Worship This Week
Sunday 24 June
Last Sunday with Sunday School
10am Morning Worship at St Stephen’s
11.15am Morning Worship at the Old High
services led by Reader Barry Dennis
SUNDAY BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS should be sent to Joy Cossar.
The deadline for all items is Wednesday at noon.
NEWS FROM OUR CONGREGATION
MINISTER’S STUDY LEAVE Peter is now in the USA on study leave. He will also have a holiday following afterwards. You can follow his adventures as he travels in the USA learning about faith and public life on his study leave blog: http://peterstudyleave.wordpress.com/ or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeterWNimmo or on Twitter: @PeterNimmo1 .
PASTORAL ARRANGEMENTS until 1 August. In any case of pastoral need, please contact your elder, or Iain Todd, who will take most of the services over the summer, and will be available for any pastoral needs and to conduct funerals.
ST STEPHEN’S CHOIR will not be in its usual place on Sunday 24 June as they are off on a weekend retreat. They will give a concert in Dornoch Cathedral on Saturday night, 23 June at 7.30pm, and they will also sing at the service in the Cathedral on Sunday morning. You are warmly invited to come to Dornoch on either occasion to support the choir.
ST STEPHEN’S CLOSURE FOR ELECTRICAL AND PAINTING WORK The electrical system at St Stephen’s requires to be replaced, and we are taking the opportunity to install modern lighting and repaint the Church sanctuary. As a result, St Stephen’s Church will be closed from 5 to 29 July. We will hold our Sunday services at the Old High Church on the following dates: 8, 15, 22 and 29 July. These services will all be at 10.30am. Children’s activities will be offered. Parking will be available in John Fraser’s yard in Chapel Street (just before the furniture warehouse). We trust if you usually attend St Stephen’s, you will support Iain Todd as he conducts most of these services. Services at the usual times of 10am and 11.15am will resume on Sunday 5 August. To reinstate the church after the work, you are asked to come to a special “Clean and Tidy” social occasion on Saturday 28 July at 10.00am. Please put the date in your diary and let Joan Darcy know that you will be there.
SUNDAY WORSHIP ON 8TH JULY Because of the temporary closure of St Stephens for essential building works, our services will be held at Old High at 10.30 each Sunday from 8th July until the end of July. The intention is for the service on the 8th to be an act of worship to which all can contribute in the preparation. If you would like to come along to St Stephens at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 26th June you will be most welcome. The texts to read and reflect on in advance are Ezekiel 2: 1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 and Mark 6:1-13. There will also be a second chance on the following Tuesday, same time and place to bring it all together for the Sunday. We call our style of worship as our ‘liturgy’. The word liturgy means ‘the works of the people.’ Any questions please call Iain Todd.
TRIP TO BALMORAL CASTLE will take place on Saturday 30 June. A coach will leave Inverness at 10am, returning in early evening, about 7.30pm. At Balmoral Castle, there is a special exhibition of ball gowns as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. There will also be an opportunity to visit Crathie Church. On the return journey, the coach will stop at the Heather Centre, near Dulnain Bridge where there will be an opportunity to have High Tea and visit the Heather Story Exhibition. Tickets are priced at £17 for senior citizens, £23 for adults and £15 for children. Ticket prices include coach and entry to Castle costs. There will be an additional charge of £8.50 per head for the Heather Centre meal etc. Please pay for coach and castle costs by not later than Sunday 24 June. Cheques payable to Old High St Stephen’s Church or cash should be given to Sandy Cumming or Christina Cameron.
SUMMER EVENING SERVICES AT THE OLD HIGH CHURCH We will be hosting the following guest preachers this year at special services at the Old High Church:
Sunday 8 July: Annabel Goldie MSP, former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party and elder of the Church of Scotland.
Sunday 22 July: Bishop Hugh Gilbert, Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen and former Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey.
Sunday 19 August: Rev. Peter Macdonald, leader of the Iona Community.
All services at 7.30pm; followed by refreshments and question and answer session. More details from Margaret Sutherland.
OHSS World Mission Evening Saturday 25th August 7.30pm
With short talks from returning volunteers including Africa, Malaysia and South America and musical entertainment by the St Stephen’s Choir. Wine, Soft Drinks, Cheese and Nibbles for refreshment will be provided. Donations welcome to the Church of Scotland World Mission. Please put the date in your diary and come along (if you have not bought a ticket for Runrig!). Any questions please speak to Deborah Macrae or Christine Mackenzie.
SUMMERTIME OPENING OF THE OLD HIGH CHURCH We are glad to say that we currently have the Old High Church open for a few hours each weekday. We rely on volunteers to do this- can you help? You can choose what days and times you wish to be there. No experience needed- just a willingness to make the visitors from all over the world welcome! To volunteer or find out more, contact Margaret Sutherland.
OTHER NEWS
STREET PASTORS There will be a Benefit Concert held on the 6th August, in aid of “Street Pastors, Inverness”, hosting a number of home-grown acts, including the “Inverness and District Gospel Male Voice Choir”. This will be held in the New Drumossie Hotel, starting at 7pm. Tickets (£10 / £8 con.) will be available shortly. Anyone wishing more information, or to make a donation to the running of this event can do so by contacting the organizer. Details also available online at: www.babyfacepromotions.co.uk
ALIVE FESTIVAL INVERNESS – JUNE (A series of Christian events arranged locally –
Women’s Conference Mon 18th June Drumossie Hotel 6.30pm (Currently sold out)
Worship in the City at the Ironworks Fri 22nd June 6.30pm
Men’s Conference Sat 23rd June Culduthel Christian Centre 9.30am – 4pm
MUSIC FOR A SUMMER’S EVENING on Saturday 30th June, 7.30 pm at Hilton Church, with James Ross, Simon Evans, Peter Donald, Julie Keen and friends. Tickets £7 (child £3) on the door. All proceeds to Tiyanjane and Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Services, Blantyre and Salima, Malawi.
