Author: Kevin Montgomery

16th January 2022

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 16 January 2022

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week. There is a lot in this week’s email so please do have a good read and make a note of anything that applies especially to you.

PRAYER REQUEST

Sheila has asked for prayer for her daughter Maria who has just had a letter changing an appointment she’s waited months for, from Feb 1st to June 20th. This is for her shoulder which she can barely move and is in a lot of pain. She can’t do the physio for it as it sets off the neck/nerve condition. Please pray that when she rings the secretary on Monday, she can get it brought back again. Thank you.

SUNDAY SERVICES

Tomorrow we have two almost identical Holy Communion services in church, at 10.30am and 5pm.  You are welcome to either or indeed both. For those who can’t make it to church there is a youtube version of the service available. A PDF version is available here.

ENERGIZE

One difference between the services is that there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people during the 10.30 service but not at 5pm. Please pray for the ENERGIZE groups and their leaders as tomorrow will be the first time since March 2020 they will have had three age based groups meeting. It is great that so many children and young people have been along to church over recent weeks, but if you know anyone else who may be interested in joining them tomorrow would be a good day to start.

HOPE INTO ACTION PRAYER MEETINGThis will follow the 5pm service, so should start at about 6pm. Do come along if you are able to join us in prayer for our HIA house and the many other needs at this time.

ROCK MEN’S GROUP – 19th January 7:30pm

Our first men’s meeting of 2022 is coming up this week, so do join us in the church this Wednesday at 7:30pm for a great evening together, we’ll be looking at God as Father and how we can live knowing who we are as men in the light of that relationship with our Father God, we’ll be  worshipping and praying together and also talking about the next few month’s of the men’s ministry, including our first men’s breakfast and other social activities as well. If you’re able to make it let Kevin know, so he can bring enough biscuits/cake – but even if you haven’t let us know do feel free to come along if you’re available on the day.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD Pantomime

This is happening at 3.30pm (sorry last week’s email said 3pm) on Sunday 30th January (Saturday’s performance is sold out!). Tickets cost £8 for adults, £4 for children or £20 for a family ticket (2 children). Tickets will be available after both services in church tomorrow or by contacting me either by reply to this email or by phone (see numbers below). 

HOPE FROM ABOVE

The latest Prayer Bulletin from Hope from Above in Australia is here.

SPRING HARVEST

For those who are booked to go to Minehead from Monday 18th April – Friday 22nd April, this is a reminder that any outstanding payments need to be given to Miriam by Sunday 30th January please. Any problems with this or any other questions, please speak to Miriam. Also if there is anyone who is not booked in who would now like to join us please do speak to Miriam (we can’t guarantee accommodation but will try and fit you in).

PUZZLES AND OTHER STUFF

Steve has once again produced some interesting puzzles and informative articles, including a look at the Katherine of Aragon Festival at Peterborough Cathedral. You can grab that here.

May God be with you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225

07903 644609

9th January 2022

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 9 January 2022

Hello Everyone, 

May I wish all those I have not yet been in contact with in 2022 a very blessed New Year. I know the year has not started well for everyone and several people have had Covid, including Kevin’s wife Kate and daughter Rebekah – please pray for healing for them and protection for Kevin. If there is anyone else who is in need of prayer please do let me know.

Our service tomorrow takes a look at the Baptism of Christ, and includes an opportunity to renew our own Baptism promises. The service is in church at 10.30 and everyone is welcome. For those who can’t make it the service is available online. Please note this online service is not yet complete so don’t look at it until later this evening or tomorrow. There is a PDF available and this is complete. 

ENERGIZE 

Tomorrow also sees the return of Energize after the Christmas Holiday, and following the magnificent Nativity they produced lastmonth. They will be enjoying a “Back to Energize” Party tomorrow and this will be a great time for any new children to go along for the first time. From next week there will be the usual age groups and at the end of the month the children and young people will be involved in preparing for the All Age service at the beginning of February. 

HOPE INTO ACTION 

The Prayer Meeting will take place once again tomorrow evening at 6pm in church and everyone is welcome. This will be a good opportunity to find out what has been happening at the house over the holidays as well as praying for some wider concerns in the life of the church. 

PCC Please note that we have decided not to have a PCC meeting this coming Tuesday as there was no urgent business and it is only three weeks until the next scheduled meeting on Wednesday 2nd February.

