Whitehead and Islandmagee Methodist Churches

15/10/2026

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Caring for People, Building Caring Churches 💙

How can we offer meaningful, compassionate and Christ-centered pastoral care within our churches?

Join us for a Learning & Development Workshop on Pastoral Care, exploring practical ways to support people through life’s joys, challenges, grief, loneliness and difficult seasons.

Together we’ll consider how we can listen well, respond wisely, recognise boundaries and create churches where people feel seen, valued, supported and cared for.

➡️ Practical • Interactive • Encouraging • Relevant
Whether you are part of a pastoral team, a church leader, or simply someone who cares about people, this workshop is for you.

📅 Saturday 14th November 2026
📍 Edgehill House (in person or online)
⏰ 9.30am to 4pm

This is a free event, a light lunch will be provided.

Let’s grow together in confidence and compassion as we care for one another.
➔ Sign up here: bit.ly/4qZpAGF

15/10/2026

Morning ❤️🙏🕊️

Sometimes when we're looking ahead, it's easy to wonder how everything is going to work out.

But perhaps today, instead of trying to figure out what's ahead, we can look back for a moment.

Think of the prayers that were answered.
The doors that opened.
The strength that came when you needed it.
The provision you didn't see coming
The times you wondered how you would get through, and somehow, with God, you did.

The same God who was faithful then will be faithful in whatever lies ahead.

Sometimes having faith for the future begins with remembering God's faithfulness in the past.

Maybe this morning, take a moment to remember one thing God has brought you through and let that remembrance give you courage for what's ahead. x

Extract from; My Painted Bear

14/10/2026

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🎩✨ **STEP BACK IN TIME AT THE WHITEHEAD VICTORIAN STREET FAIR 2026!** ✨🎩

📅 **Saturday 28th November 2026**
⏰ **12 noon – 6pm**
📍 **Whitehead, County Antrim**

Get ready for one of the most magical days of the year as the streets of Whitehead are transformed into a bustling Victorian wonderland! 🎄

Join us for a fantastic day of festive fun, family entertainment and old-fashioned charm as our much-loved **Whitehead Victorian Street Fair** returns for another year!

🎩 Victorian characters and costumes
🎶 Live music and street entertainment
🎁 Wonderful craft stalls and unique Christmas gifts
🍰 Delicious food and festive treats
🎠 FREE fairground rides for the little ones
🎄 Christmas cheer around every corner!

Whether you're a regular visitor or joining us for the very first time, there's something truly special about seeing our beautiful seaside town come alive with Victorian charm and community spirit. ❤️

So dust off your bonnets, top hats and waistcoats, gather your family and friends, and come along for a day to remember!

✨ **Save the date – Saturday 28th November!** ✨

We can't wait to welcome you to Whitehead!

14/10/2026

Morning ❤️🙏🕊️

Life can be so heavy sometimes. Can’t it friends?

The weight of it all.

The constant pressure.

The overwhelm.

All the heartache and pain.

The continual stress and worry.

It is all too much.

The other day as I was breaking from the weight of my overloaded plate, Psalm 23 lovingly pressed onto my heart.

Jesus with His tender voice calls out to us, in the midst of our weighted lives to come to Him. He lovingly makes us lie down in green pastures and next to quiet waters to rest in His calm and peace. Our comfort and refuge away from it all. We can set it all down and let Him refresh us.

If you feel like life is too much, go to Him. Read the Word, put on some worship music, be prayerful, and dwell in His presence. Let Him make you lie down in green pastures, beside quiet waters, and refresh your soul!

He is where the peace is!

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
Psalm 23:1-2

Extract from ; My Jars of Clay

13/10/2026

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Are you interested in finding out more about Local Preaching in the Methodist Church in Ireland?
This online session is for those who are discerning a calling to this important ministry. The session is also for ordained ministers, lay workers and accredited local preachers who will support those in training in their local context.

The evening will include an exploration of:
– Being called to be a Local Preacher
– The why and how of Local Preacher Training in MCI
– Training in the local context

Wednesday 11th November 2026 at 7:30pm online
→ Register your attendance at: bit.ly/4y2JcvJ

13/10/2026

Morning ❤️🙏🕊️

12/10/2026

Morning ❤️🙏🕊️

Sometimes we don’t need answers, just a soft heart willing to listen while we walk through the hard stuff with our Jesus. Somewhere to say the things we’ve been holding in, without having to tidy them up or finish with, “But I’m okay.”

We can love Him, trust Him, and still need to cry over what hurts. Sometimes we need to hear our own thoughts out loud, with someone beside us who isn’t frightened by the unfinished bits. A sounding board, a hand reaching across the table, someone who remembers to ask again tomorrow.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”-Romans 12:15, NIV

And that’s what I pray, that I can be that person for someone too. Not because I’ll always know what to say,but because I know the loneliness of wishing someone would listen. May Jesus make my heart gentle enough that someone can be honest beside me, and feel His love in the way I stay.

Extract from-Little Sparrow Loved

littlesparrowloved.substack.com

11/10/2026

Just a few of the wonderful gifts on display for Harvest Thanksgiving at Islandmagee Methodist Church. All welcome tonight at 7pm. 🍂🍇🍁🍑

11/10/2026

Morning ❤️🙏🕊️

Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear You, to perceive Your presence and recognize Your voice in the midst of my busy life.

You're speaking and moving all around me, but I'm so easily distracted, so consumed by noise and hurry that I miss what You're showing me and saying to me.

Teach me to pay attention, to slow down enough to notice the ways You're revealing Yourself, to tune my heart to the frequency of Your Spirit.

You speak through Your Word, through creation, through circumstances, through other people, through the still small voice within, and I don't want to miss a single word.

Help me develop spiritual sensitivity, to recognize Your fingerprints on my days, to discern when You're leading, prompting, redirecting, or affirming.

Remind me that seeing and hearing You requires intentionality, that I need to create space for stillness, silence the competing voices, and listen with expectation.

Give me the humility to admit when I've been spiritually deaf and blind, the desire to seek You with my whole heart, the patience to wait until I perceive Your guidance.

Let my eyes be opened to see You everywhere, my ears attuned to hear Your voice above all others, so I can walk closely with You and know you more.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Extract from; Faithful Grace