Category: Faith

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Youth Initiatives

Youth Initiatives

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”152899″]Youth Initiatives at Derryvolgie[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”662096″]

Youth Initiatives is a dynamic and welcoming youth organisation dedicated to helping young people grow in confidence, develop life skills, and make a positive impact in their communities.

Working across Northern Ireland, Youth Initiatives supports young people from a wide range of backgrounds — particularly those who may need it most — creating opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive.

What Happens at Youth Initiatives?

Programmes are designed to be engaging, purposeful, and empowering, helping young people build skills for life while enjoying being part of a supportive community.

Young people can get involved in:

  • Youth clubs and community hubs
  • Leadership and personal development programmes
  • Group activities and team-building experiences
  • Projects focused on community impact and social change

Everything is built around helping young people discover their potential, develop confidence, and take positive steps forward.

Building Confidence, Leadership & Community

Youth Initiatives places a strong focus on empowering young people to lead and influence change within their communities.

Through their programmes, young people are encouraged to:

  • Develop leadership skills
  • Build resilience and self-belief
  • Work collaboratively with others
  • Contribute to creating a more inclusive and positive society

Their work is rooted in values of equality, inclusion, and respect, helping young people feel supported and valued.

A Safe and Supportive Environment

All activities are delivered by experienced youth workers and volunteers who are passionate about creating safe, welcoming spaces.

There is a strong emphasis on:

  • Inclusion and belonging
  • Positive relationships
  • Personal wellbeing
  • Encouragement and support

This ensures young people feel comfortable, confident, and able to be themselves.

Who Is It For?

Youth Initiatives works with young people across a range of ages and communities, particularly those who may benefit from additional support, encouragement, or opportunities.

It’s ideal for young people who want to:

  • Meet new people
  • Build confidence
  • Learn new skills
  • Get involved in something meaningful

Where & When

📍 Locations: Across Northern Ireland (including Belfast, Downpatrick, Banbridge, and more)
📅 Programmes: Delivered throughout the week via local youth clubs and community hubs

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Christmas Carol Service

Candlelit Christmas carol service at St Columba’s Derryvolgie with festive lights across the ceiling, colourful lighting on the altar, and the congregation gathered in worship.

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_transform=”uppercase” text_space=”fontspace-210350″ uncode_shortcode_id=”472815″]A Night of Light, Music and Meaning at Our Candlelit Carol Service[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”207821″]

Our Candlelit Christmas Carol Service at St Columba’s Derryvolgie was a truly special evening – one that captured the heart of Christmas and brought our community together in the most beautiful way.

As the church filled, soft candlelight gradually replaced the winter darkness, reflecting off the timber beams and illuminating the cross at the heart of the sanctuary. With the glow of candles and the gentle sparkle of Christmas lights overhead, the atmosphere was both peaceful and expectant – a reminder that Christmas begins not with noise, but with light.

The service wove together traditional carols, reflective readings and moments of stillness, telling again the timeless story of hope, love and God-with-us. Voices rose together in familiar hymns, filling the space with warmth and unity, while quieter moments invited reflection on the true meaning of the season.

One of the most moving aspects of the evening was seeing all generations gathered together – children, families, long-standing members and visitors – sharing in a moment that felt both deeply personal and wonderfully communal. The candle-lighting, in particular, served as a powerful symbol: individual flames joining together to light the whole room, just as small acts of faith and kindness light the world.

As the final carol was sung and candles slowly dimmed, there was a shared sense that this was more than a service – it was a pause, a breath and a reminder of why Christmas matters.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, helped organise the evening, read, sang, played music, or simply came along and shared in the experience. Events like this are at the very heart of life at Derryvolgie and we’re thankful for a community that continues to gather, worship, and celebrate together.

If you joined us this year – thank you.
If you missed it — there will always be a place for you next time.

From all of us at St Columba’s Derryvolgie, we wish you a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas season. 🎄✨

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Cost of Living

Stained glass window saying HOPE

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As a church we are all too aware of the hardship many in our community are facing with the ever increasing costs of food, fuel and electricity.

Please read this leaflet which contains the details of organisations and charities that may be able to help out in this time (or download it from the link below)

Cost-of-Living-Leaflet-NI

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Finding peace with God

Close-up of an open Bible showing verse number 19, highlighting scripture text about Jesus and faith

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading uncode_shortcode_id=”544437″]Finding peace with God[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”773091″]Searching for God can be described as a journey. Many people who have walked it before will tell you that it is more than just a journey its an adventure. In the Bible we see many journeys taking place by different people at various times. However there are two that I wish to draw your attention too. One is the Damascus road that saw Saul dramatically converted to the Apostle Paul (Acts Chapter 9). Paul was able to turn from persecuting God to worshipping him in a dramatic, blinding light experience when the scales literally fell of his eyes. The other is the road to Emmaus (Luke Chapter 24). After Jesus rose from the dead he joined some of his disciples on a journey. The disciples who knew Jesus well had travelled a distance with him before their eyes where opened and they recognised him.

