Author: Justin Dyche

9th July 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 15 July 2023

Hello everyone,

Welcome to this week’s email (and sorry it is rather late) in which we begin our goodbyes to Kevin and his family.

This morning I read these words from James 1.12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I thought what a good description of Kevin that is. He has persevered under trial from day one when they moved to Corby and Kate went into hospital, never mind the fact that we were living under Covid restrictions at the time, and there have been other setbacks along the way, but in all of this Kevin’s love for the Lord has shone through. He can indeed look forward to receiving the crown of life that the Lord has promised.

Look out for details below of what is happening tomorrow as we say goodbye to Kevin, Kate and their family.

The description of one who perseveres through trials may also be applied to Steve Scholes, who has endured many problems in recent years, not least with his and Sue’s health, but he too has persevered. The evidence for this is that he has produced 100 editions of Puzzles and Other Stuff for us to enjoy, along with mini-SCaNS and printed SCaNS. Do look at the 100th edition of Puzzles and Other Stuff.

Sunday 9th July
At 10.30am we have a service of HOLY COMMUNION with Kevin preaching and presiding. This will be Kevin’s last service at St Columba’s, and there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. For those who are unable to be in church the service will be available to watch via this link:
https://youtube.com/live/t-LU_dqthfU?feature=share

After the service there will be a LUNCH in the Church Hall to which everyone is invited. This will also include some people speaking about Kevin’s time with us, and a presentation. If you have not yet contributed to Kevin’s leaving gift please do bring your gift to church tomorrow and place it in the box provided or use the Card Reader (but please make sure it is set to Kevin’s Gift).

Then at 3pm Kevin will be leading a FAMILY SERVICE at St Leonard’s, Rockingham, and everyone is welcome to join him there.

In the evening there will be the usual PRAYER MEETING at 6pm in which we will be praying for Kevin (although he may not be there if he has not finished packing boxes ready to move on Monday!)

Fellowship Groups
We will have Fellowship Groups again this week on Wednesday, at 10.30am and 7.30pm so do come along and enjoy some time to study the Bible, pray, and, as the name suggests, enjoy fellowship with one another.

Jesus Revolution FILM
Having mentioned this for the last two weeks I understand it is the SILVER SCREEN showing on Wednesday 12th July. This is for over 50’s and the price of £4.50 includes FREE tea and coffee so do go along and enjoy this true story, if you are not at Fellowship Group.

Next Sunday
We have another special service next Sunday morning at St Columba’s when we welcome a speaker from Tearfund to tell us more about their work. This will be at 10.30am as usual and will include ENERGIZE groups.

Please note that work on refurbishing the church toilets is continuing, and while there are now three toilets in place it will be easier to use the Hall toilets during the service.

With best wishes

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

2nd July 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 8 July 2023

Hello Everyone,

Sunday 2nd July
We have a service of ALL AGE WORSHIP at 10.30am at St Columba’s with lots of participation by the children. If you are unable to join us you will be able to watch the service via this link: https://youtube.com/live/D9ZDs0VJrZ8?feature=share
In the evening we have our usual PRAYER MEETING at 6pm – do come along and join us if you can.

FILM “Jesus Revolution”
I don’t know how many of you made it to see this film last week but the screenings were obviously popular because it is being shown again this week. I would thoroughly recommend it to everyone, although it is 12A so not suitable for young children. The screenings this week are on:
Sun. 2nd July at 8.30pm;
Mon. 3rd July at 1.15pm;
Tues. 4th July at 2.30pm;
Thurs. 6th July at 1.15pm
The film is described as follows: “In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a Jesus Revolution.”

Fellowship Groups
For various reasons we won’t be having Fellowship Groups again this week.

Next Sunday
10.30am at St Columba’s, Corby for Holy Communion – Kevin is presiding and preaching at this and has chosen the reading and songs.
Lunch in St Columba’s Hall between the two services (12 – 2.30). If you can help with the catering please speak to Miriam (we are cooking a meal not having a bring & share so please check what we need).
3pm at St Leonard’s, Rockingham for a Family Service.

Also, the latest news from Tim & Carol Derbyshire in Australia is here. If you would like to read more about the work of Hope From Above please go to this link: https://hfa.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff9e0b92324bbbd9d5b480162&id=b034bc05e5&e=5106e36ee9

May God bless you all in this coming week.

