14th January 2024

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 20 January 2024

Hello again everyone,

Following last week’s email I am grateful to the people who spoke with me before the PCC’s discussion of our response to the Church of England’s decision to allow prayers of blessing for couples in gay marriages. Following a lengthy discussion the PCC decided by a clear majority (the only votes not in support were three abstentions) that St Columba’s would not offer these prayers because they represent a departure from the Biblical understanding of marriage. Can I also say, as was said in our discussion at PCC, that this decision does not mean that LGBTQ+ people are not welcome at St Columba’s, they, along with everyone else, are most welcome. I realise that this decision may be difficult for some people and I would be very happy to meet with you to discuss this further.

SUNDAY 14th JANUARY
We have a service of HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s at 10.30am, including the first in a series of sermons about Prayers in the New Testament. ENERGIZE groups will also be meeting again following the holidays so all children and young people are encouraged to come along – they will also be looking at Prayer. For those unable to be in church the service is available as a livestream here: https://youtube.com/live/5Oqvbwj_ke4?feature=share
At 3pm there is a FAMILY SERVICE in Rockingham Village Hall, which is so much warmer than the church at this time of year.
Then at 6pm we have our first PRAYER MEETING in this our Year of Prayer, so why not make a special effort to come along and join us.

BEREAVED PARENTS GROUP
On Thursday evening this week (18th January) at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, there will be the first meeting of a new support group for bereaved parents. This is the initiative of one bereaved parent in our community and if you would like to join the group, or know someone who may find it helpful, please come along or pass on the details. Although the group is not a church group I will be attending and offering spiritual support to those who come along. The group will meet on the third Thursday of each month.

NEXT SUNDAY
There is just one service next Sunday: HOLY COMMUNION at 10.30am in St Columba’s with Energize groups. The PRAYER MEETING will also be happening at 6pm.

ALADDIN THE 2024 PANTOMIME
It’s that time of year again when preparations are in hand and tickets being sold for this year’s Panto which will be performed on Friday 2nd February (cabaret style) at 7.30pm and in theatre style on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th February at 3pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for children with a Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for £25. These are available either by email from: gelttickets@gmail.com or by phone to 07771967322 or after church.

Mini SCaNS 37
Here is the latest mini SCaNS about which Steve writes: This issue contains an amazing story of a pastor who God called to pray for a dead colleague who was covered with a tarpaulin, 90 minutes after he was killed in a motoring accident. The pastor felt led to start singing, and his ‘dead’ friend joined in, to the astonishment of the emergency services. The story has been made into a film, available on YouTube. There’s also news of a growth in the number of young people turning to Christ. There are 13 puzzles including a quiz on people in the Bible who prayed and some fab pictures of God’s wonderful world.
Please note there are also printed copies of the last two online Puzzle editions available at the back of church.

May God bless you all in this coming week.

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

7th January 2024

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 13 January 2024

Hello everyone,

Can I begin by wishing everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. I hope that you will know the blessing of our Lord with you during the next 12 months. There is a lot of content this week, including a couple of requests for people to bring things to church tomorrow, so let’s get started.

SUNDAY 7th JANUARY
We have two services at St Columba’s tomorrow. An All Age celebration of Epiphany at 10.30am. This service will include activities for children and, for those who are unable to be in church, will be available as a livestream via this link: https://youtube.com/live/d3giv6Z99T0?feature=share

At 4pm (note the time, an early start for these dark evenings) we have a service of Holy Communion. This service will include the first of a number of sermons looking at Prayer, to mark the start of our Year of Prayer.

PCC
On Tuesday evening our PCC will be meeting and voting on two matters.
The first is the Pastoral Scheme which will formalise our link with Rockingham, make some minor changes to our parish boundary, and make similar changes to several other local churches. Full details of this scheme are displayed on the Notice Board at the back of church.
The second matter is to decide on our response to the Church of England’s decision to allow prayers of blessing for couples in gay marriages. Although the church has stated this is not a change in the doctrine of marriage it is certainly a step in that direction.
If you have any views on either of these matters please speak with me or a PCC member before Tuesday.