Journeys are important and whether you find yourself on the Damascus or the Emmaus road (metaphorically speaking) is neither here nor there. What is important is that you are searching for God and that you are journeying with him. So how does the bible teach us to find peace with God. Here are some simple steps for your journey:

STEP ONE

Realise that God loves you and has an amazing plan for your life.
The bible says

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

John 3:16

Jesus says

‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.’

John 10:10

STEP TWO

Recognise that there is broken relationship between you and God because you haven’t always done things that pleased him. The bible calls that sin.

‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.’

Romans 3:23

Even when we try to put things right we can’t do so on our own.

‘The wages of sin are death…..’

Romans 6:23

STEP THREE

Realise that there is hope. Even though your sin deserves punishment, Jesus has stepped in.

‘…..but the gift of God is eternal life’

Romans 6:23

Jesus died in your place so that you could have a relationship with God forever.

‘God demonstrates his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.’

Romans 5:8

Jesus says ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

John 14:6

Jesus walked this earth and died on a cross for your sin. Yet he did not remain dead. He rose from the grave and is alive and well today.

STEP FOUR

Recognise that you can’t do this alone and that you cannot earn your own salvation. That it is by the grace of God and the forgiving sacrifice of Jesus that you can journey with God in a way that brings life, wholeness and peace.

So what do you need to do?

  • Recognise your need of God.
  • Realise your sin separates you from him.
  • Recognise that Jesus paid the punishment for your sin.
  • Realise that you need to turn away from your old ways.
  • Recognise that it is the condition of your heart that God is most interested in.
  • Realise that God has an amazing adventure planned as you journey with him.

Sometimes people find it hard to put this into words. Can I suggest praying this prayer:

‘Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong. I come to you seeking that you would forgive me as I step away from the things that are wrong and turn to face you. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sin. I thank you that by your Holy Spirit I am invited to journey with you. Please come and walk with me and fill me a fresh with the power of your Spirit. Thank you Jesus. Amen’

If you prayed this prayer we would love to connect with you and offer you some free resources to help you on your journey. Please get in touch with us and let’s celebrate the adventure together.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Forming new habits

Close-up of a stained glass dove symbol with white wings and colourful glass details, representing peace and the Holy Spirit

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text_size=”h1″ text_transform=”uppercase” text_space=”fontspace-210350″ uncode_shortcode_id=”490995″]Forming new habits[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”187320″]Research has shown that if you consistently do something for 40 days you are more likely to continue doing it. In other words you are beginning the nucleus of a new habit. Similar research shows that if you stop doing it for approx. 7 days then you are less likely to continue it.

We are entering into a new normal in culture and society. The old way of doing things is shifting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Old habits are dying, and we are forming new ones. Now is the time to make sure that we are forming good ones. Here in Derryvolgie we want to get to know Christ better and make Him better known. So the forming of good habits is essential.

Like most things in life there is cyclical pattern to our habits that goes something like this: we desire something, so we act on it hoping it leads to a reward. The difficultly is changing habits is that we often start in the wrong place.

For instance if you are trying to lose weight you immediately try to stop the reward – in my case eating chocolate. Yet what if I started to change things when the desires first start. So when I am craving the chocolate rather than concentrating on the reward what if I started to change the desire because often I eat chocolate out of boredom.

So what if I got up and went for a walk or had a conversation with my wife. The factor of boredom is shifted, and the desire now changes so consequently does my action, yet I still get a reward at the end. I have overcome my boredom. Now you may say this is too simplistic, it needs to be more elaborate. However just think about it for a moment, if each of your habits are undertaken to induce a reward then maybe we just need a different way of doing things.

The bible says in James chapter 1: ‘Then after desire has been conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fullgrown gives birth to death.’ What does this mean? Simply put I think it means that when you sow a thought you reap and action, when you sow and action you reap a habit, when you sow a habit you reap a lifestyle. In other words the outcome of our lives (life or death) starts with our thought process which is where we begin our habits. That chapter in the bile goes on to say: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ So if we want to form good habits we need to start by focussing our mind on the good things of God.

Creating good habits in our new normal. So the new cyclical pattern is a desire (being close to God), an action (setting time aside) and a reward (knowing he is with you). Set aside some time each day to focus on God. Reading his word, listening to the recordings of our services or singing along with our Spotify worship list. (all these resources can be found on https://www.derryvolgie.com)

There is a wealth of materials online to help you grow in your relationship with God – please make sure that you are sourcing them from websites that are consistent with what it is that we believe as a parish. I have listed some of these resources below. Of course there are others you can buy in hardcopy as well.

Let’s start forming good habits.

https://www.derryvolgie.com
https://www.downanddromore.org/news/2020/04/join-us-for-daily-easter-devotions
https://biblesocietyni.co.uk/resources/story-watch-read-reflect/
https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today/48793
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