Annual Report 2025
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28: 20 Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday morning when a small number of members and attenders gather both in the Meeting House and virtually by means of Webex. Webex has enabled those who through illness or frailty are no longer able to attend physically. Thanks to those who send out the Webex link and those who make the necessary internet connection each Sunday. Sunday School, takes place on the first Sunday of each month when up to seven children attend. Thanks to the Sunday School, coffee/ tea and freshly made buns are served after Meeting for Worship. Adjourned Preparative Meeting took place on Friday 17[th] January. Social events, such as thesummer outing, have not been held due to our small numbers but the regular meeting up of some members and attenders on the first Saturday of the month at Dobbies, has continued throughout the year.
A monthly Prayer Meeting, attended by Friends from Lisburn, Lurgan and Bessbrook has been held throughout the year.
The deaths of close family of members and attenders have been sad events during the year. In August, the long life of John Williams, husband of Yvonne, came to a peaceful end. In September, after a relatively short illness, Star Kendall nee Mail, sister of Martin, died at her home in England. David Swain, son of James and Sheelagh, died suddenly in hospital in November.
Our connection with Friends’ School has continued for many years with the purchase of Biblesembossed with the school crest. These are presented at the annual Bible Sunday meeting to school leavers and staff members who are retiring or leaving. This year Bible Sunday was on 6thApril when the speakers were Will and Bronwen Haire, members of South Belfast Preparative Meeting. As the school was celebrating the 250[th] anniversary of its founding, a short drama, performed by pupils, had been written by Martin Mail, remembering significant events and people in the history of the school such as the visit of Elizabeth Fry in 1827.
Ireland Yearly Meeting was held in Lisburn from 25[th] to 27[th] April.
In June our Meeting for Worship was attended by representatives from 3 Quaker Schools who were attending the Quaker School Principals’ Conference in Friends School Lisburn.
‘It’s Your Move’ booklets from Scripture Union were purchased to give to Year 7 pupils in the Preparatory School.
Our annual service of carols and readings was held after Meeting for Worship on Sunday 21[st] December. The theme was Light.
With regard to the duties in the Book of Organisation and Christian Discipline, chapter 5 paragraph 4 the clerk is to inform the Monthly Meeting clerk that we have attended to the following duties
-
a. weekly Meetings for Worship have been held
-
b. pastoral care of individual members and regular attenders
-
c. Monthly Meeting has been informed of births, deaths and transfers
-
d. General Christian Counsel and advices and a selection of queries have been read in meetings for worship during the year
-
e. Sunday school has been held each Sunday from January to June and September to December when there are children in meeting
-
f. the finance committee looks after the meeting house and other property and the finances of the meeting
-
g. support has been given to young friends to attend yearly meeting and gatherings of young friends
The Meeting has made a separate child safeguarding report showing it adheres to the Ireland Yearly Meeting Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.