24/7 prayer at Easter
24/7 prayer at Easter in First Ballymoney. Sign up for an hour slot between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
From Good Friday (15th April) to Sunday 17th April, we come to pray in the church. We plan to have someone in the church praying for an hour on each of the hours between 6am on Friday and 6am on Sunday. There will be different areas in the church for you to stop, read, reflect and pray. It will be such a special time after all we have been through. What we really want is that the church prays for every hour through this weekend. So, book a time that suits you so we know there is always someone praying for us all. You can sign up on a Sunday morning at church or contact Debbie Knight. There will also be a praise time at 8pm on Friday and Saturday nights when we can all join together.
Two week church closure
The Northern Ireland Executive has decided to introduce a period of greater restrictions to try to combat the spread of COVID-19. The new measures, which come into effect from 27th November, affects hospitality, close contact services, non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment facilities, and also churches.
For two weeks, we will have no public worship in order to comply with the legal requirements set down by the Executive. There will be no Sunday morning worship services on Sunday 29th November and Sunday 6th December, but we plan to meet again on Sunday 13th December and weekly thereafter at our usual time of 11am.
We will be live streaming the services on 29th November and 6th December so that our members can join online with worship at the usual time - these services will also be available to view later on our YouTube channel.
Thursday prayers
This Sunday we will be looking at the famous words of Jesus in Matthew 6.19-24.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Look at the illustration below:
· How would you have illustrated the verse?
· Why did the artist put a lock to illustrate it and not a treasure chest or something else?
· What’s your treasure?
As the reality of what Covid-19 means for all of life, we pray for every area of our family and community life.
· Pray for the shop owners you know whose livelihood depends on the business?
· Pray for those in critical care who have come under increased work pressure when many of us have appreciated space to work.
· Pray for us as a church as we begin to plan ahead about how we will do worship and ministry. What will this mean for our vulnerable adults, our families, our children?
· But more than anything else, this is a wonderful opportunity for our faith to shine.
Unprecedented - New “digital” Lifegroup series
Listening to your heart > Learning from God's Word > Living out in your life
Until Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on gatherings are significantly eased, many congregational small groups have moved from the living room to the digital space. This significantly changes the group dynamic in ways we are still finding our way around. Meetings need to be well facilitated around a shorter, sharper framework which allows participants to catch up with each other pastorally, reflect on what God is saying in this moment and respond with renewed faith in him and following in his ways for their lives.
“Unprecedented” recognises that we are living through a once in a lifetime event that offers lessons for the rest of our lives. Each session revolves around a one word theme related to life in the lockdown. Three parts, each offering a question to which group members can respond, form the framework for sharing together. Participants can download each session to their mobile device and keep the content before them during the session.
Listening to your heart
Calling for reflection and offering a cue for pastoral awareness of individual circumstances.
Q. How have you found your experience of this session’s theme during the lockdown?
Learning from God's Word
Offering a section of Scripture and asking:
Q. How do you find this verse a challenge or encouragement?
Living out in your life
Moving to life application.
Q. How will what you have thought about bring change to the way you live now and in the future?
Find out more from PCI’s website here…
Contact Helen via this link if you would like to know more.
“A short, sharp framework which allows participants to catch up with each other pastorally, reflect on what God is saying in this moment and respond with renewed faith in him and following in his ways for their lives.”
First@Home - 31st May
In Matthew 6 Jesus attacks the religiosity of the day and challenges our faith in a different direction. So how does fasting fit into being disciples in the Kingdom of God? Join us for this week’s “First@Home” message from Matthew 6 vs16-18 & Matthew 9 vs14-17.
First@Home
We continue our journey through the sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew. This week, Stephen looks at Matthew 5:38-48 to demonstrate that Jesus wants us to be a servant to anyone and a friend to everyone.
Remember to link in with our Café Zoom Church service tonight at 6:30pm!
First@Home - 17th May 2020
Thursday Prayers as a Praying Community - Thursday 14th May, 2020
Thursday Prayers as a Praying Community
Jesus is Enough
Watch the wonderful story God’s grace in the life of Micah Wilder (takes 17 minutes) https://www.adamsroadministry.com/micah-wilder-testimony
Then read Paul’s words in Titus 3. Paul’s words reflect what Micah experienced from a religiousness to Jesus being everything for him.
