Notices - Sunday 10th December
Death Notices:
We were saddened to hear that Mr Kenneth Mackay, former teacher of history at the Nicolson Institute, had passed away in Grantown on Spey, on Wednesday 29th November. Mr Mackay was 81. We extend our sincere sympathy to his widow Freda, daughter Kirsty who lives in New Jersey, USA, and sister Catriona of Balmerino Drive, as well as to his relatives and former colleagues.
We were sorry to learn that Mrs Margaret Ann Macleod, formerly of Columbia Place, had passed away at Blar Buidhe Nursing Home on Tuesday 5th December, aged 87. Margaret Ann had been for many years a communicant in the congregation and her home is fondly remembered as a haven of Christian fellowship. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, Ella, Donnie, Catherine and Moira, together with their families, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We also remember her remaining brother Kenny Angie in Aignish.
Salvation Army Appeal At this time of year the Salvation Army help a considerable number of individuals and families in our community by giving out hot water bottles, toiletries, food parcels and toys. Today is the last opportunity for the congregation to help by donating new and unused hot water bottles and toiletries - these can be placed in the box inside the hall door. Thank you to all those who have already donated items.
Children and youth groups
Parent & Toddler meets on Tuesday (1.00–3.00pm) where there will be a Christmas party. This is the last session until January.
Campaigners: Kidz Zone meets at 6.15-7.30pm on Thursday in the hall
Midweek Meetings: All at 7.30pm in the Seminary
Wednesday – English – Rev KI Macleod
Thursday – Gaelic – Mr Iain Morrison Saturday – English
Monday 11 December Deacons’ Court meets at 7pm in the Session Room.
Tuesday 12 December
- The Craft Group will meet in the hall at 7.30pm.
- The Reason for God Study meets upstairs in the hall at 7:30 – 9pm. Discussion 6: How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
- Stornoway Street Pastors are holding an information evening with Carols and Hot Chocolate at 7.30pm in St Columba's Church Hall. All are welcome.
Friday 15 December
-The 55+ Fellowship will meet in the Hall from 12.15- 2.00pm for a Soup and Pudding lunch. The speaker will be Donald Martin (St Columba's C of S) and all aged 55 and over are most welcome.
-There will be a Youth Bible study for all young people aged S2-S6 in the hall at 7:30-9:30 pm.
Saturday 16 December Bethany Macleod is hosting a Soup and Pudding lunch between 12-2pm on Saturday, December 16th, in the M.A. Macleod Memorial Hall to aid her fundraising efforts for her upcoming 6 month mission in Malawi with Tearfund. As well as lots of delicious eats on offer, there will be a baking stall, and a Gift Wrapping Station if you’d like gifts wrapped while you eat. It’d be wonderful to see you there! Entry by donation.
Modern Scottish Gaelic Bible Translation After nine years of hard work by the translation team the New Testament in modern Scottish Gaelic is now online, 250 years after the first translation of the New Testament from the Greek into Scottish Gaelic appeared in 1767. The Scottish Bible Society hopes that it will be printed in a few months. The translation was completed in November 2017. It can be accessed on the You Version Bible app - https://www.bible.com. It will also be published digitally on the Bibles.org website in the coming months.
The new translation aims to combine faithfulness to the Greek original with vernacular Gaelic in normal use, and clarity with dignity. It was the aim of the team of translators that it would reflect what is spoken today and appeal to those coming through Gaelic medium education. This version has not been prepared in order to replace the seminal 1767 translation which has gained such a cherished place in our liturgy, but rather to supplement it. Tribute must be paid to our own Rev. Ruairidh Maclean, formerly of Leverburgh Free Church, and his fellow Gaelic scholars from across the denominations in Scotland who worked so assiduously on the translation.
Prayer Points Edinburgh Theological Seminary
-Pray for our students as they sit their end of semester exams this month
-Staff focus: Please pray for Daniel Sladek, Lecturer in Old Testament
-Please pray for staff and students over the Christmas break that they would be
refreshed and encouraged in the coming weeks.
ADVANCE NOTICE
Sunday 17 December Youth Fellowship will meet after the evening service in the Francis Street manse and all young people are most welcome.
