Friends,
Last Sunday we heard from St. Luke’s gospel how Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of his public ministry.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free”.
(Isaiah 61: 1-2)
This week we learn how having read from the scriptures, Jesus declared himself a prophet. He continued by telling the synagogue congregation stories of Elijah and Elisha and how they helped outsiders, not just their own people. The crowd gathered for worship that Sabbath day were enraged and responded by bundling him out of the synagogue and trying to throw him off a cliff but Jesus walked through them and went on his way.
God calls us to be loving to others but sometimes this means showing “tough love” and sometimes it means speaking the truth whether people want to hear it or not. Prophets are not men or women who foresee the future, although the word is often used in that way. Rather, a prophet is someone who sees the world as it is, both good and bad, and often prophets are those who speak the truth to power. We can think of some of the great figures of the Old Testament including Isaiah, Elijah and Elisha who were not afraid to speak the truth to power, often at great risk to themselves. We can think of prophetic figures in the twentieth century such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted Nazi tyranny at the cost of his own life, and we can think of those in our own day who have the courage to speak out against the abuse of power, political, military and economic.
Let us pray for those in authority, those who exercise political power at local, national and international level, that we may live at peace with our neighbours at home and abroad and that we may all hold to the truth: Jesus said to Pilate “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice”.
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).
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, 2nd February 2025, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Hymn 192 All my hope on God is founded (Michael)
Hymn 351 Jesus’ hands were kind hands (Au clair de la lune)
Hymn 710 “I have a dream”, a man once said (Repton)
Hymn 646 Forth in the peace of Christ we go (Duke Street)
Anthem: Nunc dimittis in B flat – C.V.Stanford (1852-1924)
Musical Interlude: This is the record of John – Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-10
New Testament Reading: I Corinthians 13: 1-13
Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30
Reader: Ruth Kattumuri
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.
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St Columba’s Elder
The funeral of St Columba’s elder, Liz Maliphant will be held at Beckenham Crematorium (also live-streamed) on Friday 7th February at 12pm. A memorial service will be held at St Columba’s on Friday 7th March at 2pm. Rest eternal grant unto her and let light perpetual shine upon her.
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 2nd February, Morning Service & Sunday School followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
THIS SUNDAY: St Columba’s Craft Group, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Kirk Session Room
Many of us are knitters and crocheters of varying levels of experience; others are embroiderers spinners and patchworkers, so whatever your interest is you will find a welcome with us. For more details contact Susan Pym or Fiona Lang via the church office.
THIS SUNDAY: Evening Service, 5pm, London Scottish Chapel followed by Coffee and Tea in the Lower Hall.
Worship led by St Columba’s elder and candidate for Church of Scotland ministry, Gary Wallis.
UPCOMING:
Look out for a bumper new issue of the Church Magazine. Available at the Bookstall for £1.50. Why not pick up copies for yourself and one for a friend/neighbour?
NEXT WEEK: Saturday 8th February, Friends of St Columba’s Visit, 11 a.m. Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN.
1) (Tube: Temple, Charing Cross, Embankment), Rendezvous inside the main entrance door. Gallery tickets are £10: Friends and Art Fund go free. A lovely opportunity to see world class art, with the feel of a private gallery: some of the finest 18th century interiors in London, an excellent cadre for treasures of European art from the Renaissance onwards, outstanding collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work. The second-floor galleries are given over to the twentieth century. Not forgetting an excellent café restaurant!
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 9th February, Congregational Prayers Group, 10.15-10.30am, Kirk Session Room
Join others to pray for the continuing life and work of St Columba’s.
UPCOMING: The Friends of St Andrew’s Jerusalem & Tiberias, together with Christian Aid Scotland present Rev Dr Stewart Gillan, Minister of St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church Jerusalem speaking at St Matthew’s Church, Perth, PH1 5LQ on Thursday 13th February at 2.00pm.
Updating on the current situation, the talk can be heard online – see www.friendsofstandrews.com
UPCOMING: Sounds of St Columba’s, Sunday 16th February, 1.30pm, Church
Imperial College Chamber Choir will give a recital “Let My Love Be Heard?” with music by James MacMillan, Gustav Holst, Stephen Paulus. Come for morning service, stay for lunch and enjoy wonderful music.
UPCOMING: The Festival of Silence at St Columba’s, Saturday 5th April 2025.
A day of inviting the public into our beautiful building for a time of quiet activities, amidst the hustle and bustle of the capital city. With a mixture of artistic workshops, music and shared silence, the day offers contemplation, companionship, creativity and fun.
RESTART LIVES needs you!
Can you spare a coat, jumper or an item that will support someone sleeping rough to keep warm this winter?
RESTART has been supporting guests through the festive and winter period to access food, casework and resources they need.
If you would like to donate and support someone through a time which may be especially challenging when sleeping rough, or on the brink of homelessness, then please bring in items to the church office and Stef will pass these onto Olivia and the RESTART team for distribution.
Here are some of the items RESTART would be so grateful to receive for their guests:
- coats – mens/womens
- waterproofs – whether that be a jacket, trousers or some other form of waterproof
- shoes – trainers, walking boots or shoes that are comfy for walking in. These are the sort of shoes guests need
- ‘outdoor camping kit’ – sleeping bags (only new/not used and 4 Season for this) or other items which may have been used for camping and could be handy e.g. bivvy bags, ground mat, tent
- Rucksacks – any useful rucksacks that people can store and carry their belongings in will go down very well
Please note: if people would like to give new/unused items, that is excellent but we do not necessarily expect this. If giving donated items, we must ask that they are clean, fully washed, in good condition and in adult sizes only. RESTART can’t unfortunately cover laundry expenses but would not be able to give an item away which isn’t in clean, washed, fresh condition to a guest. Thank you for your understanding and kindness with donating. We are truly grateful. Feel free to reach Olivia on olivia@restartlives.org if you have a question or are not sure about a certain item.
Please bring your donation to the Church office between now and Friday 7th February.
Crane Court Gallery: A Symphony of Form & Colour, 3 Crane Court, EC4A 2EJ
This exhibition showcases artists with their hearts rooted in Scotland. It presents work across a range of mediums united not only by a shared heritage and embrace of place but also by a profound commitment to their respective crafts. The exhibition runs from 23rd January to 21st February, Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 6pm.
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: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271