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Madge marks magical 100!

 

Olde Tyme Communion Service on Good Friday 2010

 

Visit of Moderator 17th January 2010

 

Installation of Rev David J. Irvine, B.Sc(Hons), M.Div, Dip.Min.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madge marks magical 100!

 

Mrs. Madge Smyth, a member of Markethill Presbyterian Church, celebrated a century of birthday’s on Saturday 22nd January with a party for family and friends. Including those present was the Rt. Rev. Dr. Norman Hamilton, Moderator of the General Assembly and her minister the Rev. David Irvine. 

 

Over the course of the past 100 years her life has seen the reign of five Monarchs, two World Wars, and the Belfast Blitz, the sinking of the Titanic and everything from horse drawn carriages on the streets, to men walking on the moon. Talking to the bright eyed and extremely lucid centenarian, it’s practically impossible to believe that the mother of three has seen so much in her long and eventful life. She is still keenly interested in the daily life of her family circle and her biggest delight is receiving visits from her wide circle of family and friends.

 

Madge, who has been a resident at Fairlawns Care Home in Armagh for the past four years, was born in Whiteabbey on 22nd January 1911. After leaving school at 15, she gained employment at a butcher’s shop in her then home town. “Before I started in the butcher’s shop at Whiteabbey, the butcher asked my mother if I was fit for work and she said yes. “I was in the Girl Guides at the same time and I didn’t like having to work in the butcher’s shop,” she recalled. “After that I worked in Whiteabbey Factory where my job was to wind the bobbin. “It was a great wee place to work and I worked there until I was married.”

 

Another event which the cente­narian remembers vividly is seeing the famous Titanic ship. “My sis­ter took me down to the shore and she said: ‘That’s the Titanic’ and that has always stuck in my mind.”

 

After marrying her late hus­band, Mrs. Smyth moved to Belfast where she set up home on the Whitewell Road, until 200 German bombers attacked the city during the Blitz of 1941. “We lived there happily until the Blitz came and bombed us out,” the 100 years-old recalled. “The house was cut in two but we were lucky that there was nobody killed. The blast went the opposite way thankfully.

 

After that we moved to an aunt’s house in lslandmagee to get away from the bombs before returning to the Whitewell Road, where we lived until my husband died 25 years ago. “After that I came to live in Markethill with my daughter Betty Slane and I got a wee cottage of my own.” During her time living at Keady Street in Markethill, Mrs. Smyth played an active role within the community and her daily routine involved a walk up and down the hill of the Market town every day. “We had a wee pensioners’ club on a Wednesday afternoon and as well as that, I always enjoyed going to concerts.” Madge was faithful in her attendance at Markethill Presbyterian Church.

 

Mrs. Smyth enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two daughters Dorothy McMillen and Betty Slane, one son Jim who lives in the West Midlands, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. “It’s nice to see them all”

 

Relatives travelled from all across the world to attend the weekend birthday celebrations, with Mrs. Smyth’s daughter Dorothy making the journey from her home in Australia, to attend the special celebration. Another relative - grandson David - arrived from Uganda, while other family members made the trip from the USA, England and Wales. In recognition of her very special birthday, Mrs. Smyth received a telegram from the Queen, and letters from Irish President, Mary McAleese and Lord Caledon, the Queen’s repre­sentative.

 

When asked for her advice on achieving a long, healthy and happy life, Mrs. Smyth replied: “Take things easy and don’t dwell on anything that would annoy you!” The 100 years-young pensioner still enjoys a shopping trip and regularly enjoys quality time spent on shopping trips with her daugh­ter  “My daughter Betty takes me out to do my shopping. I had my Christmas shopping finished early this year which was lucky as the severe weather came in,” she said.

 

When Mrs. Smyth was asked for her advice on how to reach a century, her reply was “I worked and took ordinary food and got plenty of fresh air when I was young” When asked how she felt to have reached the grand young age of 100, Mrs. Smyth said: “No different to when I was younger!”

 

Mrs. Smyth’s daughter Dorothy who travelled from Australia to Armagh for her mother’s birthday said she phones her mother on a weekly basis. “I ring her up every week and we are trying to do our family memoirs. She makes a note of everybody that phones her”

 

Anne Brennan, activities co­ordinator at Fairlawns Care Home said Mrs. Smyth never forgets fam­ily or friend birthdays. “She is always making phone calls and getting phone calls and never misses sending out birthday cards,” she said.

