Folks, we're gonna begin just a little bit earlier and take the opportunity to keep our seats and sing marvelous grace. It's a lovely hymn about the grace of God towards us. God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Marvelous grace, how far off we've gone! Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, God of Calvary's blood I've borne. ♪ Where'er thou wilt land or spin ♪ ♪ Grace, grace, God's grace ♪ ♪ Grace that will pardon and cleanse thee be ♪ ♪ Grace, grace, God's grace ♪ Yeah. ♪ The sea is calm ♪ ♪ Better the song we make when I'm lost ♪ ♪ Grace, grace, greater grace, grace untold ♪ ♪ Joy to the recluse, the mighty cross ♪ ♪ Grace, grace, greater grace, grace untold ♪ God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin. ♪ That we can abide ♪ ♪ What can avail to wash it away ♪ ♪ The pace slowing at wintertime ♪ ♪ Wider and slower may be today ♪ ♪ Race, race, cross, race ♪ Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sins. ♪ Within His love on altar we leave ♪ ♪ All who are longing to see His face ♪ ♪ When in this moment His grace we see ♪ ♪ Great is grace, great is grace, great is grace ♪ God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is free. opening hymn tonight is to God be the glory it's number seven in our hymn books to God be the glory great things he has done so love to the world that he gave us his son we're here tonight to praise the Lord and as we have announced we want to talk about a busy church and We think of all the Lord has by his grace enabled us to do. So we say tonight to God be the glory as we sing the hymn together. Thank you. With thanks he hath come to all the earth, and he gave us his song. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Come to the Father, through Jesus your Son, and give him the offering, great things he hath done. ♪ Churches of God ♪ ♪ To every believer the promise of God ♪ ♪ The lightest splendor who truly believes ♪ ♪ That moment from Jesus our heart receives ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord, praise the Lord ♪ let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. O come to the Father, and to the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. He hath taught us great things, he hath loved and prayed for rejoicing through Jesus the Son of the pure earth and fire. and greater will be. Our wonder, our transform, in Jesus we see. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. We'll all be delighted to know that David and Rachel and the children have arrived safely. And you'll see the photograph tells us, welcome to Uganda. So that's there at the airport, the photograph taken by Lorraine. And it's good to know they've arrived safely yesterday, and they've settled in to their new environment, their new home. We're going to pray together to seek the Lord. Heavenly Father, we come into the presence of our God tonight at this midweek. We do so through the mighty, exalted name of the Lord Jesus Christ. knowing that whatsoever we ask in his name it shall be done. And we thank you for the authority that is invested in the name that is above every name, that name before which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We come into the house of God this evening as a thankful people, praising the name of our God. And we've done so in song already. We have sung about your amazing grace towards us, grace that covers all our sin. And Lord, we look back over our lives and we see our many sins, our many shortcomings, our failures. But Lord, we're glad to know that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, has cleansed us from all sin. And it's all because of God's riches at Christ's expense. Your grace. And we acknowledge that tonight. And Lord, we come to say, to God be the glory. As we look back over the history of the work here, Tonight, we're gonna look back over just recent months and acknowledge what you've been able to do in and through the church here. And we pray that that will help us to be a faithful people, help us to serve the Lord with gladness. We give you the glory tonight for every accomplishment, everything that's been done in your name, everything, Lord, that has brought honor to the Lord Jesus Christ, the man of my right hand. We thank you, Lord, for every encouragement we've been, here and there, at home and abroad. We thank you for every help we have given to those who have been in need in various ways. We thank you, Lord, for the preaching of the gospel and for the sowing of the seed for a harvest time when sinners have been converted to Christ. And yes, from the depths of our heart, we reiterate those words, to God be the glory. We thank you also for the safe arrival of David and Rachel and their children in the land of Uganda. Lord, you were with them in their journey, and you've answered that prayer, and you brought them right to Emmanuel Mission Station. Lord, as they have met with Noreen and met with the Cascadans, met with many there on the site at Emmanuel. Help them to settle in very, very quickly and get adjusted to the work. And Lord, may your blessing rest upon them from day one. As they seek to do God's work, we pray that fruit will follow. We pray that you will add to the kingdom, to the church, such as should be saved. We pray as he goes out into the surrounding areas of Nassau to share the gospel, Lord, that you'll give him favor with the people, and that many will thank God for the day that David McCauley and his wife and family came to that country, bringing the message of the gospel. And so, Lord, continue with us. Remember those that are in need. Remember those that