Please pray for those who are not well:
Isobel Shortt, Babs den Hoed, David Swann, Janet Ferrett, Jean Ireland, Grace Daly, Flora Kavanagh, Olivia McFarland, Eleanor Cathers

Please also pray for the bereaved:
the family and friends of 
Isabel Elliot, Trudie Watson and Betty Cochrane

RESURRECTION

The Christian doctrine is a doctrine not of immortality but of Resurrection. The difference is profound. The method of all non-Christian systems is to seek an escape from the evils and misery of life. Christianity seeks no escape, but accepts these at their worst, and makes them the material of its triumphant joy. That is the special significance in this connection of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ - William Temple

PEACE

With eager heart and will on fire, 
I strove to win my great desire. 
"Peace shall be mine," I said; but life
Grew bitter in the barren strife.

My soul was weary, and my pride
Was wounded deep; to Heaven I cried,
"God grant me peace or I must die;"
The dumb stars glittered no reply.

Broken at last, I bowed my head,
Forgetting all myself, and said,
"Whatever comes, His will be done;"
And in that moment peace was won.
                                           - Henry van Dyke

Happy Birthday to our young people
for April and May:

Casey Smith who will be 10

Ryan Spencewho will be 9

Joshua Hawthorne who will be 9

Blessing Irkoma Eneh who will be 2

Daniel McLarnon who will be 7

Mary Currie who will be 16 

Cara Pierce who will be 17 

Lucie Litvack who will be 14 

Thanks to all the children and their parents who participate and support the Family Services. The role of the children in greeting, collection, prayer, reading and presentation during these services is appreciated and enjoyed by all.

You can see some pictures and work here.

Christian Aid Week   11-17 May

collectors needed!

Growing a Future

THANKS FOR TOYS

Ian Slaine, Director, C.I. Board for Social Responsibility

CLAIRE CURRIE -

MEDICAL YOUTH MISSION TO FAIZABAD, INDIA

Claire Currie, one of our young people, is a 2nd year medical student at Downing College Cambridge. In August, she will be part of a medical mission youth team, to visit India. The trip is organised by The Leprosy Mission (NI).

The team of 12 will spend some time in Dehli, but will be most of the time working in Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh State. Claire writes, “In Dehli we will spend some time in the Leprosy Hospital and also the Princess of Wales Health Education Centre.

In Faizabad I will be involved in a building project, and will also spend some time in the Leprosy Hospital. I will also work in the Vocational Training Centre for Leprosy Sufferers.”

Claire needs to raise £1,250 towards the project. If you would like to help Claire, please put your donation in an envelope and mark it, ‘Claire Currie - Faizabad Project’

Jesus is not a figure in a book; He is a living presence. - William Barclay

From the Registers...

Welcome to new members
Welcome in the name of the Lord

May, Susan and Lara Brown,

Alex Aqua

Christian Burial/Cremation
'I am the Resurrection and the life'

31 Jan    Mary Isabel Elliott

29 Feb   Gertrude (Trudie) Watson

26 March   Elizabeth Cochrane

MOTHERS’ UNION

See pictures of parish MU events.

16 April            Area Social    19:45    in St Bartholomew’s Parish , Stranmillis Road.

24 April            A.G.M. and Sale     19:30   in the Church Building.

ALL LADIES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

What we plant in the soil of contemplation we shall reap in the harvest of action -
                                                                                                                           Meister Eckhart

First Year at the Theological College - Brian Lacey

As I'm nearing the end of my first year at the Theological College, I thought I should let you know what it's like! Most students live in the college in Dublin from Sunday till Thursday, with a placement (usually somewhere in Northern Ireland) on Friday and Sunday morning. 

The academic course is very interesting; in first year we are studying:
New Testament - Mark's Gospel in depth, with a cursory look at the rest 
Old Testament - focusing on understanding the sources and development of the ancient writings 
Theology - an overview of who is God and how do we relate to Him
Church History - from the time of the Apostles right through to modern day 
Exegesis - where we get to practice preaching 
Ministry in the Local Church - which examines the role of the Church in society, and our role within the Church 
Liturgy - looking at the Book of Common Prayer and 
Spirituality 

There are essays or assignments for each of these subjects throughout the year and exams in April. 

For my first year placement I elected to go to the Ballymacarrett Group of Parishes in East Belfast. It's been quite insightful to see other people's expectations and understanding of worship. I also preached my first two sermons there, which were in many ways great experiences - but not for the faint hearted! 

Although the College is a place for learning, everyone arrives there with their own preconceived ideas about how we are saved, why we are saved, and how 

we should live our lives accordingly. It's easy to think that we can place individuals into different groups depending on their 
outlook on various issues, such as biblical inerrancy, or the charismatic gifts, or what actually happened at Easter. But ultimately everyone will agree on some things and disagree on others, and part of the social undercurrent in the College is working through differences in a mutually respectful way. 

There are usually three services of worship each day in the College Chapel, most of which are Morning or Evening Prayer; Holy Communion is celebrated on Wednesday evening. Students take it in turn to conduct the services, and as there are only around thirty of us we each lead a service about once every ten days or so. In doing so, we get to choose hymns and canticles and to prepare prayers - this is a great privilege and thoroughly enjoyable, if not a little daunting at first. There is not much opportunity at this stage for pastoral activities, but this will be an element of future placements and studies. 

Our tuition fees, accommodation and food are paid for by the Church, but a lot of our own money is spent on transport up and down to Dublin each week... such is the price of seeing our families and friends! 

Having been a student before, I was surprised to see how intensive the course at Dublin is. Given the nature of living in community with other ordinands, there really is no escaping discussions about the Church, theology and our faith: it really does take over your life but I have to admit that I wouldn't want it any other way. 

The College, course, staff and students are all fantastic and I'm immensely honoured to be there. I'm grateful for the support and encouragement I've received from St Thomas', and I'd like to thank those who kindly volunteered to cover warden duty during my placement.

As Man alone, Jesus could not have saved us; as God alone, he would not; Incarnate, he could and did. - Malcolm Muggeridge

THE LOWEST PLACE

Give me the lowest place, not that I dare
Ask for that lowest place, but Thou hast died
That I might live and share
Thy glory by Thy side.

Give me the lowest place; or if for me
That lowest place too high, make one more low
Where I may sit and see
My God and love Thee so.
                                              - Christina G. Rosetti

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Holy Communion 10.30

  A Time for Prayer  19:15

Sunday Greeters at 10:30 and 19:00 Services  

April      Laurence Harvey, David King, Gladys Smyth 

May       Eric Harvey, Peter and Catherine King

  FWO Counters

April      Andrew and Joan Whitaker

  May     Renee Pelan and Annie Ridgway