Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving in Glencairn

Monday September 23rd 2024

Ministry leaders past and present attend the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving in St Andrew’s, Glencairn, on Sepember 19.

On Thursday September 19, St Andrew’s Parish, Glencairn, held a Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for almost 53 years of parish life and ministry in the area.

The services of Sunday worship in St Andrew’s ended in August, and the congregation is becoming part of a new Union in the Mid Belfast Rural Deanery under the incumbent, the Rev Canon Tracey McRoberts MBE.

Canon Tracey welcomed the congregation, and the Rev Adrian Bell led the opening prayers. The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, and Rev Alan Conly of the Methodist Church spoke of God’s leading and guiding into a new phase of life as a church, not the building but the people of God.

Leading the worship are Daniel and Sarah McDonald.

Readings and prayers were read by congregation members and the sung worship was led by Daniel McDonald, his wife Sarah and his mum, Pauline. Daniel is the son of Church Army Evangelist, Scott McDonald, who attended along with his wife, Pauline. Scott led the church as part of a ministry team from 1991 to 2013.

There were former staff members attending, along with MLA Brian Kingston. Sister Karen Webb read a card from Evelyn Lewis, the wife of former curate, Canon Walter Lewis.

The congregation was delighted to be joined by other parishioners from the rural deanery and they all enjoyed a buffet of snacks and sandwiches.