Bulletin - Sunday 9th May
In the absence of a printed bulletin at our Sunday services, click here to read the information bulletin for Sunday 9th May, including service details, upcoming events and The Record for May.
Read more about 'Bulletin - Sunday 9th May'...Pastoral Message from the Ministers
Beloved friends,
Your ongoing support of the gospel and of our ministry is greatly encouraging and much appreciated. We share your delight in being able to return to the use of our buildings for public worship. Even though some restrictions still apply in relation to the number we are able to accommodate and to congregational singing, we are thankful to the Lord for a reduction in Covid-19 infections and deaths nationally, thereby enabling us to gather for worship.
Although we have been thankful for the technology that has enabled us to maintain services virtually, it is important that we retain a sense of the importance Scripture attaches to the visibility of Christ’s Church in the world. The words kahal and ekklesia, used in Hebrew and Greek respectively to describe God’s people, literally mean an “assembly” or “a gathering”, with the idea of not only being “gathered together” but also being “gathered out from” the world. The visibility of the Church in the world is itself an aspect of the witness God bears to his love and grace as shown through his gathering of his people.
In the prayer of Jesus for his people recorded in John 17, an observable unity is clearly meant by the words “that they may all be one” (v. 21 and 22), because these words are closely connected to “that the world may believe that you have sent me” (v. 21) and “that the world may know that you sent me” (v. 23). The spiritual unity of God’s people is, of course, important, but it is through the visible unity of the gathered Church that God’s love is shown to the world. We have a similar emphasis in John 13 verse 35, “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.”
Read more about 'Pastoral Message from the Ministers'...
Stornoway Free Church WFM committee are planning a ‘Bake Stall’ on Saturday 22nd May in the MA hall from 12 – 2pm.
We are looking for donations of baking items, puddings such as Sticky Toffee, Apple pies, Fruit Crumbles, Jams and Marmalades. No items with fresh cream please.
We request that all items donated be bagged or boxed ready for selling in order to minimise handling.
The hall will be open from 9am on the day.
All proceeds to go to the WFM projects for 2020/2021
Covid regulations will be adhered to.
Thank you,
Donna Maciver, WFM Committee
Read more about 'WFM Bake Sale'...Book Now for Church on Sunday 9th May
For the Kenneth Street services on Sunday 9th May and onwards, these will now be taken by Lorraine Shewan. The preferred method of contacting Lorraine is by email on [email protected]. She can also be contacted by text or telephone on 07720321081. Bookings for each week should be made no later than 6.00pm the previous Friday. When booking by email please make clear the service or services you want to attend and the names and contact telephone number of everyone attending from your household. If you are making a booking for someone who is not a member of your household you should point this out at the time.
Bookings for the Seminary. Those wishing to book a seat at the Sunday services in the Seminary should contact Elizabeth McGowan on 07900586930 or by email to [email protected] and should be done no later than 6.00pm on Saturday.
Please familiarise yourselves with the following which applies to both places of worship:
- Everyone is encouraged to arrive early to allow time for cross-referring with the bookings list and to give those on duty sufficient time to ensure that everyone is correctly seated. Please use the hand sanitizer facilities on arrival.
- Handshaking is not permitted, masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed.
- Those attending the services at the Kenneth Street church, in particular, are encouraged to be patient. For all of us, this is a new and untested arrangement and it will take a week or two for it to settle into a routine.
- For Test & Protect details, it is now a requirement to list the name and contact telephone number of everyone attending a place of worship and not just the lead person as was the case until recently.
- Bibles and Psalm books have all been removed for public use but you can take your own Bible or use a downloaded copy.
- Congregational singing should continue to be avoided.
The next scheduled date for the return of freewill offering envelopes is Saturday 8th May between 2.00pm and 4.00pm in the church hall on Kenneth Street. As restrictions on numbers attending church services are now being eased and as our services are now returning to a more regular pattern, it may not be necessary to continue with this monthly arrangement but this will be reviewed at the next meeting of our Deacons’ Court.
