May 2010

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RECTOR’S LETTERDear Parishioner,

FLOWER FESTIVAL FRIDAY 4th JUNE – SUNDAY 6th JUNE

The Flower Festival Committee has been working very hard over recent months making the preparations for this most important parish fund raising event. I want to thank the Co-Ordinator, Alan Rogers, the Secretary, Moranne Noad, and the leaders and members of the Action Teams for all their

tremendous hard work. In addition to their preparations, the members of the Northern Ireland Group of Flower Arrangement Societies are busy planning all the various flower arrangements which will be on display in the church. Each one of the 15 large flower arrangements will celebrate a particular part of St. Columba’s life and ministry.

When I prepared the individual texts for the Flower Arrangers some time ago, I was firmly of the view that our Flower Festival should not just be a record of Columba’s life and ministry, concluding with his death. While it is important for us to have a good knowledge of our patron saint, it is also important that we do not just regard him as an historical figure that lived some 1500 years ago. His death on the 8th June 1597 did not mark the end as the spirit of Columba continues today through the ministry of our parish church. This will be beautifully depicted in the final flower arrangement located in the Side Chapel and which will provide a positive and challenging conclusion to the Flower Festival. We have the responsibility to ensure that the spirit of Columba continues daily as we seek to proclaim the good news of God through Word and Sacrament, so that people will come to know Christ and serve him faithfully.

An important feature of the Flower Festival has been to invite our local businesses to assist with sponsorship, and to invite our local school choirs to come and sing in the church. I thank those businesses who have offered sponsorship and ballot prizes, and those school choirs who will be participating during the weekend.

PERSONAL INVITATIONThis Flower Festival is the largest fundraising event that has been organised by St. Columba’s for many years, and its success will ultimately depend on each one of us supporting it to the very best of our ability. I invite you, your neighbours and friends to come and enjoy the flower arrangements and refreshments. This Flower Festival will also provide us with a unique opportunity to develop a greater knowledge of the life and ministry of our patron saint. It would be a source of immense blessing and encouragement to all those who have contributed to the many practical and financial preparations for the Flower Festival if every family could come to their parish church at some stage during our patronal festival weekend. I look forward to personally welcoming you to St. Columba’s.

SERVICES IN MAYSunday 2nd The Fifth Sunday of Easter (White) 8.15am Holy Communion – The newly confirmed will receive Holy Communion with their parents Reader Muriel Arndell Acts 11: 1-18 Gospel Clergy John 1�: �1-�5 Intercessions Karen McAlpine 10.30am All Age Worship and Holy Baptism followed by refreshments Reader Charles Auchmuty John 1�: �1-�5 7.00pm Choral Evensong Reader Jennifer Johnston Daniel 6: 6-�� Reader Jennifer Johnston Mark 15: 46 – 16:8 Occasional Karen McAlpine Prayers

Thursday 6th (White) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry

Sunday 9th Rogation Sunday (White) 8.15am Holy Communion Reader Paul Stewart Acts 16: 9-15 Gospel Clergy John 5: 1-9 10.30am Holy Communion Reader Jennifer Johnston Acts 16: 9-15 Gospel Karen McAlpine John 5: 1-9 Intercessions Meryl Townsend 7.00pm Compline Reader Graeme Stevenson Matthew: �8: 1-10, 16-�0

Thursday 13th The Ascension Day (White) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry

Sunday 16th The Seventh Sunday of Easter (White) 8.15am Holy Communion Reader Michael Davey Acts 16: 16-�4 Gospel Clergy John 17: �0-�6 9.30am Family Communion Gospel Karen McAlpine John 17: �0-�6 10.30am Morning Prayer Reader John Holland 1 Samuel 1�: 19-�4 Reader Tony Greeves John 17: �0-�6 Occasional Clergy Prayers 7.00pm Holy Communion Reader Karen McAlpine Ephesians 4: 7-16 Gospel Clergy Luke �4: 44-5�

Thursday 20th (White) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry

Yours in His service,

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Sunday 23rd The Day of Pentecost (Whit Sunday) (Red) 8.15am Holy Communion Reader Lindsay Hodges Acts �: 1-�1 Gospel Clergy John 14: 8-17 10.30am Holy Communion Reader Patrick Good Acts �: 1-�1 Gospel Karen McAlpine John 14: 8-17 Intercessions Muriel Arndell 6.30pm Belmont and District Council of Churches United Service in Stormont Presbyterian church. There will be no evening service in St. Columba’s

Thursday 27th (Green) 10.30am Holy Communion followed by refreshments in the Choir Vestry

Sunday 30th Trinity Sunday (White) 8.15am Holy Communion Reader Paddy Malone Romans 5: 1-5 Gospel Clergy John 16: 1�-15 10.30am Service of the Word Reader Robin Haldane John 16: 1�-15 Prayers Karen McAlpine 7.00pm Songs of Praise

Readers and Intercessors: If you cannot read or lead the prayers on the appointed day, please arrange a swap with someone else on the rota and let the Churchwardens know. We are always delighted to add new names to the Rota of Readers and Intercessors. If you would wish to serve your church in this way, please contact Muriel Arndell (028 90655500).

The readings are from Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary and are printed on our parish website:

www.stcolumbas.down.anglican.org

MAY SIDESPERSONS’ ROTA

Sunday 2nd .................................................Maureen Irwin and Brian Gillespie

Sunday 9th ..................................................Patricia and Patrick Wilson

Sunday 16th ................................................Linda and Mark Wilson

Sunday 23rd ................................................Jenny and Morris Corrin

Sunday 30th ................................................Walter Peake and Ivan Coffey

A PRAYER FOR OUR PARISHO God, make the door of our Church wide enough to receive all who

need human love and fellowship, and a heavenly Father’s care; and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and hate.

Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet; but rugged enough to turn back the tempter’s power. Make it the gateway to thine eternal kingdom.

