Nicola and Warren Campbell both work at the Belfast Activity Centre. 

BAC is a registered charity and has over 24 years experience challenging and inspiring young people to realise their full potential. In fact each year BAC supports over 20,000 young people through outdoor adventure learning.

Nicola has been with BAC for 16 years and is Senior Disability Project Worker (Duty Manager), She currently manages the Access-Ability programme supporting young people with a broad range of disabilities. Nicola’s qualifications include Mountain Leader Award, Rock Climbing Leaders Award, Level II Canoe/kayak and MA Disability Studies.

Warren is Senior Instructor - a role that is split between Youth Build and the Fairbridge programme with The Prince's Trust. His qualifications include SPA, MLA, MBLA, Trail Cycle Leader, GNAS Archery Leader, BCU Level 1 coach and OCN Level 2 youth work. He loves mixing all outdoor adventures with personal development.

Their roles involve working with a wide range of young people, some of whom can be quite challenging, however they both enjoy their work and get a lot of job satisfaction from the duties and problems they are faced with.

Just recently they had a visit from Prince Edward (again). It is a family joke, as Nicola she has met him on several occasions, to ask is she on first name terms! 

Both  them of enjoy their work and devote many hours to young people, and Sam and Amy Flanagan are extremely proud of them both.

The artistic talents of our church were on full display 60 years ago with a well-received theatrical production which left the audience demanding more.

Here follows excerpts from a report which featured in The Leader on March 16, 1956.
The Rampart Street Schoolroom, Dromore, was filled to capacity on three evenings last week when the local N.S. Presbyterian Church Amateur Dramatic Society presented “Bed of Rose’s” (a broad comedy in three acts by Falkland L Cary). So much was the comedy enjoyed that there have been requests for a repeat performance. This has been arranged for Wednesday evening next at 8 o’clock.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Players were at their best, and the performances reflect the very highest credit on them and their producer, Miss Margaret Whitehead. It was very evident that much time and thought had been given to the production. The cast were all well suited to their parts, and all, including three newcomers to the stage (Joan Russell, Audrey Agnew and her brother Sam), played with confidence.

Of the more seasoned players there were Anna Ferguson and Jim Flanagan, who, in their own inimitable way, brought an ever-popular touch of romance into the picture; Violet Scott, very much at home in a serious role; Edith Boal, playing with apparent ease in a part which called for actions as well as words; the one and only Sam Agnew (senior), always equal to any emergency; and last but not least William Wilkinson, whose versatility enabled him to “care for the body” with the same ability with which he “looked after the soul” in last season’s production.

The full cast in order of appearance was as follows: Jenny Pickersgill, Anna Ferguson; Pam Pickersgill, Audrey L Agnew; Mrs Blisden, Violet Scott; Bob Huggins, Samuel Kane Agnew; Rose Pickersgill, Edith Boal; Matt Pickersgill, Samuel Agnew; Basil Graves, James Flanagan; Doctor Raheney, William Wilkinson; May Rossiter, Joan Russell.

​Highlights in the performance were a scene which developed when Jenny Pickersgill invited the debonair Basil Graves to tea; and later, a round of fisticuffs between Basil and Bob Huggins.

Rev A E Peaston, who presided each evening, complimented and thanked the Players and Producer. He also expressed indebtedness to many who had helped in various ways, mentioning the names of Messrs Bob Crookshanks and others (stage improvements), William J Scott (decorations), Samuel Mann (lighting), Thompson Bros (stage furnishings), F Russell (transport), P E Neeson & Co (furniture), James Russell (curtains), Samuel Flanagan (door steward), William J Scott and Robert McIlrath (stewards), Wm McMillan (sexton), the programme sellers, and the Clarke family for all their help.

​Here, Mr Peaston made special mention of the serious illness of Mr John Clarke, expressing the hope that he would have a speedy recovery. John, he said, is a great Dromore character and a great lover of this Church. Mr Peaston added that before John was taken so ill he was busy making the artificial roses which they saw on the stage.

Previously I explained how we believe in God. I also explained how that same God is both revealed in the world (for example, by nature) and yet is also hidden from us; God both immanent and transcendent. I explained how we meet this God personally, as Father (First Source), as Spirit, and – most profoundly – through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our second affirmation: ‘We believe in Jesus’ Non-subscribers do indeed believe in Jesus. And whilst others are drawn into theological speculation as to how the whole Father, Son and Holy Spirit thing works; our faith in content with the simplicity and sufficiency of scripture; that Christ is our Lord, Master, and Saviour. These words: Lord, Master, Saviour are central to our faith. Let’s consider each in turn.

Jesus is Lord. We find this in 1.Corinthians 12:3 and in Romans 10.9 (just as we heard in our opening sentences). The title does not mean God, as in the LORD God. The Bible distinguishes between ‘LORD’ and ‘Lord’. Rather, it is a respectful form of address; think of ‘Honoured Sir’ (in Greek Kyrios) and this was not unique to the person of Christ. But the Jews also used the word when they spoke of God, so when early Jewish Christians adopted the same title for Christ they were certainly implying that in Christ, God Himself is met.

Christ as Lord means to put His name above all others. That is what we believe. There is none higher; it’s even in Clause 3 of our Constitution and Code of Discipline:
‘The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole King and head of the Church.’

And if Jesus is Lord, He is also our Master. The Son of Man (that is, the new man, the new ‘Adam’) and the Son of God; the one in whom divinity and humanity meet. As disciples we are attentive to Jesus’ teachings. And notwithstanding, His Great Commandment to love God and neighbour (Mark 12:28-31) these are most beautifully expressed in the Sermon on the Mount, we heard earlier.