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

25th June 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 1 July 2023

Hello everyone,

I am writing early this week because I wanted to draw your attention to a Christian film being shown at the Savoy cinema this evening, although tickets are limited so you may be better off looking at the other days/times – see below. There are also details of everything else coming up this week, plans for Kevin’s final day with us on Sunday 9th July, and, surprisingly for the end of June, a notice about shoeboxes!

Before all of that can I thank everyone who helped on Wednesday evening to make the Churchwardens’ Admission Service and refreshments go so well.

FILM “JESUS REVOLUTION”
This Christian film is described as follows: “In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a Jesus Revolution.”
You can see this at the Savoy Cinema, Corby either today (Friday 23rd) at 6pm – VERY LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE,
or Sunday 25th at 8.30pm, Monday 26th at 3pm or Tuesday 27th at 2pm – PLENTY OF TICKETS for these three showings.
It looks as if this will be a good film, and it is always good to support films like this being shown in cinemas as it will encourage Savoy, and other cinemas, to show more of them.

MEN’S BREAKFAST
Don’t forget it is Men’s Breakfast at 9am tomorrow, Saturday 24th June. I’m sure there will be plenty of food for all and all men are most welcome.

SUNDAY 25th JUNE
There are three services on Sunday as follows:
9am at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – Holy Communion
10.30am at St Columba’s – Morning Worship with Energize groups. This service will also be available to watch on youtube by going to this link:
https://youtube.com/live/XZ2mNiX0i4s?feature=share
6pm at St Columba’s – Holy Communion. So there will be no Prayer Meeting this week, but do join us for Communion instead.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
No Fellowship Groups again this week.

NEXT SUNDAY 2nd JULY
We have one service at St Columba’s next week: ALL AGE WORSHIP at 10.30am and the PRAYER MEETING also at St Columba’s at 6pm.

SUNDAY 9th JULY – Kevin’s last Sunday
We have a service of HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s at 10.30am, with ENERGIZE groups, followed by LUNCH in the CHURCH HALL. This will be a main meal, if you would like to help with this please speak with Miriam (or reply to this email). After Lunch Kevin, and anyone who wants to join him, will be going to St Leonard’s Rockingham for his final FAMILY SERVICE there at 3pm. Also please do think if you could say a few words at the Lunch to thank Kevin for all he has contributed to the life of our churches and to wish him well for his future ministry at Long Buckby, Watford, West Haddon and Winwick.

SHOEBOXES
James asked if I could give an unseasonable mention for shoes boxes! He says that they sometimes spot suitable presents over the year and if people would like to spread their buying in this way it might help. Also If you don’t feel you can fill a whole box we can take whatever people have and put together full boxes nearer the time, perhaps at a shoe box get together when anyone interested could meet and assemble the boxes and pray over them. Watch this space for details of that and keep an eye out for suitable small toys, games, etc for including in shoeboxes.

AND FINALLY
Here is the latest Mini-SCANS from Steve, with the usual puzzles and funnies and an interesting questionnaire for parents on “How well do you know your children?”

God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

18th June 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 24 June 2023

Hello everyone,

It is good to be back in Corby, although I did not feel quite that way on Tuesday when it was so hot and humid here, without the sea breezes we had become accustomed to in Cornwall! On our trip to the Isles of Scilly we visited the most south westerly church in the British Isles, on St Agnes, where they had some wonderful modern stained glass windows illustrating Bible verses. I will be looking to use those as a sermon illustrations at some point.

Please see below details of what’s happening over the next week.

Sunday 18th June

We have a service of Holy Communion tomorrow at 10.30am at St Columba’s, with Energize groups for children and young people. I will be preaching on Romans 5 v1-8, sadly not one that was illustrated by a window in St Agnes. The service will be available as a livestream for anyone not able to join us in church.

The Prayer Meeting will also be happening at 6pm in St Columba’s for anyone who would like to join in an hour of prayer.

Fellowship Groups

Having completed our study of the Beatitudes there will be a break in Fellowship Group meetings for a couple of weeks as there are other things happening, particularly on Wednesday evenings (see below).

