Church Services Resume: Important Information
Since 26th April the restrictions on numbers attending places of worship is no longer capped at 50 but is still subject to 2metre physical distancing between households. Capacity is now determined by the size of a building and on how many people attend on their own or in larger household groups. Children under 5 are not counted in determining the number of people who can be accommodated.
Taking social distancing into account, the number that can currently be safely accommodated in the Kenneth Street church is 120; 60 on each floor. For the Seminary the number is 75. For both places, the number will be reviewed regularly and adjusted as attendance patterns become clearer.
The Kirk Session has decided that from Sunday 2nd May the services will be as follows:
Kenneth Street - English Services at 11.00am at 6.30pm.
Seminary (Francis Street) - Gaelic service at 11.00am.
(This will be a joint service with the High Free Church)
Bookings for Kenneth Street services - change to current arrangements: Bookings for the services on Sunday 2nd May only should be made with Alasdair Macleod (Elder) as per the email address and telephone number previously issued.
For the Kenneth Street services on Sunday 9th May and onwards, these will now be taken by Lorraine Shewan. The preferred method of contacting Lorraine is by email on [email protected]. She can also be contacted by text or telephone on 07720321081. Bookings for each week should be made no later than 6.00pm the previous Friday. When booking by email please make clear the service or services you want to attend and the names and contact telephone number of everyone attending from your household. If you are making a booking for someone who is not a member of your household you should point this out at the time.
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Stornoway Free Church Women for Mission
The last year has been very difficult for everyone. But the work of the Lord still goes on and it is our duty to do what we can to support those less fortunate than ourselves. With this in mind the WFM committee have continued to meet regularly through the wonders of technology to try and do what we can to support the various missions that we agreed on earlier in the year.
The four missions are :
The Leprosy Mission in India
Scripture Union Scotland
Moldova Support Group
WFM Disaster & Relief Fund
For more information you can download the leaflet or go to our website at https://womenformission.org/embracing-the-world/
If anyone wishes to make a donation you can also donate online - details for this are also on that site. Donations can also be given in an envelop marked ‘WFM’ and put in the collection plate at any of the services.
AGM
This year we hope to host a ‘virtual’ meeting live on ‘you tube’ on Saturday 22nd May at 2pm.
The main speakers are:
- A representative from Scripture Union
- David Macpherson from Peru
The project for 21/22 will also be launched that day and there will be a singing by CJ Macdonald (nee Martin).
I hope and pray you will be able to support us in whatever way you can.
God bless you all,
Donna Maciver
Read more about 'WFM Update'...Additional Church Services from Sunday 2nd May
Announcement by the Kirk Session about additional services.
The Kirk Session has decided to begin using the church building on Kenneth Street for services on the Lord’s Day, beginning on Sunday 2nd May. The Session also decided to begin the Sunday morning Gaelic service on the same date. The Covid-19 restrictions and regulations currently in place will apply until we are advised otherwise. This means attendance is restricted meantime to a maximum of 50 at each service. The session room will also be available for those who wish to utilise it and they will form part of the 50 total.
Unfortunately there will be no creche, Tweenies or Sunday school provision initially. This will be reviewed as restrictions ease. Families are still most welcome to attend the services.
There will be no minibus transport option. This will also be reviewed as restrictions ease.
As previously announced, the Gaelic service will be a joint service with the Gaelic section of the Stornoway High Free Church. Stornoway High Free will continue to hold their evening English service in the Seminary at 6.30pm.
Read more about 'Additional Church Services from Sunday 2nd May'...Return of 2021 Freewill Offering envelopes
Now that restrictions on attending places of worship have been eased, the Wednesday evening prayer meeting has resumed and at least one service of worship will be held in the Seminary each Lord’s Day from 4th April. This also means that those who attend these services can deposit their freewill offering envelopes in the collection box on arrival.
For those who contribute by freewill offering envelopes, and who may not be able or ready to attend public services of worship, an opportunity will be given to deposit envelopes as per the following:
1. On Saturday 10th April between 2.00 and 4.00pm the church hall on Kenneth Street will be open to receive freewill offering envelopes.
2. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity you should come along during these times or arrange for a family member or a friend to deliver the envelopes on your behalf.
3. You can also contact your district elder or deacon and arrange a time for one of them to collect the envelopes from your home.
4. On arrival at the hall, a one way system will be in place and you will enter by the main door and leave using the exit door at the far end of the hall.
5. Wearing of face coverings is mandatory and should be worn while you are inside the hall.
6. Office bearers will be on hand to guide you towards the area for depositing the envelopes.
7. Hand sanitisers will be available for use at both doors and it’s important that you maintain the recommended 2 metre social distancing while inside and outside the hall.
The above arrangement will be repeated on the second Saturday of each month while restrictions on numbers attending services of worship are in place.