Titus 3.4-5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Reread this verse several times and allow the connections of who God isand our salvation to sink into the way you live your life. Let Jesus be enough for you today? For our needs, for our self-worth, for our faith, for what makes us connected to God, for what brings us home, for our families.
![Titus 34-5 [widescreen].png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b22d86b8ab722b09a9aea6f/1589452803757-H6MD7AABHXEYQL9EPBPD/Titus+34-5+%5Bwidescreen%5D.png)
Prayers for Our Church
• For those in hospital – we have three members in hospital with varying conditions. Please remember their families as visiting is limited but precious. The Lord is our only hope in this world so pray for his presence to shine through the situation.
• For those who are now struggling mentally with the isolation – this has not been an easy time for all of us but the isolation has been really hard for some who need fellowship. Pray that lockdown will ease soon and they will know the support and presence of others.
• Remember our members in care homes as they are not able to have family visit. It is a worrying time because of their physical vulnerability so we pray that the Lord would take anxiety for loved ones away. Thank God for the love and care of the care home staff who make the connection between the family members outside.
Prayers For the NI Executive
The 5 Steps to recovery before December has been announced and pray for our MLAs as they need wisdom and clarity in their decisions so that we will be as safe as is possible.
Pray for our Global Mission Workers in Kenya
• Stephen Cowan, in Tuum, is continuing to encourage the community in safe working practices and food growing. On 23 March, Angelina and Annissa Cowan returned to Northern Ireland to enable Annissa to finish her school year as she needed a reliable internet connection.
• Naomi, Thomas, Aaron and Silas Leremore remain in Kenya but, on 23 March, moved out of Nairobi to temporary accommodation in Maralal. Naomi is balancing working from home with home schooling in this new location.
• Gary, Mary and Samuel Reid returned to Northern Ireland on 26 March. They are staying in their own home which means Samuel is able to complete his school year with support from Mary. Jonathan and Ruth are also able to be supported by being together as a family.
Thank you for joining us in prayer today
This information is also available on our Prayer@First page on our website.
First@Home - 10th May 2020
In this week’s message, we continue to look at Matthew’s gospel account of the sermon on the mount as Stephen looks at Matthew 5:33-36. Why should we tell the truth? Stephen shows us that truthfulness answers the questions about what it means to believe in God, what it means to be human and what it means to love Jesus.
As well as our weekly First@Home message, Jigsaw@Home is also available for our younger members.
Prayers as a church community for Thursday 7th May
1. Spend some minutes in quiet reflection on Isaiah 61.1-3. This is a prophecy on the salvation that Jesus would bring. What words do you find meaningful in your life now?
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beautyinstead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour.”
2. The Church Community of First
• Pray that through this Covid-19 crisis the church might become stronger in faith of the Lord and love for each other.
• Pray for the leadership of the various ministries of our congregation as they seek to connect and encourage - the young families, those who are fearful, the alone, the busy family households.
3. VE Day Commemoration (Friday 8th May)
• As we mark the ending of the war in Europe at this time 75 years ago, give thanks to God for the selfless and courageous service and sacrifice of those who brought peace to Europe, acknowledging the great cost to all nations in the conflict.
• Pray for nations still devastated by war, for their people and their leaders; for those who suffer the effects or memories of past wars; for veterans; for those who mourn; for all innocent victims whose lives have been shattered by the cruelty of others.
4. Global Mission Workers – Peter & Jayne Fleming (Nepal)
Peter was the minister of First Coleraine until he and Jayne went to Nepal. Jayne is back home in Coleraine while Peter stayed in Nepal. See https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Mission/Mission-People/Fleming/Fleming-bulletin-May-2020.aspx
Pray…
• For continued good health for both of them.
• For the challenges of separation and focus to keep working
• That they would be confident that God sees, is concerned, and will act.
5. A Prayer in a Time of Coronavirus (across the world)
Love never fails
Even in the darkest moments, love gives hope.
Love compels us to fight against coronavirus alongside our sisters and brothers living in poverty.
Love compels us to stand together in prayer with our neighbours near and far.
Love compels us to give and act as one.
Now, it is clear that our futures are bound together more tightly than ever before.
As we pray in our individual homes – around the nation and around the world – we are united as one family.
So, let us pause and find a moment of peace, as we lift up our hearts together in prayer.
Prayer from Christian Aid Website (for Christian Aid Week next week
First@Home - 3rd May 2020
This week’s message is now available on our ‘First@Home’ page on the website.
