Skip to main content

Looking Ahead for the Week beginning 10th March 2024



As we enter the reflective season of Lent, St. Paul's and St. Barnabas are buzzing with activities that cater to our congregation's spiritual growth and community spirit. Let's explore this week's schedule and the upcoming Holy Week preparations, inviting everyone to participate in these meaningful occasions.





This Week's Fellowship and Worship Opportunities


Monday with the Vestry

Our week begins with the Vestry meeting on Monday, 9th March, at 7:30 PM. The Vestry members gather to deliberate on matters that shape our church's life and service We invite all those involved in these duties to be present and for everyone to pray for them!


Wednesday's Lenten Devotions

Midweek brings us together for Wednesday's Lenten evening of prayer and scripture. At 6:30 PM, we'll have our Lent Prayer session, a quiet space to reflect and seek peace amid our week. As we progress through the evening, we invite you to delve deeper into the Word with our Bible Study and Intercessory Prayer meeting from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.


Thursday's Community Connect

Join us on Thursday for a dual offering of community and spirituality with our Prayer & Gathering from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. It's a day for nourishing ourselves with prayer, conversation, and scripture.


Next Sunday

We are excited to have Mark Wells from the Bible Society join us for our Morning Worship from 10:30 - 11:30.  Don't forget you can join us for prayer from 9:45 - 10:15


Holy Week and Easter Preparations

Community Prayer Walk


Take a step on our Easter Community Prayer Walk scheduled for Tuesday, 26th March, starting at 2:00 PM. We'll gather at St. Paul's & St. Barnabas and finish at Alexandra Presbyterian with refreshments at 4:00 PM. This walk is not just a physical journey but a spiritual one, touching the lives within Tigers Bay & Mountcollyer with our presence and prayers.


Tuesday to Friday Midweek Prayer

As Holy Week approaches, we invite you to join our  Midday Prayer services from Tuesday to Friday at 12:00 PM during Holy Week. These moments of prayer provide a pause in our day to reflect on the sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ.


Holy Week: A Journey To The Cross


Holy Week at St. Paul's & St. Barnabas is a time of deep spiritual significance, marking the final week of Lent as we prepare our hearts for Easter. This year, we are holding a series of special services to guide us through the events leading up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


Wednesday's Evening Worship: "The Cross in Sight"

Midweek, on Wednesday evening, we invite you to join us for a reflective service titled "The Cross in Sight." Beginning at 7:45 PM, this service will allow us to focus on the path Jesus walked, carrying the weight of the cross. It's a time to meditate on the sacrifice and profound love demonstrated on that journey towards Calvary.


Thursday's Holy Communion: "Preparation"

As we continue through Holy Week, **Thursday's service** is one of "Preparation." Here, we will share an intimate and pivotal time of remembrance and anticipation in Holy Communion. This service is not only a preparation of the elements of bread and wine but also a preparation of our hearts and minds for the coming days of solemn celebration.


Good Friday Service: "A Day Like No Other"

Our Holy Week services culmination is the Good Friday service, aptly named "A Day Like No Other." This significant evening service, starting at 7:45 PM, invites you to reflect on the passion and suffering of Christ. It's a profound time to gather in silent contemplation and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made for humanity.


These services are cornerstones of our Holy Week observance, each a step toward Easter Sunday. They offer space for contemplation, prayer, and togetherness amid a busy world. We hope you will carve out time in your week to join us for these moments of communal worship and reflection.


FIRST THINGS: A Date for Your Diary



Mark your calendar for the upcoming FIRST THINGS event for evangelicals in the Church of Ireland. This critical assembly will be hosted at the Moira Parish Centre on Saturday, 27th April 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Anticipate a day rich with insightful conversations and strengthening of fellowship. You can secure your spot at [www.firstthings.church](http://www.firstthings.church).


We warmly invite you to any or all of these events. Whether for a quiet prayer, a communal walk, or an engaging discussion, each gathering is an opportunity to deepen your faith and connect with the community. Join us as we continue our Lenten journey and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter.


If you have any questions please contact us via the website or by emailing office@spbbelfast.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPB Sermons || Sent Like the Son || JOhn 20:19-23

Sent Like the Son – Family Worship at SPB Belfast (Sunday 27th April 2025) On the evening of Easter Sunday, as fear gripped the disciples behind locked doors, Jesus appeared among them and spoke the words they most needed to hear: "Peace be with you." At St Paul’s & St Barnabas this Sunday, we reflected on John 20:19-31 and the incredible transformation that the resurrection brings — not just to history, but to our hearts and lives today. We joined the disciples in their fear and doubt, seeing how even the testimony of Mary Magdalene couldn’t unlock their fear. Yet no locked door could keep out the risen Christ. Jesus appeared, scars and all, speaking peace into their brokenness. His scars weren't signs of defeat, but emblems of the victory won at the Cross — a reminder that by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus did not come to rebuke His followers, but to comfort them with His presence, speak peace into their hearts, and to co...
Post a Comment
Read more

SPB Sermons || Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Weary || PSalm 63

Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Spiritually Weary We don’t often admit it, but many of us know what it’s like to feel spiritually dry. We’re not hostile to God, just tired. Life keeps moving, we keep showing up, but our souls feel like they’re running on fumes. In this sermon from Psalm 63 , Rev. Andrew Irwin invites us to see spiritual vitality not as a bonus for the super-committed, but as a core part of walking with God — even in the wilderness. Desire in the Dry Places David writes this Psalm not from a mountaintop, but from the desert. Hunted, hiding, and weary, he cries, “O God, you are my God… my soul thirsts for you.” It’s not a cry for rescue, success, or answers — it’s a longing for God himself . David remembers being in the sanctuary, lifting his hands in worship, and he yearns for that nearness again. Spiritual vitality begins not with more effort, but with more honesty . When we admit our weariness and desire, we open ourselves to the God who satisfies. Dryne...
Post a Comment
Read more

SPB Sermons || John 20:24-31 || An Invitation For All To See ||

The Invitation Still Stands John 20:24–31 | Holy Communion | Sunday, 6 May 2025 In this deeply personal and reflective message, Rev. Andrew Irwin explores one of the most well-known and misunderstood figures in the resurrection story — Thomas. Often labelled "doubting," Thomas is shown instead as honest, wounded, and longing for truth. His absence at Jesus' first appearance leaves him reeling in a sea of sorrow, having missed not only the risen Christ but also the peace and power the others received. Still, Jesus returns — not with rebuke, but with compassion. And in that grace-filled encounter, Thomas makes one of the clearest declarations of faith in all Scripture: "My Lord and my God." The sermon challenges the assumptions we carry about doubt, showing us that Jesus is not afraid of our honesty. Like Thomas, we are often shaped by pain, disappointment, and questions, yet we are also invited to bring them to Jesus — whose scar...
Post a Comment
Read more