Ballyholme Prayer Room becomes a focus for interdenominational community prayer
The prayer room at Ballyholme Parish has become a focus for interdenominational community prayer over Holy Week and the Easter weekend.
Every year St Columbanus shares Holy Week services with Ballyholme Methodist Church at Brooklyn Avenue and Ballyholme Presbyterian Church at Ashley Drive with input and support from the Roman Catholic congregation at Sheridan Drive.
And whilst Ballyholme Presbyterian is the host church this year, St Columbanus has the 24–7 prayer scroll so the three congregations have taken the opportunity to pray together for Ballyholme.
The rector, Revd Canon Simon Doogan, explains how it’s working:
“In terms of 24/7, we’ve set up with a room for quiet prayer and a room for activity prayer and then in our Kajiado Room short prayer services at 8.00 am, 12 noon and 12 midnight.
“The clergy and others lead the prayer services but people from all our congregations are coming and going through the week to pray more widely for our local community.
“Before going to the cross, Christ prayed fervently for the unity of his disciples. At one level, coming together for 24/7 in Ballyholme this Easter is about honouring one of the dying wishes of the Saviour.”
The Revd Peter Lyle, minister of Ballyholme Presbyterian said, “It’s significantly powerful when we do things together – as well as being a good witness to the local community.”
The congregations are meeting for worship at 8.00 pm each evening of Holy Week and this year the guest preacher is Prof Drew Gibson of Union Theological College.
Pictured above L–R: Canon Simon Doogan, Revd John Montgomery (Ballyholme Methodist) and Revd Peter Lyle.