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Pictured
against tasteful floral decorations at the
Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Seymour Street
Methodist Church last Sunday morning are the
minister, the Rev Brian Anderson (right) and the
guest speaker, the Rev Aian Ferguson, President
Designate of the Methodist Church in Ireland
(left).
The guest preacher at the Harvest Thanksgiving
Service in Seymour Street Methodist Church last Sunday morning
was the Rev Aian Ferguson who originally comes from the Seymour
Street Lisburn congregation. Presently minister of Carrickfergus
Methodist Church, he is designated to be the President of the
Methodist Church in Ireland for one year from June 2008 in
succession to the current President, the Rev Roy Cooper,
minister of Newtownards Methodist Church. The Rev Colin Meneely
was the speaker at the evening service.
The minister, the Rev Brian Anderson led the services. At the
morning service the choir sang the anthems 'Praise God',
'Remember' and 'All things bright and beautiful'; the
congregational hymns included 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation' and 'My heart is filled with
thankfulness'. The anthems at the evening service were 'God
sends us refreshing rain' and 'Praise my soul, the King of
heaven'; the congregational hymns included 'Come ye thankful
people come' and 'Great is thy faithfulness'.
In his sermon, based on Psalm 103, Mr Ferguson and reflected on
two main things:
- 1 'The Call to Praise God', explaining that David calls himself
and all God's works to praise Him.
- 2 'The Reasons for Praising God', explaining that David spells
out what God does - He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns,
satisfies and renews. He then went on to explain that David
spells out what God does not do - He does not treat us as our
sins deserve.
Mr Ferguson concluded by emphasising that the challenge was to
realise the greatness and goodness of God and therefore to live
a life that praises and pleases God.
07/10/2007
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