Churchwardens’ Admission Service

Although we elect our churchwardens (Janet Taylor and John Lynch) at the Annual Meeting they do not officially take up their office until they attend an Admission Service led by the Archdeacon. This year we are hosting the Admission Service for Corby and Kettering Deaneries at St Columba’s on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. You are welcome to come along and support John and Janet in the service (there will be about 100 churchwardens from different churches present!) but we also need help with refreshments. If you can make cakes, or help serve in the Hall after the service, please do speak with Miriam – thank you.

Men’s Breakfast

Men of the church! Come and join us for a special Men’s Breakfast next Saturday 24th June at 9am in the Hall. There will be a sign-up sheet at the back of church this Sunday or you can email Riaan by Tuesday to let him know you’d like to come – riaan.mandy@hotmail.co.uk

Sunday 25th June

There are three services next Sunday as follows:
9am at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – Holy Communion

10.30am at St Columba’s – Morning Worship with Energize groups

6pm at St Columba’s – Holy Communion

And finally…no puzzles etc this week but a request from my neighbour Rab for people to support his friend Hilmi Say to fight Stage 4 Rare Sarcoma Cancer. Any donations would be welcome at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/help-our-hilmi1?utm_term=wdabJ3z2w&fbclid=IwAR3KZANVxwnWlFaZnWXUll-CIyxQqNu5zvtrKZLfeX12pyR8d8mIRnK3IV0

May God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225

07903 644609

4th June 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 10 June 2023

Good afternoon church!

Although I realise it may not be afternoon when you read this! Nonetheless I am sitting here at the Montgomery household enjoying the glorious sunshine this weekend has brought us and looking at God’s creation around me, thankful for all He has done and is continuing to do.
My thoughts are also with all those who need prayer this week, and I would encourage us to remember all of those in prayer who continue to need healing, to know God and His love for them.

Do also be praying for all that is going on in the life of the church as we continue to love and serve our church family and our community.

Ian and Miriam are away after this Sunday for a week, so please pray for a relaxing and refreshing time for them both – and that the sunshine continues!

TRINITY SUNDAY 4th June 2023
10:30am After celebrating Pentecost last week, we look forward to Trinity Sunday this week and our All Age Celebration Service here at St Columba, we’d love to see you there but if you aren’t able to be there in person you can still be with us online as normal. https://youtube.com/live/cFXfnuGLql4?feature=share
6pm We gather for our prayer meeting here at St Columba, we have a faithful core of people joining us each week but are happy to welcome more so if you keen to pray, or indeed need prayer then do join us this Sunday evening.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
There are no fellowship groups this week but they will be back next week on the 14th June.

LADIES AFTERNOON TEA
The Ladies afternoon tea is on this Friday at 3pm in the St Columba church hall, do come along and enjoy a great afternoon together.

UPCOMING FUNERALS
We have several funerals coming up at St Columba, please do be praying for all the families involved. I’d like to particularly mention the funeral of Eileen Hippey this Tuesday the 6th June at 12pm at St Columba. Please be praying for Caroline and for all the family and friends of Eileen at this time.

I also met with the family of John Burnett whose funeral is on the 12th June at 10am here at St Columba, I understand he and his wife Carol attended St Columba regularly and were involved in children’s work and pathfinders, although a good few years ago some you might well remember them, please keep Carol and the family in your prayers as well.

We also have the funeral service of Marjorie Childs on the 13th June at 12pm, who again I understand was part of the St Columba church family in the past. Please pray for her family at this time.

NEXT SUNDAY 11th JUNE
We have our Holy Communion service at 10:30am at St Columba in the morning and our prayer meeting at 6pm.
St Leonard also have something very special happening, Rockingham Castle is having a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and as it coincides with the St Leonard Family Service they are having a Teddy Bear’s service led by our very own David Bavin and the crew from St Leonard. It’s at 3pm so do go along if you can and of course – take a teddy bear!

ANNOUNCEMENT
Most of you will have heard this if you were at church last week, but to let you all know I have been offered and accepted the post of Vicar of the parishes of Long Buckby with Watford and West Haddon with Winnick. It’s a wonderful set of four rural parishes about 10 miles outside of Northampton in the evangelical tradition of the Church of England.
Obviously I am sad to be leaving the St Columba and St Leonard church families but for curates it is expected and always a season to learn and grow in their ministry before moving on to lead and serve another church family.
My last Sunday at St Columba will be the 9th July and my licensing at the new parishes takes place on the 23rd August at 7:30pm at St Lawrence, Long Buckby.
We are planning a church lunch on the 9th July straight after the morning service to have a proper opportunity to say goodbye, do put it in your diary if you are able to make it – it would be great to have you there.
I have linked here a copy of the announcement for those who like to see these things.

