Lisburn Cathedral set for Big Church Serve 2015

Monday March 30th 2015

A squad of 150 people of all ages will be out and about in Lisburn over Easter bringing colour and love to their local community as part of Lisburn Cathedral’s Big Church Serve.

The event will build on the success of last year’s Big Church Serve. From April 1-4, 150 local people aged 3-83 take part in the project which will include a huge range of activities for all the family held in both Lisburn City Centre and Hillhall.

All ages take part in the Big Church Serve! Picture by: Aidan O'Reilly

All ages take part in the Big Church Serve. Getting stuck in are Sheila Hughes with young helper Lucy. Picture by: Aidan O’Reilly

The aim of the project is to bring out the ‘God-Colours’ in the city and ultimately bring visitors and residents of the area together at a special time.

Vicar, the Rev Simon Genoe, said: “The huge success of last year has prompted us to host the event again in 2015 and this year it’s going to be bigger and better than before. As an outreach programme we touched the lives of many people last year and we hope to do the same again.

“Making real positive changes to the lives of those in our community is our goal and we can’t rest on our laurels. Each of us is responsible for looking after our neighbours and this is our way of doing what little we can for those in need and our way of bringing fun, joy and laughter to the homes and streets of Lisburn.”

Activities over the four days will include mural painting, flower planting, door-to-door giveaways, kids’ clubs, pamper zones, carwashing and a barbeque with family fun day, all happening in the Hillhall area

On the streets of Lisburn City Centre there will be a fun photo booth, football cage, balloons, free chocolate lollies, and an Easter egg hunt. At the site of the Cathedral visitors will enjoy an all day ‘Frozen’ Party on the Saturday, a beautiful dawn service at 7am on Easter Sunday, followed by the ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ Family Service at 11am.

The Grace café will be open each day from 10am – 4pm providing visitors with a place to chat, enjoy the craic and let the kids play in the under five play area while absorbing the surroundings of what is arguably Lisburn’s most iconic building.

Early risers (and those who need to set an alarm), are also invited to join the congregation for a ‘bacon butty’ at the 7am Dawn Service on Easter Sunday which will see all the churches in the city come together to celebrate this wonderful occasion in the Castle Garden Grounds as the sun comes up.

All set for the Big Church Serve in Lisburn City and Hillhall are Chris Pickles, left and Church Warden Brian Bell.

The culmination of the Big Church Serve will be the Ice Cream Sundae service at Lisburn Cathedral at 11am on Easter Sunday – this will be church for everybody but with a special Easter themed difference!

For further information, including detailed times and locations for the Big Church Serve, along with everything else happening at Lisburn Cathedral please visit www.lisburncathedral.org or visit the Cathedral’s dedicated Big Church Serve website.