The Scots Hotel in Tiberias
Friends,
Since the horrific events of 7th October last year, our thoughts have been focussed on the Holy Land, Israel and Palestine, and in the face of continuing violence there we continue to pray that all parties to the conflict might find a way ahead, leading to a just and lasting settlement that will meet the needs and aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians, Christians, Jews and Muslims.
On Sunday we will sing Hymn 340, “When Jesus saw the fishermen on boats upon the sea” and the Church of Scotland has had a presence in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee since at least 1885. In that year a 23-year-old surgeon from Airdrie named David Watt Torrance arrived in Tiberias with a view to opening a hospital. At that time Tiberias had a bigger population than Jerusalem but no hospital. Torrance set up practice in rooms in the city and the first hospital building was opened 130 years ago on 1st January 1894. David Torrance’s vision for the hospital was that it should be open to all, regardless of race, creed of colour and present at the opening were the Chief Rabbi of Tiberias, the Muslim Mufti and representatives of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches as well as the Ottoman Governor and the Chief Judge. At the opening ceremony a hymn was sung in Arabic. In the Summer months Torrance would travel amongst the Bedouin people and the hospital continued to grow and develop, eventually becoming a maternity hospital. The Church of Scotland church nearby is dedicated to the Galilean fisherman St. Andrew, a useful reminder of the origins of our faith.
Following the establishment of the state of Israel the government became responsible for healthcare and the hospital was closed in 1959. The Church of Scotland converted the hospital buildings into a guesthouse and following considerable renovation at the beginning of this century it is now a luxury hotel. It attracts guests from all over the world, as well as locals who want to see the place where they were born. David Torrance’s vision of welcoming all, regardless of race, creed or colour remains essential and like our church and guesthouse in Jerusalem and Tabeetha School in Jaffa, The Scots Hotel in Tiberias continues to offer a safe place where those of different traditions and backgrounds and traditions may meet. This ministry is more important today than ever and we continue to pray for the work of the Church of Scotland in Israel and Palestine. For more see
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-views/church-of scotland-in-Israel-and-palestine
William
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 and readings 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 are not live streamed as they are held 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 for Morning Worship, 21st January 2024,
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Hymn 42 Only on God do thou, my soul (Howard (Dublin))
Hymn 340 When Jesus saw the fishermen (The Seven Joys of Mary)
Hymn 540 I heard the voice of Jesus say (The Rowan Tree)
Hymn 644 O Jesus, I have promised (Thornbury)
Anthem: Virga Jesse, Bruckner
Musical Interlude: O beatum et sacrosanctum, Philips
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
New Testament Reading: I Corinthians 7: 29-31
Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 14-20
The Minister leads worship at our linked charge, St Andrew’s, Newcastle, on Sunday.
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.
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday School, 11am
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch
Future dates for lunches are 4th and 18th February in the Lower Hall. Big thanks to all our catering teams who provide for us on congregational lunch Sundays. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall – donations for coffee most welcome.
THIS SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s: Organ Recital, Catherine Olver in the Church, 1.30pm
Recital to include works by J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Farrington. Come and enjoy the first of the 2024 monthly Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals, launched by our own Assistant Organist Catherine Olver.
Advent Appeal – Thank you.
The Mission Committee would like to thank everyone for the large amount of donated items during the Advent Appeal. Christmas gifts were wrapped for the homeless guests who stayed overnight here on Christmas Eve. All additional items were passed to Glass Door to top up their store supplies for the winter months. Thank you very much for such a great response to the Appeal. Much appreciated by all.
NEXT WEEK: St Columba’s Book Group
Our next meeting will be on Monday 22 January 2024 when we shall be reading The Marriage Portrait by Edinburgh based Maggie O’Farrell. If you would like to be part of the group, please contact the office for the Zoom link.
NEXT WEEK: Burns Supper 2024, Saturday 27th January, 7pm, Lower Hall
The Burns Supper will be held on Saturday 27th January 2024. Tickets are on sale after the service, or you can also contact the Church office.
Volunteers are still required for Burns Supper to help serve but also to help with washing up. Please speak to Colin after Sunday’s 11am service.
NEXT WEEK: Communion Sunday, 28th January 2024
Quarterly communion (11am Morning Service) is on Sunday January 28th. In recent times, responding to the pandemic, we have distributed communion by inviting the congregation forward to receive the bread and wine. On Sunday 28th January we will trial serving the elements (bread and wine) to the congregation seated in the pews – similar to our pre-pandemic procedure but using the small communion glasses. To facilitate the elders bringing the elements to the pews we will ask worshippers to sit in alternate pews only. You may therefore be asked to sit one row in front/ behind your normal pew to accommodate the arrangements. The pews will be carefully labelled on the day to avoid confusion. As our communion arrangements continue to evolve, we would welcome your feedback. Please let the ministers and/or elders know your views.
UPCOMING: Scottish Country Dancing for Children, 4th February, 1pm, Sunday School Room.
With the support of RSCDS, we are delighted to offer the children a Scottish Country Dancing class. Classes will take place once a month after Sunday School starting from Sunday 4th February. Rose Kreloff will teach the first class, she is an RSCDS London member who teaches regularly in London and the Southeast. Children are encouraged to bring their packed lunch.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Quiz Night, Saturday 10th February:
Come and test your general knowledge at the St Columba’s 17th Annual Quiz. Saturday, 10th February 6.30 pm for 7 pm start. Tickets £6 per person will be on sale after 11am service on Sunday 21st January or by emailing the Church office. You could join The Choir, Tennis Club, The Magnificent Seven, Reeling Together and The Lanark Collective, who are all immortalised on the Quiz shields in the Lower Hall.
UPCOMING: Friends of St Columba’s – Visit to BBC with Hugh Pym, Saturday 17th February
Meet at 11 a.m. at Broadcasting House – we shall spend around an hour there. The we shall proceed by tube or taxi to TV Centre at Shepherd’s Bush where we shall have lunch. Hugh Pym is available for more details. Numbers are limited to 10 and the places are filling fast. So please book early to avoid disappointment! You can book by contacting Isobel Carter via the Church Office.
UPCOMING: Scots in London Ceilidh Evening: Saturday 9 March 2024, Lower Hall, 7pm – 10:30pm
Join for an evening filled with Highland Dancing to a live Ceilidh Band plus a range of live entertainment from the London Scottish Pipes and Drums, the London Gaelic Choir and the Burns Club of London. There will also be the opportunity to join in with a community sing along. No previous dance experience is required, just enthusiasm, as there will be a caller to lead guests through all the moves step-by-step. A light supper is included in the ticket price, and there will be a bar available to purchase drinks.
The evening will start at 7pm (doors open 6:30pm) and tickets are £20.To book tickets please visit: http://tinyurl.com/29jyxj6z
Embody Lent, Revd Pauline Steenbergen
Pauline was one of the contributors to the recent Festival of Silence at St Columba’s. Her book will be published by Wild Goose Publications (Iona Community) around 22nd January 2024 for £10.99 available on their website. This book intersects Yoga and Christian Spirituality in an illustrated 8 session course; involving movement, breath awareness, biblical reflection and ways into silent prayer. It is a resource for individuals, pairs or groups and there are options for chair yoga only, if necessary. Pauline is a Spiritual Director and a Church of Scotland minister living in Carlisle in the Presbytery of South-west Scotland; she is currently an ecumenical pioneer minister in the Diocese of Carlisle and a Yoga Scotland teacher, with classes in Cumbria, SW Scotland and weekly on Zoom.
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: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271