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2023-12-31-annual-report

Knockloughrim Presbyterian Church A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.

Reference and Administrative Details

Knockloughrim Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 57 Ballynacross Road, Knockloughrim, Magherafelt, BT45 8PY

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105654)

Charity Trustees Rev Gareth Stewart Rev John Martin Mr Wilbur Bownes

Principal Office Bearers

Minister(convenor) Clerk of Session Treasurer

Rev John Mullan Mr Wilbur Bownes Mrs Margaret Rainey

Independent Examiners

McGrath Pattison Ltd, 61D Main Street, Maghera, BT46 5AB

Bankers

Ulster Bank, 13 Main Street, Maghera, BT46 5AA Danaske Bank, 14 Broad Street, Magherafelt, BT45 6EA (Mid -Week only)

Solicitors

James Burnside & Co.., 43 Main Street, Maghera, BT46 5AA

Structure and Management

The Kirk Session- The Charity Trustees of the Congregation are the members of the Kirk Session. Under the Congregation’s Governing Document, the Code, the Book of the Constitution and Government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the Congregation and of persons connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the Interim Session. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held as necessary. To be chosen for the office of the. eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either chosen by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote.

Presbytery- Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregation assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Knockloughrim Congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Tyrone Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)

active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.

Description and Purpose – The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Knockloughrim congregation is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world. The Congregation’s mission purpose is by the grace of God to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ’s people of all ages, which is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others, is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible and is relevant to people of this time and place. The Congregation aims to, live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God’s people by being a Covenant Community, where our relationships intentionally take the lead to engage with the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice.

Achievements and Performance

Worship and prayer. The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday now at 10.40 am with prayer time at the earlier time of 10.00 am. Our mid-week Bible Studies is held in both churches in alternative Thursday evenings, this provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we gave thanks for faithful service and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. All are welcome to attend our services. The average week attendance is 50 with the number increasing at our traditional services of celebration. We have been blessed that during our vacancy we have continued to be supported in ministry by Rev Hugh Mullan and Mrs Deidre Mullan with their attendance at our prayer time in advance of our morning services and as they faithfully lead each of our services each Sunday.

Pastoral Care – Rev Mullan has continued to visit faithfully providing pastoral care to all of our members.

Mission and outreach

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. At a local level the congregation’s local mission and outreach has included supporting financially and practically a range of missionaries and agencies. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assist congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the church’s training college for ministry students and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach leadership and pastoral care.

Presbytery – The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our Convenor. This provides an important link between the congregation and the wider structures of the church.

Activities and Objectivities – The Congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is observed twice a year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesu Christ are admitted to the Lord’s Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School, Bowling Club, Craft Club, and Youth Club

Congregational Committee Update

This year we have taken the opportunity to continue our maintenance programme within the church with a new sound system installed which together with our camera allows us to share our services on Facebook.

We would like to record our thanks to Rodney Fullerton for his dedication and service in maintaining the church grounds to such an exceptionally high standard.

This year we took the opportunity to recognise the long service of current and past committee members presenting them with a Bible in recognition of their faithful service and the congregation joined in the hall afterwards to recognise the occasion. At our Christmas Candlelit Service, we welcomed Desertmartin Accordion to support our evening of carols and enjoyed a time of hospitality together in the hall afterwards provided by our wonderful catering team who are always willing to help. Our Cleaning Rota continues in place and we would of course be delighted to see additional names added to this list.

Our Welcome rota continues this year again and we are delighted for those who have agreed to help and particularly delighted to see our l younger members of our congregation involved in this service.

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)

Finance

Financially our FWO contribution was £25674.50 which is excellent but unfortunately we failed to meet our United Appeal target. The target for each family is £56 and a family is defined as a household (those living at the same address). The shortfall was collected from our main account to enable us to meet our target. We have supported our charities this year again raising £900 for Missions, contributing £200 to the joint Holiday Bible Club and a further £200 to the Presbyterian’s Children’s Society

Choir

Our choir has continued to lead our key events including Easter, Harvest and at Christmas lead by our very talented organist Joanna Moore whose guidance and leadership has always been appreciated. Joanna announced her intention to resign at the end of the calendar year due to other commitments and we wish her well in the days ahead. We recognised her service and presented Joanna with an item of jewellery at her final service and we wish her God’s richest blessings.

PowerPoint/Online Media

We continue to avail of the PowerPoint to support our services and are very thankful to all who help cover this role, in particular Clifford Robinson and more recently Donna Fullerton and Sylvia Kelly and know that our online Facebook service are valued by our local community. The services are still made available in the hall and the facility is available to any families who wish to be present in a more informal environment.

Mid-Week Meetings

Prayer is an intimate conversation with God

Our meetings are held on a Thursday night starting at 8pm alternating every other week with Bellaghy. A great time of fellowship learning and praying together. We would be pleased to see many more people join with us. Why Read the Bible?

The Bible has been given to us so that we may know it’s author and grow to love Him. God wants to use His Word in our lives to…….

