A Happy New Year to you. May 2023 be full of many good things for you and your loved ones.
In the Church calendar, this is the week we mark Epiphany (for us 6th January.) At the end of this week’s newsletter, St Columba’s elder, Karen Cunningham describes some of the traditions that celebrate Epiphany in Switzerland & Austria, which she knows well.
In Austria she tells us, children dress up as carol singers and go from house to house and mark with chalk on the door the blessing C+M+B (Christus Mansionem Benedicat or ‘Christ bless this house’) and the year. The chalking of the doors is accompanied by a prayer: it would make a wonderful prayer for the door of St Columba’s, or any church:
God of doors and homes,
bless this home/church this year and every year.
Bless all who come and go through this door,
both those who live here and those who visit.
May all who enter through this door,
come in peace and bring joy.
May all who come to this door
find welcome and love.
May the love and joy in this home/church overflow
and spread into the community and all the world.
And may Jesus the Christ watch over us all. Amen.
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 after Epiphany (Baptism of Christ), 8th January 2023
Hymn 322 Good Christians, all rejoice (In Dulchi Jubilo)
Hymn 636 Baptised in water (Bunessan)
Hymn 335 Out of the flowing river (Oakfield)
Hymn 682 Go in grace and make disciples (Abbot’s Leigh)
Anthem: A spotless rose (Howells)
Musical Interlude: Magi veniunt ab oriente (Clemens non Papa)
Organ Postlude: Paean (Moore)
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9
New Testament Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Prayer Group
Join us at church this Sunday as we come together to
pray. The monthly prayer meeting is our time to gather and
seek God in prayer for our church, community and the world.
10.00 – 10.15am, London Scottish Chapel. See you there!
Sunday School Dates 2023
Between January and March, we intend to offer Sunday School on the first and third Sundays of the month. Dates for Family diaries:
Sunday 15th January
Sunday 5th February
Sunday 19th February
Sunday 5th March
Sunday 19th March (Mothering Sunday)
Arrangements and activities for Easter to be confirmed.
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.
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
uture lunch dates are 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.
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.
Sounds of St Columba’s 2023
The Sounds of St Columba’s series is back for 2023. Please note the dates in your diary, bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall: 1.30pm start.
15th January 2023- Maria Sotiropoulou will sing a programme of Operatic Arias.
19th February 2023- Friend of St Columba’s, Jonathan Radford will play a programme of music for classical saxophone
19th March 2023- Axel Krogness, classical guitarist will play a programme of music to include Dowland, Bach and Goroto.
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.
If you require this information in a different format please contact the Church Office.
REFLECTION & POINTS FOR PRAYER
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
for Sunday 8th January 2023
In Germany and Austria, as well as the traditionally Catholic cantons of Switzerland, Epiphany or ‘Three Kings’ Day’ is celebrated on 7th January. In Austria, children dress up as carol singers and go from house to house and mark with chalk on the door the blessing C+M+B (Christus Mansionem Benedicat or ‘Christ bless this house’) and the year. It is said that the letters also represent the names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Money is collected for a good cause.
The chalking of the doors is accompanied by a prayer:
God of doors and homes,
bless this home this year and every year.
Bless all who come and go through this door,
both those who live here and those who visit.
May all who enter through this door,
come in peace and bring joy.
May all who come to this door
find welcome and love.
May the love and joy in this home overflow
and spread into the community and all the world.
And may Jesus the Christ watch over us all. Amen.
Epiphany in Switzerland no longer has as many customs as in Austria. An Epiphany cake is baked, which is round and in which a bean is hidden. Whoever finds the bean is king for a day, receives a small decorative crown and can look forward to luck and prosperity in the coming year. One and a half million cakes are sold every year in Switzerland (population 8.7mio), making it the country’s most sold specialty cake!
On 7th January we will be visited in our village by The Three Kings bearing gift
https://www.nendaz.ch/en/P76827/nendaz-celebrates-the-three-kings
The visit of the Magi is significant because they were Gentiles who came from foreign lands. Their recognition of a new-born king and their pilgrimage to visit the Christ-child remind us that Christ was born not just for some, but for all of humanity. The Magi were learned astronomers, scholars, and priests. They observed that something unusual and extraordinary was happening in the heavens. They knew that the heavens spoke through the stars (Psalm 19:1-6). And they knew to search through their vast library of books until they came upon Old Testament Scripture, and specifically, the biblical prophecies in the Old Testament that mention a coming “child that would be King.” God gave them enough light of understanding so they could make the connection between the natural phenomena they observed in the heavens and the biblical prophecies in the Old Testament.
God led the Magi to see and spiritually perceive what was being communicated through what was happening in the heavens, to make spiritual judgments about what they saw, and to act on what they were discerning. Once they make their decision to pilgrimage, the Magi make commitments to each other, they make the necessary preparations, and with haste they take off on a pilgrimage of faith and discovery to verify and confirm their epiphany and emerging understanding. The symbolism of light is important – not only because of the star that guided the Magi, but it suggests the bright dawning of God revealing himself in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps the “overwhelming joy” the Magi experienced when they reached their destination where the Christ child lay, was the joy that comes when the growing hope within them and their obedience to that hope gave way to the attainment of a vision of Christ, which they believed in and hoped for beforehand (John 20:29; Hebrews 11:1-2; 1 John 3:2).
“Epiphany” means manifestation or revelation. At the Epiphany of the Lord, we celebrate the manifestation of God’s saving purpose to all the nations of the world. Just as the Magi came from a distant land to worship the Christ child, God’s covenant of grace is extended to all people who believe in the good news of Jesus Christ. The Magi had hope in the star that God placed before them. They followed that light of Hope until they found Jesus – realising that this infant King would save the world. We too need to follow the light of Hope that God has given us through Jesus, for as Christians, we are called to bear Christ’s light in the world.
Prayers for Epiphany
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
God of light and life,
our prayers rise before you this day in hope and faith.
We pray for your church, and for all people.
We pray for all who are coming to faith,
all who wonder about faith,
and all who are struggling with faith
Light of all creation, guide us to lead, teach and nurture your disciples;
be our Joy in proclaiming your Good News to the world.
We pray for those in need of food, shelter, clothing,
and of God’s healing touch
Comforter of the suffering, guide our hands to loving service
We pray for the world,
especially where there is trouble and suffering, far away or nearby
Oh God of steadfast care,
fuel our passion to challenge injustice and violence
and to pursue peace and reconciliation
We pray for the land on which we stand,
the people, creatures, plant life and waters around us
O God of all creation,
lead us to care for this fragile earth, our island home,
and to heal the circle of creation
God of radiant light,
by the leading of a star
you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth. Lead us, who know you now by faith,
to your presence,
where we may see your glory face to face.
Your love illumines our hopes
before we know them,
and our needs before we ask.
Kindle your flame within us,
that in our prayers and service,
we may know your transforming presence at work in the world around us.
All this we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord.