Cathedral bid to boost community spirit

Painting the town red, and every other colour of the rainbow, are two of the youngest 'Easter Bunnies' from the congregation taking part in Lisburn Cathedral's Big Church Serve, Lucy (aged 3) and Lauren (aged 4) Harper from Lisburn. It is hoped that this unique event will bring colour and love to Lisburn City Centre and Hill Hall Estate this Easter.

Pictures By: Aidan O'Reilly — Painting the town red, and every other colour of the rainbow, are two of the youngest 'Easter Bunnies' from the congregation taking part in Lisburn Cathedral's Big Church Serve, Lucy (aged 3) and Lauren (aged 4) Harper from Lisburn. It is hoped that this unique event will bring colour and love to Lisburn City Centre and Hill Hall Estate this Easter. Pictures By: Aidan O'Reilly

Supported by Lisburn City Council and coinciding with the City’s Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’ featuring the Circuit of Ireland and the Power Stage, ‘The Big Church Serve’ will see a 200 strong squad of local people aged three - 83 take part in the four day project.

There will be a huge range of activities for all the family taking place in both Lisburn City Centre and Hill Hall.

The aim of the project is to bring colour back to the city and the local community.

Vicar, Simon Genoe, said: “We have been inspired by the good book which asks us to express our faith through love by bringing colour to our city, so that’s exactly what we are doing.

“We are handing out flowers door to door to all 400 homes in the Hill Hall area, handing out over 300 Easter Eggs and balloons to shoppers and visitors in the City Centre, all the while wearing ridiculously hi-vis vests with ‘The Big Church Serve’ on the back so no-one can miss us.

“Our hope is that we can simply say ‘Hello’ to and engage with those who either live in the area or who are enjoying a day in town.”

Businesses will be included in the festivities with a team of workers hand delivering free hot cross buns to workers, reminding them to take a moment and enjoy the colours of the city this Easter.

The event will also see the group showing their love of the city in more practical ways by helping to clean up some of the areas which have been identified by Lisburn City Council, Lagan Valley Regional Park, the Canal Trust and Lisburn’s City Centre Management.

The Bishop of Connor, The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy will lead the Walk of Witness which takes place in Lisburn City Centre on Good Friday at 12.30pm On Good Friday (April 18).

Representatives from Lisburn Cathedral and from all the other churches across the city will come together to showcase the Cross and the celebration of the Good Friday message.

The Big Church Serve will see new planted areas at the Treatment Works, litter collected in the Blue Bridge area and even a fabulously artful and tasteful mural which will be created by the Hill Hall Community in conjunction with a local artist over the four day period.

For Further information along with everything else happening at Lisburn Cathedral you can visit the website at www.lisburncathedral.org/bigchurchserve.