It was a good question – what is COGS? Simply it is a shortened version of Church of the Good Shepherd Monkstown, Newtownabbey. But we are more than just an acronym. We could think about the foresight of those who in 1968 formally established Church of Ireland and Methodist congregations in Monkstown under a joint church scheme. Those two congregations after much heart searching, discernment and prayer became united in a covenant relationship in March 2003. Why? The strap line of the church notice board sums it up well “United for Mission in Monkstown”. What is COGS? The answer to the question has to be the people, many of whom have been involved in the congregation from the beginning. The journey to a united congregation and travelling on together since has brought its own challenges, joys and sorrows but essentially, we are a church family seeking to be faithful to God and a witness to His love. The ways in which we do this, are no different to many churches, throughout Ireland. Our gathered times of worship reflect both traditions from which we have come. Sunday mornings are a mix of the traditional and modern with provision for our children and young people. Sunday evenings are more informal. A very precious space is the Thursday morning communion service at 10am, which is attended not just by members of COGS but by people from a range of different churches. There are times of prayer and bible study for all ages. There are fellowship activities including Bowls, Craft club, an Irish Class, a Mothers Union and a Men’s Breakfast. There are groups for young people - GB, Brownies& Guides, Scouts & Sprockets a group fro young people in P7 and older. In 2019 we were concerned about the numbers in the Parent and Toddlers. But in 2020 the numbers started to grow and post covid our prayer now is the urgent one for people to help. We do not forget where we have come from and we are very thankful for our history and our DNA, which makes us the people we are now. We are thankful too, for those in Newtownabbey Methodist Mission Circuit, North Belfast Rural Deanery, North Eastern District and Connor Diocese, who get what we are doing, are supportive of us and of what is happening in COGS. Over fifty years ago it was the dream and hope of those first congregations to be a blessing to the people who lived in and who were coming to live in Monkstown. There are many more houses in Monkstown now and in the wider area that the church boundaries cover. Our hopes and dreams are just the same. Isaiah 58:12 talks about people being repairers of broken walls and restorers of streets with dwellings. We hope that as we are “United for Mission in Monkstown” broken lives will be restored through the power of God’s love.
