22nd February 2026
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 27 February 2026
Hello everyone,
I have been feeling under the weather all week, which does mean I have watched far more Curling at the Winter Olympics than is good for me. I will not be at St Columba’s tomorrow, not because of my health (or the Curling) but because I am taking a Communion service at Lowick for a colleague. It was good to celebrate Ash Wednesday together last week and as we move to the first Sunday of Lent, and thoughts about the temptations of Jesus, it is not too late to think about how you might observe this special season in the church year. You may like to think about something to give up and something to take on, although if, like me, you have fallen victim to the Curling, I don’t think giving that up after tonight will have any spiritual benefit! However, if you give up watching a regular TV programme for example, and spend the time praying, reading the Bible, studying a Christian book, or joining Discipleship Explored that will bring blessing. If you would like to borrow a book from the back of church please do so – those books are there to be read, and that means they need to be borrowed!
Work will begin on the Church Improvement Project in the next month or so. This means that our PRAYER and GIFT DAY will come at just the right time to enable the work to be completed. This will take place on Saturday 21st March and there will be more details about this in the coming weeks, but for now can I ask that you all mark out that day in your calendar and plan to spend at least some of the time between 9am and 3pm in church. If you are thinking of making a donation to the Church Improvement Project it may be better to wait until all the publicity about the Gift Day is available. In the meantime please do pray for the Project and ask the Lord to guide you about your response to the Gift Day.
Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:
Sunday 22nd February
9am – Holy Communion at St Leonard’s, Rockingham
10.30am – Morning Worship at St Columba’s – This service for the first Sunday of Lent will include a sermon from Linda looking at Jesus’ temptations and there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. If you are not able to be in church you can watch the service on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/dkRZ1XBkySc?feature=share
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.
DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
After the Ash Wednesday services last week the Discipleship Explored course resumes with the usual format this week with meetings on Wednesday 25th February at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from session three, and any questions people have and were not able to ask after last week’s talk, before watching the next video and discussing questions in small groups. Don’t worry if you have not been before, everyone is welcome and each session stands alone. If you are looking for something to “take up” during Lent, perhaps this is the answer.
Sunday 1st March
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – this service will include ENERGIZE groups for children and young people age 3-16 and will be available on YouTube – see next week’s email for details.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.
CHARITY OF THE WEEK: ENVISION PROJECT, CORBY
Please pray this week for The Envision Project, working here in Corby to provide medium term accommodation for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping. The Project aims to address barriers to long term housing and move residents into what they hope is their ‘forever’ home.
While staying with the Project individuals receive support tailored to their unique needs provided by staff and volunteers who help with:
• Managing debt and budgeting
• Accessing training, education, or employment opportunities
• Navigating the homelessness application and housing pathway
• Addressing physical and mental health concerns
• Developing everyday life skills like cooking, cleaning, and paying bills
• Connecting with addiction recovery networks and services
• Finding and furnishing suitable accommodation
Even after someone leaves their accommodation they continue to offer support to help their former residents maintain their new accommodation. The aim is to ensure that individuals not only find a place to live but are able to keep it, thrive in it, and feel secure in their future.
God bless you,
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609