Ballylane Reforn￿d Pr*rfan Chutth Trustee Report 2023
Charltles Number: NIC106231
2023 has been an encouraging year for our Church wlth much goln8 on in our effort5 to spread the word of God. Throughout our work
we always endeavourto promote the Purpose of tt* Rpa In our kxal clwreh area. In Galway, Spaln and Nante In France. Thls year
new ovtreach has begun in Limerlck. Thi5 Purpose is to SUPPOrt and advance the Christian Falth according to tt* Word of God in
accordance with the'8ook of Govemment and Order of the Reformed Presbytetkn Church in Ireland.
In 2023 we continued to ￿)rshIpJ01ntty wlth our RP slster Church. Ballenon. Our pastor. the Reverend flobert Robb continues falthfvlly
In h15 delivery of the gospel message. Membership to the church has decreased byone due to death. Seryices wlthln the church
building have continued throughout the year wlth pleasin8ty high numbers at both momln8 and evenln8 servlces. The average mornlng
attendance wa5 forty-two whlle the evenlng twenty-six.
The Southern Presbytery holds monthly Psalm sln8lng evenlngs rotatlng around the churches. These are well attended.
Sunday School ran throughoutthe year apart from the summer holldays. Numbers are however b)w due to the aae profile ofthe
church members.
The Lord's supper was observed twice thls year a51s our custom. It Involved a pre ¢ommunlon service. the communlon Serv1￿ and a
thanks8lvlng servlce all of whlch were well attended.
In November we held four evenlngs of outreach work in Markethlll vslng the P￿mISeS of'Chr15t Wlthin Markethill,. Thls was to
encourage the local communty to come along and get involved. Leaflets and ftyers had been distrltrxrted within the area. All four
meetlngs were well attended.
In contlntslng our •lm ol spreadlng God's Word In our lo￿1 cornmunlty and further wfield ￿ use:
tl . Thls takes ptace wèekly forftfteen mlnutss at the beglnnln8 of our mornlng servKe.
Women's F Ilow
l . Women frorn our two churches meet falthfully each month. Athlltles have Included a puddlng evenlng followed
by a quiz, a talk from a spokesperson from SASRA, a DVD nlghL a walk and chat evening in Gosford and a meal out tO8ether. We
support other churches women's groups in our Southern Presbytery and other local churches by attendlng thelr speaker nl8hts. Our
Women's Fellowshlp Group provlded a flnancial contrlbutlon to Outreach work In Llmerick and to the Malawl Projects thls year.
Th15 group meets rnonth￿. It Is very well attended by men from Ix)th Cong￿gatIOnS. Actlvltles have Included our Pastor
leadln8 dlscusslon on portlons from the Blble, supportlng Clare RP Church Men's Breakfast, and a meal out tO8ether.
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Runnlng from September to May women from our churches meet one mornln8 per month. Our Pa5torfs wlfe
leads dlscusslon on dlfferent themes throughoLrt the 8lble. Frfends are encouraged to Come along.
LLLwLrk. We continue to give flnanclal help to the RP Rellef Fund and a8ain thls year our Pastor wlth some church members
travelled to Nantes France to help with some of the constructk)n work on thelr new church premlses.
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We contrlbutedlsupported the 81ytheswood shoebox appeal and financlally contrlbuted to the TurkeY/Syrla
earthquake appeal. Church members tske part In Southern Presbytery events stsch as the anftual 8BQ youth wl2 nights etc. We also
had the annual Church outing going to Ennlsklllen.
Bu
. To achieve our alm of transparenty we held our annual buslness meetln8 in February. Reports we
presented* passed. and adopted by the congregatton as t￿￿ and accurate accoLsnts.
We fadlltate throu8h the use of our d￿r¢h hall •nd klt¢hen, the opportunlty forfellowshlp and communlty Involvement:
nann Wom
's In
. Thls 8roup meet monthty In our hall.
h. Thls group use our hall for monthly actSvltles and meal
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nclal $I￿at7
As tan be seen from our Accounts although we are small In number. our congregatlon are able to fully meet all our
expenses, our pastorfs salary and bullding running costs. We fully meet the Targets of Honour set by our Synod for Church Misslon
work whlch they dlstribute where they find the need and forthe 0th￿nternent ofthe Christian faith, and Synodical payments which
help out less weSkiff congregatlons sUp￿)rt their pastors. Our main Income ts from Freewill offering by church members and
adherents.
The Trustees: Reverend Robert Robb. Mr lan Douglas and Mr 8ilty Wilson.