Dear Friends,
One of my favourite places in Jerusalem is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives. A beautiful little Russian church, it was built in 1888 by Tsar Alexander the Third and his brothers in memory of their mother, the Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna. The dedication of the church was attended by the Tsar’s younger brother Grand Duke Sergei and his wife, Elizabeth, (Ella), a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
When Sergei was Governor of Moscow he was known for his draconian style of government, leading to considerable unpopularity and his eventual assassination in 1905. Always devout, in her widowhood Ella became a nun, as aristocratic widows in the Orthodox church often did, and founded the Order of Martha and Mary.
Historians and New Testament scholars have long debated the identity of Mary Magdalene and if she was in fact Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazerus of whom we read in our service last Sunday. Be that as it may, the Order of Martha and Mary was a nursing order, the first of its kind in Russian, combining practical service to the sick and the needy with a life of prayer. Her convent had a chapel, hospital, pharmacy and orphanage.
Like her younger sister the Tsarina, Ella herself was cruelly murdered during the Russian Revolution. Years later when it was possible to retrieve her body, her older sister Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, brought her remains to be interred in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene where she rests to this day.
Ella had a great influence on her niece, Alice, mother of the late Duke of Edinburgh, who in her own widowhood founded the Order of Martha and Mary as a nursing order in Greece. Following her death in 1969, Alice too was buried in the Church of St Mary Magdalene where her grave is visited by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ella became St. Elizabeth, a saint of the Orthodox church in 1981 and her statue can be seen, one of the 20th century martyrs commemorated above the West Door of Westminster Abbey.
William McLaren.
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.
We believe it is really important to continue to live-stream the Morning Service under its current format i.e. for the benefit of those joining worship from afar or those as yet unable to make the journey to Pont Street. 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,
6th Sunday after Trinity Sunday, Sunday 24th July
Hymn 64 All People that on Earth do Dwell (Old 100th)
Hymn 259 Beauty for Brokenness (God of the Poor)
Hymn 546 Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire (Coleshill)
Hymn 547 What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Converse)
Anthem: O quam gloriosum by Victoria
Musical Interlude: Holy is the true light by Harris
Organ Postlude: Toccata (Symphony No.5) by Widor
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 85
New Testament Reading: Colossians 2:6-15
Gospel Reading: Luke 11:1-13
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.
Rising Living Costs: Help at Hand
We are aware that with the cost of living and fuel costs rising that some of our community may be struggling financially. If you, or someone you know, are in need of help, please do get in touch with the Church Office or the Ministers. All conversations will be held in the strictest of confidence.
St Columba’s Members
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Mr Frank Taylor, St Columba’s elder, will be held at St Columba’s on the 26th July at 2.30pm. All are welcome to attend and a reception will be held afterwards in the Upper Hall.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Duncan Lang, St Columba’s member, will be held at St Columba’s on Tuesday 16th August 2022 at 3pm.
Congregational Talk – Mr David McKee, Sunday 31st July, 1.15pm (Upper Hall)
On Sunday 31st July please join David McKee – candidate for the Church of Scotland ministry, currently on summer placement at St Columba’s. David will reflect on his recent trip to Israel.
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
Future lunch dates are the 31st July & 7th August 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.
St Columba’s Book Club
The next book club will be on Monday 5 September at 6.30pm (by Zoom) when we will be discussing Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey Through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness and Peace. It is as the title suggests a non-fiction book by Kim Phuc Phan Thi and is autobiographical.
Friends of St Columba’s Dumfries and Surroundings
There is still time to “sign up” to the Friends of St Columba’s trip to Dumfries and the surroundings in September 2022.
The itinerary includes the original home of the TSB, founded by a Church of Scotland minister, a visit to Ruthwell Church with its 8th century cross, Robert Burns heritage sites and possibly the early Christian settlement at Whithorn.
Booking: the Church Office regarding dates and accommodation. Two options: The Powfoot Inn (£115 double bed and breakfast; £95 single) or The Queensberry Arms Hotel, Annan (starts at £48/night).
Preference is given to Members of the Friends – but it’s very easy to join! Only £10 annual and £50 Life Membership.
Payment by BACS: Sort Code 16-00-42; Account No: 00269670; RBS (Please use your name and subscription as description of the payment), or by cheque made payable to Friends of St Columba’s to the Honorary Treasurer, Alan Lennox c/o The Church Office.
Songs of Praise
Look out for St Columba’s member, Claire Gourlay on Songs of Praise on the 31st of July. Claire mentions St Columba’s in her interview with the Revd Kate Bottley (hopefully not edited out!). Thanks to Claire for the PR.
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