5th April 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 11 April 2026

Hello everyone,

I have recently returned home from our Hot Cross Bun Feast, where we had so many people we ran out of buns! We also saw the children act out a drama explaining the Old Testament sacrificial system, as an introduction to explaining the Cross. There is another drama on Sunday morning where we look in on the chief priests as they celebrate the death of Jesus, before their mood changes as news of his resurrection emerges!

I do encourage you to come to one of our services on Easter Day, either the Sunrise Service at Rockingham or the All Age Celebration with Communion at St Columba’s. I also encourage anyone who has not yet been to one of our Unseen Witnesses reflections to join us for the last one this evening at 7.30 in St Columba’s. It is so helpful taking a look at the familiar story of Jesus final days through the eyes of a less well known character. All the details are below.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

UNSEEN WITNESSES To help us all reflect on the events of Holy Week we have a final reflection this evening and you are very welcome, it certainly does not matter if you have not been to any of the other reflections as each one is complete. This evening we are thinking about “Peter’s Accuser at the Fire” at 7.30pm

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE at Rockingham * – Easter Day 5th April at 6.30am. This is always a very special time to gather, initially round a fire outside the church, before lighting candles and moving to the font, then into the church for a short sermon and Communion accompanied by Easter hymns.

* Access to Rockingham church is via the main entrance to Rockingham Castle. The gate will open as you approach if you stop level with the keypad, then drive down to the Castle Tower Gateway and park on the grass going down the hill to the right, then walk on down to the church. Do contact me if you need further directions.

EASTER DAY ALL AGE CELEBRATION with COMMUNION at St Columba’s – Sunday 5th April at 10.30am. This is the high point of the church year, the celebration of our Lord conquering death and opening the doors of heaven to all those who put their faith in Him. There will be singing, drama, shouting (the Easter greeting), a message about what Easter means today, and Communion, as we remember that the Lord did not only rise in history but is alive and with us today.
This service will be available to watch on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/VhE0p-txxlg

SISTER ACT at the CUBE
Next week (Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th April) is when the Rutland Musical Theatre are performing “Sister Act – The Musical” at the Cube, as previewed at St Columba’s in February. Tickets for evening performances at 7.30 and a Saturday matinee are available from Corby Cube.

SUNDAY 12th APRIL
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.
3pm FAMILY SERVICE at St Leonard’s, Rockingham. If you are going to Rockingham for a Sunday afternoon service in the summer months when the Castle is open to visitors, you simply have to say at the kiosk that you are going to church.

ISOBEL WASSON’S funeral is 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. The service in church will be followed by a Cremation and then refreshments in the Church Hall and everyone is welcome to both of these.

ST COLUMBA’S ELECTORAL ROLL
The Electoral Roll is our membership list and was completely updated last year. You can check if your name is on the Roll by looking at the list in church. If you are not on please complete a form, also at the back of church, by Easter Sunday. You will then be able to vote at the ANNUAL MEETING on Sunday 26th April.

SPRING HARVEST
The second group from St Columba’s going to Spring Harvest leave for Minehead on Monday 6th April.

If you are not part of one of this group you can still join in with the Minehead week (6th – 10th April), either by buying a Spring Harvest Home ticket for £29.95 which gives you access to five days of worship, teaching, community, encouragement, and inspiration. You don’t even have to watch live, with a Spring Harvest Home ticket, you can catch up when it suits you and watch it all until the 10th May.
To buy a ticket go to: https://ecevents.uk/shhm26/reg/Site/Register

If you don’t want access the whole week there is an opportunity to watch just one day from Minehead, Tuesday 7th April, for FREE! This will be on the Spring Harvest YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SpringHarvest

PRAYER OF THE WEEK:
Please continue to pray for Spring Harvest: for the teaching and worship, for adults, children and young people, to be a blessing to all those who go along;

• for the teaching and worship, for adults, children and young people, to be a blessing to all those who go along;
• give thanks for the first week at Skegness, attended by some people from St Columba’s, and pray for the second week at Minehead, and especially for good health and safe journeys, as well as good times of fellowship and teaching, for everyone going, especially the second group from St Columba’s;
• also, give thanks for the Spring Harvest Bursary Fund and charitable giving from St Columba’s that has helped some people to attend;
• and pray for those who will be watching at home, especially that the technology does not let them down.

Please do try and join us for our special Easter Day services – I look forward to seeing you there.

Ian

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