Our Sunday morning worship service starts at 11:00 am, with tea and coffee served afterwards. SMASH (our Sunday School) meets at 11:15 am, and lasts for an hour (some of the children come to church for the beginning of the service before going out to SMASH).
We meet at 7:00 pm on Sunday evenings in the minor hall for an informal time of worship - during the summer we hold joint evening services with Cregagh Congregational (in August the evening services are held in St Andrew's).
Our worship is led by our choir and praise band, and we aim to blend the best of traditional and contemporary worship songs.
We have a wide range of activities, groups and events to help build friendships and strengthen faith within our fellowship - Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Choir, Orchestra, Badminton, Bowls, PW Group, Mums & Tots, The Klub (for boys and girls from 8 to 14 years), Youth Fellowship, Thursday Shopping, Walking Club, plus various days out and special events.
Our minibus is available to transport members who have difficulty getting to church and other activities.
Emma (our minister's daughter) has been working with TEC Ministries in the jungle in Pucallpa in the north of Peru since January 2009. She is involved in running girls clubs, and teaching English in the local secondary school. She has also got involved in the local church, and is enjoying singing with their praise band.
Emma sends a monthly update on her work - here's an excerpt from a recent issue of 'Jungle Juice': "This month I've also been a lot more involved in the physical work of our dorm project. I have been working in the dorm building putting in insulation (to keep the heat out, not in) and helping to put up drywall. It has been a lot of fun to be involved in this side of the work, and it feels good to be doing some physical work - although sometimes I've had to give up due to the heat, or they would have found a little puddle of Emma on the floor instead of a nicely insulated dorm room!!" Look out for the next issue of Jungle Juice in the church vestibule.
Barry and Anthea spent many years working in Peru, and have now made Belfast (and St Andrew's) their home.
In addition to taking classes at Belfast Bible College, they organise social events for Spanish speakers through their Latins Group, and hold regular Spanish services at Finaghy Baptist Church.
We got to know Danny and Meche and their sons Israel and Patrick when we gave practical and financial support to the family when they were living here while Danny was studying for a Masters degree. They are now back home in Peru, and we continue to remember them in prayer.
This will be a busy month for Danny, with his heavy lecturing programme and for Meche too as she adjusts to teaching sciences in a school again, after a long break away. Pray for strength and stamina
Pray too for the boys who are now well into a new school term. They will have virtually a straight run through from now until Christmas (Peruvian schools don't really do half-term breaks!). Remember Israel in particular and pray that he and his parents would be granted wisdom in making decisions about further education.
Our former assistant minister Dario Leal (from Chile) has now taken up a church planting post in the Cliftonville Road area in North Belfast.
Continue to pray for Dario and Denise in the very challenging ministry they have been called to, and that the children will settle into new schools and quickly make good friends.
Philip and Deborah McMillan are working with Fonic Trust in Nepal. They are involved in the Maheema Essential Oils programme which processes essential oils for export, and enables them to support Nepali widows, pastors in rural areas, and the Grace Rescue Children’s Home.
Philip and Jessica have returned to Nepal, with Deborah planning to follow in September once she has the older two children settled into university. Pray for the family as they face a prolonged period of separation; that they would be united in God's love.
Pray for the political and civil unrest which continues to wage in Nepal; that the country's political leaders would be committed to pursuing a path of peace.
Christine is working in a children’s home in Mozambique with Iris Ministries.
Give thanks for the recent visit of her parents Alistair and Anna May to Mozambique. Pray that their visit may have been a source of great encouragement to Christine and of reassurance to them.Pray for Christine's ongoing work in the Refuge home.