Read more about 'Return of Freewill Offering Envelopes'...Sunday 2nd May - Service Details
11.00am English Service in Kenneth Street Church and live-streamed to Stornoway Free Church YouTube
Please contact Alasdair Macleod to book your place - 07810691033 or by email to [email protected]
Rev Kenneth I Macleod will preach on 'Formed by God to Praise God' from Isaiah 43:21.
11.00am Gaelic Service in the Seminary and live-streamed on Free Church Seminary Stornoway YouTube
Please contact Elizabeth McGowan to book your place on 07900586930 or by email to [email protected]
Rev James Maciver will preach on 'O Dhaorsa gu Mòr Shaorsa' from Psalm 130.
6:30pm English Service in Kenneth Street Church and live-streamed to Stornoway Free Church YouTube
Please contact Alasdair Macleod to book your place - 07810691033 or by email to [email protected]
Rev James Maciver continues his series on the Miracles of Jesus looking at the calming of the storm in Mark 4.
Read more about 'Sunday 2nd May - Service Details'...Annual Business Meeting: Wednesday 5th May
The Annual Business Meeting for the congregation will be held on Wednesday 5th May at 7.30pm. The meeting will be held entirely on Zoom using the regular ID and passcode. If others want to join the meeting they should request the login details from Mairianne Campbell on [email protected]
The 2020 Trustees report and Financial Statement is available to download here
Read more about 'Annual Business Meeting: Wednesday 5th May'...
The latest edition of the congregational newsletter is available to view online here.
Read more about 'May Newsletter'...Church Services Resume: Important Information
Since 26th April the restrictions on numbers attending places of worship is no longer capped at 50 but is still subject to 2metre physical distancing between households. Capacity is now determined by the size of a building and on how many people attend on their own or in larger household groups. Children under 5 are not counted in determining the number of people who can be accommodated.
Taking social distancing into account, the number that can currently be safely accommodated in the Kenneth Street church is 120; 60 on each floor. For the Seminary the number is 75. For both places, the number will be reviewed regularly and adjusted as attendance patterns become clearer.
The Kirk Session has decided that from Sunday 2nd May the services will be as follows:
Kenneth Street - English Services at 11.00am at 6.30pm.
Seminary (Francis Street) - Gaelic service at 11.00am.
(This will be a joint service with the High Free Church)
Bookings for Kenneth Street services - change to current arrangements: Bookings for the services on Sunday 2nd May only should be made with Alasdair Macleod (Elder) as per the email address and telephone number previously issued.
For the Kenneth Street services on Sunday 9th May and onwards, these will now be taken by Lorraine Shewan. The preferred method of contacting Lorraine is by email on [email protected]. She can also be contacted by text or telephone on 07720321081. Bookings for each week should be made no later than 6.00pm the previous Friday. When booking by email please make clear the service or services you want to attend and the names and contact telephone number of everyone attending from your household. If you are making a booking for someone who is not a member of your household you should point this out at the time.
Read more about 'Church Services Resume: Important Information'...
Stornoway Free Church Women for Mission
The last year has been very difficult for everyone. But the work of the Lord still goes on and it is our duty to do what we can to support those less fortunate than ourselves. With this in mind the WFM committee have continued to meet regularly through the wonders of technology to try and do what we can to support the various missions that we agreed on earlier in the year.
The four missions are :
The Leprosy Mission in India
Scripture Union Scotland
Moldova Support Group
WFM Disaster & Relief Fund
For more information you can download the leaflet or go to our website at https://womenformission.org/embracing-the-world/
If anyone wishes to make a donation you can also donate online - details for this are also on that site. Donations can also be given in an envelop marked ‘WFM’ and put in the collection plate at any of the services.
AGM
This year we hope to host a ‘virtual’ meeting live on ‘you tube’ on Saturday 22nd May at 2pm.
The main speakers are:
- A representative from Scripture Union
- David Macpherson from Peru
The project for 21/22 will also be launched that day and there will be a singing by CJ Macdonald (nee Martin).
I hope and pray you will be able to support us in whatever way you can.
God bless you all,
Donna Maciver
Read more about 'WFM Update'...
