Heather Mc Cracken Alexandra Presbyterian Church
Barbie is celebrating her fiftieth birthday this week and she doesn’t seam to have grown older! Plastic surgery really must work. I continue to work part-time in the congregation of Alexandra, and this will be my twentieth year in North Belfast. I don’t feel any older, either, and yet as I look at myself and the past years I know much has changed. I strive to give one hundred percent working with Rev Clifford Wright, and the great fellowship and leadership in Alexandra.
Alexandra continues to have a very busy evolving ministry, with our halls being used to their full capacity. We continue to reach out into the community in many ways. We endeavour to be a visible church, worshipping and serving God with enthusiasm, seeking to keep our batteries well charged and our focus on Jesus so that our light shines for Him. We have just finished a tremendous series on caring - (the failure, the motivation, the cost, the priorities and the practice of care).
One highlight this past winter has been the introduction of a new format in our evening service. Once a month we have SUNDAY@6.30, meeting in our lower hall, where we encourage active and participative worship. I also give thanks for the work of the TOTTS group - Too Old for Teens and TwentieS - this has been running for several years, but the impact on the fellowship for adults and children has been a real blessing. Join with us in praying for the outreach work through our Nite Lite ministry and Time 4 U group. I praise God for His hand upon us and His guidance over the past year.
I have also been able to help out with locum work in the Royal Victoria Hospital, and I commend the work of the Chaplains to your prayers.
Barbie is still instantly recognisable as a desirable toy, with three dolls being sold every second worldwide. We, too, are worldwide, a global Church, but may our Church and its service be recognisable to the community of which we are a part as we care, pray, give, forgive, grow and serve God.