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Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight at Railway Street Presbyterian Church

Carolyn Gowdy pictured presenting a basket of flowers and a copy of the recently launched recipe book �The Real Way to Cook� to special guests the Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn and the Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Railway Street Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon 24th December (Christmas Eve). Included are L to R: (back row) Rev Brian Gibson, Mrs Jean Gibson, Mrs Kathleen Cromie and the Very Rev Dr Howard Cromie.

Carolyn Gowdy pictured presenting a basket of flowers and a copy of the recently launched recipe book �The Real Way to Cook� to special guests the Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn and the Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Railway Street Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon 24th December (Christmas Eve). Included are L to R: (back row) Rev Brian Gibson, Mrs Jean Gibson, Mrs Kathleen Cromie and the Very Rev Dr Howard Cromie.

Janet Ferguson - Director of Music, David Thompson - Organist and members of Railway Street Church Choir pictured at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight at Railway Street Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon 24th December (Christmas Eve).

The story of the Nativity was presented at a candlelit Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Railway Street Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon 24th December (Christmas Eve). The minister, the Rev Brian Gibson, welcomed the large congregation and visitors and in particular, his special guests, the Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn and the Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn.

The Rev Brian Gibson, the Very Rev Dr Howard Cromie (Minister Emeritus), the Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn, Lois Curragh, Ian Mulholland, Adeline McKibben, Megan Gillespie, Graham Elliott and Phyllis Spence read the nine lessons. David Thompson presided at the organ and the Church Choir led the praise. The congregational carols were - Once in Royal David�s City (solo part by Christine Brown), In the bleak midwinter, Away in a manger, O little town of Bethlehem and Hark the herald angels sing. The anthems were - O what a mystery I see, This peaceful night, A child is born for us today, Silently we watch and O Holy night (solo part by Christine Brown). The children from KIDS Church sang �Crackers and turkeys and pudding and cream�.

In a short address Mr Gibson compared the expense of Christmas with something that is offered free of charge � the gift of eternal life which we can accept or reject. He concluded by hoping that everyone would reach out to Christ and accept this gift - the true meaning of Christmas�.

The Mayor brought the greetings of Lisburn City Council to the Railway Street congregation and spoke of how he has enjoyed recent visits to many of the churches in the Lisburn area. Saying that it was a pleasure to be visiting his home church, the Mayor thanked Mr Gibson for the invitation to attend and participate in the service and concluded by wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

After the service, seasonal refreshments were enjoyed in the church hall.

28/12/2006