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st c o lu m b a ’ s ch u r c h, s t e warton
tensions between science and belief in God.
The opportunity is given to weigh up the
evidence for themselves. World renowned
contributors from both sides of the debate
will unpack the key issues that bring alive
for the viewer the cosmos, the natural
world and the hidden depths of mind and
consciousness. All are welcome.
ch r is tm a s catc h up
Christmas at St. Columba’s went very
well indeed, with good attendances and
participation at the various acts of worship
and celebrations. The annual family party
was a happy afternoon of fellowship and
fun which engaged the excitement of lots
of children not only from our own Church
but from wider afield. Our Sunday Club
children, Choir and Music Group did a great
job of leading worship at the musical Nativity
Play (the Bossy King) which took place on
the Sunday just before Christmas.
Some of the cast of the musical Nativity
We had lovely turnouts at the Christmas
Eve All-Age Celebration and also on
Christmas Day at the joint Service where
the children displayed some of their presents
and the Ministers tried to connect these to
the Christmas story. On Christmas Eve,
we collected £522.97 (including Gift Aid)
for Ayrshire Cancer Support and at the
joint Service on Christmas Day £256.24
(including Gift Aid) for the Ayrshire
Hospice . At the Joint Watchnight Service
Christmas Eve Family Service
on Christmas Eve in John Knox Church,
the offering came to £630 of which £210
went to Stewarton Academy Band and £420
to the Ayrshire Hospice. In the run-up to
Christmas, the children and congregation
took part in two annual Appeals. They filled
84 Christmas shoe-boxes for the Blythswood
Care Appeal and these were all sent to
Eastern Europe in time for Christmas. They
also produced 95 parcels for East Ayrshire
Churches Homeless Action Appeal. This year
the Minister led a “Light up a Life” Service
in Church on the Sunday afternoon before
Christmas. This attracted and helped many
people whose bereavement issues at that time
of the year are difficult to handle.
t he god q ue stion
The Minister will be running a 6-week
DVD-led series called the God Question,
(see logo 003). commencing Saturday
14th March at his “Coffee & Questions”
encounters in the Church Hall on Saturday
mornings, 11-12 noon. This is aimed at
friends who struggle with what they see as
wh at’s on w h e n at e aste r
Palm Sunday, 29th March at 11am in
Church: All-Age Service.
Thursday 2nd April (Maundy Thursday)
at 7.30pm in Church: Maundy Thursday
Communion followed by the annual Service
of Tenebrae (darkening)
Good Friday, 3rd April
2–3pm in Church:
“Last Hour at the Cross”
The Cross (made by
Mr Jim Blades) which
is normally used at this
Service is pictured right.
Easter Day, Sunday
5th April at 8.30am on
Gameshill, Stewarton there will be a short
all-age inter-Church Easter Celebration,
followed by a painted egg competition before
the children roll their eggs. Breakfast will
follow this year in St. Columba’s Church
Hall. This increasingly popular event attracts
around 150 people.
Easter Day, Sunday 6th April at 11am:
Easter Celebration in Church.
Easter Sunday Dawn Service
Stewarton churches are getting together for
an Easter Sunday Dawn Service on Sunday
5 March at 8.30am on the town's Gameshill.
There will be prizes for the best decorated egg
and rolling of eggs too. Everyone is welcome!
mo nke y fac e p u t o n c h r is t m a s s h ow to rem em b er
Monkey FACE put on a Christmas Social
Event for families to come along and get
into the spirit.
E.Raser the cheeky monkey had stolen the
Christmas presents, in our interactive Elf
Tale! The children helped Arty the monkey,
the elves and the Christmas Fairy to find
Santa and Mrs Claus. Santa managed to
return all the gifts back into his sleigh and
take them back to the North Pole in time
for Christmas delivery!
The children made
crackers with the
elves, decorated
biscuits with Mrs
Claus and joined in
party games with
Santa.