Our first reading was from Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT):
‘One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.’

Note here the simplicity. So much of Jesus’ teaching, preaching, healing is amongst the people, even in the open-air; you don’t just meet God in church! Jesus said:

“God blesses those who are poor and realise their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they shall be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of God is theirs.”

Friends, the poor referred to here are the spiritually poor. And the message in each blessing is that as we turn to God, God will turn to us; in fact He has already done so, is already doing so through the person of Jesus Christ. Remember what I said last week, God is intimately involved with His creation.

So we non-subscribers take Jesus seriously. In Christ, God is met, and to listen to Christ means to hear the voice of the Divine. Christian discipleship, you see, really matters to us. We seek to lead Christian lives of humility, of justice, of mercy, and of purity, in the knowledge that as we do so, as Christ teaches, all will be blessed.

But that doesn’t mean that good deeds are sufficient. Good deeds don’t get you to Heaven. Being right with God does (for that’s all ‘justified’ or ‘salvation’ means to be right with God).

And that requires our third word, Saviour. I’ll put the question simply. Do you think you’re perfect? What judgement on human nature do you think the world make? When we consider the wars, terrorism, prejudice, famines, all around us? Something is surely wrong with humanity. And if our nature is flawed; who or what can save us from ourselves?

​Our second reading was from John 3:1-4 & 10-17 (NLT):

‘There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Christ said we need to born again. Non-Subscribers believe that too! But here’s the difference; reborn not just once (and please no tele-evangelists with shiny suits and appeals for money) but reborn again and again; a continual process of moral and spiritual reformation after the example of Christ.

“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish leader, and yet you do not understand these things? …. No one has gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him, will have eternal life.”

Friends, the answer you see, is faith in Christ. Salvation by faith alone! Turning from Sin (the mistakes that we all make), trusting in Christ: His mission, His ministry, His death and His resurrection, as the means by which God and Humanity are reconciled, the means by which the world – and us in it – are changed. John 3:16 you know spells it out:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save it through him.’

Friends, what do non-subscribers believe? We believe in Jesus. He is Lord (name above all others), Master (our guide in living) and Saviour (the one makes us right with God). And we believe that everything is changed by the Holy Spirit (which we explore next week); but for now, let me say again.

What do non-subscribers believe?
We believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord our Master and our Saviour. Amen.

This is the second in a series of addresses by The Rt. Reverend Christopher Wilson, MA )
Click here for the first address, We believe in God

In his sermon, Alister asked the question: "What makes a good disciple?" and rounded off his address with the following thoughts:

"So to become that good disciple ourselves, we are to build on the solid rock which is Jesus and interpret the use of the Word in a way which shows our love for each other. 

"Today we remember those whose love knows no bounds, those who paid the supreme sacrifice, those who for our tomorrow they gave their today.

"And we show our example to those whom we come into contact with. We may not be on the bloody battlefield which our forefathers were, but we still have to be those soldiers of the Cross, showing love and compassion to all we meet."

The service came to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
​
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

​Robert Laurence Binyon, 1914

Inspiration for "For the Fallen"
Laurence Binyon composed his best known poem while sitting on the cliff-top looking out to sea from the dramatic scenery of the north Cornish coastline. A plaque marks the location at Pentire Point, north of Polzeath. However, there is also a small plaque on the East Cliff north of Portreath, further south on the same north Cornwall coast, which also claims to be the place where the poem was written.

​The poem was written in mid September 1914, a few weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. During these weeks the British Expeditionary Force had suffered casualties following its first encounter with the Imperial German Army at the Battle of Mons on 23rd August, its rearguard action during the retreat from Mons in late August and the Battle of Le Cateau on 26th August, and its participation with the French Army in holding up the Imperial German Army at the First Battle of the Marne between 5th and 9th September 1914.

Laurence said in 1939 that the four lines of the fourth stanza came to him first. These words of the fourth stanza have become especially familiar and famous, having been adopted by the Royal British Legion as an Exhortation for ceremonies of Remembrance to commemorate fallen Servicemen and women.

​Laurence Binyon was too old to enlist in the military forces but he went to work for the Red Cross as a medical orderly in 1916. He lost several close friends and his brother-in-law in the war.

(Source: ​http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/laurence-binyon-for-the-fallen.htm)

You may also like to see our Remembrance Day 2015 post.

Back in July, people everywhere paused to reflect on the great sacrifice and suffering endured by the brave soldiers - many of them from across Ulster and  Ireland - at the Somme 100 years ago.

It was at 7.30am on July 1, 1916, that the British and French troops advanced from their trenches, believing that the heavily-bombed German lines would offer little  resistance as they walked across No Man's Land. Instead, the Germans had survived the earlier artillery bombardment without major losses, and when they emerged from their dugouts and took up their positions, their machine gunners were free to inflict horrendous damage on the advancing Allied troops.

Yes, there were some successes, and countless tales of heroism, but that first day of the Battle of the Somme has gone down as the bloodiest day in British military history, with almost 58,000 casualties, over 19,000 of them left dead. Instead of the quick breakthrough which was anticipated by the military leadership, the Somme became a deadlocked war of attrition. As we move towards Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, the horror of the Somme will again come into our consciousness, especially as the 141-day battle came to a close on November 18, 1916. By that stage, the British had gained just six miles - and the bitter conflict had claimed over a million casualties from both sides.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
​Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12&13 ​