22nd March 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 27 March 2026

Hello everyone,

I am sending this email out on Friday to remind you that it is our PRAYER & GIFT DAY on Saturday. You are welcome to come to church at any time between 9am and 3pm, to pray, to bring your gift, or simply to see the work that has been completed so far. All the details of the PRAYER & GIFT DAY are below, and, even if you are not able to attend, can I encourage you to consider making a donation to our CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT to install not only an accessible toilet but a servery and new heating in the church. Details of how to do so by bank transfer are on the Notice, or you can bring your gift to church on Sunday. Please do pray, both about what you might contribute and for us to be blessed by the PRAYER & GIFT DAY.

It was great to have a full church, lots of children, and some wonderful puppet sketches for our MOTHERING SUNDAY service last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who was involved, and especially to Val Berridge who provided the flowers that were given out to Mums in church. It would be great if all those children were able to join us for ENERGIZE in church on Sunday, more details below.

Remembering Loved Ones
I shared with you a couple of weeks ago that ISOBEL WASSON had died. Arrangements have now been made for her funeral which will be on Tuesday 14th April at 11.30am in St Columba’s and everyone is welcome to attend. If you come please don’t wear dark clothes as Isobel loved bright colours, and as she is now enjoying life in heaven, where everything will be brighter than we can imagine, this is so appropriate.

I have also heard this week the news that JEFF ISON lost his battle with cancer and died last weekend. I am pleased to say there will be a CELEBRATION OF JEFF’S LIFE in St Columba’s on Saturday 28th March at 1.30pm (please note the slightly later time than some people may have heard) followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. Please could I have some volunteers to help set up the Hall (tables and chairs not food) at 11.30 on Saturday? There is a small window of opportunity between groups, so the more help the quicker and easier the task will be. If you can help please email ianpullinger@btinternet.com or let me know on Sunday – thank you.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

GIFT DAY – Saturday 21st March 9am – 3pm

The plan for the day:
9am: Time to pray together in church – you are welcome to join this time of prayer before making your GIFT to the CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
9am – 12noon: Opportunity for you to come to church to pray quietly for the Project and to make your donation (see below)
12noon: Time to pray together in church – you are welcome to join this time of prayer
12noon – 3pm: Opportunity for you to come to church to pray quietly for the Project and to make your donation (see below)
3pm: Time to pray together in church – you are welcome to join this time of prayer and thanksgiving for all that has been contributed during the day.

How to Donate:
In these days of online banking it is likely that many of you will want to make a bank transfer, and details of how to do that are on the Notice (which is also available in church). If you are doing that there will be an anonymous PLEDGE that you can write the amount of your donation on, just so that we have an idea how the Day has gone. You will also be able to give via the Card Reader, by cheque or in cash at the GIFT DAY.
Of course, you do not have to attend the GIFT DAY to give, contributions can be made by bank transfer at any time, just use GIFT DAY as the reference, or brought to church, where there will be a separate offering box for GIFT DAY donations on Sunday and at other times just place your donation in an envelope marked GIFT DAY. All donations are welcome however and whenever they are given. Having said that, we believe that coming into the church where the project will be happening, asking God to guide you about how much to give, dedicating your gift to the Lord’s work, and giving thanks to the Lord for gifts given, will bring God’s blessing on the GIFT DAY and on the CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

Gift Aid
The Notice explains how people can add an extra 25p to every £1 they give by making use of GIFT AID. This allows the church to claim back the INCOME TAX you have paid on your donation. This means that if you donate £100 it will be worth £125 to us. If you have any questions about GIFT AID please do speak with our Treasurer, Justin Dyche, or myself at the Gift Day or on Sunday, or ask a professional tax advisor.

Sunday 22nd March
9am – HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham
10.30am – MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. This will be the last regular session this term, as next week will be another All Age Prep so it would be great to see lots of children there. The service will be available to watch on YouTube here:
https://youtube.com/live/zyGVTV7Lf18?feature=share
6pm – PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
The Discipleship Explored course reaches its conclusion on Wednesday 25th March at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from last week, before watching the final video and discussing questions in small groups. The morning meeting will be in the Church Hall and the evening meeting in church as usual. Please read the details below of opportunities to gather the following week (Holy Week) not only on Wednesday morning and evening but other days as well.

Sunday 29th March
10.30am – HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children who will be preparing for our special Easter services, the Hot Cross Bun Feast on Good Friday and Easter Day Celebration.
6pm – PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES
Unseen Witnesses, a series of reflections on less well known characters from the Passion narratives, each one will be available in a morning and an evening session as follows:
First Reflection “The Donkey” Monday 30th March 10.30am and Tuesday 31st March 7.30pm
Second Reflection “The Man with the Water Jar” Wednesday 1st April 10.30am and 7.30pm
Third Reflection “Peter’s Accuser at the Fire” Thursday 2nd April 10.30am and Good Friday 3rd April 7.30pm

Maundy Thursday Holy Communion with Hand Washing at Rockingham – 2nd April at 7pm
Hot Cross Bun Feast in St Columba’s Church Hall – Good Friday 3rd April at 10am

Easter Sunrise Service at Rockingham – 5th April at 6.30am. This is always a very special time to gather, initially round a fire outside the church, before moving to the font and then into the church for a short sermon and Communion accompanied by Easter hymns.
Easter Day All Age Celebration with Communion at St Columba’s – 5th April at 10.30am

PRAYER OF THE WEEK:
This week I would like you to pray for our local schools. This is because during the next week I will be visiting Rockingham Primary School, Studfall Infants and Juniors, Woodnewton learning community and Lodge Park Academy. In all of these schools I have the opportunity to explain what Easter means, so please ask the Lord to give me the words to say and to give listening ears and hearts to the children, young people and staff. Please also pray for all students who are preparing for exams after Easter, including some of our young people taking A levels and others preparing for Year 6 SATS.

Thank you for your prayers and I hope to see you in church, at the GIFT DAY or at one of our Sunday services.

Ian

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