Notices - Sunday 29th January 2023
Creche: 11.00am in the upper hall for children up to age 3.
Volunteers Today: Annette, Kathleen, Anne Mackenzie and Tina.
Volunteers 5th February: Elaine, Christine Smith, Chris and Annmarie.
Tweenies: 11.00am in the main hall for pre-school children aged 3-5.
Volunteers today: ChrissAnne, Alison and Lydia.
Volunteers 5th February: Elizabeth, Karen, Aileen and Kirsty.
Sunday School and Bible Class arrive in church at 11.00 with family, then go into M.A. Hall after children’s address.
Annual Special Collection for Bethesda.
A special collection will be taken for Bethesda at all services today. Collection points will be available at all exits. Contributions can also be made by cheque which should be made payable to Stornoway Free Church and placed in an envelope clearly marked ‘Bethesda’.
Everyone is welcome to a time of fellowship in the M. A. Hall following the morning service. D.R. and Diana will be serving today.
Monday 30th January 1.00pm-3.00pm - Toddler Group in MA. Hall.
Tuesday 31st January 7.30pm-9.00pm – Craft Group meet in M.A. Hall. We hope to have a guest who will give us a sewing demonstration. Please join us for a time of fellowship and refreshments.
Wednesday 1st February 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary and on Zoom led by Rev James Maciver.
Thursday 2nd February - Explorers meet in M.A. Hall.
6.00pm-7.00pm: P1-P3
7.00pm-8.15pm: P4-P7.
Thursday 2nd February 7.30pm – Gaelic Prayer Meeting in the Seminary led by Mr Joe Macphee.
Friday 3rd February 12.00pm-4.00pm – Warm Spaces
The M.A. Hall will be open for soup, teas and coffees to give people an opportunity to meet up with friends (and make new ones), chat, read, play board games or have somewhere to study and read.
There will be a kids play area available as well as baby nappies, formula and adult toiletries from ‘Dove’s Corner’ Baby Bank.
Saturday 4th February 11.00am – Ladies Walking Group. Meet at the Castle Museum Car Park.
Saturday 4th February 7.30pm – English Prayer Meeting in the Seminary.
Services next Sunday – 5th February
11.00am – English Service (Church) Rev Calum M. Smith.
11.00am – Gaelic Service (Seminary) Rev James Maciver.
6.30pm – English Service (Church) Rev James Maciver.
Sunday School Snippet
Some thoughts from our youngest children this week:
We learned about Philip. He wanted to tell people about Jesus. Dan
We learn about Jesus in the Bible. Joshua
What kind of Bible did they have in the olden days? Xander - a scroll.
We made a scroll. Holly
Petition to the Scottish Parliament
Rev Stephen Allison, Free Church of Scotland Public Engagement Co-ordinator, is drawing the attention of congregations to a petition launched by Safeguarding Our Schools Scotland to the Scottish Parliament. The petition is requesting the withdrawal of 'Supporting transgender young people in schools' guidance from Scottish schools and await the outcome of the Cass Review before developing a new resource.
The petition is open for signatures until 2 February 2023.
Please follow the link for more details about the petition and feel free to circulate and promote it where appropriate.
https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2001
Western Isles Island Games Athletics Team
All are welcome to a fundraising soup and pudding lunch in the M.A. Hall on Saturday 4th February from 12.00pm-2,00pm. The team are raising funds to travel and compete at the International Island Games in Guernsey this July.
Hope Explored – 7th, 14th and 21st February
Do you ever wonder about all that is going on in the world around us, and where Christianity features in all this? Or are you looking for a Hope that won’t disappoint you?
There are few emotions more powerful than hope. But these days,
hope often feels hard to come by. Where can we find a hope that
won't disappoint us?
Looking at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in Luke's Gospel, this three-session series from Christianity Explored Ministries shows that Christianity is about real hope: a joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past, which changes everything about my present. It sounds good…………… but is it true?
Whatever people do or do not believe, Hope Explored offers them an opportunity to explore, to discuss the hope, peace and purpose Jesus offers.
Please come and join us to consider some of these matters over 3 evenings in the M.A. Hall, Kenneth St. This 3 session programme will be run on 7th, 14th and 21st February. Each session will start at 7:30pm and finish at 8:30pm.
The meetings will be held in an informal and relaxed environment and suitable for anyone with little, or no, Christian experience.
There is no need to book, just turn up and bring some friends if you can.
Safeguarding / PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme
Membership of the scheme is essential for those working with children and vulnerable adults. In addition to completing a PVG application, it is also essential that everyone involved with children or vulnerable adults complete an online Safeguarding course by 31st March. The course dates are:
Tuesday 21st February
Wednesday 22nd March
You can sign up on the Free Church of Scotland website at: Safeguarding – Free Church of Scotland
Should you require more information, please contact Ian at: [email protected] or Calum at [email protected]
