Presbyterian Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Bruce, continues his weekly service of worship for the whole Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Recorded in the Weir Chapel in Assembly Buildings in Belfast, the Moderator will continue to bring this service to the wider Presbyterian family during the summer months and into September. Today he explores the theme, ‘A church at peace’, from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

This morning Dr Bruce looks at Ephesians 2:11-18. “Today we will explore the theme, ‘A church at peace’, looking at how the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile in the early church was removed in Christ,” he said.

“I will also share another part of my own story, which includes the importance of these verses, verses that rescued my faith, following the IRA murder of a friend in October 1979.”

As in previous weeks, members of PCI’s 19 local presbyteries will take part in the service. Joining Dr Bruce this week are members of the Presbytery of Newry. During the service last year’s Presbytery Moderator, Rev William Bingham, minister of Mourne Presbyterian Church in Kilkeel, will be joined by Rev Stuart Finlay, Clerk of Presbytery and former minister of Annalong Presbyterian Church. They will introduce the Presbytery in a short video, read from the Bible and pray.

Presbytery of Newry

The Presbytery itself consists of 24 congregations in Counties Down, Armagh and Monaghan, making up a Presbyterian family of just over 3000 families. It stretches from Annalong in the east, to Markethill in the west, and south to McKelvey’s Grove and Garmany’s Grove Presbyterian Churches across the border in County Monaghan.  The Presbytery centres on the city of Newry and includes the major towns of Kilkeel and Markethill and the Warrenpoint Port.

Songs included this week include:

• Let everything that has breath
• In Christ Alone
• When peace like a river
• The Irish Blessing

During the service, Dr Bruce also talks about the death of John Hume. “Although I didn’t know John Hume personally, I held him in high regard as I know many – perhaps most - Presbyterians did…Many Presbyterians, especially in Northern Ireland, may have found themselves on the opposite side of the table from John Hume politically, but they would come away from those exchanges respecting and liking the man.

“I have expressed my sympathy and condolences to John’s widow, Pat, and I have confidence that I have done that on behalf of the entire Presbyterian family on this island,” he said.

At the close of the service, Rev Stephen Johnston, who is the minister of Kilkeel Presbyterian Church, will lead in prayer for others.

Next week…

Next Sunday, the Moderator will be joined by members of the Presbytery of Armagh, when the theme of the service will be ‘the church where God is’. At a time when many people are wondering about the future, and even about the meaning of life, the church ought to be a place where God is found.