Friends,
Last weekend was a memorable one. The third visit of the young people of the GKexperience, using St Columba’s as a base for their exhausting but entertaining adventures in London; the joint service of communion with our Church of Scotland neighbours, Crown Court and the visit of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields and Mrs Linda Greenshields.
Having worshipped together, in true St Columba’s fashion, we ate together – enjoying a lovely sit-down Sunday lunch in the Lower Hall. None of that happens by chance and the first thing to do is to salute and say thank you to everybody who got involved and helped make these recent days such happy ones. If you weren’t able to be there on Sunday you can watch again, either via the church website or this week via:
https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/worship-of-the-week
“Getting involved” in the life of any church/congregation can find many different expressions, depending on age, experience or circumstance. One very significant part in the presbyterian tradition is the role of elder. At St Columba’s there are currently 50 elders on the Elders’ List, though not all are now able to undertake their duties as they would wish.
“There is no one-size-fits-all way of being an elder. The eldership should represent a broad spectrum from within the congregation. Similarly, each elder brings an individual set of gifts, life experiences and perspectives to his/her eldership. It is the diversity represented by this that enables a Kirk Session to be inclusive and creative.”
In 2018, for the first time, we asked not just existing elders, but also members of the congregation, to submit nominations for potential new elders. This month we are doing the same. Members of the congregation are asked to consider recommending individuals who you think would contribute to, and enhance the life of, our congregation.
“Elders are a group of elected, ordained leaders within the congregation who give their time voluntarily. Along with the ministry team, they are responsible for the spiritual and practical aspects of Church life. Elders may undertake roles of pastoral care, leading of worship, Christian education or serving on the Committees that have specific responsibilities within the life of St Columba’s. Being an elder is a demanding but vital and rewarding role.”
In 2018 this process elicited twenty nominations and a nominating committee (comprising the ministers, the Clerks and Committee conveners) considered them. Nine nominees received sufficient votes and these names were put to the Kirk Session in confidence for approval. These nine were approached by the ministers with the chance to explore more about the commitment and process required, and to answer queries. From this process three people accepted the invitation to become elders.
As you can see, it is quite a process; that is only right and proper, because our elders (now, officially acting as trustees) share significant responsibilities. While the final decision about new elders rests with the Kirk Session, in 2018 when we initiated recommendations from the congregation, I hope it was a clear sign of inclusivity and an encouragement to everyone to think about the wider life and work of the congregation.
On the Sundays of December nomination forms and notes for nominators will be available via the Bookstall, or upon request, via the Church Office. (Note: Nominators are requested not to discuss the nomination with the nominee.) Please keep this aspect of our church life in your prayers this Advent.
Finally, having started with last week’s Sunday lunch, let me finish with the prospect of another very convivial gathering. Following the success of the Jubilee Fellowship lunch in June, all are invited to a Christmas Fellowship lunch in the Lower Hall. Organisers promise a glass of prosecco to start the Festive Season, 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.)
Look forward to seeing you there
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 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,
1st Sunday of Advent, 27th November 2022
Hymn 48 His large and great dominion shall (Effingham)
Hymn 241 Isaiah the prophet has written (Judas and Mary)
Hymn 273 O come, O come, Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Hymn 256 May the God of hope go with us (Argentina)
Anthem: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, Poston
Musical Interlude: Adam lay y bounden, Ord
Organ Postlude: Chorale Prelude on a theme by Tallis
(Harold Darke) Opus 3, No 20
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 11: 1–10
New Testament Reading: Romans 15: 4-13
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3: 1-12
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: Poetry & Silent Prayer for Advent
For the four Sundays of Advent (4th, 11th & 18th December) there is the opportunity to join with others for a time of quiet collective prayer. Led by the minister, the time (10.00 – 10.15am) offers an intentional moment to contemplate scripture and poetry, appropriate to the Advent season. All are very welcome in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel.
THIS WEEK- Sunday 4th December Festive Fellowship Lunch 12-2.30pm
All are invited to a Christmas Fellowship lunch in the Lower Hall. 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.
NEXT WEEK- Sunday 11th December-11am
Morning Worship and Sunday School Nativity, followed by coffee and Christingle making (Upper Hall) 5pm- Carols by Candlelight, Service of Lessons and Carols followed by mulled wine and mince pies (Lower Hall)
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
This Sunday there will be a fine Sunday Lunch offered in the Lower Hall. Future lunch dates are 18th December & 1st January, 15th January & 29th January 2023 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.
Parking Restrictions in December
During all Sundays in December there is NO PARKING in residents’ parking bays. On Sundays parking is permitted on single yellow lines and in Pay & Display bays (free).