AFTERNOON TEA
The Ladies Afternoon Tea will be meeting again at 3pm on Friday 12th January for tea, sandwiches, cakes and conversation. Do come along if you are able and if you know someone who would benefit from that opportunity please invite them along.

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXES
Janet has asked if all Children’s Society boxholders could bring their boxes into church for counting. Thank you to those who have already done so. The proceeds will be added to the Christingle collection, which amounted to £157.86 so a big thank you if you contributed to that. Thanks are also due to TESCO who once again donated all 150 oranges for the Christingle service.

SPRING HARVEST PAYMENTS
Those of you who have booked to go to Spring Harvest in April need to give your final payments to Miriam. If you have not booked but are now interested in going (1st -5th April at Skegness) do also speak with Miriam as we have had a couple of cancellations.

AUTUMN CENTRE SPONSOR MONEY for Mary Craig
If you sponsored Mary’s sponsored walk to raise funds for the Autumn Centre please could you bring the money to church and give it to Mary – thank you.

SUNDAY 14th JANUARY
We have a service of HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s at 10.30am, including a sermon about Prayer. ENERGIZE groups will also be meeting again following the holidays so all children and young people are encouraged to come along – they will also be looking at Prayer.
In the afternoon at 3pm there is a FAMILY SERVICE in Rockingham Village Hall, which is so much warmer than the church at this time of year.

STEVE’S ONLINE PUZZLES AND OTHER STUFF
Steve has tried to link some of articles and puzzles in this edition with prayer, he writes: There are two amazing stories of answered prayer and an opening article telling of Edward Kimble, a Sunday School teacher who led D.L. Moody to Christ, Moody went on to became a world–renowned evangelist, leading a million to Christ, and ultimately led Billy Graham to Christ, who, in turn led over 3 million to Christ! It all started with ONE MAN. There are the usual puzzles and funnies, including a couple of challenging mind–benders, a 2023 quiz, a story about Sir Isaac Newton, both a Christian and scientist, and some pics to remind those of us of a certain age of what it was like when we were younger and the ice formed INSIDE the bedroom window! Enjoy!

HFA UPDATE
Please find here a further Prayer Update from Hope From Above in Australia.

May God bless you today and every day in 2024,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

31st December 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 6 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a really special Christmas and that you are looking forward to 2024. With that in mind this rather short email contains details of our New Year’s Eve service, a special New Year edition of Steve’s Puzzles and Other Stuff, Prayer News from Hope From Above and details of both our services on Sunday 7th January.

Sunday 31st December
We have a special New Year’s Eve service at St Columba’s at 10.30am tomorrow.

Here is Steve’s Puzzles and Other Stuff 106 (a New Year edition).

Here is Hope From Above Prayer Update.

Sunday 7th January
There will be two services at St Columba’s:
10.30am All Age Worship celebrating the Epiphany
4pm (note the earlier time because of the dark evenings) an evening service of Holy Communion with our first sermon looking at the theme of prayer for 2024, our Year of Prayer.

With best wishes to all and, when it comes, a Happy New Year.

Ian

24th December 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 30 December 2023

Hello everyone,

Let me begin by wishing everyone who reads this email a very Happy Christmas. I hope to see many of you in church at one of the services in the next couple of days, all the details are below, but if you are not able to join us then our service tomorrow morning will be on Youtube as usual, see the link below. Christmas is a special time to be in church to celebrate the wonder of God sending His Son to live among people as one of them, so along with everything else that will happen at this time do make time to let this wonder settle in your heart.

There are still lots of Christmas cards at church so if you are coming to any of the services do make sure you look on the table to see if there are any for you.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
10.30am – COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a quieter service with no children’s groups. The Youtube link to watch this service is:
https://youtube.com/live/w56S9kPVBOk?feature=share
4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s – a service especially for children and families. Don’t forget there will be a collection for the CHILDREN’S SOCIETY at this service.
11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a traditional celebration

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICES
10am (note the time) – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a celebration for everyone
11am CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – a more traditional Christmas morning service.

The following Sunday will be New Year’s Eve and we will have a service of MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s at 10.30am.

Then on Sunday 7th January 2024 we will have two services at St Columba’s:
10.30am – All Age Worship for Epiphany
4pm (note the time, so that we at least start in the light) – Holy Communion with a sermon on Prayer at the start of our Year of Prayer.

