The president of the Methodist Church, the Rev Kenneth Todd, will share with the Right Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, in the dedication of a new church at Movilla Abbey on the outskirts of Newtownards.
The area takes its name from the great abbey which was one of the most prominent centres of piety and learning in the early Celtic church. Centuries later the Christian people there are not merely looking back at a splendid tradition; they are looking forward to a new millennium of service.
For some years the Church of Ireland and Methodist congregations serving the people in the recent housing development have been sharing a building which has served as both church and hall, but the work has grown and the building is no longer adequate.
So, supported by grants from the central funds of both of their churches, the local people have set about raising the money and erecting a larger suite of buildings. The dedication ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 28th, at 3 p.m., and will be attended by civic and church representatives.
Alongside preparing for a new building in which to worship, to hold church activities and to serve the community at large, the Movilla Abbey people have found time to give active help to some of those at the far side of Europe. Each February since 1997 they have filled a 40ft container with all sorts of things needed at Brasov in Romania.
They have travelled with these goods to demonstrate their personal concern. Two orphanages, a home for the elderly, an HIV hospital and a feeding programme for street children have benefited from this enterprise. "Charity begins at home" but ought not to end there.
The house in which John Wesley spent his childhood, on the site of the house in which he was born, is now a museum. The building was the rectory of Epworth in Lincolnshire.
A life-size model of Wesley has been installed there recently. There is another in St Patrick's Trian in Armagh, and visitors there have been surprised at how he was not a very tall man, under 5 6["]. The model in Epworth will possibly have the same effect. The Tercentenary of his birth will be celebrated in 2003.
The president of the church is travelling to Wales, where he will be one of the speakers at the annual gathering of Easter People at Llandudno.
On Sunday, April 22nd, he will preach in the morning at the Belfast South circuit, which has churches at University Road and Lisburn Road. In the evening he will cross the city to preach at Cavehill Methodist Church.
Also on April 22nd RTE Radio 1 will broadcast a service from the Methodist Church in Bray, Co Wicklow, on medium wave. The preacher will be the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, a former president of the church, and minister of the congregation there.