PSALM 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Two years ago we celebrated Fitzroy 200. It had been 200 years since a small group of families with "burgher" sympathies left Belfast's Seceder Meeting House in Berry Street and met in temporary premises in the Commercial Courts. At our Anniversary service on November 17th 2013 we launched our fund raising campaign for renovating and extended our Church halls. They really needed fixed up and made fit for purpose. That morning a very generous congregation put a quarter of a million pounds into gift baskets to get us going. We were overwhelmed with thanksgiving.
This weekend, exactly two years later to the same weekend, we will officially open those renovated and extended halls. They are quite beautiful. Already they are increasing the vibrancy of the congregation and are becoming a resource to the community and the city. We are thrilled too that as we raised money for our own buildings we gave £75,000 to build a Primary School in Onialeku on the outskirts of Arua in north west Uganda, through Fields Of Life. That will feature in our celebrations too!
So, this is the weekend of events we have lined up. These events are so that anyone can come along and see what we have done, share in our joy, bask in the beauty and maybe see whether the halls can be a resource for something you are doing.
THURSDAY 12th @ 5.30pm - 7pm
LAUNCH OF JULIE-ANNE RICHMOND ART EXHIBITION
With wonderful wall space in the newly renovated and extended Fitzroy Church Halls we were keen not to just fill them with second rate posters. The idea is that we will give artists a shop window for their art and change that art every few months. We are delighted to have Julie-Anne Richmond do the first exhibit. Her work is vivid, imaginative, mystical and beautiful. Julie-Anne also does commissions.
Attend launch and meet the artist for free.
FRIDAY NIGHT 13th @ 6.45 - 10.15.
FRENZY AND FLIPSIDE OPEN NIGHT
Our Friday night Youth Clubs invite you to drop along and see what is happening. If you are a parent and you drop off, go home and come back, then why not stay and have a coffee and chat in our new Welcome Area. You can see what the Clubs get up to too.
SATURDAY MORNING 14th @ 10am - 2.30pm
POP-UP CAFE in WELCOME AREA
Drop in when you can and leave when you must, grab a coffee and no doubt tray bake. Have a good yarn and take a look around the new halls.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON 14th @ 2.30pm - 4pm
TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC with Jump, Jiggle and Jive
Here’s an exciting event for the little ones. For the ages 0-4 comm along and have an afternoon of real fun. There will be a slot taken by Jump, Jiggle and Jive and a Teddy Bear Hunt with Fitzroy original knitted Teddy Bears to take home.
SUNDAY MORNING 15th @ 10.45am
CUTTING OF THE RIBBON.
Fitzroy is not a community where anyone is any more important than any other and so it was decided that EVERYONE would open the new building. Therefore at 10.45 sharp (!!!!), rain, hail or shine, the entire congregation will gather around the building and cut the ribbon all at once. Don’t forget your scissors!
SUNDAY MORNING 15th @ 11am
THANSKGIVING SERVICE
As a community, Fitzroy will gather to give thanks to God for all His goodness to us as a community and particularly for the new buildings here and in Onialeku, Uganda. This will be a short punchy service when we will hear what a few people want to give thanks for and sing worship, thanksgiving and praise. Expect vibrancy!
Refreshments will be provided!
SUNDAY AFTERNOON 15th @ 3pm
An Tor ar Lasadh
Adhradh Phreispitéireach as Gaeilge Fáilte roimh Chách
Presbyterian Worship in Irish - Everyone Welcome
SUNDAY EVENING 15th @ 7pm
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS CHAT SHOW
Our Opening Day Festivities will continue in our final event; Meet The Neighbourhood. This will take the form of a chat show event and we will be meeting Prof. Tony Gallagher (Pro-Vice Chancellor QUB), Ednar Nyakaisiki Adyeeri (Executive Director, Fields Of Life, Kampala), Steve Cartwright (Wildflower Alley) and Jason McMahon (Mornington)
That will all be gathered up in top quality music from Fitzroy singers - Chris Wilson, Dave Thompson, Shannon Clements, Caroline Orr and Jonny Fitch.
After this event we are thrilled to have Right Rev. Dr. Ken Newell, our former minister to open the Newell Room and Ednar Nyakaisiki Adyeeri from Fields Of Life in Kampala to open the Onialeku Room.
Again refreshments will be provided!
Please come to what you can… events are always better when you are there!
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