NEXT SUNDAY 

We will be having two services next Sunday, at 10.30am and 5pm, and both will be Holy Communion. The 5pm service will be much quieter and so anyone who is trying to keep away from crowds will find this especially suitable.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD

You will be pleased to know that our Panto is still going ahead on the weekend on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th January “OH YES IT IS!” with performances at 3pm both days. The Saturday performance is now SOLD OUT but there are lots of seats available on Sunday, and if there is sufficient demand there could be an extra performance on Friday evening. Tickets can be bought after services in church or by phoning me on 01536 400225.

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY

If anyone has a Children’s Society Collecting Box please bring it to church and give to Janet who will then count all the money, along with the collection from our Christingle Service which also supports the Children’s Society. Any extra donations would be most welcome, especially as the numbers at Christingle were down this year and so the collection will inevitably be smaller. Steve is taking a well deserved break this week so no puzzles, although there are still a few copies of the Christmas Magazine available in church if you missed out on one. Please do get in touch if you need prayer or any practical help or just a chat. 

God bless you all, 

Ian 

01536 400225

07903 644609

2nd January 2022

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 2 January 2022

Happy New Year!

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

We are at the start of a brand new year, the Wise Men are arriving to visit Jesus, it is Epiphany! There is lots to celebrate in this event, Jesus recognised by the Magi as someone worthy of worship, they travelled to find him, they gave him gifts and they worshipped him. Today’s sermon goes into a little more detail on all of this – but what a great example to follow, we come to worship him!

In many ways we do not know what this year to come will look like, many of us have probably been listening carefully to the news and waiting on pronouncements from Government ministers on possible restrictions or indeed lockdowns, as I write this on New Year’s day it looks like there won’t be any more restrictions in the short term but rest assured we will continue to do all we can to keep everyone safe and healthy and at the same time continue to meet together for fellowship and to worship God.

I wonder how many of you have already looked back to 2021 and reflected on all that happened, it’s been a very mixed year for many, some things good, some not so good but looking back always helps me to see God in my life and in the situations I’ve been in and encountered. Sometimes it’s only looking back that we see how much he was with us, rejoicing with us in the good times, comforting in the sad times. I continue to pray for his presence with me and with all of us as we move into 2022.

We have our service tomorrow at 10:30am here at St Columba, but a quick reminder that there is no Hope into Action prayer meeting this week. It will be back on the 9th January at its normal time of 6pm.

A printed version of tomorrow’s service is also available here.

Speaking of gifts as I did earlier, an unexpected one for this week popped into my emails earlier today and I am happy to pass that gift on to you with a Mini-SCaNS from Steve.

I hope to be able to wish you a Happy New Year in church tomorrow, but if I don’t see you – or don’t get the chance, once again – Happy New Year and may you know God’s presence, blessing and favour this 2022.
If anyone needs prayer or indeed to chat, or anything else do get in touch.

With every blessing

Kevin

Curate, St Columba

25th December 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 25 December 2021

Dear St Columba’s Church Family,

First of all may I wish each and every one of you, and your families, a very happy and blessed Christmas.
I just wanted to remind you that we have four services coming up in church and you are welcome to all or any of the following:

TODAY at 4.30pm CHRISTINGLE SERVICE (with a few changes from usual to make it safe for everyone). If you would like to make a donation to the Children’s Society and can’t be at the service there are envelopes you can use at the back of church.

TODAY at 11.15pm MIDNIGHT COMMUNION

TOMORROW (Christmas Day) at 10am ALL AGE COMMUNION 

and on SUNDAY (Boxing Day) at 10.30am CAROLS & COMMUNION

For those unable to join us in church there is a link to watch a version of the Christmas morning service online.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

If you are coming to church do look on the table at the back to see if there are any Christmas cards for you.

HOPE FROM ABOVE

Carol Derbyshire has written from Australia to thank us for our gift to Hope from Above:

Dear Friends at St Columba’s,

Please excuse us for the late acknowledgement of your wonderful gift. Thank you for your gift of £1500 which is amazing, it is an answer to our prayers and our trust in God that He will indeed supply all our needs.  We have come to the end of the year praising God for His provision and help throughout this strange and unprecedented time.  

So much has been achieved, often in surprising ways we could not have planned or expected.  This week and last we’ve had two engineering students back with us, both on holiday from their university courses and keen to use their skills for God’s purposes.  Their timing was perfect.  The test water drone positioned on a nearby ‘pond’ was producing strange results.  The guys helped a staff member retrieve it from the lake, pulled it apart and determined the problem.  It was soon back on the lake to continue its job.  They also managed time for some balloon inflation tests today, in preparation for work next year.  

