If you wish to contact any of the leaders of the organisations please do so through the Church office (please see 'About Us')
Youth Groups
(Safeguarding Trust Panel - The Church has a duty to promote the well-being of our children, to set standards for their welfare and to protect them from harm. It also has a duty to support, encourage and protect its staff and helpers who have any access to children. In line with Church policy, a Safeguarding Trust Panel exists within our church to monitor, evaluate and advise on all aspects of youth work going on within our parish. Its responsibilities are: to interview and check on anyone working or wishing to work with young people in our Parish; to advise workers and the rector and select vestry on their responsibilities in respect of the Church's Code of Behaviour concerning our children and young people; and to be an immediate contact point for any child or worker when a suspicion or allegation of child abuse is made. )
    
For pre-school children - held on Tuesday mornings in Kelly Memorial Hall during term time, 10am-12 midday. Mothers and fathers, childminders and grandparents welcome, as are all denominations. There is free-play time (climbing frame, slides, cars and trikes, toys for all preschool ages, a play kitchen and builders bench, dressing up box, books), followed by juice and biscuits (tea/coffee for the adults) and then singing/musical instrument time. At Christmas, Easter and the end of the year (June) we hold a party for the children. To help pay for this, other treats and the general running of the group, we hold a raffle each Christmas to help raise funds and are supported in this by local businesses as well as the Parish.
Sunday School runs from September until the following June and accepts children from the age of 4 years old. Enrolment for Sunday School takes place each September - in 2006/2007 there were 75 children enolled, an increase of 15% from 2005/2006. The Junior and Senior classes meet in the Parochial Rooms - the time depends on the service (see 'Worship' for further details). Bible Class meets each Sunday at 10 am. The majority of children are regular attendees and actively participate in the monthly Family Service in church, as readers and by leading prayers and lifting the collection. At the end of each year, prior to the annual Children's Day and prizegiving, an outing is held. In 2006, as part of the children's participation in the Christmas celebrations, a new service was held - that of Christingle - which is now a regular event.
The Youth Club Meets on a Wednesday night from 7pm until 9pm, September until April, in the Kelly Hall. Club membership is open to all in the area aged 5 years and over. In the 2008/2009 year we have 60 children registered. We have 7 adult leaders and this year we welcome our 2 new junior leaders, Holly Haslam and Coln McKeown. Holly and Colin have successfully completed their ONC in Youth Leadership. They worked for thier certificates through our Youth Club and the NEELB. We aim to provide a safe and secure environment for structured play and social interaction. Regular activities include football, badminton, basketball, table tennis, arts and crafts, dance fitness, film nights, disco nights and many more. Our annual Christmas outing to Ballymena for ten pin bowling and eats at MacDonalds is always popular. In addition to Youth Club activities, for the past 4 years Youth Club Leaders have also organised a Summer Concert to raise money for our Parish funds.
- Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade - Contacts:CLB - Michael Warnock; CGB - Emma McIntyre
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Both the CLB and the CGB meet in the Kelly Memorial Hall from September until May. The CLB meets on Friday nights and the CGB on Monday nights: the Martins (4-7 years old) and Y Team (7-10 years old) between 6.15 and 7.30 pm; JTC (10-13 years old) and Senior Corp (13 - 21 years old) between7.30 and 9 pm. The members of each work towards various Activity Badges that are presented on respective Dispaly Nights, when poems, dance and routines learned throught the year are also performed. There are also Battalion and Regimental sports events and competitions and church services to attend. While work is hard, there is also fun to be had, not least with the annual weekend's camping in Tullmore Forest for the over 10s.
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- Youth Praise Group - Contact: Church Office
The Youth Praise Group meet for rehearshal in the Parochial Rooms, the time and day depend on when they have a service to prepare for (occasionally other groups, with prior claim, also use the Rooms - the YPG then meets in the nearby Choir Robing Room). This is an effort to try to integrate the young people of the church (of secondary school age) in a more proactive way, participating regularly in Church worship by leading the musical element, with a more contemporary approach. It is open to any one who can play a musical instrument or sing. The regular participation in church services is much appreciated and commended.