STEVE’S PUZZLES AND OTHER STUFF
There’s another great edition of Steve’s Puzzles and Other Stuff here, ducks quack, eagles soar – have a read to find out more!

May you know the peace of God this week and the presence of the Holy Spirit with you.

Kevin

07512 822422

28th May 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 3 June 2023

Hello again everyone,

It has been an interesting week, including the encouragement of times spent together in prayer, both at St Columba’s and at Gretton with the “Thy Kingdom Come” gathering on Thursday, but at the same time several people in our church family are in particular need (see Prayer News below) and the need for us to pray is as great as ever. In that context it may seem a shame that we don’t have our Prayer Meeting tomorrow evening, but there will be time to pray for all those in need (including you if you tell us your prayer request, either by coming along to the service or by replying to this email) in the service at 6pm tomorrow when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER NEWS
There are many people we need to remember in prayer including:
Margaret Smith, having come out of hospital last Saturday, had to go back in on Thursday. Please pray that Margaret is able to receive treatment to enable her to make a full recovery and also for her husband Ian who is understandably worried.
Trevor Wade has Covid, as does Lesley, but not Kath as I told some people yesterday. Trevor says that Covid is not as bad as last time, but he is very tired so please pray again for a quick recovery.
Shamaila has been unwell all week and was given a blood transfusion yesterday which has led to her feeling much better and with more energy today. She says “praise the Lord for his unfailing and unconditional love” to which we all say Amen, but please continue to pray that Shamaila is restored to full health.

PENTECOST SUNDAY 28th MAY
There are three services on Sunday as follows:
9am at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – HOLY COMMUNION
10.30am at St Columba’s, Corby – HOLY COMMUNION with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. This service will also be available to watch on youtube by going to the following link: https://youtube.com/live/0NN5VMXzwIk?feature=share
6pm at St Columba’s, Corby – PENTECOST PRAISE an evening of worship celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Our Fellowship Groups will meet again on Wednesday next week at 10.30am and 7.30pm continuing to look at the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 – everyone is welcome.

CHURCH GARDEN
We are looking for helpers, young and not so young, for the new church vegetable garden. There will be an opportunity to meet and work together on Saturday 3rd June from 1.00pm – just come along to church. Tea and cake will be provided. If you want to know more, or would like to help but can’t next Saturday, please speak with John Lynch.

NEXT SUNDAY 4th June
At St Columba’s we have an ALL AGE SERVICE for Trinity Sunday with input from our children and young people at 10.30am and our PRAYER MEETING at 6pm.

AND FINALLY
The latest Puzzles & Other Stuff is here. This includes a piece on “You’re never too old/ young to do things for/with God” with illustrations from the lives of well-known people, a moving assignment by a boy with autism, and the usual puzzles, quizzes, and Dingbats. Please let Steve know (by replying to this email if necessary) what you enjoy and what you like and would like more of.

May God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

21st May 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 27 May 2023

Good morning everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week and that many of you are making use of the NOVENA mission prayer journal for THY KINGDOM COME, the season from Ascension to Pentecost. If you missed that in last week’s email it is available to download here:
https://www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/default/files/2023-04/TKC%20Novena%202023%20DIGITAL.pdf
There is also a special Deanery Prayer Meeting for Thy Kingdom Come on Thursday at Gretton – see below for details.

PRAYER NEWS
There are several items for prayer, beginning with a thanksgiving for Barbara Bradshaw who I mentioned last week was in hospital. I am pleased to say Barbara came home on Sunday afternoon, made a quick recovery and she thanks everyone for their prayers.
Some of us were also praying for Shamaila this week who has not been well and had to have a chest X-ray which was clear. Please continue to pray that she is restored to full health quickly.
Margaret Smith had an operation on Monday and has spent the week recovering in hospital but is hoping to come home this weekend. Please pray that she is able to do that and for a full recovery.
Lilian Barnes is known to some of you from Lunch Club/Afternoon Tea and Pam Williams tells me that she is also in hospital at the moment so please pray for her treatment to be effective.
Kath Wade has been suffering from an infection this week and while she is now on the mend would appreciate prayer for a full recovery.
And finally Sheila met Diana Loveday yesterday who is off work with fibromyalgia while David is suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – please pray for them both.