There are still copies of the CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE available in church, and look out for a special New Year’s Eve edition online next week.

May the wonder of the birth of God’s Son fill your hearts this Christmas time,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

17th December 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 23 December 2023

Dear All,

I have just returned home from carol singing in the Town Centre which was a real joy, both to be with Christians from other churches in Corby but also to hear some wonderful testimony of what the Lord is doing here in our town. As we celebrate Christmas let us remember that we celebrate a Lord who came, but who is with us still, and is able to transform our lives just as he was able to transform the lives of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men all those years ago.

Mention of the characters in the Christmas story reminds me of St Columba’s NATIVITY SERVICE happening in church tomorrow morning at 10am. Just a reminder to parents that children in the Nativity need to be at church by 10am tomorrow, although the service will not begin until 10.30am as usual. If you are not able to be in church the service will be shown on youtube via this link:
https://youtube.com/live/ymcRRonoN5M?feature=share

Later tomorrow we have our CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE in St Columba’s at 6pm. This is always a special service, with the unique atmosphere created by candlelight adding to the wonder of hearing again the familiar Bible readings telling the Christmas story alongside the singing of carols.

MORE CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Thursday 21st December 7pm – CAROLS, MINCE PIES & MULLED WINE in Rockingham Village Hall open to all
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve):
10.30am – COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a quieter service with no children’s groups
4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s – a service especially for children and families – which is all of us!
11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a traditional celebration
and on Christmas Day:
10am (note the time) – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a fun celebration for everyone
11am CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – a more traditional Christmas morning service.

PRAYER NEWS
Please do read the latest Prayer Letter from M&H who will be back in this country for Christmas and some necessary rest and recovery after the challenges of the past few months. You can read all about these in the letter which will be on display at the back of church. Unfortunately we cannot copy this or link to it, so do take the time to read the letter and please do pray for them.
I have received the latest Prayer Update from Hope from Above, and so do have a read of that and use it to inspire your prayers.

And finally, if you have not already done so, do pick up a copy from church of our CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE that Steve has once again produced with Puzzles, Funnies, Stories and Activities for Adults and Children to keep you all amused over the Christmas Holidays.

I look forward to seeing you at one/some/all of the Christmas services.

God bless you at this special time of year,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

10th December 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 16 December 2023

Hello everyone,

We had a wonderful Christmas Afternoon Tea yesterday and big thanks to Sheila and her team for arranging that, and baking lots of lovely things to eat! The Christmas events will follow at regular intervals now, so do make a note of all the dates and details below. There are still places at the Lodge Park Christmas Dinner on Friday 15th (full details below) and Energize parents should note the information about the Nativity practices.

I encourage you to think who you could invite along to one or more of our Christmas services, there are so many of them because they all have a different flavour, child friendly, traditional or community focussed – so hopefully something for everyone. Even if you are not bringing someone along do try and come to as many services as you can, sometimes at Christmas we have more visitors than church family members which always feels rather odd.

Notice for Parents about the Nativity Service
The Nativity Service is fast approaching so we would really appreciate as many of the children to be in church tomorrow to continue practising the Nativity play. The dress rehearsals for the children and Get Closer groups will be next Friday 15th December in church starting at 5.30pm finishing by 7.00pm. Please can you make this a priority. If for any reason your child/young person is unable to come then, please can you let Miriam know asap so we can arrange a further rehearsal for those children/young people.
The Nativity and Sketch will take place in our Sunday service at 10.30am on 17th December, but please can children/young people arrive by 10.00am to get ready!
Thank you for your support.

Spring Harvest 2024
This is a reminder for those booked in for Spring Harvest 2024 that Miriam needs all outstanding balances by Sunday 7th January 2024. If this is a problem for anyone, or you don’t know how much your balance is, please speak with Miriam. Thank you.