are laid aside, even through sickness and illness tonight. We commit them into your hands. We pray for our brother Nigel. We pray for Maureen as she's come through surgery. We think of Vanya tonight also, who's in hospital. We remember Raymond Wilson tonight, Lord, in his need. We just commit them lovingly into your hands. Hear and answer prayer for Jesus' sake. Amen. Let's sing together, blessed is the service of our Lord and King. It's 513. Reminding us that he that winneth souls is wise. ♪ Somewhere far and near ♪ ♪ Fresh and shining jewels we may have to bring ♪ ♪ God with us in gracious words have come to bring ♪ ♪ Even when his soul is white ♪ ♪ Even when his soul is white ♪ ♪ In the hope beyond the sky ♪ ♪ Glory, oh, the wondrous prize ♪ ♪ He that whistles is wise ♪ ♪ In the quiet of my children's house I pray ♪ ♪ For a Lord like Jesus in me every day ♪ ♪ He may guide and lead one to the heavenward way ♪ ♪ He that whistles is wise ♪ in its souls is wise, in the hope beyond the skies. There's a prior glory of the wondrous Christ, he and his souls is wise. ♪ On the highway going forth with prayer ♪ ♪ On the lost and strayed seeking everywhere ♪ ♪ Thus beside the shepherds we have joined they share ♪ ♪ Be the witness, souls, it's wise ♪ ♪ Be the witness, souls, it's wise ♪ ♪ In the home beyond the skies ♪ ♪ On earth as it is in heaven above ♪ ♪ Be thou with us all day and night ♪ ♪ Be thou with us all day and night ♪ Let me sing it. A very warm word of welcome as we come to meet here together at the midweek service. And those that are joining us online, welcome to you also. Remember this school's ministry tomorrow in the morning at 11 o'clock. We'll see Scott Willing in the Laney Primary School. We're looking forward to that. On Friday evening, the Youth Fellowship meets at 8 o'clock. It's Presbytery in Cookstown. We look forward to this Presbytery because these calls that have been issued to the students will be presented and answered in the will of God. So remember, Greg, very particularly, tomorrow night. Saturday morning, the open air in the center of our town at 11 o'clock. On the Lord's Day, the prayer meeting, 8 o'clock. The Sunday school, 10.30. The Bible class at a quarter to 11. The worship service, 12 noon, the gospel meeting. Sorry, Lord's table after the worship service. The office bearers prayer meeting, 5.30, and then family night. At seven, Rebecca McLean will be singing, and will be preaching the word. Supper will be served, and ladies, you've been asked to bring the eatables. Just to mention again, the harvest, which is the following weekend, we want you to pray about these meetings. This Saturday night, we'll have the Reverend Harris with us, preaching the word. Our choir will sing. The choir will sing again on the Sunday morning, and the Reverend McRae will be the preacher And then in the evening time, we have our moderator, the Reverend Samuel Murray, and the Hebron Youth Choir will be singing. So pray for the harvest that it will be a really blessed time. Now we're going to sing again just before we come to our wee presentation. From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand, where Africa's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand. From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain, they call us to deliver their land from error's chain." Right across the world. Different parts are mentioned here, and there's many more besides, as you know, calling us to bring the gospel light. ♪ And I see mountains ♪ ♪ Coming this far aside ♪ ♪ Where have this lonely mountains ♪ ♪ Rolled down their golden sand? ♪ ♪ From many an ancient river ♪ ♪ From many a crowning name ♪ ♪ They call us to them ♪ Oh, stop, Lord, sin of time! ♪ Every prospect pleases ♪ ♪ And only man is honored ♪ ♪ With faith, with courage, kindness ♪ ♪ The gifts of God are strong ♪ ♪ There he held in his rightness ♪ ♪ How he's done to the world ♪ With wisdom from on high Can be to him belighted of life divine. Salvation, oh, salvation, the joyful song proclaim. Till each we hold this nation as worth the silence The flood he rinses soaring, and unique waters flow. Till, like the sea of glory, his hands from old to old, till o'er Tonight we will be talking to you by PowerPoint will be showing you photographs. You know that we like to take photographs, so I was just looking recently over the course of the past few months at photographs we've taken, and it tells a story, story of the church, story of what we're doing, and what we're engaged in. And I want to read with you by way of introduction 1 Thessalonians and the chapter one. We'll read all the chapter, there's just 10 verses. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. But our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. Ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. May God bless the reading of his precious word. You've seen something like this in the little ad that we sent out by What's Up Today, a busy church. And this is a PowerPoint presentation as we give God the glory for his goodness. I suppose we're just scratching the surface, really. It's just the pictures are telling the story tonight. And we're just going to look at the last four months. So we're talking about June, July, August, and September that we've just come out of. So right at the end of May into June, we happened to be, by the grace of God, over in Spain to be an encouragement to Alejandro. a man that is serving the Lord in Corticus Nuevis that is very near to our hearts. And we had a mini mission, and that spanned over a number of nights in various locations. So, with the