Author: Justin Dyche

19th February 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 25 February 2023

Hello again,

Let me begin with some good news and answers to prayer. I visited both Margaret Freeland and Pam Williams in the last few days, both are now at home after lengthy stays in hospital, both are doing well and grateful for prayers from the church family. Those who are still in need of prayer will be a particular focus of the Healing Service at St Columba’s on Sunday 26th February. Please do come along to this service to pray for them, to bring your own request for healing (either for yourself or someone you know), or simply to enjoy fellowship with the church family at 5pm.

THIS SUNDAY
Please join us at St Columba’s tomorrow, 19th February, for a service of MORNING WORSHIP with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. David is leading this and Linda preaching on Matthew 17 v1-9 and 14-23. If you can’t make it to church you can watch online by following this link:
https://youtube.com/live/oAnJ9TOdIAc?feature=share
We also have our PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s at 6pm on Sunday evening.

ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent starts this week and it is always good to mark the beginning of this special season in the life of the church with worship. We have two identical services of HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s, at 10.30am and 7.30pm. These will be in place of Fellowship Groups for this week, but the Groups will be back next week – perhaps one of your Lent disciplines could be joining one of them? I do encourage you to think of ways in which you might observe Lent this year, and if you don’t have any ideas come along on Wednesday and next Sunday to be inspired!

NEXT SUNDAY
We have a choice of three services next Sunday. At St Leonard’s, Rockingham there is a service of HOLY COMMUNION at 9am and at St Columba’s there is COMMUNION at 10.30am with ENERGIZE groups, and, as mentioned above, a HEALING SERVICE at 5pm. You would be most welcome to any or all of these.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
St Columba’s ANNUAL MEETING this year is on Sunday 12th March and will be held after the morning service in the Church Hall at about 12 noon. It will be followed by a BRING & SHARE LUNCH to which everyone is invited. Please make sure you have made a note of this date, and do try and come along to the meeting, even if you can’t stay for lunch.
This meeting is the time when we elect Churchwardens to serve us over the next 12 months, Deanery Synod representatives to serve for three years and one third of our PCC members who also serve for three years. If you would like to be considered for one of these roles please do ask me for a nomination form (all roles require the person nominated to be proposed and seconded by two people entitled to vote at the meeting).
The revised ELECTORAL ROLL is on display at the back of church, along with the formal notices about the meeting (strictly speaking it is two meetings, one for electing churchwardens and one for the rest of the business).
Any questions please do speak with me.

BISHOP’S BIBLE DAY
This is taking place at Northampton High School on Saturday 18th March from 9.30am to 4pm. It is a day for everyone to explore the Bible together, with a focus on the Psalms. The keynote speaker, Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley, will be looking at Psalms 23 and 137, and there are a range of workshops. You can book tickets (there is no charge for the day, which includes a cold lunch, but donations are welcome) and find details of all the workshops here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bishops-bible-day-tickets-503194848337

ATTACHMENTS
Please find here the latest PRAYER UPDATE from HOPE FROM ABOVE in Australia and STEVE’S PUZZLES & OTHER STUFF. Steve tells me there are some new types of puzzle, some great stories and aahhhs! As a football fan I was struck by the front page article about Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool striker, do have a read even if you don’t support Liverpool. There is also an article by Bishop John with ideas about what we might do during Lent.

May God be with you in this coming week, and especially may He inspire you to do something special during the season of Lent.

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

12th February 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 18 February 2023

Hello everyone,

It has certainly been quite a week, with the Church of England General Synod’s debates occupying much time and attention, and not a little space on Facebook. If you would like to talk to me or Kevin about anything, either from the debates themselves, or from the comments made in response to those debates, please do get in touch.