Sunday 10th December
At St Columba’s tomorrow we have a service of HOLY COMMUNION for the second Sunday in Advent, with sung worship from 10.15 and the full service beginning at 10.30am. For those who are unable to be in church, the service will be available on Youtube via this link: https://youtube.com/live/tSbsOfksBL8?feature=share
At St Leonard’s, Rockingham we have a CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE tomorrow at 3pm so do come along there if you are free in the afternoon. The Castle will be open for visitors so just say at the gate that you have come for the church service and you will be shown where to park.
There will also be our regular PRAYER MEETING at 6pm on Sunday evening.

Lodge Park Academy Christmas Party
You are invited to Lodge Park on Friday 15th December from 2.30pm – 4pm for a FREE Turkey Roast Dinner, Dessert and Christmas Party Games! Please let me know if you would like to go either by speaking to me at church tomorrow, by emailing ianpullinger@btinternet.com or by phone (numbers below).

Christmas Services
Thursday 14th December 6pm – COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE with school choirs and congregational carols so come along and support the children
Sunday 17th December:
10.30am – NATIVITY with the children’s traditional Christmas production and a sketch from Get Closer.
6pm – CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE a traditional service of readings and carols followed by mince pies and mulled wine.
Thursday 21st December 7pm – CAROLS, MINCE PIES & MULLED WINE in Rockingham Village Hall open to all
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve):
10.30am – COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a quieter service with no children’s groups
4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s – a service especially for children and families – which is all of us!
11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a traditional celebration
and on Christmas Day:
10am (note the time) – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s – a fun celebration for everyone
11am CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham – a more traditional Christmas morning service.

And finally, please do pick up a copy from church of our CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE that Steve has once again produced with Puzzles, Funnies, Stories and Activities for Adults and Children to keep you all amused over the Christmas Holidays.

With very best wishes,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

3rd December 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 9 December 2023

Hello everyone,

Can I begin by sending best wishes for Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas. I was discussing Christmas decorations in Lodge Park yesterday and heard two extreme approaches, one person spoke of decorations going up at the beginning of November and another (a teacher) of not putting them up until “sundown on Christmas Eve”. I agree to some extent with the latter idea, because it allows for the proper observance of Advent, which in turn leads to a proper observance of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God. However I do think that, when we invite people to join us in church in the week or so before Christmas, and that includes children from Studfall Infants and Juniors, Rockingham and Woodnewton schools, it is good that we share their excitement.

I have listed again the full list of our Christmas services below, and along with other news there are details of the Christmas Afternoon Tea and an invitation from Lodge Park Academy to join them for Christmas Dinner – so do keep reading.

Christmas Fayre
Thank you to everyone who helped make our FAYRE such a success this year. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Hall and a number of good conversations and a magnificent £1036 raised for church funds. Thank you if you helped in any way or came along and supported the Fayre. Thanks also to the Studfall shops who supported us with raffle prizes: Studfall Pharmacy, Costcutter, Studfall Chippy, One Stop, Union of Barbers, Golden Tanning, High Street Bakery, Pam’s Florist, Rocky’s, Studfall Laundry room and Crust n Crumb cafe. Please do support these businesses who have supported us so well not just this year but for many years.

Sunday 3rd December
At St Columba’s tomorrow we have a service of MORNING WORSHIP for Advent Sunday, with sung worship from 10.15 with the full service beginning at 10.30am. The children will be continuing their preparations for the Nativity Service in two weeks time. For those who are unable to be in church, either because of illness or this extremely cold weather (the heating will come on earlier in church tomorrow) the service will be available on Youtube via this link: https://youtube.com/live/GlcEyZ7MSus?feature=share

There will also be our regular PRAYER MEETING at 6pm on Sunday evening.

Afternoon Tea
This coming Friday, 8th December, sees a very special AFTERNOON TEA. First it is for Christmas and second it is open to the husbands of ladies who come along, so do plan to join us for this very special gathering at 3pm on Friday in the Church Hall.

Great Easton Christmas Festival
This event features a celebration of the Nativity with a beautiful display of nativity sets (including one from St Columba’s) in the Church and stalls and refreshments in the Village Hall. It is open from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 9th December and the church only from 12 noon to 3pm on Sunday 10th December. Entry costs £3 for both church and hall, with under 12’s going free, and the proceeds are for St Andrew’s church, Great Easton.

