Friends
The Old Testament reading set for this Sunday (Isaiah 65:17-25) begins: “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.”
From calamity and devastation, the hope/promise of renewal, rejoicing and peace. In this time of Remembrance, the pictures above* offer a visual accompaniment to the text. They show Mametz Wood, part of the sight of the Battle of the Somme (1916). The entire forested area was decimated during the fighting. Today, trees have regrown, and it is a place of peaceful, if painful, remembering, including its war memorial in the foreground. The words of Isaiah and the contrast of the pictures challenge us to strive to be peace-makers, inspired to be children of the resurrection.
Angus
*The pictures of Mametz Wood were originally compiled by Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Church of Scotland website 2016
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website,
https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream.
To access the live stream from the homepage (front page) click the Menu button in the top right-hand side of the page and scroll down and click on “Live Stream”. This will bring up the live stream to the church. The act of worship of approximately 60 minutes, includes include prayers, a sermon and music. The words for the hymns will be on the website.
For those without internet, the Dial-In facility continues. Many people comment that they do have a sense of worshipping together, even if invisible to each other.
Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary.
Please note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month will not be live streamed as they will take place in the London Scottish Chapel.
Dial into Sunday Service
If you are aware of church members or friends who do not have access to internet please inform them that they can now phone in to join the Sunday service. No visuals clearly, but at least they can hear the service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0203 051 2874.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 266 883 5072#
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
Hymns, Music & Readings,
Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 13th November
Hymn 715 Behold! The mountain of the Lord (Glasgow)
Hymn 473 “Thy kingdom come!” – on bended knee (Irish)
Hymn 710 “I have a dream”, a man once said (Repton)
Hymn 514 Onward! Christian soldiers marching as to war (St Gertrude)
Introit: For the fallen, Guest
Anthem: In paradisum, Fauré
Musical Interlude: Greater love, Ireland
Organ Postlude: Fantasia in G minor by J.S. Bach
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:5-19
Congregational Offerings
Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas
Would anyone wishing to contribute to St Andrew’s, Newcastle please contact the Session Clerk on standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com for bank details or other means of donating.
THIS SUNDAY- REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, 13th NOVEMBER
Congregational Prayer Group, Sunday, 13th November 10.00am in the London Scottish Chapel “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’
THIS SUNDAY – Remembrance Sunday – 13th November 2022
10.45am Morning Worship (Note: Not 11am start.) 3pm London Scottish Regiment’s Remembrance Service. All welcome. Come and enjoy the sight of the Pipes & Drums marching along Pont Street on their way to service.
NEXT SUNDAY – Sounds of St Columba’s Recital, Sunday 20th November
The final Sounds of St Columba’s recital of the year will take place on Sunday 20th November at 1:30pm. Sam Corkin (saxophone) will be joined by Benedict Lewis-Smith (organ), and they will perform an eclectic programme of duets. The recital is free to attend with a retiring offering.
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
Future lunch dates are 20th November & 27th November in the Lower Hall. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall. These Hospitality Services are much valued in supporting Fellowship.
Christian Aid Annual Lecture – Tuesday 22nd November
The lecture – A Force for Good: Co-operating Across Borders in an Age of Authoritarians – will be given by Rt Hon David Lammy MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, followed by a conversation with Christian Aid’s chair, Dr John Sentamu. Entry is free. If you would like to reserve yourself a ticket by registering with Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christian-aid-annual-lecture-2022-tickets-388501086207
By registering for a free ticket, it will help Christian Aid know the numbers planning to attend.
Doors Open at 6.30pm – Starts at 7pm, finish 9pm.
Venue: St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
Parliamentary Service, St Margaret’s, Westminster – Wednesday 23rd November
The Moderator of the general Assembly of the Church of Scotland will be preaching at the Parliamentary Service on Wednesday 23rd November at 10.30 am. Dr Greenshields would be delighted to welcome representatives of St Columba’s at the service.
Advent Book Study
Our Advent Book this year is “Walking Backwards to Christmas: An Advent journey from light to darkness” by Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York. The Lent Study Groups enjoyed his earlier work “The Nail – Being part of the Passion” and had some interesting discussions so suggested we look at this book which takes a similar approach, looking at the story of Advent and Christmas through the eyes of different characters in the story. Following the pattern of previous Lent and Advent studies two groups will meet on Zoom: The Tuesday evening group will meet at 7.30pm, beginning on Tuesday 22nd November and I am delighted to say will be led by the Revd Scott Rennie of Crown Court Church. William McLaren will lead the Wednesday morning group beginning at 10.30 m on Wednesday 23rd November. Whether or not you have attended any of the previous Book Studies, I hope you will think about coming along to this one. “Walking Backwards to Christmas” is available on Amazon and from Church House Bookshop. Further details from the church office.
Glass Door Night Shelter – Volunteers needed at St Columba’s on Sunday evenings (December 2022 – March 2023)
Can you help provide a warm, friendly welcome and hot meal to homeless guests coming to stay at St Columbus on Sunday nights when we will be hosting the Glass Door night shelter?
- Shelter volunteers are needed to help set up, serve food, chat to guests, and clear up on Sunday evenings
- Cooks and kitchen volunteers are needed to prepare meals for the guests
- An admin volunteer is needed to help manage the rota and organisation of Sunday volunteers
Training and support for roles will be given.