We’ve heard recent stories of amazing answers to prayer as the gospel has reached the unreached in unexpected ways; one being through a government placed satellite internet tower in the Amazon jungles enabling tribal men and women to hear the gospel in their own language.  Our God is amazing.

May you know His peace and grace at this wonderful Christmas time as we remember the coming of Emmanuel, God with us.

Kind regards,

Carol

HOPE INTO ACTION

Although there are no HIA Prayer Meetings for the next two Sundays (26th Dec and 2nd Jan) there is still an opportunity of supporting them by making a 

financial donation to St Columba’s to enable us to buy things that are needed in the house. There is a list at the back of church if you would like to contribute the cost of a particular item, BUT we do not need any items just the money to buy them.

May God bless you at this special time of year.

Ian

01536 400225

07903 644609

12th December 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 12 December 2021

Hello again everyone,
Once again as Christmas approaches we are entering a season of uncertainty over Covid, this year because of the Omicron variant. I have asked if PCC members who are in church tomorrow morning could meet for a short time after the service to discuss the implications of this, particularly for our Christmas services (see below). If you have any comments about this please do let me know.

For the moment the only change in the rules is that face coverings are now mandatory again in church, except for those with medical exemptions, and for people who are speaking or leading sung worship. This should not affect us too much as we have encouraged mask wearing for the last few months.

Above all, please pray for us and all churches that we make wise decisions to enable people to celebrate Christmas safely and well. 

One other matter for prayer is that Elaine Bavin’s father died on Wednesday, so please uphold Elaine, as well as David and James, and all Elaine’s wider family in prayer.  

SUNDAY SERVICE

This week we have a service of Holy Communion and you are welcome to join us in church for this at 10.30 or watch the online version via the youtube link below. I should warn you that I am sending this message out before I have finished editing the films, so don’t rush to watch immediately as most of the service won’t be there! There is also the usual PDF version of the service attached (which is all complete). If you are worshipping at home do make sure you have some bread and wine or fruit juice so you can join in Communion.

HOPE INTO ACTION

We have our regular Prayer Meeting at 6pm on Sunday evening and I look forward to seeing as many people as possible there.

FOOD BANK

First of all a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Food Bank during this year. Food Bank have given me an updated list of items needed, and not needed. Having said that they were so busy last Wednesday morning that the cupboard here at St Columba’s is almost bare! This will be re-stocked ready for next Wednesday, the last Food Bank session here before Christmas, but if you are able to bring in any of the following at any time they will be very useful: tinned fish, tinned fruit, coffee, long life juice. squash, UHT milk, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, baby wipes.Items that they have plenty of include: cereal, soup, beans, pasta sauce, pasta, tinned vegetables,

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Assuming we do not cancel any of our services because of Covid, in which case I will advise you by email, we are planning the following: 

Thursday 16th at 6pm COMMUNITY CAROLS with choirs from Rockingham Primary School and Lodge Park Academy.

Sunday 19th at 10.30am NATIVITY with our children and young people performing and at 5pm CAROL SERVICE a traditional candlelit service

Christmas Eve 4.30pm CHRISTINGLE with a collection for the Children’s Society, 11.15pm MIDNIGHT COMMUNION

Christmas Day 10am ALL AGE COMMUNION

Sunday 26th 10.30am COMMUNION & CAROLS 

May God bless you and watch over you in this coming week.

Ian

01536 400225

07903 644609

5th December 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 5 December 2021

Hello everyone, 

Welcome to our weekly email for the first Sunday in December. There are details of our Christmas Services below so do make a note of them and plan to come along and join in the celebrations. This week we continue with our Advent services and everyone is welcome to attend our service in church at 10.30am on Sunday. Please do wear a face covering unless you are exempt. Although these are not mandatory in churches I think it is only wise that we follow this sensible precaution. The children and young people will be continuing with their preparations for the Nativity (see below).

For those who are not able to attend the service in church you can watch on youtube.Alternatively you can read through the service here. If you are at home you may like to create your own Advent Crown, with four candles (usually red) in a circle around one centre candle (usually white). There is a reminder in this week’s service about the meaning of the first two candles.

I have not long been home from the HOPE INTO ACTION Training Day which went really well. We are excited now for the arrival of our first tenants, although aware that we need to be patient as there is still quite a lot of work that needs completing in the house. We will have our usual PRAYER MEETING tomorrow evening at 6pm. 

