Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Our final episode of 2020 has a special guest. Well-known pastor and author Jon Tyson joins Rick Hill to discuss the whole area of discipleship and spiritual formation. Jon is pastor of Church of the City New York, and has also written several books including "A Creative Minority" and his latest work "Beautiful Resistance". On the podcast he shares about the critical importance of spiritual formation and offers his insights as to how this can happen in a secular culture. Rick is also joined by Brontë Fitch (Bangor West) and Keith McIlroy (High Kirk) who share their reflections on Jon’s input and on how these ideas translate to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland today. This podcast is part of the Refined digital programme of resources https://presbyterianireland.org/refined to support and develop congregational life and witness. We'll be back in the new year. In the meantime, if you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]. Please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

Where is home? And who do we include or exclude from our vision of home? This episode ties in with the launch of the Moderator's Christmas Appeal to benefit Christian Aid, Tearfund and PCI's partner churches across the world in their broad-ranging relief and development response to COVID-19. The Moderator, Rt Rev Dr David Bruce, Rev Dr Liz Hughes (Global Mission Convener) and Rev Uel Marrs (Global Mission Secretary) join PCI's Neil Harrison to discuss what it means to be at home this Christmas and to ask how wide our view is of who we see as part of our local congregations? You can find out more about the At Home for Christmas appeal and resources at https://presbyterianireland.org/athomeforchristmas. This podcast is part of the Refined digital programme of resources https://presbyterianireland.org/refined to support and develop congregational life and witness. If you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]. Edited by Alan Meban

PCI's Mission Development Officer Neil Harrison is joined by Josh McCance (Balbriggan and Donabate) and Andy Frost (Share Jesus International) to discuss the power of local mission and share ways that we can build community and connection to continue to share our good news even during a time of lockdown. We also hear from Dave Clawson (West Kirk) about how his Shankill Road congregation are adapting. This podcast is part of the Refined digital programme of resources https://presbyterianireland.org/refined to support and develop congregational life and witness. If you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]. Please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

Youth and children's ministry is yet another area of congregational life that has been undergoing refinement this year. PCI’s Ruth Bromley (Children's Development Officer) and Graeme Thompson (Youth Development Officer) joins Rick Hill to reflect on this and share what they have been hearing from recent conversations with a variety of leaders, volunteers and staff across the denomination.

They discuss current challenges, and also provide examples of good practice they've observed, and share about their engagement in children's and youth ministry in their own congregation in recent months. Christine Wilson (Carnmoney) also joins the podcast to share how in-person children's ministry has been delivered in her congregation on Sunday mornings since August.
 
This podcast is part of the Refined digital programme of resources https://presbyterianireland.org/refined to support and develop congregational life and witness. An upcoming webinar focused on Youth & Children's Ministry is mentioned during the podcast. It will take place on Wednesday 25 November from 8-9pm. Registration is open at https://www.presbyterianireland.org/events. If you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]

Edited by Alan Meban

As global disciples, we are all called to go deeper and wider in our relationship and involvement in what God is doing in other parts of the world. How do we grow the roots of a relationship overseas and how might we become more involved in appropriate ways? Pamela McCullagh (Annalong congregation) and Neil Harrison (PCI's Mission Development Officer) joined Rick Hill to consider what has worked in developing global mission involvement for congregations and Global Mission Workers. This podcast is part of the Refined digital programme of resources https://presbyterianireland.org/refined to support and develop congregational life and witness. Digital Dispatches – a resource mentioned during this episode – can be found at https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Resources/Videos/Digital-Dispatches.aspx. If you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]. Please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

Refined is the new digital programme of resources to support and develop congregational life and witness. The Moderator, Rev Dr David Bruce, joined Rev David Thompson (Secretary of the Council for Congregational Life & Witness) and regular host Rick Hill (PCI's Discipleship Development Officer) to introduce this new resource and discuss being refined by God. Rick also spoke to Rev Richard Gregg (Burnside, Portstewart) about his congregation's use of the new PRISM resource. If you have a story of how your congregation is coping with the new Coronavirus restrictions, please email details to [email protected]. You can find more about the Refined programme at https://presbyterianireland.org/refined and download the PRISM sessions from https://www.presbyterianireland.org/prism. Please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'These Three Remain Presbyterian' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

PR consultant Rebecca McConnell (First Rathfriland), Creative Associate Jamie Neish (Carnmoney) and Assistant Minister John Graham (Hill Street) join PCI's Rick Hill to consider our engagement with social media, both personally and as congregations. It's an area that many congregations have chosen to explore in recent months, discovering fresh opportunities as well as unearthing some frustrations too. The podcast panel discuss how helpful it is for a church to have a virtual front door, and share helpful practices in developing digital ministry as well as talking about finding a digital balance and how less can sometimes be more. You can read Rebecca’s blog post from July about ‘Lessons we are learning about engaging in the digital space’ and find more resources around These Three Remain at https://presbyterianireland.org/thesethreeremain. Please subscribe to hear future episodes by searching for 'These Three Remain Presbyterian' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

It's a challenging time to be in leadership, no matter the capacity, and leaders in congregations right now are dealing with changing restrictions, differing expectations and heavy decision-making. This episode of the These Three Remain podcast focuses on the area of shared leadership, with Rosie Donaldson (Kirkpatrick), Joe Campbell (First Holywood) and Rev James Rogers (Ballynure) joining PCI’s Rick Hill to explore the importance of good relationships among elders, the need to plan in pencil not pen as lockdown eases, and the danger of relying on experience are all discussed. The podcast ends with a bonus conversation recorded with Rev Alistair Bill where he talks about how leaders can be supported and equipped for their wellbeing as they minister. If you have a story of faith, hope or love from your congregation, please email details to [email protected]. You can find more resources around These Three Remain, including the "Open to God: Leading out of Lockdown" material that can be used by Kirk Sessions, at https://presbyterianireland.org/thesethreeremain and please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'These Three Remain Presbyterian' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

Three ministers join PCI's Rick Hill to discuss how their congregations are seeking to restore and renew the rhythm of their ministry and witness. Revs Stuart Hawthorne (Waringstown), Gareth MacLean (Orangefield) and Mairisine Stanfield (First Bangor) chat about the importance of prayer and the need to open ourselves to God's voice, as well as taking bold decisions rather than simply restore everything back to the way it used to be. If you have a story of faith, hope or love from your congregation, please email details to [email protected]. You can find more resources around These Three Remain at https://presbyterianireland.org/thesethreeremain and please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'These Three Remain Presbyterian' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban

This episode of the These Three Remain podcast considers the area of Mental Health. PCI's Rick Hill is joined by Dr Tim Huey (Whiteabbey), Rev Peter Lyle (Ballyholme), and Dr Susan Williams (Hamilton Road) to hear their unique perspectives. Each shares some of their own journey, signposts approaches to self-care, and together they explore how we can walk with others. It's a rich and honest conversation that emphasises the importance of safe spaces, small groups and healthy approaches to leadership. If you have a story of faith, hope or love at this time that could be shared on the podcast, please email details to [email protected]. You can find more resources around These Three Remain at https://presbyterianireland.org/thesethreeremain and please subscribe to this podcast to hear future episodes by searching for 'These Three Remain Presbyterian' in your favourite podcast software. Edited by Alan Meban