Friends
On the western slope of the Mount of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley, sits a small chapel. It is called Dominus Flevit. The name comes from Luke’s Gospel, which contains not one, but two accounts of Jesus’ grief over that seething, sacred metropolis, we know as Jerusalem. According to tradition, it was here that Jesus wept over a city, deaf to his warnings, cold shouldering his outstretched arms.
Inside the chapel, the altar is centred before a high arched window that looks out over the city. Iron grillwork divides the view into sections, so that on a sunny day the effect is that of a stained-glass window. On the front of the altar, is a mosaic medallion; a white hen with a golden halo around her head. Her red comb resembles a crown, and her wings are spread wide to shelter the pale yellow chicks that crowd around her feet. There are seven of them, with black dots for eyes and orange dots for beaks.
The medallion portrays the gospel words we will hear this Sunday; rimmed with red words in Latin: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” The last phrase is set outside the circle, in a pool of red underneath the chicks’ feet: And you were not willing. The gospel, with its maternal hen, lonely for its lost chicks, represents Christ’s unrequited love, the unanswered invitation. A sobering message for this second Sunday in Lent.
Last Sunday we heard about mothers and children, as church member Alasdair McKenzie spoke at morning service to launch this year’s Lent Appeal – highlighting the work of Collaboration à la Santé Publique Burkina Faso (CSPB.) We have another opportunity to hear about the charity, as Alasdair speaks to the zoom coffee morning group on Wednesday the 16th March. Another example of “gathering-in” care is the life-affirming Choir with No Name who will sing at St Columba’s on the afternoon of Sunday 20th March. Choir with No Name are a choir charity for homeless and marginalised people. They rehearse weekly at Pont Street. We anticipate friends and supporters will come to morning worship and stay on for the concert at 1.15pm. Stand by for an exuberant afternoon! So, whether supporting the Lent Appeal financially, or offering welcome and appreciation to visitors and singers, there are moments and opportunities for all of us to embody the spread wings of Christ’s mother hen.
Angus
Worshipping at St Columba’s & COVID Precautions.
While Government guidance has changed and we are still assessing the best and appropriate way forward. This Sunday we continue to recommend mask wearing within the building (unless exempt) and social distancing.
We suggest dressing warmly as we try to keep the sanctuary well ventilated and hand sanitiser will continue to be available throughout the building. In all our arrangements we recognise that people are at various stages on the pandemic journey – our aim is to keep everyone confident and safe.
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 will be on the website. We believe it is really important to continue to live-stream the Morning Service under its current format i.e. for the benefit of those joining worship from afar or those as yet unable to make the journey to Pont Street. 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 will not be live streamed as they will take place 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, 13th March 2022 – 11am
Hymn 22 The Lord’s my light and saving health (Psalm 27) (Bishopthorpe)
Hymn 555 Amazing grace! How sweet the sound (Amazing Grace (New Britain))
Hymn 456 Christ is the world’s true light (Rinkart (Kommt Sellen))
Hymn 577 Christ be beside me (Bunessan)
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18
New Testament Reading: Philippians 3:17- 4:1
Gospel Reading: St. Luke 13: 31-35
Anthem: Miserere Mei (Byrd)
Musical Interlude: Remember not, Lord, our offences (Purcell)
Organ Postlude: Choral Song by Wesley
Church Member
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member and talented artist, Avril Lunn on Wednesday 9th March. Details of her funeral will be given, when known. We keep her nephews, family and friends in our prayers.
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.
Rising Living Costs: Help at Hand
We are aware that with the cost of living and fuel costs rising that some of our community may be struggling financially. If you, or someone you know, are in need of help, please do get in touch with the Church Office or the Ministers. All conversations will be held in the strictest of confidence.
Lent Appeal 2022
Collaboration à la Santé Publique Burkina Faso (CSPB) a small registered French charity http://cspb.cagnes.pagesperso-orange.fr
The CSPB Association is a small French charity created in 2012, providing much needed Family Planning and other related medical services in the Northern Region of Burkina Faso. The charity was created by a French GP, Dr Pierre Leon, who worked and studied in Burkina Faso and saw the need for improving Public Health (especially in Family Planning) in rural parts of the country. There is a massive problem of too many children per family as young women and girls have no access to family planning, contraception. The yearly growth rate is more than double the world average. Burkina Faso is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. Only one in eight find work.
CSPB have a midwife and a nurse specialised in HIV and reproductive health, three birth attendants all of whom work with local rural bush nurses and in villages, running clinics and training. The charity provides information talks on contraceptive implants and follow up appointments for girls/women of child bearing age offering them implants for those wanting them. CSPB organise talks in rural village school and colleges, the charity run ‘the school of husbands’ for men providing them with advice on Family Planning. Awareness campaigns for adolescent girls to help reduce unwanted pregnancies that often result in forced marriages and that can cause girls to stop schooling. The charity’s work is supported by local religious leaders, tribal chiefs and the government.
We look forward to welcoming Alasdair MacKenzie (member of St. Columba’s) to do a brief talk during the service on: Sunday 6th March and Sunday 10th April (Palm Sunday).
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.
