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React to Restoration‘I didn’t know church could be like this!’ ‘It’s clear how much you enjoy being together in this church’. ‘I haven’t been to church for 38 years but I’m going to start coming again’. REACTIt is an incredible joy to hear comments like those above, and many more, during and after our REACT mission. First, let’s give all the glory to Christ for the change He has brought to many hundreds of lives as people have committed their hearts to Him and made the decision to follow His ways. Also, let’s give thanks for those who have made re-commitments and those who received a fresh anointing of God’s Spirit as He ministered among us. A blessed opportunity, when many already committed to Christ recognised the truth of the promise ‘Now is the time of God’s favour’. I will have an abiding memory of going to the prayer room on the Monday evening, before the Salsa Dancing, praying that church members would have invited others to come along, and then walking down the stairs wondering what was going to happen. Very quickly I saw my prayer was answered. As the crowds flowed in, it was clear the people of Lisburn Cathedral had responded magnificently to the challenge to bring friends, work colleagues and family members to the React Events, to hear the gospel presented. It was, Praise God, the same on each occasion through out the week. This was a SUPERB EFFORT by our folks in the church and GOD HONOURED the witness of each and every one. Who knows what Oak Trees have taken seed! It was also a real joy to have Roger Murphy, Paul Woodman and Paul Hoey staying in the Rectory. In particular, on each of the two Sundays of REACT, as the Cathedral Staff and our families shared over lunch with them, the warmth of their friendship, their quick humour and their enthusiastic encouragement ‘to push on’, was much in evidence and truly appreciated. As mission leaders, they were a delight to be with, as we shared the good news of Christ with thousands of people and saw more than 200 people respond to His message of Salvation. REBUILDWe had just finished our week of Mission when builders moved in to refurbish the rooms on the Castle Street side of the church building, and we discovered the full extent of our building problems. While much greater than expected, this is all essential work and will greatly enhance and improve our facilities. As all but the exterior walls have gone and the refurbishment is extensive, it makes sense to ensure that each room will become multi-functional and this will enable us to run a variety of groups simultaneously. On 26th March 2006, our Bishop, Alan Harper will dedicate the work that has been completed and this will be a gift day to receive your offering towards restoring the Cathedral. In the article below you will see further details of plans for growth and expansion in our buildings and in our witness, as the Cathedral at the centre of the City of Lisburn. We may be considered a historic building but we want to be a history – making people. As the body of Christ, we want to keep ‘Our Outlook Outreach’ and aim to make sure the Light of Christ radiates brightly from our church, and our people, and acts as a beacon of real and lasting hope for many in our city. RESTOREWe have always said that React was only a beginning! It’s now our task to work together to RESTORE the church in every way to where it should be. It is almost 300 years since the people of this church were faced with the task of rebuilding after a fire had swept through Lisburn. I am quite sure as they planned they looked forward to the future. In this generation we are being given the opportunity to rebuild both structurally and spiritually, to share Christ as the same life saver yesterday, today and for 21st century people. I believe it is a blessed and God-anointed task that we’ve been given. Ezra 5 v 8 says ‘The people are rebuilding the temple with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction’. Ezra 6 v 14: ‘They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel’. We will be relying on the Lord each step of the way as we embrace this work of restoration. We will consult and give prayerful consideration as to how we can best make our buildings multi-functional, warm, welcoming and fit for worship. However, to achieve this, we must also unite together in our efforts, and so, on behalf of the Select Vestry, I ask each and every person who comes to the Cathedral to rise to the challenge and help us as we move into a time of restoration. I encourage you all to become history-makers, jump in and with the help of the Lord, let us RESTORE our church in every way that we may be a vibrant dynamic community that cares for others and freely reaches out with the good news of Jesus. Sam |
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