3rd November 2024
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 9 November 2024
Good morning everyone,
There is lots of news below, some of which has been in previous emails but there are three new entries, including confirmation that the Alpha Course will start this week, November’s Afternoon Tea, and information about a Community Christmas Day Dinner for people who would otherwise be on their own. Please keep reading to find out more about all these and much more, including tomorrow’s services, and before all that there is our Charity of the Week.
CHARITY OF THE WEEK
This week the focus is on Tim and Carol Derbyshire who work with Hope From Above. Their latest Prayer Letter, Snippets from the Shires, is here, and is available to read at the back of church, so do tell people who may not receive the email. Please read the letter and pray for Tim & Carol.
SUNDAY 3rd NOVEMBER
There are two services at St Columba’s on Sunday.
10.30am ALL AGE WORSHIP for ALL SAINTS with children’s participation and activities. Unfortunately we are still experiencing problems with the livestream but if all goes well this service will be available by going to this link: https://youtube.com/live/KQiqTyVUwzY?feature=share
5pm SERVICE TO REMEMBER THOSE WE LOVE BUT SEE NO LONGER. If you have lost someone you love, either recently or many years ago, and would like to come along to light a candle and remember them, then this is the service for you. Please pass this invitation on to anyone you know who may be missing a loved one.
As a result of the evening service there won’t be a Prayer Meeting this Sunday.
ALPHA – starts this Thursday (7th November) at 7.30pm in the Vicarage
We have a group of people ready to start the Alpha course but there is room for more, so if you, or someone you know, would be interested in finding out more about the Christian faith, then either just come along on Thursday or speak with me to find out more.
AFTERNOON TEA
The November Ladies Afternoon Tea is on Friday 8th November at 3pm in the Church Hall. All ladies are invited for tea with sandwiches, scones, cakes and good conversation.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY – 10th November
There are two services next Sunday but unusually they are at almost the same time so both can observe the two minutes silence at 11am.
St Columba’s have MORNING WORSHIP at 10.30am with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people, and sung worship from 10.15am.
St Leonard’s, Rockingham have a special REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICE at 10.45am. This includes the reading of names on their War Memorial.
The PRAYER MEETING will be happening again at 6pm in St Columba’s.
BIG QUIZ NIGHT – Friday 15th November starts at 7pm in Church Hall
Please come along to have fun quizzing with friends and family and raise money to help alleviate poverty around the world. Bring your favourite snacks and drinks to aid you in your quizzing! You can come in a team or we can put you in a team with others, so no-one will be left out! Please bring cash to donate or use the church card reader. All donations will be going to Tearfund.
SHOEBOXES
There are two ways in which you can support the 2024 Samaritans Purse Shoebox Appeal:
1. Collect a Shoebox and a leaflet from church, choose whether you are packing for a boy or a girl and what age, and then buy all that you need (see the lists below) to fill the box and bring it back to church by Sunday 17th November. Don’t forget to make a donation for the cost of your box, either online or by cash/cheque with your box.
2. Look at the list of suggested items below and buy what you can and simply drop the items off at church where they will be used to make up shoeboxes.
The list of suggested items includes: dolls, footballs, cuddly toys, school supplies including pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, notebooks, solar calculator, toy cars, torch, skipping ropes, yo-yos, toys that light up/make noise (with spare batteries), personal care items such as toothbrushes, socks, combs, hairbrushes, sunglasses.
DO NOT INCLUDE: toothpaste sweets, lotions and liquids, used or damaged items, war related toys, seeds, chocolate, food, religious literature, medicine, aerosols, sharp or fragile items.
I received a postcard from Samaritans Purse saying that shoeboxes would be going to Malawi this year – something to bear in mind when buying.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE – Saturday 23rd November 11am – 1pm in Church Hall
Do put this date in your diary and plan to come along and support this event. There is a sign up sheet for helpers in church. If you know anyone who would like a table to sell their own crafts, gifts, etc please get them to contact Miriam on 07950 818315 asap.
BIG SING CHOIR CHRISTMAS SHOW at Corby Cube – Saturday 23rd November at 7.30pm
Some of you may have seen the Big Sing Choir on Britain’s Got Talent last year. “They will bring a groundbreaking, modern twist to Christmas Carols that we all know and love. Hear their new, fresh and passionate performances of stunning Christmas songs that will leave you feeling festive and uplifted. Featuring show-stopping arrangements to well-known carols such as ‘Oh Holy Night’, ‘The First Noel’, ‘Mary did you Know’ and ‘Joy to the World’, they even promise to get you singing along with them!” All tickets cost £22 and are available from the Cube or online at:
https://tickets.thecorecorby.com/93168/93169
AN EVENING WITH ROB PARSONS at Christ the King, Kettering – Thursday 28th November at 7.30pm
Many of you will know Rob Parsons, either from his speaking at Spring Harvest or from his 35 years at Care for the Family. Rob writes “During this event, I’ll share stories with you that I’ve never told before – stories that I hope will encourage you to make the very best of your gifts, your goals and your relationships”. Tickets cost £11, or £8 for a group of 3 or more, and are available from:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-rob-parsons-kettering-tickets-903184257427?aff=webpage
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER
This is being organised by some people from Hope Church, but it will be happening in our Church Hall. As before the aim is to make Christmas Day special for those who would otherwise be alone. Volunteers are needed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as follows:
CHRISTMAS EVE: Hall Preparation, Table Setup, Decoration, Food Preparation (food hygiene training provided – online), Cooking (food hygiene training provided – online), Wash and Clean Up, Gift Wrapping.
CHRISTMAS DAY: Food Preparation, Cooking, Table Hosts, Servers, Food Delivery, Entertainment, Wash and Clean up.
If you are able to help, or would like to find out more, please contact: christmasdinner2024@yahoo.com
May God bless you and all those who continue to mourn the loss of a loved one, please pray that they find the service on Sunday helpful.
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609