2008 Celebration - Edgehill College : 17th May
A great big hug!
During what we call “autumn” and America calls “fall”, Linda was driving alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to Yukon. No one had told the young woman that she needed a four-by-four for the trip so she set off in her Honda Civic. Along the way, she stopped for breakfast. Two truckers, also having breakfast, asked her where she was heading. Laughter greeted her reply. “Not in a Honda Civic,” they warned. But Linda was determined to try.
“Then we will just have to give you a great big hug,” they said. Taken aback by their informality, she quickly drew back. “Not like that,” they chuckled, “we will put one truck in front of your car and one truck behind.” So Linda drove through the mountains with two red dots to follow in front and the reassurance of a huge escort vehicle behind. Driving through the mountains of life, we all need “a great big hug”: some Christians to lead the way and others encouraging from behind.
Our ‘Celebration Day Event’ on 17th May 2008, provided that “great big hug” (both literally and metaphorically)! Thirty-five lay witnesses gathered at Edgehill College for a blessed time of worship, witness and study of God’s Word. From the moment we stepped through the door to be greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee, there was a palpable sense of expectation. Meets and greets were punctuated with comments like, “I have been looking forward to this all week.”
The morning session, led by Norma Mackey, took the form of a ‘team meeting’ during a lay witness mission. God certainly ‘inhabited the praise of His people’ as we lifted our hearts and our voices in praise and worship. There was a very real sense of His presence with us during prayers of adoration, confession and thanksgiving. These were interspersed with relevant passages of scripture and the occasional sharing of a personal reflection.
The lunch break provided a further opportunity to catch up with friends old and new and Edgehill maintained its usual high standard in terms of cuisine. Special mention must be made of Louise Wilson who sacrificed much of her own participation in the event to ensure things ran smoothly. Thanks also to the six or seven people who were subjected to an on-camera interview during lunch. Watch this space (and book for Castlewellan Holiday Week) if you want to see the final cut!
Heather Boland took us through the afternoon session. In contrast to the morning, it had the feel of an ‘evening meeting’ during a lay witness weekend. We shifted from quiet worship to rousing praise as Nigel Woods led the ministry of music. Lorna Douglas, Carol O’Bryan and Ken McFaul each shared a very different story of what God continues to do both ‘in’ them and ‘through’ them and the part Lay Witness plays in that. We shared in their joys and in their tears.
Indeed, when Rev. Andrew Boucher came to share, he suggested that the Lay Witness Movement should be “sponsored by Kleenex”! Andrew reported on the work of God in Newtownabbey Methodist Mission since the Lay Witness mission in January. Turning to the Word of God, he reflected on Jesus’ love for and interaction with people like the woman at the well in Samaria. He challenged us to have “the mind of Christ” regarding people. ‘May the mind of Christ my Saviour’ seemed an appropriate closing hymn.
With the aid of God’s Word, Andrew, Norma and Heather had provided the lights for us to follow. Those with whom we worshipped and witnessed had provided the reassurance and encouragement that comes from sharing with like-minded brothers and sisters. There is nothing to compare with that sense of belonging to a family enveloped by our Heavenly Father. For the “great big hug” that was Saturday 17th, may we give Him all the glory for He alone is worthy.
During what we call “autumn” and America calls “fall”, Linda was driving alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to Yukon. No one had told the young woman that she needed a four-by-four for the trip so she set off in her Honda Civic. Along the way, she stopped for breakfast. Two truckers, also having breakfast, asked her where she was heading. Laughter greeted her reply. “Not in a Honda Civic,” they warned. But Linda was determined to try.
“Then we will just have to give you a great big hug,” they said. Taken aback by their informality, she quickly drew back. “Not like that,” they chuckled, “we will put one truck in front of your car and one truck behind.” So Linda drove through the mountains with two red dots to follow in front and the reassurance of a huge escort vehicle behind. Driving through the mountains of life, we all need “a great big hug”: some Christians to lead the way and others encouraging from behind.
Our ‘Celebration Day Event’ on 17th May 2008, provided that “great big hug” (both literally and metaphorically)! Thirty-five lay witnesses gathered at Edgehill College for a blessed time of worship, witness and study of God’s Word. From the moment we stepped through the door to be greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee, there was a palpable sense of expectation. Meets and greets were punctuated with comments like, “I have been looking forward to this all week.”
The morning session, led by Norma Mackey, took the form of a ‘team meeting’ during a lay witness mission. God certainly ‘inhabited the praise of His people’ as we lifted our hearts and our voices in praise and worship. There was a very real sense of His presence with us during prayers of adoration, confession and thanksgiving. These were interspersed with relevant passages of scripture and the occasional sharing of a personal reflection.
The lunch break provided a further opportunity to catch up with friends old and new and Edgehill maintained its usual high standard in terms of cuisine. Special mention must be made of Louise Wilson who sacrificed much of her own participation in the event to ensure things ran smoothly. Thanks also to the six or seven people who were subjected to an on-camera interview during lunch. Watch this space (and book for Castlewellan Holiday Week) if you want to see the final cut!
Heather Boland took us through the afternoon session. In contrast to the morning, it had the feel of an ‘evening meeting’ during a lay witness weekend. We shifted from quiet worship to rousing praise as Nigel Woods led the ministry of music. Lorna Douglas, Carol O’Bryan and Ken McFaul each shared a very different story of what God continues to do both ‘in’ them and ‘through’ them and the part Lay Witness plays in that. We shared in their joys and in their tears.
Indeed, when Rev. Andrew Boucher came to share, he suggested that the Lay Witness Movement should be “sponsored by Kleenex”! Andrew reported on the work of God in Newtownabbey Methodist Mission since the Lay Witness mission in January. Turning to the Word of God, he reflected on Jesus’ love for and interaction with people like the woman at the well in Samaria. He challenged us to have “the mind of Christ” regarding people. ‘May the mind of Christ my Saviour’ seemed an appropriate closing hymn.
With the aid of God’s Word, Andrew, Norma and Heather had provided the lights for us to follow. Those with whom we worshipped and witnessed had provided the reassurance and encouragement that comes from sharing with like-minded brothers and sisters. There is nothing to compare with that sense of belonging to a family enveloped by our Heavenly Father. For the “great big hug” that was Saturday 17th, may we give Him all the glory for He alone is worthy.