It has become a Smithton tradition to bring in the New Year at a short service in the church. Please join us with your friends at 23:15 on Wednesday 31 December. The service will finish just after midnight. Church, Community and Change is an in-depth training process developed by Tearfund, which helps churches to become more involved in meeting needs in their local communities. It is inspired by the vision to see churches responding to the real needs of their communities in a way which shows God's love and brings about real, lasting and positive change.

This training process begins in Smithton Free Church on Sunday 30 November with a lunch after the morning service followed by an interactive workshop. The workshop will provide an opportunity to understand what Church, Community & Change is about and to meet David Liddle from Tearfund who will work alongside our co-ordinating team. Alex MacDonald will sing at a fundraising gig to be held in Smithton Free Church on Saturday 8 November at 19:30. This will support the work of Marsali Campbell with Dwelling Places in Uganda and in particular an appeal she has made for the medical treatment of a little girl called Sylvia. Dwelling Places works with street children. At least 50% of all CD sales on the night will go towards this work.

Alex has been writing songs for over 40 years. His Like the River CD includes a selection of his own songs together with a couple of traditional songs. It is the result of collaboration with his sons, Doug and Rob, who will be accompanying him on 8 November.

Admission to the gig costs £5 (children free). The musical programme will be in two parts. During the interval a short Tearfund DVD will be shown and there will be an opportunity to buy Tearcraft goods.

:: There will be no 09:30 service on 19 & 26 October. The 09:30 service will begin again on Sunday 2 November.

:: On 12, 19 & 26 October a holiday Sunday school will be held during the 11:00 service for pre-school and P1 children. Visiting children will be made most welcome. Babies and toddlers may be cared for in our crèche. Normal Sunday school classes resume on Sunday 2 November.

:: Rev David Meredith will preach on Sunday 12 October. On Sunday 19 October, we look forward to having Mr Stephen Barton preach at the 11:00 service and Mr Ross Collins at the 18:30 service. On Sunday 26 October, Mr Rory Stott will preach in the morning, and Mr David Sutherland will preach in the evening (DV). We hope to begin a new Christianity Explored course on Tuesday 23 September.

Who's it for?
Anyone who'd like to investigate Christianity for the first time, or just brush up on the basics.

Where's it held?
Smithton-Culloden Free Church

When's it on?
10 Tuesday evenings (excluding October school holidays) from 18:30 to 20:00.

Want to know more?
Click here.

The induction and ordination of Rev Murdo Macleod will take place on Friday 22 August at 19:30 in Nairn Free Church and will be followed by a reception in Nairn Community Centre. All are welcome.

Murdo comes to us with his wife Maggie and two children, Angus and Kirsty. We welcome him warmly as Associate Minister in the joint congregation of Smithton-Culloden & Nairn, where he will have special responsibility for Nairn. This year our children's holiday club has a Wild West theme. It will be held at the church every morning from Monday 11 to Friday 15 August.

A fun, action-packed programme has been prepared with a wide variety of activities, including stories, music, art, drama and games.

A café will be open in the church each morning of the holiday club. On the Friday evening an informal BBQ will be held at the church for parents and friends. Please join us if you can.