8th December 2024
By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 14 December 2024
Hello everyone,
Our Christmas celebrations started in church this last week with a service for the Year 3 and 4 children from Rockingham Primary School and continue over the coming weeks, with details of everything that is happening below so do keep reading and plan to support as many of these events as possible.
CHARITY OF THE WEEK – HOME START CORBY
Home-Start Corby is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under the age of 5. Allowing for special circumstances to extend this age in line with project agreements. Volunteers offer regular visits, befriending and practical help to families in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown.
SUNDAY 8th DECEMBER
We have one service on Sunday at St Columba’s at 10.30am – HOLY COMMUNION with ENERGIZE groups continuing to rehearse for the NATIVITY. Following the success of last week’s livestream we hope all will go well again and the link is:
https://youtube.com/live/9surtyTJtAM?feature=share
Although it is the second Sunday of the month the Rockingham Family Service is not happening until next week.
We will have a Prayer Meeting at 6pm in St Columba’s.
COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE – Thursday 12th December 6pm
St Columba’s look forward to welcoming local school choirs from Studfall Infants, Rockingham Primary, Woodnewton and Lodge Park who will be singing to us and also joining in with some congregational carols and hearing the Christmas story. This is always a really good evening and one of our best opportunities to reach out to those who do not regularly come to church.
CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA
This coming Friday 13th December is the Christmas Afternoon Tea in the Church Hall from 3pm. There are two special features to the tea this month in addition to the regular tea, sandwiches, scones, cake and conversation we will sing some carols and husbands are welcome to come along as well!
NATIVITY REHEARSAL
Parents should receive a letter tomorrow about the dress rehearsal for next week’s nativity which will be on Saturday 14th December at 10am in church. We do really need all the children taking part in the Nativity to be there, although do still come on Sunday even if you can’t make the rehearsal. We will be finished by 12 noon so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day.
CAROLS IN THE TOWN CENTRE
This will also be happening on Saturday 14th December at 11am outside McDonald’s. Please join with Christians from other churches in Corby singing some of our favourite Christmas carols and sharing the “good news of great joy” with our community.
SUNDAY 15th DECEMBER
We have two services next Sunday, the first is the St Columba’s NATIVITY performed by the children from ENERGIZE at 10.30am. Do come along and support our children as they act out the Christmas story and join in with carols and prayers.
At St Leonard’s at 3pm there is a CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE with a Baptism
LODGE PARK CHRISTMAS DINNER
Many of you have enjoyed the social events organised by Lodge Park Academy over recent years and I am pleased to say they are inviting us to a CHRISTMAS DINNER on Monday 16th December at 2pm. There is no charge for this dinner but you do need to book with me as there are just a couple of spaces left. Please let me know at church or email ianpullinger@btinternet.com if you would like to go.
MORE CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT ST COLUMBA’S and ST LEONARD’S:
Thursday 19th December 7pm – CAROLS with MINCE PIES and MULLED WINE in Rockingham Village Hall. This informal gathering in the relaxed, and warm, surroundings of the Village Hall gives everyone a chance to choose their favourite carol to sing.
Sunday 22nd December 10.30am – HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s. This will be a shorter service than usual with no ENERGIZE groups because we want to encourage people to come to the Carol Service later.
Sunday 22nd December 6pm – CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE at St Columba’s. This traditional Christmas favourite includes plenty of opportunity to sing favourite carols and to hear the Christmas story in Bible readings.
Christmas Eve 4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE SERVICE at St Columba’s. Always a favourite as we remember the Christmas story, learn about the work of The Children’s Society and sing “Away in a Manger” by the light of our Christingle candles.
Christmas Eve 11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s. A traditional celebration of Holy Communion with carols, to remember how Jesus was born in the night.
Christmas Day 10am – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s. A joyful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour with carols and communion, and guaranteed not to be too long because…
Christmas Day 11am – CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s. A traditional Communion service for Christmas morning with carols.
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. If you would like to attend, or know someone who might like to, or you can volunteer to help either on the day or with preparation on Christmas Eve please contact: christmasdinner2024@yahoo.com
PUZZLES
There will be a special printed Christmas Newsletter out next week but this week we have the latest edition of online puzzles from Steve who writes: “this is light hearted, full of jokes and puzzles but also includes a story I read when I was in my 20s that changed my life. Do read it.”
The latest edition of SCaNS is still available in church if you have not yet had a copy.
EASYFUNDRAISING
And finally a reminder to anyone who is shopping online this Christmas that many shops and suppliers will make a donation to St Columba’s, at no extra cost to you, if you buy using Easyfundraising. You have to register with easyfundraising first, and you can do that by going to this link: http://join.easyfundraising.org.uk/st-columba-corby
Best wishes to all in this Advent season,
Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609