9th August 2026
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 15 August 2026
Hello everyone,
I have two prayer requests to begin with, for John Lynch and Rosie Hughes. John had an accident on Monday and has a fracture in his spine, he is now able to sit up but still needs our prayers for healing and relief from pain. Rosie had a suspected TIA (mini stroke) on Tuesday although the doctors now think it was not this and will be conducting more tests. Rosie is at home so please pray that she stays well and that a clear diagnosis can be reached, and that she is completely healed.
On a happier note can I thank everyone who helped with the Family Fun Day last Saturday, which includes both John and Rosie who were busy in the kitchen. I understand it was a great success with about 100 people attending and one mum contacting me to say “Thank you for putting on the amazing fun day today, all the kiddies had fun”.
The below includes details of all the events coming up over the next few weeks, including our Sunday services, Afternoon Tea, Quiz Night and details of our I Will Hear Clearly Then Appeal and Charity of the Week.
Do keep reading for details about all of these exciting happenings.
SUNDAY 9th AUGUST
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with a sermon looking at Psalm 139. There will be children’s activities at the back of church, but children will need to be supervised by parents. We hope to be able to livestream this service, if so it will be available on YouTube via this link:
https://youtu.be/3BdFyAMVATw
LADIES AFTERNOON TEA
The next Afternoon Tea is on Friday 14th August at 3pm in the Church Hall. All ladies are welcome for tea and coffee, sandwiches, scones and cakes, along with good conversation.
SUNDAY 16th AUGUST
10.30am Holy Communion at St Columba’s with a sermon looking at Psalm 103.
I WILL HEAR CLEARLY THEN APPEAL
Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the I WILL HEAR CLEARLY THEN appeal to enable everyone in church, including those watching online and the Worship Group, to hear clearly. It is not too late if you would like to donate, either by cash or cheque in the wooden box at the back of church, or on the Card Reader (please ask Justin or myself to switch to the appeal from General Funds) or direct to the bank account using the reference: HEARING APPEAL. If you can GIFT AID your donation, making it worth 25% more, please use the Gift Aid declaration by the wooden box, or simply email ianpullinger@btinternet.com and we can arrange the paperwork. If the appeal raises more money than we need for the sound system we will use the extra towards the cost of replacing the church heating. THANK YOU.
QUIZ NIGHT
The next St Columba’s Quiz will be on Saturday 19th September at 7pm in the Church Hall. Please do book the date, invite your friends, especially those who might be able to help you answer quiz questions, and come along.
CHARITY OF THE WEEK: Samaritans Purse
We usually think of Samaritan’s Purse in the weeks before Christmas as we pack shoeboxes, so this is a reminder, first of all, to be looking out for items to go in a shoebox. Second the work of Samaritan’s Purse goes on all year round and I was recently sent a copy of their Impact Review for 2025 which said that after the hurricane in Jamaica they produced over a million litres of clean water, in Gaza they delivered over 200 tonnes of emergency food, in Myanmar they treated over 5,800 patients after another earthquake, in Ukraine they have repaired over 4,000 homes for families affected by the war, in Ethiopia they helped thousands with the installation of safe sanitation facilities, in Mongolia they have given 1,600 children life saving heart surgery, in Liberia more than 8,300 people have received cataract surgery from them, in Sudan 9,149 people received care at their emergency field hospital as well as the distribution of 11.9 million shoeboxes in over 100 countries and helping 5.5 million children participate in The Greatest Journey to deepen children’s understanding of the gospel and grow as followers of Jesus. Please give thanks and pray for all this work.
God bless you all,
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609