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Michelle McCauley Ballygowan Presbyterain Church
Most of my day can be spent in my car as I travel around the village and local area visiting members of our congregation. As a result, my car suffers a lot of wear and tear, but you would never know it unless you examined it closely. It struck me recently that this is like many people in our congregation. On a Sunday morning there is no outward appearance of the wear and tear of the previous week. Their ‘Sunday best’ hides their anxieties and worries. Most of my time continues to deal with pastoral care issues, including the routine visitation of those in hospital and those too ill or frail to leave their own homes.
The latter stage of the year saw a slight change in my duties, and I am no longer responsible for the co-ordination and development of the youth work within the congregation. While I still miss this aspect of my work I can see how it has released me to concentrate on female pastoral care. In September I started a women’s Bible study group and we meet on a fortnightly basis. Approximately twelve of us meet to study God’s Word, mainly women fifty years old and above. Many of these women have come to church all their life but this is the first time they have done anything like this. They are enthusiastic to learn, willing to try new things, and being part of this has been a real blessing to me. The group is called Energize and I know that it has helped mend some of the wear and tear I encounter on a weekly basis, and I pray that it will energise the members to read God’s Word and, in turn, energise their faith.