On the subject of prayer, please pray for Tim Derbyshire who starts his journey back to Australia today having spent a couple of weeks with his Dad, leaving cannot have been easy as Tim knows he may not see his Dad again. Also remember the family of Barry Britten, whose funeral is on Thursday, especially his wife Evelyn, daughter Julie and grandchildren Ashleigh and Cameron. Please pray too for Sue Scholes as her Kidney function is now very low, although she is not yet starting dialysis and hopes to be able to increase her kidney function and avoid dialysis. 

STEVE’S PUZZLE AND OTHER STUFFThe latest edition (no 64) is here. This will be the last edition of the year, but do look out for the CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE which will be out in print in a couple of weeks. 

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Thursday 16th December at 6pm COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE with choirs from Rockingham Primary School and Lodge Park Academy, as well as congregational singing.

Sunday 19th December at 10.30am NATIVITY SERVICE with our children and young people’s presentation of the Christmas story.

Sunday 19th December at 5pm CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE – our traditional carol service.

Christmas Eve at 4.30pm CHRISTINGLE SERVICE with the singing of Away in a Manger by the light of our Christingle candles.

Christmas Eve at 11.15pm MIDNIGHT COMMUNION – a traditional service to celebrate the coming of our Saviour into the world.

Christmas Day at 10am (note the time) ALL AGE CELEBRATION with Communion

Sunday 26th December at 10.30am CAROLS AND COMMUNION

So much to look forward to, but we are not there yet, so do take note of William’s sermon this week and take some time in Advent to quietly reflect and let the Lord speak to you ‘deep within’ and refresh your soul.

May God bless you in this Advent season, 

Ian 

01536 400225

07903 644609

28th November 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 28 November 2021

The Lord is coming, be watchful and alert! 

Yes, that’s right, it is Advent Sunday!

I almost can’t quite believe that this time of year is upon us already, but here we are, at the beginning of our Advent season, remembering the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and also anticipating and looking forward to His second coming. Advent is that season of both remembering and anticipation. Many of course will be anticipating Christmas this year, particularly after the disappointment for many last year of not being able to celebrate together with friends and family. I hope and pray that this year we will be able gather together more and celebrate the wonder of the birth of Jesus. News of a new concerning Covid-19 variant has of course hit the headlines in the last day or so and we will monitor the situation carefully and respond to any advice given from the government on anything we might need to do. 

Do keep an eye out then for news of all that’s going to be happening, we will keep you updated over the next couple of weeks about all of our Christmas gatherings.

All being well there will be lots on and plenty to get involved with! I must also mention the Christmas Fayre which has kicked off this first Advent weekend this morning in the Church Hall. Things looked to be in full swing when I was there earlier, plenty of stalls, Christmas music playing and some fantastic Christmas jumpers being worn as well. There was also theHopefully many of you will have been able to pop along and see all that was on offer.  

Sunday Service 

We have a service of Holy Communion on this Advent Sunday, 10:30am at St Columba or it’s available online. A PDF version is available here. Energize is back and we’re looking forward to the Nativity service they’re busy planning for – so our children and young people will be going out on Sunday morning. This Sunday’s reading and sermon may seem an unusual way to be kicking off what many regard as the beginning of the Christmas season but for us as the body of Christ it is a timely reminder of our faith and our anticipation of Jesus and His return, Ian’s preach brings us a powerful message at the start of this new Church year.  

Hope into Action

We have our Hope into Action prayer meeting on Sunday evening at 6pm as normal and are looking forward to our  Training Day next Saturday 4th December – it’s not too late to sign up to this, you can do so in church – there’s a sign-up sheet at the back or have a word with Ann Rigby, Paul Millen or John Lynch. 

Steve’s Puzzles

There’s another great set of Puzzles and a report on the Tearfund Quiz night with some great photos in there too – see if you can spot yourself if you were there! 

Last but not least

If you are able to join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am for the service, it would be wonderful to see you there, but whether you can make it or not do have a good, a Godly and a blessed week, may God be with you and the Holy Spirit go with you where ever you are.

Blessings 

Kevin

21st November 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 21 November 2021

Hello again everyone,

I begin with the sad news that Barry Britten, husband of Evelyn, father to Julie and grandfather to Ashleigh and Cameron died suddenly on Monday. Please remember Evelyn and all her family in your prayers. Please also pray for Tim Derbyshire who has flown home from Australia to visit his father who is nearing the end of his life, for Kevin who is feeling fairly rough and spent most of yesterday in bed, and also for Patience who is being confirmed at St Michael’s, Great Oakley at 3pm tomorrow afternoon.

