Notices - Sunday 27th November
Creche: 11.00am in the upper hall for children up to age 2.
Volunteers today: Fiona, Catherine, Ruby and Alison.
Volunteers 4th December: Annette, Kathleen, Anne Mackenzie and Tina.
Holiday Tweenies: 11.00am in the main hall for children aged 3-7.
Volunteers today: ChrissAnne, Aileen and Kirsty.
Volunteers 4th December: Angela, Kay and Lydia.
No Sunday School and Bible Class today due to school holiday.
No Monday Toddler Group on 28th November due to school holiday.
Wednesday 30th November 7.30pm – Prayer Meeting in the Seminary and on Zoom led by Rev James Maciver.
As this is the Free Church National Day of Prayer, the meeting will be devoted to prayer.
Thursday 1st December 7.30pm – Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Mr Murdo Martin.
Thursday 1st December – Explorers in the M.A. Hall.
6.00 pm-7.00pm – P1-P3 and 7.00pm-8.15pm – P4-P7
Saturday 3rd December 11.00am – Ladies Walking Group.
Meet at the Castle Museum Car Park.
Saturday 3rd December 7.00pm - English Service in the Church followed by a meeting of the Kirk Session in the M.A. Hall.
Services next Sunday – 4th December
11.00am – English Communion Service (Church) Rev Calum M. Smith.
No Gaelic Service in Seminary.
6.30pm - English Service (Church) Rev Calum M. Smith.
Communion
The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be dispensed, God willing, in the congregation at the morning service next Sunday 4th December. There will be a pre-communion service on Saturday evening (3rd), at 7.00pm (not 7.30!), followed by a meeting of the Kirk Session.
A congregational fellowship will be held in the hall after the service on Sunday evening. Scott Macleod will interview Calum Murdo.
The practical arrangements for the Lord’s Supper will be the same as applied to the most recent occasions of communion.
Anyone who wishes to take communion for the first time is invited to meet with the Session on Saturday evening, accompanied by a friend if they wish.
The Session will also be delighted to welcome anyone who wishes to join the communicant membership by a certificate from another congregation.
Please contact either of the ministers if you wish to ask about, or discuss, anything in advance of the communion services.
Our prayer is that God will encourage in advance all who wish to remember the Lord’s death and that he will bless both word and sacrament to us once again.
Sunday School Snippet
For this week’s snippet, we’re changing the perspective. Instead of hearing from the children, we’d like you to hear from one of our teachers.
“I was asked why I enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher. We have lots of fun and I just love preparing Bible lessons and activities because I am learning along with my lovely class. You build up a good relationship with the children and we have a brilliant team who support each other. I didn't think I would have the confidence to teach but with God's help all things are possible.”
SY WfM are holding a Christmas Bake, Pudding and Craft Fayre along with soup and a roll lunch on Saturday 10th December in M.A. Hall from 12-2pm.
We are looking for donations of items like baking, fruit puddings, meringues, jams, marmalade, chutneys and crafts of any kind. All baking should be bagged or boxed with labels stating ingredients please. No items with fresh cream as per current regulations.
We are also looking for donations of soups, and volunteers to help on the day.
Please contact Donna on 07810 386774 or [email protected].
All proceeds are for WFM projects 2022/23.
The Women for Mission Ultimate Favourite Recipes: If you would like to order your copy, please contact Donna (07810 386774) or Johan (07887 483992) by Tuesday 29th November. Put payment with your name in envelope marked ‘WfM cookbook’.
Bethesda Fundraising Lunch Saturday 3rd December 12.00-2.00
All are welcome in the M.A. Hall for soup and pudding lunch.
Presbytery Youth camp at Scaladale this weekend
Please pray that the camp will be blessed to the leaders and children.
Benevolent Fund. At the Thanksgiving Service last Wednesday evening, many of those present contributed to the congregation’s Benevolent Fund. For those who could not be present but would like to contribute, 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’.
Foodbank donation from the Benevolent Fund. In recent weeks, a contribution of £1,200 was made from the fund to the Eilean Siar Food Bank to help with the enormous challenges of providing food to the rising number in our island communities who struggle to feed their families. We sincerely thank all the Foodbank volunteers for their dedication and hard work and commend them to the prayers of the congregation.
GIGA. God Is Good Africa
Dear Congregation,
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you all as a congregation for your prayers, care and love towards me since the passing of my wife Ishbel, nearly
3 years ago.
Our Mission work in Uganda at African Bible University and Lighthill Christian School continues as does our work in Eastern Congo.
At African Bible University the student intake has continued, though covid has affected the finances of so many students, we have helped through the Ishbel Mackenzie memorial scholarship 2 students.
Sadly, in May of this year we lost our President Dr Paul Chinchen who died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 58 and left his wife Laura with 5 children. I worked with Paul in the formative years building African Bible University.
At Lighthill Christian school we have helped with food support. Also this year we have installed solar panels that have powered the classrooms with light and sockets. We have also installed water tanks to harvest the water from the roof. God willing next year we plan to build a Primary 7 classroom and library.
Work is also ongoing building a medical clinic in memory of my wife Ishbel in Northern Uganda, 40 miles from the South Sudan Border, called Ishbel Amari Clinic. ‘Amari’ translates in the local language ‘I Love You’.
This building has been funded by Ishbel’s brother Kenny from Newmarket. Photos on FB and Twitter.
God willing, I hope to return to Uganda on the 30th of November.
Blessings and Thanksgiving.
Psalm 16.
Kenny John Mackenzie. Chairman GIGA.
