“God, my imagination is faithless, and my faith is unimaginative. How often I fail to see and use what is right before me! How often I impatiently discard the very thing you have patiently provided to help me in my need! Overcome all my impatient rejections with your patient acceptance of me in Jesus Christ. Amen.”
That is the prayer of the late Eugene Peterson, pastor, author, and theologian, from Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words of David. The title/theme for the Congregational Away Day this Saturday is: An Imagined Future – Creating a Positive Shared Story. Led by our facilitators, Revd Russell McLarty and Dr Magdalen Lambkin, we will be encouraged to imagine who/what St Columba’s will be in future decades. What is God calling us to be, and what will be our faithful response? What first steps that might lead us there? Whether you are able to attend the Away Day, or not, please pray for a significant day – one of faithful imagination, and imaginative faith.
Angus
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 and readings 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 are not live streamed as they are held 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 for Sunday 1st October 2023
Hymn 21 Lord, teach me all your ways (Garelochside)
Hymn 634 Word of the Father, the life of creation (Was Lebet, Was Schwebet)
Hymn 465 Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart (Slane)
Hymn 237 Look forward in Faith (Cardross)
Anthem: How lovely are thy dwellings (Brahms)
Musical Interlude: Geistliches Lied (Brahms)
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-32
Baptismal Welcome & Guest Preacher
Special welcomes to Finlay James Alexander Grandison and his family and friends who join us on Sunday, for Finlay’s baptism. Also, to our guest preacher, Revd Russell McLarty. Russell is a recently retired Church of Scotland Minister who has been part of the Interim & Transition Ministry Team over a period of 15 years serving in various congregations with significant challenges before which he was Minister for 21 years in a Priority Areas Parish in the East End of Glasgow. He trained and worked as an architect and served as Fabric Convener for Glasgow Presbytery and also as a General Trustee of The Church of Scotland. Russell is now active as Coordinator of the Eco Action Group in his home church in Tranent and as a Storyteller associated with The Scottish Storytelling Forum. As well as preaching, Russell may reflect on Saturday’s Congregational Away Day.
We also welcome to St Columba’s, Saturday’s other facilitator, Dr Magdalen Lambkin. Magdalen is the Development Director for Interfaith Glasgow, where she leads on programmes that facilitate dialogue and cooperation between people from diverse faith and belief backgrounds. Her interest in peacebuilding and mediation stems from her upbringing in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 90s, but it was on moving to Glasgow and encountering its rich diversity that she began to get involved in interfaith engagement and to seek training in these areas. She has an MTh in Inter-Faith Studies from the University of Glasgow, where she also completed a PhD.
Russell and Magdalen are both volunteer practitioners with Place for Hope, a charity that works to equip people and faith communities to navigate change and conflict well.
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: Congregational Sunday Lunch & Future Dates
Big gratitude to the volunteer lunch team (led by Hazel and John Forbes) for orchestrating such a fine, farewell occasion for Lucy Llewellyn’s leaving lunch last Sunday. Many thanks also, to our in-house musicians, pianist Ben Lewis-Smith and piper, Andy Parsons. Both brought great atmosphere to the event. This Sunday, congregational lunch is served in the Lower Hall after Service and future congregational lunch dates are, Sunday 15th and Sunday 29th of October. Please note the small increase to £4.00 per lunch – still exceptional value for a two-course meal. Big thanks to all our catering teams who provide for us on congregational lunch Sundays. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall – donations for coffee most welcome.
THIS SUNDAY: Craft Group
The Craft Group meets in the Library on the first Sunday of the month, 1.30 – 3.30 p.m. Do join them for creativity and companionship.
Harvest Appeal 2023 – The Upper Room (UR4 Meals) and Guest Speaker, Simon Tuke (Trustee and Chair) on Sunday 24th September.
Last Sunday Simon Tuke (Trustee and Chair) from the charity spoke at Morning Service and launched this year’s Harvest Appeal. Simon spoke wide-rangingly about the work of The Upper Room charity and in particular UR4 Meals, and how your Harvest Appeal donations will be put to very good use.
Items for collecting: ground black and white pepper, vegetable stock cubes, sunflower or vegetable oil, chopped tomatoes, flour, pasta (preferably penne), rice (preferably basmati), spaghetti, biscuits, instant coffee, tea bags (not loose tea). Collection point: Upper Vestibule by the Harvest Display Board, on Sundays 24th September, 1st and 8th October (culminating at the Harvest Festival Service).
