There are plenty references to dancing in the scriptures. From the Psalmist’s injunction in Psalm 149: “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp”, to King David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant as it was installed in Jerusalem. In the Gospels Jesus alludes to the playful dancing of children and the celebratory dancing at the return of the prodigal son. Not everyone was/is convinced, perhaps mindful of its dangers – think daughter of Herodias’ display, before an immoral king, leading to the death of John the Baptist.
At its best however, dancing can be a wonderful bringing together of folk – life affirming, participatory, inter-generational, communal and fun. This Saturday, St Columba’s is the venue for the first Scots in London Ceilidh. Thanks to the hard work of the planners it is a sellout, with attendees anticipating Pipes & Drums of the London Scottish Regiment, Gaelic Choir, community singing, food, refreshments and plenty of dancing to a live band. It will bring a mixture of ceilidh-goers – some familiar with St Columba’s, others here for the first time. If we question how this fits into the life of our congregation, you might consider recent words of E. Carrington Heath writing in The Christian Century. “Church buildings are more than third spaces i.e. neither home nor workplace. We are not clubhouses or coffeehouses. That said, we are more than just a building so holy that it may only be opened one hour a week. At our best, we are incubators of community that add value and meaning to our neighbourhoods.”
I hope Saturday night’s festivities will be an incubator of community. I hope too It will conclude with a prayer, borrowed from the St Columba’s Dancers: Lord of the Dance: In the making of the music, we praise you. In the joy of the reel, we praise you. In the taking of another’s hand, we praise you. For tunes that call us to the floor, for companions to share the dance, for grace among the sets, we thank you. Guard and guide those who dance at St Columba’s. Keep our welcome warm, our homegoing safe and till we meet again, may the steps we follow, be Yours alone. Amen
As they say on Strictly – Keep on
dancing!
Angus
Live Streaming of Worship
We apologise for recent difficulties with our Livestream. The recent upgrade of the sound and livestream system has offered substantial improvements but also unleashed a few gremlins. Thanks to feedback from livestream participants and the perseverance of the sound team we believe the way ahead should run smoothly. We appreciate your patience in these matters. Happy listening. Onwards and upwards!
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.
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
Sunday 10th March 2024, 11am, Fourth Sunday of Lent
Hymn 71 Give thanks unto the Lord our God (Ellacombe, CH4 247)
Hymn 540 I heard the voice (The Rowan Tree)
Hymn 385 Here hangs a man discarded (Shrub End)
Hymn 512 To God be the glory (To God be the glory)
Anthem: Jesus, the very thought of thee, Bairstow
Musical Interlude: God so loved the world, Chilcott
Old Testament Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
New Testament Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
Gospel Reading: John 3:14-21
Reader: Nadia Dallsingh
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
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.
Lent Appeal 2024 – Firefly International www.fireflyinternational.org
Our chosen charity for the Lent Appeal this year is Firefly International, a small Scottish registered charity that provides help overseas for children affected by war. The charity works in a few countries, but for the Lent Appeal we are focussing on its work in Brcko, Bosnia, with the charity’s partner organisation Svitac. The population in Brcko is a mix of Serb, Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croat. The charity was created in 1995 by Ellie Maxwell, while a student, to help children affected by war. Sadly, Ellie died young but her work carries on through the charity. In the aftermath of war and conflict there is such a need to build relationships and reconciliation between all faiths and different ethic groups. The children and young people in Brcko, are really benefiting from Firefly / Svitac and it is having such a positive impact there. Funding is required to keep this project going. Lent Appeal donations will certainly play their part in that. Firefly / Svitac provide a safe location for children and young people to meet, they run the only inter-ethnic kindergarten in Brcko and provide after school clubs, music/band, art, workshops, IT, filming. Two summer camps are organised for children of different age groups. These fantastic opportunities bring together children and young people of all faiths and from various ethnic groups, giving them the chance to build friendships, trust and learn to live together in peace and mutual respect for each other.
Please click on the links below, to watch brief video clips from the children and young people involved with Firefly / Svitac in Brcko, Bosnia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHCX4j8umbE&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxXeRF_YmM&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKQ-L1l7_hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Kpr-2rN-Y
If you would like to contribute to the Lent Appeal: Gift Aid helps, if you are eligible. If you need to complete a Gift Aid declaration form, please contact the Church Office. Various options to donate: White Lent Appeal envelopes are available in the Upper Vestibule and in the pews, as from Sunday 18th Feb. until Easter.