Of course, the people of southern Turkey and northern Syria have had the worst possible week with the utter devastation caused by the earthquakes. I am sure many of you have been moved by the pictures of people being rescued from under the rubble, but this is only the beginning of a long journey to recovery, and there is much that they need to survive the cold winter nights. If you would like to support the relief effort can I encourage you to give direct to a Christian charity such as Tearfund who are already working in Syria. You can give to Tearfund by following this link:

https://www.tearfund.org/get-involved/donate/donation-forms/donation-form?appeal={4DE36746-C78E-49F5-8E5D-CE559F8BD692}&tf_source=224930

PRAYER NEWS

I am pleased to be able to share the good news that Pam Williams was due to come out of hospital today. While this is a cause for thanksgiving please continue to pray for Pam to regain her strength.

Please also pray for Sue Scholes who passed out yesterday morning. She did not injure herself but was clearly shaken, as was Steve, and with her other medical conditions Sue really does need God’s healing.

SUNDAY SERVICES

We have two services tomorrow. HOLY COMMUNION at 10.30am at St Columba’s, with my final sermon on the book of Ezra and ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. Then in the afternoon at 3pm there is a FAMILY SERVICE in Rockingham Village Hall. If you have not been before the Hall is on the left as you drive through Rockingham from Corby, before the Sondes Arms and there is a small car park up the lane by the old telephone box. Everyone is welcome to either or both of these services, but if you can’t make it then there is  livestream link to the St Columba’s service here: https://youtube.com/live/RF5qaYXe0uw?feature=share

PRAYER MEETING

There will be the usual Sunday evening Prayer Meeting at St Columba’s tomorrow at 6pm. Do come along and join in us in an hour of prayer for our Hope Into Action House and Tenant, for the Church and the World, especially those affected by the earthquake, and for one another, especially those in need.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

We continue our studies in the book of Colossians, this week looking at chapter 2 v6-23. The groups meet on Wednesday morning at 10.30am and evening at 7.30pm. Once again everyone is welcome and it doesn’t matter if you have not been to the previous studies.

NEXT SUNDAY

On Sunday 19th February we just have the one service of Morning Worship at St Columba’s at 10.30am.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Lent begins on 22nd February and to mark the beginning of this special season in the life of the church we will have two services of Holy Communion at St Columba’s at 10.30am and 7.30pm, in place of Fellowship Groups.

AND FINALLY

There are no Puzzles etc from Steve this week but there are still printed copies of SCANS in church. And also if anyone lost an earring in St Leonard’s church Rockingham at Christmas please do let me know.

May God bless you and watch over you,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

29th January 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 4 February 2023

Hello everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week as I did up in North Wales at Gladstone’s Library.

PRAYER NEWS
Some of you will have heard that Roy Tosh had a fall on Monday and had to go into hospital. He is still there, having had a number of tests. Roy will not be able to return home when he is discharged so while we continue to pray for him to recover we also need to pray for a suitable residential place for him, and for Jess as she comes to terms with this new situation.
James Robb is continuing to improve although he struggles to understand everything, especially that he has now been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes so needs insulin and regular blood tests. He may be allowed home next week, but only to Jim & Debbie’s so please pray that his condition improves enough to allow this, as well as for a full recovery.
Pam Williams is also still in hospital but doing ok. She is now eating a little and has targeted anti-biotics. Her family have been able to visit her and she is most grateful for all our prayers, but please do continue to pray for Pam’s recovery and that she is able to return home soon.

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY
We have two services at St Columba’s, Corby tomorrow. At 10.30am there is HOLY COMMUNION celebrating the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and during that service there will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people who will be preparing for next week’s All Age Service. If you are not able to attend the service then it will be available as a livestream by going to this link: https://youtube.com/live/1a8HNLzmpcQ
Then at 5pm we have a SONGS OF PRAISE service. A big thank you to those people who have chosen songs and hymns for this service. Do come along if you like a good sing, or if you would like to hear why the songs are special to different people in our church family. After the service there will be a time of prayer.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Our Fellowship Groups continue on Wednesday at 10.30am and 7.30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet with other Christians to read God’s word together and learn from one another. We have just started a new series looking at Colossians and everyoine is very welcome.

PANTOMIME – Dick Whittington
This week we are looking forward to performances by the Great Easton Little Theatre Company of theor 2023 Pantomime, DICK WHITTINGTON. This is happening in the Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February also at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children and £20 for a Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) and are available either after the services tomorrow, by phone to 01536 400225 or by email to gelttickets@gmail.com
I understand there are plenty of tickets for Friday evening and Sunday afternoon while Saturday afternoon is selling fast but there are tickets available. Do plan to come along, bring family and friends with you, and tell everyone you know.

