Thank God for the strength he has given us to be involved in hismission and for his incredible provision. Last Christmas, the nursery was able to return to our church halls for its first Christmas nativity play after the Covid-19 pandemic. The children used Makaton sign language to explain the Christmas story in word and song. Parents went home with our church magazine and a Christmas tract. One Sunday morning during a Scripture Union presentation to the church, a parent shared how delighted she was that her daughter had come home from nursery with a little book from Greenwell Street explaining the true meaning of Christmas. After the families had finished 300 halal burgers, crisps anddrinks, many of the young families headed down towards thebeach to swim in the ‘ocean’. Although the water was freezing atthe end of May it was still a wonderful experience for our friends.There was a great buzz in the centre after the outing with manyso grateful for another happy memory made for many families asthey adjust to life in Belfast. There are many painful stories of trauma, death, abuse andtorture. People arrive and we try to navigate through the mess andturmoil that they have experienced to help practically, provide asafe place, a warm welcoming home and through it all to shareJesus. We value your prayer support so much and cry out to Godon their behalf that their wounds will be healed and their heartsdrawn to God.

During the late Queen's platinum celebrations, both First Ards and Greenwell Street gifted every child from Victoria Primary School the book called, Queen Elizabeth II: The Queen Who Chose to Serve. The principal of the school expressed her thanks, on a Facebook video clip, to the churches for the gorgeous book that explained about her faith and journey to the throne. Pray for friendships and conversation with women from the church and community at various ministries. Sharon has been working at the International Meeting Point since March 2015. She works with asylum seekers and refugees.During the week Rosemary also is engaged in pastoral visitation and befriending women, families and the elderly, at homes or over a cup of coffee! She also leads a GriefShare course with a committed team of helpers. What an honour it is to help people and make a practical difference in their lives,” adds Sharon, “but it is an even greater honour to pray with people and share the good news of Jesus Christ with them. I remember the day a Muslim lady said to me, ‘Will you pray to your God for me and my family because we are in a desperate situation’. What an amazing opportunity for me to pray to my amazing God for this Muslim family.”

Sharon is married to Sammy and they have two grown up children. She grew up in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church in Newtownards under the ministry of Rev Dr Rodney Sterritt. She was commissioned in 1997 into Strand Presbyterian Church in East Belfast where she served for 19 years before moving to the International Meeting Point in 2015. gravestone photos try http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/down/photos/tombstones/markers.htm& http://www.northdownroots.co.uk/roots_gravestone.html Tracts and books have the amazing ability to deliver the message to many people that the distributor will never meet. One day, while seeking something to read, James Hudson Taylor turned over a basket of tracts in his father's library and selected one that was interesting. He fell down on his knees and accepted the Saviour; he then went on to found the China Inland Mission. What a marvellous harvest with one seed sown.Rosemary has been serving in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church in Newtownards, since September 2017.

Rosemary engages with three weekly groups and seeks to build friendships with women at these ministries: ‘Chat and Hobby Huddle’ on a Tuesday morning; ‘Mums and Tots’ on a Wednesday morning; and ‘Women’s Meeting’ on Thursday evenings. For new converts – that they will grow and mature and we cancontinue to disciple them through teaching more of God’s Wordand get families settled into churches where they will grow. Although Sharon's work varies every day, her main responsibilties are: offering care and support to those in great need; leading one to one Bible studies; organising a clothes ministry.She plays a key role giving pastoral care to many who have had traumatic experiences in their lives. Pray for Sharon's personal walk with God that it will be protected and she will discipline herself as she strives in her walk towards holiness. Rosemary also goes along and encourages other women at the PW and ‘Fit For Life' meetings in Greenwell Street. She also befriends others at the Alpha, Christianity Explored courses and leads and encourages women and mums at morning Bible studies and other initiatives.Rosemary has opportunities to share from God’s Word at ‘Mums and Tots’ and ‘Chat and Hobby Huddle’, and also from time to time at the Sunday school and local school assembly. For wisdom and discernment as we navigate the challengingand painful circumstances of people’s lives.