Alternatively, by electronic bank transfer: 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 attached to cheque indicating it is for the Lent Appeal. Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
If you would like to make a card donation, please go into the Church Office.
With your donations we can help children affected by war to build a better future together, thank you. Mission Committee.
Easter Lilies
The Flower Guild would like to offer the opportunity for you to remember a loved one this Easter. You can purchase one or more lilies costing £4 each which will then be used to decorate the church on Easter Sunday. There will be a list of the names of those remembered in the Church on Easter Sunday. Please put cash or cheques in an envelope clearly marked with the name of the person you wish to remember and hand it in to the office or give it to Liz Maliphant, Patricia Clarke or Kate Payne. You can do this anytime up to Sunday 24 March.
St Columba’s members
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member, Janet Sproule, who died on Sunday 3rd March 2024. We keep her children Alison and James and the wider family in our prayers. Funeral details to be announced in due course. We are also sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member, Margaret Craig. The funeral of St Columba’s member Juliet Fenwick will take place at St Columba’s Church on Friday 22nd March at 12pm. Revd William McLaren will take the service.
Rest eternal grant unto them and let light perpetual shine upon them.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Prayer Group, Sunday 10th March, 10.15 – 10.30am, Kirk Session Room
Join others for a time of prayer for our congregational life and the wider work of the Church of Scotland. All welcome.
THIS WEEK: Scots in London Ceilidh Saturday 9 March 2024, 7pm – 10:30pm:
Scots in London is the umbrella organisation for Scottish cultural societies, sports clubs, alumni groups, charities, congregations and the Scottish military in London. Their mission is to co-ordinate members’ events, promoting Scottish heritage and culture in the London area, and to support relevant charities, as well as running their own events. Prompted by St Columba’s, Scots in London were founded by a dozen London-based Scottish organisations in 2016, to plan and co-ordinate events commemorating Armistice100, which also led to the publishing of the book Scots in Great War London. HRH the Princess Royal has been the Patron from the outset. www.scotsinlondon.org
NEXT: Book Club – Monday 11th March
Our choice for the next meeting on Monday 11 March is The Blackhouse which is the first in the Lewis Trilogy written by Peter May. After that we are thinking about a new novel by Fredrik Backman, Anxious People. For information on joining the group contact the Church Office.
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers for Lent
Wednesday 13th, 20th, 27th March, 1.00 – 1.20pm, London Scottish Chapel.
NEXT WEEK: Bekova Sisters Recital, Thursday 14th March, 7pm, Upper Hall
The duo of sisters Alfia and Eleonora Bekova present an exciting programme of music for cello and piano. Alfia Nakipbekova and Eleonora Bekova are internationally acclaimed soloists, chamber musicians and members of the celebrated Bekova Sisters Trio. Tickets are £22 (including a glass of wine) and you can purchase your on this link here.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s Recital, Sunday 17th March, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Join us for a classical guitar recital by Axel Krogness (https://www.axelkrogness.com/) who will be playing original tracks.
UPCOMING: Craft Group
This month’s Craft group will be held on Wednesday 20th March from 2pm to 4pm in the Session Room. This is a great opportunity to pick up tips and new techniques from our talented and experienced members. All welcome. For further information please contact Fiona Lang or Susan Pym through the church office.
UPCOMING – Curry Night
Join us for our Curry Night on Friday 12th April from 7pm in the Upper Hall. £7.50 for a three-course meal and bring your own bottle. Tickets will be on sale before and after 11am service on Sunday or you can also contact office@stcolumbas.org.uk. Guest speaker Nadia Dallsingh will give a talk on ‘The impact on the pandemic on mental health services’.
HOSPITALITY: Volunteers needed
As we are a “gathered” congregation, being able to have lunch, or coffee after the Morning Service, is important for fellowship. We really do need a few Volunteers for the lunch teams when we cater for lunches on the 1st and 3rd Sundays every month – this means being part of a team six times a year and could be helping in the kitchen, laying tables, serving and clearing tables. We also serve lunch on 5th Sundays (four times a year). If available please contact Ben Gourlay at ben.gourlay41@gmail.com or on 01206 795244, or via the church office. Thank you, Ben Gourlay, Convenor of Hospitality Committee. Future dates for Congregational Lunch are 17th and 31st March 2024
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, 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