Stephen looks at Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:27-32 and highlights how we can demonstrate Kingdom righteousness in our marriages.
We also have our ‘Jigsaw@Home’ page with resources and activities for our younger members.
Thursday prayers as a church community
Update from the Ballymoney Foodbank
The Foodbank is a ministry we support at First. People in our community need this vital help because of debt issues, family break ups, homelessness, the self-employed who have become seriously sick and unable to work as well as those whose income has stopped because of the virus. On Friday past (24th) the Foodbank dealt with 24 families (50 people); on Tuesday (28th) they dealt with another 21 families (40 people). As numbers are rising the expectation is that the month of May will exceed April’s needs.
If you want to support Foodbank they are short on the following:
· Bags of rice
· Long life milk
· Tins of peas, carrots,
· Orange juice
· Toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant, nappies,
· Tins of beans, soups,
· Cereals.
These and other food items can be left in the manse office by Thursday 7th and will be brought to the Foodbank on Friday 8th. Thank you for your support.
As we pray today:
Spend some minutes in quiet reflection:
· On the character of the Lord.
· On what we need to be watchful of.
· On what we to be thankful for.
1. Prayers for those in hospital
· A number of our church family are in hospital at a time when it’s impossible to visit. Pray for them that they may know the Lord’s peace.
2. Pray for our Global Mission Workers
This week we pray for Diane Cusick whose flight home was cancelled. Read about her acceptance of this and of how she is coping with self-isolation in her home in Lusaka - https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/April-2020/Far-from-home-in-a-global-lockdown.aspx
Diane asks for prayer as follows:
· Please pray together with us for the people of Zambia and the church’s witness in these days.
· Pray for the nation of Zambia at this challenging time for everyone. Pray for the health professionals that they manage to contain the virus as much as possible especially in the compounds which are especially high-density areas.
· Pray for my friends and colleagues in CCAP Synod of Zambia at this challenging time and for the General Secretary, Rev Sevatt Kabaghe, as he encourages Christians.
· Pray for me to stay safe and yet still be a witness for Christ by showing kindness and love where possible.
· Pray that as a church we can still practice ‘Ubuntu’ by showing little acts of Christ’s love for the vulnerable in our congregations and communities from a distance and through prayer.
3. Pray for businesses and work
· For the family businesses in our church community that are currently closed and with it the lack of income and the uncertainty of the future.
4. Pray for our young people
· That they would be grateful for the time to spend with the families
· That they will have a sense that God is in control
5. Prayers for Ballymoney Foodbank
· For Peter Rollins as Director of Ballymoney Foodbank that he will have the Lord’s wisdom and guidance though this critical time of need.
· For volunteers (and we remember particularly our own members who volunteer)
· To the people coming to foodbank as it is a difficult journey to make it for first time.
· For the town of Ballymoney as we care and support one another generously in this time of hurting and need.
Thank you for joining us in prayer today
Stephen McCracken
[See our website for prayer request form and further information]
First@Home - 26th April, 2020
Stephen’s message for this week’s First@Home is now available on the website.
We continue our studies in Matthew’s gospel as Stephen looks at Matthew 5:20-26.
Thursday prayers as a praying community - Thursday 23 April 2020
A Verse to Meditate on - Psalm 59:17
Click on our Prayer@First page for prayer pointers to help us pray together as a community.
First@Home - 19th April 2020
Sunday 19th April, 2020 - Psalm 91
Today’s message can now be found on our ‘First@Home’ page on the website.
Stephen looks at Psalm 91, a Psalm of hope that reminds us of God’s sovereignty, His presence and encouragement. However, Stephen also shows us that God has not promised to protect us from any and all troubles; rather, it is about God helping us to remain faithful to Him in our times of trouble.
We also have activities and resources for our younger members on the ‘Jigsaw@Home’ page.