opportunity to spend this time, quality time, with the Lord's servant and preaching the word. And we trust, and I know we have been an encouragement to Alejandro, Vanessa, and the family. And then back in June also, A mission that is near to our hearts is the school's ministry. And this brought us into one of the newer schools. You'll see that that one is Street Billy in the Scullman. And then we were in Cassett. Castle Row, I think that is. Can you see that? Yeah, those that have got good eyesight will be able to see the badge that is on the jumpers. Anyhow, there was a fundraising event in June, as you remember, for the Macaulays going out to Uganda. We do appreciate you, Jonathan, doing this and giving activities for even our grandchildren, because they enjoyed seeing the tractors that were on display. And so many people came. And it was a great night, and support was given financially. And it was a great encouragement, I know, to David and to Rachel. As the term was coming to an end, there's something very important happens in this room on a Monday morning. And that is our tots. And they come together. And back then, as they came to an end, they had what they call a teddy bear's picnic. All right. Everybody knows what that is. The children get to bring their teddy bears. All right. And I was privileged to be the guest speaker to the children. We sang together and we brought a message. And you always have children. There was one at the start and then more come up just wanting to really participate. And we're thankful to those that supplied lovely things to eat at the teddy bears picnic. Then rolling on a little bit into the middle of June, we had our Sunday school outing. This is always a great event. It's a church event, because we not only encourage the children from Sunday school to come, but for all the congregation to attend. And so we spent a little bit of time at Crawford's Burnup in the Green. And then we're fed by the ladies. Again, we express our thanks to the ladies who were serving the Lord and doing this as a ministry to His name. And what would it not be if you went to Bangor and you didn't go in the swans? All right, so many I saw that day were making use of the facilities there at the Pickie Pool. And even on the tree, and young and old, the young ones are at the front and the old one there right at the back, our clerk of session, And then as we think of. What happened at the end of June, we had this football tournament for the children. They come up to the Jobeaton Lopp Centre, they got registered. Times when they had to be instructed on the field, and the gospel was also shared there, but more than often, each night we went into the Jobeaton Lopp Centre and we had our time together. You should be able to hear the children singing. Hey. I just caught short there, you know. So there's one dominant voice there. He's got the microphone. And that was Philip as he led the children in song. And every night, the gospel was shared with the children. Then the last night, we brought them here into this room. And we asked parents to come. And parents did come. We're thankful for that. and they got listening. Then they were outside and they were able to have something to eat. We were also asked to prepare facilities for a new family arriving at the church, whose background, of course, was Ukrainian. And these were the workers that came in to prepare the room, get it cleared out, first of all, and then to get the furniture in. And we are indebted to those that did the task. And it turned out beautifully. And this was the night that they were welcomed to Hebron. Children's Day followed almost immediately. And it's always lovely to see so many children coming to the church, whether it's Sunday school or Youth Challenge. And this, of course, is connected to the Sunday school ministry. And the children took part right from the youngest, and then including our Ukrainian friends. We don't like to miss out with them. And our special speaker was Christina. And she spoke at both the services that Lord's Day And Wesley then had opportunity to give out the prizes to the children. And you remember, the Ukrainian family had just arrived, and little Melania, she sung for us at both services, Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, and then she had another piece at the evening service. Now, it was around that time, and I'm sure Samuel or Elaine could tell us better, when Sarah was sent out to Canada. You got a date there sometime in June, wasn't it? Aye, Miss June, aye. And well, anyhow, she's still there serving the Lord all these months. And we're in contact with her today. So she's enjoying the work. And we're thankful for young people who have given themselves to serve the living Christ. We had the opportunity then at the beginning of July to visit the big metropolis of London, or United Kingdom capital city, and particularly to go and spend time with our brother Philip in South Grove, this is his congregation, and Philip likes to give out gospel tracts when he's traveling on the Tube. He'll leave them on the seat, hoping that people will pick them up, and they do, because when people get onto the Tube in London, and there's literature there, they have lots of time to read, and they do take these tracts and read them. In the providence of God, that coincided with the opportunity for us to visit with Chantelle and Philip and their children, particularly because Jacob was having his surgery at this time. And so we had a lovely time with the family. It was a Saturday afternoon. Just around that time, I was looking at a quotation from