Notices

Cancellation – Dornoch, Brora, Lairg

Simon Scott Notices

Good morning to you my dear friend,

First of all, let me take the opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year – I hope you are safe and warm during this spell of very cold and wintry weather.

Sadly, due to the weather conditions there will be no service at St Finnbarr; Dornoch or St Maelrubha Lairg tomorrow (4th Jan 2026). The concert planned for tomorrow afternoon at St Columba Brora is also cancelled.

It is always very difficult to take the decision to cancel services, but it is important to make sure everyone is safe, and given the ongoing severe weather and the Police Scotland advice against all travel unless absolutely necessary, I think this is the best decision to make.

A reflection for the Epiphany will appear on the website at about 11am in the morning.

And you might like to use this prayer in your own devotions –

Collect for Epiphany 

O God, who, by the guidance of a star, 

revealed your only begotten Son to the nations: 

Grant that we, who know you now by faith, 

may at the last be led to see your glory face to face; 

through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you, 

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God, world without end. 

AMEN 

Tain Carol Service – Sunday 21st December 2025

sheumais Notices, Services

A Service of Lessons and Carols

for Christmas

 St. Andrew’s Scottish Episcopal Church

Glebe Crescent, Tain

SUNDAY 21st December

6:30pm

Followed by seasonal refreshments

EVERYONE WELCOME

TODAY – Making Christingles at St Finnbarr’s

Simon Scott Notices

Don’t forget – we are making Christingles in St Finnbarr’s Episcopal Church, Dornoch at 2pm this afternoon ready for our Christingle Service at 4pm on Sunday. Come and join in the fun – many hands make light work!

Carol Service TOMORROW

Simon Scott Events, Notices

We would be so delighted to see you at our Carol Service with our friends from the Roman Catholic Church and The Church of Scotland all taking part. We will be at Christ the King RC church in Brora tomorrow afternoon at 2.30pm. If you love a traditional lessons and carols service, do come along – you will be made most welcome!

CANCELLED Choir Practice and Service at The Crask

Simon Scott Notices

We are sorry to have to say that, due to the current and forecast snow today, we have cancelled the Evensong Choir Practice for this evening and the service at The Crask tomorrow. Keep warm and safe everyone!

Advent Study 2025

sheumais Events, Notices

Canon James’s Study Group for Advent this year will be based around Henri Nouwen’s reflections on Rembrandt’s famous panting “The Return of the Prodigal Son“.

Henri Nouwen’s book “The return of the Prodigal Son” (Darton, Longman & Todd 1992) is a series of personal reflections on the Rembrandt painting which hangs in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia and the way it allows the parable of Jesus to speak in new ways. It tells of Henri’s encounter with the painting itself in 1986 and his move to the L’Arche Daybreak community. He hung a print of the painting in his new community, and he reflected over time on how he had been the younger (prodigal) son, the elder son and the father in the Gospel story.

The Return of the Prodigal Son is among Rembrandt’s final works, likely completed within two years of his death in 1669. It shows the moment of the prodigal son’s return to his father in the parable, and was described by art historian Kenneth Clark as “a picture which those who have seen the original in St. Petersburg may be forgiven for claiming as the greatest picture ever painted”

There will be four sessions each lasting a little over an hour, at Anna and James’ house at 11 Ferry Road, Golspie on Wednesday afternoons at 2pm on the following dates:

  • 26th November – Introduction to Nouwen’s encounter with the painting and his reflections on it.
  • 3rd December – The Younger Son (the Prodigal) – Luke 15:11-20
  • 10th December – The Elder Son – Luke 15:25-31
  • 17th December – The Father and some Concluding Discussion – Luke 15:20-24

The sessions revolve around chapters in Henri Nouwen’s book. The sessions will be semi-independent, so all are welcome even if you can’t manage all of them, but there is benefit from being able to piece it all together by engaging with all four.  If you wish any more information, speak to or contact Canon James.