Friends,
Our gospel lesson this week from St. Mark 10: 17- 31 tells the story of “The Rich Man” who was reluctant to part with his possessions but today I’m thinking of another prosperous young man who used his money to benefit others and whose influence is still felt today, many years after his death. Douglas Macmillan was born into a well-to-do family in Somerset in 1884. He was educated at Birkbeck College, University of London and became a civil servant with the Ministry of Agriculture. He founded the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer in 1912, the year after his father died of the disease, making an initial donation of £10, a large sum in those days. The charity he founded is now known as Macmillan Cancer Support and you can learn more about their work supporting cancer patients of all ages and their families here – www.macmillan.org.uk.
The Macmillan Coffee Morning is their annual fundraising event, known as the biggest coffee morning in the world and in 2023 raised a total £12.3 million, to which St. Columba’s made a generous contribution.
Douglas Macmillan died in 1969 but thanks to his vision the work of Macmillan Cancer Relief goes on throughout the United Kingdom. I’ve seen the work Macmillan do first hand, providing Day Care at Roxburgh House, Dundee and supporting the family of a friend of mine. I’m very grateful to the St. Columba’s coffee team and to all who by staying for coffee this week are supporting the world’s biggest coffee morning.
William.
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream. Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary. Note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel. If you experience any issue with livestream on the day, please email livestream@stcolumbas.org.uk (please note that this address will only be monitored on Sundays). We apologise for the problem with the livestream on Sunday 6th October. The service was recorded and is available via the website.
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 phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 13th October 2024, Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 54 i Lord, you have always been our home (Psalm 90) (Athchuinge)
Hymn 641 Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Seek ye first)
Hymn 744 Hark how the adoring hosts above (Paraphrase 65)
(St. Magnus (Nottingham))
Hymn 554 Rock of ages cleft for me (Petra (Redhead No. 76))
Anthem: The secret of Christ (Shephard b.1949)
Musical Interlude: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (Wesley 1810-1876)
Old Testament Reading: Job 23: 1-9, 16-17
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 4: 12-16
Gospel Reading: Mark 10: 17-31
Reader: Nadia Dallsingh
The Minister leads worship at St Andrew’s, Newcastle on Sunday.
Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas 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.
St Columba’s members
A Service of Thanksgiving for St Columba’s member Ian Aitchison will be held at St Columba’s, Pont Street at 2pm, on Friday 18th October 2024.
The funeral service of St Columba’s member, John Miln will take place at Mortlake Crematorium at 10.40am, Wednesday 23rd October 2024.
St Columba’s Alumni
We are delighted that the service of ordination for Reverend David McKee will take place at 7pm, Monday 9th December 2024, at Jackson Parish Church, Airdrie. David undertook a student summer placement at St Columba’s in 2022. He took great advantage of all the possibilities of London life, religious and cultural and was a great addition to the ministry team that summer. David would be delighted if any St Columba’s friends were able to be present but understands distance may prohibit attendance. The service will be livestreamed via Facebook.
Harvest Appeal 2024 – Thank you
Thank you so much for once again supporting The Upper Room (UR4 Meals) charity. Your generous Harvest donations will certainly help the charity maintain their supplies towards the thousands of meals a year they provide for the homeless and disadvantaged people. The charity has collected the Harvest donations and will be putting them to very good use. The Upper Room provide such a valuable service to those in need. Thank you for your continuing support for UR4 Meals. Mission Committee.
THIS SUNDAY: The Congregational Prayer Group
Meets to pray for the continuing life and work of St Columba’s. 10.15 – 10.30am, in the Kirk Session Room. All welcome.
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 13th October, Macmillan Coffee Morning after service
THIS SUNDAY: PRISONS WEEK, 13th – 19th October
For more than forty years Prisons Week has prepared prayer literature to enable the Christian community, through individuals and churches, to pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons: prisoners and their families, victims of crime and their communities, those working in the criminal justice system and the many people who are involved in caring for those affected by crime on the inside and outside of our prisons.
Prisons Week raises awareness and generates prayer. It motivates volunteers to step forward and give their time and gifts, in prisons and in their own communities. It provides an annual focus and reason for Christians to work together, building capacity and motivation to make a difference for people who are out of sight and often out of mind.
Prisons Week aims to encourage prayer and awareness of the needs of prisoners and their families, victims of offenders, prisons staff and all those who care, reflected in the Prisons Week Prayer offered throughout the week:
Lord, you offer freedom to all people.
We pray for those in prison.
Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.
Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends,
prison staff and all who care.
Heal those who have been wounded by the activities
of others, especially the victims of crime.
Help us to forgive one another.
To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ
in His strength and in His Spirit, now and every day. Amen.
Each day of the week, a new prayer brings into focus a different group affected by prison or criminal justice. Churches and individuals are also asked to reflect on what they might do or offer as part of their response, through the range of Christian agencies and charities involved in supporting Prisons Week. https://www.prisonsweek.org/
If you would like to hear how CrossReach, the Church of Scotland’s social care arm, works specifically with prisons, do look at the short film about the visitor centre at Perth prison CrossReach Prison Visitor Centres (youtube.com)
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 13th October, 1pm, Lower Hall
We are delighted that RSCDS will bring back Scottish Country Dancing for children. The class will take place once a month on Sunday afternoons (3rd Sunday of the month) taught by Rose Kreloff. Children should be at least primary school aged (typically 4-12) but dancers in their early teens also welcome. Please book into the class by emailing classes@rscdslondon.org.uk advising your child’s name and age, to help to prepare the class.