Spurgeon. However great my troubles are, they are not as great as my father's power. However difficult my circumstances may be, yet all things around me are working together for good. So said the great Spurgeon. That's a quote that you can take any day through the year, any year. intervisitation of those that are laid aside. We had the opportunity quite often to visit with Margaret. She's in the home now, and this was Margaret and myself doing a wee duet on the piano, and that was a special time. We also received as a church the American visitors that were passing through. They were coming up here to see the north coast, the beauty of our country. And so they stopped off, and they had something to eat here at the church. And I want to thank the ladies that provided a sumptuous meal for them. And those that have been in North America, they also joined us for that occasion. And if their mouths are chewing there, just don't worry about the shape of it. But there you go, Pat loves her photograph taken. We went into the church then, and we got the group to sing, because way back when the church was being built, There was a group from America that came out, North America, I should say, because there are Canadians among them as well. And they sang in that building just when it was a skeleton of a building. And then we got them to sing once again. For us as a family, little Grace was born into the world. And that was a special moment for us. We have the opportunity from time to time to send pallets out to needy areas to help the poor. Florine had contacted us about a group of children that he would like to bring with the church children on a little holiday. These children could not afford to go on this holiday if they didn't get help, and so we were able to send some money to fund the poorest among them, and they really had a lovely time. Just a little what the Hebron Church is able to do. The seniors are very special to us, and that's why twice a month we have them here at the church, and they get something to eat, and we also show them some kind of presentation. And there must have been something very special going on this day, because there's a cake being presented, and it just might have been Dave's birthday, and we were rejoicing with him. When there's work to be done around the church, we have willing workers to come in. and there's work being done there. It's not finished yet as you know and sometimes you have workers, sometimes you have spectators and sometimes you have visitors who get into all kinds of places where they Shouldn't be, but are allowed to be, because the vehicle, I want to tell you, was not moving. All right, you'll be glad to know that it was quite stationary. In the month of July, and it's always a joyous thing, there was a wedding took place here in the church. And it's always lovely to see our young people getting married. And this is not the bride and the groom. This is the bride and the groom. And we're so glad that this young couple are together in the Lord. Now, there is a story to tell behind an accordion. We have sent a number of accordions to the land of Romania. There's something very special about this one. And we were looking at a good home where it would be used in the Lord's service. And this was donated by a family who lived down in a skilling. And there's a very sad story behind it because it belonged to their daughter. And their daughter died very tragically. And I sat for a while, and the parents thought, you know, we would love her accordion to be used some way in the work of God. And they contacted me to see if it was possible that we could use it somewhere. And we found a good home. And this accordion has gone to Corticus Nuevis, and Alejandro is learning to play it. I don't know how he's getting on with it, but he's learning to play it so that he can use it in the ministry there. We had our seniors out for the writing. And again, as you know, we love to eat. So if you're chowing, as we would say in the photograph, don't worry about it. But it was a lovely time. That took us to visit Carrickfergus Castle. And the local A chieftain from the tribe was there and he was sitting on this sort of throne and welcomed us to Carrick. And it was lovely to have Cassie with us that day as well. Then finishing up as we like to do, eating, and that was at McKees. So thank you to all that made this such a special day for our seniors. Then we went to the end, towards the end of July on outreach. This is our group, 15 here. Keziah was already over in Romania, so she joined us. And then there were three others that joined us later. The new area that we're working in, in Vyporest, these are the children that we had at the vocational Bible school. Remember the wee appeal that we made for this family, the mother and the two teenage daughters? That is still a work in progress but it's going fairly well and very soon we hope to have good news that land has been legally possessed and the land they're able to buy has an old house on it that can be renovated and lived in so we're thankful to those who rose to the occasion and helped out and also this was another home that we built for a family who lost their home in a mudslide and it I think the tin roof is actually on now so it is pretty much completed and habitable We showed a picture of these two young lads. You remember the boys whose mother left them years ago, whose father died, and whose grandparents then were left to bring up the boys. The grandmother died, and the old man did his best, and is doing his best, to cater for these children. But we also showed that And somebody from