GIVE US FAITH

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 11 v 17) ENCOURAGE US

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15 v 4) EQUIP US

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3 v 16-17) GUIDE US

In this chaotic world where there no longer seem to be absolutes, no right or wrong, the Bible is an unwavering compass always pointing us to True North. It’s that truth that guides and directs our steps. THE NEXT STEP

Jesus says that human beings don’t just live on physical food. “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4 v 4)

When we intentionally set aside time to regularly feed our soul by reading God’s Word, we will grow. (The above article is a shortened extract from ODB written by Bill Myers)

Trevor & Selina Paul

Holiday Bible Club

The Holiday Bible Club was held this summer from 24[th] – 28[th] July each evening in Knockloughrim Primary School grounds. We were able to avail of the Faith Mission truck and its new marquee. Andrew and Carolyn Maybin, Faith Mission facilitated the programme and the theme this year was “Living Creatures”. We were pleased that the HBC was well supported by many of our members who actively partook in a range of activities including bible verses/stories, children’s choruses and outdoor/indoor games. On average we welcomed 40 children during the course of the week finishing off with a BBQ and football match with Bellaghy being the stronger team. Awh well maybe next year DV.

Trevor Paul

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)

Sunday School

Sunday school resumed after the Christmas celebrations in January 2023, meeting every Sunday at 10am. There are two classes totalling five children. The class for the younger children is taken by me (Cheryl) and the older class is taken by Charlotte and Rosanna Fullerton. Attendance is very good, and the children have enjoyed the bible activities and stories. The programme followed is from, ‘goteach’ God’s Word to 5-7 and 8–11-year-olds. Below is a brief outline of some of the weekly lessons:

Moses – escaping Egypt

The power of Jesus

Moses – journey to freedom

Crossing to safety Exodus 13:17-14:31 Needing food Exodus 16

God’s gracious help Exodus 17:1-7

Seeing our need of Jesus

The birth of Jesus

instruction of the Lord’

‘Bring them up in the

Ephesians 6:4

Cheryl Speers

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)

Back of the Hill Youth Club

The Back of the Hill Youth Club continued to run every other Friday night from October to March. We welcomed children of Primary School Age as well as some Year 8 pupils this year. During 2023, the children had the opportunity to participate in a range of sports and fitness activities, crafts and baking. One of our highlights of our year was the visit to the Golf Driving Range in Tobermore in March. In spite of a cold evening our children rose to the challenges set by the Golf Instructor, Tony Mulholland.

The Youth Club children back in popular bouncy night. sustained themselves see familiar faces some new ones.

welcomed our October with our ever Numbers had and It was lovely to returning along with

Approaching Christmas, the children worked on preparing Christmas Hampers and cards for the residents and staff of Mountainview Retreat, Rocktown Road, Knockloughrim.

We visited Mountainview Retreat and were welcomed by some residents and Cindy, one of the Carers as shown below. Hopefully, this experience will help our children realise the importance of being kind and helping others.  ◦

Garry Ewing/Donna Fullerton /Lorraine Steele

Presbyterian Women’s Group

Given reducing numbers we have not started our regular monthly meetings but have been able to maintain our annual PW Service. This year we were delighted to have Joe and Sadie Law, who were supported by One Mission Society (OMS), during their missionary projects in Colombia and they were thrilled, after many challenges, to be involved in the building of a new church in one of the most anti-Christian regions in the country.

We were pleased to have Mrs Ana-Morery Stewart, a native of Colombia and congregational member, read a passage from the bible during the service firstly in English and then Spanish just in case we didn’t get it the first time!

Selina Paul

Craft Class

A group of ladies from across the local community continue to together in members’ homes they make a range of craft items along with enjoying fellowship and hospitality together in an informal basis.

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)

Marie Kelly

Bowling Club

Our Bowling Club meets Monday nights at 8pm. New players are always welcome to join in the fun. This year we had a friendly match between our sister bowling club in Bellaghy where we mixed up the teams for a night of fun with tea and a chat afterwards.

Jacqueline Beattie

Volunteers – We would like to acknowledge our deep appreciation and thanks to all those who have freely given of their time by serving on the committee, those who have led and helped in our various organisations including the Sunday School, Youth Club, PW, Holiday Bible Club, Bowling Club, Craft Class and Mid-Week, our organist and choir for leading our worship and for those who organise and manage our PowerPoint, We also record our thanks and appreciation for those who maintain the graveyard and church grounds and those who have helped carry out maintenance work to the church, its buildings and grounds and our families who have generously supported the church, those who have welcomed visitors in our church throughout the year and those who have been involved in the upkeep, repair and cleaning of our church, hall and grounds and those who have helped in church activities in many other ways.

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Public Benefit Statement

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church’s subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally, the above benefits are delivered locally by congregational churches and members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public.

The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

Financial Review – The congregation’s mains source of income is members’ contributions to the General Fund through the Weekly Freewill Offering and Building Fund. Total income of the congregation during the year amounted to £41,263.00 expenditure £28,485.00. The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statement of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accounting practice. As the congregation’ s total income does not exceed £259,000 the Trustees have elected under Section64(113) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregations; transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and any other irregularities.

Approved:

Rev John Mullan _

Date

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC10565)