Our video service of worship for Sunday, 11th April 2021, may be found on YouTube HERE.
N.B. This recording will not be available until shortly before 11:00 am on Sunday – prior to this, it will show the video as being unavailable and “private”.
Order of Service: HERE
The video and those of previous weeks’ services may be found on the Recordings of Services page of this website.
All our Holy Week and Easter services were held virtually this year.
Worship for Palm Sunday was led by our drama group, the Goldsmith Players, the members of which videoed monologues/dramatised readings in which characters who witnessed the passion of Jesus Christ reflected on the events and their responses; the minister shared a series of meditations for Holy Week which were distributed using our members mailing system; on Maundy Thursday evening, Ron K led our Tenebrae service live on Zoom; our Zoom channel was also used for our Service of the Nails, led by Mark H at noon on Good Friday; the church choir led a service of Reflections and Music for Good Friday taking The Lamb of God as its theme and on Easter Sunday, our service of worship with Holy Communion was led by our minister.
We are very grateful to all those who planned and prepared worship for us, to all those who took part and to everyone who shared with us on YouTube and Zoom.
Our video Carol Service for Sunday, 20th December 2020, may be found on YouTube HERE.
N.B. This recording will not be available until shortly before 11:00 on Sunday – prior to this, it will show the video as being unavailable and “private”.
Order of Service: HERE
The video and those of previous weeks’ services may be found on the Recordings of Services page of this website.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Sunday 20 December:
Painstakingly pre-recorded sound and pictures from our Choir, alongside readings, reflections and plenty of your favourite carols for you to join in!
On YouTube – available for 11.00am
Christmas Eve Holy Communion
Thursday 24 December
Our minister Chris leads us in live worship and invites us to the Lord’s table as we mark the moment of his birth.
On Zoom at 11.30pm
Joining details to follow
Christmas Morning Family Service
Friday 25 December
Christ is born in Bethlehem! A short outburst of joyful praise, in one of two ways:
(a) Live at church at 10.30am
Chris leads worship in the sanctuary, subject to all due Covid precautions, for those who may safely attend: please refer to his recent letter for full guidance. Email standrewswithcastlegate.sec@gmail.com for futher details or to register your intention to attend.
Or (b) Live on Zoom at 10.30am
Alternatively, join Mark H for a simultaneous online version of the same service via Zoom – joining details to follow.
The children and young people of our Junior Church led an effective service for us today, focusing on the idea that we should not let the periferies of Christmas celebrations obscure the significance of the birth of Jesus into our world.
Thank you to everyone who took part and to everyone who was involved in the planning and preparation for the service.
This service was also our “Toy Service” and the gifts that people brought and donated will be taken to a local women’s refuge.
Our Junior Church led a lively and challenging service for our Harvest Festival this year, reflecting on the need for everyone to respect and care for the environment, taking the theme: no-one is too small to make a difference.
Our Primary & Beginners and Junior Departments asked us to think about wild flowers and the many crops which rely on bees and other polinating insects, our Seniors adapted Monty Python’s Cheese Shop sketch to give us “The Food Shop” and our Youth Group gave us The Seed Story and magic bread. The service also included the presentation of the John Muir Award to our Junior Church.
Thank you to everyone who participated.
For a number of years, our church, Junior Church and individual members have given support to Upendo Junior School in the town of Kiminini, Kenya. This school was founded by Dr. Masibo Lumala to provide education for children in need.
In September, the church pleased to welcome Masibo, with his colleagues Stella Chebii and Hardlyne Lusui. Masibo spoke during worship to thank the church for our support and tell us more about the school.
The classrooms that we helped fund are now in full use and the school is working to improve security and sanitation for its pupils. We were glad to make a further gift to contribute to this.
Following their return to Kenya, Masibo has written:
Greetings from a warm and sunny Kiminini.
I wish to that this opportunity to first thank you and your minister Chris for hosting us at your lovely church on 1st September. It was wonderful talking to your congregation and having a chit chat with you over coffee after the service.
Second, please convey my deep gratitude to the church and the elders for their generous gift to Upendo Junior School. The money will go a long way in enabling me to complete the toilets for the children. May God bless everyone who has continued to give to us and to ray for our work here.
Masibo
Thank you to everyone who was involved in leading and supporting our special services and activities during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday this year including:
After a lengthy process of consultation and planning, our church has adopted a new governance structure.
Members of the new Elder’s Council have taken over from the Managers as the Charity Trustees of the church and this group will be supported in its work by a number of Sub Groups including the Pastoral Sub Group, the Worship and Christian Education Sub Group and the Finance and Buildings Sub Group.
The members of the Elders’ Council and those continuing to serve as Pastoral Elders were recognised during worship on Sunday 13th January and special thanks were expressed to those who were retiring from the Eldership at this time. Thanks were also expressed to the members of the Management Committee who had served as trustees for a number of years.
Christmas carols have been sung, Christmas messages given and heard, Christmas greetings shared… and all the candles are alight on the advent wreath.
Happy Christmas to all…
…and thank you to everyone who planned, contributed to and supported out Christmas services and activities.