Notices - Sunday 10th December
Creche: 11.00am in the upper hall for children up to age 3.
Volunteers Today: Elaine, Christine, Chris, Annmarie and Helena.
Volunteers 17th December: Christine Ann, Maighread, Donna and Carol Ann.
Tweenies: 11.00am in the main hall for children aged 3-5.
Volunteers today: Elizabeth, Alison and Angela.
Volunteers 17th December: Liz, Evelyn and Aileen.
Sunday School and Bible Class arrive in church at 11.00 with family, then leave through the side door nearest the hall after children’s address.
Everyone is welcome to the M. A. Hall after the morning service for a time of fellowship
Tea and Coffee will be served by Maighread and Grace.
Monday 11th December from 1.00pm to 3.00pm - Toddler Group meets in the M.A. Hall.
Monday 11th December at 7.00pm – The Deacons’ Court will meet in Kenneth Street Session room.
Wednesday 13th December at 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Rev James Maciver.
There will be a Psalmody class following the meeting.
Thursday 14th December at 7.30pm – Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Mr Joe Macphee.
Thursday 14th December - Explorers meet in the M.A. Hall.
6.00pm - 7.00pm: P1 - P3
7.00pm - 8.15pm: P4 - P7
Friday 15th December from 12.00pm to 2.00pm – 55+ Fellowship.
Please note the earlier time. We look forward to having Robert France from the High Free Church as our guest speaker and the singing will be led by Joe Macphee.
Anyone needing transport should contact Duncan Norman on 07787 973802.
Saturday 16th December at 1.30pm to 4.00pm - Christmas Holiday Club.
Pray that the Lord will bless this outreach.
Saturday 16th December at 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Services next Lord’s Day – 17th December
English Service at 11.00am (Church) – Rev Calum M. Smith
Gaelic Service at 11.00am (Seminary) – Rev James Maciver
English Service at 6.30pm (Church) – Rev James Maciver
Lord’s Day 24th December – The morning service in the church will be a family service for the whole congregation, so there will be no Gaelic service that day. The focus will be on “Jesus the Promised Saviour.”
Deaths
We were sorry to hear of the following deaths and we pray that God will comfort all members of the families involved:
Mr Paul Smith, formerly Parkend. We express our sincere condolences to his parents Domhnall Iain and Margaret, Paul’s sister Laura and her boyfriend Angus, all other members of the extended family as well as Paul’s many friends.
Mrs Dorothea Stewart, Goathill Road. We extend our sincere condolences to her family: son Duncan, his wife Angela and their children Mairi and Douglas; son Donald, his wife Aine and their son Calum; Dorothea’s sister-in-law Jessie and brother-in-law Don, together with nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces, cousins and friends.
Benevolent Fund. At the meetings for prayer on Wednesday 29th November, a collection was taken for the congregation’s Benevolent Fund. For those who could not be present but would like to contribute to the fund, you can put your donation in an envelope clearly marked ‘Benevolent Fund’ and leave it in any of the collection plates at the church or the Seminary. If paying by cheque, please make it payable to ‘Stornoway Free Church’.
Record Subscriptions
The Record continues to have an interim editor and is still issued bi-monthly which is likely to continue until it’s reviewed at the 2024 General Assembly.
If you would like to continue receiving bi-monthly issues of the Record from December until May 2024 please put £6.00 in an envelope clearly marked Record along with your name and address.
If you would like to begin receiving the Record, please put £6.00 in an envelope clearly marked ‘Record - New Subscriber’ along with your name and address.
Envelopes should be placed in the collection plates at either the church or the Seminary.
Binding Brokenness: A small group for Bible-based trauma healing
Our small group will help you to deal with hurt, loss, grief and trauma, and begin the journey towards healing. We use the time-tested model of the Trauma Healing Institute, which is endorsed by the Scottish Bible Society.
The introductory lesson takes place on Tuesday 12th December 2023, 7.00pm to 9:00pm in a Stornoway venue.
The course continues in 2024 - weekly on Tuesdays, 7.00pm to 9.00pm from 9th January to 13th February 2024. Booking is essential.
To book or find out more please contact the group facilitators:
Mairianne Campbell: 07876 202073
Joanna George: [email protected] or simply fill in your details online: https://forms.office.com/r/fDrmMuM4Zx
Salvation Army outdoor Carol Service - Saturday 16th December at 2.30pm in Perceval Square. The Salvation Army Band will be playing and there will be teas, coffees and hot chocolate available.
God is Good Africa
A new CD produced in memory of Ishbel Mackenzie will soon be available for sale to raise funds for G.I.G.A. The CD has a collection of Gaelic and English Psalms, hymns, and instrumental tracks. They will be available in the Christian Bookshop and the Delights shop on North Beach Street from 15th December priced at £12.00 each.
Gaelic ‘Share a story Bible’
The Scottish Bible Society has published & printed 1500 copies of a Gaelic translation of its ‘Share a story’ Bible. Thanks go to the Church of Scotland Gaelic committee for funding these copies, to be distributed FREE OF CHARGE to all who request them.
These were primarily produced to encourage families to read to their children at home but they can also be used in churches, Sunday clubs & schools. An audiobook has also been produced to help non-Gaelic speaking families to sit & read-along with their child - a QR code inside the book will lead you to the page on our website where you can stream or download the tracks.
To claim a copy, just contact the Gaelic Hub based at Uig Parish Church on the Isle of Lewis by emailing [email protected]. We are also hoping to have a few copies available at the Stornoway Christian Bookshop soon.
Christian Literature - Tracts
Feel free to pick-up tracts, suitable for this time of the year, from any of the exits. You might choose to pop them inside a Christmas card, add to a gift or pop through a neighbour’s letterbox. We pray they will be a source of encouragement to ourselves and to others.
