The aim of this newsletter is to be a conversation starter about hope, the facts of the current situation, and how we can create a movement that will strengthen families, support mental health, celebrate art, enjoy good craic, and live a full life as God intends – Rev Eben
Practicing gratitude as an antidote to busyness
As I sit in the study of the rectory in Killyleagh, it is not difficult to be filled with a sense of awe as I look over the drumlins and onto Strangford lough. As I take in the landscape, I remind myself not to become so familiar with it that I overlook the beauty on my doorstep. Each gaze fills me with gratitude for being here.
After about ten months now, I can say that people exhibit similar traits across the world. Instead of having our unique attributes diminished, however, it is reassuring that others have walked a path that we may now experience as challenging, but that they have come out the other side with more wisdom and better values. Ultimately, this should inspire us with an ‘eschatological hope’ – a hope that things, bleak as they may seem now, will turn out well as we put our trust in Jesus. His redeeming love and renewal power remain Good News to the world. As we live in times where anxiety is arguably more prevalent than in preceding generations, gratitude can help us slow down and enable such hope. This hope is the realism that we need to check ourselves with.
Visioning process
In the 35 plus sermons that I have preached in Killyleagh so far, I have been deliberate in setting out a vision, a hope that God can revive our parish. As strange as it may seem to our current lifestyles and thinking, we must align ourselves with God’s vision, and what He is doing in the world. God is compassionate and gentle, and whatever changes that happen, they occur through deep relational trust. God longs for our hearts, and the revival of our parish is dependent on our primary calling to be in relationship with God. Transformation is the natural flow of love and relationship.
Our Lent course and summer Bible reading challenge both focused on the Gospel of St John the evangelist. The intention of studying John’s gospel is to revive our identity and heritage as a parish that is evangelistic and embracing of the community. Like the Beloved Disciple, our spiritual journey should lead us to such proximity of Jesus that we hear his heartbeat for a hurting world, and being transformed by that experience, tell the world of a love that is pure, holy and life changing.

Rejuvenation process
Killyleagh Parish is one of about 10 parishes in the Diocese of Down and Dromore that has been identified as needing to be rejuvenated. We do not meet the standards of what is considered a sustainable parish. Our income and attendance are below the required threshold. We also do not have ministries in place to adequately serve our community, like Sunday school, support groups, and lay ministers/readers. The situation is made worse by not having necessary funds to undertake major maintenance projects, such as replacing the deteriorating church roof.
Yet there is hope! The parish leadership is working hard raising funds and reaching out to the community to sustain Killyleagh Parish as a place of worship in the town. Many thanks have to be awarded them for their efforts organising quizzes, community meals, and special events. The Select Vestry has adopted a 5-year rejuvenation strategy based on a survey done in the second quarter of the year. The statistics indicate that less than 25% of the parish is younger than 45. The parish is fortunate to have a membership of stable middle-aged families between the ages of 46 and 75 (65%), but we would like to make worship more appealing to younger families, address their needs, and minister to an upcoming generation.
It is apparent that the parish is open to adapting services and programmes to welcome new people, with 65% saying that they would embrace both contemporary and traditional worship styles, along with more than half of the survey participants desiring methods of making worship accessible to all, whether it be by using digital screens, booklets, or guides. When asked if the parish should adopt new forms of worship 76% said yes. The parish has a desire of wanting to see the community served.



The important thing is to not leave anyone behind, but to make the parish a flexible space where we can worship in the cultural forms that best connect us to God. Global trends demonstrate that to sustain infrastructure, church buildings and cathedrals are being revived to their medieval purposes of being centres for community gatherings. Moreover, spirituality is becoming richer in worshipping God. We see in Revelations 7:9 where St John the Evangelist writes, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” This is the vision of heaven, and this is our future, the church in all its diversity worshipping together. Killyleagh Parish has its second foreign minister, and so I believe, it aims to live up to this vision.
The Rejuvenation plan
When celebrating St Patrick’s Day this year by reenacting lighting the Easter flame on the hill of Slane, forbidden and counter cultural as it was at the time, it similarly is a prophetic witness of hope in our time. A hope that is defiant and brave.
The plan that will be gradually implemented in Killyleagh parish requires that we restart multiple ministries, in short succession of each other. It starts by getting people through the doors of the church and making them feel welcome. We must offer them not just a once-off experience, but a way of life, a community where children can be taught good values and enjoy learning about Jesus. Far from just being used for an hour or two per week for services, church should be a place to connect with others and be supported, and ultimately where people can be given hope and an opportunity to express that hope through words and acts of kindness.
Church doesn’t only happen on a Sunday, but throughout the week as people come together to aid each other in their intentional development as individuals with something to give and talents to share.
Getting involved
So how can you get involved to help rejuvenate Killyleagh Parish?
We must pray more. By that I mean taking our holistic values and spirituality seriously by developing a vibrant, intentional, goal orientated relationship with God. With this foundation laid, we should seek opportunities and ways to grow our knowledge of God. Primarily this happens by reading the Bible, the recorded text and guide of God’s revelation. Church revolves a lot around making sense of the vast revelation and love of God, and how that empowers our sense of Self. God has implanted into every person a set of desires and attributes that are often misled, until they are channelled, and redeemed to serve God. As this happens, we better perceive our purpose on this planet, and how to find ultimate meaning of our interests.
My appeal is this:
- If you have a family and want your children to be taught good principles, why not volunteer as a Sunday School teacher?
- If you like music, sing well and/or play an instrument, please join the band.
- If you like art, why not help create a space where art can be exhibited that connects people to a deeper meaning of life?
- If you enjoy social media, become a content creator for the parish #myparish #upthehill
- If you are good at hosting, join the hospitality team.
- Consider helping with maintenance or cleaning of the church.
- If you have a passion for community outreach, consider helping to establish a men’s shed or community garden in Killyleagh.
- If you recognise a need to empower women, start a women’s club.
- If you like walking, join and lead a parish walking and support group.
- If you are good at writing and administration, help write grant applications for us.
- If you are interested in mental health issues, help others and be helped.
- If you wish to support the church financially, give towards making the vision a reality of serving the community.
- Everyone has at least some free time; being intentional with your time will affect how meaningful and life-giving your day will be.
The diocese offers Bible and training courses that complement the parish’s own programmes like the Alpha course, especially for those interested serving people pastorally as part of a ministry team.

