For Sunday 11th June 2023, St Columba’s Day

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Friends,

Earlier this week our elders met in the Lower Hall. For once they were not wrestling with the demands of a Kirk Session agenda but gathering for an evening, strictly social, to welcome our ten newest elders. To aid the “getting to know you” intention, we prepared a “Guess the Elder” Quiz. In advance, a variety of elders had submitted a piece of information about themselves which “no one else would know.” So, the task was to try and identify some of the following:

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For example, the elder who –

Appeared as a contestant on TV’s, “Ready Steady Cook.”
Spent six months working as a waitress in a (slightly dodgy) café in Jerusalem.
Received a community ambassador award from Sir Bruce Forsyth
Played rugby at Murrayfield (not on the winning side.)
Had to hop put of a helicopter in Sierra Leone in high heels.

There was a lot of speculation, some accurate sleuthing, and a great deal of laughter. It was a reminder of the extraordinary variety of life experience that lies in any congregation, when it gathers to worship on a Sunday morning. It reminds us that along with our outward Sunday-selves there are entire hinterlands of diverse lives – sometimes moments of tremendous joy; sometimes burdens or sorrows that weigh heavily. Perhaps the true beauty of a congregation is a willingness to get to know, and be known, by those we worship with. Who knows what amazing things we might discover?

One immediate opportunity is the welcome we give to the Friends of St Columba’s this Sunday. Technically the 9th of June is St Columba’s Day – we mark it on the Sunday nearest. We will celebrate it with the sharing of Holy Communion and afterwards we hold the AGM for the Friends. It is a day worthy of celebration – a great opportunity to be mindful of what this place and congregation means to us. Opportunity also for friendship – and maybe the discovery of surprising things? I hope you can be a part of it.

Angus

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 Holy Communion, 11th June 2023, St Columba’s Day

Hymn 39 God the Lord, the king almighty (Hyfrydol) Psalm 50
Hymn 198 Let us build a house where love can dwell (Two Oaks)
Hymn From Erin’s shores Columba came (Tune, St Columba, CH4 598)
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s, Edinburgh) Psalm 24
Hymn 742 Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days! (Laudate Dominum)

Anthem: Jehovah, Purcell
Musical Interlude: Lead us, Heavenly Father, Wadely
Organ Postlude: Nun danket alle Gott, Karg Elert

Old Testament Reading: Hosea 5:15-6:6
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

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 – Congregational Prayer Group, Sunday 11th June

Come and join us to pray (10.00 – 10.15am) in the London Scottish Chapel. All welcome. (“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’)

St Columba’s Day Holy Communion (11am.)

Those watching online are invited to prepare bread and wine (or equivalent) in advance, and to share that at the appropriate moment in the service.

This Sunday we especially welcome the Friends of St Columba’s. They hold their AGM in the Upper Hall at 12.30pm, following the Communion Service. Their meeting concludes with a Celebration Tea.

June-July Church Magazine Issue

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Many thanks to editor, Susan Pym and her team of contributors for the new issue of the church magazine. A wonderfully vivid front cover for summer and plenty to enjoy inside.

A little bit of St Columba’s history

Last weekend we were sorry to intimate the death of Life Member and Vice President of the Friends of St Columba’s, Mrs Hazel White (27th May 2023.) Hazel celebrated her 100th birthday on 13th April. When Hazel came to London in the early 1940’s, she worshipped in St Columba’s, where she met her husband, the Reverend Laurence OC White. They were married on 15th June 1950 at St Columba’s. The Revd Laurence White was Assistant Minister from November 1947 – June 1951, whilst the Reverend Dr Robin Scott was Minister. Hazel was a member of the Youth Fellowship and a keen participant with Scottish Country Dancing. Hazel and Laurence left St Columba’s in1951 for Melbourne, Australia. He took a charge in Tasmania with the Presbyterian Church of Australia. They returned to the UK in 1966, where they lived in Sussex with their family. (Reverend White died in February 1974.) We thank daughter, Caroline Newton, for the information which she asked to be shared with the congregation.

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[Picture- June 2015, Friends, Laura Taylor (left) and Hazel White (right.)]