Next Sunday 10th December
There will be a service of HOLY COMMUNION in St Columba’s at 10.30, with ENERGIZE continuing to rehearse for the Nativity and a CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE in St Leonard’s, Rockingham at 3pm.

Lodge Park Academy Christmas Party
You are invited to Lodge Park on Friday 15th December from 2.30pm – 4pm for a Turkey Roast Dinner, Dessert and Christmas Party Games! Please let me know if you would like to go either by speaking to me at church tomorrow, by emailing ianpullinger@btinternet.com or by phone (numbers below). I need to know by Friday so I can pass on the numbers to the school.

Christmas Services
Thursday 14th December 6pm – COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE with school choirs and congregational carols
Sunday 17th December:
10.30am – NATIVITY with the children’s traditional Christmas production and a sketch from Get Closer.
6pm – CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE a traditional service of readings and carols followed by mince pies and mulled wine.
Thursday 21st December 7pm – CAROLS, MINCE PIES & MULLED WINE in Rockingham Village Hall.
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve):
10.30am – COMMUNION at St Columba’s
4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s
11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s
and on Christmas Day:
10am (note the time) – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s
11am CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham.

And finally, please find here the latest PRAYER UPDATE from Hope From Above in Australia.

With very best wishes to all in this Advent season,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

26th November 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 2 December 2023

Hello everyone,

It is that time of the year again and we are looking forward to St Columba’s CHRISTMAS FAYRE tomorrow, Saturday 25th November, from 11am to 1pm in the Church Hall. Please do come along and support the Fayre which supports our church, there are a variety of stalls including the ever popular Bacon Rolls from the Cafe, our own Home Made Cake Stall, Raffle and Tombolas, Books and Games, as well as a number of outside stall holders selling a variety of Christmas crafts and other goodies. Having said all that, I always think that the best thing about the Fayre is the opportunity to meet people, some who come along every year. Please do join them and invite your family and friends to come with you to enjoy all the fun of the Fayre!

Sunday’s Services
We have a choice of three services on Sunday as follows:
9am HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s
10.30 HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with sung worship from 10.15am and ENERGIZE will begin their preparations for the NATIVITY on 17th December. This service will also be available as a livestream for anyone not able to be in church, just go to this link: https://youtube.com/live/YRpuMxkcQSg?feature=share
5pm ADVENT PRAISE – although it is not Advent Sunday until the following week we are using this service of song, reading and reflection to prepare us for the season, which is meant to be a time of preparation for Christmas, rather than the beginning of the Christmas season. DO come along and enjoy a mixture of traditional Advent hymns and more modern worship songs as well as time to reflect on the question “What are we waiting for?”
As a result of this service there will be no Prayer Meeting this week.

SCANS
There is a new PRINT edition of SCaNS out this week so do make sure you take a copy from church on Sunday. Steve writes about it:
It’s got extra pages, 15 puzzles and activities, anecdotes, cartoons and three great stories, including one which changed my life. I also asked David to consider writing a series about boys and girls, who may have accompanied Jesus and who He could have sent on errands, etc…a bit like Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street Irregulars. A sort of ‘behind the scenes’ approach to the Gospels. His first Epiphany-based story about the son of one of the Magi accompanying his dad to meet with Jesus is great! I cannot wait for the next one.

Sunday 3rd December
We have a service of MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s next Sunday, beginning with sung worship from 10.15am and the formal service from 10.30am. ENERGIZE will be continuing with their Nativity Rehearsals.

CINEMA NEWS
I didn’t get to see “Journey to Bethlehem” last week but it is on again this coming week, Tuesday at 2pm, Wednesday at 2.10pm and Thursday at 2pm.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Full details of our Christmas services were in last week’s email and will appear again in a couple of weeks before the first of those services.

I hope to see many of you at our Christmas Fayre tomorrow or one of our services on Sunday.

God Bless you in this coming week,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

19th November 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 25 November 2023

Hello everyone,

An early message this week, so you have plenty of time to digest the news below, especially about next week’s Christmas Fayre. On the subject of Christmas there is a full listing of our Christmas services below so you can make your festive plans around them. Thank you to all those people who helped with the SHOEBOX drop off, I know some had no-one call in and others had over 100 boxes! If you have not yet returned your box this Sunday is the final opportunity. It is not quite the final opportunity to return SURVEY FORMS and STEWARDSHIP REVIEWS but if you have not yet returned yours and you can bring it on Sunday that would be helpful, thank thank you.

Sunday 19th November
There is just the one service at St Columba’s on Sunday, MORNING WORSHIP led by Rosie and with a sermon from William. Don’t forget to arrive from 10.15 to join in the early worship, with the full service starting at 10.30am. There will be ENERGIZE groups for children and for those who are not able to be in church you can watch on youtube by going to this link:
https://youtube.com/live/rPbFtkEAbXc?feature=share
We also have our PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s at 6pm.

Christmas Fayre
Next Saturday is our Christmas Fayre from 11am until 1pm and it would be great if you can all be involved in some way.
Thank you to those who have already offered to help, we could still do with a few more to help with clearing up afterwards.
On Saturday if you’re helping with a stall, please be there from 9.30am or if you prefer clearing up this will be from 1.00pm.
We need cakes for the cake stall, which can be brought to the hall Friday evening between 6-7pm or as soon as possible after 9.30am on Saturday morning.
If you’re wanting to donate anything else at this stage we would appreciate more bottles and teddies for the Tombolas, which can be taken to the vicarage from Tuesday onwards or to the Hall on Friday evening at the setting up session.
For those who are not helping, please come and support our Fayre, bring your friends and families and spend some money, either cash or card will be welcome!
There will be home-made cakes, Christmas crafts, Christmas present ideas and more!
We look forward to seeing you next Saturday.
If you want any further information do speak to Riaan after the Service on Sunday if you’re in church or contact Miriam from Tuesday.
Thank you very much.

Coming soon to the Savoy Cinema
A recording of one of Cliff’s Blue Sapphire (65th anniversary) concerts at the Hammersmith Apollo being shown at the Savoy cinema at 7pm on Saturday 25th November, a good way to relax after the Fayre! There is also a performance on Sunday afternoon but as that will clash with our Advent Praise service (see below) I am not advertising that!
There is also a film on next week called Journey to Bethlehem which is described as “Classic Christmas melodies and modern pop songs tell the story of a young woman with an unimaginable responsibility, a young man torn between love and honour, and a jealous king”. I know nothing about the film but it may be worth seeing, especially with non-Christian friends and family because you can then talk about what really happened, whether or not that is shown in the film. It is on Friday 17th at 14.45, Saturday 18th 15.30, Sunday 19th 12.15 and 20.25, Monday 20th 15.15, Tuesday 21st 16.25, Wednesday 22nd 15.00, and Thursday 23rd at 15.30.

Sunday 26th November
A choice of three services next Sunday as follows:
9am HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s
10.30 HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE beginning their preparations for the NATIVITY (see below)
5pm ADVENT PRAISE – although it is not Advent Sunday until the following week we are using this service of song, reading and reflection to prepare us for the season, which is meant to be a time of preparation for Christmas, rather than the beginning of the Christmas season.

Steve is busy preparing the next printed edition of SCaNS and the CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER but there is a Hope From Above PRAYER UPDATE, so do have a read of that and pray for the points raised.

Christmas Services
Sunday 10th December as well as a COMMUNION service at St Columba’s in the morning there will be a CHRISTMAS FAMILY SERVICE at St Leonard’s, Rockingham at 3pm.
Thursday 14th December 6pm – COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE with school choirs and congregational carols
Sunday 17th December:
10.30am – NATIVITY with the children’s traditional Christmas production
6pm – CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE a traditional service of readings and carols.
Thursday 21st December 7pm – CAROLS, MINCE PIES & MULLED WINE in Rockingham Village Hall.
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve):
10.30am – COMMUNION at St Columba’s
4.30pm – CHRISTINGLE at St Columba’s
11.15pm – MIDNIGHT COMMUNION at St Columba’s
and on Christmas Day:
10am (note the time) – FAMILY COMMUNION at St Columba’s
11am CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham.

