Notices - Sunday 25th November
Tuesday 27th November
-The Craft Group meets at 7:30pm in the Hall. All welcome.
-The Basic Christianity Discussion Group meets at 7.30pm in the Upstairs Hall. Anyone interested in finding out more, in an informal setting, about the Christian faith is very welcome. Please contact Cala on 07818 076163 if you have any questions.
Friday 30th November
National Day of Prayer: The last General Assembly, as in previous years, appointed 30th November as a National Day of Prayer. As the Presbytery has decided not to hold a central meeting on that evening, the Session, therefore, has decided to hold the following meetings to which all are invited:
8.00am in the Session Room, Kenneth Street
12.00 - 1.30pm in the Session Room, Kenneth Street
7.30pm in the Seminary, Francis Street
This Day of Prayer was arranged under the conviction that prayer is required for so many reasons. Both within and without the church we find much that ought to make us turn to God and seek His mercy and reviving power. Please commit yourself to this Day of Prayer and may we as a congregation see the benefits in days to come. The collection taken at all meetings throughout the day will be forwarded to the Christian Institute.
Scripture Union
Shine in Schools Initiative. Please remember in your prayers the Scripture Union group in the Nicolson this Wednesday, 28th November, as they invite their friends to join with them at the lunchtime meeting of SU. This is part of a nationwide project called ‘Shine in Schools’- an initiative supported by SU to equip Christian young people to live for God at school and allow their friends to explore the Christian faith. Thank you for your prayers.
Saturday 1st December
GIGA -God is Good Africa- will be running a café from 12-3pm in the MA Hall. There will be soup and sandwiches available, combined with afternoon tea and light entertainment in song with Kristine Kennedy associate member of GIGA. There will be a tabletop with various items to purchase. Baking will be gratefully received.
Contributing to the funds of the congregation
Over the next few weeks, office-bearers will be distributing the 2019 weekly free-will offering envelopes throughout the congregation. If you would like to contribute regularly to the funds of the congregation and do not currently receive freewill offering envelopes, you can request to have a pack delivered. If contributing by envelopes is not suitable, you can also choose to contribute by regular Standing Order. Either of these methods can be easily arranged by contacting Murdo Macphail, the Congregational Treasurer, or any of the office bearers.
Have you completed a Gift Aid form? According to government sources, the staggering sum of £600m is lost annually to UK charities as thousands of contributors are not registering for Gift Aid. While we are extremely thankful for those who have registered for Gift Aid, we want to encourage tax payers who are not registered but who contribute regularly to the funds of the congregation to seriously consider completing a Gift Aid Declaration Form. This will allow the congregation to claim back from the government an additional 25p for every £1 you contribute. There is no additional cost to you and the reclaim is done on your behalf from income tax you have already paid. Details of personal finances are not asked for, and all that's required to increase the value of your donation by a further 25% is to complete a very simple declaration form - we do the rest!
If you would like more information about Gift Aid, please speak to Donald (Doonie) Macleod (Gift Aid Treasurer), Murdo Macphail (Congregational Treasurer), or any of the office-bearers.
Midweek Meetings: All in the Seminary
-Wednesday at 7.30pm – English – Rev Kenneth I Macleod
-Thursday at 7.30pm – Gaelic – Rev James Maciver
-Saturday at 7pm – Communion Preparatory Service
Children and youth groups
Parent & Toddler meets on Tuesday (1.00–3.00pm) and Thursday (9.45-11.45am)
Campaigners:
Kidz Zone meets at 6.15-7.30pm on Thursday in the hall
ADVANCE NOTICE
New Year’s Day
Services will be held on board MV Loch Seaforth (involving the minister) and at the Iolaire Memorial at 12 noon as a major part of marking the 100th anniversary of the loss of the Iolaire. Both these services are to be open to the public and will be advertised soon. The Session decided that it would not be desirable to hold a New Year’s Day service at the same time in the congregation and also that it would not be practicable to have a service that evening. Instead a service will be held in the congregation on Wednesday 2nd January 2019 at 12 noon, in the church, and in consequence there will be no prayer meeting that evening.