AmenBishop Thomas Ken 1637-1711

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES PROGRAMME FOR MAY 2010

2nd May 10.30am All age Worship

9th May 10.30am Sunday School

16th May 9.30am Family Communion

23rd May 10.30am Sunday School

30th May 10.30am Sunday School

Again, the Junior Choir sounded delightful on Sunday, 11th April, despite the smaller numbers due to a beautiful sunny day. This month, on Sunday, 2nd May, we will sing ‘Jesus bids us shine’ and I hope we will have a large number to really sing out.

Can I please remind everyone to bring their Smartie tubes into Sunday school no later than Sunday, 2nd May, and hopefully they will be full to the top with lots of coins!

Beth Cairnduff

CLERGY PARISH VISITING FOR MAYIt is always a great privilege for the Clergy to visit parishioners in their homes.

If you would like to request a Clergy Visit please telephone the Rector (028

90471514) or the Curate (028 90653370).

During this month, the Rector will be visiting the homes of our Young Families

and the Curate will be visiting our housebound parishioners.

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POVERTY – LET’S END IT: CHRISTIAN AID WEEKThat is the message for this year’s Christian Aid Week,

which runs from 9th to 15th May. What began as the churches’ response to the horrors of the refugee crisis in Europe after the Second World War has become

the country’s biggest ‘house-to-house’ collection – with �00,000 volunteers delivering envelopes and picking

them back up from householders in the week throughout the UK. In all, Christian Aid Week raises more than £9 million a year.

If you can help us in St. Columba’s with our door to door collection, please contact Hazel Reid on 90795061 for further details.

ST COLUMBA’S FLOWER FESTIVAL Friday 4th to Sunday 6th June 2010We are still looking for your help!

In the last two editions of the Columban you have been encouraged to become involved in the Flower Festival. Many of you have already assisted through donations towards the cost of the flowers, or signalled your intention to help either during the festival weekend itself, or in the lead up to it. As the Rector said in his address at the Annual Easter General Vestry meeting:

“This major fund raising event will require considerable time, effort and talents from us all to ensure that it is a great success.”

The Festival is now only 4 weeks or so away and the Committee is still looking for assistance and volunteers. You can help in so many ways:

Contributing prizes for ballots and tombola Contact Liz McCaughey (90652031)Helping to sell ballot tickets among your family, friends and colleagues Contact Liz McCaughey (90652031)Contributing food for the extensive catering programme Contact Roberta Rogers (90656183)Financial contributions towards the cost of food Contact Roberta Rogers (90656183) Helping to clean the kitchens and tidy the church hall Contact Jennifer Johnston (90650701)Financial donations towards the cost of flowers Contact Murray Hunter (90761295) for a donation envelope;Stewarding duties during Festival weekend Contact Moranne Noad (90793704)Car park tidy-up Contact John McKeown (90806469)

Your valuable help really would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Alan Rogers, Flower Festival Coordinator

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FLOWER FESTIVAL DONATIONSREMINDER

Those wishing to have their donations in memory of a family member or special occasion acknowledged during the Flower Festival are asked to ensure that such donations and appropriate messages are received by either the Church Wardens or the Rector by Sunday, 30th May.

Any further financial contributions towards the Flower Festival will, of course, continue to be most gratefully received after the above date.

ALL AGE WORSHIP TEA AND COFFEEMany thanks to everyone who stayed for a cuppa at our All Age Worship Service in April. We raised £58 for the Leprosy Mission NI.

Next month we are supporting The Mission to Seafarers, Belfast. The Mission is an Anglican society which also works with members of other church traditions. It serves seafarers of all races and creeds through a network of full and part-time chaplains, staff and voluntary helpers in over �00 ports around the world. Seafarers face danger, loneliness and long periods of separation from loved ones, and many continue to depend on the work of the Mission for support.

This year, the Mission to Seafarers is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of its founding in Belfast. Today, the work of the Mission continues to cater for the needs of the merchant services and world of seafaring, with a busy presence in Belfast Harbour at the ‘Flying Angel’ Centre.

Please plan to be with us on Sunday, 2nd May and support this very worthwhile cause. See you then.

Roberta

Parishioners will be interested to learn that fellow parishioners, Geoff and Eleanor Launchbury, have been involved with the Seafarers’ Mission for the past twenty years, including the last ten as volunteers behind the bar and in the shop of the ‘Flying Angel’ Centre. They tell us that it is a real challenge to be working with people from so many different nationalities and cultures (and often little English!), but the seafarers trust the Mission implicitly and come to the ‘Flying Angel’ to relax with their friends, and feel safe and secure. Geoff and Eleanor both agree: “It’s so important to show hospitality to seafarers when they are far from home and to leave them with a positive impression of their visit to Belfast so that they will want to come back. The seafarers are extremely gracious and grateful for even the smallest thing that we do for them. It’s a tremendous privilege to serve these hardworking people and so lovely to see them going back out to their ships with a happy smile on their faces – it makes it all worthwhile!”

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FINANCE COMMITTEE Rector (Chairperson)

Hon Treasurer Assistant Hon Treasurer Rector’s Churchwarden

Louise Mercer

PROPERTY COMMITTEE Rector (Chairperson)

Rector’s Glebewarden People’s Glebewarden

Brian Acheson John McKeown

ST COLUMBA’S PARISH CHURCH KNOCK MEMBERSHIP OF SELECT VESTRY COMMITTEES 2010-11

ST COLUMBA’S PARISH CHURCH KNOCK PARISH OFFICE BEARERS 2010-11

RECTOR – The Revd. John R Auchmuty CURATE – The Revd. Robert Ferris

RECTOR’S CHURCHWARDEN – Victor Dukelow PEOPLE’S CHURCHWARDEN – Elizabeth Leonard

RECTOR’S GLEBEWARDEN – Jim Stevenson PEOPLE’S GLEBEWARDEN – John Proctor

HONORARY SECRETARY – Alan Rogers

HONORARY TREASURER – Gillian Sadlier ASSISTANT HONORARY TREASURER – Murray Hunter

