St Columba's Portree Newsletter

Transcription

1 December 2016 January 2017 Services and Prayers St Columba's Portree Newsletter Scottish Episcopal Church Diocese of Argyll and The Isles Somerled Square, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EH Assistant Curate, The Rev d Rosemary Bungard, Tel: , Bishop The Rt. Rev d Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll and The Isles General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church: SC Charity Number: SC to our visitors and parishioners St Columba s, Portree Eucharist each Sunday at 11am. Sunday school meets during the service in term time. The Church is open daily 10am to 3pm. St Michael and All Angels, Raasay Communion Service 11am fortnightly, one Tuesday and one Sunday as advertised. St Mary s, Sleat Liturgy of the Word and Communion or Eucharist 6pm on 2 nd Sunday of each month in the Parish Rooms of the Church of Scotland, Kilmore. Candlelit Taize Hour The Taize Hour is held the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. The chants are simple and the silent meditation periods between each song are short. All are welcome, please see church calendar for dates., Prayers and Thanksgivings Everyday St Columba s is open for Prayer. A book is on the table at the rear of the church for any prayer requests. St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 1

2 Letter from Rev d Rosemary Dear Friends in Christ, Advent which began on November 27th is the beginning of the new Church year. Happy New Year! Just as we are tempted to make New Year resolutions every 1st January, maybe now is the time to consider our own lives and commit ourselves to seeking growth and strength in our commitment to Christ. Advent is a time for preparing for Christ's second coming, even as we remember and celebrate his first coming at Christmas. This is why the colour of the season is purple, the colour also of Lent, of forgiveness and repentance. Our journey at St Columba s this year features different ideas each week starting with, what promises to be, a fascinating day with the Psalms led by Hebrew Scriptures scholar Marion MacKay from Stornoway. Returning, by popular request, is a session of Contemplative Prayer led by Marcus and following that will be a bible study on the great text from the beginning of John s Gospel heard at every Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols In the beginning was the word. In the ancient world, various peoples lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter s season and to pray for the return of the light. The church has Christianized that practice in the lighting of a different candle in the Advent wreath each Sunday. To us, these candles are signs of the growing light of Christ who is coming again in all fullness into the darkness of our world. Until the dawning of that Great Day, we watch and wait in Holy Spirit for Christ s coming into the darkness of our world, lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love; and remembering the promises of God with prayer. May this journey lead you to great joy in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. May Christmas bring joy and peace into the hearts of yourselves and your families. Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year Yours in Christ Rosemary St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 2

3 St Columba s Notices Annual General Meeting Annual General Meeting of the Congregation of St Columba s, Portree, St Mary s, Sleat and St Michael and All Angels, Isle of Raasay Sunday 11th December, 1pm at St Columba s All are encouraged to attend General Notices Car Drivers Occasionally some members of our congregation need transport to enable them to come and worship with us. It would be very helpful to have a few volunteers who could be called upon to offer this service. Please talk to Beth or Rosemary if you would like to be involved. Volunteers needed There are one or two vacant slots in the current rota for teas and flowers. Please will someone volunteer for these see Rosemary. Help needed! We are short of volunteers for the following Church Duties Leading intercessions during the Sunday service - Training can be offered Providing and arranging in Church We would welcome offers from people willing to make a cake for Bread Basket on a rota basis. We also need volunteers to help clean the church, parish rooms and toilets. Please contact Rosemary St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 3

4 Journey through Advent At St Columba s Episcopal Church Sunday 27 th November 11am Eucharist Lighting of the First Advent Candle Saturday 3rd December 11am 3.30pm Give us this day our daily Psalm(s) 3000 years of singing, reading and praying The Psalms. Marion MacKay LLB, BDHons, M. Phil Hebrew Studies Sunday 4 th December 11am Eucharist Lighting of the Second Advent Candle Thursday 8 th December 11am Contemplative prayer with Marcus Ridsill-Smith Sunday 11 th December 11am Eucharist (Bishop Kevin) Lighting of the Third Advent Candle Thursday 15 th December 2pm Bible study - John led by Rosemary Bungard Sunday 18 th December 11am Eucharist Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle 2.30pm Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Collection for Parkinson s UK St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 4

