Notices - 19 November
The Record: November edition is now available
Winter Tea Rota: Are you able to help with the after church teas? It involves setting up cups, biscuits and juice in the hall kitchen before the morning service and then serving tea and coffee afterwards. We need two volunteers on each time. If you are able to help, please add your name to the rota at the front door of the church. Even if you have helped before, please add your name to a date that suits you over the next couple of months. Thank you.
Sunday 19th November The Big YF will meet in the hall tonight after the evening service and Rev David Macleod will speak on the question, ‘If being a Christian is about a relationship, why are there rules?’ All young people S1+ are warmly invited to come along.
Tuesday 21st November
- The Reason for God Study meets in Kenneth St. Church Hall at 7:30 – 9pm on Tuesday. Please join us to discuss Christianity as it relates to the world today. Discussion 3: What gives you the right to tell me how to live my life? Why are there so many rules?
- The Craft Group meets in the downstairs hall at 7.30pm
- Reformation Commemoration: The Presbytery has made arrangements to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on Tuesday 21st November 2017, at 7.30pm. This will be held at An Lanntair, Stornoway. Professor Emeritus John R. McIntosh, Edinburgh Theological Seminary, will give a lecture on “Why the Reformation is Worth Remembering.” Following a short break for tea and coffee the evening will continue with a panel discussion involving Professor McIntosh and three others. Entrance will be £1. Booking is required and can be made at the desk at An Lanntair, by phone on 01851 703307, or on the website at http://lanntair.com. This is a public meeting and all are welcome.
Children and youth groups
Parent & Toddler meets on Tuesday (1.00–3.00pm) and Thursday (9.45-11.45am)
Campaigners: C Club (6-7pm) and Crosstrax (7-8.30pm) on Monday in the hall
Kidz Zone meets at 6.15-7.30pm on Thursday in the hall
Midweek Meetings: All at 7.30pm
- No Wednesday evening meeting this week
- Thursday Thanksgiving Service (Rev Kenneth I Macleod) in the Seminary
- Saturday – English in the Seminary
Thursday 23rd November
- Thanksgiving Day: The Presbytery has set Thursday 23rd November as Thanksgiving Day. A thanksgiving service will be held in the congregation that evening at 7.30pm in the Seminary. The Kirk Session has decided that we will not have a meeting on the previous evening Wednesday 22nd November.
- Thanksgiving Service Collection There will be a Special Collection for the congregation's Benevolent Fund at the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in the Seminary on Thursday 23rd November.
Friday 24th November The Gideons Western Isles Branch Annual Rally will take place in the Associated Presbyterian Church, Keith Street, Stornoway at 7.30 pm on Friday 24th November 2017. Our main Speaker is Rev Iain Murdo Campbell, Kinloch Church of Scotland. All welcome.
Sunday 26th November: There will be no Sunday School next week (26th November) due to the school holidays. Tweenies will be open to all children age 3 to Primary 2.
Election of Elders and Deacons: The Kirk Session has decided that an election of elders and deacons should be carried out before the end of the current year. The election of office-bearers in the Free Church is carried out by those who are communicants and is managed by the Kirk Session. Forms and information as to how to complete them will be given out in due course. Male communicants in good standing are eligible for election to office, but only such as have attained to 21 years of age may be elected to the eldership. Meantime, any male communicant who does not wish to be elected to office, or anyone of the present deacons not wishing to be considered for election as an elder, must inform the minister of this before Friday 24th November 2017, otherwise their names will be included on the form for election.
National Day of Prayer: As intimated previously a Day of Prayer was appointed by the General Assembly to be held throughout the Church on Thursday 30th November. The Presbytery will hold a meeting for prayer at Stornoway Free Church, Kenneth Street, at 7.30pm that evening, as a central meeting for all congregations. The meeting will be led by the Moderator of Presbytery, Rev Murdo Campbell. In order to focus as much as possible on that evening of prayer the Kirk Session has decided that we will not have a mid-week meeting on the previous evening Wednesday 29th November.
Communion: The Lord’s Supper will be dispensed in the congregation on Sunday 3rd December at the morning service in the church, Kenneth St., conducted by Rev James Maciver. Please note that this is a change to previous years when the communion was held on the second Sabbath of December. The evening service will be at 6.30pm conducted by Rev Kenneth I Macleod and this will be followed by a Congregational Fellowship in the hall. A preparatory service will be held on Saturday 2nd December at 7.30pm in the Seminary and the Kirk Session will meet before the service at 7.00pm in the Seminary Session Room. Any who wish to take communion for the first time are welcome to meet with the Session on Saturday evening after the service.