SELECT VESTRY

Rector, Curate, Churchwardens, Glebewardens, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Assistant Hon Treasurer,

Brian Acheson, Clare Best, Helen Donaghy, Patrick Good, Jennifer Johnston, Elizabeth McCaughey, Moranne Noad, Roberta Rogers, Linda Wilson

HONORARY AUDITORS

Garth Macartney, Niall Armstrong

PAROCHIAL NOMINATORS

Trevor Buchanan, Patrick Good, Moranne Noad, Meryl Townsend

SUPPLEMENTAL PAROCHIAL NOMINATORS

Roberta Rogers, Murray Hunter, Paul Stewart, Michael Davey

DIOCESAN SYNOD MEMBERS

Emma Hill, Elizabeth Leonard, Moranne Noad, Roberta Rogers, Paul Stewart

SUPPLEMENTAL DIOCESAN SYNOD MEMBERS

Alex Acheson, Elizabeth Miller, Elizabeth McCaughey, Meryl Townsend

FUND-RAISING COMMITTEE Rector (Chairperson)

Curate People’s Churchwarden

Moranne Noad Roberta Rogers

Jennifer Johnston Dawn Macartney Katrina Dukelow

David Craig

Rector’s Churchwarden – Victor Dukelow People’s Churchwarden – Elizabeth Leonard

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HOSPITAL VISITINGThe Clergy would appreciate being informed if parishioners are in hospital, going into hospital, are being transferred or if they have been discharged, and will be pleased to offer them pastoral support. Do not assume they already know the information as situations have occurred recently when they have not been informed. Please telephone the Rector (028 90471514) or the Curate (028 90653370) to enable them to take careful note of the details.

KNOCK KNOCK, IT’S THE CURATE!Over the course of the run-up to Easter a couple of things have struck me as I have been out and about visiting, as well as in the office preparing sermons. The importance of questions, and also understanding what we do and why we do it. I have always been an inquisitive sort of a person, asking why? and what? On the Sunday after Easter, if you were in attendance at the 10:�0am service, you will remember that we were concentrating on the questions which the disciples would have asked and how Jesus stood amongst them and answered them, and gave them more than they asked.

In church today we use words and we do things without necessarily explaining why or where the tradition comes from, or indeed what it means. Hopefully, over the course of the next few months, I will very briefly explain some of the roots of some common terms we use in church. I have been asked by numerous parishioners about my forthcoming ordination … what is it? Why do I wear my stole diagonally, and what is the difference between a Priest and a Deacon?In the Church of Ireland we have what is commonly called the three fold ministry, namely Bishop, Priest and Deacon. It is a New Testament model of ministry. This month I begin with the role of a Deacon.

The word Deacon comes from the Greek for ‘servant’. In the Book of Common Prayer the role of a Deacon is defined on page 555:

‘Deacons in the Church of God serve in the name of Christ, and so remind the whole Church that serving others is at the heart of all ministry. Deacons have a special responsibility to ensure that those in need are cared for with compassion and humility. They are to strengthen the faithful, search out the careless and the indifferent, and minister to the sick, the needy, the poor and those in trouble. When called upon to do so, they may baptize, preach and give instruction in the faith. Deacons assist the Bishop and Priest under whom they serve. When the people are gathered for worship, Deacons are authorized to read the Gospel, lead the people in intercession and distribute the bread and wine of Holy Communion.’Hopefully that is a start of some of the terms defined … there is much more I could say, but why not have a look at the ordination services in the BCP and see what they are for yourself … any questions do get back to me! Also, please do mark the Ordination Service in your diaries – Sunday, 13th June, at 3.15pm in St. Columba’s – you will all be very welcome to see what happens! Next month, the role of Priest.

Every Blessing Robert

BRAIN TEASERA man stopped his car in front of a five star hotel.

He realised immediately he was bankrupt. How come?

THE AFTERNOON GROUPOur Curate, the Rev Robert Ferris, will be our speaker on Monday, 10th May. We look forward with interest to his talk.

The coach has been booked for our outing on Monday, 14th June, to Castle Espie. Have you put your name down? We need to know numbers as soon as possible please!

May

Hello ladies,

Just two more events in our calendar before we break for the ‘long hot summer’ - we can but hope! On Tuesday, 4th May, we have “A little bit of pampering” with Kay Armstrong and I’m sure we could all do with that!

Our evening outing on Tuesday, 15th June, as you already know, is a visit to St Malachy’s Church followed by a meal at Oleo Restaurant. This promises to be a lovely finale to our programme and it would be great to have a full turn out.

Plea from the heart! I have been waiting with bated breath for names of those intending to come to the outing but, so far, have received the same number of replies as points scored by Finland three times in the Eurovision Song Contest – NUL POINTS (NIL!) So please girls (will that work?), would love to hear if you are going and also if transport is required. We need numbers to book restaurant. Thank you ladies, really appreciate your co-operation!

Irene

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YOUTH PRAYER FOCUS MAY – EXAMSAs promised in last month’s magazine, I hope to concentrate on issues concerning young people over the course of the next 1� months. As this is the May edition, it is coming into exam time whether it be end of year exams, Key Stage Three, GCSE, NVQ’s, AS, A�’s, ACET’s, GOML’s or whatever. Exams are stressful and hard work for our young people. For teachers preparing their pupils it is a difficult time. Pray for the young people you know, in your family and circle of friends.

As a Christian community let us take time this month to pray for our young people in our secondary and grammar schools.

Pray for their parents, as they seek to support and encourage them to do the best that they can.Pray for their teachers, particularly, let us pray for those teachers in our parish, that they will be sustained and blessed in their work with young people. Pray for our young people, that they will work hard but that they will also be able to maintain a sense of balance between school and outside interests.