Thursday Prayers as a Praying Community
In my Palm Sunday sermon on Matthew 21:12-17 we saw how Jesus anger against the temple traders was because they were denying the Gentile believers the opportunity to pray in the outer courts. We learned that in our lives, prayer is about God’s Welcome (Gentiles are included in worship), God’s Cleansing (place of prayer must be cleared from all that distracts) and God’s Healing (the blind and lame can now be healed). So as we join together as a praying community of First Ballymoney we come to a God who welcomes us, who has given us his Spirit to reveal those aspects of our lives that are not healthy or are a distraction from him, and a God who heals those areas of our lives that weigh us down. We pray this specifically as a church community as we are led by the Spirit to glorify Jesus in these days. A Prayer for these days of lockdown Loving God, In this moment when we feel, locked into a terrible set of circumstances, locked up in our homes, locked down by fear and uncertainty; help us to find freedom in faith, healing in hope, liberty in your love. In this time when tempers can get frayed in relationships, give us the fruit of your Spirit in our lives, our homes, our dealings with one another in society. We pray for - Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. Be especially with those who feel most isolated and alone. Grant them a deep sense of your presence through long days and lonely hours, bring comfort and calm, strength and support. Help us to appreciate simple pleasures in a fresh way through our unusual circumstances, the blessing of home, the joy of loved ones, the view from our windows, the voice of a friend on the phone. Lord, hear our prayers. For we ask them in Jesus Name. Amen
Pray for...
• Pray for those who you know as you meditate on different lines of this prayer.
• Pray for the transforming presence of God’s Spirit amongst us. He promised never to leave us. Therefore our prayer is “what is he saying to us and doing within our hearts in this time? What are we learning about him?”
• Pray for the Sunday worship that reaches people in their homes, that they would be encouraged and not weight down emotionally and spiritually as the self-isolation continues.
• Pray for the pastoral care of the church community that the Lord would lead us to those who need encouragement and reminding of his love.
• Pray that we don’t miss sharing our hope in this time when the foundation of people’s lives has been called into question. Everyone turns to something or someone in times of crisis! Only the Lord is the true rock on which we can stand. Continue to pray for a revival in our community to the Lord.
Thank you for joining us in prayer today.
Stephen McCracken.
Prayer@First
The weekly updates will also be available on our new Prayer@First page. From there you can also send prayer requests.
Make Thursday a Time to Pray as a Church
As we continue this side of Easter, let us set aside an hour every Thursday to pray as the church community of First Ballymoney until we can worship together again.
We invite all our members to make every Thursday a day in which we pray for an hour. I cannot stress enough that if we are not praying then nothing else really is of value. The spiritual discipline of prayer is something many of us engage in and, as a church, we appreciate your prayers so much as the Lord has led us through the challenges of these last weeks. In that light, we have chosen to set aside Thursdays as a day when we each prioritise an hour to spend in prayer. It may be an hour before you start your daily activities, the hour when you take your midday break, an hour during the afternoon, or perhaps and hour in the quiet of the evening - choose an hour that suits you best.
Prayer points will be available each Thursday morning, and if you have any prayer requests would you let me know. For reasons of confidentiality, you may wish us to pray for people by their Christian name or initial only.
Rev Stephen McCracken
“In First Ballymoney, we believe in the transforming power of private, family and corporate prayer. When the church prays, amazing things happen. ”
Resurrection Sunday - Easter worship at First
He is risen indeed!
On this Easter Sunday when we remember Christ’s resurrection and victory over death, join us for our Easter message on our First@Home page. There you will find a suggested worship plan, including Stephen’s video message, that will to help you celebrate and glorify God’s great work of redemption.
If you are worshipping with younger children, we also have a Jigsaw@Home page with worship ideas, resources, activities and videos.
24/7 prayer room
24/7 prayer room
Prayer room with a difference…
The 24/7 Prayer room is back but not like we’ve known it before. The current Coronavirus restrictions prevent us from attending our church building over the Easter weekend but more than ever we recognise the need as a church family to pray into and over the Pandemic we find ourselves in.
So we’d like to invite you to book a one hour slot between 6 am on Good Friday and 6 am Easter Sunday to commit to prayer in the comfort of your own home. You can do this on the calendar provided.
We have provided images, scripture verses, worship music and prompts for prayer which we hope will guide you during your time of prayer.
Remember .....’Since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference....’
Good Friday - the ransom is paid
Mark 15:25-39. As we celebrate ‘Good Friday’, Stephen looks at Jesus’ death and demonstrates that His sacrifice on the cross has paid the ransom price to free us from our bondage to sin.
Coming soon - Good Friday message
Join us tomorrow for our Good Friday reflection. Stephen continues to look at the meaning of redemption and, on this important date in the Christian calendar when we remember Jesus’ death on the cross, we look at how this act of sacrifice has once and for all paid the ransom price to redeem those in bondage to sin.
The message will be available on the ‘First@Home’ page from tomorrow.