Christ in me
The life of St Patrick sounds like it could be the dramatic plot of a Hollywood movie: a 16-year-old boy from Cumbria, England is taken captive by Irish raiders and enslaved for six years in Ireland; he survives the trauma by turning to God for comfort and strength; he then escapes and finds his way back to England, later returning to Ireland after God calls him to evangelise the country.
He is a significant figure in Ireland’s history, and although many of the celebrations on St Patrick’s Day do not reflect the rich Christian roots in his legacy, it is still a day that can present exciting opportunities for the church. Greystones Presbyterian in Co Wicklow is one congregation that has developed links with local churches and the community by having a float in the town’s St Patrick’s Day parade. Rev Gary McDowell says: “…the churches working together has not gone unnoticed…we are lifting high the name of Jesus.”
Although St Patrick achieved so much in his life, his writings show that he often felt inadequate because he had been poorly educated. Many of us will suffer from ‘imposter syndrome’ at some point in our lives, which can sadly hold us back or prevent us entirely from embracing all that God is calling us to do. Often societal influences can negatively endorse these feelings of inferiority. This month, Alex Drew from Faith in Later Life, writes about the value of older people in our churches. Recognising that in the world older generations are often “pushed to the margins and seen as incompetent, hostile, and a burden to society”, she says the church has a chance to tell a different story. PCI will be hosting an event in May with Alex Drew as keynote speaker. The ‘Age of Opportunity’ morning is designed to help unlock the potential for age specific ministry and evangelism among those in later life (details on p21).
Although March always celebrates St Patrick, this year, the more significant event of the month is Easter. Moderator, Dr Sam Mawhinney offers a reflection that reminds us of the great sacrifice Jesus paid for us on the cross and the glorious grace we now therefore receive. He says: “The cross is our central symbol, and we need to keep it firmly in view.”
In St Patrick’s Breastplate, his famous prayer for protection, Patrick affirms that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, his power is available to each one of us who believes, a perfect reminder for us as we celebrate this Easter: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me…”
Happy Easter from everyone in the Herald office.
The Presbyterian Herald is the official magazine of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It provides a forum for debate and discussion on a wide range of topics and aims to challenge and encourage Presbyterians, as well as inform them about what the wider Church is involved in. It has a readership in excess of 25,000 and is distributed throughout Ireland.
To find out more go to www.presbyterianireland.org/herald or access the digital version via Issuu.