‘Living God,

We pray for all those involved in examinations this year; for pupils, parents, teachers and examiners. For our young people, we pray that You will help them focus their attention on their studies and encourage them to give of their best as the time of the exams draws near. Help them also to maintain a sensible balance between work, friends and other interests.

We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen’

Robert

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BRAIN TEASER ANSWER He was playing Monopoly.

ST. COLUMBA’S ART CLUBJULIAN FRIERS ART DAY

Morning Painting Demonstration and Afternoon Workshop

For Art Club members, Saturday, �0th March, actually started at 7.00pm on Friday, 19th March. A large number of members were present on Friday evening to prepare the church hall and a downstairs dining room for the Saturday painting and other activities.

Saturday morning opened at 9.�0 with coffee and a selection of snacks. The club was exceptionally

privileged to have Julian Friers, current President of the Royal Ulster Academy, for the whole day. The audience for the morning painting demonstration was much larger than any of us had anticipated, over 100 people, and Julian was introduced to them by our Rector, the Revd John Auchmuty. Julian crafted a wonderful painting demonstration of a Goose in a Landscape/Farm Setting which was striking and watched intently by the audience for two hours.

Members of the Art Club, lead by Margaret Hirst, then prepared lunch for the afternoon workshop participants, numbering around �� with other helpers. The afternoon workshop was again introduced by our Rector, commencing at �.00pm and finishing around 4.00pm. It was lead by Julian with some background assistance from Bob Killen who was, of course, present all day. The workshop was a great success although some had difficulty keeping up with Julian despite him demonstrating and then stopping, so that all could follow him. His image was a general landscape with trees and several sheep. Once again, many members provided much appreciated assistance at the end of the day by clearing everything up, including a large number of dishes!

All in all, it was an extraordinary and unique experience, and with his pleasant manner and painting skills Julian provided everyone with renewed artistic inspiration!

Another major purpose of the demonstration and workshop was to raise monies for St. Columba’s building fund and I am delighted to report that we raised £1056.15 after all expenses had been paid. I would like to thank Julian for such a wonderful day, and everyone who contributed so willingly to its undoubted success.

Dr. Billy Nelson, Chairman

Teacher: Maria, go to the map and find North America. Maria: Here it is. Teacher: Correct. Now class, who discovered America? Class: Maria.

Teacher: Johnny, why are you doing your maths multiplication on the floor? Johnny: You told me to do it without using tables.

Teacher: Ben, how do you spell ‘crocodile?’ Ben: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L. Teacher: No, that’s wrong. Ben: It may be, but you asked me how I spell it.

Teacher: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water? Donald: H I J K L M N O. Teacher: What are you talking about? Donald: Yesterday you said it was H to O.

KIDS ARE QUICK

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STAGE “2”We at the Men’s Club hope that everyone had an enjoyable time over the Easter period. After a two week break it is back to the reality of our impending 50th Anniversary Dinner and Dance planned for the end of May. The Dinner Dance will be held in the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion (Civil Service Club) on Friday, 28th May, at 7.30pm. The evening will consist of a welcome reception followed by dinner, the obligatory speeches, prize giving and entertainment. The Dinner will be open to anyone from the parish who would like to join with us to celebrate this momentous occasion! Tickets will be available for purchase from members of the Club at a cost of £�5 per head. We especially hope those members of the parish who have had links with the club in the past will be with us on the �8th. Details will be posted in strategic areas of the Church and Hall outlining the event. All our in house competitions are nearing the final stages under the guidance of our captain, Geoff Launchbury.

I cannot help but reflect at this time on those members whom we have lost in recent times as we approach such a major milestone in our history. There are too many names to mention now, but we ask instead that you think and pray for those with us who, due to ill health, are still unable to take an active part in the club, especially Michael Brown and Canon Jack Watson, our club chaplain.

John Robb (Hon Secretary)

St Columba’s Men’s Club

50th Anniversary Dinner

in the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion (Civil Service Club)

on Friday 28th May at 7.30pm.

Open to all members of the parishTickets available from members of the Club

at a cost of £25 per head

ASCENSION DAY – FORTY DAYS WITH THE RISEN CHRIST

May continues the season of Eastertide, and forty days after Easter comes Ascension Day.

It may seem strange to call it Eastertide when Easter is clearly over, but these are the forty days during which the Risen Christ appeared again and again to his disciples, following his death and Resurrection.

The Gospels tells us relatively little of Christ’s teachings and deeds during those forty days. Jesus was seen by numerous disciples: on the road to Emmaus, by the Sea of Galilee and in houses. He strengthened and encouraged his disciples, and at last opened their eyes to all that the Scriptures had promised about the Messiah. Jesus also told them that as the Father had sent him, he was now going to send them - to all corners of the earth as his witnesses. Surely the most tender, moving ‘farewell’ in history took place on Ascension Day. Luke records the story with great poignancy: “When Jesus had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands - and blessed them.”

Just as Christmas began the story of Jesus’ life on earth, so Ascension Day completed it, with his return to his Father in heaven. Jesus’ last act on earth was to bless his disciples. He and they had a bond as close as could possibly be. They had just lived through three tumultuous years of public ministry and miracles – persecution and death – and resurrection! Just as we part from our nearest and dearest by still looking at them with love and memories in our eyes, so exactly did Jesus: “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” (Luke �4:50-1). He was not forsaking them, but merely going on ahead to a kingdom which would also be theirs one day: “I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God...” (John �0:17).

The disciples were surely the most favoured folk in history. Imagine being one of the last few people on earth to be face to face with Jesus, and have him look on you with love. No wonder then that Luke goes on: “They worshipped him - and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke �4:5�, 5�). No wonder they praised God. They knew they would see Jesus again one day! “I am going to prepare a place for you... I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”(John 14:�, �).

In the meantime, Jesus had work for them to do: to take the Gospel to every nation on earth.

If you want to add more detail to Christ’s appearances, the stories can be found in Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; and John 20.

