Notices - Sunday 19th December
Creche: 11.00 in upstairs hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Carol Ann, Christine Anne, Maighread, Donna Mackinnon.
Volunteers 26th December: Fiona, Catherine, Ruby.
Tweenies: 11.00-11.50 in downstairs hall for children aged 3-4.
Sunday School: 11.00-11.50 in main hall for children of P1 to S2.
Testimony Fellowship Sunday at 8.30pm on Zoom.
Everyone is welcome to join and hear Donald Macleod (Doonie) speak. Pray for him tonight, and also as he begins his role as congregational treasurer.
Zoom details are the same as last month and available from Mairianne.
Monday Toddler Group is cancelled until 2022.
Monday 20th December 7.00pm – Kirk Session meets in upper hall.
Wednesday 22nd December 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting.
In the Seminary and on Zoom led by Rev James Maciver.
Thursday 23rd December 7.30pm - Gaelic Prayer Meeting.
In the Seminary led by Rev James Maciver.
Friday Ladies Bible Study is on holiday until 2022.
Saturday 25th December 7.30pm - English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Services next Sunday – 26th December
11.00am English Service (Church): Rev James Maciver
11.00am Gaelic Service (Seminary): Rev D. A. Macdonald
6.30pm English Service (Church): Rev James Maciver
Sunday 26th December - Holiday Tweenies in hall for children aged 3-7.
Thank You from WFM
The Women for Mission committee would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to last week’s Bake and Craft sale. The incredible amount of £1,717.20 was raised, and this money will be distributed to “Safe Families (Scotland)”, Damaris Community House (Greece), and Lakhnadon Christian Hospital (India).
Change of Congregational Treasurer
After more than 19 years’ service as Congregational Treasurer, Mr Murdo Macphail will be stepping down from the position on 31st December 2021. As treasurer, Murdo could always be relied on to manage the financial affairs of the congregation with meticulous care and to present them with faultless accuracy. Our congregation is greatly indebted to him for his unfailing dedication and for the high quality of his service over the years. We pray that he will know God’s enriching blessing in the future and that our congregation will long continue to benefit from his experience and wise counsel.
From 1st January 2022 the new Congregational Treasurer will be Mr Donald Macleod (Doonie). Donald will bring a wealth of experience to the post as he has held senior accountancy positions with the Western Isles Health Board and the Finance Department of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. He also serves the wider interests of Free Church of Scotland as a serving member of the Board of Trustees. We are confident that under Donald’s management the financial affairs of the congregation will continue to be in experienced and competent hands.
A further consequence of the change is that Donald now relinquishes his position as Gift Aid treasurer for the congregation. This position will now be taken by Mr Gordon Murray.
We thank God for Donald and Gordon’s willingness to serve in these important positions and commend them to the prayers of the congregation as they undertake their different responsibilities.
Free Church Youth Camps
We are excited to announce that registration for camps in 2022 is now open. The closing date for applications is 31st January 2022. Further information can be obtained from Mairi Beaton at [email protected].
Please pray that the children attending camps will have their hearts opened to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Steadfast Global - Request for assistance with Advocacy Campaign
Steadfast Global has launched a petition calling on the Home Secretary to grant settlement in Scotland to Sawan Masih & his family who are currently living at an undisclosed location in Pakistan following his acquittal from blasphemy charges in October 2020. Sawan spent seven years in prison as a result of this false allegation and immediately following his release he became the target of death threats.
For more information about Sawan and to sign the petition please use the following link - https://www.change.org/stand-for-Sawan
Steadfast Global is a Scotland based evangelical Christian mission committed to raising awareness of incidents of persecution and the curtailment of religious freedom of Christians around the world.
Their mission statement is simple: ‘Steadfastly serving God; Steadfastly serving persecuted Christians’. More information about their work can be found on - www.steadfastglobal.org
Praying for One Another in the Free Church
Stirling - Minister: Iain Macaskill
Give thanks that the Robertson Trust has settled our claim and formally apologised for unlawful discrimination. We are still searching for a permanent home for the congregation since our contract at the Barracks was terminated by the Robertson Trust. We have to leave our current base at the Highland Hotel for the month of December. Please also give thanks for the provision of Lecropt Church of Scotland’s Church Hall in Bridge of Allan and the Kirk Session’s decision not to charge us rent.
Scalpay (Harris) - Minister: Rev Andrew Coghill
Give thanks that the Lord has continued to provide for the congregation's needs and commitments during the year. Pray for strength and courage to deepen our commitment to the Lord and our sense of mission in our community and island. Pray especially for the children who often show great consistency of commitment and sometimes courage too.