5 Christmas Services St Columba s, Portree Sunday 18 th December Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 2:30pm Saturday 24 th Eucharist at 11am Sunday 25 th Christmas Family Service at 11am St Michael & All Angels, Raasay Friday 16 th December Carols and Readings for Christmas at 2pm Raasay Community Hall Saturday 24 th Christmas Eve Eucharist at 8pm Ceòl-na-Mara Sunday 25 th Christmas Day Family Worship at 11am Raasay Primary School St Mary s, Sleat Sunday 11 th December Eucharist and Christmas Carols at 5pm Kilmore Church Rooms St Columba s Bread Basket - Come and Join Us Lunch for Christmas Wednesday 21 st December, pm Please let us know by 14 th December if you wish to attend Bread Basket will take a break on 28 th Dec and 4 th Jan Re-open on 11 th January St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 5

6 St Columba s Juniors Day Out The sun shone and the sea sparkled and St Columba s juniors laughed and giggled and had great fun on their day out to Raasay. Being October, we arrived in Sconser for the ferry with jumpers and jackets but it was a glorious hot sunny day. Rev. Rosemary was waiting to greet us and we boarded the ferry with the help of the friendly ferryman. As the ferry set sail the packed lunches were compared, shared and consumed and the laughter continued. When the ferry docked at Raasay, Stephen and Sandra were waiting with cars to take some of us up to the Raasay School Fete. Those a bit more fit strode away in the sunshine and I m sure were there before us! Thanks to the generosity of others the children had a great time at the Fete. They played lots of games and somehow managed to win lots of prizes which they happily shared. The grown-ups met old friends and neighbours and then it was time to move on to the next stage of our adventure. The children had specifically requested a football party for their end of term treat. Oh we adults did a fair bit of head scratching over that one! That was until Rosemary came up with the idea of Raasay Community Hall, so that s where we headed after the Fete. One wall of the hall is safety glass, so Magnus, Noah, Saul and Catalina fortified with drinks and jelly, crisps and biscuits played the rest of the afternoon whilst Rosemary, Chrissanne, Dawn and myself just relaxed and blethered, laughing together and with the children. We didn t need any of the games we had brought just in case. Eventually we had to head back to the ferry where the fun and laughter continued although the children and grown-ups were tired! It was s ad the day was over but amongst us adults there was gladness, because we had a real church family day out, a chance to relax and have fun together. We saw how well our Sunday School, the grown-ups and the children treat each other, play together and live together in God s love. Our only regret and it s a big one, is that Holly, Andrea and Rowan, three of our juniors could not be with us to share the fun. So we are planning another special day because ALL our juniors are special. To everyone on Raasay, thank you for your help and hospitality. To the ferrymen, thank you for your cheerfulness, especially towards our little ones. To those who persuaded shop keepers to part with 1 coins thank you. A special thank you to our patron in America, the twenty dollars you donated took eight people to Raasay and back. Thank you to everyone who gave us a great day out and thank you God, for St Columba s Juniors and the brilliant hot sunshine. Jackie St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 6

7 St Columba s Juniors Day Out St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 7

8 Parish Lent Retreat - April 3rd to 6th Would you like to spend a few days in peace and reflection? Do join us at the Coach House, Kilmuir, North Kessock, Inverness In the words of their website this will be Time to step aside, rest, reflect, meditate and pray: to regain your energy. In a peaceful location, overlooking the waters of the Moray Firth, this setting invites you to pause a while and simply be, to gaze at the beauty, allowing yourself to be refreshed and recharged. The house which has recently been substantially extended and upgraded has a new Sanctuary overlooking the Moray Firth, a beautiful lounge and library, an extensive attic art room, a dining room and seven bedrooms. Most bedrooms are en-suite, five are singles, one twin room is on the first floor and one on the ground floor - suitable for the disabled, both twins are en-suite. The Coach House Team led by an Episcopal Priest will lead us in meditation morning and evening. There will be opportunities for group sessions on prayer, listening groups, possible bread making and free time for rest, reflection, art or walks to enjoy the beautiful countryside around. The cost, which includes full board will be 162 for an en-suite single room or single occupancy of a twin room or 150 for a shared en-suite twin room or a single room with shared facilities. With only six rooms available (Rosemary is taking the seventh) there is likely to be great demand. Booking is strictly on a first come, first served basis. To secure a place please send a 50% deposit to Rosemary cheques made payable to St Columba s Church. Closing date will be either 13th February or sooner if all rooms are taken. The balance is to be paid by 13th March. St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 8