Garofalo, Ascension of Christ, National Gallery of Art, Rome

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IN TIMES OF STRESSGrant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I cannot accept, And the wisdom to hide the bodies of those I had to kill today,

Because they got on my nerves.

Also help me to be careful of the toes I step on today, As they may be connected to the feet I have to kiss tomorrow...

Help me always to give 100%... 1�% on Monday ��% on Tuesday

40% on Wednesday �0% on Thursday

And 5% on Friday.

Help me to remember when I’m having a bad day, And it seems that people are trying to wind me up,

That it takes 4� muscles to frown and only �8 to smile. (But using more muscles burns more calories...)

LADIES GUILD NOTESBy now we will have had our night out at the Tudor Cinema and I’m sure it was a very enjoyable one! We look forward to seeing everyone at our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 19th May, at 7.45pm, when we will be selecting our new committee members and discussing our programme for the coming year.

Many thanks for your support, Lilias

BROWNIE NOTESWe have finally set the date for our Musical Evening. It will take place on Friday, 21st May, starting at 7.00pm. The girls have been practicing very hard for our variety programme of songs, drama and our musicians playing. I hope the congregation will support us in our efforts to raise our contribution for the Building Fund. Supper will be served by the Brownies and will be made by the Brownies themselves. Look out for our posters and encourage your friends to come along!

We hope to finish our year with a Pack Holiday in June. It is a few years since we have been away and it is the last chance for our older girls to experience one. Let’s hope the good weather we are currently experiencing will be there for us then too!

Beth Cairnduff

CSI : KNOCKWe had a special guest attend H�O on Friday, �6th March. Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Richard Greer came and gave us an insight to his work on how evidence is gathered at crime scenes. Richard started by giving us a demonstration on how to take finger prints and also how to lift prints from objects. It was then the turn of the group to have a go. Finger prints were taken from H�O leaders and put on a page, then plates and bottles were dusted for prints. The group was then divided into three teams. One team would find evidence, the next team would then photograph the evidence in situ and the final team would dust the area for prints. A crime scene had been prepared earlier and it was now up to H�O to investigate the scene. Before entering the scene everyone dressed in white forensic suits complete with facemasks, overshoes and rubber gloves.

Was the crime solved? I’m saying nothing without a solicitor present! What I will say is that everyone had a great time and I hope that we can have some more guests at H�O.

I would like to thank Richard for his time, providing the equipment and his informative talk on a very interesting subject. Special mention must also go to Jim Best who arranged the meeting with Richard and he also took lots of great photos to mark the event.

Mark Wilson

H2O

PARISH ANNUAL ACCOUNTSCopies of the Parish Annual Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2009, as presented at the Annual Easter General Vestry Meeting on Wednesday, 24th March 2010, are available at the rear of the church.

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NORTHERN IRELAND HOSPICEClaire Brown joined Northern Ireland Hospice 18 months ago as Community Fundraiser and today tells of why the charity, to which St. Columba’s made a significant donation last year, needs the support of NI more than ever.

Northern Ireland Hospice has led the way here in Northern Ireland in the development of specialist palliative care. Every year the charity provides care to over �,�50 adults, children and young people living with a life-threatening and life-limiting illness, and supports their families, both at their centres of excellence and also in the patient’s home.

Children’s Hospice, known as Horizon House, cares for two distinct groups both at Children’s Hospice and/or in their own home; those who are terminally ill and who come to the children’s hospice to spend the last few days of their lives; and secondly, those with progressive illnesses such as Muscular Dystrophy, or other rare genetic disorders, who come to us for respite over several years. Their condition often deteriorates slowly over time and sadly many of them die before reaching adulthood. Horizon House is the only organisation that provides this level of care to local life-limited children, whilst offering a range of support services to the whole family to help them cope at every stage of their child’s life and beyond into bereavement. The vision of Children’s Hospice care recognizes that these life-limited and life-threatened children are more than their illness, and that care needs to take account of emotional, social and spiritual issues as well as addressing the concerns of the family who are also facing loss. In this way hospice care aims to relieve fears of pain and loss. There is no charge for children’s hospice services which are available on the basis of need. The Children’s Hospice receives a percentage of the running costs from government but still relies heavily on voluntary donations to enable the maintenance and provision of their services.

Claire explains, “Despite the wonderful support Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice receives from the Northern Ireland public, like many charities we struggle to make ends meet. Demand for our services remains high and maintaining services is becoming an increasing persistent challenge. While the situation is closely monitored, we can only pray that the general economic decline does not reach a point where our supporters are unable to maintain their customary and much valued generosity.”

Claire continues, “There are over 750 life-limited children and young people living in Northern Ireland. We are the only Children’s Hospice in the province. Last year we helped �5� families. This year we want to do more.”

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Northern Ireland Hospice needs to raise over £8 million each year and depends on generating at least £5 million of this from fundraising events, donations and legacies to keep its services functioning.

Friday, 14th May, 2010

Northern Ireland Hospice, in association with the George Best Foundation, has kicked off a charity cup tournament for young people everywhere and is asking the local community for its help. The 5-a-side soccer tournament, supported by Newtownabbey Borough Council, the Irish Football Association and U105.8 FM, will bring together �� teams of young people from across Northern Ireland. Aimed at ages 1� to 14, each team will battle it out at the Valley Leisure Centre’s �G pitches in Newtownabbey on Friday, 14th May, for the Hospice/George Best Youth Cup. You can help by passing on details to family, friends and associates who can help encourage young people everywhere to become involved. This might be to represent a school, club, youth group or simply friends who are keen on soccer.

Saturday, 31st July & Sunday, 1st August, 2010

As part of the Carrickfergus Harbour Festival, Northern Ireland Hospice will be hosting two fantastic challenge events on both days. Teams of adults and young people are needed for ‘It’s a Knockout’ and the Dragon Boat competitions on both days. These fun events lend themselves ideally to individuals, teams and groups who want an exciting challenge and a great day out! Northern Ireland Hospice will also be attempting to break a world record with the help of competitors and those attending the festival over the weekend.

