13th - 19th April 2026
Community Engagement
Ephesians 2:17-20
He [Jesus] came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, he reminds its recipients, in these particular verses, where they had come from and how the very direction and foundation of their lives had changed. They were far away, but now, through Jesus, they had been brought near. They were strangers and foreigners, but now in His family.
No matter how long ago it is, we that trust in the Lord were once those mentioned in v19, strangers/foreigners to the grace and mercy of God. Now, through Jesus, we too are those who are accepted, loved and fellow citizens with God’s people, members of His household, His family.
How might we assist others to move from being a stranger, particularly in their relationship to the Lord, and maybe also to us, to being members of God’s family? We may not realise it, but the average person can encounter 10-40 people each day, rising to a potential 80,000 people in a lifetime! Our ‘assistance’ could simply be to engage with people, in ways they can see what it means to be a member of God’s family, His household. We might modify the content of our conversations in existing relationships or look to have more than ‘weather’ conversations with those who periodically pass through our orbit, never mind those seemingly random encounters, which may actually be ‘divine appointments’.
Glenabbey also facilitates a number of opportunities to encounter those who are strangers to Jesus, either directly or through its community partner organisations.
Whether on-site or in different communities, some Glenabbey members, often with other local believers, are already involved in bringing ‘strangers’ into contact with Jesus, by their presence, their skills and their words. Let us pray for the groups mentioned each day this week, that is their projects, staff, volunteers and for the resources to continue, and even increase their Kingdom activity.
Lord, we thank You that You have changed our position in relation to You, from being strangers to being part of Your family, the household of faith. Help us to be mindful of those who are currently strangers to Your mercy and grace, and who may be around us each day. Enable us to pray, contribute or join with others, engaging in and with communities and activities that You may be directing us toward. God, as we join together in praying for our community partners and their outreach opportunities, may we encourage each organisation to persevere. May we work together to see ‘strangers’ come to faith in Jesus and become part of Your ever-increasing family. For it is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
(More information, about the partnership organisations/groups mentioned throughout the week, can be found on the Glenabbey website – www.glenabbey.church/community).
Written by Alan Johnston
MONDAY
Listening for change
Deuteronomy 5:28-29
The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
At the start of this chapter, it is the second time the 10 Commandments are recorded (deuteronomion, Greek second law). The Lord is pleased with their response. Even though it was Moses they spoke to, the Lord heard and responded.
When we are speaking or listening, the Lord hears. He is present in every conversation. He picks up the details we may miss when our minds wander, especially if we have been listening for a long time! He can lead us in our response or in our silence.
Listening well is a skill. We can hone this skill by reflecting to others how we ourselves listen to the Lord. Settling ourselves to listen to Him might make us better listeners to others.
Lord, we confess that listening well is hard and often our pattern is to talk to You instead of talking and listening. As we bring our thoughts and words to You, may we also use Samuel’s words, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening”. Having heard You, help us to respond to You and to those around us, for the glory of Your great Name. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Active Listening
Transforming Lives for Good
TUESDAY
Making a difference to families
Genesis 16:13-14
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
As a consequence of taking things into their own hands, Abram and Sara cause conflict affecting the wider ‘family’ both immediately and for generations to come. Hagar, the servant, now had a child to Abram and everyone quickly found that this was the opposite of the joy this birth was supposed to bring. Hagar is sent away and at the end of herself the Lord speaks to her. He brings her hope, comfort and refreshment.
We have all been part of poor decisions being made. Whether we have made them or others have made them and we are now living with their consequences. Praise the Lord, for groups that support families through their challenges or through the circumstances they find themselves in.
God, over the centuries Your people have been at the forefront of caring for and supporting those in challenging situations. More recently we confess that we have left the response to these needs largely to the State to ‘care’ for the vulnerable in our society. Restore to us Your heart for those who, by their own decisions or the decisions of others, need to know that ‘the Lord sees them’ and so do we. In Jesus’ name we make our request. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Prison Fellowship
Safe Families and Home for Good
Hope 365 Ethiopia
WEDNESDAY
Welcoming others
Acts 28:2, 10
The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold … They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
The Lord had told Paul that none of those on the ship with him would be lost, none were. As the ship was breaking up, the Centurion (27:43), wanting to spare Paul, stopped the soldiers killing all the prisoners on board. Paul and his shipwrecked companions landed, alive, on the beach at Malta.
It may not have been uncommon for there to be storms in this area and that ships would most likely come to grief in these shallow, reef-filled waters. That could be why the islanders were watching and ready to provide for both the shipwrecked company’s immediate needs and then later for their onward journey.
Over recent years there have been many, from different countries, who have ‘landed’ on our shores. They will have arrived from different places and travelled by various means. What might it look like for us to show ‘unusual kindness’ to these ‘strangers’? Most are going to be in our locality for a short time. Their future is uncertain. It is most likely they will move on to be ‘settled’ in another part of the country.