NEXT SUNDAY 5th February
We have a service of ALL AGE WORSHIP at St Columba’s next Sunday morning at 10.30am and everyone is welcome as we celebrate the wonderful world God created for us.

MEN’S GROUP
The next meeting of the Men’s Group will be on Saturday 11th February from 9am to 11am in St Columba’s Church Hall for breakfast. All men are welcome, including any guests you would like to bring along with you.

AND FINALLY
Steve has taken a well deserved week off from Puzzles & Other Stuff, in order to concentrate on producing a printed edition of SCANS! Here is a prayer update from HOPE FROM ABOVE so do make use of that.

May God be with you all,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

22nd January 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 4 February 2023

Hello again everyone,

I begin with some NEWS FOR PRAYER.
Last week we heard about Jim & Debbie’s son James who is in Northampton Hospital after suffering a stroke. He is only 35yrs old. I have heard from Debbie today that James is showing some improvement but it is going to be a long road. She adds that she has a permanent headache from worry but that otherwise she and Jim are ok. Please pray for complete healing for James and peace for Jim and Debbie.
Please also pray for Pam Williams who is Kettering General Hospital with abdominal issues. This has led to Pam not eating and so she is also very much in need of our prayers.
On a more positive note Margaret Freeland was moving back into her bungalow today after a stay in the Community Hospital since before Christmas. Let us give thanks for this and pray that Margaret settles in to the new routine with more carers coming in each day.

GIVING TO THE CHURCH
Thank you to everyone who responded to the letters our Treasurer James sent out last year asking people to review their giving. There are some people who said they would increase or round up their giving via the PARISH GIVING SCHEME (PGS) but have not yet contacted PGS to change their Direct Debit. Unfortunately James cannot do this for you and you have to contact PGS either via their website where you can log in to your account: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk
You can also contact PGS by post to: 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3BD
Phone: 0333 002 1260
or Email: info@parishgiving.org.uk
If anyone else would like to increase their giving, or start giving, to the church please do speak with James who will be able to provide all the details you need.

SERVICES ON SUNDAY
There are two services on Sunday. At St Leonard’s, Rockingham there is HOLY COMMUNION at 9am and at St Columba’s MORNING WORSHIP (with ENERGIZE groups) at 10.30am.
We also have our regular PRAYER MEETING at 6pm in St Columba’s.

WARM SPACES
Thank you to everyone who helped with the Warm Spaces for our Community on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. There is still space for others to help out, especially on a Wednesday, so do look out for the SIGN UP SHEETS at church again tomorrow. The Green Room in the Church Hall will be open again this week from 2-4pm on Tuesday and 12-4pm on Wednesday for anyone who wants to spend some time out of the cold and to enjoy some tea, cake and friendly conversation so do spread the word of you know anyone who may benefit.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Our new season of Fellowship Groups started last week with an introduction to the book of Colossians. The groups both meet on a WEDNESDAY, either in the morning from 10.30 to 12 noon (after which you could join the Warm Space for an hour or so) or the evening from 7.30 to 9pm. Please do come along, it won’t matter that you missed the first session as we are looking at Colossians 1 this week.

SONGS OF PRAISE
Next Sunday at 5pm we have a Songs of Praise service but we still need you to suggest more songs that you would like to sing in the service, and that you would be prepared to introduce, saying why it is a favourite. You can do this either by replying to this email, or by speaking to Trevor or me at church tomorrow.

SUNDAY MORNING
Our morning service at St Columba’s next Sunday at 10.30am will be HOLY COMMUNION with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people.

PANTOMIME
We are delighted to once again host the Great Easton Little Theatre Company’s Pantomime, which this year is DICK WHITTINGTON. This will be happening in the Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February also at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children and £20 for a Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) and are available either after services at St Columba’s, by phone to 01536 400225 or by email to gelttickets@gmail.com
I understand there are plenty of tickets for Friday evening and Sunday afternoon while Saturday afternoon is selling fast but there are tickets available. Do plan to come along, bring family and friends with you, and tell everyone you know.

