Notices - Sunday 13th February
Communion Details
We are greatly looking forward, God willing, to the communion next Lord’s Day, when the sacrament will be dispensed at the morning service.
The Kirk Session will be delighted to meet with anyone wishing to take communion for the first time at any of these meetings of Session. Those who wish to join the communicant membership and have a certificate or letter from their previous congregations, are also encouraged to meet the Session at any of the meetings so as to be welcomed by them.
As a result of the Covid situation we have had to introduce a number of changes relating to the communion, as set out in the points below.
- To reduce personal contact to a minimum we will not be using communion tokens, so there will be no need for communicants to wait behind after the service on Saturday evening.
- As at present in our services, we will leave an empty pew at the communion table between those occupied and, except for family groups, we will ensure adequate space between communicants in each occupied pew.
- The bread and the wine will be on the communion table from the beginning of the service, rather than after a “fencing” of the table as previously.
- We will be using individual cups for the communion wine and the bread will be distributed to communicants in a way that ensures each individual communicant alone will have hand contact with the piece of bread they will use.
- Immediately before the bread and wine are dispensed, the minister will specify how these will be distributed by the elders and received by communicants, and how the empty cups will be collected.
We rejoice in this renewed opportunity to remember the Lord’s death in the Supper, thanks be to God! Its absence from our practice over the past two years has convinced us, more than ever before, of how much we need it as a channel of grace to our souls, along with the preached word. Our earnest prayer is that the Lord will be with us to bless us by word and sacrament to the praise of his glorious Name.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 13th February'...Notices - Sunday 6th February
2022 Subscriptions for the Monthly Record
Subscriptions are now due. For those who wish to continue receiving it should put £24.00 along with your name and address in an envelope clearly marked ‘The Record’.
If you would like to begin receiving regular copies, please put £24.00 along with your name and address in an envelope clearly marked ‘The Record – New Subscriber’. All envelopes should be placed in the collection plates at the church or Seminary.
If you are paying by cheque, please make it payable to Stornoway Free Church.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 6th February'...Notices - Sunday 30th January
Easing of Covid Restrictions
As some of the Covid related restrictions have been eased in recent weeks, it’s been decided that from today (30th January) we will revert to using the main doors, in addition to the other exits, for exiting the church and the Seminary. To avoid bottle-neck situations occurring at the doors, everyone is encouraged to remain in their seat at the end of the service and to leave pew by pew.
The wearing of masks (except for those with a valid exemption) continues to be mandatory. While retaining social distancing between pews is left to the discretion of congregations, the feedback received clearly indicates that using alternate pews is appreciated by many, particularly those with underlying health conditions. This measure will remain in place for a while longer but it will be kept under regular review.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 30th January'...Notices - Sunday 16th January
Creche: 11.00am in upper hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Christine Anne, Maighread, Donna Mackinnon.
Volunteers 23rd January: Fiona, Catherine, Ruby.
Tweenies: 11.00 in the main hall for children aged 3-4.
Sunday School: 11.00 in main hall for children in P1-S2.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 16th January'...Notices - Sunday 9th January
Creche: 11.00am in upper hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Christine Smith, Elaine, and Kate.
Volunteers 16th January: Christine Anne, Maighread, Donna Mackinnon.
Tweenies: 11.00 in the main hall for children aged 3-4.
Sunday School: 11.00 in main hall for children in P1-S2.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 9th January'...Notices - Sunday 2nd January
Communion Service Postponed
At its meeting on 19th December, the Kirk Session decided, regretfully, to postpone the communion service due on Sunday 9th January because of the increasing spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid virus. We were looking forward eagerly to having the Lord’s Supper again after such a long time without it, and while it is disappointing to postpone it, the Session is hoping that we can hold it on 20th February 2022, which is the usual date for our communion. Please pray that this will be possible. God strengthens his people through the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, so we are eager to partake of it again as soon as we can.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 2nd January'...Notices - Sunday 19th December
Testimony Fellowship Sunday at 8.30pm on Zoom.
Everyone is welcome to join and hear Donald Macleod (Doonie) speak. Pray for him tonight, and also as he begins his role as congregational treasurer.
Zoom details are the same as last month and available from Mairianne.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 19th December'...Notices - Sunday 12th December
Creche: 11.00 in upstairs hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Christine, Anne Mackenzie, Elaine, Kate.
Volunteers 19th December: Carol Ann, Christine Ann Davidson, Maighread, Donna Mackinnon
Tweenies: 11.00-11.50 in downstairs hall for children aged 3-4.
Sunday School: 11.00-11.50 in main hall for children of P1 to S2.
Big YF on Zoom Sunday night at 7.45pm.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 12th December'...Notices - Sunday 5th December
Creche: 11.00 in upstairs hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Annette Macphail, Kathleen, and Mary.
Volunteers 12th December: Christine, Anne Mackenzie, Elaine, and Kate.
Tweenies: 11.00-11.50 in downstairs hall for children aged 3-4.
Sunday School: 11.00-11.50 in main hall for children of P1 to S2.
Youth Fellowship in hall Sunday at 7.45pm.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 5th December'...Notices - Sunday 28th November
Creche, Tweenies, Sunday School will hopefully resume on 5th December.
Parents will be notified during the week of any changes.
Eilean Siar Foodbank Special Collection.
A special collection will be taken at the close of all services today for the Eilean Siar Foodbank.
According to the Poverty Action Group of the Community Planning Partnership, the number of families known to be living in poverty in the Western Isles has increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Depending on the number living in households, children, single pensioners, and those living in remote island communities are most likely to be adversely affected by the surging costs of food, fuel, clothing, and several other factors.
Our congregation’s support of the Eilean Siar Foodbank will be greatly appreciated.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 28th November'...