Over the weekend 21-23 June this year, Jana Walsh and I did the 4-Peak Challenge, climbing the four highest mountains in the UK. The four peaks became symbols of areas in the rejuvenation strategy, which we titled ‘Vision 2025’:
- Renewing our faith and commitment through our spiritual discipleship.
- Reviving Christ-centred ministries.
- Reimagining church to be accessible to all, in the building and in our worship.
- Reshaping our world.
These four areas are like mountains to be conquered. With adequate preparation and resources, it can be achieved. We completed the 4-Peak Challenge in just three days (climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, and Slieve Donard through snow, rain, darkness, sunshine, pain, exhaustion, and hallucinations). The community contributed generously to the rejuvenation vision along with way, raising over £4500, almost matching a £5000 rejuvenation grant the parish received.
‘Vision 2025’ is about having the future in mind. Reflecting on the parish’s values that has enabled it to exist for 385 years and adapt successfully to changes in society. The church has been standing on top of the hill overlooking Killyleagh and Strangford lough as an enduring landmark of worship and vision beyond this time and world.
‘Vision 2025’ is about celebrating and reaffirming St John’s prominence in the community, not just as a building, but where people can connect with each other, worship together, and find the answers to life’s meaning.
‘Vision 2025’ is about seeing the lay of the land from a high vantage point, determining where we are going, and plotting a course of action so that the future can be reached with confidence. As we get to the top of the 4 peaks of ‘Vision 2025’, we will ensure that a 5th peak, the hill on which St John’s stands will be reached by multiple generations, now and in the distant future.
Looking to the future
We are already reaching out to young families. Our summer scheme this year hosted 50 local children for a week. They learnt songs, Bible stories, and had opportunity to interact with new friends through educational games on the theme of ‘Running the Race.’ The lesson is to be faithful, with the expectation of receiving the accumulative benefits of good relationships and values. As a church we want to see people formed into a healthy community, not just for society’s sake, but so they develop a faith that is the source of meaning.
The success of the summer scheme and family service that attracted over 150 people to church, resulted in our weekly youth club now having about 70 registered children. During the Christmas season, we are planning to take them to see a pantomime. Our aim is to continue contributing to the wellbeing of our community in this way.
At present, and as we look to the future, I see a church community standing on top of the hill with outstretched arms, ready to embrace the people of Killyleagh with care, love and support – a church where there is an abundant supply of joy and a sense of community. For that we need your help, your skills, and your way of thinking. Become part of a vision that celebrates our amazing heritage, and that will ensure we keep with the times, reaching a new generation of spiritual seekers. The task ahead of us is organisationally challenging, but we are doing it with and for God, as we sense him leading us in renewed areas of meaning for our time.

Upcoming events:
‘Alpha’ course every Tuesday evening at 8pm
8 Nov – Parish quiz night at yacht club
10 Nov – Remembrance Sunday
16 Nov – Killyleagh Community Day of Prayer in Bridge Centre
17 Nov – Service of recognition for long standing parishioners
30 Nov – Wreath making workshop
7 Dec – Christmas music festival
22 Dec – Youth nativity play in the morning, and carol service in the evening
24 Dec –Christmas Eve service
25 Dec – Christmas Day
Baptisms:
Feb – Jessica Marr
April – Kobe Cochraine
May – Eve Marie Bell
May – Hudson Barry Hall
July – Ava Fitzsimons
September – Mia Clarke
September – Porche Irwin
Deaths:
Feb – John Cheevers
March – Harry Briggs
April – Vicky Nash
July – Betty Greene
October – Frances Cheivers
Weddings:
June – David Shepherd and Cheryl Greeves

