Friends,
“When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.” Mark 16:1-2
The gospel read on Easter morning began with specific mention of some of the women involved in the resurrection drama. This week, courtesy of the resources for prayer, prepared by the congregational prayer group, there is a lovely Meditation for the Day offered to us about women.
“As the women who followed Jesus are part of the story of the crucifixion and resurrection, let us think of some of occupations of women which help our world, our countries, and our families. The women of the New Testament brought spices and ointments to embalm the body of Jesus. During the pandemic we have had especial cause to be thankful for doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, carers, ambulance crews, police. Keeping the world moving have been bus and train drivers; taxi drivers and neighbours who shopped for others. Keeping us fed, those women who work in essential shops, delivery drivers and cyclists, the many who work in food banks and cook and help in shelters like Glassdoor and ReStart; and lead charities like Borderline and Play for Progress. The arts, especially music, have been magically recreated online, so we are thankful for women who play musical instruments, sing, or compose. Here at St Columba’s and St Andrew’s, Newcastle, we are grateful for all those who serve the church – administrators, elders and members of the congregation who provide hospitality and group activities. So, like the family and followers of Jesus, may we all make service part of our lives and live in harmony with one another, appreciating each person’s individual contribution to the whole.”
Mention of Play for Progress is a nice reminder that our Lent Appeal closes this week. Thank you very much to everyone who has already responded so generously and any who may wish still to do so. On Sunday we will hear of the early Christian community described in the Book of Acts 4:32-35:
“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
May the light and power of the resurrection continue to shape and guide us as people of Easter.
See you on Sunday,
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. (Note: This will not be public worship that everyone can attend, but an offering of prayer and praise, on behalf of us all.) 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. 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.
Hymns, Music & Readings, Easter Morning:
Hymn 425 The Saviour died, but rose again (St Andrew)
Hymn 430 Christ has risen while earth slumbers
(Transformation) Hymn 416 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing
(Truro CH4 214)
New Testament Readings: Acts 4:32-35 & I John 1:1-2:2
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31
Anthem: Mine eyes for beauty pine, Howells
Organ Postlude: Praeludium, chaconne and fugue in C Major, Buxtehude
Office Hours
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. The Church Office is currently being manned from home.
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
Private Prayer
If you wish to come into the sanctuary for prayer during the week, please contact the Office to arrange a suitable time.
Final Week: Lent Appeal 2021 – Play for Progress – www.playforprogress.org
Play for Progress was founded in 2014 as a company and registered as a charity in 2016. Dr Anna MacDonald is the Co-Founder and Head of Relationships.
“Play for Progress (charity no. 1166328) delivers therapeutic and educational music and arts programmes for traumatised and socially-isolated unaccompanied minor refugees. Our weekly Croydon-based programme is available to the hundreds of unaccompanied minor refugees and asylum seekers who are associated with the Refugee Council UK’s Children’s Section and guarantees that these vulnerable young people can rely on a close-knit and resilient community of mutually-trusting citizens of the world, who learn from and celebrate each other at every opportunity, and who use music and creative play as a tool for social change, self-expression, team building, and personal development.” Dr Anna MacDonald.
Please do click on the attached links to learn more about Play for Progress.
Fundraiser Presentation:
Video from the creation of our recent ‘roots and branches’ exhibition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmZAyqwyUM0&t=1s
ABOUT THE ALBUM
https://soundcloud.com/user-237760553
Our community created this collection of tracks during our weekly RAW sessions, where we Record, Arrange, and Write music. Each track was built directly by or in collaboration with the young people and displays their creativity, characters, and wide-ranging talents.
This album was released as part of ‘Roots and Branches: a Collaborative Art Exhibition’ by Play for Progress for the Museum of Croydon in January 2020. You can experience a virtual representation of the exhibition here:
museumofcroydon.com/roots-branches-main
We were delighted that Dr Anna MacDonald was able to come to church and do two brief talks during Lent, and joined a Zoom coffee morning, sharing more insight into the work of Play for Progress.
If you would like to contribute to the Lent Appeal, details are:
Gift Aid helps, if you are eligible. If you need to complete a Gift Aid declaration form, please contact the Church Office.
Bank details: Please use “Lent Appeal” as the payment reference
St Columba’s Church of Scotland
Royal bank of Scotland
Account number 00264741
Sort Code 16 00 42
Cheques payable to: “St. Columba’s Church of Scotland” and with a note that it is for the Lent Appeal.
Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
Lent Appeal funding will help Play for Progress maintain their vital services. They do such amazing work to help the children and young people (refugees and some are asylum seekers) that are referred to the charity. Thank you, Mission Committee.
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
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.
