Special events to mark 300 years

At 7pm on Sunday, March 17, a special Rural Communities service is being held in the church.

The church minister Rev Shaw Thompson said: “This service is to recognise the hard work and long hours put in by those who work in and around the countryside.

“Often battling against adverse weather conditions, poor harvests and spiralling costs, year after year these families labour constantly to put food on our table. We want to say a big thank you to them as we pray for better weather this year and more bountiful harvests which will also help to sustain many of the small businesses dependant on the rural economy.”

He continued: “And as the very tragic events at a farm in our own community last year demonstrated, those who work on farms are constantly exposed to many dangers which can lead to injury and loss of life itself and we will be praying especially for the safety and protection for all our farming families.

“The special preacher will be Rev Kenny Hanna of Second Dromara Presbyterian Church who grew up on the family farm in South Down.”

“Everyone will be warmly welcomed and we hope that a wide spectrum of our community will come together for this special service in the presence Him who is also of the Lord of the Harvest,” concluded Rev Thompson.