up country saw it and contacted me and said, can we not do something maybe to get those windows replaced? And so hopefully very soon we'll have information about that and be able to help. So it was lovely to spend time when we were in Romania with these two pastors, Pastor Emmanuel and Pastor Bebe. And then we flew up to Timisoara, and there at Bethany Baptist Church, we spent the Sabbath with the congregation. And this is our group together with the Debra girls singing at the Sunday morning service. And we had the opportunity to preach. The pastor was actually away, so Lucie, who is well used to our accent and is very proficient in English and also getting the theological terms when you come to preach the gospel. You really need somebody who knows the Bible and knows the gospel where you're coming from to be the translator. When we went to Bougias Prison, it was a special day, and we've reported on that. But just to remind you, this is part of what we did as a church, reaching out into this prison where there's young men and women incarcerated. And then the visitors arrived, and this is just one of Susan and some of the girls that were glad to see her again, having come off the plane and joined us. right in the center of Timeshore on one of the squares. And you remember, we sang here. It was a kind of public testimony as we sang the gospel. So remember the ministry among these girls. These are three sisters that we've got to know so well. And as we spend time with them, obviously we're sharing the things of the Lord, reminding them that we serve a God who is called Jehovah-Jireh, a God who will provide. You can't visit that area without taking the journey down to Moldovanoa and to remember the Roman people that are there. Very thankful to the local church that gives us the facilities to go into their hall and to get the children together that we might present the gospel to them. And we always visit the colony. We bring them some food provisions, and we also bring them the message of the gospel, and we seek to encourage them in the Lord. While we were there, we met this girl. We were eating at a restaurant one night on the banks of the River Dunube, and this girl come over that we know. She came to our vocational Bible school when she was just a small girl, and her name is Diana. And it's good that you recognize this, wanting to come over and talk to us. And this is just a sort of final picture of our translators and our friends who were a great encouragement to us when we were there. Very sadly, during that time, Dr. John Douglas passed away. And it wasn't that many months beforehand that we were at an event together down in the Lisbon Church. And it was just lovely to have had that time with him and to get the picture with him as well in memory of the Lord's servant. We were just back and Youth Challenge commenced, and that's a second week for the children. When they were gathered into the church here and the gospel was preached to them night by night, they had their activities and they had their times of preaching the gospel to them. And Julie's getting liberty there as she's brought them to the land of Egypt. We finished off with a parents' night on a Sunday night, and again, so thankful that many of the parents came in and heard the gospel that night. I had the privilege of bringing the message, and then Andrew had some prizes to give out at the end. Through the summer, in the month of August, we go to the open air in various housing estates, and we're thankful for those who are always willing to preach the word, to our local town and give them opportunity to hear the message of the gospel. The young people had their special activities. You can see how busy we are. This is the summer when things are usually wound down, but they had their activities at Kilray and back to Eulen Arnings for a barbecue. And then there was a second wedding that took place. And Hannah got married. She's not standing beside the groom there either. The groom came later for the picture, for a look. We had the opportunity to visit friends, and I know some of you were up to visit Dr. and Mrs. Cook and just be an encouragement to them. They're in their 90s now, and they appreciated those from the church here who went to encourage them. Sunday school camp then took place, and the children went to Gannaway for various activities. This is the zip line, as you know. And the canoeing, some of them got the opportunity to do that. And they were able to dress up for a time of mock warfare and enjoy the crate building exercise to see how many crates they can build before they all collapse. But again, the main thing as we deal with our children is the presentation of the gospel. And Josh was one of our speakers, and he came to speak one night for us. So this is just the group. of the young people that were there. Coming back to Sunday school, these are some of the Sunday school children arriving for the activities. I was looking all night to see if they were going to be on, you know, the slides and the bull that was there, but They just didn't make it for some reason. But anyhow, the children enjoyed the activities that were laid on. And it was just a lovely night together. We're thankful to the Lord for the weather and for his goodness to us. Very special night when David and his colleague, Glen, were ordained to the Christian ministry. And that took place over in the Macarafeld Church. Many of you were able to travel and be an encouragement to them. And then for us as a family, a little grace that was born, was dedicated on a particular night when our family came together