With such an increase in the need for meals by the homeless and disadvantaged people, your food donations will contribute to such a valuable meal service. UR4 Meals provide around 160 meals and take away meals each day.
Thank you in advance, UR4 Meals! (Mission Committee)
Happy Hour, Wednesday 4th October
Happy Hour returns to The Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place, W1H 7NE, upstairs room at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 4 October.
First a discussion around the text from Hebrews, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” and also drawing on the biography of Eric Liddell, For the Glory, by Duncan Hamilton. After this, general socialising. No advance reading or booking required, just turn up on the night.
Happy Hour’s programme for the rest of the autumn season can be found on the website under Community Life https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/community-life/happy-hour.
Lent Appeal 2023 – The Irene Taylor Trust (Sounding Out) – Return visit on Sunday 15 October – Guest Speaker, Sara Lee (Artistic Director) and Darren, a Sounding Out musician. irenetaylortrust.com
We are delighted that Sara Lee (Artistic Director) will be returning to St. Columba’s on Sunday 15 October. Sara is looking forward to having the opportunity to thank everyone for the Lent Appeal donation and will provide an update on how the £5,804.10 (inc. Gift Aid) is being put to good use. Darren, a Sounding Out musician is also really looking forward to returning again to St. Columba’s and will be performing a piece of music/song during the morning service. Sunday 15 October marks the end of Prison Week. A good moment for the return visit and for linking the valuable work the charity does to help prisoners while in prison, then on release and integrating back into society. (mission committee)
Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals
Please note future dates for our wonderful recital series – bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start. These exceptional recitals are one of the “gems” of current St Columba’s life. Not to be missed.
15th October 2023 – Oscar Simms, Baritone
19th November 2023 – The Choir of St Columba’s
21st January 2024- Catherine Olver, Organ Recital (Church)
St Columba’s Book Group, 6th November
Our next meeting is on Monday 6th November, 6.30pm when we shall be discussing Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie. It is a story about two Ghanaian cousins who are great friends but whose lives take quite different paths. We then plan to read The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.
Contact the Church Office for the Zoom details.
Friends of St Columba’s – Visits 2023
The Friends of St Columba’s have put together a fantastic programme of events for 2023/2024, starting with a visit to the Cutty Sark and Royal Naval College on the 14th October. All details can be found via the website https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/friends-of-st-columbas and printed programmes are available on the bookstall.
Save the date: Scots in London Gala Night & Reception, Wednesday 11th October 2023, 7pm
Enjoy a varied evening of music, song and dance to celebrate the launch of the new Scots in London initiative, bringing together some of the capital’s long-standing Scottish organisations. The Gala will be opened by Scots in London Patron, HRH The Princess Royal. After the concert, haggis, neeps and tatties are served in the Lower Hall. There are still some tickets available. Tickets £20; includes concert & post-concert reception. To book visit https://www.scotsinlondon.org/.
New Members’ Conference
On Saturday 28th October, we will hold a New Members’ Conference for those who wish to consider becoming members of the Church of Scotland here at St Columba’s. For those who attend the day and then wish to formally join the congregation a New Members’ Service will be held on Advent Sunday – Sunday 3rd December 2023, at 11am. More details to follow but please keep the dates in your diary.
Safeguarding Training
Mandatory Safeguarding Training for those who require it will be offered on Saturday 21st October 2023, 10.00am – 12.30pm – in person. Venue St Columba’s Church – Upper Hall. Please sign up with the church office.
HOSPITALITY- Coffee and Tea Service in the Upper Hall
We need a few volunteers to cover some vacancies in the 2024 Rota. Two people, or a couple are required on a Sunday and normally six times a year. Instructions and guidance given. If available, please contact James MacHardy at Jamesmachardy@yahoo.com or on 01279 730711 or on a Sunday”
Lunch Service in the Lower Hall.
We need a few Volunteers for the lunch teams when we cater for lunches on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays every month. Duty would be six times a year and could be helping in the kitchen, laying tables, serving and clearing tables. If available please contact Ben Gourlay at ben.gourlay41@gmail.com or on 01206 795244, or via the church office. As we are a “gathered” congregation, being able to have coffee and/or lunch after the Morning Service, is important for fellowship. Thank you, Ben Gourlay, Convenor of Hospitality Committee.
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: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
Please note that there will be reduced cover in the office from Monday 2nd October to Friday 6th October inclusive.