Carrickfergus 22-24th November 2013
The leaders of Carrickfergus Methodist Church invited a Lay Witness team to conduct a weekend mission in November 2013.
Stephen and Karen Orr led the team.
Stephen and Karen Orr led the team.
Weekend Reports and Photos
Colin Fisher, Carrickfergus Methodist, writes….
It was a busy year for Carrickfergus Methodist Church, what with hosting Conference in June, dealing with an exponentially increasing youth club (and that is not a complaint), and never-ending fund-raising schemes to pay off what seemed at times like an insurmountable debt for the undoubtedly lovely new building and facilities which we have enjoyed for the last three years.
And then yet another event appeared on the horizon – the Lay Witness Weekend. Now you could be forgiven for detecting a less than enthusiastic note when I say that, because to be brutally honest, I think that there was an almost palpable fatigue amongst the folk of Carrickfergus by the time it came around to the Lay Witness Weekend. However, in a strange way, this is where it became apparent that the team we were sent was for such a time as this, because at our ‘getting-to-know-you’ afternoon, some of the team members picked up on this immediately, and almost began the process of healing/supporting our tired members there and then. We were reminded that this was not yet another event where we had a number of tasks to do, but an opportunity to hopefully relax, and allow God’s Spirit to work in our lives and our church whilst we were ministered to by the team.
And so it began... and guess what, they were right. From the Friday evening, when we had our first formal session, to the Sunday morning service, which wrapped it all up, we were ministered to and spoken to in a variety of ways, and despite our tiredness, many of the Carrickfergus folk found their hearts ‘strangely warmed’ by what we heard from the team.
It would be unfair to single out particular testimonies or events, but what I can say is that the stories that the team shared with us, were both powerful and humbling – to hear what God can do in peoples’ lives is always a humbling experience, and this was no exception. From the mens’ breakfast, to the coffee mornings, to the set-piece meetings, we were ministered to in so many different ways.
This was never more evident than after the team had left, strangely enough, when at our evening service we were given the opportunity of sharing anything that we felt had touched us while the team were with us. Time after time, people got up and said ‘I wasn’t going to say anything tonight, but...’, so much so you’d have thought it was rehearsed. But it wasn’t – it was spontaneous, and heartfelt.
So although I said at the outset that I felt that we were perhaps less than enthusiastic towards the Lay Witness Weekend, I think we in Carrickfergus found that the Lord does indeed move in mysterious ways, and that sometimes He moves when and where you least expect it, but ultimately He achieves His purpose, namely, that of bringing His people closer to Himself.
Thank you to the Lay Witness Team who came to Carrickfergus – our lives are the richer for your visit.
It was a busy year for Carrickfergus Methodist Church, what with hosting Conference in June, dealing with an exponentially increasing youth club (and that is not a complaint), and never-ending fund-raising schemes to pay off what seemed at times like an insurmountable debt for the undoubtedly lovely new building and facilities which we have enjoyed for the last three years.
And then yet another event appeared on the horizon – the Lay Witness Weekend. Now you could be forgiven for detecting a less than enthusiastic note when I say that, because to be brutally honest, I think that there was an almost palpable fatigue amongst the folk of Carrickfergus by the time it came around to the Lay Witness Weekend. However, in a strange way, this is where it became apparent that the team we were sent was for such a time as this, because at our ‘getting-to-know-you’ afternoon, some of the team members picked up on this immediately, and almost began the process of healing/supporting our tired members there and then. We were reminded that this was not yet another event where we had a number of tasks to do, but an opportunity to hopefully relax, and allow God’s Spirit to work in our lives and our church whilst we were ministered to by the team.
And so it began... and guess what, they were right. From the Friday evening, when we had our first formal session, to the Sunday morning service, which wrapped it all up, we were ministered to and spoken to in a variety of ways, and despite our tiredness, many of the Carrickfergus folk found their hearts ‘strangely warmed’ by what we heard from the team.
It would be unfair to single out particular testimonies or events, but what I can say is that the stories that the team shared with us, were both powerful and humbling – to hear what God can do in peoples’ lives is always a humbling experience, and this was no exception. From the mens’ breakfast, to the coffee mornings, to the set-piece meetings, we were ministered to in so many different ways.
This was never more evident than after the team had left, strangely enough, when at our evening service we were given the opportunity of sharing anything that we felt had touched us while the team were with us. Time after time, people got up and said ‘I wasn’t going to say anything tonight, but...’, so much so you’d have thought it was rehearsed. But it wasn’t – it was spontaneous, and heartfelt.
So although I said at the outset that I felt that we were perhaps less than enthusiastic towards the Lay Witness Weekend, I think we in Carrickfergus found that the Lord does indeed move in mysterious ways, and that sometimes He moves when and where you least expect it, but ultimately He achieves His purpose, namely, that of bringing His people closer to Himself.
Thank you to the Lay Witness Team who came to Carrickfergus – our lives are the richer for your visit.
Stephen Doherty, team member, writes….
An expectant band of 12 lay people arrived at Carrick Methodist under the leadership of Stephen and Karen Orr. From the very moment we arrived we found a warm, gracious and fun-loving welcome. We sampled what was to be an excellent time of fellowship, food, and craic supplied by the Carrick people.
The team gathered in the worship room and from then on God allowed us to join together sharing our stories which all dovetailed perfectly to complement each other. We were able to share how God had allowed us in our sadness, sickness, troubles and struggles with life, to cast our burdens on Him. The weekend revolved around our busy lives and that God wanted to help us see the rest, joy and happiness He could bring into every situation if we would only let go and give Him the chance to show us. We all felt very blessed to have been part of a wonderful weekend with very special people, who willingly gave all they had to make this time so fulfilling.
Unfortunately the weekend flew in and Sunday morning service was upon us before we knew it; and we were led to God`s green pastures and still waters to be rested, revived and renewed. I would like to thank the people of Carrick and all the team for such a fun weekend where God did what He said He would do and bless us all with His wonderful grace and love.
An expectant band of 12 lay people arrived at Carrick Methodist under the leadership of Stephen and Karen Orr. From the very moment we arrived we found a warm, gracious and fun-loving welcome. We sampled what was to be an excellent time of fellowship, food, and craic supplied by the Carrick people.
The team gathered in the worship room and from then on God allowed us to join together sharing our stories which all dovetailed perfectly to complement each other. We were able to share how God had allowed us in our sadness, sickness, troubles and struggles with life, to cast our burdens on Him. The weekend revolved around our busy lives and that God wanted to help us see the rest, joy and happiness He could bring into every situation if we would only let go and give Him the chance to show us. We all felt very blessed to have been part of a wonderful weekend with very special people, who willingly gave all they had to make this time so fulfilling.
Unfortunately the weekend flew in and Sunday morning service was upon us before we knew it; and we were led to God`s green pastures and still waters to be rested, revived and renewed. I would like to thank the people of Carrick and all the team for such a fun weekend where God did what He said He would do and bless us all with His wonderful grace and love.