with the congregation just to hand over this child to Christ. So back to Sunday school. We've now entered into September, and the children are back at Sunday school. Pray for the Sunday school. Work. And the open air work continues this term. We were here in the center of the town just a couple of weeks ago to preach the word. There was also a baptism service. The pastor that's here, he knows these young people. They have professed faith. Oh. So where did it go off? Now, what would have happened? Pardon? Kick the bucket. No, it didn't kick it. When you see that little circle spinning, you know something's coming on. And that's not what my screen is showing. But there you go. What should I push? I don't want to push F5 because that brings me right back to the beginning. Would you like to do that for us, Samuel? This is not a Mac. You don't get this kind of problem with a Mac. This is a lovely PC. Wonky equipment. Okay, you saw that. So yes, the open air. Back to the open air that you didn't see. Very thankful to those that come and preach the word. And this was the baptism service. And Ludmila, of course, from her own group, she was baptized that day. Came to the mission. Lovely time. You've seen this slide as we advertised it previously. This was the night of outreach, the first night of outreach, when over 40 of our people were willing to come and go right under the doors and give out the invitations. First day of the mission. in the town hall, and night by night we gathered, we sang, we worshipped the Lord, and we praised God for the souls that were saved by grace. Another very special moment was in the life of Greg and his three comrades from the Whitfield College of the Bible, because this was the night not only of their graduation, but for these four men, the night when they were licensed to preach. And whatever elders were there at the end, we got a photograph with Greg. Mother and toddlers, again, features greatly here in the church, and we thank those that come in so faithfully to do this ministry. My understanding is, on this day, there were 41 children and 30 adults, so a big group that had gathered in. We made an appeal for the shoeboxes. As you see from the appeal slide, we were seeking to raise funds for 180 shoeboxes at £15 each. We're glad to be able to say that that was funded. And we had money. We said to Pastor Emanuel, if there was money left over, we would try to help his area as well. Totally different area. So we've been able to send him money for 70 shoeboxes. And that's all taking place at the moment. They're out getting the stuff and getting the boxes ready. There was terrible flooding in Eastern Europe. You've seen this on the news, the water so high over the roof of cars, cars being swept away. And Pastor Florine and those within the Association of the Baptists, they Organized aid to go out into the worst hit places, and the four lorries or vans on the right-hand side, the big lorry, the red one, and the smaller lorry on the right, and the two vans in the middle, all brought aid to those that were worst affected, the poor people. You can just see the water line there. in this person's house, and the water had gone down by this stage. So we're thankful that we're able to help a little bit with that project. Our dear friend from India came and spoke to our Young People's Fellowship. That gave them an immediate contact with a member of this church. And then we had Rachel coming to speak to our seniors before leaving for Uganda. This was the special night one week ago, just one week ago, here at the church in the church building, when we had the sending forth service for David, Rachel, and their children, and presentations were made. And David had the opportunity to speak to the congregation, and then special prayer was offered, the moderator leading in that season of prayer. And then everyone from Presbytery just greeting them, shaking hands with them. For us, on the Sunday morning, it was more personal, because as a church, a local church, we were now saying, David and Rachel, we're with you, we're praying for you, and we will be praying for you in the coming days. Back to arriving safely in the land of Uganda yesterday, and their wee house finished, looking beautiful. And I want to say that Noring and probably the Kurskatans were involved in this as well. They went the second mile. And I've seen a lot of photographs of the house. I'm just going to show you three to illustrate the second mile that they went. And these are the three bedrooms for the children. So little girl, what color would you go? Little girls like pink. Little boy? And then for little Jude, a nursery. And everyone sleeps under mosquito nets for obvious reasons. So we commend the family to you again. And we ask you to pray for them now that they've arrived safely in Uganda. This was Tuesday night. Karen was the guest speaker on the first night. And so we're thankful again to our workers that come in rejoicing in so many children outside the church that come to our youth challenge on a Tuesday night. And this was in the senior end on Tuesday evening. So last night now, this was just last night, it was a ladies' meeting. I got a text from one of my elders today asking me, was I at it? So I just had to say it was a ladies' meeting, you know. But I did poke my head through, all right, just to get a photograph. And the girls were, at this moment, getting up to sing. I was thinking about a ministry indirectly through Hebron. I'm thinking about the people that have been sent out from the church. And we think of the missionaries. Think of John Hannah all those