Moderator notes 100 years of good work as church marks Harvest

The centenary of today’s imposing church building merited mention too from Moderator of Dromore Presbytery, the Rev Leslie Patterson, who was the preacher at Sunday’s service.

Clerk of Session, Cecil Gamble, first welcomed the Moderator, congregation and visitors to the special thanksgiving service. Mr Patterson, also minister of Loughaghery and Cargycreevy Presbyterian Church, said much good work had already been done in the Lord’s name in what he called the “magnificent building” that housed First Dromore Presbyterian Church.

But the Harvest, he said, must continue.

In what was hailed a “challenging” address, the Moderator spoke of the need to be thankful to Almighty God for all His past blessings on the congregation.

He emphasised the importance of not living in the past but rather looking for new and fresh blessings. The ground, he said, was not the same today as it was in days gone by, but God was still the same, His message was still the same, and the need was still as great.

Mr Patterson concluded by asking the congregation to remember that the work was not yet finished - that “we cannot put our feet up and drift effortlessly into heaven; rather, we must all play our full part in the work of God’s kingdom in this our day and generation until the harvest has been fully and finally gathered in”.

Tom Haire presided at the organ and with the church choir led the singing of the thanksgiving praise, including ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’; the anthems were, ‘Let the earth resound’ and ‘Look to the day’.

As the congregation left the church, members of session distributed a specially produced Centenary Gospel Card.

First Dromore minister, the Rev Keith Duddy, was the speaker at the evening Harvest Thanksgiving Service.

An on-screen Centenary Presentation was shown prior to the service and a light supper was served in the Church Hall afterwards.