Notices - Sunday 13th March
Creche: 11.00am in upper hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Christine Anne, Maighread, Donna Mackinnon.
Volunteers 20th March: Fiona, Catherine, Ruby.
Tweenies: 11.00 in the main hall for children aged 3-5.
Volunteers today: Liz, Anna, Aileen, Kirsty.
Volunteers 20th March: Elizabeth, Donna, Lily, Christina.
Sunday School: 11.00 in main hall for children in P1-S2.
Youth Fellowship meets tonight 7.45pm in the M. A. Hall
Monday 14th March 7.00pm – Deacons’ Court meet on Zoom.
Wednesday 16th March 7.30pm – Congregational Meeting appointed by the Kirk Session to elect a minister to fill the vacancy in the assistantship. The meeting will be held over Zoom only and the current Zoom details for the Wednesday midweek meetings apply. Please contact Lizzie or Mairianne if you need these details.
Thursday 17th March 7.30pm
Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Rev D. A. Macdonald.
Friday 18th March 1.00pm
Ladies Bible study on Zoom.
Saturday 19th March 7.30pm
English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Services next Sunday – 20th March
11.00am English Service (Church): Rev James Maciver
11.00am Gaelic Service (Seminary): Rev James Macdonald
6.30pm English Service (Church): Rev Kenneth I Macleod
Sunday School News
Welcome to the first, of what we hope will be a regular input from our Sunday School - YOUR Sunday School! Each week, one of our pupils or teachers will keep you posted on some of the work from Sunday School.
We hope you will enjoy discovering what goes on in the hall on Sunday mornings during term time. Please remember to pray for all our precious children, from our toddlers to our teens, as they learn to love Jesus, to study His Word and to love those around them more each week.
"Today in Primary 6 we have been learning about when Jesus celebrated the Passover, and the first special feast called the Lord’s Supper. Our memory verse is 1 Corinthians 11:26.
This week we were told about the sad things that are happening in Ukraine. We have given £500 to Blythswood from the money we give every week. We are praying for all the people affected.”
By Caitlin Macleod, P6
Thank you from the Macritchie Family
We, the family of the late Marilyn MacRitchie, would like to convey our sincere gratitude and thanks for all the many expressions of sympathy from the Stornoway congregation and those connected with it and to those who facilitated, conducted, and took part in the wake and the funeral.
Due to the generosity of those attending the services the astonishing amount of £1256 was raised for Bethesda.
During these last weeks we have known a wonderful sense of peace and a spirit of thankfulness. Thank you for your love. Mum was blessed to be part of your church family.
Alex, Kate, Mary, and families
Stornoway Street Pastors
Stornoway Street Pastors will be taking on new Street Pastors this year. If you are interested in becoming a Street Pastor or would like more information then please email the Coordinator, Janis Brand, in order to obtain an application form:
[email protected]. All application forms must be submitted by 1 May 2022. Training will begin later in the year.
Blythswood Care’s Ukraine Emergency Appeal
Congregations and individuals throughout the Free Church are encouraged to contribute towards the Ukraine Emergency Appeal through Blythswood Care.
Free Church Moderator, Neil MacMillan, said: “We want to do all we can to help the people in Ukraine and those who are refugees; hundreds of thousands of them across Europe.
“We are partnering with Blythswood Care who have a long track record of working in Eastern and Central Europe and with many trusted partners who are working with refugees in Romania, Moldova and Hungary. So please, give as much as you can, give generously, give now and do all we can to help the people of Ukraine.”
Donations to the Blythswood Ukraine Crisis Appeal can be made by calling 01349 830777 or at any time online at:
www.blythswood.org/donate-to-ukraine-appeal
Alternatively, you can put your contribution in an envelope clearly marked ‘Ukraine Appeal’ and place it in the collection plates at the church or the Seminary. If paying by cheque please make it payable to ‘Stornoway Free Church’.
WfM Activities and Dates to Save
The main committee have sent £1000 form our Disaster and Relief fund to the Moldova Support Group to help the church there who are involved with Ukrainian refugees at this time.
We have also given £1000 to Andrew Maciver a member in Buccleuch Free church Edinburgh and has been involved with churches in Myanmar.
Tuesday 22nd March 7.30pm
We are planning God willing to have a meeting via zoom. Speakers are Kathleen MacSween and Catriona Lamont from a new group called 'Sparkle Sisters'. Their mission is to provide a safe space in Edinburgh, where women affected in any way by homelessness or adverse social circumstances will feel valued and bring dignity back to those affected. Anyone who would like to attend this meeting please contact Donna Maciver for the zoom logon details at [email protected] or mobile number 07810386774.
Saturday 26th March 12.00-2.00pm
'Spring Bake and Craft Stall' in the M.A. Hall. The format will be the same as the previous two. We ask that any donations of baking be pre-boxed or wrapped and no items with fresh cream.
Monday 25th April 7.30pm M.A. Hall
Malcolm Macleod from Steadfast Global will give an update on their work followed by a short AGM.
Friday 20th May
The Western Isles committee of the WM are hosting an evening event this year back in the Cabarfeidh Hotel. This is a booking only event the booking forms will be available from the 29th of March. If anyone would like to attend the event please contact Donna Maciver.
Saturday 21st May 2.00pm
WfM AGM (main committee) takes place at Perth Free Church. This will be streamed live on YouTube and we as a group are hoping to have an afternoon tea in the MA hall and watch the proceedings together. Everyone is welcome at these meetings.
Saturday 17th September
WfM Ladies Conference at Culloden Baptist Church, Inverness. Main speaker Helen Thorne who is the Director of Training and mentoring at London City Mission and a trustee of Biblical Counselling UK. She has written a book entitled 'Hope in an Anxious World' which can be purchased in the Religious Bookshop in Stornoway.