In Jesus’ name, we bring to you, Lord, those who often have come to our area with nothing and who even find it a challenge to communicate with us. We bless You for helpful apps to overcome the language barriers that may be experienced. We pray that you may enable us to express unusual kindness, honouring those ‘sojourning’ with us and then have the privilege of helping them on their way, when it’s time. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Welcome Churches
English Conversation Café
THURSDAY
Children and young people in our communities
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Jesus has just fed over 5,000 men (besides women and children) miraculously. He now makes what is known as one of John’s ‘I am’ statements. In this case it is, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. The message is, Jesus is the only one who truly satisfies. It is in Him we find all we need. Just as we need food and water to sustain our bodies, so spiritually we need Jesus to nourish us and help us to hold fast in our faith. Without Jesus we are lost. In and through Him we can have life in all its fullness (John 10).
Many children and young people now do not have the same background of Sunday School or church-related activities as previous generations. School assemblies may be the closest some get to hear about Jesus and not all schools provide a Christian input into these spaces. How invaluable to the communities in Ballyclare, Carrickfergus or Monkstown where there are Christians who hold out the Word of Life to children and young people, in centres, community buildings and schools through the groups mentioned below.
Lord, we have the privilege of making You known. You have changed us. We were, where many are, without God and without hope in the world. Encourage us to consider how we can contribute our time, our skills and our words so that others may come to know You. It is for Your glory and praise we pray. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Greater Ballyclare Youth for Christ (GBYFC)
Monkstown Village Initiatives (MVI)
Parents and Kids Together (PAKT)
FRIDAY
Engaging with those who have similar interests to us
Matthew 5:13-14
“You are the salt of the earth.” . . . “You are the light of the world.”
From the beginning of chapter 5, Matthew develops Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Firstly, with the ‘Beautiful Attitudes’ and then with further descriptions of what the ‘Kingdom of the Heavens’ will look like both for those whose lives have been changed and to those who come into contact with them.
You are salt and you are light. We are putting a brake on decay and degeneration and bringing some clarity or at least an alternative to society’s current motivations, morals and ethics. Think about how these terms might apply to you in your conversations within your sports, hobbies and interests circles. How can you bring these, and other Christian qualities, to bear as you compete on the field, on the course or at the table?
Our Father, it is in Jesus’ name we come to You. You made us with personalities, abilities and creative talents. Wherever you have placed us, help us to use these ‘assets’ not only for our enjoyment, but for Your glory and to honour Your great Name. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Glenabbey Sports Ministry
Christians in Sport
Tabletop
Model Railway
SATURDAY
Making contact on the street or in the park
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Paul uses the imagery of the returning conquering army parading through the city and displaying their conquests before their hosts. The incense is being spread. The smell is distinctive. It is a smell that clings. Everyone in the parade and those watching would be in no doubt that this was a victory parade. To Paul, this imagery describes perfectly what he does, he spreads the aroma of the knowledge of a victorious Christ, everywhere he goes.
We may not have the same picture in mind these days, after all this one is from a past era. However, it is possible that everywhere we are, have been or everyone we meet with is able to ‘smell’ Christ. We are able to leave His fragrance behind. Like Peter and John in Acts, how easy is it for people to make the connection that we have been with Jesus?
Lord, thank You that You are victorious. We look forward to that great victory parade at Your coming on that great and glorious Day of the Lord. May those we contact, meet and interact with be aware of the fragrance of Jesus and that You wish all to come to a knowledge of the truth. That it may bring praise to You. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Street Pastors
Spark
SUNDAY
Those experiencing financial challenges
Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
In the opening verses of this chapter, the Lord, through Moses, explains that what He is providing is sufficient for everyone, so ‘there need be no poor people among you’. However, in the short time it takes to get to our verse for today, it seems that the preoccupation with thinking only of themselves needs to be addressed, with the statement ‘there will always be poor in the land’. So much so that the people (those who found they had more than enough) needed to be commanded to be openhanded or generous to those who had insufficient.
Naturally, it seems we can be like the child that offers ‘a crisp’ whilst grasping the bag tightly from the bottom so that one crisp is all that is available! It appears this is not something we grow out of. We almost instinctively hold on to retain the most of what we have. Paul reminds in 2 Corinthians 8:13, ‘our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality’. God has provided for most of us, especially in our developed countries, much more than what is needed. Whether we consider we have little or much, what might being ‘openhanded’ look like for us, especially as we consider today’s community partners and ‘those who are near and those who are far off’?
Gracious God, the great provider, thank you for Your abundant grace and the mercy all of which we did not deserve. We are glad and joyful recipients. ‘Lord, You have my heart, now I will search for Yours. Jesus, take my life and lead me on.’ For His name’s sake. Amen.
Community partners to pray for today:
Hope into Action
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
Newtownabbey Foodbank