Dear Friends

I hope that you all had a joyful Easter – early as it was this year. We now in the Parish enjoy the season of Easter and look forward to Pentecost Sunday the birthday of the Church.

Birthdays are about celebration and we in Donaghadee Parish have much to celebrate. We thank God for his daily provision for us and all our families, for the town we live in and the community of which we are a part. We thank God for the worship and activities we are part of week by week in DPC and most importantly we thank God for entrusting to us the mission of His Church to make disciples for Jesus. If I could have a ‘birthday wish’, as we approach Pentecost, it would be that we in the Parish would continue to fulfil our mission providing a place were people find God. In many ways we are to be stepping stones for people to find faith. This is our purpose and our goal as our Parish Vision statement says, “Doing what Jesus did, love God, love people, make disciples”.

We do this through all the activities of Parish life, the celebration of a new baby in Holy Baptism and the comfort offered to families at times of bereavement. In all the activity of our Church we simple share the love and grace of Jesus.

Over these last few months we have had a number of baptisms. Praise God for our children! I hope that parents continue to come to worship and that baptism, as a visible sign of God’s covenant of love, is the real stepping stone of faith for families.

Sadly we have also had many deaths in Donaghadee over these last few months and I have shared in many funerals. It has been a privilege to share these moments with families and I hope that the Parish has shown the practical love and care of Jesus whose compassion is for the broken hearted. We continue to remember all those who have lost loved ones in our prayers.

As a Church we faithfully live out the command of Jesus to love God and make disciples through all our work and to be a bridge for people to find God – we are an open door for all. 

However, I am conscious of the many who claim to belong to the Parish yet never cross the door! We want you to find a welcome in worship in ‘your’ church. Please come and share in the life of Jesus in Donaghadee Parish.

We had on the 2^nd April the Annual General Meeting of the Church – the Easter Vestry – thank you to all who attended. At that meeting I informed the congregation that the Select Vestry had begun a process of appointing an architect to assist us with the many practical difficulties of our beautiful church building. 

It is showing it’s age!  Damp in many places, lack of heating, issues with the floor as well as the question of access and facilities for the disabled. These are just a few of the issues to be considered.

What will all this mean for those who claim membership of our church? Firstly, we want our Church to be a warm and comfortable house of worship and prayer. Secondly, we want to maintain the beautiful fabric for future generations. Thirdly, we want all who make use of the Parish to play their part in both worship and in the cost of maintaining Donaghadee Parish Church as a living worshipping Christian community. Fourthly, the Select Vestry want to know from parishioners what their needs are for the building.

To do this we will have in next’s months magazine a simple questionnaire for parishioners to complete in order that we can consult widely regarding the needs and priorities for our building. The results of the questionnaire will be passed to the architect and will assist him in planning for our future needs. 

Please do remember the Select Vestry in your prayers as we begin to think and plan for much needed improvements in the Church building. I hope that all parishioners will be supportive of all that the Vestry are trying to achieve for the good of our building and worshipping community.

Our Church is a visible expression of our life together as Christians and a real stepping stone for people to come to and find faith in Jesus Christ. The physical Church is the meeting house of the community – the people are the Church of Jesus Christ who St. Peter says are living stones. A song from 10.00am worship says “build your Church Lord, make us strong Lord, join our hearts Lord, make us one.”

May God who pours his Holy Spirit upon us through Christ, give you his daily gift of grace.

Your friend and Rector

IAN R GAMBLE