Notices - Sunday 17th December
Creche: 11.00am in the upper hall for children up to age 3.
Volunteers Today: Elaine, Christine Ann, Maighread, Donna and Carol Ann.
Volunteers 24th December: Fiona, Catherine, Ruby and Alison Maciver.
Tweenies: 11.00am in the main hall for children aged 3-5.
Volunteers today: Liz, Evelyn and Aileen.
Volunteers 24th December: Johan, Donna and Lydia.
No Sunday School and Bible Class today due to the family service.
Journey To Christmas Morning – Sunday School P7 and Bible Class.
Sunday School P7 and Bible Class invite you to join them during the week leading up to Christmas as they explore the journey to Christmas morning through a few short video messages. YouTube links for the videos will be sent to everyone on the mailing list. We hope you enjoy them.
Everyone is welcome to the M. A. Hall after the morning service for a time of fellowship. Tea and Coffee will be served by Mary Campbell.
YF meets tonight in the M.A. Hall following the evening service.
Wednesday 20th December at 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Rev Calum M. Smith.
Thursday 21st December at 7.30pm – Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Friday 22nd December from 12.00pm to 3.00pm – Fridays at the Free.
The M.A. Hall will be open for soups, teas and coffees to give people an opportunity to meet with friends.
There will be a kids play area available as well as items from ‘Dove’s Corner’ Baby Bank free of charge. For transport please call Calum on 07717 495424
Saturday 23rd December at 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Lord’s Day 24th December at 9.00am – Ladies Prayer Meeting on Zoom.
Services next Lord’s Day – 24th December
English Service at 11.00am (Church) – Rev James Maciver
There will be no Gaelic service in the Seminary
English Service at 6.30pm (Church) – Rev Calum M. Smith
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 affected:
Mrs Catherine Isobel Murray (Kitty), Newmarket. We express our sincere condolences to her husband Donald, son Malcolm and his wife Liz, son William, his wife Susan, and their children Kelsey, Liam and Maria. We also remember the great grandchildren Tommy, and Aldy, along with Kitty’s siblings Neil, John Murdo, Calum, Angusina and Chrissie, as well as all nephews and nieces.
Miss Annetta Macaulay, formerly Achmore and Back. We express our sincere condolences to her nieces Alison (Nicolson) and her husband Donnie, Christine (Morrison) and her husband Craig, and Irene; also her sister-in-law Annie Mary Macaulay; her grandniece Eilidh Stone and her husband Mike, and her grandnephew Scott Morrison, together with all other family relations.
Thank you from Women for Mission
The Stornoway WfM committee wish to thank everyone who helped, and supported the fundraising Christmas Fayre last week. The sum of £1230 was raised, and will be shared between ‘International Mission to Jewish people’, ‘Release International’ in Nigeria, ‘International Justice Mission’, and ‘Christian Values in Education (Scotland)’.
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’.
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.
Let Us Pray Campaign
The Scottish Government has promised to publish a consultation before the end of the year on ‘ending conversion practices’.
A letter has been written by the Let Us Pray Campaign to the Equalities Minister, Emma Roddick, expressing serious concerns that the Government’s plans for a ‘conversion therapy’ Bill threaten to criminalise aspects of the ordinary work of churches. Stephen Allison, Public Engagement Coordinator for the Free Church, is one of the lead signatories.
Church leaders, pastoral workers and anyone else in Scotland is encouraged to sign the letter. Your name and information will not be made public.
If you would like to sign, go to: https://letuspray.uk/take-action/scotland and feel free to share this with your friends.
Free Church Youth Camps 2024
Registration has now opened for those in P5-S6. No payment is due until after a space at camp is confirmed, and invoices can be paid over time. Anyone needing financial help can make use of our Campers Support Fund. More information nan be obtained at freechurchyouthcamps.org.
God is Good Africa
A new CD produced in memory of Ishbel Mackenzie is now available in the Christian Bookshop and the Delights shop on North Beach Street at £12.00 each. All monies made will go towards G.I.G.A. projects.
The CD has a collection of Gaelic and English Psalms, hymns, and instrumental tracks.