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Prayer Books
Following Sunday service please pick up a copy of Advent, Christmas & Epiphany: Readings, meditations & Prayers 27 November – 8 January 2023. This collection has been prepared by the Revd Andrew Anderson and offers a profound spiritual guide to the season. Copies are free and if you wish to take two, in order to pass on to a friend or family member, please do so.
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.
Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square for Christian Aid
Please join congregation members from Crown Court Church and Bloomsbury Baptist Church to sing carols for Christian Aid in Trafalgar Square on Friday 16th December at 6pm to 7pm.
Volunteering and giving opportunities
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.
Advent Appeals
Glass Door – www.glassdoor.org.uk
We will be collecting the following items for the Glass Door charity to help top-up their shelves for their homeless clients. The items are: boxer shorts, thermal hats, ladies’ pants and sanitary products, thermal tights, thermal socks (for both men and women), thermal gloves (or very thick ones), small travel size toiletries . Some of the donated items will be wrapped as Christmas gifts for Glass Door’s homeless guests who will be sleeping at church on Christmas night. The remaining items will be passed to Glass Door in January. Thank you in advance for your help with the Advent Appeal. Mission Committee.
Borderline – www.borderline-uk.org
As an alternative option for those wishing to contribute to the Advent Appeal but who are unable to come to church, you may like to consider a financial donation to Borderline. The details are:
Donate Online
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/700#!/DonationDetails#%2FDonationDetails
Alternatively, you can donate by post by making a cheque payable to NEW BORDERLINE and send it to: Borderline, FREEPOST License RSLK-KBRR-AGCK, Ground Floor, 22 City Road, London EC1Y 2AJ
Potatoes & Peas – The Night Shelter
The 2022/23 Night Shelter at St. Columba’s starts in December, and it is time to think about potatoes and peas! We sleep and feed 25 homeless guests inside St Columba’s from December to March & the budget for food from GLASSDOOR is small and anything we can do as a congregation to help with the cost is greatly appreciated. If you would like to “sponsor” the purchase of potatoes or peas, or both, please pass your contribution to the church office. (Cheques payable to St. Columba’s Hospitality Committee.) Any surplus money contributes towards a “festive” meal on Christmas Day, Hogmanay, and of course a Burns Supper in January 2023 which is much appreciated. Thank you. Ben Gourlay, Convener of Hospitality Committee
2023 Dates for your diary
Happy Hour
The next Happy Hour session will take place on Wednesday 4 January 2023 at The Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NE (top floor room) with the usual mix of themed discussion followed by a time of social fellowship. Newcomers welcome, just turn up on the night.
Burns Supper 2023
The 2023 Burns Supper will be held on the 21st January 2023, 7pm. Tickets will be available after Sunday Worship in the entrance vestibule. If you have any queries please contact the Church Office. We also need people to help serving food on the evening. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Church Office.
St Columba’s Book Group
Our next meeting will be on Monday 9th January at the usual time of 6.30pm. Our next book choice is “The Fortnight in September” by RC Sheriff, who is probably more famous for writing Journey’s End about World War I. This book is set in the early 1930’s and concerns a family of 5 from Dulwich as they embark on their annual summer holiday to Bognor. This is a trip they have been making for years and the reader experiences with them the preparation, the journey and the holiday itself. If you know Dulwich or Bognor or even Clapham Junction you might find this novel of particular interest, but such knowledge is not a requirement!
The St Columba’s Book Group meet by Zoom, just contact the Church Office for the joining details. Newcomers are welcome.
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.
POETRY & SILENT PRAYER
ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
4th December 2022, ADVENT II
I have searched for God
“Advent is the hush in the theatre,
between the house lights going down
and the curtain going up.”
“To create times of silent prayer and reflection each day
calls for a sense of its importance and for a discipline.”
BEFORE WE PRAY
This Advent we use a mixture of scripture & poetry to lead us into our silent prayer. The scriptures chosen, reflect those selected by the Revised Common Lectionary which we use at Morning Service. Once the silence begins let yourself be drawn towards/ to savour a particular verse, or even just a single word. Our normal prayer time lasts for fifteen minutes.
OPENING PRAYER
Gathering from our busy city,
we thank you –
for faith and quiet,
place and prayer.
In stillness,
let us abide,
scripture, verse and silence
strengthen, restore and inspire.
So, encompass our Advent wanderings,
to You,
our true North.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
POEM: Honestly, Kenneth Steven
I have searched for God
in the dry echoes of tall stone buildings
where the laws are written dark upon the walls.
I have found God
in the broken bread of light across the moorland,
as it silvers from the miracle of the earth.
TIME OF QUIET
COLLECT FOR SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (said together)
Almighty God, you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah. Inspire the ministers and stewards of your truth to turn our disobedient hearts to you, that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge we may stand with confidence before his glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
AFTER PRAYER: Romans 15:4 – 7
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.