Friends,
Once again, all change! Lock down II commenced this week and for the next four Sundays we revert to offering worship, via the live stream and Dial-in only i.e. worshippers cannot attend in person (in the pews.) However, as Lucy communicates on our Social Media – “Although the building might be closed, the church is very much open.”
Worshipping online, staying in contact with friends and neighbours, offering prayers for others and supporting the church financially, are all expressions of continuing faith and church life. Some activities can, and will, continue in our halls – Knightsbridge School use the Lower Hall for recreation, Monday to Friday; Support Groups also continue to meet; and by later this month, we hope that St Columba’s will be operating as a feeding station for homeless guests, three nights each week – via ReStart (Fridays) and GlassDoor (Saturdays & Sundays.) If that hospitality can be achieved and sustained throughout the winter, it would represent a wonderful contribution to some very vulnerable people, in a time of extreme need. Please keep those charities (staff, volunteers and guest) and our own staff in your prayers. And remember, if you feel that you would like attend the Church for private prayer, please get in touch with the office office@stcolumbas.org.uk to organise an appropriate time.
Remembrance Sunday 8th November 10.45am
As Sunday 8th is Remembrance Sunday, the service begins at 10.45am. Unfortunately the annual London Scottish Regiment Church Parade, on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday, cannot take place this year. However, we are glad to welcome the Regimental Colonel, Air-Vice Marshal Ranald Munro CBE, and piper, Cpl Andy Parsons, representing the Regiment at our morning worship.
Live Streaming of Worship
The live stream service continues this Sunday at 10.45am. Music begins from 10.35am. The service can be watched via the church website,
https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream at 10.45am.
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. While current regulation forbids singing in the pews, the live stream strongly recommends singing in the sitting room!
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 Ben’s organ music from 10.50am.
Church Office
Office Hours 9am to 4pm.
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
Maintaining Community and Supporting Each Other
Everybody can play a part in maintaining contact with others via telephone, e-mail or letter, especially those who are particularly vulnerable. Our Elders are encouraged to make contact with those in their districts, and church members are welcome to contact the church office to request a contact from their elder or the Minister.
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
Offerings to St Andrew’s, Newcastle can be made via:
Account – Church of Scotland
Sort code – 40-34-18
Account number – 11310747
St Columba’s Member
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member Diana Kennington. Our thoughts are with her family during this time.
Annual Bereavement Service Sunday 22nd November
Each year we are very aware that the approach to Christmas can be a particularly poignant time in which we remember those who have died. Each year, therefore, we hold our Annual Bereavement Service. We write to those who have experienced the death of a loved one, and whose service was conducted by one of the St Columba’s ministers, in the last seven years, and invite family members and friends to attend this annual service. This year to mitigate the uncertainties of changing Covid19 regulations and reduce the risk of travel, the service will not be attended in person, but made available via our website from 3pm on Sunday 22nd November, at www.stcolumbas.org.uk The service is designed to be quiet and reflective and will last about forty five minutes.
During the service we remember by name those whose funeral or memorial services we have conducted in the past year (1st October 2019 – 30 September 2020). As a congregation we pray for the family and friends of all whose funerals we call to mind. Relatives and friends who have attended in previous years have found the service to be helpful. If there are other names you would particularly like remembered at this service please pass the details to the Church Office and we will seek to include them.
Particularly this year, with all its difficulties, though we will not be physically together, I hope that people can draw strength and comfort from knowing that loved ones are being remembered and prayed for.
St Columba’s Book Club 23 November 7.00pm
The November meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club will take place on the 23rd at 7pm (via Zoom). This month’s book will be “Someone in the Distance” by Dorothy Whipple. New members are very much encouraged, please get in touch with the Church Office for more detail.
Christmas Card Competition
This year Angus and Lucy are running a Christmas Card Competition. We would like the children of St Columba’s to design a Christmas card. If you can use the theme of love, hope and togetherness and/or your favourite thing about Christmas and send your pictures to office@stcolumbas.org.uk by the 8th November 2020. There are two prizes up for grabs for those whose designs are picked to be made into our Christmas Cards, one for 7 year olds and under and one for 8 years +.
We are looking forward to seeing your designs!
Christmas Appeal
Due to the current restrictions, unfortunately we will not be able to do our usual Sox & Boxers collection.
As an alternative way of contributing to the Christmas Appeal, you may like to consider making a financial donation to either Glass Door or to Borderline.
Thank you, Mission Committee.
Glass Door
https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/donate/donate/24/credit-card
Cheques payable to ‘Glass Door Homeless Charity’ and post to:
Attn. Ian Foster – Fundraising Managing
Glass Door Homeless Charity
155a Kings Road
London SW3 5TX
Borderline
https://www.borderline-uk.org/
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/700#!/DonationDetails#%2FDonationDetails
Cheques payable to ‘New Borderline’ and post to:
Attn. Andrew Ellison – Fundraising Manager
Borderline
22 City Road
London EC1Y 2AJ
Lent Appeal 2021
The Lent Appeal 2021 will be the turn of a small UK charity. If you are involved with such a charity, or know of one that you would like to nominate for consideration, the Mission Committee would love to hear from you. To nominate a small UK charity and/or for more information in regard to next year’s Lent Appeal, please contact: Naomi Donaldson by e-mail to naomi.60@live.co.uk or via the Church Office. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 17 November. Mission Committee.
Caledonian Lecture: Jane Haining, Scottish Heroine
There is still time to view this year’s Caledonian Lecture.
The link to view the Lecture is: https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/caledonianlecture