Today our service comes from Downpatrick and considers the career of the Rev David Maginnis who was born in Downpatrick and whose family belonged to the congregation.
An exploration of the life and ministry of Rev David Maginnis
b. Woodgrange, Downpatrick, 6th February 1821. Educated Belfast Academical Institution, Queen’s College, Belfast
Minister York Street, Belfast and Stourbridge
d. Stourbridge, 11th August 1884
The interior of York Street NSP Church, Belfast where Rev David Maginnis ministered. This building was the third building on the same site. It was destroyed in the blitz of 1941
Service from First Presbyterian (NS) Church, Downpatrick
Service conducted by the minister Rev Dr David Steers
Reader: Mary Stewart, church secretary (Isaiah ch.51 v.1-6)
Organist: Laura Patterson
(Click on the above link to see the service)
This week’s Time for a Story contains another tale from Aesop’s Fables. Click on the video below to see it. Story told by Sue Steers, featuring special music and animation.
Today’s service comes from Inch Abbey in county Down. Service led by Rev Dr David Steers. Also taking part in the service are the Rev Rosalind Taggart and the Rev Norman Hutton.
Readings: Psalm 148 and Matthew ch.5 v.1-12
Organists:
Alfie McClelland, Clough Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church
John Strain, Ballee Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church
Hymns:
Glorious things of thee are spoken (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 233)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 272)
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 221)
Sent forth by God’s blessing (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 409)
Click on the above video for today’s service
Time for a Story: Stargazing
This week’s story, told by Sue Steers FRSA, with special animation by InkLightning, features the life of Galileo. It can be seen here:
The ancient parish churchyard of Dunluce on the North Antrim coast
John Cameron is a name which I suspect is not widely known today. He was the minister of Dunluce Presbyterian Church for around 45 years but his career was quite richly textured. Born in Edinburgh and educated at the university there he came to Ulster as a missionary of the Reformed Presbytery but he was offered and accepted the ministry of the new Presbyterian Church at Dunluce in 1755. In time he was the moderator of the Synod of Ulster but he also became a Non-Subscriber, following the ideas on original sin of John Taylor of Norwich, becoming a correspondent of Joseph Priestley and opening up dialogue with the Presbytery of Antrim. His main theological work was published nearly thirty years after his death and edited by a Non-Subscribing Presbyterian minister. The history and connections of the Rev John Cameron are traced in today’s service.
The full elegy can be heard in the service but the Rev George Hill wrote ‘Lines written at the grave of Cameron’ in 1837 of which this is an extract:
Peace to the gentle but undaunted spirit
That shrunk not from the side of simple truth,
When multitudes were leagued to quench her life,
And Priests betrayed, or traded with her name!
In this lone region, ‘mid surrounding gloom,
One “shining light” arose, one voice was heard
Re-echoing the words which Jesus spake,
Asserting the grand doctrine which all time
and nature, and religion have averred –
One God the Father, merciful and just,
One God in all, through all the universe
Dunluce Presbyterian Church today
The service can be seen in the above video which is filmed in Ballee, Dunmurry and Dunluce. The organist is John Strain who plays the hymns Be still for the presence of the Lord and There’s a wideness in God’s mercy on the organ at Ballee.
Time for a Story: Slow and Steady
This week’s Time for a Story tells the story from Aesop’s Fables of the Tortoise and the Hare. With animation by InkLightning, special music and illustrations you can see the story, told by Sue Steers, by clicking on the above link.
Water is what connects us to life. It is also – clearly when we look at the book of Genesis – something that connects us to God.
Today’s service comes from Ballee Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. It is also a collaborative act of worship because taking part in the service is the Rev Brenda Catherall, minister of Chowbent Unitarian Chapel, Atherton, Lancashire. Brenda reads from Genesis ch.1 v.1-5 and the poem Wild Geese by Mary Oliver.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination
Brenda is reading at Pennington Flash, near Leigh, an area reclaimed from industrial decay and now a Country Park and home to over 250 species of bird. Wild Geese also feature in the video.
John Strain, Ballee organist, plays the hymns All people that on earth do dwell (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 1) and Bright the Vision that delighted (‘Hymns of Faith and Freedom’ 35).
Time for a Story: Wisdom
This week’s story tells the story of Archimedes, famous as an astronomer, inventor and scientist, whose Eureka moment has passed into the English language. Click on the above video which features special music, images from the British Museum and animation created by InkLightning. This image is of Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes.
Here is some more information on Chowbent Chapel. Click on the image below to read about Chowbent Chapel and the Rev Brenda Catherall:
Today’s service comes from Dunmurry with a reading given by church member Emma McCrudden (Ezekiel ch.17 v.1-8) and the hymns played by church organist Allen Yarr.
Eagles are frequently found in the Bible and in Christian iconography. They are often found in churches:
Lectern Ullet Road Church, Liverpool
Lectern All Souls’ Church, Belfast
Click on the video to see today’s service from Dunmurry
Time for a Story: Navigation
This week’s Time for a Story is filmed in First Presbyterian (NS) Church, Banbridge and deals with the question of finding True North. With illustrations of the North Pole from the British Museum and some special music. How do we find our own internal compass to return home to the place where we wish to be?
velvethummingbee 