years ago, and he's still serving the Lord in Spain. Alejandro. brought up through the church here in his days of study at the Whitfield College. In Uganda, we have Noreen. We have David now and his family. In the United States of America, we have a brother, Armen, serving the Lord. And when you bring right back to home, you have Josh Moffitt, you have Jonathan Storey, you have Greg Gibson. And let's pray for Greg as he takes up the challenge now in the near future. In India, we have a dear church member. We don't mention his name because India is the 10th or 11th most persecuted country in the world as far as Christians are concerned. And then we think of England, and Kirsty has spent time over the summer going out to serve the Lord with Crown College. Sarah's still in Canada serving the Lord. And then various summer outreaches through the world were done by individuals, maybe groups of people, maybe other organizations connected to the church. And we rejoice that from Hebron the gospel is going out. We began this term with the children. And I just want to show you the schools that we've been in so far in the month of September. The model, the high school taking the senior and then the junior assembly. We were in Lislagen. We were in Kilmoyle. We were in Gary Duff, and Kilcrow, and Carrara. And just on Monday past, we visited the schools with the youth challenge invitations and also those schools that we don't get into with a letter just letting them know we're willing to come and do assemblies with your children. And then another letter inviting them to the carol service this year. So, these are the schools that we were able to visit and give out invitations, and the invitations were distributed to the children. Vallemony Model, Balnamore, Bush Valley, Carraraigh, Castle Row, Culcro, Dam Head, The Eden, Garry Duff, Kilmoyle, Nagahullet, Land Head, The Laney, The Slaggin, Straight Billy, the William Pinkerton Memorial, St. Bridget's, and we did Bellarmine High School and Dalriada Grammar as well. As we come almost to the end of this presentation, I've got a special prayer request to make. You remember, Almost a year ago, in the month of December, we had this carol service for schools, and we invited schools in. Some schools had other activities already planned for that day, but there were seven schools that were able to come. and almost 400 children in the church. A beautiful sight, I have to say, to see so many children and to hear the gospel. And this is them singing. You should be able to hear them singing. Some more enthusiastic than others, you have to say. But a lovely sight to behold. And then the big undertaking, we gave them lunch. And to feed 400, including the The teachers and staff that came in, there was over 400 that we fed that day. It was just a big project to bring together, but it came together, and it was well organized, and it was efficient. And then before they went home, they all got a selection box. So we're asking you tonight to pray for the carol service. It's on Friday the 13th. of December. We're not superstitious, so it'll be a good day. Many schools have indicated a desire to attend. Last year, there were almost 400 children present. This year, there could be between 500 and 600. I've done a quick count of those that I know that are coming, and we're well over 500 now, and there's still schools that come back to me. A lunch will be provided. for all who attend and gifts will be given to each child so providing lunch for 600 children and the teachers that come is a big undertaking but It'll come together in the will of God. And then gifts. You want to help, as many of you did last year with the expenses, there are envelopes just at the door as you leave. If the Lord lays it upon your heart, you can give. And that's on the envelope, school's carol service and children's ministry. I reckon we'll need maybe 1,200 pounds to do everything that needs to be done for these children. But it's worthwhile to get all these kids under the sign of the gospel. And if there's money extra that comes in, it'll still go to our children's ministry. What do we say as we look back over just these few months? There's nothing else to say but what we sang earlier, to God be the glory. And we really mean that. I read from 1 Thessalonians 1, and those two verses, 7 and 8, remind me so much of what we are in Hebron. You were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God is spread abroad so that we need not to speak anything. You see, in this church, we believe in the Great Commission, where Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 16, verse 15, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. And we're seeking to do that right here in the town and around us and further afield in the world. It's a church that has a vision for the Lord. And Jesus told the disciples to lift up their eyes and look in the fields, for they are white already unto harvest. And I'm asking you to keep lifting your eyes and looking in the fields. In Luke chapter 19, verse 13, he called his 10 servants, and he delivered them 10 pounds, and he said unto them, occupy till I come. God has given you a talent. Some of you, he's given more than one talent. a talent of singing, a talent of witnessing, a talent of inviting people in under the sound of the word, a talent of encouragement, a talent of coming alongside individuals who need help, a talent of giving, a talent, there are so many we could mention tonight. And what does he tell you to do with that talent? Occupy, occupy, use that talent. to His glory, to the extension of His kingdom, because