## **Ballymena Congregational Church Summary Reports for the year past 2022** www.ballymenacongregational.com (visit our Facebook page or Sermonaudio.com listings) - _Reports by Jackie & Rodney – front & back_ - _££ Financial Statement from Denis – inside_ |**_Minister_**
**_Rev Jackie Brown_**
**_86 Grangegorm Drive_**
**_Ballymena_**
**_BT42 2EF_**
**_028 2565 3288_**
**_07506 165165_**||**_Secretary_**
**_Mr Rodney Scott_**
**_26 Lismurn Park_**
**_Ahoghill, Ballymena_**
**_BT42 1JN_**
**_028 2587 1376_**
**_07704 983416_**||**_Treasurer_**
**_Mr Denis Scott_**
**_32 Tullymore Park_**
**_Ballymena_**
**_BT42 2AU_**
**_028 2564 0877_**
**_07719 671937 _**| |---|---|---|---|---| _**Sunday Services 11.30 am & 6.30 pm (in the building and/or on-line) Tuesday Midweek 8.00 pm (in the hall) Associated families[c] 60 Communicant members 40 Children’s, Women’s & Men’s meetings as arranged**_ ## **New me in ‘23** _**New year …new start …new ambition? Not just in mind and body – the soul is of greater and lasting importance.**_ - _**Reflect on “the new” in these verses**_ A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) A clean heart (Psalm 51:10) - Transformed within (Romans 12:2) - God does a new thing (Isaiah 43:18-19) Renewed strength (Isaiah 40:31) Certain hope (Psalm 42:5) - Walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4) God given new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) An eternal home (Revelation 21) _**The Annual General Meeting of the church will be held on Tuesday 28[th] February @ 7.30pm.**_ _We have produced these customary Annual Reports to keep you informed and involved - commending them to you to read and consider on matters past and pending. Please plan to be present at our AGM meeting._ _Thank you most sincerely for your continued faithfulness and support through another year and we pray God’s continuing goodness and guidance going forward._ _**The Lord bless and keep you.**_ _R Scott (Secretary) February 2023_ ## **Message from the Manse** Another year has come and gone in the will of God, and we give thanks to Him for his Goodness, Faithfulness and Grace Sunday services have been a blessing. Attendance has been steady with around 45-50 each morning and 30+ each evening. Again, I thank the men who have helped fill the pulpit. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their ministry. Thank also those who have led worship times on Sunday evenings and Karyn and Jane for the faithful use of their musical talents every week. Two special occasions are of note. Michael and Julie Steele brought their baby Jesse to be baptised - it’s great to see him first of all crawling up the aisle to Sunday School and now confidently walking up. Then Jamie and Rebekah Mairs brought little Elijah (Ezekiel, Malachi, Jehoshaphat) to be dedicated to the Lord - I’m looking forward to him toddling to Sunday School too. Pray for the group of children who attend SS each week and we thank our rota of teachers. I thank God for the faithful band who gather each Tuesday evening for Bible Study and Prayer. I was asked to study Revelation and I believe we’ve all enjoyed that. There have been some good discussions over the months. Charles Spurgeon said “The Prayer Meeting is the powerhouse of the church”. I wonder how much more work we could do if more attended each Tuesday evening. Please think and respond. Harvest and Christmas services were well attended with family and friends coming to church – do keep asking them. Football Prize Giving and Parents’ Night were another two ‘specials’ with quite a number of guests hearing the gospel. Why wait for ‘special’ services to invite the unsaved? Great too, that we’ve been able to restart the monthly Good Company meeting, Ladies’ Fellowship and the Men’s Meeting this past few months with encouraging attendances. Likewise Clonavon Coaching still provides weekly fitness and witness for young people and we praise God for recent news of a past attender putting his faith in Christ as Saviour. We rejoice and pray God’s blessing on the marriage in December past of Alison McBride to Jack Gourley. Sadly, I had to conduct two funerals this past year. God called home Jim Carson last February. He was a faithful member of the church and loved being here, especially standing at the door welcoming people in - and having craic with the other men. Pray for Sally, for God’s grace, comfort and support. I also officiated at Margaret Kennedy’s Funeral. Pray for Hazel as she comes to terms with her loss. Could I ask you to pray for some of our members who have long-term conditions that prevent them getting to church very often, or even at all: Elizabeth Cairns, Sally Carson, Wesley Cathcart, Jean Dempsey, Edna Dennison, Ruth McCready, Agnes McMaster, Bertha Scott and Jean Woodcock. If I’ve overlooked anyone, I do apologise. Finally, for myself, I thank God for all of you. The highlight of my year was in November, when Jamie Mairs was saved by the grace of God. Continue to pray for him to be strengthened in the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ - and that he is protected from the wiles of the devil in his young Christian walk with God. Thank you all for your fellowship and friendship - your comfort and support over this past year. God is a good God and He has been more than faithful and answered many prayers I leave you with - Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of break and to prayer.” Let’s take that on our heart this year as we come before the Lord as His people. Every blessing in Christ according to His riches in glory ## **Secretary’s Comments** We thank God for His goodness across another year. As we have emerged from Covid restrictions, we are grateful that while some of us suffered from the condition and we all know of those who were bereaved, the Lord preserved us as a congregation. Give thanks and praise. It is encouraging to see continuing faithful attendances at Sunday services and midweek. Do keep this up and invite others along. Likewise, our programme of other meetings and activities is restarted. - Good Company has most of its regulars back together and the ladies enjoy their fellowship, refreshments and spiritual talks or crafts. - Clonavon Coaching is back as strong as ever with primary and secondary ages enjoying football & Bible lessons. - Sunday School continues as part of morning service with a small but faithful group of preschool and primary kids - Monthly meetings for women and men have just resumed in autumn past. Attendances are pleasing with speakers, activities & trips in an atmosphere of Christian friendship. - Our latest venture is a winter warmer lunch and social time for elderly in the congregation on Friday lunchtimes - Best thanks to all who” make things happen” in every role or service they fulfil. - Appreciation & prayers for Jackie’s ministry We have sorrowed with those bereaved – remembering especially our longstanding member Jim Carson, along with others having church connection: Nan Watterson, Margaret Kennedy, Jimmy Carleton and Walter Murray. We rejoiced with in marriage – Alison McBride to Jack Gourley – and in infant baptisms and dedications – Jesse Steele and Elijah Mairs. In the unique history of the year 2022 we celebrated the Platinum Jubilee and then mourned the death of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. God is truly with us in all life’s affairs and we do well to show gratitude and dependence towards Him. So too as a congregation with our on-going hopes and plans for potential relocation. We have secured outline residential planning permission for our present site, which allows us to test interest and value to sell, which in turn could enable relocation to a more suitable building on a new site about the town. We must remain patient, prayerful and pro-active. Meanwhile, our regular work & witness goes on, needing our earnest prayer, support and service, enriched by God’s blessing, to make it continue and flourish. Romans 12:1 is the call. Christian Regards. ## _**Jackie Brown (Minister)**_ _**Rodney Scott (Church Secretary)**_