Friends of St Columba’s Visit, Friday 23rd June: The Handel and Hendrix Museum.

George Frideric Handel lived at 25 Brook Street from 1723 until his death in 1759. It was here that Handel wrote and rehearsed his greatest works, including his Messiah. In 1968, Jimi Hendrix moved into an adjoining flat at number 23. He entertained, inspired and collaborated with other icons of British 60s rock music. Handel & Hendrix in London present these buildings as an evolving celebration of Handel’s and Hendrix’s lives. Tickets must be purchased in advance so please get in touch with Isobel Carter if you would like to attend. Priority is given to those who are already Friends of St Columba’s but please do get in touch if you would like to join the trips but aren’t a “friend”.

For more detail about all the trips and to book please contact Honorary Secretary of the Friends of St Columba’s, Isobel Carter on isobel@in-carter.com or visit the St Columba’s website here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/friends-of-st-columbas.

NEXT SUNDAY – Sounds of St Columba’s 2023

The fantastic Sounds of St Columba’s series is back for 2023. Please note the dates in your diary, bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start.

18th June 2023 – Emily Sun, in demand international violinist will play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. (Emily married fellow musician Jonathan Radford at St Columba’s last year.)
16th July 2023- Ashley Fripp, Piano recital
17th September 2023- Richard Phillips, Cello Recital

Congregational Sunday Lunch

Future dates for lunches are 18th June & 2nd July in the Lower Hall. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall. These Hospitality Services are much valued in supporting Fellowship. A big thank you Hazel Forbes and her lunch team for a terrific “Sundaes & Serenades” congregational lunch. Lunchers dined to the sound of Ben Lewis-Smith tickling the ivories, while rounding off with ice-cream treats. What’s not to like?! Thank you t all who made it a memorable Sunday.

Families’ Communion & Congregational Picnic, Sunday 25th June

We mark the end of the Sunday School year on Sunday 25th June with a Families Communion Service (11am) where our young people assist with the communion. That is followed by the Congregational Picnic in Hyde Park. Sunday School volunteers and young people then take a break until Sunday School restarts in September.

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: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271

To sign up and receive the weekly newsletter detailing future events, contact the church office or go to www.stcolumbas.org.uk (News Section.) Paper copies of this week’s newsletter are available at the bookstall.

If you require this information in a different format please contact the Church Office.

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REFLECTION & POINTS FOR PRAYER

Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group for Sunday 11th June, St Columba’s Day

Your Hotline to God

Communication is vital to all relationships. Setting aside time to build and nurture communication is essential. Jesus has given you a ‘hotline’ to God, but it is not just for emergency use… it is to be used all the time.

Scripture: Psalm 37: 1-9

Do not fret because of those who are evil
Or be envious of those who do wrong;

For like the grass they will soon wither,
Like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,
And he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
Trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
Your vindication like a noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord
And wait patiently for him;
Do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
When they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
Do not fret…it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
But those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Reflection

Letting God give you things is so much better than trying to get them for yourself; the psalmist, David, says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

He promises:

Faith in the midst of your fears. Faith is trust. It is the opposite of fear and panic.

Guidance in your decisions. This is the key to guidance: bring the decision to God in prayer, ask him to act and trust in him.

Peace in your heart. Set aside time: “To be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

Your hotline to God involves a two-way communication. It involves speaking to God and listening to his words. Prayer and action also go hand in hand. Even when you cannot help physically, you can always pray, and God acts in response to your prayers.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you have given me a hotline to you so I can pray with expectation. Help me, like Jesus, to seek solitude with you, to withdraw to lonely places, pray and hear your words. Help me to seek you daily, to wait patiently for you and to listen to your instructions.

Scripture: The parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18: 1-30)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” For some time he refused. But finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!”

Reflection

Jesus says that if an unjust judge will listen to a widow’s plea, how much more will God listen to those who ‘cry out to him day and night?’ God was teaching his disciples, and us, to ‘always pray and not to give up.’ You can talk to God not just in church or in set times of prayer, but anywhere and at any time.

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Charles Spurgeon