If your church would like to hear more about these events or the work of Northern Ireland Hospice you can contact Claire on 07866 701350 or cbrown@nihospice.org

MARATHON - A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!On the day of the Marathon, Monday, 3rd May, I shall be pounding the entire course on the streets of Belfast for �6 miles and �85 yards. With the wonders of modern technology (if it works!), parishioners will be able

to track my progress with second by second updates on our parish youth website … just check out www.stcolumbasyouth.org/marathon. For those who have fancy web enabled mobile phones, you will be able find out exactly where en route I am (not sure if that is a good thing or not!)

May I also say an enormous personal thank you to those parishioners who have already supported me. If you are around on the day of the marathon, please do look out for me and the other runners and walkers from the parish!

Robert

CONGRATULATIONS“Congratulations, my boy”, boomed the groom’s uncle, “I’m sure you will look back on

today as the happiest day of your life.”“But I’m not getting married until tomorrow,” stammered his nephew.

“Exactly,” replied his uncle.

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A BRUSH WITH DEATHDoes God control our lives or do we have a completely free hand? This is one of the great questions that have been argued by theological thinkers ever since St Augustine came up with the doctrine of predestination. A quick glance at Wikepedia is enough to show the complexity of the subject. But in the most simplistic terms a great many people are sure that God looks after us at all times; when things go appear to go wrong it is simply part of his plan for our best long-term well-being. On the other hand, many more are equally sure that we, whilst being subject to the uncertainties of life on earth, are otherwise masters of our own fate. This, of course, includes the personal decision of whether or not to seek God’s help and follow his guidance. Between these two beliefs are theological arguments so difficult that most people couldn’t even start to fathom them. For me, however, a personal life-or-death experience more than sixty years ago settled this particular question beyond doubt.

I was working in the mountains to the west of Inverness as a second assistant tunnel engineer. It would be difficult to have been much lower on the professional scale, but it was a starting point for what turned out to be a very satisfying career. One Saturday night seven of us had gone to Inverness for a few beers and then on to the local dance hall. It was well after midnight when we got together for the thirty-or-so mile drive back to the camp. Our transport was an elderly Ford 1� with a home-made wooden body built on a long-wheelbase chassis. I grabbed a seat in the middle and promptly fell asleep. As we were driving along the road high above Loch Ness a couple of bumps woke me up. I knew the road well, and saw that that we were heading downhill much too fast towards a very bad bend. I shouted to the driver that he should slow down but it was too late. We went into the bend, and as the driver struggled to stay on the road the rear wheels lost their grip and the car started to spin. The last thing I saw, and can still see to this day, was the rock-face bordering the road shining in the headlights. Every blade of grass growing out of the crevasses is etched on my memory. And then there was nothing.

I came to lying face down on the road in pitch darkness with my arms and legs spread-eagled. I was in no pain, had no idea of how I had got there, and was convinced that I must be dead. But after a minute or two I tried to move and found that everything seemed to work properly. I got to my feet, and with my eyes getting used to the dark, was just able to make out the road. There was no-one else in sight and no sign of the car. So I started to walk downhill and immediately stumbled over something that turned out to be one of my companions. Thankfully, he also seemed to be unhurt. One by one we found the other five, all without any injuries except for the driver who had a badly-cut wrist. He later told his mother quite truthfully that he had cut it getting out of a car! A little further on we found the chassis in the ditch, upside-down and facing the wrong way. There was no sign whatsoever of the wooden body. We bound up the cut wrist with a strip of shirt and held a council of war. Drumnadrochit was not far away so we decided to walk on and ring the camp from there if we didn’t get a lift first. We were lucky enough to find a telephone box almost immediately, and after an hour or so a rescue party arrived. The shattered body of the car was found some days later on the shore of

Loch Ness, more than a hundred feet below the road.

How then did we survive when by rights we should all have been killed? The combined efforts of seven qualified engineers were unable to work out the mechanics of how we and the car had parted company to leave us scattered and unhurt along the road. The odds against it were incalculable. But the fact remains that it did happen, and we all did live to tell the tale.

Very many people would have no doubt that it was God’s will. But without questioning their sincerity I simply can’t go along with this. I firmly believe that he can and does work miracles; but as an engineer I can’t really accept that he does so by manipulating the force of gravity and the laws of physics for a second or two and then reinstating them. These have, after all, been firmly in place for the past five billion years or so and for all that time have served his purpose pretty well.

So was it God’s will or just the luck of the Irish? This would make an interesting debate, but I know which side I’d be on!

Tony Greeves

YOUNG ADULTS – APPEAL FOR IDEASI would really love anyone who has any ideas for activities to share them. We began with cinema and I am keen to continue with it (see pew news for details), other ideas include going out for a meal sometime, and perhaps after church on Sunday heading out for a walk at the seaside, or in the hills.If you are 18-30ish and would be interested in getting involved as a group, please do let me know.

Robert

BELFAST CITY MARATHONYes, I can definitely say that the Curate has been practicing for the Marathon! I had agreed with a friend to walk the Marathon for Marie Curie Cancer

Care before I heard that Robert was doing it for the Building Fund, and when we were out practicing on

Friday, 9th April, he passed us as we walked along the Lagan tow path at Lisburn Council offices. He assured

me that he had walked all the way from the Curatage and declined our invitation to join us on the return journey back

to Stranmillis!

To all of you who are planning to cheer Robert and his supporters on the Big Day, Monday, 3rd May, please look out for me on the way and give me a cheer and a wave! My friend is already convinced that I know everyone who lives in Ballyhackamore, due to the number I have spoken to on our days out, so please help me to convince her that is true!

Beth Cairnduff

Good Luck

Beth!

