1. Sunday 20th September Services at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (live-streamed). This week’s services will be led by the Richard Tulloch & Simon Steer. The passages are Matthew 5:33-48 & Ephesians 4:25-5:1, and the theme is Sermon on the Mount- Integrity and Truth Telling.
2. Harvest Thanksgiving Service. This years’ service will be held on Sunday 27th September. We will be supporting both TearFund & The East Lothian Food Bank again this year. Tearfund donation envelopes envelope’s will be available for collection and below is the list of items needed for the Food Bank.
3. Blythswood Christmas Shoe box Appeal. Thank you for your kindness for all the empty boxes handed in. These are now wrapped and available for collection by both church entrances and in the prayer room. These are to be filled with age appropriate gifts as listed on the leaflet inside the box, together with a donation for transport costs. Please do read the list and leaflet carefully for the dos and don’ts of what to enclose for either a child or an adult. The filled boxes can be returned between the 18th– 28th October. You can also donate individual items from the box packing list into the donation boxes by the church entrances. There are some unwrapped boxes and individual leaflets available also in the Grant Suttie Room, which can be taken, wrapped and filled at home.
There is also the option to donate financially online to support the appeal, and there is the option to fund shoe boxes to be made and delivered locally in Asia also (£28 covers two boxes). The website and link for donation is Blythswood.org. Any cash donations should be labelled in an envelope and handed into the church office. The gifts are sent to families in poverty across Eastern Europe and now into Asia from the online appeal. This is a great practical and fun way to share God’s love and care for others in need around the World. Thank you so much for your support and prayers.
4. Macmillan Coffee Morning Sat 26th Sept 10am – 12 noon in the chapel. Pleases come along to enjoy some home baking & help to make cancer care better for everyone, whoever & wherever they are. Donations of home baking will be gratefully received. For more information please speak to Katie K, Joan M or Elaine M.
5. A Scam to watch out for…
The Church has been made aware of fake websites promoting a Church of Scotland fundraising lottery – both at a national level and also purporting to be individual churches.
These websites look very professional but are nothing to do with the Church and staff at the National Office have reported them to the appropriate authorities as a matter of urgency. A key indicator is the web address being used misspells Scotland with two ‘c’s.
If any Church members have concerns about these fake websites, they can contact our Law Department via email on LAWDEPT@churchofscotland.org.uk
If you are aware of any members having given money to this scam, please ask them to contact Police Scotland. For the avoidance of doubt, the Church of Scotland does not run a fundraising lottery.
6. Annual Welcome evening. Each year we like to provide an opportunity for people who are new to the church to hear about our history, our guiding ethos and some of the church activities. Our objective is to help newcomers to get a more complete picture of what goes on and why – which is sometimes difficult to get from a busy Sunday morning and casual discussions. The conversations are led by Tommy, Sheila & Rodger our Session Clerk’s and others in the church. Please let Julie in the office know if you would like more information. admin@standrewblackadder.org.uk
7. Messy Church November. Could you please save any flat pack cardboard 1-1.5 m long and as wide as possible? Also any strong cardboard tube over 1m long.
8. Prayer Gatherings Every Sunday in Prayer Room between 10 and 10.20 am Every Monday in Room 1 between 10 and 11 am. Every Wednesday on Zoom for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88152470672?
contact the office for log on details.
Julie
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