Dear Friends,

As our summer magazine goes to print, there is much concern about the violence on our streets in recent days. The concerns expressed about a serious sexual assault in Ballymena have spilled over into attacks on ethnic minorities, foreign nationals, refugees and asylum seekers. Large numbers of police have been injured, people’s homes have been attacked as have hotels and other centres where asylum seekers are being accommodated.

It’s an extremely worrying situation as we think of all those people we interact with daily in our hospitals and nursing homes and cafes and restaurants. We think of all that they contribute to this country and it is deplorable to see them being targeted in this way.

Ballymena, Larne and Portadown have been the focal points of the violence in recent days and we pray for our politicians and police and clergy and community leaders to be wise and measured as they seek to restore calm and defuse these ugly tensions which bring great shame to our land.

In the midst of all that is nasty and horrible about these attacks, we see local people also trying to protect their friends and neighbours who come from other countries, who are feeling very vulnerable and frightened at this time.

The world as a whole seems quite unstable with the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran as well as the war in Gaza. We see too the volatile atmosphere in Los Angeles as protests take place over immigration raids and tensions are high. The war in Ukraine and Russia rumbles on with a steady loss of life and broken lives.

Sometimes as Christians we find it hard to know how best to respond to these big global events that are outside our control or as we think about the civil unrest on our streets, we wonder what to do.

I try to think of helpful first responses to all that’s going on and my first suggestion is a call to prayer. Let’s pray for those who are caught up in these situations and have nowhere else to go. We think of families who are terrified for their safety, who just want to get on with their work and live in peace. Let’s pray for those who were the victims of sexual assault, for healing from their injuries and trauma. Let’s pray for the police, for international leaders and community leaders who have the power to escalate or defuse situations through their words and actions. May they be given great wisdom and courage and an overriding concern for the peace and safety of all people.

Secondly, let’s try to be as well informed as we can about what’s going on. Sometimes we are lazy in reading sensational headlines or social media posts without checking the truth of the opinions expressed. Let’s reach out to those we think might be affected by all that’s going on.

Maybe we have friends or neighbours who have come here from overseas. Maybe they have fled from war situations in their home place and now find themselves feeling isolated and alone. Let’s check in on those we might know and do what we can to extend friendship and reassurance.

As the school summer holidays begin, we take this opportunity to congratulate all who have navigated their way through demanding exams and are looking forward to the summer.

We wish people well who might be looking forward to a holiday or some time away. I always encourage people to check out the local church wherever you go. Your presence can bring great encouragement to small congregations scattered in various places and it’s always refreshing and interesting to see things done in a different way.

We are looking forward to a very special concert on Wednesday 2nd July at 7.30pm as we welcome the choir of Wadham College, Oxford who will be singing in the church as part of their Northern Ireland tour. There will be a retiring collection to go towards the choir’s expenses for the tour. We look forward to seeing Eva Hayward back on home territory with her colleagues in the choir.

We also look forward to getting to know our new Curate, Reverend Dr. Ryan Hawk over the summer and pray that he, his wife and family will settle in quickly and feel very much at home here.

You will also find details in this month’s magazine about the Bishop’s Bible week which will take place in Holywood parish church from 26th – 29th August. It’s always a special week to encourage us as we prepare for another season of church activities.

We are in the process of planning some special events for September as part of an initiative to reach out to our local community. We are looking in particular at the weekend around 7th September and we hope to have more details in the September magazine.

At this point we want to wish everyone a really good summer and we hope you do get the chance to take some rest at some point over these months.

With very best wishes.

Jonathan Pierce (Rector)

Telephone 02890 793822