Friends,
As I was preparing to write this Newsletter I learned of the death at the age of 94 of Brother Andrew (Andrew van der Bijl) founder of Open Doors. Many of you will be familiar with his story – growing up in the Netherlands during the Second World War he carried messages for the Dutch Resistance, later he served in the Dutch army in the far east before training as a missionary in Glasgow in the early 1950’s.
Andrew became very concerned with the plight of Christians behind the Iron Curtain and after receiving the gift of a blue VW Beetle began smuggling bibles into Poland and the then Soviet Union. The little car became the symbol of Open Doors’ ministry. After the fall of Communism, the Open Doors organisation reached out to Christians in the Middle East and now the charity works with persecuted Christians in over 60 countries worldwide. You can learn more about their work www.opendoorsuk.org.
In our gospel lesson this Sunday Jesus tells the apostles ”If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you” (St. Luke 17:6). Brother Andrew proved that with faith it was possible to change lives even in the face of oppression by the mighty Soviet bloc. His story touched countless Christians and his book “God’s Smuggler” sold over 10 million copies. One of those who spoke of being inspired by “God’s Smuggler” and thanked Brother Andrew personally for his ministry was former UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands knighted Andrew in 1993.
“Well done good and faithful servant”
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,
16th Sunday after Trinity Sunday, Sunday 2nd September
Hymn 233 Come, you thankful people, come (St George’s Windsor)
Hymn 632 Our children, Lord, in faith and prayer (Belmont)
Hymn 818 Praise ye the Lord (Old 124th)
Hymn 238 Lord, bring the day to pass (Love Unknown)
Anthem: O quam gloriosum (W Byrd)
Musical Interlude: Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Parry)
Organ Postlude: “Finale” from Symphony No.1 by Vierne
New Testament Reading: II Timothy 1: 1-14
Gospel Reading: St Luke 17: 5-10
Evening Service, 5pm
Hymn
Hymn
Hymn
Hymn
Readings
THIS SUNDAY: Baptism
A special welcome this week for the family of Wilbur Graeme David Ferris who come for his baptism; a happy an d holy day.
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: Harvest Appeal 2022 – The Upper Room, UR4 Meals
https://theupperroom.org.uk/
https://theupperroom.org.uk/what-we-do/ur4meals/
With the soaring cost of food, The Upper Room charity are having a huge increase in the number of daily hot meals they provide for the homeless and less advantaged people who arrive at their door. If you would like to help and make a Harvest Appeal donation, we are collecting the following items: canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fish (salmon or tuna), baked beans, spaghetti, couscous, olive oil and sunflower oil. There will be food collection buckets in the Upper Vestibule for three Sundays: 18th, 25th September and culminating on Harvest Festival Sunday 2nd October. Food vouchers for supermarkets will also be gratefully received and can either be put in the Harvest donation buckets, or given to the Church Office with a note saying for Harvest Appeal. Alternatively, if you wish to make an online donation direct to The Upper Room:
https://theupperroom.org.uk/get-involved/donate/
St Columba’s Member
We recently announced the death of St Columba’s former organist and member, Mr Gerald Barnes. Gerald’s funeral will be held at St Columba’s on the 30th September and 2.30pm. All welcome.
Church Magazine October – November Issue
The new Church Magazine is available from the bookstall, price £1.50. The magazine is very different from the one originally planned. It is much-focused on the life of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you to the editorial team and contributors for producing such an appropriate offering, in such short time.
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
There will be a fine congregational lunch served in the Lower Hall after the service today (Sunday 2nd October.) Future lunch dates are the 16th October & 30th October 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.
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.
Last Call for Enquirers’ Course – Autumn 2022
For those interested in meeting with others to find out more about faith and the life of the Church, we are running a short series of meetings this autumn. For some this may lead to formally joining the congregation as a member of St Columba’s; others may simply enjoy the chance to discuss. The meetings will be 1-2.30pm on Sunday 16th October, Sunday 23rd October & Sunday 6th November 2022. Participants are invited to have congregational lunch together on Sunday 16th October.
William writes: “There will be opportunity to explore what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century and the history and traditions of the Church of Scotland, as well as our relationships with other denominations. We will also look at the vows of church membership but there is no obligation on anyone to “join the church” after attending these meetings – this is an enquirers’ course and there is no such thing as a bad question!”
If you have any questions about the course please contact the Associate Minister, William McLaren and to sign up please contact the Church Office by 1st October.
Happy Hour
Happy Hour returns on the 5th October with a session called “Prayer Matters”, we will be joined by Revd Andrew Anderson. We meet at 6.30pm at the Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place which is just behind Marble Arch tube station.
St Columba’s Coffee Mornings
We are looking forward to seeing many faces on our upcoming Zoom coffee mornings. Please pop the dates below in your diary and contact the office if you haven’t joined before so the Zoom joining instructions can be sent to you.
- 13th October 2022- In prisons week, Jake Tily, Creative Programmes Director at the Irene Taylor Trust will talk to us about The Lullaby Project where they have collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra to write lullabies for prisoners’ children.
St Columba’s Book Group
The St Columba’s Book Group next meet on Monday 17th October 2022 at 6.30pm via Zoom. They will be discussing, “I’ll keep you safe” by Peter May. This is a murder mystery set in Paris and Lewis, in the outer Hebrides. Those interested in the production of tweed May find it interesting, even if they are not crime fans!
To sign up please contact the Church Office. See you on the 17th!
Sleepouts – Save the date!
Glassdoor’s tenth annual sleepout will be on Friday 7th October. You can either take part at Duke of York Square in Chelsea, or virtually, by sleeping out at a location of your choice. If you’re interested, register at https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/Event/sleep-out-2022
Restart will be holding their annual sleepout at St Columba’s on Friday 18th November 2022. If you would like to help fundraise/join the sleepout or volunteer for the Friday evening drop in’s please contact Programme Manager, Olivia on olivia@restartlives.org.
Tennis Outing last Sunday
Many thanks to Gary and Jo Wallis for organising a really memorable congregational outing to the St Columba’s Tennis Club in Acton. We were made very welcome and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon with sporting activity and BBQ. There was a unanimous – “We must do this again!” As you can see from the photos above, St Columba’s Congregational Outings for Tennis are nothing new!
RSDCS Tuesday Socials
A new Scottish dance group meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month in the Upper Hall. ‘The Tuesday Social’ is aimed at people in (or close to) their 20s and 30s living and working in London. The session will combine great teaching from Gill O’Dell with live music from Adam Brady, lots of dancing, plus a social break with time to relax and chat. Please pass the word to any dancers or would be dancers in your family and social network. St Columba’s has been home to Scottish dancing groups for many years hosting balls, dances and classes for RSCDS London, London Reels, The Highland Club, St Columba’s Dancers, Little Ship and more. St Columba’s Dancers meet on Monday evenings from October to May, London Reels dance on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and RSCDS London’s Mixed Ability class enjoys an afternoon of dance every Wednesday in the Upper Hall.
To learn more about The Tuesday Social, email classes@rscdslondon.org.uk or visit https://www.rscdslondon.org.uk/ .
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.