With best wishes to all,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609

12th November 2023

By Justin Dyche in Sunday Service on 25 November 2023

Good morning everyone,

It is Remembrance weekend and yesterday I observed silences with children and young people at Rockingham Primary School and Lodge Park Academy. Both schools gave me the opportunity to speak and pray and the silences were well observed, the full two minutes at Lodge Park. We will, of course, be having silences in our services tomorrow, see all the details below. You should also have a look at the mini-SCaNS below which has a Remembrance theme, again more details below.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER
As mentioned above it is Remembrance Sunday this week and both St Columba’s and St Leonard’s have a service tomorrow morning so that they can both observe the two minutes silence at 11am. The St Columba’s service is at 10.30am and includes HOLY COMMUNION as well as ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. This service can also be watched on youtube via this link: https://youtube.com/live/RBrirRLmTHc?feature=share
At St Leonard’s there is a FAMILY SERVICE starting at 10.45.

PRAYER MEETING
We have our regular Prayer Meeting in St Columba’s at 6pm on Sunday.

SURVEY OF GIFTS AND TALENTS and STEWARDSHIP REVIEW
Thank you to those people who have already returned their surveys and reviews, but that is less than half the number that were given out. If you have not yet done so please can you try and remember to complete them before Sunday and then bring them with you to church. Once most of the forms have been returned we will be able to start looking at them. If you have lost your copy there will be spares available in church or you can request a copy by replying to this email.

SHOEBOXES
Please remember to return your shoeboxes, either tomorrow or at the latest by next Sunday. St Columba’s will also be open for people to drop off shoeboxes this coming week on Monday 13th, Wednesday 15th and Friday 17th between 9am and 1pm. If you are able to help with any of these, even if only for an hour or two, please email ianpullinger@btinternet.com or sign the list in church. We especially need people to help on Friday morning.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Please do remember our CHRISTMAS FAYRE that will be happening on Saturday 25th November from 11am to 1pm. There are several ways in which you can help with this:
sign up to HELP ON THE DAY, either before, during or after the Fayre, or all three if possible – see the sign up sheet in church.
bring a BOTTLE or TEDDY for the tombolas – we especially need more teddies this year (other soft toys are also welcome!)
bring a donation for the RAFFLE
invite friends and family to come along and join in
Thank you to those people who have already donated raffle/tombola prizes and/or signed up to help.

CLIFF at the SAVOY
Not in person sadly but there is a recording of one of Cliff’s Blue Sapphire (65th anniversary) concerts at the Hammersmith Apollo being shown at the Savoy cinema at 7pm on Saturday 25th November. I understand that our former vicar’s wife Judy Eden went to see him live in London this week and says his voice is as good as ever.

SUNDAY 19th NOVEMBER
There will be just the one service next Sunday, MORNING WORSHIP at 10.30am in St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children.

Mini SCaNS
Here is the latest edition of mini-SCaNS. Steve writes: This issue of Mini-SCaNS has a heroic remembrance theme. You can read about two young men who lost their lives in the dreadful mud at Passchendaele in WW1. There’s Robert, who had just become a father—an ordinary lad, not a Chaplain—who before he was killed, was seen by a friend, standing, “in an open field with an open Bible, a group of young men around him, finishing a talk to the young soldiers, and then leading them in singing, ‘Rejoice, the Lord is King. Your Lord and King adore.” And there’s Rochdale lad, William Robinson, 18 (could be an distant relative – my mother was a Robinson from Rochdale/Oldham area), whose body, like so many young men of that war, was never found. See the beautiful hand-stitched Christmas card he had sent his parents.

Take a ‘Trip into the Past’ with a page of amazing pictures from before WW2. You think electric cars are new? See the lady charging hers in 1912; the miner being washed by his wife in a tub in front of the fire in 1931; early roller skates and an electric scooter; and kids having fun!

Discover the more recent story of Francine, for whom “something was missing” in her family’s religion, so she started attending an evangelical church in the Philippines, as a result of which her father beat her every Sunday, until, after she was baptised, she started to bring home food parcels, and he relented. Pray for him. There’s a Word Search about The Titanic, from which so many people were lost; lots of puzzles, some with a music theme and the usual funnies. Hope you enjoy them!”

May God bless us all, and help us to reflect this weekend on the absence of peace in our world today.

Ian

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07903 644609