- SURF - Contact: Claire McDowell
This is a relatively new youth fellowship venture which started in October 2006, and now meets every Sunday night in the Parochial Rooms from 7pm - 8pm, during term time. It is for those of secondary school age. There is a rota of church members who both oversee and participate in the Sunday night activities. The aim is to have a good mix between games/fun and relevant topics for discussion - the importance of friends, possessions, prayer, where one's life is going - allowing time for reflection on issues that our young people are faced with and providing a safe environment for them to explore them in. Fun nights are planned throughout the year - so far we have had a chocolate fountain party, sumo wrestling, a pancake party and a treasure hunt around the town, followed by pizza and chips, where we were joined by the youth groups of Agherton and Castlerock parishes.
     
Adult Groups
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The Choir meets for rehearsal each Wednesday between 7 and 8pm (ish) in the choir robing room, located down the left hand side of the church, under the guidance of organist Mrs Sylvia Clarke. Choir attends service on Sundays at 11.00am and 6.30pm. New voices are always welcome. |
| The Ballywillan branch of the Church of Ireland Men's Society meets in the Parochial Rooms on the 3rd Thursday of each month, from September until May, at 7.30pm. We have a variety of guest speakers each year and also a number of outings - boat trip, cricket match, golf match etc - on occasion we join with (or against!) the members of other parishes. There is also an Annual Dinner around January. Whatever the occasion, fun and good companionship is the order of the day. The Society is also actively involved in fundraising for those less fortunate and contributes to the Barnabas Trust Fund as well as the Church. Each year a St Patrick's Night Quiz is held, supper being provided by The Mothers' Union. We welcome membership from all walks of the community, in the certainty that they will find the £10 membership fee as money well spent. |
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Holy Trinity Mothers' Union meets on the first Thursday of each month, from September until Easter, at 7.30 pm in the Parochial Rooms. As well as guest speakers, there are various outings. We also have an annual dinner and a Visitor's Night, welcoming members from neighbouring churches The members are also involved in a number of community projects - knitting coats and shawls for the neo-natal unit, filling sponge bags for emergency admissions to Causeway Hospital, hosting fundraising coffee mornings. Over the years the branch has contributed to the maintenance of the church and plans are currently well advanced to install a stained glass window in the north aisle of the church to celebrate the brance's centenary. Each year, alongside its motto of "Christian Care for Families Worldwide", the Mothers' Union has a theme - for 2007/2008 this is 'Faith in Action', which guides us in the programme for the year. Membership is open to all, married or single and, in a change from its inception in 1905, female or male. We are still awaiting our first male member but join with the Men's Society in hosting the Annual St Patrick's Night Quiz. Finally, the Mothers' Union exists to help and support no matter what the circumstances. |
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The Ladies' Badminton Club meets every Thursday, from September until Easter, in the Kelly Memorial Hall between10.30 am and 12.00 md. This is essentially an enjoyable gathering centred around badminton, with fun on and off the court. There is no participation on the competitive circuit and there is no necessity to play badminton well - just to enjoy it. There are 20 members at present and more are welcome - membership is open to all ladies, irrespective of church membership. |
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The Bowling Club meets in the Kelly Memorial Hall, from September until Easter, on Tuesdays between 7pm and 10pm and on Thursdays between 2pm and 4.30pm. This is for indoor bowls only and the club plays in the Coleraine District League. Membership is open to all, including non-parishioners.
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BDG meetings are dependent upon the current production. Productions each year include a play for the Portrush Summer Theatre Season in Portrush Town Hall and the annual musical in the Riverside Theatre in January - it is also hoped to revive the annual Pantomime production again. Membership at present exceeds 130 - probably the largest parish group. Whilst retaining a firm link with Holy Trinity Church, the group welcomes all members of our very integrated society to be involved - on stage, back stage, front of house etc. - whatever your talents, there is a place waiting....for eveyone. Visit www.ballywillan.com |
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