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Installation of Rev David J. Irvine, B.Sc(Hons), M.Div, Dip.Min.

 

First Markethill Presbyterian Church was filled to capacity last Friday evening (8th January) with congregation and family and friends of the Rev David Irvine who was installed by Newry Presbytery as minister of the congregation. The Rev Irvine, had been minister of Albany, Brigh and 1st Stewartstown congregations in the Presbytery of Tyrone.

 

The commission of the Newry Presbytery conducted the service of installation. The Rev Stephen S. Johnston, Moderator of Presbytery welcomed everyone and led the service.

 

The Introit, "May The Peace" was sung by the Choir, after which the congregation sang the Hymn "Jesus is King". After Prayer, by the Moderator, the Rev David Temple, minister of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, read the Scripture and preached the sermon. The congregation then sang the Hymn "In Christ Alone".

 

The offering, which was taken up for the Students Bursary Fund, will be used to support those in training for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. After the Dedication of the Offering by the Moderator, the Choir sang the Anthem "Come, People of the Risen King".

 

The ceremony of Installation was conducted by Rev Stephen Johnston, Moderator of Presbytery and Rev Stuart Finlay, Clerk of Presbytery.

 

After the Act of Installation, the congregation sang the Hymn "May The Mind Of Christ My Saviour". The Rev Nigel Reid, Convenor of the Vacancy, and minister of Tullyallen and Mountnorris, read the Scripture and and give the Charge to the Minister and Congregation.

 

The congregation sang the Hymn "Lord Your Church On Earth", and the Moderator pronounced the Benediction.

 

After the completion of the service and formal ceremony, the Rev Irvine was welcomed to the Presbytery of Newry by the Moderator. The Clerk's of Session of Brigh and 1st Stewartstown congregations paid tribute to the Rev Irvine’s warm, clear and logical preaching, his caring pastoral work, his unassuming and modest manner and his strong belief in the Gospel.

 

Edwin McWilliams, Clerk of Session, welcomed everyone, including guests and members of Presbytery and thanked all who had been so supportive during the vacancy and to Presbytery and the General Assembly for their help in filling the vacancy. He looked forward to working with Rev and Mrs Irvine and wished them and their family God’s richest blessing.

 

On behalf of the other churches in the district, the Rev Neville Hughes, Rector of Mullabrack and Kilcluney. welcomed the Rev and Mrs Irvine and family to the area.

 

Arrangements of flowers were presented to Mrs Irvine and Mrs Reid by Dr Pamela Marshall.

 

Congregational Secretary, Kenny Maclean, spoke of the sterling work and pastoral care carried out by the Rev Nigel Reid during the vacancy and presented him with a token in appreciation of his Convenorship. The Rev Reid suitably replied.

 

The final speech was that of the new Minister himself, the Rev David Irvine, who thanked the people for coming along, saying how much he looked forward to getting started into the work in the congregation and how comfortable the committee had made the manse a home for his family.

 

The Moderator then closed the proceedings with prayer and the Rev and Mrs Irvine and family led everyone over to the Small Memorial Hall where the ladies of the congregation had prepared a delicious supper.

 

A very historic evening was enjoyed by all and the warmest welcome given on what was one of the coldest nights of the winter to date.

 


David Irvine was born in Enniskillen on 30th September 1962, second son of George and Anna Irvine. He grew up in the congregation of Cavanleck, near Fivemiletown, where he was ordained as an Elder in 1989. After education he worked as an accountant in practice and then spent several years working as a financial director of a manufacturing company.

 

On 2nd August 1986 he married Pauline, daughter of Rev and Mrs Arthur Curry. The wedding service was conducted by the bride's father in Warrenpoint Presbyterian Church.

 

Sensing God's call to the Presbyterian ministry David was accepted as a student for the ministry in 1999 and commenced training at Union Theological College, Belfast the following year. He graduated with a Master of Divinity (with distinction) from QUB in December 2003. Serving his assistantship in Dungannon Presbyterian Church under Rev Bob Allely, a former minister of Markethill.

 

David and Pauline have five children: Matthew (born 1991), who, at present is in his first year at Queen's University, Belfast, studying medicine; Naomi (born 1993) who is in lower sixth at the Royal School, Dungannon; James (born 1995) is third year at the Royal School, Armagh; Lois (born 1999) (P7) and Philip (born 2001) (P4), both of whom are at Markethill Primary School.

