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What is 'Sitting Ducks'? 13.02.08 // Comment

Sitting Ducks is a programme that helps leaders and volunteers to create a space in their own parish context for the faith development of young people. We have loads of groups across the Diocese and would love you to get involved. Sitting Ducks is full of games and creative ways for young people to experience God. This can be done through either relevant faith based materials in the fortnightly groups or speakers in which are brought in for our weekends and big events throughout the year.

If you would like more information about Sitting Ducks, would like to locate your nearest group, or even become a leader, or start a group of your own, please contact the youth office by using the details to the left.

Groups that are in operation or in the starting process at the moment are:

Glendermott | Limavady | Claudy | Dunfanaghy | Stranorlar | Eglinton | Omagh | Aghadowey and Kilrea
St.Augustines, Derry | Kilowen | Maghera | Dungiven | Garvagh | Derry

How did 'Sitting Ducks' get it's name? 13.02.08 // Comment

Sitting Ducks is one of those names where God was the only one who knew what he was doing. In 2003/04 The DRY team new there was a need in the diocese for a new fresh type of faith based youth group that helped young people express themselves but also fed their spiritual needs through fun and laughter. As we had tried many ideas, to little avail, we found ourselves looking for a name. We knew we wanted to started in the city of Derry so we prayed and turned to the bible to find a name. One of us got version of hte bible called 'The Message' and flicked through it and the other shouted stop and where ever the finger landed of the person flicking through it landed woudl be the name of the groups. NOW THIS IS THE TRUTH AND YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT IF YOU WANT, it landed on the phrase 'Sitting Ducks'. The passage is below, check it out, courtesy of biblegateway.com -

2nd Chronicles, Chapter 32 verses 9-23

"Later on, Sennacherib, who had set up camp a few miles away at Lachish, sent messengers to Jerusalem, addressing Judah through Hezekiah: "A proclamation of Sennacherib king of Assyria: You poor people - do you think you're safe in that so-called fortress of Jerusalem?
YOU'RE SITTING DUCKS. Do you think Hezekiah will save you? Don't be stupid - Hezekiah has fed you a pack of lies. When he says, 'God will save us from the power of the king of Assyria,' he's lying - you're all going to end up dead. Wasn't it Hezekiah who cleared out all the neighborhood worship shrines and told you, 'There is only one legitimate place to worship'? Do you have any idea what I and my ancestors have done to all the countries around here? Has there been a single god anywhere strong enough to stand up against me? Can you name one god among all the nations that either I or my ancestors have ravaged that so much as lifted a finger against me? So what makes you think you'll make out any better with your god? Don't let Hezekiah fool you; don't let him get by with his barefaced lies; don't trust him. No god of any country or kingdom ever has been one bit of help against me or my ancestors - what kind of odds does that give your god?" The messengers felt free to throw in their personal comments, putting down both God and God's servant Hezekiah. Sennacherib continued to send letters insulting the God of Israel: "The gods of the nations were powerless to help their people; the god of Hezekiah is no better, probably worse." The messengers would come up to the wall of Jerusalem and shout up to the people standing on the wall, shouting their propaganda in Hebrew, trying to scare them into demoralized submission. They contemptuously lumped the God of Jerusalem in with the handmade gods of other peoples. King Hezekiah, joined by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, responded by praying, calling up to heaven. God answered by sending an angel who wiped out everyone in the Assyrian camp, both warriors and officers. Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, tail between his legs. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him. God saved Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from Sennacherib king of Assyria and everyone else. And he continued to take good care of them. People streamed into Jerusalem bringing offerings for the worship of God and expensive presents to Hezekiah king of Judah. All the surrounding nations were impressed - Hezekiah's stock soared."