Minister: Minister: Minister: Minister: Rev Trevor Boyd, Dip. Min. The Manse 13 Redbridge Road, Rathfriland, BT34 5AH

028 406 30272 079 5510 2923

Website: www.1strathfriland.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstRathfriland

Twitter: @1stRathfrilandP

Jesus said, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14 & 16 We exist as a congregation:- • To WORSHIP the Lord in a spirit-filled way

• To learn and obey the WORD of God

• To WITNESS to our community by word and action that Jesus is the WAY to salvation

• To support and pray for mission in our WORLD

FIRST RATHFRILAND FIRST RATHFRILAND FIRST RATHFRILAND

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHPRESBYTERIAN CHURCHPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Announcements for 8th March 2015

Sunday

8th March

2015

AM

Sunday

8th March

2015

PM

10.15am Sunday School 11.00am Prayer Meeting in Morrison Room 11.30am Morning service conducted by Rev Boyd who will read from Revelation Chapter 9 and preach on “More Trumpets.”

7.00pm Evening service conducted by Rev Andrew Conway, Assistant to the Moderator of the General Assembly.

Rev Boyd along with Robin McConnell will be in Donacloney Presbyterian Church as part of a Presbytery Commission for the ordination of three new elders.

Tuesday 10th March

10.00am Tea & Coffee 10.25am Community Singing

10.30am Guest Speaker Mrs Eileen Hamilton

Next Sunday 15th March 2015

Sunday

15th March

2015

AM

10.15am Sunday School 11.00am Prayer Meeting in Morrison Room 11.30am Morning service conducted Rev Boyd, who will reading from Revelation Chapter 10 and preach on the topic of “God Speaks.”

Sunday

15th March

2015

PM

6.30pm Prayer Meeting in the Choir Room

7.00pm Evening worship conducted by Rev Boyd who will start a new sermon series called “The Missional Church.”

Senior Citizens Fellowship

Monday 9th March @ 7.30pm

in the home of Anne Annett

Thursday 12th March @ 10.00am

in the Manse

Guest Speaker: Mr Robin Sloss

From: Men for Missions UK.

This meeting will be of interest to all men, women and young people in our congregation. If you are not in the habit if going to Midweek you will be very welcome at this meeting.

Wednesday 11th March @8pm

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Church records are of particular value to anyone interested in tracing their family tree as they usually contain the registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. This proved to be the case when Mr Ryan Graham, from the USA, got in touch with the congregation seeking permission to look at the re-cords held in First Rathfriland. Ryan knew of his family connections with the townlands of Drumlough and Lisnamulligan, but was keen to see the records held by the congregations of First, Second and Third Rathfriland Presbyterian Churches, to see what else he could learn about his Irish roots. In his correspondence with the congregation Ryan said, “ My goal is to find out where my family was from in Scotland. I know they came to Shannaghan (near Katesbridge) in the mid 1700s from Scotland and then moved to Drumlough and Hilltown before leaving for the US in the 1880 - 1890 time-frame. They ultimately settled in Gunnison, Colorado and started out as cattle ranchers.” Ryan’s visit to the Church took place at the end of January, when he was met by David Hanna and David Scott. He was able to get access to historical documents in the archives and found information relating to his ancestors connection to the congregation prior to their departure to the USA. Ryan was in awe of being able to gain access to the original documents. In a recent email he said, “my trip to Rathfriland was very useful. I found the originals for all of the documents that I knew of. It was amazing to see the original documents. Documents of this age in the US would be kept under lock and key, but here they seem to be rather ordinary.”

American Visitor...Amazed to See Original Church Records.

David Hanna, opened up the archives to Ryan Graham (USA), showing him the original signatures of his ancestors.

Church Historical Archive Project

Work has commenced in archiving historical documents Relating to the history of 1st Rathfriland Presbyterian Church. Anyone interested in contributing further please contact either David Hanna 07876318992 or David Scott 07881410333.

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The Sunday School will be holding an appeal during the

month of March. This is in aid of this years project

‘Emmaus’ which aims to financially. The young people will

launch this appeal in Church on Sunday 1st March

Sunday School News

The purpose of the Shorter Catechism is to educate children in the Reformed Faith. It is based on the Larger Catechism, which was intended for use by ministers as they taught the faith to their congregations in preaching. The Catechism is in a question and answer format. The catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers.

Quest. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation

consist?

Ans. 27. Christ's humiliation consisted in his

being born, and that in a low condition,(1) made

under the law,(2) undergoing the miseries of this

life,(3) the wrath of God,(4) and the cursed death

of the cross;(5) in being buried,(6) and continuing

under the power of death for a time.(7)

(1) Luke 2:7., (2) Gal. 4:4., (3) Heb. 12:2-3; Isa.

53:2-3, (4) Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46, (5) Phil. 2:8.

(6) I Cor. 15:3-4.

THE SHORTER CATECHISM

COMMUNICANT PREPARATION CLASSES

Would anyone in our congregation wishing to come to the Lord’s Table for the first time please contact the Rev Boyd and keep the following dates free for our short preparation classes. The classes will be held in the Choir Room and study materials will be provided.

01/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm

08/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm

15/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm

22/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm

29/03/2015 Communicant Class 3:00pm- 4:00pm

The Annual General Meeting for First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church will take place on Friday 17th April at 8.00pm. Please keep this date free and plan to attend to hear about your church. If you have a question for the AGM could you please forward it to the

Church Secretary, Mr Murray Annett, to allow time to prepare an informed answer? If you would like to volunteer to take part in the AGM programme please speak to Rev Boyd.