one day He's coming back and He's going to ask us, what have you done with the talent that I've given to you? How did you employ it in my service? In Mark chapter 10 and verse 14, in that scene when Jesus took the children up in His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them, do you remember the disciples were not happy Maybe they were tired. Maybe they thought that Jesus was tired. Maybe, wrongly, they thought that he wasn't interested in children. But what did Jesus say? He rebuked them. He was displeased with them. And he said, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for as such is the kingdom of God. And as we reach out into Sunday school, youth challenge, into the tots, into sunbeams, into the schools, and even across the water, whether it's helping out there with nuring in the school, or in some of these lands that we visit, Romania, reaching the children, Jesus suffers them to come to Him, for He is interested in children. And then we think of all the practical help that's been given, verse John 3, 17 and 18. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother of need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, the question is asked, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. It's easy to speak words and to love, as John puts it here, in our words, in our tongue, but our love ought to be practical. It ought to be in our deeds, in the truth. I was thinking also, it's this final verse, 1 Thessalonians 15, 58, it's my motto text, has been ever since I've been to the Lord's work. Therefore, my beloved brethren, and this is my encouragement to you tonight, as it was from Paul to the Corinthians, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know, your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Only eternity will reveal what has been done and accomplished for God's glory through this church. I remind you tonight that I took this picture, I showed it to you last Sunday. It's the picture up there in Port Stewart. But it reminds me every time I see the setting of the sun, what Jesus said, the night cometh when no man can work. It's coming for us all. You'll not be able to work. You'll not be able to do anything. You'll not be able to witness. You'll not be able to serve the Lord in any capacity at all. That night is coming. So let us be faithful and let us do what we can while it is day. Let's be much in prayer for God's work here. Finally, we sing before we come to our time of prayer, When Mothers of Salem, 689. We quoted to you from Mark, chapter 10, verse 14, about the little children coming unto him. And this hymn is based on that text. When Mothers of Salem, their children brought to Jesus. their children from to Jesus. Yesterday's time will throw them out and take them depart. But Jesus told them, bear them fair, and sweetly smile and kindly say, suffer in For I will receive them and fold them in my bosom. I'll be a shepherd to those that don't drive them on away. For if their hearts to be lame, of our duty. Our calendar calls our Savior to give those children well of heart, but there are many thousands who have never heard his name. of every tribe and nation, fulfill thy purpose. May I be seated? These are the folks that are on our prayer list. Take a good look at them, please. We ask you to pray for our sister, Maureen. Maureen Bright. She had her surgery today and has come through successfully. We've also been asked to Remember Vanya Melnik in prayer. He's in hospital. His hemoglobin is 60. So our medical people will know what that means. It's not good. And we're asking you to remember Vanya. Some of you maybe know him as Ivan. And if that's easier to say in prayer, well, then God knows you're talking about. We are remembering before the Lord Raymond Wilson. We prayed for him tonight and just his ongoing situation. And remember Anne and the family, Reverend Wilson as well, that the Lord will be with them. We've asked you to pray for the students who have received these calls. Greg to Coragare, Jonathan to Six Mile Cross, and Johnny to Castle Dirk. They will be officially presented at Pressby tomorrow night and answered. And then very much in our hearts, David and Rachel and their work that God has called them to in Uganda. The war has not ceased. in these countries that are suffering, Ukraine and in Israel. So we pray for them. I'm aware that so much more has taken place in the last four months than what I've mentioned, but I've only been able to go where my camera has been. And I want to thank each one of you. You're part of the body of Christ, and you all have a function in the body of Christ. Some are more visible as the apostle speaks, more visible than others. Some are hidden away and their work is not so visible. Some are very prominent, like eyes and ears. and some might be just a little finger, whatever it is. You're all part of the body, and you all have a work to do. And a vital part of that work is prayer. As you come here on a Thursday night, this is one of the most important meetings, if not the most important meeting of the church. It's often been called the powerhouse. We're going to come to prayer, and if you have been part of the congregation tonight on the internet, at this stage, We leave you, and may you know God's blessing. May you have been encouraged tonight. For many of you that listen in have been very much part of our congregation, and you've prayed for us, and you've supported us in so many ways, in practical ways, financial ways, and as I mentioned, your prayerful intercessions. So thank you as we, as a church, now come to our time of prayer.