 

 

The Irvine Family.

Naomi, James, Lois, Rev David Irvine, Mrs Pauline Irvine, Philip and Matthew.

 
 
 

 

 

Seated L to R;. Rev Stuart Finlay (Clerk of Presbytery), Rev David Irvine, Rev Stephen Johnston (Moderator of Presbytery) and Edwin McWilliams (Clerk of Session).

Standing L to R; Rev Nigel Reid (Convenor), Rev Brian Wilson, Rev Michael Barry, and Rev David Temple.

Rev Nigel Reid (Convenor), Rev David Irvine

and Edwin McWilliams (Clerk of Session).

 

 

Prescribed Questions to the Minister Elect.

Prescribed Questions to the Minister Elect.

 

 

Subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Rev Irvine's family.

 

 

Rev Stephen Johnston (Moderator) welcomes Rev David Irvine.

Dr Pamela Marshall making presentation to Mrs Irvine.

 

 

Dr Pamela Marshall making presentation to Mrs Reid.

Kenny Maclean making presentation to Rev Nigel Reid.

 

 

Rev Neville Hughes (Rector of Mullabrack & Kilcluney),

The man himself,

 

 

 

 

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Moderator’s visit to Markethill.

 

On Sunday 17th January, First and Second Markethill Presbyterian Church received a special visit from the Moderator of the General Assembly, Right Rev Dr Stafford Carson. The Thanksgiving Service was to mark their anniversary “Celebrating 400 Years of Presbyterian Witness with Thanksgiving”. Special prizes were presented to the young people of the Sunday schools and Bible Class.

 

 

 

 

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Olde Tyme Communion Service

 

On Good Friday, the members of First and Second Markethill met and as has been the tradition observed the Lord’s Supper. However, this year it was different; as part of their year “Celebrating 400 Years of Witness with Thanksgiving”, they observed the Lord’s Supper as it would have been in the 17th Century.

 

The service was held in the Small Memorial to facilitate having the Tables in the aisle; also, the Order of Service was conducted according to the Liturgy of John Knox, received by the Church of Scotland in 1564. Scripture readings were taken from the Geneva Bible and Scottish Metrical Psalms as authorized by the Church of Scotland in 1650, mostly unaccompanied were sung.

 

The opening part of the service was conducted according to Knox’s Liturgy of the Word. The Rev David Irvine (Minister) welcomed everyone and led the service. After Prayer, the Rev Cyril Scott (Minister Emeritus of Cremore and Tyrone’s Ditches) read the Scripture from Psalm 51 (Geneva Bible) after which the congregation sang Psalm 122 – I joy’d when to the house of God. The Rev David Irvine read the Scripture from John 19 (Geneva Bible) and led in the Prayer for Confession of sins, and petitions. This was followed with the singing of Psalm 63 – Lord, thee my God, I’ll early seek. The preaching of the Word (Sermon) was given by the Rev D. Irvine, followed by Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Word, the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Confession of Faith (Apostles Creed).

 

The order of service was now conducted according to Knox’s Liturgy of the Upper Room. During the singing of Psalm 130 – Lord, from the depths to thee I cry’d” was the Collection of Alms (Offering). The Words of Institution were given by the Rev C. Scott and Knox’s Exhortation was read by Rev D. Irvine. During the singing of Psalm 116 – I’ll of salvation take the cup, the tokens were received. (The Tokens were a card replica of the congregations Lead Tokens used during the period 1819 – 1882). After the Consecration Prayer, the Elders lead those present to and from the Table. The congregation sang Psalm 72 – His name for ever shall endure, and the Rev D. Irvine pronounced the Benediction.

 

 

John Knox’s Liturgy, but more officially termed the Book of Order, printed in part before 1564, and formally adopted by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland in that year. It was in more or less general use down to the time of the Solemn League and Covenant, when they were superseded by the Confession, Catechism and directions, prepared by the Westminster Assembly in 1642. Numerous editions of Knox’s liturgy continued to be printed, chiefly at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, until 1643.

 

 

 

L to R; Edwin McWilliams (Clerk of Session), Jackie Hamilton (Elder) and Philip Johnston (Elder)

 

Elders L to R; Ken Toal, Robert Donaghy, Dr Pamela Marshall and Walter Scott.

 

 

 

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