Ballinderry’s 24th annual Parish Weekend!

Monday February 11th 2019

Ballinderry families enjoyed beautiful weather for their Parish Weekend in Castlewellan

Ballinderry Parish headed to Castlewellan Castle from February 8-10 for the 24th annual Parish Weekend.

Many of the parents who attended with their children were the toddlers and children themselves when the Parish Weekend was first held in 1995! 

The Rev Trevor Cleland, rector of Ballinderry, with the Rev Andrew Forster, St Anne’s Parish, Dungannon, who was guest speaker at the Parish Weekend.

The parish has been going to Castlewellan for more than 10 years, and prior to that travelled to Castle Erin, Portrush, for the event. 

The weekend is a time of fun and fellowship which is also enjoyed by ‘day-trippers’ who join the rest of the group on the Saturday. 

In total there were 40 people stayed the whole weekend, including 14 children from the age of 2-10 and six babies under the age of one. Thirty more parishioners joined the group for the Saturday only.

This year’s speaker was the Rev Andrew Forster from St Anne’s Parish, Dungannon, who gave a series of talks about the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel. 

Hannah Boyd (Elsa) and Graeme Livingston (Olaf) enjoyed the fancy dress competition.

A team led by Christine Hughes, Shankill Parish, Lurgan, organised a children’s programme during the adult talks, and the children enjoyed singing and playing games as well as learning about some of the miracles Jesus performed. 

The children (and a few adults) enjoyed dressing up in fancy dress for the fun and games on the Saturday night.

Earlier that afternoon there was free time for activities including walks in the forest park or Newcastle beach, canoeing and fishing on the lake, golf, mountaineering or fun in the games room.

On Sunday there was a Family Service before the annual walk to the Peace Maze in the Forest Park, and the parishioners heard about the parable of the Sower.  The parish music group led the worship throughout the weekend. 

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