Notices - Sunday 3rd December
Creche: 11.00am in the upper hall for children up to age 3.
Volunteers Today: Annette, Kathleen, Anne Mackenzie and Tina.
Volunteers 10th December: Elaine, Christine, Chris, Annmarie and Helena.
Tweenies: 11.00am in the main hall for children aged 3-5.
Volunteers today: ChrissAnne, Gillian and Donna.
Volunteers 10th December: Elizabeth, Alison and Angela.
Sunday School - All children are asked to go directly into the hall for 11.00am since it is a communion service. The children will be taken into the church before the communion is dispensed.
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 and Elaine.
There will be a congregational fellowship in the M.A. Hall following the evening service.
Marten Walker will be the guest speaker.
Monday 4th December from 1.00pm to 3.00pm - Toddler Group meets in the M.A. Hall.
Monday 4th December at 7.30pm – Monthly Prayer Meeting on Zoom.
Tuesday 5th December at 11.00am – Prayer and Update with Muriel on Zoom.
Tuesday 5th December 7.30pm - Christianity Explored in Upper M.A. Hall.
This is a relaxed and informal setting suitable for everyone. No prior knowledge of the Christian faith is required. If you know someone who could benefit from these discussions, please bring them along.
All will be most welcome. Please come along if you haven’t been before or missed any of the previous weeks.
You can contact Cala (07818 076163) if you have any questions meantime.
Wednesday 6th December at 7.30pm – Bible Study in the M.A. Hall led by Rev Calum M. Smith. We will be continuing with the topic ‘Six Steps to Loving Your Church.’
Thursday 7th December at 7.30pm – Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Mr Murdo Martin.
Thursday 7th December - Explorers meet in the M.A. Hall.
6.00pm - 7.00pm: P1 - P3
7.00pm - 8.15pm: P4 - P7
Friday 8th 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.
Anyone needing transport please call Calum on 07717 495424
Saturday 9th December from 12.00pm to 2.00pm – Sy WfM will be hosting a Christmas fundraising lunch with baking and craft stall.
There is a sign-up sheet at the main door for anyone who is able to help in any way. We would be grateful for donations of jams, marmalades, chutney, and homemade crafts and cards
Saturday 9th December at 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Lord’s Day 10th December at 9.00am – Ladies Prayer Meeting on Zoom.
Services next Lord’s Day – 10th December
English Service at 11.00am (Church) – Rev James Maciver
Gaelic Service at 11.00am (Seminary) – Rev Kenneth Ferguson
English Service at 6.30pm (Church) – Rev Calum M. Smith
55+ Fellowship
The next meeting of the 55+ Fellowship will be held in the M.A. Hall on Friday 15th December from 12.00pm to 2.00pm. This will be a Soup and Pudding Lunch. Please note the earlier time. That day we hope to have Robert France from the High Free Church as our guest speaker and the singing will be led by Joe Macphee.
We have had three very successful meetings over recent months and you are all warmly invited to the final meeting of 2023. It was good to see new faces at these meetings, so if you have not managed along yet this will be the perfect opportunity for you. You will be made most welcome, and also you can rest assured that I will not be making any of the soups!!
Duncan Norman (On behalf of the 55+ Fellowship Committee).
Death
We were sorry to hear that Donald John Mackenzie (Pom), Cearn Shulasgair, had passed away.
We express our sincere condolences to his family: daughter Carol-Ann, her husband Scott and their daughter Rose; his former wife Ann; his brother Roddy; nephew Angus; and nieces Marina, Anne, Jackie, and Samantha.
We pray that God would comfort them in their loss.
Nine Lessons and Carols – Christmas Community Singing Event at the Nicolson Institute Assembly Hall on Tuesday 5th December at 7.00pm.
The faculty of the Music and RME warmly invite you to start the Christmas season with an evening of Christmas sing-along carols and Christmas readings read by pupils from the Nicolson Institute.
Binding Brokenness: A small group for Bible-based trauma healing
Our small group will help you to deal with hurt, loss, grief and trauma, and begin the journey towards healing.
We use the time-tested model of the Trauma Healing Institute, which is endorsed by the Scottish Bible Society.
The introductory lesson takes place on Tuesday 12th December 2023, 7.00pm to 9:00pm in a Stornoway venue.
The course continues in 2024 - weekly on Tuesdays, 7.00pm to 9.00pm from 9th January to 13th February 2024. Booking is essential.
To book or find out more please contact the group facilitators:
Mairianne Campbell: 07876 202073
Joanna George: [email protected] or simply fill in your details online: https://forms.office.com/r/fDrmMuM4Zx
Put Winter Vaccinations on your ‘to do’ list
The festive season is drawing closer, a time that many of us will be spending with family and friends.
However, it is also the time of year when viruses such as flu and COVID-19 are more likely to spread.
It takes about 10 days after receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines for the body to build up maximum protection, so those eligible for one or both vaccines who have not come forward are being urged to plan ahead and top-up their protection in time for the festive period. To date, this year, only half of those eligible in the Western Isles have had their vaccinations.
Winter vaccinations protect you and those most vulnerable around you. Last winter in Scotland, hospital admissions for flu and COVID-19 peaked on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day respectively.
The following groups are eligible for both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines this winter:
· Frontline health and social care workers
· Residents and staff in care homes for older adults
· Those aged 65 and over
· Those aged 6 months to 64 years of age who are at higher clinical risk from COVID-19
· Pregnant women
· Carers aged 16-64
· Household contacts of those with a weakened immune system aged 12-64
Adults eligible for the flu vaccine only:
· Those aged 50 to 64-year-olds with no underlying conditions
· Those aged 18 to 49-year-old with an eligible condition
Childhood flu vaccine:
· Children aged 2 to 5 who are not yet at school
· All primary and secondary school pupils
If you have not yet attended your scheduled appointment, or have not been invited but think you may be eligible, either visit www.nhsinform/scot/wintervaccines to check your eligibility or contact 0808 196 8383 to schedule an appointment. '
