President's Blog

Visit to Cork Methodist Church

14 October 2014
Thai ladies dancing

Thai ladies danced around the cross as part of the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Cork Methodist Church on 12 October. Such a blessing!

Weekend in Dublin

9 October 2014
With the stewards and Rev Jeremy Nicholl after morning service in Dundrum, Dublin, last Sunday.

I had a very encouraging time last weekend in Dublin with the Dundrum and Dun Laoghaire congregations. Dundrum had their Harvest Thanksgiving followed by lunch. Dun Laoghaire were dedicating their newly renovated church. They have done a marvellous job on that. The best of all, though, is that both churches are focused on sharing Jesus with people who are at present outside the church.

Service in Armagh Cathedral 2 Oct

9 October 2014

I attended a service in Armagh Cathedral last night (2 Oct) to welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury on a visit to Northern Ireland. It was a joyous occasion and he spoke of the need for the churches to be prayerful, hopeful and united in service.

Visit to Edgehill College, Belfast

26 September 2014

Had a long but very good day today (24 Sep) in Edgehill College, Belfast. With the Purpose and Leadership Group in the morning, then consulting with District Stationers in the afternoon and District Superintendents late afternoon and evening.

I really thank the Lord for the great people we have in leadership in the MCI.

National Ploughing Championships

26 September 2014

Just back (23 Sep) from a brilliant few days in Tipperary, speaking on Sunday on the Roscrea Circuit.

We visited Mrs Eileen Kingston and the national ploughing championships near Port Laoise
today.

Rev Bill Olmstead was manning a Methodist Church stall on site and doing a great job. Lots of interesting conversations. ..

101 Today

26 September 2014

Today (22 Sep) I had a wonderful visit to Mrs Eileen Kingston, mother of Gillian, in Shinrone, N Tipperary this morning. She is in her 101st year and now I think I know where her daughter gets her energy from!

Happy Birthday Mrs Callender

22 September 2014

Many congratulations to Mrs Betty Callender. She comes from a very appropriately named church...Centenary Methodist Church, Bangor... because Betty is 100 years young today. It was delightful to visit her and her family with her Minister, Rev Brian Anderson, on afternoon 12 September

Sympathy on the Death of Rev Dr Ian Paisley

22 September 2014

On behalf of myself and the Methodist Church in Ireland I extend sincere sympathy to Mrs Eileen Paisley and her family on the death of Rev Dr Ian Paisley. I ask your prayers for for them in their grief. Dr Paisley was a preacher and political leader who moved on the world stage but retained his roots in home soil. He had remarkable ability as an orator to communicate with the masses and at the same time take an interest in the life of the ordinary person on the street.

Part of President's First Letter for the Methodist Newsletter

21 August 2014

My preaching scarf set me thinking along the track of ‘beginnings’. It begins with God’s act of creation. I’m greatly encouraged, and I hope you will be too with our new beginnings, but we don’t need to try to achieve our hopes and dreams all at once. It took him some time to create what he did. We can be creative too with our new beginnings, but we don’t need to try to achieve our hopes and dreams all at once. ‘One step at a time’ would be a good motto. Another thing – God wasn’t successful in everything he did. People did not choose to do what he willed for them.

Flu, Visits and a Wedding

14 July 2014

What I thought was the flu turned out to be man flu, something not so life threatening! Just as well as I was meeting the new Chief Constable of the PSNI on Thursday, connecting with different groups in Belfast on Friday to pray for a peaceful 12th, and walking up the aisle with my lovely daughter at her wedding on Saturday. A fantastic week.

Pages