26th October 2025
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 30 October 2025
Hello everyone,
There are three important notices this week, the first two do rather fall into the Good News and Bad News categories, the third is exciting and important:
1. The CLOCKS GO BACK on Sunday – so you have an extra hour in bed! That’s the Good News.
2. The Bad News is that there is a gas leak in church which means the supply has been disconnected so there is NO HEATING in CHURCH. Please therefore wrap up warm on Sunday!
3. PRAYER TRIPLETS
We have been thinking about how we can better provide Pastoral Care to members of the church family, especially now there are not many homegroups which have provided a first point of contact for those who are members.
One idea is to encourage everyone in the church family to join a PRAYER TRIPLET, that is a group of between 2 and 4 members, that meets, either in person or online, as frequently as the group decide, but who will be able to mutually support one another. When there is a need for increased support anyone can contact one of the Prayer Network Co-ordinators who will be able to mobilise prayer or practical help as necessary.
As a first step we are going to have a sign up sheet, on which people can indicate they would like to be in a PRAYER TRIPLET and if they know the people they would like to be with (some are already in such groups so it will just be those names) OR you can say you would like to be in a Triplet with others and ask to be linked up.
Linda mentioned something of her experience of being in such a group in last Sunday’s sermon, and Sheila will be sharing something on Sunday. Praying together is a powerful way of supporting one another and the wider church, and we have certainly seen answers to prayer over the last year or so. If you don’t feel comfortable praying out loud you can still be in a triplet, sharing news for prayer and praying silently for the others.
Alongside this we are re-introducing PRAYER MINISTRY after Sunday morning services. Please listen out for news of when that will be available.
SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER
9am HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham. Everyone is welcome to this quieter service, why not try it out if you can’t make either of the services at St Columba’s today, although I can’t promise it will be any warmer!
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with another sermon about spiritual warfare, this time looking at the Armour of God. There will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. This service will be available to watch as a livestream here: https://youtube.com/live/ENdzbx2-oqs?feature=share
5pm MEMORIAL SERVICE at St Columba’s when we remember those we love but see no longer. Everyone is welcome to this service, whether you were bereaved recently or many years ago. There is an opportunity to light a candle in memory of your loved one, to hear comforting words from Scripture and familiar hymns and songs, as well as to pray.
As a result of the Memorial Service there will be no Prayer Meeting this week.
ROMANS COURSE
The ROMANS COURSE continues on either Wednesday morning (10.30am) or evening (7.30pm). Do join us even if you have not been to any of the sessions so far – you will learn so much. While writing this message I have been dunking a Hob Nob – those of you who were there this week will know why! Please note after this week there will be a week off with no meetings on Wednesday 5th November. The course will resume on Wednesday 12th November.
LIGHT PARTY
Unfortunately we are not holding a Light Party at St Columba’s on 31st October this year, but there is the opportunity to join an ONLINE LIGHT PARTY organised by Spring Harvest and hosted by Martha Shrimpton (Head of Big Start at Spring Harvest). This will be available on the Spring Harvest YouTube channel on Friday 31st October:
https://essentialchristian.cmail19.com/t/r-l-tkgihud-budjtplrk-h/
Together, we’ll explore how we can shine as light in our world during what can sometimes feel like a dark season. Why not join them – just click on the link above.
SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER
10.30am ALL AGE WORSHIP at St Columba’s with contributions for the children and, I understand, mention of “The Traitors” so do come along.
6pm PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s.
CHARITY UPDATE
The PCC decided at the meeting earlier this month and through a survey of members that we would donate to the following charities this year. The total of £7,000 is 10% of our Stewardship income, and follows our longstanding commitment to give this amount away each year:
M and H with CMS in North Africa: £1500
Tim and Carol Derbyshire with Hope From Above: £1500
“It’s Your Move” books for children moving to Secondary School from Studfall Juniors, Rockingham Primary and Woodnewton a learning academy: £594.50
Hope Into Action (a final payment to the charity that helped run the house we administered): £658.05
Spring Harvest Subsidy: £300
World Vision: £612
Home Start, Corby: £612
Northamptonshire Health Charity: £612
Envision Project, Corby: £612
THIS WEEK’S CHARITY: OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD – SHOEBOX APPEAL
Operation Christmas Child is a hands-on way for you to bless children in need across the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, personal care items, school supplies, and fun gifts. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Please pray for all the shoeboxes being packed in this country and for the arrangements being made to ship them around the world. Give thanks for the generosity of donors and pray for the children who receive the boxes and, along with the box, a book and teaching about Jesus.
As well as praying there are three ways you can help with the Shoebox Appeal:
Pack a box – you can collect a box from church with a leaflet telling you what can and cannot go inside (see the list below), then make sure you return it to church by Sunday 16th November.
Bring an Item – if you can’t manage to pack a whole box just bring an item or two to church and they can be added to others to pack a whole box. Items must be at church by Sunday 16th November and can be small toys, school supplies, personal care items BUT NOT toothpaste, sweets, lotions & liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items (e.g. toy guns, model soldiers, military vehicles); seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, knives, sharp or fragile items.
Donate to pack a box online by going to: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/shoebox-online
When you pack a box you will be asked to pay £5 towards the cost of sending it to the destination and also to contribute to “The Greatest Gift” a teaching programme for children who receive shoeboxes telling them about Jesus. If you would like to see these books there are samples on the Shoebox table at the back of church.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Our Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 22nd November from 11am, that’s just four weeks away! Please can you:
Put the date in your diary and plan to be there
Sign up to help – the more the merrier
Make a donation for the Bottle Tombola or Book Stall or plan to bake a cake for the Cake Stall.
May God bless you all,
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609