23rd February 2025
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 1 March 2025
Dear St Columba’s Church Family,
I have been made aware of the extent of our church family over the last week with messages coming in from former vicars and others following the news of Steve’s passing to the glory of heaven. I am pleased to say that Michael and Judy Eden will be with us on Monday, while Roger and Alison Morgan and Rod and Glenda Lee would very much like to have been here but send their apologies. I mentioned last week that with no living relatives it would be wonderful if the church could be filled with Steve’s church family on Monday to celebrate his life. All the details are below, including a livestream link because a couple of people have mentioned that they are unable to be there – please don’t muddle the two livestream links in this email.
Celebration of Steve Scholes’ Life – Monday 24th February at 1pm in church.
Steve asked that his funeral should be “a joyous affair” and with that in mind Sue has asked that people do not wear black. The service will be followed by refreshments in the Church Hall, to which everyone is welcome, and which will not only give people an opportunity to support Sue but also to meet some of those old friends of St Columba’s who will be here. Do feel free to join the refreshments even if you can’t be in church. The livestream link for this service is: https://youtube.com/live/Ui2T9K3LnKA?feature=share
SUNDAY SERVICES
On Sunday there will be a service of HOLY COMMUNION at 9am in St Leonard’s, Rockingham and at 10.30am MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people who will be preparing for our All Age Service on 2nd March. This service will also be available as a livestream via this link: https://youtube.com/live/2RKxMdJFlvg?feature=share
In the evening at 6pm we have the PRAYER MEETING in St Columba’s.
ELECTORAL ROLL
This is the last opportunity to join the new Church Electoral Roll (our membership list) before the Annual Meting in March because we have to publish the new Electoral Roll for two weeks before the meeting. It is possible to join later, but we would like to have everyone included now if possible. There are forms in church and we do ask you to complete these and hand them in before you leave. However for anyone who has not been in church over the last few weeks here is a form that can either be completed electronically and emailed back to me ianpullinger@btinternet.com or printed at home and delivered to church or the Vicarage BEFORE the end of February. Any questions about this please email ianpullinger@btinternet.com.
ST COLUMBA’S ANNUAL MEETINGS and LUNCH
As mentioned above our Annual Meetings are next month, actually on Sunday 16th March after the 10.30am service. We will meet in the Church Hall and after the meeting continue to enjoy time together with a hot lunch. There will be a sign up sheet in church for the lunch, and while everyone is welcome to the Meetings, you do need to be on the Electoral Roll to have a vote (see above).
NEXT SUNDAY
On Sunday 2nd March we have two services at St Columba’s as follows:
10.30am ALL AGE WORSHIP with lots of contributions form our younger members
and at 5pm HOLY COMMUNION which means there won’t be a Prayer Meeting next Sunday.
LENT 2025
Lent begins in a week and a half and we have two Holy Communion services on Ash Wednesday (5th March) at 10.30am and 7.30pm,
We will then have Lent Groups meeting at those times on Wednesdays 12th, 19th, 26th March and 2nd April when we will be watching a video by Jeff Lucas “There are no strong people” based on the story of Samson. Everyone is welcome to these groups, which we hope will lead to further Fellowship Groups gathering after Easter.
CHARITY OF THE WEEK – H&M with CMS
Many of you will remember the visit of H&M and their children a couple of years ago. Because of their location I am not able to include any details in this email, or attach their latest Prayer Letter. However the Prayer Letter is available in church, both to read, or to take a copy of, but please do not put any details on social media or online.
SPRING HARVEST 2025
There will be a meeting for those going to Spring Harvest this year on THURSDAY 20th MARCH at 7.30pm in church. Please try to be there as we prepare for our time away. If anyone is thinking of going out for a day, or two and staying off site, please come along as there will be useful information for you as well.
GATHER 25 LIVE
Gather25 is an unprecedented 25-hour global broadcast event telling the inspiring stories of the global Church, by the global Church. It is happening next Saturday, 1st March 2025. The aim is to spend time sharing stories of what God is doing across the world, worshipping and praying together, as well as reminding us that we are part of a global church family.
Gather25 starts at 1am UK time on Saturday 1st March and continues for 25 hours until 2am on Sunday 2nd March. From 5pm-9.30pm the live broadcast is from Hackney Church in London. Find out more and go online to watch at gather25.com
Every blessing to you all.
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609