. Mark encouraged everyone to try and experience and listen to God in different ways. He outlined the importance of being able to hear God, even in the busiest place in the country. Saturday evening Peter Jones encouraged the group to rock the boat and think seriously about a personal relationship with God, particularly in regard to prayer life. The weekend concluded on Sunday morning, with Rev. Mark challenging everyone to do like Peter in Matthew 14 - get out of the boat and walk in faith towards Jesus.
Finally, a note from our JUMP worker Billy Fyffe, who recently concluded a year out scheme with us. ‘One of my favourite Bible verses is Colossians 2 verse 7: “…rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
‘In Maghera, the Parish and the staff team have taught me to be rooted in my faith and to be built up solely on the Lord in all I do. Taking a year out to a new place can be hard but I was reminded to be strengthened in my faith as I was taught and to always, no matter what, be overflowing with thankfulness.’
At the reception afterwards the Rev Mark thanked all who had travelled from South Derry to Donemana to support him in this service. He also thanked in particular his home parish Rector, Archdeacon McLean for his words in the church and his current Rector, Rev. Isaac Hanna, for encouragement that he has given. Rev Mark finished by publicly acknowledging the role that his late father Edwin had played in his life and concluded by thanking his mother Heather, for all the sacrifices made and support given this far. Rev Mark prayed his first priestly blessing upon his mother.
The decision to close the services of the accident and emergency department of the Mid Ulster Hospital so suddenly is something which has shocked and disgusted the local communities of South Derry and East Tyrone.
The select vestries of Maghera and Killelagh have both recently elected their officers and Select Vestries for the incoming term.
Maghera Parish Caring Association, linked to the Parishes of Maghera and Killelagh in the diocese of Derry and Raphoe have been awarded substantial funding by the International Fund for Ireland. The grant will enable the employment of three full time staff, delivery of community programmes, and a substantial refurbishment of the parish centre. The development of new initiatives will benefit everything from peacebuilding, youth work, and senior citizens work, to the provision of shared public spaces in Maghera.