Tearfund BIG QUIZ is tonight at 7pmIf you are planning to come, we look forward to seeing you later. Don’t forget to bring some snacks and drinks, and some money to buy raffle tickets and donate to Tearfund. Donations can be made in advance, and even if you are not coming to the Quiz you can donate using the JustGiving page here:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stcolumba-corby?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=stcolumba-corby&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=4a7f9407c65241b0b3efe8996bb26acf.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Tearfund, so it’s the most efficient way to give – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

We do encourage people to wear a face covering when moving around in the Hall, but you don’t have to wear them while sitting down.

Sunday Service

This week’s service includes a sermon from Linda as we celebrate Christ the King. Everyone is welcome to join us in church at 10.30am on Sunday for the service, or you can watch online. There is also a PDF version of the service available. Don’t forget that ENERGIZE has started again so children and young people will be going out during the service to make plans for our Nativity next month.

SCANS

In church this week there will be a new printed edition of SCANS which is available to everyone FREE of charge. For those who can’t get to church there is a mini-SCANS here. Steve has been extra busy this week because they are different!

Shoeboxes

Thank you to everyone who helped with the shoebox collection over the last week . Don’t forget that tomorrow is the last Sunday you can bring boxes back to church, but we will be open again on Monday morning from 9am to 1pm for any last minute contributions!

Christmas Fayre

Next Saturday 27th November is our Christmas Fayre. Contributions of Raffle Prizes or Homemade Cakes are welcome from 9am next Saturday. Please do plan to come along and encourage friends and family to join you. There will be Bacon Rolls as usual and many of the regular stalls, but NO bric-a-brac stall this year, so please don’t bring anything of that nature. 

Hope into Action

Our regular HIA Prayer Meeting will be happening on Sunday evening at 6pm and don’t forget that the TRAINING DAY is on Saturday 4th December. This is for anyone who is at all interested in being involved with the house once the tenants move in. Coming to the Training Day does not commit you to anything and not everyone who does the training will be able to be involved with our first tenants. More details from Ann Rigby, Paul Millen or John Lynch.

And finally I must thank you all once again for your prayers for my family following my Dad’s death earlier this month. His funeral will be on Friday in Bedford, where he was born and spent almost all of his life.

May God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225

07903 644609

14th November 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 14 November 2021

Hello everyone, First of all can I thank you for your kind messages of condolence following my Dad’s death. It is so good to know that you are praying for us all. We have heard some lovely stories about him, including as a youngster playing with his cousins and as a trusted colleague at work who was turned to in time of need. These are insights we could not have known and they are such a consolation. I must also thank you for celebrating my installation as a Canon – and for the cake we enjoyed after church last Sunday, thank you Sheila.

If you are in church tomorrow you will see that William and I have decided to robe as it is Remembrance Sunday, as I robed for the Act of Remembrance at Lodge Park School at 11am on Thursday, and you will see the Canon’s badges on my scarf! 

Everyone is very welcome to the service in church tomorrow at 10.30am, with the two minutes silence at as close to 11am as we can make it. Can I remind parents that ENERGIZE, our groups for children and young people, will be meeting during the service tomorrow so do please come along . If you are not able to be in church the service is available online. If you start watching at 10.30am you should reach the silence at 11am.

The service is also available as a PDF which is available here. 

We still need volunteers to sit in church for an hour or so between 9am and 1pm every day over this coming week to receive shoebox donations. Please either sign up on the list in church or reply to this email if you can help – even one hour on one day will be a help. 

Our BIG QUIZ NIGHT is going to happen in just one week’s time on Saturday 20th November at 7pm in the Church Hall. Thank you for all those who have signed up, but is is not too late. Once again use either the sign up sheet in church or reply to this email. And don’t forget to bring along your own drinks and snacks as well as some means of donating to Tearfund. Thank you for those people who have signed up to help with the FAYRE on Saturday 27th November from 10am – but there is still space for more, again either sign up in church or reply to this email. 

And don’t forget HOPE INTO ACTION. The Prayer Meeting is happening as usual at 6pm on Sunday and there is still time to sign up for the training Day on Saturday 4th December.

Also available are the latest online Puzzles and Other Stuff from Steve, with a great story fro Remembrance Sunday. And look out for a new edition of print SCANS coming soon. Don’t forget to contact Kevin as I won’t be available some of the this coming week. He can be contacted at: 01536 647727 / 07512 822422 or email kfm@thedigitalchristian.com 

And finally, a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored Jo as she BRAVED THE SHAVE to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. You can see before and after photos below With best wishes Ian

7th November 2021

By Kevin Montgomery in Sunday Service on 7 November 2021

Dear Friends at St Columba’s,

I know that word has reached some people but probably not everyone so I must tell you that my father died on Wednesday. He was 93 and his body and mind had been declining for the last couple of years, but it was only in the last 10 days that he became confined to bed. A number of friends and family members were able to visit him in those 10 days, and my brother and I spent a special evening together with him the day before he died. He had a strong faith and was able to receive Communion, which I am sure was a comfort to him. Thank you so much to all those who have been praying for him, and for me and my family, over these last couple of weeks. Please continue to hold us in your prayers as we await his funeral.

I am trying to lighten my load over the next couple of weeks, so it may be a better option to contact Kevin (01536 647727 / 07512 822422 or email kfm@thedigitalchristian.com) if you need to speak with someone from church. The other change that you will notice is that there is no youtube version of Sunday’s service available today, but there will be livestreams available of both our services tomorrow, see the details below. This is probably a better way for people at home to  share in a service of All Age Worship in any event.

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE 10.30am

This week we have a service of All Age Worship looking at the very topical issue of Climate Change. Everyone is welcome to attend this service in church, and it would be especially good to see some children, young people and families as there is lots of interactivity included. As I mentioned above this will be available as a livestream direct from church tomorrow morning at 10.30 (you will be able to watch later in the day as well). There is a PDF version of the service available as well.

 
MEMORIAL SERVICE 4pm

Tomorrow afternoon we have our Memorial Service in which we especially remember those who have passed away over the last two years and we are looking forward to welcoming many visitors to the service. There is still plenty of room for any of you who would like to come to the service, either to remember someone who has recently passed away or someone you may have lost many years ago. This service will also be available to watch as a livestream by going to this link (which will be live from 4pm tomorrow):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYwJfQMbYpk

HOPE INTO ACTION

Our regular Hope into Action Prayer Meeting will be back at the usual time of 6pm tomorrow. Don’t forget that there is still opportunity to sign up to help with the decorating and maintenance of the house, as well as to join the Friendship & Support team. We have a training day on Saturday 4th December for anyone who may be interested in that – attending the training does not commit you to being on the team. Please sign up on the sheet in church or reply to this email if you are interested.
We have a number of other events coming up so do make a note of the following:

ST COLUMBA MEN’S MEETING

All men in our church are invited to a meal to launch our Men’s Ministry THIS Friday, 12th November, at 7pm in the Church Hall. For catering purposes we need to know who will be joining us for this meal so please RSVP to Kevin: 01536 647727 / 07512 822422 or email kfm@thedigitalchristian.com or you can sign the sheet in church tomorrow.

TEARFUND BIG QUIZWe are looking forward to holding a scaled down version of this on SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER at 7pm. Please sign up to let us know you are coming, either on the sheet in church or by replying to this email. Because of Covid we are asking people to bring their own drinks and snacks and as a result we won’t charge to come along but will take donations on the door and after we have watched the film about Tearfund’s work during the interval. We hope to have a raffle as well to raise a little more money for Tearfund. You can watch a film about the Quiz here: https://vimeo.com/585835694/cc01acd62b

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

This will be happening on SATURDAY 27th NOVEMBER from 10am. If you are available to help with the day, or before or after, please again sign up on the sheet in church or by replying to this email. Also if you, or someone you know, would like a table at the Fayre please do get in touch.

SHOEBOXES

Please note that the time for returning Shoeboxes is drawing near, not just for us but for lots of other people who will be dropping their boxes off at St Columba’s. James would be delighted if anyone could volunteer to be in church to receive boxes during the week beginning 15th November. We will be open every morning 9 till 1 during that week and there is a rota in hourly blocks available for people to sign up. And don’t forget to return your shoeboxes by Sunday 21st November.

Extra Info
Please find available the latest Prayer Letter from Tim & Carol Derbyshire working with Hope from Above in Australia as well as Steve’s latest “Puzzles and Other Stuff” which includes lots of dates for your diaries, not just the ones mentioned above.

AND FINALLY

Our daughter Jo is about to BRAVE THE SHAVE to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. She will do this on Wednesday, the same day her aunt has her second round of chemotherapy. She is also donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for children and young people. You can find out more, and donate, by going to: https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/joanna-pullingerAnd as Jo says, thank you so much.

Don’t forget next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, and our service will include the traditional two minutes silence at 11am

. 
May God be with you all,

Ian