Death of Church Member
We sadly announce the death of Mrs Jean Maxwell Wood on the 27th March 2021. Please keep her family in your prayers. Rest eternal grant unto her and let light perpetual shine upon her
New Church Magazine
The April-May Issue of the St Columba’s Magazine is hot off the press and available via the website. Thank you once again to the Editorial Team and all involved. It is much appreciated and enjoyed. https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/https://wp-testing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/april-may-21-magazine.pdf
St Columba’s Quiz
Due to the COVID 19 restrictions we were not able to get together for the annual St Columba’s Quiz. So, this year we have taken the quiz online. The quiz is available on the website here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/community-life/quiz-2021 – for the answers please email the Church Office.
St Columba’s Book Club – 12th April 2021, 7.00pm
The next meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club will take place on the 12th April at 7pm (via Zoom). April’s book will be “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernadine Evaristo. New members are very much encouraged, please get
in touch with the Church Office for more detail.
Historic Chapels Trust
One of our elders, Jean Stevenson, is a trustee of the Historic Chapels Trust, and has drawn our attention to a number of evening lectures which members of the congregation might find of interest. They can be accessed via the link here http://www.hct.org.uk
The first talk on 16 March is on “Reading A Quaker Meeting House” where what to look for in a Quaker meeting house will be described, followed by a discussion about Quaker worship.
On 13 April “Dear Pastor, …but who should I turn to if not the church to which I belong” tells the story of how in the Nazi era, a church in East London (St George’s) worked tirelessly to assist Protestant Christians of Jewish descent, flee to England. An aspect which may come out in the lecture, is that Dietrich Bonhoeffer was at one time associated with St George’s.
On 23 April “Equiano’s Daughter: A glimpse of dissenting England” begins with Henry Bromley (1798-1878) a congregational minister from North London, but goes on to introduce us to his family and his first wife Joanna, who was the daughter of Olaudah Equiano, who was born in Benin, enslaved in the New World and became a free man in the England of Clarkson and Wilberforce.
Scotscare Sheltered Housing
Scotscare, the charity for Scots in London currently has sheltered housing vacancies available at Rothesay Court, Grove Park, London. The accommodation provides supported living for Scots over 55, or over 50 living with a disability. Allocations are made on a priority system ensuring those most in need receive the housing they require. If you know someone or you yourself are interested in the accommodation please contact Scotscare directly on 0800 652 2989 or email info@scotscare.com to find out more.
REFLECTION & POINTS FOR PRAYER
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
St. Columba’s, Pont Street, & St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.
Sunday 11th April 2021, the 2nd Sunday after Easter
Introduction
In this time between the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ we are exhorted by St. Paul to be grateful for “things beyond our seeing, prepared by God for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2.) and he prays that our “inward eyes may be enlightened, so that you may know how vast are the resources of his power, open to us who have faith”. (Ephesians 1).
Collect
Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe
and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith
and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture
“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came among them and said “Peace be with you”. After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” (John 20. vv19- 20)
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
have mercy on our unbelief, our uncertainties, our anxieties. We cannot order our lives to protect us and those we care for from all harm. We pray that you will guide and protect us so that we can bear affliction and challenges. Help us to keep before us the example of Jesus, who trusted in you to give him courage at the time of trial, in the sure and certain hope of eternal glory. May we live our life on earth with this promise – a living flame of hope and trust – before us always. Amen.
A Truer Beauty (Prayer of George MacLeod, founder of the Iona Community) O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
who, at the last, through wood and nails,
purchased our whole salvation,
wield well your tools in the workshop of your world,
so that we, who come rough-hewn to your bench,
may here be fashioned to a truer beauty of your hand.
A meditation for the week:
As the women who followed Jesus are part of the story of the crucifixion and resurrection, let us think of some of occupations of women which help our world, our countries, and our families. The women of the New Testament brought spices and ointments to embalm the body of Jesus. During the pandemic we have had especial cause to be thankful for doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, carers, ambulance crews, police. Keeping the world moving were bus and train drivers; taxi drivers and neighbours who shopped for others. Keeping us fed those women who work in essential shops, delivery drivers and cyclists, the many who work in food banks and cook and help in shelters like Glassdoor and ReStart; and lead charities like Borderline and Play for Progress. The arts, especially music, have been magically recreated online, so we are thankful for women who play musical instruments, sing, or compose. Here at St. Columba’s we are grateful for all those who serve the church – administrators, elders and members of the congregation who provide hospitality and group activities. So, like the family and followers of Jesus, may we all make service part of our lives and live in harmony with one another, appreciating each person’s individual contribution to the whole.
Closing prayer
Guide us, Lord, in all our doings with your gracious
favour, and further us with your continual help; that in all
our works, begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify
your holy name, and by your mercy attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
*Photographs are winning entries into the Moderator’s “The Cross: Hidden in Plain Sight” competition.