PUZZLES
Please find attached a BIG ISSUE of Steve’s Puzzles and Other Stuff. This not only refers to the mushroom pictures, but also the puzzles! However Steve says there won’t be an edition next week as he is working on the next print edition of SCANS, so you have a fortnight to complete them!

I won’t be around this week as I am taking a Reading Week, but Kevin is here and can be contacted on 07512 822422.

May God bless you all in this coming week.

Ian

15th January 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 21 January 2023

Hello Everyone,

Can I begin by thanking you all for your prayers over the last few weeks while I have not been well, I am pleased to say that they have been answered and I am almost back to 100%, although after doing next to nothing for three weeks it is taking a little longer than I would like to be fully fit! The lesson I learnt from my experience is that I should have had the flu jab, and will definitely be doing so in future!

There are details of everything that is happening over the next few weeks below, so please do have a read and take note of all that is going on.

WARM SPACE
Before Christmas St Columba’s signed up with the Council to open as a warm space for people who needed somewhere safe and warm to go during the winter. We have not started this yet, but with the weather turning colder next week now seems to be the perfect time to do so. We have advertised that we are open on Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm and on Wednesday from 12 noon to 4pm. Both of these sessions will make use of the Green Room in the Church Hall and on Wednesday we will offer soup as well as tea & coffee. We need volunteers to help with the sessions, which might just be sitting in the Green Room for an hour or two, or might involve making drinks and chatting with people who come in. There will be a SIGN UP SHEET in church tomorrow so if you are available at any of these times, even if it is just for an hour, please do put your name down. If we have lots of volunteers we may have a rota so people do not need to help every week.
Please note that we chose those times because there will already be, or have been, heating on in the Hall, and that some of the PCC’s charitable giving last year was set aside to fund projects to help with the cost of living crisis which we will use to help with the cost of heating.
THANK YOU if you are able to help with this important initiative.

SONGS OF PRAISE
We have planned a Songs of Praise service in two weeks time on Sunday 29th January at 5pm. In order to do this we need you to suggest songs that you would like to sing in the service, and that you would be prepared to introduce, saying why it is a favourite. You can do this either by replying to this email, or by speaking to Trevor or me, as soon as possible and definitely by next Sunday (22nd January) morning.

SUNDAY 15th JANUARY
This week sees the return of ENERGIZE groups for children and young people after the Christmas break, so please do encourage those you know to come along and join in. The service in St Columba’s tomorrow at 10.30am is HOLY COMMUNION, including a sermon by David Bavin on John 1.29-42. If you are not able to come to church then the service can be watched via the following Youtube link: https://youtu.be/tLVPtuBJUC8

PRAYER MEETING
This will meet again on Sunday at 6pm and everyone is very welcome to join us for an hour of prayer.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
I am pleased to announce that Fellowship Groups will be starting again this week. They will both be meeting on a WEDNESDAY, either in the morning from 10.30 to 12noon (after which you could join the Warm Space for an hour) or the evening from 7.30 to 9pm. The groups will be a simple Bible Study (more like the Advent Course on Wednesday morning) which will hopefully mean that different people can be involved in leading them each week. Please do come along, even if you have not been to one of these groups before you would be most welcome.

PRAYER REQUEST
I have received an urgent prayer request from Debbie & Jim Robb as follows:
“Please can I ask the church family to pray for our son James. He is in Northampton Hospital after suffering a bleed on the brain, a stroke. He is very poorly. At only 35yrs old this has been very unexpected. Any help from our Lord will be most valuable.”
Please do pray for James, and Debbie & Jim.

PUZZLES AND OTHER STUFF
Here is Steve’s Puzzles and Other Stuff, with thanks as ever to Steve for preparing these.

NEXT SUNDAY
There are two services next Sunday 22nd January. At St Leonard’s, Rockingham there is HOLY COMMUNION at 9am and at St Columba’s MORNING WORSHIP (with ENERGIZE groups) at 10.30am.