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Children’s Page!LAMBETH PALACE LIBRARY 400th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION

To celebrate 400 years since its foundation, Lambeth Palace Library is offering the public a special exhibition, ‘Treasures of Lambeth Palace Library – 400th Anniversary Exhibition 1610-�010’, to run in London at Lambeth Palace’s Great Hall from Monday, 17th May, until Friday, ��rd July.

On show will be key items collected during Lambeth Palace Library’s 400 years as a working library, beginning with the founding collection owned and used by Archbishop Richard Bancroft as his ‘theological arsenal’ at a time of religious controversy, and as a scholar and patron of learning. Treasures include a Gutenberg Bible (Mainz 1455), the first book printed in Western Europe from movable metal type; the 1�th century Lambeth Bible, regarded as one of the monuments of Romanesque art; a set of the works of Aristotle, printed in Venice between 1495 and 1498, and owned by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, favourite of Queen Elizabeth I; and King Richard III’s 15th century manuscript Book of Hours, which was in his tent at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485. In the 17th and later centuries other manuscripts and books were added to the library, including an account of the trial of Archbishop William Laud; George Carew’s papers on Irish history, and journals of Elizabethan and Jacobean voyages to the Americas; the 9th century MacDurnan Gospelbook, produced in Ireland (probably Armagh) and owned by King Athelstan of Wessex (reigned 9�4-9�9); a 1516 letter of indulgence issued by Pope Leo X for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s in Rome; a copy of the warrant for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, along with an accompanying letter from the Privy Council, dated �rd February 1587; and papers relating to the divorce of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, as well as to the rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire.

The Lambeth Library also houses the official records, dating from the 9th century to the present day, and documentary history of the Church of England. Their broad scope reflects the office of Archbishop as head of the Province of Canterbury, his national and international roles in leading the Church of England and the Anglican Community worldwide, and the wealth and power of Archbishops in past centuries which enabled them to collect books and manuscripts of the highest quality and significance. James I described the Library as “a monument of fame” in his kingdom. Peter the Great, who visited in 1698, is recorded as saying that, “Nothing in England astonished him as much as Lambeth Palace Library; he had never thought there were so many books in the world.”

For further details visit: www.lambethpalacelibrary.org or phone: 0871 230 1107

Across:1. On the Seventh day the people marched around the city ______ times. (6:15)3. The Israelites marched around _______ for 6 days. (6:10)5. On the 7th day, after they circled the city 7 times, the priests sounded the trumpet _____ (6:16)6. The ___ was carried behind the 7 priests who carried trumpets.7. The 7 priests carried ________ made from ram horns.

Down:1. The people were to give a loud _____ when the trumpets were blown (6:20)2. The wall of the city _________ when the people gave a loud shout. (6:20)4. As promised _____ and her family were kept safe. (6:22-23)

2

1

3 4 5

7

6

The Fall of Jericho Joshua 6 (NIV)

When the Canaanite Kings heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River before the Israelites, they were afraid. The people of the city of Jericho shut up their city gates and hoped to be safe behind the strong city walls, but GOD gave Joshua instruction on how to get into the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5). He followed God’s instructions. Read what happened in Joshua 6:6-27 to finish the crossword puzzle.

copyright 1998 Sharon Whittaker

�4 �5

JUNE MAGAZINEPlease note, any articles or photographs for publication in the June parish magazine should be handed or e-mailed to the editor by Sunday, 16th May, at latest.

Many thanks

FROM THE REGISTEROur Sorrows

Christian Burial

Thursday 18th March Florence Elizabeth Gracey 67 Knockvale Park

Saturday �0th March Robert James Keatley �1 Knockwood Crescent

Thursday 1st April Emily Teeny Woods �9 Clarawood Crescent

FLOWER ROTA FOR MAYSunday 2nd ............................................................ Ella Wilkinson

Sunday 9th ............................................................ May Preston

Sunday 16th ........................................................... Moranne Noad

Sunday 23rd ........................................................... Roberta Rogers

Sunday 30th ........................................................... Mrs Toan

FLY IN THE CHAMPAGNE

A multi-national company held a reception to celebrate a year of outstanding results. The waiter offered everyone a glass of champagne, but on inspection, each guest noticed their glass contained a fly.

The Swede asked for new champagne in the same glass

The Englishman demanded new champagne in a new glass

The Finn picked out the fly out and drank the champagne

The Russian drank the champagne, fly and all

The Chinese ate the fly but left the champagne

The Israeli caught the fly and sold it to the Chinese

The Italian drank two thirds of the champagne and demanded a top up

The Frenchman sipped the champagne and saved the fly for hors d’oevres

The Norwegian took the fly and went off to fish

The Irishman ground the fly and mixed it into the champagne, which he donated to the Englishman

The American sued the company for $10 million in damages

The Scotsman grabbed the fly by the throat and shouted, “Noo spit richt back intae ma glass all that ye swallowed, ye greedy wee fly!”

Answers to Children’s Page Crossword: Across 1. Seven 3. Jericho 5. Blast 6. Ark 7. Trumpets Down 1. Shout 2. Collapsed 4. Rahab

A PRAYER FOR YOUMay the sun brightly shine in your corner

And the wind always billow your sails,

May you always find peace and

contentment

And shelter from life’s fiercest gales.

May you always be blessed with

compassion

And concern for the needy and weak,

May you always be truthful and honest

In each single word that you speak.

May you always be just in your dealings,

Protect fairness with all of your might,

But above all may you be granted the will

Forever to do what is right.

Colin Hammacott

“It was bad enough your mobile ringing half way through his sermon,

without the ringtone being the ‘Christians Awake’ tune!”

