March 2015

We had a great Palm Sunday at Smithton Church, with lots of great things to thank God for!

In our morning service David spoke from Matthew 21 and we were joined by Duncan Forbes Primary School Choir who sang for us. In the children’s talk, David likened the story of Frozen to the sacrifice that Christ has made for the world, and how only an act of true love can melt a frozen heart.

During our evening service we continued with our Joshua series, in chapter 14. Sermons from the day can be found here if you missed it and want to catch up!

We had our Joint Youth Fellowship meeting last night too, with groups from all over Inverness joining our youth to praise God and learn more about him and the fullness of life that we can only have through Jesus Christ. Stuart Prentice, from Culloden Baptist spoke on that verse from John chapter 10, where Jesus said

I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.

We are thankful to Stuart’s ministry to the youth, and to all the youth groups that were able to join us, and we look forward to more times of fellowship with them!

 Notices for the week:

• Monday:
  • Ladies Bible Study –  09.30
  • Fun Time Toddlers – 10.00
• Tuesday:
  • Men’s Bible Study – 09.30
  • Fun Time Toddlers – 10.00
  • Lunch Club – 12.30
  • Release International Support Group – 19.00
• Wednesday:
  • Pop In – 10.00
  • Church Prayer Meeting – 19.30
• Thursday:
  • End of Term Easter Assembly with Smithton Primary School – 09.30
• Saturday:
  • S’Mores Soup & Sandwich Lunch – 11.00-14.30

If you would like to know about any of the meetings happening in the church don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you.

This Sunday we are having a family service in the morning, which will be conducted by our Pastor David Meredith. Children from Duncan Forbes Primary School Choir will be with us and sing a couple of songs.

It is also Palm Sunday and David’s sermon will be based around this – his sermon title is ‘When Hosanna doesn’t last long!’

In the evening, David will be continuing his series on Joshua, this week Chapter Fourteen entitled, ’85 and still going!’

After the evening service the Youth Fellowship will be joining with other groups. Dan Paterson was our original speaker but cannot manage and in his place Stuart Prentice will be talking about ‘What does the bible say – living life to the full?’

Just a few things going on this week that you can get involved with and be praying for:

• Easter Experience
  • Friday, 9.30am
• Community Groups
  • Wednesday, 7.30pm
    • Smithton & Culloden – The Manse
    • Balloch – Joe & Agnes Hill
    • Cradlehall –
    • Woodside – Fiona & Michael Mackenzie
    • Inverness West – Joey & Chrissie Smith
    • Inverness South – Bill & Rena MacLelland
    • Westhill – Joan & Jim Chalmers
    • Fortrose – Geoff & Morven Hulks
• Dead Chuffed Society
  • Thursday, 7.30pm

We were blessed to have Rev. James Turrent take us through passages in Acts based around the anniversary theme.

James was the first minister at Culloden Baptist Church, so he is no stranger to us and he currently serves as the Senior Minister at Central Baptist Church, Dundee.

We loved his quote “Unity is the calling card of the Holy Spirit.” Listen to his full sermons from the morning and evening gatherings here.

Church activities to highlight this week:

• Tuesday, 10.00 Fun Time Toddlers
• Wednesday, 19.30 Prayer Meeting

For further details of meetings in the church this week, view our calendar of events.

This evening we will join in our smaller community group gatherings at the locations listed below:

• Smithton/Culloden | The Manse
• Balloch | Elaine McRury’s
• Cradlehall | Patrick & Joan Tripp’s
• Woodside |  Neil & Anne Angus
• Inverness West | Jim & Ishbel Eglinton’s
• Inverness South | Etta Campbell’s
• Westhill | Isabel MacLeod’s
• Fortrose | Douglas & Margaret Berry’s

Discussions will be based on the passage from 2 Corinthians 12 that David Meredith was preaching from on Sunday morning. Maximise your contribution to discussion by listening or re-listening to the sermon!

And here are the discussion questions.

Have a great community group everyone! If you’re not involved in a community group and would like to be, get in touch with us at the office, and we’ll be able to help you settle into a group that is most convenient for you.

• 25th Anniversary  Remember this Friday 13 March we will be celebrating 25 years  in our church with an anniversary meal at 6.30 pm.  The cost is £5.00.   We are expecting over 200 at the meal on Friday so make sure you sign up (if you have not done so yet and wish to come please phone the church office on 01463 793191).  We also hope to have a number of ex Smithton men and their wives along who are now in full time ministry. Our special guest speaker on Sunday will be Rev Jim Turrent, Dundee Central Baptist Church.
•  Table Tennis  It was good to hear that 14 came along last week for our first week. Still space for more to join us though! Why not come along tomorrow evening at 7:30pm in the big hall.
• Reading the Bible Together (RBT) For March we are reading 1 Chronicles as a congregation.
• Community Groups meet on Wednesday at 7:30pm.  Study notes are available here. The venues across town are as follows:

  Smithton/Culloden | The ManseBalloch | Elaine McRury’sCradlehall | Patrick & Joan Tripp’s

  Woodside |  Neil & Anne Angus

  Inverness West | Jim & Ishbel Eglinton’s

  Inverness South | Etta Campbell’s

  Westhill | Isabel MacLeod’s

  Fortrose | Douglas & Margaret Berry’s

  If you are not joined up to a group please phone the church office and we will link you up to a group.

• Please note the AIM Scottish Conference takes place at Perth Baptist Church, Saturday 28 March, 10 am – 4 pm.  £20 adult, £10 student.  Contact Ruth Box on 0141 7761562 for further details
• We also have advance notice of a Skydive for Blythswood on Saturday 13 June. Have an experience of a lifetime and help transform a child’s life. Blythswood  have organised a Skydive to help raise funds for Talia Kum which is an after school care centre in Romania.  Children  attending this centre are from some of the poorest households in Jimbolia, Romania. At the centre they receive help with homework, a nourishing meal, clothes and a shower once a week.  Contact Adrienne Dempster 01349 830777.