SPRING HARVEST 2024
If you have indicated that you would like to go to Spring Harvest next year (at Butlin’s, Skegness from 1st to 5th April) please could you make sure that we have your deposit (£35 per adult and £20 per child age 2-14) this weekend. so if you are not at the morning service or evening prayer meeting please can you call round with cash/cheque or make a payment to the church bank account (details available on request but please put SH24 as a reference and let Miriam know). If you are still thinking about going please do speak with Miriam.

SUNDAY 21st MAY
We have one service at St Columba’s tomorrow, MORNING WORSHIP led by Rosie with a sermon from Kevin looking at the story of the Ascension from Acts 1 v 6-14. This service will include ENERGIZE groups for children and young people and can be watched on youtube by going to this link:
https://youtube.com/live/otkkV-9_Vdc?feature=share
We also have the PRAYER MEETING at 6pm.

CHURCH GARDEN
At the last PCC meeting it was proposed we do something towards the helping of the environment, in line with King Charles philosophy. A sub committee was formed to look at what we could do with our lawns around the church, this sub committee met to review some of the ideas, including:

1. A portion of the front lawn is to be planted with wild flowers to attract the bee’s and butterflies, for which donations of wild flower seeds are requested.
2. A small section of the lawn at the back of church is to be put down to growing vegetables for distribution for those that need them, also donations of
   seedlings and seeds would also be required for this, i.e. beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes etc
3. A team of volunteers to help get this started by preparing the ground for the wild flower seeds and the trial section of the veg patch.
4. Any gardening equipment that would be useful would be greatly appreciated.
5. We also need at least one more volunteer to join Derek and Chris on the church grass cutting team.
   All those that wish to help, including the younger members of our church, please contact John Lynch after one of our services.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Our Fellowship Groups will meet again on Wednesday next week at 10.30am and 7.30pm continuing to look at the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 – everyone is welcome.

THY KINGDOM COME PRAYER EVENT – Thursday 25th May 7.30pm at Gretton church
Steve Benoy, the Bishop’s Chaplain, former DDO and vicar of Christ the King Kettering, is observing the Thy Kingdom Come season by walking across the diocese from Brackley to Peterborough and will be in Corby Deanery on Thursday 25th May. At the end of each day’s walk he is gathering with people from the deanery he is in to pray for mission. Our gathering is in Gretton church at 7.30pm and everyone who is concerned about mission (and that should be all of us) is welcome. The next day Steve will walk from Gretton into Rutland deanery, then go via Oundle deanery on Saturday to Peterborough where he arrives on Sunday.

PENTECOST SUNDAY 28th MAY
There are three services next Sunday as follows:
9am at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – HOLY COMMUNION
10.30am at St Columba’s, Corby – HOLY COMMUNION with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.
6pm at St Columba’s, Corby – PENTECOST PRAISE an evening of worship celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit, so no Prayer Meeting next Sunday.

HFA NEWS
Please find here the latest PRAYER UPDATE from Hope from Above.

AND FINALLY
There are no Puzzles attached this week but there will be a new PRINT edition of SCANS available in church tomorrow so don’t forget to pick up your copy. On the subject of things to pick up there are just a few CORONATION GOSPELS still available, why not take one to give to a friend, neighbour or colleague. I handed some out in the week and they were very gratefully received. There are also still some FREE copies of CHRISTIANITY magazine available to anyone who would like one.

May God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

14th May 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 20 May 2023

Hello everyone,

I hope you have all had a “douze points” week! I promise that is the only reference to Eurovision in this email because there are far more exciting things happening in our churches. However before that I have one prayer request to share with you. Barbara Bradshaw was admitted to hospital yesterday evening with a chest infection for which she is receiving treatment. Please pray for a quick and full recovery.

SUNDAY’S SERVICES

10.30am HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s, Corby with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people, and a sermon from Linda. For those unable to join us in church this service will be available to watch on youtube by going to the following link: https://youtube.com/live/V0IbYHZY3OI?feature=share

3pm FAMILY SERVICE at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – everyone is welcome to join us for this service. Just drive into the Castle and tell the person in the kiosk that you have come for the church service, park as directed and walk down to St Leonard’s.