AND FINALLY…it’s PANTO TIME
We are delighted to once again host the Great Easton Little Theatre Company’s Pantomime, which this year is DICK WHITTINGTON. This will be happening in the Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February also at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children and £20 for a Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) and are available either after services at St Columba’s, by phone to 01536 400225 or by email to gelttickets@gmail.com
I understand there are plenty of tickets for Friday evening and Sunday afternoon while Saturday afternoon is selling fast but there are tickets available. Do plan to come along, bring family and friends with you, and tell everyone you know.

May God bless you all in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

8th January 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 14 January 2023

Dear Church Family

“We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Tomorrow is the feast of the Epiphany when we look together at the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. They bring their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to present to him.

I wonder what you got for Christmas gifts this year? I can probably make a good guess that it wasn’t frankincense or myrrh, although perhaps someone got something gold, but if you got something interesting, odd or unusual for Christmas, I’d love you to bring it with you to tomorrow’s service at St Columba to show us all as we talk about gifts! We’re meeting at 10:30am as normal and if you’re unable to be there you can see it live on YouTube or catch up later using this link – https://youtu.be/iIBl3VXqBpg

Our prayer meeting is also back tomorrow at 6pm, we’ll be praying for the year ahead, it would be great to see you there.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Bishop Donald’s farewell service, Sunday 8th January 3:30pm

Choral Evensong at Peterborough Cathedral this Sunday is also the farewell service for Bishop Donald Allister as he retires, all are welcome.

The Alpha Course, Monday 9th January 7:30pm

Our Alpha Course is back this week, so if you were coming before Christmas do make sure it’s in your diary as we continue meeting. For anyone interested in joining it’s not too late, you are very welcome to come, if you have any questions do have a a chat with me (Kevin).

PCC, Wednesday 11th January 7:30pm

A reminder to all PCC members that PCC is back this Wednesday, 7:30pm in the Church, hope to see you there.

COMING UP SOON

Fellowship Groups

We had a lovely finish to our Advent course as we had our Epiphany fellowship group on Wednesday morning, a new fellowship group series will be starting up soon so do keep an eye out for that.

Dick Whittington Pantomime

I was at rehearsals for the pantomime this morning and it’s looking like it’s going to be lots of fun, the performances in the Church Hall are 7:30pm Friday 2nd Feb and 3pm Saturday 3rd Feb and Sunday 4th Feb, tickets are available in Church on Sunday or from Ian, cost is £7 for adults, £5 for children or £20 for a family ticket for two adults and two children.

HOPE FROM ABOVE

The latest newsletter from Hope From Above is now available , do take a look and keep praying for them.

Have a good and blessed day, and hope to see you at Church tomorrow!

With every blessing

Kevin

New Year’s Day 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 7 January 2023

Dear Church Family,

I hope you’re all doing well this week, have had a good Christmas and are looking forward to celebrating New Year. As it’s still New Year’s Eve as I write I wonder how many of us are heading out this evening to celebrate with friends or family or indeed party with the masses! This is the point where I admit that I’ll be tucked up at home instead, but do hope those who are out and about have a good time welcoming in the New Year.

SUNDAY SERVICE
As our Sunday service falls on New Year’s Day this year, we’re having a more relaxed all-age service including Communion where we’ll be welcoming in the New Year together, 10:30am Sunday 1st January 2023. For those of you unable to make it you can be part of the service by joining us live on YouTube using this link: https://youtu.be/V5_7ObfB_t4 – you’ll also be able to catch up with the service later on the same link.

COMING UP
There is no prayer meeting this Sunday, but do keep an eye out for its return in the New Year on Sunday 8th January at 6pm.

Alpha will also be restarting on the 9th January at 7:30pm, if you’re interested it’s not too late to join so do have a conversation with me if you’d like to come along.

We have our Epiphany Fellowship group coming up at 10:30am this Wednesday 4th January 2023 which will finish the Advent course we started before Christmas, everyone is welcome, you don’t have to have been to previous sessions.