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1st Rathfriland PW Group, are holding an Irish Night on Tuesday 17th March 2015 at 8pm

in the Church Hall.

We hope to have Banbridge Accordion

Orchestra and other guests celebrating Irish poets, song

writers, musicians and missionaries associated with County Down.

We would like to invite all members of the

congregation and their friends to this special evening.

To facilitate catering arrangements, could you please put your name on the sheet provided in the Vestibule.

P.W wishes to thank most sincerely all those who contributed to all our mission boxes. The magnificent sum of £3310.97 has been raised to date. All this money will be sent to Church House so that P.W can continue to support

our missionaries and deaconesses at home and abroad. Monies collected in Leprosy Mission boxes amounted to £437.00. Anyone wishing to take a box should contact Mrs Myrtle Wilson or Mrs Jean Annett.

Ladies of the PW celebrating their recent 65th Anniversary.

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Holiday Bible Club Planning Meeting on

Mon 30th March at 7.30pm in the

Morrison Room.

Christian Trade Show On Saturday 28th March, our church has a stand at The Christian Trade Show in Loughbrickland Orange Hall. This is an opportunity to tell others about the work of our church and learn from other Christian organisations. If you would like to help on our stand speak to Rev Boyd.

353rd First Presbyterian Rathfriland Girls’ Brigade Company

23rd Annual Display Thursday 19th March 2015 Rathfriland High School @ 7.30pm

Special Guest: Lesley Beare

Everyone Welcome

This year our outing is on Saturday 30th May, leaving at 9.00am sharp. We plan to visit Hillmount Garden Centre for coffee and then travel into Belfast for some afternoon shopping. We will end the day with a meal in the Belmont Hotel on our way home. If you would like to join us please add your name to the list with your choice of menu.

Annual PW Trip

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Gospel Mission 2016

Would you be willing to pray, plan and prepare for our Mission by serving on the Mission Sub-Committee?

For more details please contact

Rev Boyd.

365th First Rathfriland Presbyterian

Boys’ Brigade Company

23rd Annual Display Friday 27th March 2015 Rathfriland High School

@ 7.30pm

All congregation members welcome.

BADMINTON CLUB - SATURDAY 14th MARCH

Badminton Competition against 2nd& 3rd Rathfriland. The competition will start at 7.00pm in Hamilton Hall, Newry Street, Rathfriland.

Would anyone in the congregation who would be interested in hosting a student aged between 18-25?

If you think you can help, please contact the Rev Boyd to discuss

details. The minimum period would be three months up to a maximum of twelve months.

Many thanks to everyone who supported the Presbytery Rally in Ballydown Presbyterian Church on Sunday night past.

Thank You!

Kirk Session Acknowledges Senior Elder’s 90th Birthday.

The members of Kirk Session, acknowledged the service given to the congregation of First Rathfriland by of one of their senior Elders

Mr Billy Harbinson recently celebrated his 90th birthday and to mark the occasion the Rev. Boyd accompanied David McDowell (Clerk of Session) to present Billy with an inscribed KJV Bible. A gift from the Elders.

Billy was delighted with the gift and was found to be in great form.

We wish him, his wife Maud and family, every blessing for the future.

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This conference will be held on Friday 20th March 2015 in Assembly Buildings Belfast from 9.45am-4.00pm. The conference will be addressed by Rev Dr Stafford Carson on how to integrate young people into our church family. Cost is £15.00 per person if booked by 27th Feb 2015 on 02890417247. This conference will be a great benefit to those involved in Sunday School, B.B./G.B., R@FT and Kirk Session.

Close to Home Conference

Rotas

FLOWER LIST 8th March - Miss Ina McCracken 15th March - Mrs Margo Groves

22nd March - Mrs Helena Malcomson

CRECHE 8th 15th March - Lorraine McConville &

Heather McDowell 22nd & 29th March - Lynne McDowell &

Jayne McDowell 5th & 12th April - Joanne Annett &

Sharon Gracey

AUDIO VISUAL 8th March - William & Aaron McConville

15th March - David Scott & Andrew Warburton

COUNTING MONEY AFTER MORNING SERVICE

March - Mr & Mrs Robert Newell, Mr & Mrs David Scott & Mr & Mrs Murray Annett

April - Mr & Mrs Desmond Cheney, Mr & Mrs Mark Bronte & Lindsay Gracey & family.

CHURCH DOOR WELCOME ROTA – March Colin McDowell & John Bell

COMMUNCATION WITH OUR CONGREGATION We are reviewing and seeking to improve communication with our congregation. It would be helpful if you could text your name and

telephone number to Rev Boyd on 07955102923

If you are or know anybody interested of joining the Church Announcement Sheet team please contact: Mr Jim Harbinson - Mobile: 07759 702430 or Email: jim.harbinson@btinternet.com for more information

If you have any information to share with the congregation please forward it to David Scott by 6pm on the Thursday prior to publication

EMAIL: davidhscottuk@yahoo.co.uk or Phone/Text: 0788 141 0333

Website: www.1strathfriland.co.uk Twitter: @1stRathfrilandP

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstRathfriland

CHILDREN’S CHURCH 8th &15th March - Colin Boyd & Robin

McConnell 22nd & 29th March - Noelle Hanna &

Margaret McConnell 5th & 12th April - Jill Morrow & Debra

Kinley If Children’s Church and Crèche dates don’t suit, please

swap with someone else on the rota or in emergency