An evening Encounter with God and each other
We were thrilled to welcome 250 women from around the diocese to Belvoir Parish on Friday 30 May for an encounter with God and each other.
This was our fifth Encounter event and as Saturday mornings can be busy for families, we rang the changes with a shorter evening meeting and a mixture of worship, teaching and testimony (not forgetting some refreshments). Prayer ministry was available at the end of the night.
Ruth Thompson, a parishioner of Knockbreda, told her story of becoming a widow aged 30 when her husband, Andrew, died from brain cancer. Ruth spoke very powerfully and honestly about her struggles with grief and with God, and the journey to a much deeper relationship with him. Ruth raises her two young boys and works in music and broadcasting. It was a joy to have her sing for us, accompanied by her sister Eppie.
As well as hosting the evening, Hilary McClay spoke about encounter and expectation. The Old and New Testaments are full of encounters with God that totally changed people’s lives, as it did for the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus is still at work, transforming his people and making them part of his kingdom plan. Hilary encouraged us to be expectant and alert to God's action in our lives.
A big thank you to Revd Emma Rutherford and the team at Belvoir Parish for hosting us and to Lydia Harvey and band from Shankill Parish Lurgan for leading us in worship.
Finally, we are so sorry that Ali Calvin couldn’t make it because of illness and pray for her speedy recovery.
