Moderator Visits North West

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan McKay will be in the North West next week when he undertakes an official Moderatorial visit to the Presbytery of Derry and Strabane.

During the eight day visit beginning on Sunday 5 October the Moderator will conduct a variety of special services, visit schools and hospitals, be officially welcomed at several civic receptions and see first hand the work of the Churches Trust and the Foyle Hospice. Dr McKay will also meet with local farmers in Strabane and visit members of the PSNI.

This is Dr McKay's first presbytery visit of which there are usually four during a Moderator's term of office.

'Much of my diary is taken up with official church functions and welcoming people into the Presbyterian community,' commented the Moderator. 'These visits are a great opportunity for the Church to get out among people and see what they are doing in the places where they are working and see for oneself the great work being doing by local Presbyterian congregations in their particular communities.'

After Sunday services in Kilfennan and Ardstraw the Moderator travels to Inishowen on Monday where he will visit Buncrana National School, Moville secondary School and in the evening conduct worship in Carndonagh.

On Tuesday the focus moves to Strabane where after a civic reception Dr McKay will meet with local representatives of the PSNI. In the afternoon he will receive an update on the present state of the agricultural industry during a farm visit and he concludes the day with a United Service in First Castlederg.

The remainder of the visit is spent in Londonderry where on Wednesday the Moderator begins the day at Clondermott High School followed by a reception at Magee College. In the evening there will be a special service in Kilfennan Presbyterian Church. Thursday has a health focus where after conducting the Presbytery Divine Healing Service Dr McKay will visit the Foyle Hospice. Friday sees two further primary school visits to Ebrington and Lisnagelvin followed by lunch with the other church leaders in the city.

Dr McKay's visit to the North West concludes on Sunday 12 October when he conducts the harvest service in Ebrington and in the evening addresses a youth rally at Waterside Presbyterian Church.

The Moderators full itinerary follows:

Sunday 5th

Worship
11:30am -- Kilfennan Harvest Service
7:30pm -- Ardstraw BB/GB Enrolment

Monday 6th

Inishowen
10:30am -- Rev. M Cathcart meets Moderator at Ebrington Manse

Buncrana National School etc
2:00pm -- Moville Secondary School (Rev. G. Young)
5:30pm -- Carndonagh Manse
8:00pm -- Evening at Carndonagh Church Hall

Tuesday 7th

Strabane
10:00am -- Strabane Council Reception
12 Noon -- Strabane P.NI Reception and Lunch
2:00pm -- Farm Visit
7:30pm -- United Rally in 1st Castlederg Church (Rev. L. Hilditch)

Wednesday 8th

9:15am -- Clondermott High School. Meet staff, tour and Assembly.
12 Noon -- Magee College. Reception and Lunch
4:00pm -- PSNI at Strand Rd Station
8:00pm -- United Mid Weeks at Kilfennan

Thursday 9th

9:30am -- Churches Trust with Rev. A. Rosborough
10:30am -- Presbytery Healing Service. (Rev Dr S. Williamson)
12:30pm -- Civic Reception at Derry City Council
3:00pm -- Foyle Hospice (Rev. J. McCormick)
7:45pm -- Evening with Ministers and Wives at the White Horse Hotel

Friday 10th

9:15am -- Ebrington Primary School. Meet staff, tour and Assembly
11:00am -- Lisnagelvin Primary School. Meet staff, tour, Assembly. (Rev. M. Cathcart)
12:30pm -- Lunch with the two Bishops and Methodist Minister at Ebrington Manse
4:00pm -- 'Ard Cluan' (Presbyterian Residential Trust)

Saturday 11th

Moderator will be at the Overseas Board Residential Conference

Sunday 12th:

11:30am -- Ebrington Harvest Service
7:00pm -- Irish Street Community Hall (Waterside Outreach)
8:00pm -- Presbytery Youth Rally at Waterside. (Rev. D. Hagan)

Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org

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