117 Years Of Service to the City Community
117th Anniversary
This year we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the third Clooney Hall with services of thanksgiving held on Sunday 6th March, Our guest preacher was the Rev Dr Fred Munce who was Mission Superintendent back in 2001. In looking back we have been reminded that in the work of the Mission we stand on the shoulders of many men and women, ordained and lay, who gave themselves tirelessly to the sharing of good news with the poor in both words of life and deeds of love. There have been some encouragements for the City of Londonderry in the past year. The publication of the Report of the Bloody Sunday Tribunal, it's acceptance by the Prime Minister, and the subsequent timely visit to the city by our President, Rev Paul Kingston, with other church leaders, was well received. And the city's successful bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2013 has given a huge stimulus to community groups to promote events that will celebrate our unity and diversity in a positive way. The Churches' Trust is planning inter-church prayer walks and worship gatherings to be held in the period leading up to and during the year 2013. They are also submitting proposals for a Garden of Prayer and Meditation in the city with a Prayer Dome at it's centre where members of the churches will maintain a prayer vigil and be available to pray with anyone who requests it. On the other hand, we have been bitterly disappointed by the announcement that the funding for Action for Children (formerly NCH), based in our Clooney Family Centre, was being withdrawn due to the government's budgetary cuts. Action for Children has been the lead provider of family support in the Waterside area. In our view this policy is misguided in that it is likely to lead to greater expenditure in the long term as a result of the failure to provide what Action for Children have been able to do - intervene at an early stage when families are at risk of breakdown. The cost in human terms will be far greater than the financial cost. We urge the Minister even at this late stage to reconsider this decision. The Mission continues to serve the city through the worshipping congregations in Clooney Hall and Carlisle Road. The Hostel in Crawford Square provides accommodation for 47 homeless men and operates year-round at 97% capacity. The Clooney Centre continues to provide meeting space and support for a myriad of church and community organizations. As we look to the future, while funding will continue to be an issue, and personal as well as Mission finances take the strain, we can nevertheless rest assured in the knowledge that our God is the One who has a will provide all our needs. The Mission Committee convey their grateful thanks for the dedicated and joyful work of the staff and volunteers in the Men's Hostel, the Clooney Centre and those working in church organisations whose high standards of care have helped maintain a well-deserved reputation for excellence. PETER D MURRAY (Rev) Mission Superintendent