Hello everyone,

Thank you to everyone who helped with Isobel’s funeral last Tuesday. It was a special occasion as we said goodbye to her and discovered more about her earlier life in Ireland, including picking up her grandchildren and their friends late at night! Isobel had clearly shared her faith with her family, and in doing so was an example to us all.

Those of you who use the church car park will notice that the holes have been filled in, so it now has a better surface than most of the local roads!! We need to thank All Weather Home Improvements who did this work free of charge. Anyone who needs work doing on their patio, paths, fences, turf, driveway, block paving, brickwork or cleaning of patios, driveways or roofs should contact them on 01536 507130 or 07775 782154.

I should also mention that our accessible toilet is just waiting for the electrics to be connected, which we hope will happen during next week.

Our next Alpha Course will be on Saturday mornings, starting on 2nd May. This may seem a strange time but for people working shifts it is useful, avoiding evenings when they are either at work or in bed ready for an early start. The course is open to everyone so if YOU are interested in exploring faith in Jesus, new to faith in Jesus, or want to make sure you have strong foundations for your faith in Jesus then do plan to come along. It is also a great opportunity to share faith with friends and family members so do invite them along to a relaxed meeting where questions are welcomed, and plan to come with them. More details next week.

For those who have done Alpha in the past there will be a new Wednesday Course happening soon.

Can I encourage you to come along to St Columba’s Annual Meeting on Sunday 26th April and to share in a cooked lunch afterwards. More details are below, but please do sign in if you are coming to the lunch.

Details of all the upcoming events are as follows:

SUNDAY 19th APRIL
10.30am HOLY COMMUNION at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. This service will be available to watch on YouTube for those who are unable to be in church. Just go to: https://youtube.com/live/_ZxPqJKVSoE?feature=share
6pm PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s

ST COLUMBA’S ANNUAL MEETING and LUNCH – 26th April
St Columba’s Annual Meeting is on Sunday 26th April and will take place in the Church Hall after the morning service and coffee, and be followed by lunch. Please either email ianpullinger@btinternet.com or use the sign up sheet in church to say that you will be coming to the lunch and letting us know about any allergies you have.

The meeting will be electing churchwardens, PCC members and Deanery Synod representatives, as well as hearing reports on the life of the church over the last year, and hearing from me about our vision for the coming year. I do encourage all those who are part of the St Columba’s family to come along and join in this time of reflection on what God has done through us, and what we hope He will do as we move forward with Him.

SUNDAY 26th APRIL
9am HOLY COMMUNION at St Leonard’s, Rockingham. When you go to Rockingham for a Sunday morning service drive up to the post with the keypad and wait there for the gate to open.
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP at St Columba’s with ENERGIZE groups for children and young people. After the service we have the ANNUAL MEETING and LUNCH in the Church Hall – see above.
6pm PRAYER MEETING at St Columba’s.

MARY CRAIG INVITES…you to join her for a belated Birthday Celebration
Mary has invited us all to join her at 62 Sutherland Road, Corby, NN18 9LU for a Bring & Share Lunch next Saturday 25th April from 12noon to 5pm. Everyone is welcome. Mary is away this weekend, but if you would like more information please contact me.

CHARITY OF THE WEEK: World Vision
World Vision has a long history of taking action that transforms the world. Their focus is on helping the most vulnerable children, in the most difficult places, overcome poverty and experience fullness of life.
Together with supporters like us, they’ve partnered with millions of children and families to find a way out of poverty, and are often among the first to help when a crisis strikes. As a Christian charity, they help children – of all faiths and none – in some of the world’s most dangerous places. They believe it takes a whole community to create happy and fulfilling childhoods. And they work together with communities so they’re empowered to do just that. They have an integrated approach that includes water, healthcare, education, child protection and income generation, with the aim of allowing every child to fulfil their God-given potential. Across almost 100 countries, their impassioned community of supporters, volunteers and community leaders work together to transform children’s lives.
Please remember World Vision in your prayers this week.

Finally thank you to everyone who responded to the invitation to fill the churches again last Sunday. Both St Columba’s and Rockingham had more people than usual which was such a blessing, let’s see if we can do it again tomorrow!

God bless you all,

Ian

01536 400225
07903 644609