Membership – Believing & Belonging

We are working on a new booklet that explains a bit more about what Church Membership is, what it means and why it matters.  Some advance copies are available at the door.  Over the coming months we will seek to incorporate our existing Members Handbook into it for one new booklet.  If you love the Lord Jesus and regularly attend the Church here, the Bible calls us to profess that faith, be baptised (if we haven’t been already) and to become a Member.  The booklet goes into some more depth but the title sums it up – membership is about Believing & about Belonging.  We are grateful to Elgin & Burghead Free Church for their help and use of their own Membership booklet as a foundation for ours.  

Carols by Candlelight

We are looking ahead to our annual ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service (provisionally earmarked for the 18th of December).  We are asking just now for volunteers and helpers!  If you are an instrumentalist or singer who could help out with music please speak to Margaret Roberts.  We had the happy problem last year that parking and seats were at a premium!  (We hope to have the same problem, God willing, again).  To help with practical arrangements we would like to have people on hand to help steward parking and to welcome and help people find seats as they arrive.  If you could help in either of these roles please speak to Calum.

Defib & First Aid Training 

Representatives from Lucky2BHere will be with us on Monday 2nd November at 7pm in the Church Hall to do some basic life support training and talk us through use of the new defibrillator (now housed and operational at the entrance to the Church Hall).  We’d love a good representation from the congregation to come along on the night – we hope we never need to use the machine but having people who know how to do would be a massive blessing should the need ever arise.  Please do prayerfully consider coming along for this session.

Minister Holidays

Calum will be on holiday 19th-26th October during the second half of the school holidays.  The services on Sunday 25th October will be led by our own Elder, Rev Colin Morison.  We are so grateful to Colin for his willingness to lead us in worship.

Sunday School

Resumes, , God willing, on Sunday 1st November.

Holiday Sunday School – Under 7s

God willing, there will be holiday Sunday School for Under 7’s on Sunday 11 October and Sunday 25th October.  The Activity Bags for those staying in the services will also be available each week of the holidays.  These can be collected at the front door – just ask someone on the welcome team.

Men’s Chat

The next Men’s Chat meeting will be on Tuesday 27th October.

Centre for Rural Ministry: In a Big Country conference

The conference will be held at Dingwall Free Church, Saturday 24th October, 10am-3:30pm. The theme is “A Big Gospel for Small Places”, and we are very excited to welcome Rev. Stephen Witmer from New England. The title is based on his book, which the Centre for Rural Ministry highly recommend! 

Book your tickets at the following link:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/6d0473e4-7ab0-47af-bb60-ca5b0c9dbca0

Big Clean 

A sincere thank you to everyone who came to help with the Church ‘Big Clean’ a week past Saturday.  There was a great team and atmosphere on the day and we are so thankful to you all for your servant hearted help.

Knit and Natter

Will be taking a break in October and we hope to restart on Thursday, 29th October.  Again a warm welcome is extended to all.

Remittance Review 

The Free Church Board of Trustees are holding consultation meetings over a proposed change to the remittance scheme.  There will be a meeting in Dornoch Free Church at 7pm on Tuesday 3rd November open to all congregational treasurers, Elders, Deacons or members of Finance Committees where we will hear from members of the Board and there will be opportunity to ask questions and make representations to the Board.  

Harvest Thanksgiving 

A massive thank you to you all for your generous donations towards the Highland Foodbank and Shoebox appeal.  The food was delivered to the Foodbank on Thursday and the team there expressed their gratitude to you all.

Coulhill Primary Breakfast Club

Coulhill Primary are appealing for help as they seek to gauge interest in helping running a breakfast club at the school 2 mornings a week (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8-8.45am).  It is hoped to begin after the October holidays. Volunteers are being sought through the various local Churches.  Anyone interested and able to help please speak to Calum.

Kirk Session

The next Kirk Session meeting will be on Monday 26th October at 7.30pm in the Saltburn Manse.

Road Closure

The Achnagarron road will be closed from Monday 12th October for 16 weeks at the bridge just down from the Church.  Access to the Church over this period will be from the A9 only.

Through the Bible:  Genesis

Why not join us on Thursday 29th October for a brand new video based course from SpeakLife called ‘Through the Bible’.  Glen Scrivener will take us through the book of Genesis in 4 sessions showing us how it points us to Jesus.  Open to anyone and everyone.  29th October, 7.30pm, Church Hall.