9 Give us this day our daily Psalms St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 9

10 St Columba s Church Calendar December Sat 3 rd Psalms Day 11am 3.30pm Sun 4 th Eucharist 11am Wed 7 th Taizé Hour 7.30pm Thurs 8 th Contemplative Prayer 11am Sun 11 th Eucharist Annual General Meeting St Mary s, Sleat Eucharist & Carols 11am 1pm 5pm Tues 13 th St Michael & All Angels, Raasay Eucharist 11am Thurs 15 th Bible Study 2pm Fri 16 th Raasay Readings & Carols 2pm Sun 18 th Eucharist Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Sat 24 th Eucharist 11am Sun 25 th Christmas Family Worship 11am 11am 2.30pm January Sun 1 st Eucharist 11am Wed 4 th Taizé Hour 7.30pm Fri 6 th Feast of Epiphany, Eucharist 11am Sun 8 th Eucharist St Mary s Sleat 11am 6pm Tues 10 th St Michael & All Angels, Raasay Eucharist 11am Sun 15 th Liturgy of the Word with Communion 11am Sun 22 nd Liturgy of the Word with Communion 11am Sun 29 th Eucharist 11am February Wed 1 st Taizé Hour 7.30pm Thurs 2 nd Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) Eucharist 11am Sun 5 th Eucharist 11am Sun 12 th Eucharist St Mary s Sleat 11am 6pm Tues 14 th St Michael & All Angels, Raasay Eucharist 11am Sun 19 th Eucharist 11am Sun 26 th Eucharist 11am December Other Events at St Columba s Weds (not 28 th ) Bread Basket 11-2pm Sat 10th Vestry 2pm Wed 11 th Jan Bread Basket reopens 11-2pm St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 10

11 Readings and Rotas Sunday 4 th December 2 nd Sunday of Advent Sunday 11 th December 3 rd Sunday of Advent Sunday 18 th December 4 th Sunday of Advent Saturday 24 th December Christmas Eve Isaiah Psalm ,18-19 Romans Matthew Isaiah Magnificat (Luke 1.46b-55) James Matthew Isaiah Psalm ,16-18 Romans Matthew Sa Ps ,19-29 Luke Sunday 25 th December Isaiah Psalm 96 Titus Luke Sunday 1 st January The Naming of Jesus Friday 6 th January Epiphany Sunday 8 th January 1 st Sunday after Epiphany: the Baptism of the Lord Sunday 15 th January 2 nd Sunday after Epiphany Sunday 22 nd January 3 rd Sunday after Epiphany Sunday 29 th January 4 th Sunday after Epiphany Thursday 2 nd February The Presentation of the Lord Isaiah Psalm 148 Hebrews Matthew Isaiah Psalm ,10-14 Ephesians Matthew Isaiah Psalm 29 Acts Matthew Isaiah Psalm Corinthians John Isaiah Psalm 27.1, Corinthians Matthew Micah Psalm 15 1 Corinthians Matthew Malachi Psalm 84 Hebrews Luke Kathleen McCormack Helen Danter Archie & Beth Archie & Beth N/A Helen Danter Marcus Ridsill-Smith Trevor Mann Chrissanne MacInnes N/A Dave Parker Dave Parker Tony & Christine Barbara Rutterford N/A As available Muriel Watson Eileen MacDonald Trevor Mann N/A Flower Team Robert MacDonald Eileen MacDonald Christmas Jackie Torrance Rosemary N/A Christmas Jackie Torrance Rosemary N/A Christmas Jackie Torrance Helen Danter Tony & Christine As last week Helen Danter Trevor Mann Robert MacDonald Eileen MacDonald Trevor Mann As last week St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 11

12 Contact Us Scottish Episcopal Church Diocese of Argyll and the Isles Somerled Square, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EH contacts General Pastoral Care Web Address: Sat Nav coordinates:- Latitude N Longitude W General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church: SC Charity Number: SC Have a Happy and Peaceful Christmas from Tony and Christine DollyParrot Productions Kildonan Isle of Skye Waiting for my Christmas Dinner St Columba s Newsletter December 2016 January 2017 Page 12