Harmony Hill Presbyterian AGM

The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting were agreed by those present and signed by the Moderator. The following reports relating to 2011 were then presented: The Kirk Session Report presented by the Clerk of Session, Mr Derek Alexander; The Church Committee Report presented by the Secretary, Mr Nigel Wilson; The Financial Report presented by the Treasurer, Mr Walter Carruthers and the meeting approved the adoption of the reports, all of which will be published in the Harbinger in due course.

Mr Knox reported that, following the election in January, many people had made nominations for the Church Committee and that 15 members had agreed to serve. The formal election of the following 15 new members to the Committee then followed: Mr Ronnie Bell; Miss Sarah Buchanan; Mrs Alma Croley; Mr John Dowse; Mr Raymond Gillespie; Mrs Leah Murray; Miss Judith Payne; Mrs Julie Rankin; Mr Alex Redpath; Mr Neill Robb; Mrs Christine Semple; Mr Paul Stephenson; Mr Alan Stewart; Mr Nicholas Trimble and Mrs Elizabeth White. The Moderator congratulated those who had been elected and continued with prayer for their service on the Committee.

The Moderator thanked the office bearers for their reports. He said that the Presbyterian system works well at every level from Kirk Session, through the Committee and various organisations.

The reason for this is that God is in the system and it is made to work by a lot of committed Christian people. As well as the office bearers, the Moderator thanked Mrs Kim Lindsay and Mrs Lorraine Foster and their teachers in both Sunday Schools; representative elders (both Assembly and Presbytery); study and fellowship groups; and volunteer leaders of the uniformed organisations. He also thanked those who were actively implementing the Mission Plan, with its emphasis on ‘welcome’.

Visitors were welcomed to Harmony Hill every week and the Moderator said that some had returned, eventually joining the congregation.

He was pleased that they have been able to discover ‘this man Jesus, who welcomes sinners and eats with them’. During the past year Bible studies, baptisms and church membership had all increased. Helen Freeburn had been a blessing since she arrived, bringing great encouragement to younger families and young people. And John Blair had brought excellent leadership to the work in the Base. Relationships with local churches were also good, particularly with St Colman’s Roman Catholic and Lambeg Parish churches.

The business of the AGM was followed by a contribution from the choir under the direction of Nicholas Trimble. Appreciation was expressed to all those who had contributed to the evening and to those who had provided the excellent supper. The evening was brought to a close by the Moderator with prayer.