PANTOMIME
As we look into the New Year the Great Easton Little Theatre Company are performing their 2023 Pantomime DICK WHITTINGTON in our Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children or £20 for a Family Ticket for 2 adults and 2 children and can be purchased either after St Columba’s services or by contacting Ian.

MINI-SCANS
With thanks to Steve Scholes we have our first Mini-SCaNS of 2023, with some challenges both spiritually and in puzzle form, attached to this email.

Have a great New Year!

With every blessing

Kevin

Christmas Day 2022

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 31 December 2022

Good morning and a very Happy Christmas to you all.

I hope you are full of joy at the thought of celebrating the birth as a human baby of the Son of God who was with God as the world was created. That thought never ceases to amaze me. I hope too that you are all keeping well. Sadly I have been suffering for the last week with the bug that is going round, fortunately Kevin has recovered and has been a great help as I have had very little energy all week.

Just a short email this week to remind you of our remaining Christmas services, and to offer an online alternative for anyone who can’t make it to church.

TODAY – CHRISTMAS EVE
4.30pm CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s – the perfect family occasion with oranges (kindly donated by Tesco – thank you very much), candles and the joy of singing Away in a Manger by the light of those Christingle candles!
11.15pm MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a more traditional service to reflect on the wondrous events of this night all those years ago in Bethlehem.

TOMORROW – CHRISTMAS DAY
10am ALL AGE COMMUNION at St Columba’s
10.30am HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham.

• before the turkey, crackers and party games a chance to gather with our church families to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

ONLINE ALTERNATIVE
I realise there are lots of services on television today, but if you would like something more familiar then we are making available last year’s online Christmas Communion Service. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZNwsFNsyVg

And don’t forget we will gather again on Sunday 1st January 2023 at 10.30am in St Columba’s.

I pray that the joy and peace of Christmas would be with you and all those you love.

Ian

18th December 2022

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 24 December 2022

Hello everyone,

Christmas celebrations are well under way at St Columba’s and St Leonard’s. We have had a busy week of school activities, with St Columba’s full for the Studfall Year 4 Christmas Service on Thursday. Those who came later that day to the Community Carol Service were treated to performances by Lodge Park Academy, Studfall Infants School and Woodnewton – a learning academy, which were all very special.

We also had an entertaining Christmas Family Service at St Leonard’s last Sunday and if you couldn’t make that (the weather was awful) then do join us in the Village Hall on Wednesday evening, when as well as being warm we will enjoy singing some favourite carols, accompanied by mince pies and mulled wine!

There are still lots of Christmas services to look forward to, and all the details are below. Please note that because tomorrow’s Nativity and Candlelit Carol Service are so much better live and in person we are not live streaming them. Do make a note of all these dates as there may not be an email coming out next Saturday, Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Tomorrow, Sunday 18th December
10.30am Nativity Service at St Columba’s with the children presenting the traditional Nativity story and the young people a sketch to make us think.
6.30pm Candlelit Carol Service at St Columba’s. Because of this there will be no Prayer Meeting, and as the next two Sundays are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day the next Prayer Meeting will be on 8th January.

Wednesday 21st December
10.30am Wednesday Morning Communion at St Columba’s. It is a long time since we had a midweek Communion so I hope you will come along and support this extra Christmas service, especially if you are unable to come along to Communion services on Christmas Eve or Day. The sermon will be based on the material that we have been looking at in our Advent Fellowship Group which is not meeting this week. It will become an Epiphany Fellowship Group to finish the course on Wednesday 4th January.
7pm Carols, Mince Pies & Mulled Wine at Rockingham Village Hall

Christmas Eve
4.30pm Christingle Service at St Columba’s
11.15pm Midnight Communion at St Columba’s

Christmas Day
10am (note the time) Christmas Morning Communion for All Ages at St Columba’s
10.30am Holy Communion at St Leonard’s Rockingham

New Year’s Day
10.30am All Age Worship at St Columba’s.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR PARENTS
Please can all children and young people who are involved in the Nativity or Get Closer sketch please come to a dress rehearsal in church TODAY 17th December at 4pm for about an hour and a half. Then on Sunday 18th if they could be at church for 9.45am that will helpful.

