The Parish of Camus-Juxta-Mourne
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Organisations
    • Mothers' Union
    • Children's Ministry
    • Inbeteeners
    • Strabane Parish Players
  • About us
    • Who's who
    • Ministry of Healing
    • History >
      • All age ministry
    • Upcoming Events
    • Rector's Blog
  • Diary
  • The Lighthouse
  • Gallery
    • 2016 >
      • Menin Gate
      • Garden Fete 2016
      • Easter Dawn Service 2016
      • Wedding Dress Festival
    • 2012 >
      • Rev. Mark Lennox Service of Introduction 14th September 2012
      • Christmas 2012
    • 2015 >
      • The Quare Gunk
      • Mother's Day 2015
      • Church outing 2015
      • Re-hallowing Service
      • Harvest 2015
      • Beetle Drive
      • Peru 2015 >
        • Peru 2
        • Garden Fete 2015
        • Peru 3
        • Peru 4
        • Peru 5
    • 2014 >
      • World War One Centenary Service
      • Beach Picnic 2014
      • Ready Steady Cook Evening
      • Sponsored walk 2014
      • Carlton and Colwick Mission Summer 2014
      • Harvest 2014
      • Christmas Tree Festival
    • 2017 >
      • Don't Tell the Wife
      • Salta Team Visit
      • Children's Day 2017
      • Garden Fete 2017
      • Confirmation 2017
      • Holiday Bible Club 17
      • Beach Picnic 2017
      • Peru 2017 - 1
      • Peru 2017 - 2
      • Peru 2017 - 3
      • Church Outing 18/8/17
      • Mothers' Union Festival Service 2017
      • Harvest 2017
      • Reformation Presentation
      • Upon the Rock
    • Easter Dawn 2018
  • Sermon Podcasts
  • Upon this Rock
  • Harvest 2019
  • Separate Beds

The Future!

29/5/2015

0 Comments

 
The month of June is often the time of the year when a lot of organisations  ‘wrap up’ their activities for the summer months.  However, we must be mindful of those for whom this month can be extremely stressful and filled with anxiety.  The exam season is well underway and please pray for those who are revising and sitting examinations in our local schools and colleges.  Also remember in your prayers those who are finishing school and making plans for their future, and those who will graduate this year from University and join the thousands of people searching for employment.

I remember well the feeling of relief as I graduated from University in the summer of 2006, but also the feeling of apprehension as I started the process of filling out complicated application forms in my search for employment.  At one stage getting a job it seemed like an impossible task as every employer wanted a period of experience as well as the qualifications.  Yet, one can’t get a job without experience, and experience without the job.  

As I look back on those days of worry and anxiety, I can’t help but see the hand of God guiding, leading and shaping me for the future which He had in store for me.  Those all to familiar words of the prophet Jeremiah spring to mind “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). 

This month, three of our young people will be confirmed by Bishop Ken in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Sion Mills.  Then they will be admitted to the Holy Communion in Christ Church, Strabane.  Please pray for these candidates as they gain experience of what it means to be a ‘communicant member’ of the Church. Encourage them, not only in your prayers, but in sharing your own faith and experiences, as they take their place within the life and witness of the Parish and Church community.

I often chat with other clergy and seek advice from their own experiences, and one thing is continually said by all clergy: “Why do people see confirmation as a ‘graduation’ from Sunday School and Church?”  So, to try and set the record straight, as I have already discussed with the confirmation candidates, and said before in Church, Confirmation is not a graduation ceremony.  At confirmation, the candidates profess faith in the Living God, promise to follow and love Him all their life, and dedicate themselves to His service.  John, Jude and Reece, along with the other candidates are saying, “this is what I believe and I am old enough and mature enough to understand what this means”.

Romans 10:9 tells us to confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord, so may we not only encourage these candidates in their faith, but also think about our own relationship with Jesus and what we do for Him.

0 Comments

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly