Author: Justin Dyche

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

01536 400225
07903 644609
07903 644609

29th March 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 3 April 2026

Hello everyone,
I am delighted to report that we raised over £22,000 on our Gift Day last Saturday plus money that has come in since. THANK YOU so much if you made a contribution to that total, whether large or small we are grateful for all gifts. Please do give thanks to God for inspiring people to be generous, you may like to join us for the PRAYER MEETING on Sunday when we will be especially giving thanks for answers to our prayers for the day.

It is not too late to give if you have not yet done so, donations can either be brought to church and placed in the box, made on the Card Reader (please ask Justin or me to switch it to Gift Day rather than General Funds), or you can make a bank transfer (details were on the Notice sent out last week) using the reference GIFT DAY. All these gifts will enable us to proceed with our CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT to install an accessible toilet (do look at the progress that has been made with this next time you are in church), and also a servery and new heating in the church.

Thank you also to everyone who has been to the Discipleship Explored course over the last two months. There are different gatherings to reflect on the events of Holy Week during the next week (see below) and a new course will be starting after Easter. We are also hoping to run an ALPHA course after Easter, so if you, or someone you know, is interested in exploring what we believe, and why, do let me know or look out for more details.

Remembering Loved Ones

JEFF ISON’S CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE is in St Columba’s on Saturday 28th March at 1.30pm followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. Lynn says there is no dress code, come however you feel most comfortable.

ISOBEL WASSON’S funeral 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. 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.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

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 so it would be great to have a good number of children and young people. For those unable to be in church the service will be available on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/z2JEYRwep2A
6pm – PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES
Please do try and attend as many of these special services as you can. There is a variety of different formats so hopefully something for everyone, but this is also a great opportunity to try something different.

UNSEEN WITNESSES To help us all set aside 45 minutes three times during the week to reflect on the events of Holy Week we have a series of reflections on less well known characters from the Passion narratives. You are welcome to all or any of the sessions, but please note the morning session is repeated in the evening of either the same or the following day 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

Also on Good Friday the Corby Churches will be gathering at 11am in the Town Centre (between McDonalds and Paletto Lounge) to celebrate the greatest act of love the world has ever known. Hear the story of Jesus’ journey to the Cross and join in singing accompanied by a live band.

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.

EASTER DAY ALL AGE CELEBRATION with COMMUNION at St Columba’s – Sunday 5th April at 10.30am

* 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.

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
There are two groups going to Spring Harvest from St Columba’s this year. The first will be leaving on Monday 30th March and going to Skegness, and the second going to Minehead on Monday 6th April.

If you are not part of one of those groups you can still join in with the Minehead week (6th – 10th April), either by buying a Spring Harvest Home ticket for £24.95 which gives you access to five days of worship, teaching, community, encouragement, and inspiration. Please note the price goes up to £29.95 on 30th March. 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:
This week I would like you 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 two groups going from St Columba’s to have safe journeys and good times of fellowship;
• 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 the special services happening during Holy Week – I hope to see you there.

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

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

01536 400225
07903 644609

15th March 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 20 March 2026

Hello everyone,

It is exciting to report that work on our new accessible toilet in church has begun! The walls of the new toilet are taking shape and the water supply has been installed, which explains why it looks as if a giant mole has moved across the church lawn! This makes our GIFT DAY on Saturday 21st March very timely, because the more money we receive on GIFT DAY the more work we can do. All the details of GIFT DAY are below, but can I encourage everyone reading this to consider if they could make a donation to our CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT to install not only an accessible toilet but a servery and new heating in the church. Please be praying now about what you might contribute to the GIFT DAY.

Before that we have our special MOTHERING SUNDAY service at St Columba’s at 10.30am on Sunday and everyone is very welcome, not only mums. The children have several contributions to make in the service and, just to remind parents, there is an extra rehearsal in church from 4 to 5pm today, Saturday 15th March. More details about the service are below.

There is no news yet about a date for Isobel Wasson’s funeral, but I will make sure people know in good time when it is arranged.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 15th March
10.30am – Mothering Sunday All Age Worship at St Columba’s – with puppets, flowers and gifts for mums this promises to be a very exciting service, and not just for mums. Please do come along. This service will be available to watch on YouTube here:
https://youtube.com/live/w9hpZ6sl8AU?feature=share
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
The Discipleship Explored course has two weeks to go, with meetings on Wednesdays 18th and 25th March at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from last week, before watching the next video and discussing questions in small groups. It is likely that the work on the new toilet will mean moving to the Church Hall on Wednesday mornings as we did last week. The evening group will be in church as usual.

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

The plan for the day:
9am: Time to pray together in church – everyone is welcome to join this time of prayer before making their 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 – everyone is 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 – everyone is 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, and 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. You need to have paid as much INCOME TAX, on wages, salary, pension or savings, as the church, and any other charities you have given to with GIFT AID, have claimed. As a guide, if you multiply the amount of INCOME TAX paid this year (found on your payslip or similar) by 4 this will give you the maximum amount you can donate with GIFT AID in one tax year. Just to be clear this is ALL GIFT AID donations, to the Gift Day, General Church Funds and any other charities you support. If you are want to give more than the “4 times” figure you may be able to split the donation between this tax year (ending 5th April) and next tax year (starting 6th April) or only use GIFT AID on part of your donation. If you have any questions about GIFT AID please do speak with our Treasurer, Justin Dyche, or myself or a professional tax advisor.

Sunday 22nd March
9am Holy Communion at St Leonard’s, Rockingham
10.30am Morning Worship at St Columba’s
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 it seemed appropriate that we should focus our prayers on the GIFT DAY and CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
Please give thanks that the work has begun and pray for the contractors who are working in and around the church, asking that God may speak to them. Give thanks too that we have the funds for this first phase of the work to install the accessible toilet, and for those who have given generously in the past to provide these funds. Please pray about your response to the Project, asking the Lord to suggest the amount you should give, and as you do this remember the WOW of giving that we thought about last year, however much you give to God you will never find yourself short of money! Please give thanks for all those who will be making contributions, small and large, to the Project, and for the government allowing us to claim back Income Tax on those donations through Gift Aid. And finally, pray that the amount raised will enable us to complete all the work we would like to do, and more, thanks to our generous God.

Thank you for your prayers and I hope to see you in church, on Mothering Sunday and for the GIFT DAY.

Ian
01536 400225
07903 644609

8th March 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 14 March 2026

Hello everyone,

I must begin this message with the sad news that Isobel Wasson died in the early hours of Friday morning. Isobel suddenly declined in health on Tuesday and had all medication stopped apart from pain relief and was mostly sleeping peacefully for her last couple of days. Hazel was with her most of this time and other family members were also able to visit. I was able to anoint and pray with Isobel on Wednesday afternoon. It is always sad when someone we know comes to the end of their life on earth, but Isobel had a strong faith and we can be confident that she is now with the Lord enjoying the glory of heaven. Please pray for Hazel and all Isobel’s family. As yet there is no date for Isobel’s funeral, but I will make sure people know when it is arranged.

The really exciting news is that work on the new toilet will begin this coming week. You will see fences and a digger outside church and inside church will notice that all the books have now been moved. As explained in the service last week, while we have the money for the toilet we need to raise more funds for the servery and new environmentally friendly heating. A notice was handed out last week and more copies are available in church. These encourage people to pray about how much they might contribute to our PRAYER and GIFT DAY on Saturday 21st March from 9am to 3pm. During this time there will be time to pray, together and alone, as well as for people to make gifts to the CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Everyone is invited to come along, for as short or as long a time as they like, to join in the prayer and giving.
The notice also explains how people can add an extra 25p to every £1 they give by making use of GIFT AID. As a guide, if you know how much INCOME TAX you have paid on wages, salary, pension or savings them you can multiply that amount by 4 to give the amount you can donate with GIFT AID in one tax year (this is ALL Gift Aid donations, to the Gift Day, General Church Funds and any other charities you support). As we are near the end of the tax year it should be possible to find the “Tax to date” figure on your latest payslip or equivalent. If you are want to give more than the “4 times” figure you may be able to split the donation between this tax year (ending 5th April) and next tax year (starting 6th April) or only use Gift Aid on part of your donation. If you have any questions about GIFT AID please do speak with our Treasurer, Justin Dyche, or myself or a professional tax advisor.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 8th March
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – During this service the children and young people will be preparing for next week’s MOTHERING SUNDAY service, so it would be really good to see a good number of children in church. There may be an additional rehearsal for the children, on either Friday at 4.30pm or Saturday afternoon, we will be able to confirm that after tomorrow morning!
This service will be available to watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uBEwVPxj8U0
3pm – Family Service in Rockingham Village Hall – this is the last of the Winter Family Services in the warmer environment of the Village Hall – do come along if you are able to join us.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
The Discipleship Explored course continues this week with meetings on Wednesday 11th March at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from last week, before watching the next video and discussing questions in small groups. It is possible the work on the new toilet will mean moving to the Church Hall on Wednesday morning – look out for messages or notices on the Church and Hall doors.

Friday 13th March – LADIES AFTERNOON TEA
All ladies welcome to join us for the very popular Afternoon Tea at 3pm on Friday in the Church Hall. Our speaker this month is Damian Carr from Hope Church. Please note the April tea is cancelled because of Spring Harvest.

Sunday 15th March
10.30am – Mothering Sunday All Age Worship at St Columba’s – with puppets, flowers and gifts for mums this promises to be a very exciting service, and not just for mums. Please do come along, and children make a note of the information above about coming on Sunday 8th to prepare for this service.
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 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, rather than having a charity of the week I have taken resources from two organisations to help us pray for the situation in the Middle East. First there is a video from Tearfund that you can watch and join in with their prayer. You can watch that here: Pray for peace in Middle East on Vimeo
And second I have included a Prayer from Embrace the Middle East (formerly known as the Bible Lands Society). They introduce the prayer by saying “we watch in dismay and anguish as violence once again escalates in the region. Please join us in prayer:”

Almighty God, our refuge and our strength,
we turn to you as we once again witness the rising of conflict and the fear laid upon ordinary lives.

Trusting in your steadfast love,
we hold before you our friends and partners across the Middle East,
in communities already stretched beyond endurance.
Surround them with your protection.
Be a fortress for those who cannot flee and a shield for those whose work is to heal and to hope.

We remember before you all whose hearts are filled with dread today
and whose future feels unbearably fragile.
Do not let the innocent be swept away by the decisions of the powerful.
Break the bow and shatter the spear.

Open paths for wisdom, restraint, and justice
where none seem possible.
Give courage to peacemakers
and clarity to those who speak truth.

Let your peace take root in scorched and fearful places.
Keep our hearts from despair and teach us to stand with those who suffer,
to pray without ceasing
and to hope, even now, in your redeeming love.

Amen.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

1st March 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 7 March 2026

Hello everyone,

I am sending this email early because it has important news about Sunday and I wanted to encourage all those of you who are friends of St Columba’s to come along and hear about the vision for our CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

In the service on Sunday morning there will be lots more information about the project to provide an accessible toilet and servery in church, and also a new environmentally friendly heating system for the church. Everyone in church on Sunday, and over the next couple of weeks, will be given a notice setting out the vision for the Project, explaining the really good news that God has already provided over half the money we need and inviting them to the PRAYER and GIFT DAY on Saturday 21st March from 9am to 3pm, when there will more time to pray, together and alone, as well as for people to make gifts to the CHURCH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Everyone is invited to come along, for as short or as long a time as they like, to join in the prayer and giving. The notice people are given on Sunday will also explain how people can add an extra 25p to every £1 they give by making use of GIFT AID as well as giving details of how to donate directly. So do please come to church on Sunday, hear about the project, go away and pray about what you might give and then join us on the PRAYER and GIFT DAY on 21st MARCH..

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 1st March
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – this service will include the launch of the Church Improvement Project as outlined above. There will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people age 3-16 and the service will be available on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/MTYaHlgnxHc?feature=share
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

ST COLUMBA’S PCC
A reminder to all PCC members that we have a meeting on Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm in church. Details to follow.

DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
The Discipleship Explored course continues this week with meetings on Wednesday 4th March at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from last week, before watching the next video and discussing questions in small groups. Don’t worry if you have not been before, everyone is welcome and each session stands alone. If you are looking for something to “take up” during Lent, perhaps this is the answer.

Sunday 8th March
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – During this service the children and young people will be preparing for next week’s MOTHERING SUNDAY service, so it would be really good to see a good number of children in church.
3pm – Family Service in Rockingham Village Hall – this is the last of the Winter Family Services in the warmer environment of the Village Hall – do come along if you are able to join us.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

Friday 13th March – LADIES AFTERNOON TEA
All ladies welcome to join us for the very popular afternoon tea. Please note the April tea is cancelled because of Spring Harvest.

CHARITY OF THE WEEK: HOME START, CORBY
Home-Start is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age. They are a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support who help families with children under five with practical and confidential support. “Being a parent can be lonely, frustrating and overwhelming”, Home-start is there for families when they need it the most, because childhood can’t wait. The earliest years make a big difference, Home-Start helps to make those years count, so no child’s future is limited.
Please give thanks for the work of Home-Start, which continues all year round, and pray for all those they work with, and for each child who will be helped by them.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

22nd February 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 27 February 2026

Hello everyone,

I have been feeling under the weather all week, which does mean I have watched far more Curling at the Winter Olympics than is good for me. I will not be at St Columba’s tomorrow, not because of my health (or the Curling) but because I am taking a Communion service at Lowick for a colleague. It was good to celebrate Ash Wednesday together last week and as we move to the first Sunday of Lent, and thoughts about the temptations of Jesus, it is not too late to think about how you might observe this special season in the church year. You may like to think about something to give up and something to take on, although if, like me, you have fallen victim to the Curling, I don’t think giving that up after tonight will have any spiritual benefit! However, if you give up watching a regular TV programme for example, and spend the time praying, reading the Bible, studying a Christian book, or joining Discipleship Explored that will bring blessing. If you would like to borrow a book from the back of church please do so – those books are there to be read, and that means they need to be borrowed!

Work will begin on the Church Improvement Project in the next month or so. This means that our PRAYER and GIFT DAY will come at just the right time to enable the work to be completed. This will take place on Saturday 21st March and there will be more details about this in the coming weeks, but for now can I ask that you all mark out that day in your calendar and plan to spend at least some of the time between 9am and 3pm in church. If you are thinking of making a donation to the Church Improvement Project it may be better to wait until all the publicity about the Gift Day is available. In the meantime please do pray for the Project and ask the Lord to guide you about your response to the Gift Day.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 22nd February
9am – Holy Communion at St Leonard’s, Rockingham
10.30am – Morning Worship at St Columba’s – This service for the first Sunday of Lent will include a sermon from Linda looking at Jesus’ temptations and there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. If you are not able to be in church you can watch the service on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/dkRZ1XBkySc?feature=share
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
After the Ash Wednesday services last week the Discipleship Explored course resumes with the usual format this week with meetings on Wednesday 25th February at 10.30am and 7.30pm. We will look at the homework from session three, and any questions people have and were not able to ask after last week’s talk, before watching the next video and discussing questions in small groups. Don’t worry if you have not been before, everyone is welcome and each session stands alone. If you are looking for something to “take up” during Lent, perhaps this is the answer.

Sunday 1st March
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – this service will include ENERGIZE groups for children and young people age 3-16 and will be available on YouTube – see next week’s email for details.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

CHARITY OF THE WEEK: ENVISION PROJECT, CORBY
Please pray this week for The Envision Project, working here in Corby to provide medium term accommodation for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping. The Project aims to address barriers to long term housing and move residents into what they hope is their ‘forever’ home.
While staying with the Project individuals receive support tailored to their unique needs provided by staff and volunteers who help with:
• Managing debt and budgeting
• Accessing training, education, or employment opportunities
• Navigating the homelessness application and housing pathway
• Addressing physical and mental health concerns
• Developing everyday life skills like cooking, cleaning, and paying bills
• Connecting with addiction recovery networks and services
• Finding and furnishing suitable accommodation
Even after someone leaves their accommodation they continue to offer support to help their former residents maintain their new accommodation. The aim is to ensure that individuals not only find a place to live but are able to keep it, thrive in it, and feel secure in their future.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

15th February 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 21 February 2026

Hello everyone,

I am pleased to say that Vera came out of hospital on Wednesday, but she had been joined in Northampton by Roy Tosh who had a suspected TIA last weekend. Roy is still there and waiting to be assessed by Seagrave House to see if he can be discharged there. Please pray for Roy and Jessie, as well as for Vera continuing her recovery at home.

This week includes Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and Ash Wednesday, with special services morning and evening at St Columba’s (see below). This means that it is the beginning of Lent, that annual season of self discipline when we seek to give something up and take something on. You may give up chocolate (or any other treat) and then use the money to donate to a good cause (our Gift Day falls in Lent, but there are, of course, many good causes you may support), or you may give up watching a favourite TV programme and spend the time reading a Christian book or praying, or you may give up an activity outside the church to make time to attend the Wednesday Course, and although this started two weeks ago you can still join (see details below).

I am also pleased to report that our Church Improvement Project is gathering pace and hopefully work will begin in the next couple of months. This means that our PRAYER and GIFT DAY will come at just the right time to enable the work to be completed. This is scheduled to take place on Saturday 21st March and there will be more details about this in the coming weeks, but for now can I ask that you all mark out that day in your calendar and plan to spend at least some of the time between 9am and 3pm in church. If you are thinking of making a donation to the Church Improvement Project it may be better to wait until all the publicity about the Gift Day is available. In the meantime please do pray for the Project and ask the Lord to guide you about your response to the Gift Day.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 15th February
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – this service will include the final sermon in our series on evangelism, so do come along so that you are prepared to help more people discover the love of Jesus for themselves. There will also be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people age 3-16.
The service will be available to watch on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/Qj9Sd02hihM?feature=share
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

Ash Wednesday Services and DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
We will observe the beginning of Lent with two services of Holy Communion at 10.30am and 7.30pm and I do encourage everyone to attend one of these. The “sermon” in the service will be the video from Discipleship Explored, and I hope we might have time for some discussion over coffee after the service. As mentioned above you may like to use this course as a “Lent Course” and even if you have not attended the first two sessions it is not too late to come along, and this week offers something of a taster so why not join us and give it a try. From next week, 25th February, the Course will return to the usual format, watching the video, discussing questions in small groups and comparing notes at the end.

Sunday 22nd February
9am – Holy Communion at St Leonard’s, Rockingham
10.30am – Morning Worship at St Columba’s – This service for the first Sunday of Lent will include a sermon from Linda looking at Jesus’ temptations and there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

THEATRE NEWS!
If you enjoyed the performance of songs from “Sister Act – The Musical” by Rutland Musical Theatre in church last Sunday morning then you can book to see the whole show at the Core at Corby Cube from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th April (7.30 performances daily and also 2.30 on Saturday) with tickets available from the Corby Cube Box Office, online at Sister Act | The Core at Corby Cube or in person.

CHARITY OF THE WEEK – Samaritans Purse Shoeboxes
I heard this week that my shoebox, along with over 55,000 others, had been delivered to Moldova in eastern Europe. A local church partner there writes:
“Greetings, this is our first time participating in this project and we want to express our gratitude. We held two outreach events for around 80 children. There was a fun programme of games, delicious food, performances by children, a word about the true meaning of Christmas and the distribution of gifts.
The children were very happy about the gifts and their contents. For one child, receiving a sports bottle brought great happiness, while for another it was the sewing kit.
We also had the opportunity to meet some of the parents and subsequently invited the children to The Greatest Journey. Thank you very much for this opportunity. God bless you.”
Please pray for the children who received our shoeboxes, especially as they embark on The Greatest Journey, an opportunity for them to discover Jesus.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

8th February 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 14 February 2026

Hello everyone,

I must start with some news about Vera who went into hospital on Wednesday afternoon with a suspected stroke. I was able to visit Vera yesterday and she had recovered her speech and was able to tell me that it was only a mini-stroke and that she was hoping to be discharged soon. Please continue to pray for Vera to make a full recovery.

Tomorrow is the day when we are welcoming some of the cast of Sister Act to church. They will be performing three songs from the show at the end of the service tomorrow morning. This is a great opportunity to invite people along to church so do make the most of it! More details of tomorrow’s service and how to buy tickets for Sister Act, and the final performances of this year’s Panto, are below.

I was delighted with the large number who came long to our new course called Discipleship Explored on Wednesday morning last week, and the rather smaller group who came in the evening, but nevertheless had a good time of Bible Study and fellowship together. It is not too late for you to join and all the details are below.

I am also pleased to report that our Church Improvement Project is gathering pace and hopefully work will begin on in the next couple of months. This means that our PRAYER and GIFT DAY will come at just the right time to enable the work to be completed. This is scheduled to take place on Saturday 21st March and there will be more details about this in the coming weeks, but for now can I ask that you all mark out that day in your calendar and plan to spend at least some of the time between 9am and 3pm in church. As I said last week, if you are thinking of making a donation to the Church Improvement Project it may be better to wait until all the publicity about the Gift Day is available. In the meantime please do pray for the Project and ask the Lord to guide you about your response to the Gift Day.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 8th February
10.30am – All Age Worship at St Columba’s – this service will include a visit by some of the cast of “Sister Act” which is being performed at the Cube in April (see details below) – they will be singing three songs from the musical in the service, and joining with us as we think more about the theme of love! This would be a great opportunity to invite people along to church, so why not ask someone to join you for what promises to be a very special service. This service will be available to watch on Youtube, but for copyright reasons the songs from Sister Act will not be part of the livestream – the only way to see and hear them is to be in church on Sunday morning. The YouTube link for the rest of the service is: https://youtube.com/live/yGWpm6WskqE?feature=share
3pm – Family Service in Rockingham Village Hall
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

New Wednesday Course: DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
We had the first session of the new Course “Discipleship Explored” on Wednesday, and several people commented how much they enjoyed it, and one said it was better than the Bible Course or the Romans Course. This new course is in a similar format with a video and time for discussion and it is not too late for you to join in, so why not come along on Wednesday 11th February, with meetings in the morning at 10.30am or the evening at 7.30pm. The following week, 18th February, is Ash Wednesday when, instead of the usual course format, we will have a Communion service (morning and evening) using the material from that week of the course as the subject for the sermon. We are starting before Lent so as to complete the 8 sessions before Easter, but do see this as a Lent Course and part of your spiritual discipline for that important season of the year. There is a Course Handbook that can be bought for £2.

Ladies Afternoon Tea
The next Afternoon Tea is on Friday 13th February at 3pm in the Church Hall. All ladies are invited to join us for tea, coffee, sandwiches, scones, cake and conversation. The next Afternoon Tea will happen as usual on Friday 13th March but because most of the team who organise the Teas will be away at Spring Harvest there will be no Afternoon Tea in April.

Sunday 15th February
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – this service will include the final sermon in our series on evangelism, so do come along so that you are prepared to help more people discover the love of Jesus for themselves. There will also be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people age 3-16.
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

THEATRE NEWS!
This is the last chance to see the GELT Pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk“. Tickets for the performances in Hallaton on Saturday 7th or Sunday 8th February both at 3pm are available. These cost £10 for adults, £5 for children and £25 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and are available from gelttickets@gmail.com or 07771 967322.
As mentioned above “Sister Act – The Musical” is being performed at the Core at Corby Cube by Rutland Musical Theatre (after a preview in our All Age service on 8th February) from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th April (7.30 performances daily and also 2.30 on Saturday) with tickets available from the Core at Corby Cube Box Office, either in person or at Sister Act | The Core at Corby Cube

CHARITY OF THE WEEK – Corby Food Bank
Please remember the Food Bank in your prayers this week, giving thanks for all the volunteers who make it happen, and everyone who donates to Food Bank. Also pray for all those who need to make use of Food Banks, both here in Corby and around the country. If you would like to make a donation to the Food Bank the most needed items list is as follows: Tinned Spaghetti in Sauce, Tinned Tomatoes, Tinned Vegetables, Tinned Meat, Tinned Fish, Tinned Fruit, Tinned Custard and Rice Pudding, Coffee, Long Life Juice, UHT Milk, Disposable Razors, Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Toilet Rolls. Thank you to everyone who does donate to the Food Bank.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

1st February 2026

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 8 February 2026

Hello everyone,

I am pleased to say that from Sunday 1st February I will officially be the Vicar of Rockingham as well as St Columba. We are hoping to have a special service in the summer to celebrate this, and there will be more details about that once we have arranged a date.

I am delighted that after a break for Christmas and January we are starting a new course on Wednesdays (morning at 10.30 and evening at 7.30) this coming week. It is called DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED and there are more details below, but I would like to encourage you to join us this Wednesday for the first session of this course.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

Sunday 1st February
10.30am – Morning Worship at St Columba’s – we have changed the pattern of services slightly during the opening months of this year, and this service will include ENERGIZE groups who will be preparing for next week’s All Age Worship (see below for more details about that) so it would be great to have a good number of children on Sunday. This service will also include the third in our series of sermons about evangelism. For those who are not able to join us in church you will be able to watch the service on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/7SzyrQeqlQw?feature=share
5pm (please note the time) – Holy Communion at St Columba’s – everyone welcome to this quieter service which still includes sung worship and a sermon.
There will not be a Prayer Meeting this week.

New Wednesday Course: DISCIPLESHIP EXPLORED
Last year we enjoyed a number of courses on Wednesday evenings at church, including the Bible Course and more recently Romans Course. This new course, Discipleship Explored, is in a similar format with a video and time for discussion and will start on Wednesday 4th February, with meetings in the morning at 10.30am or the evening at 7.30pm. The course will run until Wednesday 25th March, which includes Ash Wednesday (18th February) when, instead of the usual course format, we will have a Communion service (morning and evening) using the material from that week of the course as the subject for the sermon. We are starting before Lent so as to complete the 8 sessions before Easter, but do see this as a Lent Course and part of your spiritual discipline for that important season of the year. There is a Course Handbook that can be bought for £2 on Wednesday.

Sunday 8th February
10.30am – All Age Worship at St Columba’s – this service will include a visit by some of the cast of “Sister Act” which is being performed at the Cube in April (see details below) – they will be singing three songs from the musical in the service, and joining with us as we think more about the theme of love! This would be a great opportunity to invite people along to church, so why not ask someone to join you for what promises to be a very special service.
3pm – Family Service in Rockingham Village Hall
6pm – Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s – everyone welcome.

THEATRE NEWS!
Although the GELT Pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk” will not be performed in St Columba’s Hall this year tickets for the performances in Hallaton on Saturday 7th or Sunday 8th February both at 3pm are available. These cost £10 for adults, £5 for children and £25 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and are available from gelttickets@gmail.com or 07771 967322.
As mentioned above “Sister Act – The Musical” is being performed at the Core at Corby Cube by Rutland Musical Theatre (after a preview in our All Age service on 8th February) from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th April (7.30 performances daily and also 2.30 on Saturday) with tickets available from the Core at Corby Cube Box Office, either in person or at Sister Act | The Core at Corby Cube

CHARITY OF THE WEEK – Tim & Carol Derbyshire (Hope from Above)
Here is a new Prayer Letter Snippets from the Shires. Do have a read to find out what has been happening with Tim and Carol and the wider work of Hope from Above and don’t forget to pray for the things that you read.

God bless you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609