PANTOMIME
As we look into the New Year the Great Easton Little Theatre Company are performing their 2023 Pantomime DICK WHITTINGTON in our Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children or £20 for a Family Ticket for 2 adults and 2 children and can be purchased either after St Columba’s services or by replying to this email.

After the school services in church we ran out of copies of the Christmas Newsletter, but I am pleased to say that Steve has printed more so if you have not yet had one be sure to pick up your copy from the back of church tomorrow.

God bless

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

11th December 2022

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 17 December 2022

Hello everyone,

I have been carol singing in the town centre this morning with Christians from other churches in Corby. Apart form the cold it was good to be outside singing about the Saviour who is coming into the world and whose birth is the reason we celebrate Christmas! I have included again a list of Christmas services below, but can I draw your attention to two:

COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE – this Thursday 15th December at 6pm with choirs from Studfall Infants and Lodge Park Academy. It is great that the schools support this service, but we also need you to come along and support them, and especially to listen to their choirs sing in church. There will also be congregational carols so do come prepared to join in singing. Unfortunately this clashes with an event in Coronation Park, but as that is from 5.30-8.30 I would encourage church members to come to St Columba’s for an hour in the warm and then, if you wish, go down for the last hour in the park.

WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUNION – on Wednesday 21st December at 10.30am. It is a long time since we had a midweek Communion so I hope you will come along and support this extra Christmas service, especially if you are unable to come along to Communion services on Christmas Eve or Day.

THIS WEEK’S SERVICES
We have a service of HOLY COMMUNION in St Columba’s at 10.30am on Sunday morning. There will also be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people who will be practising for the Nativity next week (see below). For those unable to be in church you can watch this service via this livestream link:
https://youtu.be/ETkJmiJxuJg

Also tomorrow we have a CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE at St Leonard’s, Rockingham at 3pm and everyone is very welcome to join us for that.

Also this week we have our PRAYER MEETING in St Columba’s on Sunday evening at 6pm, ALPHA in St Columba’s on Monday evening at 7.30pm and ADVENT FELLOWSHIP GROUP on Wednesday morning at 10.30am.

LODGE PARK CHRISTMAS DINNER
All those people who spoke with me about the Christmas Dinner at Lodge Park School are booked in and should aim to arrive at the school for 2pm with a good appetite ready for a school Christmas Dinner. Parking is limited to disabled drivers at the school but plentiful at the Sports Centre. If you have passengers with mobility issues it would be best to drop them at school and drive round to park.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Thursday 15th December
6pm Community Carol Service with school choirs and congregational carols at St Columba’s

Sunday 18th December
10.30am Nativity Service at St Columba’s with the children presenting the traditional Nativity story and the young people a sketch to make us think.
6.30pm Candlelit Carol Service at St Columba’s

Wednesday 21st December
10.30am Wednesday Morning Communion at St Columba’s
7pm Carols, Mince Pies & Mulled Wine at Rockingham Village Hall

Christmas Eve
4.30pm Christingle Service at St Columba’s
11.15pm Midnight Communion at St Columba’s

Christmas Day
10am (note the time) Christmas Morning Communion for All Ages at St Columba’s
10.30am Holy Communion at St Leonard’s Rockingham

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR PARENTS
Please can all children and young people who are involved in the Nativity or Get Closer sketch please come to a dress rehearsal in church next Saturday 17th December at 4pm for about an hour and a half. Then on Sunday 18th if they could be at church for 9.45am that will be helpful.

PANTOMIME
As we look into the New Year the Great Easton Little Theatre Company are performing their 2023 Pantomime DICK WHITTINGTON in our Church Hall on Friday 3rd February at 7.30pm, Saturday 4th February at 3pm and Sunday 5th February at 3pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for children or £20 for a Family Ticket for 2 adults and 2 children and can be purchased either after St Columba’s services or by replying to this email.

And finally big thanks to Steve producing a printed Christmas Newsletter – do make sure you pick up your copy from the back of church tomorrow with lots to inform and entertain.

God bless

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609