6pm PRAYER MEETING – do join us for an hour of prayer in St Columba’s.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Our Fellowship Groups will meet in St Columba’s as usual on Wednesday at 10.30am and 7.30pm.

ASCENSION DAY
There is a special service of Holy Communion for Corby Deanery at Wilbarston Church on Thursday 18th May at 7.30pm. Please let me know if you would like a lift to this service, or if you could offer a lift. Ascension Day also marks the beginning of THY KINGDOM COME, eleven days of prayer from Ascension to Pentecost, especially focussing on our witness to five friends, neighbours, work colleagues or relatives. There are a number of resources available online to help with this, including NOVENA with daily readings from the book of 1 John, reflections written by The Very Reverend Bob Key and a commendation from the Archbishops. This is available as a PDF download here:
https://www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/default/files/2023-04/TKC%20Novena%202023%20DIGITAL.pdf

Steve Benoy, the Bishop’s Chaplain, former DDO and vicar of Christ the King Kettering, is observing the Thy Kingdom Come season by walking across the diocese from Brackley to Peterborough and will be in Corby Deanery on Thursday 25th May when there will be an evening gathering in Gretton church in the evening – exact time to be confirmed next week.

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES:
21st May
10.30am Morning Worship at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.
6pm Prayer Meeting in St Columba’s
28th May
9am Holy Communion at St Leonard’s, Rockingham.
10.30am Holy Communion at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.
6pm Pentecost Praise at St Columba’s – a special service to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

SCaNS
Here is the latest edition of Mini-SCaNS. Steve says this is “to enjoy, challenge, puzzle, amuse and entertain you, including a computer quiz in which I hope most people will be able to answer some of the questions and pick up some knowledge from the answers.
There’s a great ‘Hello Sweetie’ puzzle inviting you to recognise 36 favourite sweets.   An amazing story of an athlete who refused to win a race and pushed the runner ahead of him (who had stopped because he was confused as to where the race ended) across the line so that he won … and lots of puzzles and amusing stories.  Plus a short extract from a sermon and a snake story both about pressing on with the Lord and not giving in when things get tough.
My favourite true funny story is the one about Mark Twain (underneath the hidden objects puzzle).”

As I said lots of exciting things going on over the next couple of weeks.

God bless you all,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

7th May 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 13 May 2023

Happy Coronation Weekend everyone,

Whether you are a supporter of the Royal Family or a sceptic we cannot deny that today is a moment in history. It is also a service of Christian Worship, including much that we are familiar with, Bible readings, sermon, prayers, even Communion, as well as much pomp and pageantry that would not sit so comfortably in a local church! We do all need to pray for King Charles as he is crowned and makes his promises to God and to all of us, and as he continues to serve us in the months and years to come.

We will be celebrating the Coronation at St Columba’s on Sunday, both in our Morning Service at 10.30am (which will also feature some reflections on Spring Harvest 2023, and an invitation for you to join us next Easter – see below) and also in the picnic afterwards. The weather forecast has improved so hopefully we will be able to be outside for the picnic, but if there is rain about we will move into the Hall. Please bring your own food and cold drinks and we will provide hot drinks. It would also be helpful if you could bring picnic chairs, or a blanket – but don’t worry if you come empty handed, I’m sure we will be able to provide chairs and food for you to enjoy!

If you are not able to join us tomorrow you can watch the service on youtube by going to this link:
https://youtube.com/live/qENPD7FCDR0?feature=share

PRAYER MEETING Tomorrow evening we will meet for our regular hour of prayer at 6pm, which will include a time of prayer for King Charles.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS will meet as usual on Wednesday at 10.30am and 7.30pm.

LADIES AFTERNOON TEA will meet on Friday this week, 12th May, at 3pm in St Columba’s Church Hall. All ladies are welcome and we do encourage you to invite friends and family to join you for this.

MEN’S BREAKFAST – Saturday 13th May at 9am, in St Columba’s Church Hall. Again all men are welcome and do encourage friends, neighbours and work colleagues to join us.

NEXT SUNDAY 14th May
We have a Communion Service at St Columba’s at 10.30am and a Family Service at St Leonard’s, Rockingham at 3pm.

SPRING HARVEST 2024 – Skegness Easter Monday 1st April to Friday 5th April
While we were at Spring Harvest this year we were able to book some accommodation for next year which is great – but we do need to collect deposits (£35 per adult and £20 per child 2-14) by next Sunday 14th May. The accommodation options are:
FAIRGROUND APARTMENTS – sleep 4 in one double room and one twin room, with shower room, living room and kitchen. £241 per adult,
SILVER ROOM – sleep 2 in double or twin room with shower room but no living room or kitchen. £204 per adult.
Children age 2-14 have a £20 reduction on adult prices, and under 2’s are free.
DINING PACKAGES – you can choose to be catered for by our Church Family or Self Catering, or a Butlin’s Dining Package which can be booked later – Premium Dining will cost £127 per adult, £71.80 per child (6-14), and £35.80 per child (2-5); Standard Dining is £95.80 per adult, £58 per child (6-14), and £27.20 per child (2-5).
Please speak to Miriam if you would like to book or have any questions, or reply to this email or phone me on the numbers below – we would love you to join us and to experience a truly uplifting time of worship, teaching and fellowship with people from St Columba’s.

Miriam and I will be away for a few days in the middle of next week but Kevin is here if you need to speak with anyone and I have included his number below as well.

God bless,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

Kevin 07512 822422

30th April 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 6 May 2023

Hello again everyone,

I hope you are all keeping well and looking forward to the Coronation next weekend. There is more information about that below, as well as information about a special Call to Prayer on Tuesday morning, and details of all our upcoming activities, so do take note of all the dates and times and plan to join us.

On the subject of prayer please can you pray for Sheila and her family who are going through a series of difficult situations, most recently Juliette spending last night in A&E with pain in her arm which has been linked to nerve issues in her neck, worryingly like her sister Maria has experienced. Please pray for Sheila to have the strength to support all her family and for an end to the seemingly constant attacks.

Sunday 30th April
We have a choice of two services at St Columba’s tomorrow:
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP led by William with a sermon by David looking at John 10.1-10 and including ENERGIZE for children and young people.
For those who are unable to be in church this service can be watched on youtube via this link: https://youtube.com/live/129GEP2ow3U?feature=share
6pm HOLY COMMUNION led by me with a sermon by Kevin looking at Luke 19.37-48.

PLEASE NOTE because of the 6pm service there will be no Prayer Meeting on Sunday but on Tuesday there is:

Northampton Call to Prayer at St Columba’s – Tuesday 2nd May 10am to 12 noon
We are hosting a county wide prayer meeting on Tuesday. This dates back to 1784 and a Call to Prayer issued in response to the teaching of Jonathan Edwards. Please do come along and join us, and a small group who have been continuing this tradition in churches around the county every month since 1996. The time will include prayer for St Columba’s and St Leonard’s as well as for the wider county, the nation and the world. As the original call to prayer said in 1784: “Who can tell what the consequences of such an united effort in prayer may be! Let us plead with God the many gracious promises of His Word, which relate to the future success of His Gospel”

PCC on Tuesday
PCC members should note there is a meeting on Tuesday evening – agenda to follow.

Fellowship Groups
These will be meeting on Wednesday at 10.30am and 7.30pm and continuing to look at the Beatitudes.

Coronation Afternoon Tea at Lodge Park Academy 2pm Friday 5th May
Those of you who have been to one of Lodge Park’s previous teas will know how enjoyable they are for both students and those attending. Please let me know if you would like to go so that I can give the school an idea of numbers – either email ianpullinger@btinternet.com or tell me in church tomorrow.

Coronation Celebration at St Columba’s – Sunday 7th May from 10.30am
We have our regular 10.30am service which will celebrate both the Coronation and Spring Harvest this year where we learned about the Upside Down Kingdom. PLEASE could those who went to Spring Harvest let me know if they have a memory they would like to share (even if only short and if it has more to do with swimming or the fair!) and also a favourite song from this year.
After the service and coffee we will move outside for a picnic (please bring your own food and cold drinks – hot drinks will be provided) and informal time of fellowship and fun.
BOTH the service and picnic are open to all, so please do come along and invite others to join you.

There is also something of a Coronation theme to this week’s Puzzles and Other Stuff.

Looking ahead to next week we have two very important gatherings coming up:
LADIES AFTERNOON TEA – Friday 12th May at 3pm
MEN’S BREAKFAST – Saturday 13th May at 9am

Best wishes,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609