Kirk Session Report for the Year

 

Kirk Session Report 2006

Once again a busy year has passed with seven stated and seven special meetings of Session. The highlight of the year was, undoubtedly, the opening of our new buildings in September by Mr James Tweed OBE JP, ably assisted by Very Rev Dr RVA Lynas OBE, as well as the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Dr David Clarke, who performed the dedication part of the ceremony. The formal Friday night service was followed by a very successful family fun day and barbecue on Saturday which allowed members and visitors to explore the new buildings. An inspiring address was given by William Crawley on the Sunday of the opening weekend and afterwards the congregation enjoyed a buffet meal provided by the ladies. Session is mindful of the hard work which went into the preparation for the opening celebration, and indeed the entire building programme, making it such a success . We would like to take this opportunity to offer our grateful thanks to everyone involved at all stages of the process especially Dr Paul Johnston and Mr Harry McCabe who managed to co­ordinate the whole programme and with the help of a small building sub committee made the decisions necessary to ensure its smooth progress. We are also indebted to the McGarel Brothers whose expertise and careful planning meant that there was not a Sunday without a service in the Church and their sympathetic approach allowed weddings and funerals to continue with minimum disruption. There have been many messages of congratulation, not least one from Very Rev Gregory Cormican on behalf of the congregation of St Joseph's and we are pleased to note that our building programme has helped to develop further good relations within the community.

All our organisations have now got back into full swing, following the year's disruption, and are pleased to be getting used to the new and improved facilities. Sunday School, Youth Club and Boys' and Girls' Brigade have all increased in

 

numbers and it is pleasing to note that there are a number of new leaders involved in work with our young people. Session would like to pay tribute to those in leadership roles in all of the organisations and thank them for the hard work they do from week to week during the year. However, we do still need leaders and people who are willing to lend a hand. Now, with our improved facilities we are particularly keen to commence a Bible Class for our teenagers and to revitalise the creche so if you are able to help please let us know.

Communion took place on the usual four occasions in January, May, September and November as well as on Good Friday and attendance has remained between 44% and 52% of communicant members. A disturbing fact is that some 23% did not attend Communion at all during the past two years and a number of those considerably more than that. We obviously need to address these statistics and all of us should encourage more of our members to take Communion on a more regular basis. During the year Session was pleased to welcome nine new members into full communion of the Church, six by profession of faith and three by transfer certificate while the sacrament of baptism was administered to five children. We wish all these new members, along with those families who have recently joined our Church God's richest blessing in the years ahead.

During the summer we were pleased to welcome a minister from America on an exchange visit. Last year Anne had asked Session if they would agree to a 'ministerial' exchange - she hadn't made enquiries yet but would like to consider America. Permission was granted and it wasn't long before we were told that Rev Valerie Moore had agreed to come, for six weeks, from Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Valerie's visit proved interesting from many points of view and she certainly kept us on our toes as we were introduced to the way things were done in America - a little different from Cairncastle it has to be said. However, we have

all managed to survive and have learned much from Valeric as she has also learned from us. We wish her God's blessing in her newly married life back home in Charlotte.

This year saw Cairncastle as subject to the Presbytery's Consultation Process and Session, having discussed at some length the questions posed by the Presbytery Team, finally submitted answers for their consideration. The process continued with an evening during which the Team interviewed Kirk Session and a further evening which they spent with the Congregation. Opportunities were provided on both occasions for discussion of a variety of topics affecting the life of the Congregation and also, in the case of Session, to expand upon answers already given. The Presbytery Team's 'Finding' was read to the Congregation in September by the Convenor, Rev Noel Williamson. He began by offering the congratulations of the Presbytery on the completion of the building project and then dealt with each of the five areas of church life that the Team considered. In the report favourable comment was passed on the 'welcome blend of traditional and contemporary music' and session thank the members of Organist, Choir and Praise Group for their efforts in making this aspect of worship such a success.

The congregation was commended for 'it's clear interest and practical involvement in Mission at home and abroad'. Our mission outreach continued with the visit of a team of ten of our members to Ozd in Romania to carry on the voluntary building work with the Bonus Pastor Foundation. This year the work involved mostly mixing and pouring concrete to form the flooring of a new barn which had been erected by a team from Highkirk in Ballymena. Richard Lynas, who has been responsible for organising our time in Romania, has now completed his four year contract working there under the auspices of PCI and we not only wish him well as he carries out his deputation work during the next six months but we wish Bonus Pastor God's blessing as they continue to carry on

His work amongst the addicts.

The "Finding' ended with some recommendations which included the continued development of 'all-member' ministry. Session wish to thank all those who have taken part in the services through prayer and Bible reading and would take this opportunity to encourage others to participate. The burden of ministry tends to fall on one person - the minister, but, as the report points out, it should be shared. While Session is grateful for those who do offer help from time to time we would ask everyone not just to leave it to the one or two but to become involved thus ensuring that Anne has adequate time for 'study and reflection' which is often so badly needed and unfortunately overlooked.

The reading of the 'Finding' was followed up later in the month by our annual conference at which Session discussed the recommendations made by Presbytery and considered suggestions regarding the way forward for Cairncastle. During discussion we looked at a variety of possibilities including, producing a Rota for reading and offering intercessory prayer, improvement to the sound below the gallery and relaying to the vestibule, the use of CD's for children's hymn to encourage them to sing, increase in prayer time and the moderator put forward an idea for Bible study on a Sunday evening. Kirk Session will be endeavoring to put many of these suggestions into practice such as 'Exploring Discipleship' which has been taking place since the beginning of January and has been well supported.

Unfortunately Anne didn't have the luxury of easing gently back into her work again after her American experience, since, still jetlagged, she had to begin to make arrangements for the opening of the halls, consider the findings of the Presbytery Consultation Team as well as to make plans for a Radio Ulster Harvest broadcast service from Cairncastle which would be taking place in October. The service was well received and

there have been many letters, emails and phone calls offering congratulations. We were grateful to have Anne back at the helm and Session would like to put on record their appreciation of her work, not only at present but also all that she has achieved during her five years in Cairncastle, completed last December. Mention should also be made of Rev Ronnie Clements who willingly steps into the gap when Anne is away and we are indebted to him for keeping things running smoothly. We could do no better to complete this report than to finish with the words of the Presbytery Consultation Team who consider Cairncastle to be 'a thriving, active and happy congregation open and welcoming'. They strongly commended us for our work, witness and service and we pray that, in their words, God may provide us with His blessing as we move forward with our minister Anne Tolland, under God, to meet the many challenges ahead.

Cowper Lynas Clerk of Session March 2007