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SUNDAY10.30am Sunday School (2nd, 4th, 5th Sundays)Beth Cairnduff (�-5 yrs) 90874047Joyce Stevenson (5-8 yrs) 9058��81Alan Boyd (8-1� yrs) 07979 8�01��

8.00pm Beatitudes ChoirDavid Beattie 907971�5

MONDAY2.00pm Ladies BowlingPhyllis Newton 9048�11�

2.30p.m. Afternoon Group (2nd Monday)May Preston 90489884

7.30pm Men’s ClubJohn Robb 905814�8

TUESDAY10.30am Ladies BadmintonMuriel Jowett 90659984

2.00pm Ladies BadmintonKyleen Clarke 90797155

8.00pm Mothers’ Union (1st Tuesday)Irene Gray 9065�4�8

8.00pm Activity Group (except 1st Tuesday)Maureen Irwin 90795155

WEDNESDAY7.30pm Bible Study Group Trevor Buchanan 90657697

7.45pm Ladies Guild (3rd Wednesday)Lilias Smith 9059�0�9

8.00pm Senior Badminton ClubJill McDowell 07754 405511

THURSDAY 9.30am Art ClubBob Killen 90790�10

7.30pm Senior Badminton ClubJill McDowell 07754 405511

7.45pm Choir PracticeGerald Hill 904��101

FRIDAY9.45am Mums & TotsAnne Clarke 9065141�

3.45-5pm Toddler Mini Soccer 3-5yrsTim Wareing 07740 1�0788

6.30pm DovesKaren McAlpine 904�4�90

6.30pm BrowniesBeth Cairnduff 90874047

8.30pm H2OMark Wilson 90761040

Young Families Group (Social events as arranged)The Rector 90471514

PARISH ORGANISATIONSSOMETHING FOR YOU?

Please note, requests for the occasional use of Church premises must first be submitted to the Premises Convenor, Alan Rogers, on 90656183

WHO’S WHO IN ST. COLUMBA’SPARISH WEBSITE: www.stcolumbas.down.anglican.org

RECTORThe Revd. John R. AuchmutySt. Columba’s Rectory�9 King’s RoadBT5 6JGTel 028 90471514 Email johnauchmuty@btinternet.com

CURATE The Revd. Robert FerrisThe Curatage� Sandown Park SouthBT5 6HETel 028 90653370Email rferris�81@gmail.com robert@stcolumbasyouth.org

PARISH READERKaren McAlpine10 Old Quay CourtHolywoodBT18 OHTTel 028 90424390

DIOCESAN LAY READER (EMERITUS)Bryn Harris�� Dalton GladeGlen RoadComberBT�� 5SZTel 028 91878816

RECTOR’S CHURCHWARDENVictor Dukelow19 Thornhill ParkBT5 7ARTel 028 90290625

PEOPLE’S CHURCHWARDENElizabeth Leonard�8 Knockdene Park SouthBT5 7ABTel 028 90653162

RECTOR’S GLEBEWARDENJim Stevenson44 Casaeldona RiseBT6 9RATel 028 90583381

PEOPLE’S GLEBEWARDENJohn Proctor1� Richhill ParkBT5 6HGTel 028 90870526Mob 07989 469773

SELECT VESTRYRector, Curate, Churchwardens, Glebewardens, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Asst. Hon. Treasurer, Brian Acheson, Clare Best, Helen Donaghy, Patrick Good, Jennifer Johnston, Elizabeth McCaughey, Moranne Noad, Roberta Rogers, Linda Wilson

HON. SECRETARY & PREMISES CONVENORAlan Rogers50 Cabin Hill GardensBT5 7AQTel 028 90656183

HON. TREASURERGillian Sadlier70 Kensington RoadBT5 6NGTel 028 90403278

ASST. HON. TREASURER/GIFT AID SECRETARY/FREE WILL OFFERINGMurray Hunter1� Knockdarragh ParkBT4 �LETel 028 90761295

PAROCHIAL NOMINATORSTrevor BuchananPatrick GoodMoranne NoadMeryl Townsend

DIOCESAN SYNODS PEOPLEEmma HillElizabeth LeonardMoranne NoadRoberta RogersPaul Stewart

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ORGANIST AND CHOIRMASTERGerald Hill6 The CoachesBrown’s Brae, Croft RoadHolywoodBT18 OLETel 028 90422101

ASSISTANT ORGANISTBrian Clements150 Sandown RoadBT5 6GXTel 028 90793641

READERS & INTERCESSORS CO-ORDINATORMuriel Arndell18 Kinedar CrescentBT4 �LYTel 028 90655500

SIDESPERSONS’ ROTA CO-ORDINATORRosemary Coffey44 Thornyhill RoadKillinchyBT�� 6SJTel 028 97542198

MAGAZINE EDITORIan Noad�6 Shandon ParkBT5 6NXTel 028 90793704Email noadfamily@hotmail.com

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR CO-ORDINATORJohn Holland8 Greengraves CottagesBallyrogan, NewtownardsBT�� 4SDTel 028 91814036

PARISH WEBMASTERIvan Roche49 Richhill ParkBT5 6HG Tel 028 90229310Email ivan@treadmillcommunications.com

C of I GAZETTE DISTRIBUTORRuth Pugh147A King’s RoadBT5 7EGTel 028 90483459

BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP NOTESEvan Preston1� Carrowreagh GardensDundonaldBT16 ITWTel 028 90489884

CHURCH FLOWERSPaddy Nesbitt�0 Knockhill ParkBT5 6HYTel 028 90650716

SAFEGUARDING TRUST The Rector, Select Vestry and Parish Leaders are committed to upholding good practice in the Parish’s ministry with children and young people. Should you have cause for concern or suspicion regarding child welfare in the Parish, please contact a member of the Parish Panel below, or any of the statutory agencies.

The Rector 0�8 9047 1514 Patrick Good 0�8 9065 6908 Elizabeth Leonard 0�8 9065 �16�

ST. COLUMBA’S PARISH OFFICEOffice Hours

Wednesday & Friday 8.�0am – 1.�0pmParish Secretary: Janet Johnston

Tel 028 90656891Email: office.knock@down.anglican.org