Bishop opens new 'Earlsgift Happy Space' in Donemana

BISHOP of Derry and Raphoe, Rev Andrew Forster, joined the parishioners of St James, Donagheady, to share in their Sunday morning worship and to formally open and dedicate the newly refurbished communal space outside their church hall.

The cheerfully-named 'Earlsgift Happy Space', on the edge of Donemana, was built by members of the congregation and friends from the wider community.

At the beginning of the service, the Rector, Rev Richard Beadle, shared a video presentation, compiled by Peter Hamilton, which captured work on the project from start to finish.

It showed photographs of the site being cleared and surfaced, garden furniture being built, the area being landscaped and lots of happy, smiling faces.

In his sermon, Bishop Andrew said he was delighted to be with the parishioners on such a joyful occasion.

"Today we're going to give thanks to God for beauty - for the good things he gives us."

The new happy space would be there for the whole community - for all of the children - the Bishop said.

He added: "But, you know what? It wouldn't have happened without people getting the idea, working it through, doing the work and seeing it come to fruition.

"And for me that paints us a beautiful picture of how God in his goodness and his love seeks to use every one of us to build his kingdom, to make his world a better place, and - as the prayer we used this morning said - helps us to share his love."

It was unfortunate, Bishop Andrew said, that we lived in a very individualistic world where people seemed to be more and more concerned about themselves.

"The picture of your garden is saying that, as a parish, you aren't just concerned about yourselves, you want to make the village a brighter place.You want to share something of beauty. You want to make the world a better place," added.

"And that's what God calls us to do in our daily lives, not just to be so caught up in ourselves but to be people who share love and goodness and his grace in our world.

"In this individualistic world that we live in, I think people crave three things: security, significance and identity.

"When we strip away a lot of the conversation that we have with people, that's what it comes down to: who we really are, what are we meant to be doing, something beyond us that's greater than us.

"I want to tell you today that the Gospel of Jesus Christ answers those questions in people's hearts because he gives us security, he gives us significance, he helps us see beyond ourselves to his glory and love around us."

Bishop Andrew said Matthew, the tax collector in the Gospel (Matt. 9: 9-13), was compelled to "get up from his desk" and follow Jesus.

He continued: "Something within him recognised that it was Jesus who would bring the security he would need, not what was in his bank account; that Jesus would bring the significance of being able to offer something back to the world – not from being a corrupt tax collector; and it was Jesus who would help him see beyond himself, to the glory of God, to a God who cares about him and is there for him.

"And I want to say to you, this morning, nothing's changed. There are people who are striving for security, for significance, for transcendence, doing all sorts of things to try and get what we find in Jesus Christ who says, 'I am the way, the truth and the life'.

"What you're doing today in opening this garden is, in a little way, pointing to the beauty of the transcendence of God, saying that there is more to life than just the concrete around us.

"There is beauty in faith, there is beauty in love, there is beauty in the hope that Jesus Christ alone gives us.

"And the great thing is that - as he offers us that security, that significance, that transcendence - he brings his transforming love into our lives and into the world."

As the service ended, Rev Beadle, the Bishop and the congregation processed the short distance to the church hall, next to the local primary school, where Bishop Andrew blessed the new happy space.

As the dedication drew to an end, and with near perfect timing, the skies opened and rain began to fall, forcing those present to beat a hasty retreat into the hall where they enjoyed refreshments and fellowship.