If you would are interested, please get in touch with Heather Farwell (hbfarwell@hotmail.co.uk) and Margaret Goslett (margaret@margaretgoslett.co.uk) as soon as possible
The ScotsCare podcast
Charity for Scots in London launches podcast with well- known Scots and supporters London charity ScotsCare launches a podcast series today (28th October) featuring famous Scots and supporters of the charity from all backgrounds, that have forged a life for themselves south of the border. Scots from all walks of life, such as household name Isla St Clair, comedian Eleanor Morton and Star Wars actor Duncan Pow, to name a few, are interviewed by host Marcus Railton, about life’s twists and turns and what it’s like to be a Scot away from home. The charity, that supports disadvantaged Scots in London through a range of financial, practical, and emotional support to help break the cycle of poverty, will release an episode each week, with the first 3 episodes released on Friday 28th October and one a week thereafter. ScotsCare Chief Executive Shona Fleming said: “The podcast aims to raise awareness of ScotsCare and the services we provide to first- and second-generation disadvantaged Scots in London. Through entertaining interviews with well-known Scots that have also built a life away from Scotland, the series shows that even high achieving Scots can face surprisingly difficult challenges along the way, something that our low-income clients know all too well. We hope that the podcast will raise awareness of our services, such as mental health, advocacy, befriending and financial support, so that we can make a difference in more people’s lives.” All episodes are available on the ScotsCare website www.scotscare.com and all other podcast platforms including Apple, Google, Spotify, and YouTube.
Sunday 27th November – Communion Sunday, Moderator of the general Assembly, Crown Court & GKexperience visit.
Sunday 27th November promises to be a special day. In addition to celebrating holy communion at morning worship we will welcome the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Revd Dr Greenshields as our preacher,as well as beingjoined by the congregation of Crown Court for a joint service. And into the mix will also be the visit of the young people and staff of the GKexperience. Some twenty-five young people will be staying at St Columba’s that weekendas part of their trip from Glasgow. This will be the third time St Columba’s has hosted their visit.
Following the joint service in the morning we are invited to Crown Court in the evening at 6pm for “An Audience with… the Moderator.” To meet this year’s Moderator, and to hear about his life, faith and experience of his year so far as Moderator. As with the morning service, this is a joint event for Crown Court and St Columba’s. The evening will conclude with cheese and wine.
Sunday 4th December – Festive Fellowship Lunch 12-2.30pm
Following the success of the Jubilee Fellowship lunch in June, all are invited to a Christmas Fellowship lunch in the Lower Hall. Do join us for a lunch party, with a glass of prosecco to start the Festive Season. There will be a Children’s craft table, a fiendish Festive (optional) quiz and plenty of fun. To help with numbers please contact the church office to let them know you will be attending, with any dietary requirements. Vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free guest all catered for. Cost: £3.50.
Families Pantomime Outing
All families are invited to join us for a trip to the New Wimbledon Theatre to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Saturday 17 December at 14:00 for some pre Christmas merriment! The trip has been part funded by the Sunday School and two generous donations so we’re asking for a contribution of £20 per person to help cover the costs. Please let the office know if you would like to attend -Seats are limited so please reserve early to avoid disappointment!
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Contact details; Tel: 020 7584 2321
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet. Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
To sign up and receive the weekly newsletter detailing future events, contact the church office or go to www.stcolumbas.org.uk (News Section.) Paper copies of this week’s newsletter are available at the bookstall.
Prayers & Meditations for Sunday, 13th November, Remembrance Sunday, prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
Today is Remembrance Sunday an important day in the Church calendar and for the nation. It is of course, Biblical to mark this Sunday and it is right to mark the sacrifices others have made. There is however, another sense in which the Bible speaks about remembrance. That is being brought back in fellowship with God and other people. A good example of this is the parable of the Prodigal son from Luke’s gospel. The younger son was a member of a family. He then became lost and ceased to be a member of his family but became a member of again . He was welcomed back unconditionally by his father.
Scripture: Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger son said to his father. Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything to eat. When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son son, make me like one of servants. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he rang to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him “ Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son”. But the father said to his servants “Quick. Bring the best robe and put it to on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and his alive again, he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
Prayers
God of compassion,
you await the sinner’s return and spread a feast to welcome the lost.
Save us from the temptations that lead us away from you.
Draw us back to you by the constancy of your love.
So that we take our place in your household
and gladly share our inheritance with others.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Loving Father,
you are the God of mercy and compassion
We thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, into our world,
to show and teach us how to love.
When we walk through the door of mercy during this Holy Year,
ay we open our hearts to you
so that we may reflect your love, mercy and compassion
in our families, communities and parishes.
May we walk with Jesus through the streets of Galilee
comforting the sick, opening our arms to the little ones,
sharing with the poor and searching out the marginalised in our society.
May it be a year when barriers between us fall
and reconciliation becomes possible,
a year when our faith in your mercy is strengthened
and we learn to be your face of mercy in our world.
Amen
Hymn
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My random soul he leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow
with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
In deaths dark vale I fear no ill,
With thee, dear Lord beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight
Thy unction grace bestoweth,
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth.
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never,
Good shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever.
Benediction.
Peace to you in whatever place you call home
Peace to you wherever you find yourself on the road of life
Peace to you within and without
May you know yourself God’s beloved child
Amen.