Methodist notes

Last week the leaders of the four main churches, including the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Brian Anderson, met members of the Panel on Disbanding Paramilitary Groups in Belfast.

This body was set up under last November’s Fresh Start Agreement, to develop recommendations for a strategy to end paramilitarism and to disband paramilitary groups. Following the meeting, the church leaders issued a joint statement as follows:

"Nearly 20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, paramilitary violence and criminality remains an oppressive reality that pervades everyday life in many of our communities, particularly those in some of the most disadvantaged parts of Northern Ireland.

“Today we welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Panel on Disbanding Paramilitary Groups and encouraged them in the very difficult, but vital task, they have been given. We also discussed the many challenges that any strategy would need to address. We pray for openness, co-operation and engagement on all sides.

“We also stressed that any strategy for dealing with this issue has to have its focus on people, because it is ultimately people that matter to God.

“There genuinely needs to be a fresh start – bringing a sense of hope to those who have suffered through paramilitary activity in their communities and also pointing to a better way for those who have been involved in paramilitary organisations.”

The Movilla Abbey Methodist Flower Festival 2016 takes place from 10am Friday, May 20th to Sunday, May 22nd at 5pm.

The theme of this year's flower festival is 'Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise!' All are welcome and there is ample parking at the church, located on Movilla Road in Newtownards.

There will be an exhibition of paintings for sale by amateur artist Victor McMullen held in the Wesley Trust building, High Street, Lurgan. The exhibition will be open on Saturday May 21st from 10am- 6pm, and on Monday May 23rd through to Wednesday May 25th from 10am- 8pm.

The artist took up painting while at the house during a long course of chemotherapy. He was treated at the Craigavon Area Hospital– Mandeville unit and all proceeds of the sale will be split between the Mandeville unit and the Methodist Missionary Society (Ireland) Container Ministry.

The Container Ministry was founded in 1990 and has shipped containers from the warehouse in Lurgan to areas of need all over the world, with requested items including medical supplies, educational material, clothing, computers, tools and even toys.

The May lecture of the Christians in Science series takes place on Tuesday, May 24th from 7.30-9.30pm in the Hub, 22 Elmwood Avenue Belfast. The lecture is titled Why Jonah Can't Swallow a Whale: A Look at What Science Can and Can't Explain, and the speaker is Graham Veale (City of Armagh High School, and author of New Atheism: A Survival Guide). All are welcome.