Good Afternoon All,
Slightly different temperature today than when I wrote last week. One bonus of working for St Columba’s is that the building stays remarkably cool in the heat!
As many of you know, I took up running in the first lockdown (it was a good excuse to get away from the family for half an hour whilst we were all stuck together J)- I am now in training for the Royal Parks Half Marathon and Thames Bridges Challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support. I never ask for rain but I am glad to see it forecast for the next couple of days as I have long runs scheduled into the training plan!
Many will be disappointed this week, with the news that “freedom day” has been postponed. We here were also disappointed as a number of hall hire customers have had to reschedule once again – however we keep positive and we are enjoying the baby music classes making noise in the hall and the toddler ballerinas that arrive in the most fantastic tutu’s through the week. The building continues to be used and we are looking forward to welcoming other groups back when they are allowed.
Attached is this week’s newsletter written by Angus. He mentions a certain football match due to be played tomorrow evening. As an English woman, married to a Welsh man, working for a Scottish Church and a daughter born in Scotland there are a lot of different allegiances in my household (always fun at the Euro’s and Six Nations!).
Have a wonderful weekend everyone and if you do wish to reserve a pew this weekend, just let me know.
Congratulations to Scotland for their amazing 3-0 win over England at Wembley!
Truly a night to remember….
Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself (writing this on Thursday, a day before the actual England v Scotland match in football’s Euros 20.) Unfortunately, no amount of wishful thinking will secure a hoped-for result. Following a team, any team, will bring highs and lows – that’s the agony and the ecstasy of fandom.
In one of the readings set for this week (II Corinthians 6:1-13)
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=485922751 St Paul reminds the early Christians of Corinth what he and others have endured for their faith: “through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger.” Yet, amid trials they have tried to keep the integrity of their faith, by maintaining “purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God.” Doing this in sunshine and rain, whether they have found favour or not, “in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute” they have persevered. On occasion, condemned to obscurity, criticism, failure, sorrow or poverty, they have held the line, which permits Paul his lovely litany: “We are treated…
as impostors, and yet are true;
as unknown, and yet are well known;
as dying, and see – we are alive;
as punished, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
Finally concluding: “Our heart is wide open to you. In return – open wide your hearts also.”
Whatever highs and lows we experience by sports field, in workplace, at church, home or away, may we “press on towards the goal” in love, prayer, service and friendship, that one day (maybe each day) we can conclude: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)
Have a good end to the week, and whatever the result on Friday, may we have much to give thanks for on Sunday.
Angus
Attending Morning Worship
If you would like to “book a pew” for the service at St Columba’s please contact the Church Office either by telephone, 0207 584 2321 or email, office@stcolumbas.org.uk by 3pm on Friday. Booking a place speeds up the test and trace process as you arrive at Church.
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, 20th June 2021
Hymn 260 Eternal Father, strong to save (Melita)
Hymn 691 Be still my soul (Finlandia)
Hymn 737 Will your anchor hold (Will your anchor hold)
Old Testament Readings: Job 38:1-11 & Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
Gospel Reading: Mark 4:35-41
Anthem: Crossing the bar (Joseph Barnby) Organ Postlude: ‘Hornpipe’, Water Music (G. F Handel)
Office Hours
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
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.
Thank you from GlassDoor
We have received a letter of thanks from GlassDoor, which briefly outlines the vital work the charity has undertaken through the winter months, and the huge adaptations required in response to the pandemic on behalf of the homeless and insecurely housed. It offers warm thanks to those at St Columba’s who played a direct part in offering the food service on Saturday and Sunday evenings during the winter and for the many more who supported financially.(See letter attached)
Service of Introduction for Revd William McLaren, 6pm Thursday 8th July 2021.
The Presbytery of England will hold the Service of Introduction at St Columba’s, Pont Street for our new Associate Minister on Thursday 8th July 2021. The service will be open for attendance in person and also available via the live stream. William’s first Sunday at St Columba’s will be on Sunday 11th July. Please keep him in your prayers as he prepares to leave Dundee and begin his new ministry in London.
St Columba’s Coffee Mornings
The last of the coffee mornings before the summer break will be on Wednesday, 14th July 2021- 10.30am- Revd William McLaren. William joins us as Associate Minister from Stobswell Church in Dundee. This is a chance to get to know William a little better and for William to introduce himself “virtually” to us all.
St Columba’s Book Club
The next meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club will be the 23rd August (via Zoom) at 7pm. The month’s book will be “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett. If you would like to join please contact the office for more information
Family Sunday, 27th June & Congregational Picnic
The Sunday School team are planning for Sunday 27th June 2021. Children will take part in Sunday School Activities and have a get together in the Upper Hall during the Morning Service. If you would like to book a place, please contact the Church Office.
Following morning service, for those wanting to join the congregational picnic in Hyde Park, please bring your own picnic and meet outside the church entrance to depart at 12:15 or meet at the park – enter through Edinburgh Gate, cross the road and bridleway and turn left. We will be picnicking on the grass just beyond the manège. Please find attached a map of the picnic location.
It is also hoped that a congregational picnic will follow morning service. Keep the date in mind and look out for more information as a plan comes together.
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.
Jane Haining
Last year St Columba’s hosted the Caledonian Lecture on the subject of Jane Haining. You may be interested in a recent article from the Church of Scotland website https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and events/news/2021/articles/new-street-named-after courageous-missionary-who-died-in-auschwitz