Notices - Sunday 2nd July
Holiday Club – Epic Explorers (31st July-4th August)
This year we hope to have 80 children join us as we Explore the life of Jesus in the gospel of Mark using the 'Epic Explorers' resource from the Christianity Explored series.
If anyone would like to make a financial donation towards the cost of running Holiday Club you are welcome to put this in an envelope marked 'Holiday Club' and place it in the collection plate at either the church or the Seminary.
We would also welcome donations of baking during the week of Holiday Club. If you are able to provide baking, please contact Fiona Macleod. Above all and most importantly we ask that you please continue to PRAY for Holiday Club and for the team as we plan and prepare. To God to be all the glory!
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 2nd July'...Notices - Sunday 25th June
G.I.G.A. God Is Good Africa Update.
It is so sad to be starting this update informing of the terrible events of last Friday evening 16th June, when rebels entered Mpondwe Secondary school in the Kassee district of Uganda near the Congo Border and murdered 17 boys and 20 girls. I am lost for words with man’s inhumanity to man.
The work of GIGA has continued over the past year, where we support students at African Bible University through the Ishbel Mackenzie Memorial Scholarship fund. Also, the ongoing work Supporting Rev Upokie in Bunia Eastern Congo at Trinity Primary school.
At Lighthill Christian Primary school we are building a Primary 7 classroom, library, and computer room. We have taken the building to wall plate level and are now fundraising for roofing and iron sheets.
This year saw us opening Ishbel Amari Clinic in Phadibe Northern Uganda near the South Sudan border. The clinic is in its early stage but is proving in the providence of God to be a wonderful ministry to the sick in this troubled area where medical provision is very hard to reach.
God willing, we will be doing G.I.G.A. Heb Celt Lunches at the M.A. Macleod Hall on the 13th and 14th July 12.00 till 2.00pm. (Volunteers Required).
It’s now 20 years since Ishbel and I were called to Mission in Uganda, and the needs of mission are still so needful in a world riddled with sin.
But we come thanking God for the only plan of salvation through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing Grace.
Kenny John Mackenzie. Chairman.
Psalm 126. Blessings and Thanksgiving.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 25th June'...Notices - Sunday 18th June
Volunteers Needed to Greet Cruise Visitors.
The Session has given permission again for the Church to be open this summer to visitors on a number of selected days when Stornoway will have many extra visitors due to cruise liners visiting and the HebCelt Festival.
If you would like to volunteer to be on duty for a few hours on an open day, on a rota basis, to meet and greet visitors to the Church building, then please contact Marten Walker on 704586. This opportunity is open to anyone associated with the congregation. The only qualification you need is the ability to give visitors a warm welcome!
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 18th June'...Notices - Sunday 28th May
Sunday 4th June – Big YF in North Harris Free Church.
Robbie Sweet from Next Ministries will speak. We hope to attend the evening service in North Harris at 6.00pm. Consent forms are required – if you have not been sent one, please request link from [email protected].
Notices - Sunday 21st May
Communion.
The Lord’s Supper will be held in the congregation on Sunday 4th June 2023, at the morning service in the church, God willing. There will be no Gaelic service that day.
A preparatory service will be held on Saturday 3rd June, at 7.00pm, in the church. A congregational fellowship will be held in the M.A. Hall after the Sunday evening service. All three services will be conducted by Rev James Maciver.
The Kirk Session has decided that we will resume the use of communion tokens, which will be given out to all intending communicants on the Saturday evening after the service. The use of the tokens makes it easier for those on door duty to identify communicants and also gives an indication of how many communicants to expect.
Anyone desiring to take communion for the first time is encouraged to make this known to either of the ministers, or their district elder, any time from today (21st May) onwards.
The Kirk Session will meet on Wednesday 31st May, after the Prayer Meeting, and on Saturday 3rd June, immediately after the service, and will be delighted to meet with those who wish to take communion for the first time. This is not an ordeal! Our concern is to help and encourage people in their understanding of what taking communion is about.
“As a presumptuous rudeness is a provocation to the master of the feast, so a distrustful shyness is displeasing to him; which looks as if we questioned either the sincerity of the invitation, or the sufficiency of the provision” (Matthew Henry).
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 21st May'...Notices - Sunday 14th May
Sunday School Snippet
As it was a holiday weekend on the mainland, it was lovely to welcome several visitors to Sunday School today who were “home” on holiday.
Today at Sunday School all the classes were learning about different kings and queens in the Bible. Here is what David, Jacob, James, Holly and Lydia from Pr. 6 were doing:
“We made arrows because we were learning about David and Jonathan and how Saul was trying to kill David. God used Jonathan to protect David. You can read this story in first Samuel 20:37.”
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 14th May'...Notices - Sunday 7th May
Next Generation Training.
Are you burdened about how to reach and teach the next generation for Christ? Are you a parent or youth leader currently ministering to 10-30 year-olds?
You are invited to the following training – ‘An introduction to the ‘NEXT’ framework for developing theologically grounded and contextually engaged models of ministry to the emerging generation.’
The training covers:
- Theology of Ministry to Emerging Generations
- Culture, Development and Discipleship of Emerging Generations
- Models and Methods of Ministry to Emerging Generations
You can attend one or all of the sessions at Carloway Free Church:-
Friday 2nd June (evening) and Saturday 3rd June (morning and afternoon).
For more information contact Gordon Macleod on 07786 387934.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 7th May'...Notices - Sunday 30th April
Moldova Support Group
We are running a residential camp again this summer for the teenagers in Moldova. Through the pandemic, economic hardship, and the war in Ukraine, the Lord continues to bless our Gospel Ministry in Nisporeni. So our friends in the local church will run the camp themselves this year with funding from Moldova Support Group.
We are hosting a soup and pudding lunch in the M.A. Hall on Saturday 13th May to raise funds. If anyone would like to donate, soup, puddings or help on the day please get in touch with Dawn Campbell on 07384 270455.
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 30th April'...Notices - Sunday 23rd April
Am Metagama: Buaidh air Beatha ‘san Eilean
Duncan Norman Macleod will be giving a talk on the Metagama sailing, and the impact it had on the island. The talk will be in Gaelic on Monday 24th April at 5.30pm in the UHI Reception area of Lews Castle College. All are welcome.
Notices - Sunday 16th April
HOPE, PEACE and PURPOSE
The Prodigal God – Tuesdays 2 May to 23 May
Find out how the Prodigal found Hope, Peace and Purpose in Tim Keller’s study in his book, the Prodigal God. It can be hard for us to understand the relationship between God and man. A brief study of this book by Tim Keller helps paint this picture using Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.
Please come and join us to consider the true meaning of “prodigal” and how it relates to our lives over 4 evenings in the M A Hall on Kenneth St. The programme will be run on Tuesday evenings from 2 May. Each session will start at 7:30pm and finish at 8:30pm.
The meetings will be held in an informal and relaxed environment and suitable for all who are looking for the hope, peace and purpose that is offered in the Christian life.
There is no need to book, just turn up. Bring some friends if you can.
If you wish to find out more please feel free to speak to Cala (07818076163) or Roddy (07900807375)
Read more about 'Notices - Sunday 16th April'...
