Hello everyone,

This Sunday we remember those who have died in the service of our country in the two World Wars and in the conflicts since. Our services, at St Columba’s and St Leonard’s, will both reflect these themes. Looking forward the Romans Course resumes on Wednesday, the Ladies Afternoon Tea is on Friday and the Christmas Fayre is only a fortnight away. More about all those below. There is also a request for help next week with the Shoebox Collection and, with Black Friday and Christmas coming, a reminder about easyfundraising and how you can give to St Columba’s at no cost to yourself! But before all of that a reminder about our Prayer Triplet scheme.

PRAYER TRIPLETS
We are encouraging everyone in the church family to join a PRAYER TRIPLET, that is a group of between 2 and 4 members, that meets, either in person or online, as frequently as the group decide, but who will be able to mutually support one another. When there is a need for increased support anyone can contact one of the Prayer Network Co-ordinators who will be able to mobilise prayer or practical help as necessary.

As a first step there is a sign up sheet in church, or you can simply email ianpullinger@btinternet.com, to indicate that you would like to join a PRAYER TRIPLET. If you know the people you would like to be with you can write in their names OR you can say you would like to be in a Triplet with others and ask to be linked up.
Praying together is a powerful way of supporting one another and the wider church, and we have certainly seen answers to prayer over the last year. If you don’t feel comfortable praying out loud you can still be in a triplet, sharing news for prayer and praying silently for the others.

Alongside this we are re-introducing PRAYER MINISTRY after Sunday morning services and we will be asking people if this is something they would like to receive some training for before deciding if they would like to be part of the team.

SUNDAY 9th NOVEMBER
10.30am HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with the TWO MINUTE SILENCE for REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY and a sermon reflecting on themes of Remembrance. There will be ENERGIZE groups for children and young people, also thinking about Remembrance, and for those who can’t be in church the service will be available on Youtube here:
https://youtube.com/live/Xj8iTxOeiJg?feature=share
10.45am MORNING WORSHIP at St Leonard’s, Rockingham. Another service including the TWO MINUTE SILENCE for REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, made more poignant because it happens around the War Memorial in Rockingham church, listing the men from the village who gave their lives in the two World Wars.
6pm PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s.

ROMANS COURSE
The ROMANS COURSE resumes on Wednesday morning at 10.30am and evening at 7.30pm, both groups meeting back in the church. In the meantime don’t forget the “homework”, to read Romans chapter 8, one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, and if you have not been to the course yet this would be a great week to join.

AFTERNOON TEA
The Ladies Afternoon Tea meets again on Friday 14th November at 3pm in the Church Hall for tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes and good conversation. All ladies are welcome.

SUNDAY 16th NOVEMBER
10.30am HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with the final sermon in our series looking at Spiritual Warfare. There will be ENERGIZE groups for children who will be starting rehearsals for the NATIVITY on Sunday 21st December, so it would be great to see a good number of children joining in.
6pm PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s.

CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Our Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 22nd November from 11am, that’s just two weeks away! Please can you:

• Put the date in your diary, plan to be there and invite friends and family to come along                       
• Sign up to help before (on Friday afternoon), during and after the Fayre – the more the merrier.
• Make a donation for the Bottle Tombola or Book Stall or plan to bake a cake for the Cake Stall.

The Fayre is not only a means of raising money for the church but also, and perhaps more importantly, an opportunity for us to invite people who do not regularly come to church to meet with us. Some people come to the Fayre every year, but never to church, so please do support this special event.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD – SHOEBOX APPEAL help required at church this week
Please note that, in addition to packing shoeboxes (see below) we need volunteers to be in church on MONDAY and FRIDAY between 9am and 1pm to receive boxes from other people. James will be putting together a rota so please speak with him, or email ianpullinger@btinternet.com, if you can help.

You can also still help with the SHOEBOX APPEAL in the following three ways:
Pack a box – you can collect an empty box from church with a leaflet telling you what can and cannot go inside (see also the list below), then make sure you return it to church by Sunday 16th November.
Bring an Item – if you can’t manage to pack a whole box just bring an item or two to church and they can be added to others to pack a whole box. Items must be at church by Sunday 16th November and can be small toys, school supplies, personal care items BUT NOT toothpaste, sweets, lotions & liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items (e.g. toy guns, model soldiers, military vehicles); seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, knives, sharp or fragile items.
Donate to pack a box online by going to: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/shoebox-online

When you pack a box you will be asked to pay £5 towards the cost of sending it to the destination and in addition contribute to “The Greatest Gift” a teaching programme for children who receive shoeboxes, telling them about Jesus. If you would like to see these books there are samples on the Shoebox table at the back of church.

EASY FUNDRAISING
Sign up to support St Columba, Corby on the easyfundraising app today and we’ll get a £2 bonus! Using the easyfundraising app means you’ll raise free funds for us whenever you shop online this Black Friday and Christmas – at no extra cost to you. Simply go to:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/easyfundraising-app/?causeId=347499&utm_term=SE867

CHARITY OF THE WEEK: ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
Unusually this week’s charity is not one that St Columba’s give to financially, but is one that almost every one of us will have given to when we bought a poppy over the last couple of weeks. Their work, and that of other forces charities, supports those who have served our country and they need our prayers as well as our money. This is how the Legion describe their work:
“We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over. From providing expert advice and guidance, to recovery and rehabilitation, through to transitioning to civilian life – we can be by their side every step of the way. And it’s not just members of the Armed Forces but their families too. If there is ever a reason we can’t help, our vast network will mean that we know someone who can.”

May God bless you all,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609