Hot off the Press, Church Magazine, October – November 2024 – Available via the Bookstall for £1.50.
Pick up a copy with its stunning front cover, from the bookstall.
Then pick up another to give to a friend!
Thanks once again to our Editor, Susan Pym and her team of contributors.
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers, Wednesday 16th October, 1pm, London Scottish Chapel
NEXT WEEK: New Members’ Conference & Service, Wednesday 16th October.
If you would like to learn more about what becoming a member of St Columba’s would involve, you are warmly invited to an evening of food and discussion on Wednesday 16th October 2024, 7.00pm. For those who would then like to become members there will be a Service of Welcome on Sunday 24th November – which is the day we celebrate Christ the King. For more information speak to either of the ministers and please sign up via the Church Office by 12 noon, Monday 14th October.
IONA COMMUNITY RETREAT 2025
Are you feeling in need of going ‘On Retreat’? St Columba’s Nurture Committee has been looking at Retreat Weeks offered by The Iona Community for 2025. We suggest either Columba Week from 7th to 13th June 2025, following St Columba’s footsteps on Iona; or The Celtic Wheel from 25th to 31st October, exploring the spiritual gifts of this post-harvest time.
Details of these and other Retreats can be found on www.iona.org.uk/visit-and-stay/iona-abbey stay, and select the 2025 Programme.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Kate Macnish on kate.macnish@btinternet.com for further details and to register your interest so that we can get an idea of numbers.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s, 1.30pm, Upper Hall, Sunday 20th October. Ruby Skilbeck (soprano) and Liz Hayley (piano)
Join us to enjoy a recital with music from Quilter, Debussy, Robert and Clara Schumann.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Question Time, Sunday 27th
Do you have questions about faith or church life? Ever wondered if others shave similar questions? On Sunday 27th October, meeting after service, there will be an informal discussion group over coffee. Led by members of the Nurture Committee it is a chance to explore and share ideas. Approximate timing: 12.15 – 1.15pm. No need to sign up, just bring your questions and come along.
Glass Door’s Night Shelter Volunteers
Glass Door Night shelter at St Columba’s will start on Sunday 10th November in the Upper Hall. We always need volunteers to run the shelters and ensure the best possible experience for guests. Register your interest with Stef at the Church office office@stcolumbas.org.uk
RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 6th December 2024, outside St Columba’s Church.
Every year the staff, volunteers and supporters of Restart Lives spend one night outside. Although there is much that separates the experience of the controlled environment of the Sleepout from that of a person living life on the streets, we hope the event will help all those who participate to imagine what London’s homeless have to contend with.
We can only accommodate 80 sleepers at this event, so if you would like to reserve your spot, don’t delay and sign up now.
ST ANDREW’S BOOK FESTIVAL: 25th November to 1st December 2024, various venues
The box office is now open for the inaugural St Andrew’s Book Festival in London (25th of November – 1st of December 2024). Seven days celebrating all things literary, featuring a star-studded line up of authors, riveting discussions, and exclusive book signings. Whether you’re an avid reader or a budding writer, this festival is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the world of books and creativity. Check out the website for a full author A to Z listing and book tickets from here: https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/
The St Andrew’s Book Festival is delighted to be able to offer every ticket purchaser the chance to win a two-night luxury getaway for two at Prestonfield Hotel. This weeklong celebration of Scottish authors and themes in central London is showcasing over 40 authors across 36 events!
More details available in the full newsletter here: Festival Offers and Prize Draw (mailchi.mp)
Scots in London Newsletter
Read the latest Scots in London newsletter here, packed full of our autumn news and events: https://mailchi.mp/f940da96f79e/scots-in-london-october-newsletter Subscribe to the newsletter directly to hear all the latest news and make the most of our current special offers with The Scotsman newspaper.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club, Monday 28th October
The Book Club met on Monday 9 September when we discussed Tracey Chevalier’s A Single Thread. Everyone enjoyed Lilias Gillies’ choice very much and felt it gave an insight to the predicament of the many women whose lives were altered by the terrible death toll of WW1. Our next meeting will be on Monday 28 October when we shall be discussing Brooklyn by Colm Toibin.
For those of you who like to read ahead, we shall be reading The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina. The date for that discussion will be fixed at our next meeting. The meeting will be by Zoom The meeting will be by Zoom and new members are welcome. For details, please contact the Church Office
UPCOMING: SCOTSCARE CEILIDH, Saturday 16th November 2024, Lower Hall 7pm – 10.30pm
ScotsCare are excited to announce that they will be hosting their first ever Ceilidh on Saturday 16th November at St Columba’s Church, from 7.00 to 10.30pm (doors open from 6.30pm). The ScotsCare St. Andrew’s Festival Ceilidh will have live entertainment provided by the Craigievar Ceilidh Band and London Scottish Pipes and Drums. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun! We will have a caller to guide dancers, step by step so everyone can join in regardless of experience. Tickets include light bites, and a bar will be available to purchase drinks. All profits from the evening will go back into ScotsCare’s services. We look forward to seeing you on what a festive and memorable evening will be. Tickets are £20 each and can be bought via this link www.scotscare.com/project/scotscare-ceilidh/.
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271