Who are we?
We are a Presbyterian congregation aiming to share God’s love with gentleness and respect in the Lylehill area, near Templepatrick. We’re a smaller congregation, but this means we know each other and always know when there’s a visitor so that they can get a warm welcome. We have found blessing in being a smaller congregation in that we have a strong sense of family and community. We strive to encourage each other in our faith and share in with the witness of our lives and words.
We are linked with another congregation, Hyde Park Presbyterian, just a few miles away in Mallusk. This means that we share a minister, evening services, and other occasional events. As Presbyterians we are also part of Templepatrick Presbytery, meaning that we help and enjoy the assistance of other local congregations. We are also mindful of the catholicity of the church – meaning that there is but one church in the world, of which Presbyterians are just one part.
Lylehill Presbyterian Church is a registered charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105008)
Organisations
Sunday youth
Children and young people are important members of God’s kingdom and our church family. On a Sunday morning they worship with us, as part of the church family, for the first 15–20 minutes of the service, which often includes specific teaching for the children. Unless it is a family service, the children then go out for age-specific activities.
Our Sunday school is known as JAM – Jesus and Me – because our aim is to introduce children to our amazing saviour, Jesus Christ. We also run a creche for very young children.
On Sunday evenings, once a month, we run a youth fellowship group for teenagers, which builds friendship through games and activities, and builds faith through Bible study and discussion.
Mid-week youth
During the week we have two youth organisations, the Boy’s Brigade and the Girls Brigade.
Neither are over-crowded, so the leaders all know the young people well and the young people themselves are good at looking out for one another. Our organisations teach young people about Jesus, develop character, provide them with helpful life skills, and build up friendships that we hope will last a life-time. We have been developing stronger links between the organisations and general church life in recent years and enjoy the participation of many of the young people in church services.
BB meets on a Thursday evening. The Company Captain is Uel Jamison.
GB meets on a Friday evening. The Company Captain is Heather Lindsey.
Mid-week
There are also a number of organisations aimed at adults which meet during the week.
Mid-week Bible studies run several times a year, typically for about 6 weeks at a time. Some meet in the church, others in homes. We read the Bible, discuss what it means and how it applied to our lives today, and share prayer requests. You’re very welcome to take part as fully as you wish, or simply listen to the conversation and learn from others. Through this we all hope to grow in faith together, getting to know God better, becoming more confident of his love for us in Christ Jesus, and learning how to live for him.
PW (Presbyterian Women) meets on Monday evenings on a monthly basis six or seven times a year. The ladies are very welcoming and enjoy deepening old friendships or developing new ones. About three times a year there are visiting speakers who talk about mission, charity work, faith, or practical skills like arts and crafts.
Men’s Fellowship meets as and when events are organised and aims to develop friendships among men while occasionally sharing some of what Jesus says to men. Events have included walks, breakfasts and tours of historic sites.