Special Collection for Bethesda:
As the Special Collection for Bethesda intended for 30th January had to be cancelled due to the Western Isles suddenly being placed under tier 4 restrictions, another opportunity will be given to those who still wish to contribute on Saturday 10th April between 2.00 and 4.00pm.
Contributions can also be made by forwarding a cheque in an envelope clearly marked ‘Bethesda’ and made payable to ‘Stornoway Free Church’ to Murdo Macphail (Treasurer), 12a Jamieson Drive, Stornoway, HS1 2LF.
Read more about 'Return of 2021 Freewill Offering envelopes'...Return to In Person Church Services
Wednesday 31st March – Prayer Meeting Resumes in Seminary
Now that restrictions on attending places of worship have been eased, the Kirk Session has agreed to recommence meeting for prayer in the Seminary on Wednesday evenings, beginning on 31st March 2021 at 7.30pm. For the benefit of those who are not able to attend, the Zoom arrangement will continue as before with the same login details.
Sunday 4th April – Lord’s Day Worship Services Begin in Seminary for three weeks
The Kirk Session also agreed to recommence services of worship on the Lord’s Day. The first of these will be an English morning service in the Seminary on 4th April at 11.00am. This arrangement will continue for three weeks after which it will be reviewed in anticipation of a morning Gaelic service being held in the Seminary and an English service being held in the church on Kenneth Street.
New YouTube Channel for Seminary Services
The Lord’s Day services from the Seminary will be live-streamed on YouTube. We have set up a new YouTube channel specifically for services broadcast from the Seminary. Simply go to YouTube.com and search for ‘Free Church Seminary Stornoway’ or Click here.
Please note that there are now separate YouTube accounts for the church and the Seminary. They are named as follows:
For the Church on Kenneth Street - ‘Stornoway Free Church’
For the Seminary on Francis Street – ‘Free Church Seminary Stornoway’
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN TO CHURCH SERVICES
As required with all public buildings during the current health crisis, all the necessary hygiene and social distancing requirements have been addressed to ensure everyone’s safety. Attending the services will be quite different to pre-lockdown arrangements and it’s important that those who plan to attend familiarise themselves with the following:
Read more about 'Return to In Person Church Services'...Congregational Meeting
The Kirk Session has called a congregational meeting to take place by Zoom on Monday 29th March, at 7.30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to examine and approve a Sustentation Schedule relating to the renewal of the post of Assistant Minister in the congregation. This is required whenever an Assistant retires or accepts a call to another congregation. The Schedule will accompany a petition to the General Assembly requesting the renewal of the post. It is important that there be sufficient attendance at the meeting to make approval of the Schedule realistic, so your cooperation in this will be much appreciated. If you already join the Wednesday evening Zoom meetings, Zoom login details will be emailed to you, otherwise please contact Mairianne for this.
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The Kirk Sessions of Stornoway Free Church and Stornoway High Free Church are pleased to announce that an arrangement has been made, approved by the Kirk Session and Deacons’ Court of each congregation, whereby the Seminary building on Francis Street can be used by both congregations for services on the Lord’s Day. Details of the services will be announced in due course by each Kirk Session to their own congregation. All services will be fully compliant with Covid-19 regulations as long as these are required by the Scottish government. Both Kirk Sessions sincerely pray that this arrangement will contribute to further gospel blessing in Stornoway and beyond.
Read more about 'Joint Statement with Stornoway High Free Church'...
All ladies are invited to join in a meeting organised by the Cross WFM on Wednesday 10th February at 12 noon. The speaker is Marsali Campbell speaking directly from Uganda.
Any ladies who would like to join can get the login details from Donna Maciver either by phone, text, messenger or email.
Email address is : [email protected]
Mobile number is : 07810386774
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Due to the Western Isles moving into Level 4 lockdown, please note that the Church hall will NOT be open on Saturday 30th January to receive freewill offering envelopes.
Please also note that Wednesday prayer meetings will no longer take place in the Seminary but will be online only.
Take care and stay safe
Deacons' Court Update
When we entered our first lockdown period in March of last year, none of us expected the virus to remain as virulent or as deadly as it continues to be in the early weeks of 2021. There are, however, good reasons to be optimistic that the roll out of the vaccination will lead to a significant reduction of the spread of the virus, a decrease in the grim mortality rate and an easing of the restrictions we have all been under for so long.
While the restrictions are unwelcome for all of us, we still have many reasons for thankfulness. The Gospel continues to be preached and many outreach initiatives are able to continue thanks to the generosity of those who regularly contribute to the funds of the church. Our own congregation was able to remit to the central funds of the church the same amount in 2020 as it did in 2019 and our most sincere thanks is due to everyone who contributed either by freewill offering envelopes, Standing Order, BACS transfer or by cheque.
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