12th December 2021
By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 12 December 2021
Hello again everyone,
Once again as Christmas approaches we are entering a season of uncertainty over Covid, this year because of the Omicron variant. I have asked if PCC members who are in church tomorrow morning could meet for a short time after the service to discuss the implications of this, particularly for our Christmas services (see below). If you have any comments about this please do let me know.
For the moment the only change in the rules is that face coverings are now mandatory again in church, except for those with medical exemptions, and for people who are speaking or leading sung worship. This should not affect us too much as we have encouraged mask wearing for the last few months.
Above all, please pray for us and all churches that we make wise decisions to enable people to celebrate Christmas safely and well.
One other matter for prayer is that Elaine Bavin’s father died on Wednesday, so please uphold Elaine, as well as David and James, and all Elaine’s wider family in prayer.
SUNDAY SERVICE
This week we have a service of Holy Communion and you are welcome to join us in church for this at 10.30 or watch the online version via the youtube link below. I should warn you that I am sending this message out before I have finished editing the films, so don’t rush to watch immediately as most of the service won’t be there! There is also the usual PDF version of the service attached (which is all complete). If you are worshipping at home do make sure you have some bread and wine or fruit juice so you can join in Communion.
HOPE INTO ACTION
We have our regular Prayer Meeting at 6pm on Sunday evening and I look forward to seeing as many people as possible there.
FOOD BANK
First of all a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Food Bank during this year. Food Bank have given me an updated list of items needed, and not needed. Having said that they were so busy last Wednesday morning that the cupboard here at St Columba’s is almost bare! This will be re-stocked ready for next Wednesday, the last Food Bank session here before Christmas, but if you are able to bring in any of the following at any time they will be very useful: tinned fish, tinned fruit, coffee, long life juice. squash, UHT milk, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, baby wipes.Items that they have plenty of include: cereal, soup, beans, pasta sauce, pasta, tinned vegetables,
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Assuming we do not cancel any of our services because of Covid, in which case I will advise you by email, we are planning the following:
Thursday 16th at 6pm COMMUNITY CAROLS with choirs from Rockingham Primary School and Lodge Park Academy.
Sunday 19th at 10.30am NATIVITY with our children and young people performing and at 5pm CAROL SERVICE a traditional candlelit service
Christmas Eve 4.30pm CHRISTINGLE with a collection for the Children’s Society, 11.15pm MIDNIGHT COMMUNION
Christmas Day 10am ALL AGE COMMUNION
Sunday 26th 10.30am COMMUNION & CAROLS
May God bless you and watch over you in this coming week.
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609