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 that it is for the Lent Appeal. Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
Update on Lent Appeal 2020 – 500 Miles charity – www.500miles.co.uk
There is some very good news, Alwin Kawonga who is a bench worker that works for the 500miles charity at the Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi has finally been able to travel to Cambodia to start the practical training side of his diploma course. The money raised by the Lent Appeal 2020 is paying for Alwin’s first year of the diploma course, with some money towards his second year of training. Alwin has been doing online training in Malawi in the meantime as he was unable to travel due to the Covid pandemic and travel restrictions. Alwin has passed everything so far. Finally, on 2nd March with travel restrictions lifted, Alwin arrived in Phom Penh and will be undertaking his training at the Cambodia School of Prosthetics and Orthotics for an internationally recognised diploma. To have Alwin trained to diploma standard will benefit so many amputees, providing them with prosthetic limbs and orthoses (supports for limbs) to help them lead full lives, get them mobile and on the move again, life changing. Olivia Giles, a quadruple amputee herself who founded the charity in 2008 and runs the small charity from Edinburgh, will be keeping us informed of Alwin’s progress.
Congregational Sunday Lunch Future Dates
The next lunch dates are 20th March, 3rd April & 17th April 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.
Hospitality – Sunday Lunch Teams
We now have five lunch teams, each led by a Team Leader serving lunches on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month and on the 5th Sunday of any month with 5 Sundays. One lunch team is a bit short handed, whilst a second team is in need of two cashiers. Team members assist in the kitchen, in the laying of tables, or serving lunch. Whatever your skills, we have a place for you. A cashier will be “shown the ropes” by our Hospitality Treasurer. This much valued service contributes greatly to the fellowship at St. Columba’s. If you are interested in finding out more about ways to help please contact me on: 01206 795244 or by e-mail: ben.gourlay41@gmail.com, or via the church office.
Thank you. Ben Gourlay, Convener of Hospitality Committee, February 2022.
Evening Services Future Days
Evening services are held on the first Sunday of the month, at 5pm. Future evening services dates are 3rd April & 1st May. They are held in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel. [Please note they are not live-streamed.]
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
Newcastle 300
Irene Wilkinson, Session Clerk of St Andrew’s, Newcastle, our linked charge writes the following: “As you are all by now aware this is a big year for us as we celebrate 300 years of a Church of Scotland ministry in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Although a Scots Kirk was established 300 years ago, we can actually trace Scottish Presbyterianism in the city back another 200 years. St Andrew’s is now the only remaining legacy of 500 years of Scottish Presbyterian worship in the city.
A committee was set up in 2021 to coordinate celebration plans and I am now able to give you some more information about our proposed celebrations. We will start a six-month programme on Easter Sunday, 17th April, when our morning worship will be led by the minister and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will preach. Over the following months we will have visiting preachers at least once per month who have a past or present connection within St Andrew’s until we end with a service of Thanksgiving and Holy Communion on 16th October.
The committee has focussed on the number 300 in their planning and asks us to individually and jointly, celebrate that number in what we choose to do. So far, we plan to sing hymns for 300 minutes, plant 300 bulbs, collect 300 tins of food for the foodbank. Someone is considering a 300-minute sponsored bike ride and others have thoughts about what they might do ranging from donations of three hundred pounds to three hundred pennies, 300 minutes of prayer or 300 minutes working in the church garden (works out at 1 hour a week for 5 weeks.)
The Craft Group is working hard to produce 300 items and could use a little support. They need 100% cotton fabric, 100% acrylic wool, 80/20 wadding for quilts and other items. If you can help with any of this please ask them so that they can let you know exactly what they need or please make a donation, clearly labelled craft group, via the collection plate or bank. I look forward to sharing this special time with you all
A Service to Celebrate the Life of Shelia Haddon
Many of the congregation will remember Shelia Haddon, former Elder, Property Convenor and Office Administrator at Crown Court Church of Scotland. Sadly Shelia died in June 2020 and there will be a Service to celebrate her life at Crown Court Church on Saturday 19th March at 3pm. Following the service there will a collection for MND Scotland and a reception in the hall.
St Columba’s Book Club
The April book of the St Columba’s Book Club will be “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. We shall be meeting on Monday April 4th at 7pm and welcome new members. The joy of St Columba’s Book Club is it takes place on Zoom so you can do it from the comfort of your own front room.
St Columba’s Coffee Mornings
The St Columba’s Coffee Mornings will return in March! We are looking forward to seeing many faces on the Zoom Screen!
- 16th March 2022- Alasdair MacKenzie (member of St Columba’s) will tell us about this year’s Lent Appeal charity Collaboration Santé Publique Burkina Faso (http://cspb.cagnes.pagesperso-orange.fr/)
- 20th April 2022- The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Lord Wallace of Tankerness will join us to talk about his moderatorial year.
- 11th May 2022- TBC
- 14th September 2022- Revd Scott Rennie the new Minister at Crown Court will be joining us. An opportunity to meet him and hear about his time in the ministry.
- 13th October 2022- In prisons week, Jake Tily, Creative Programmes Director at the Irene Taylor Trust will talk to us about The Lullaby Project where they have collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra to write lullaby’s for prisoners children.
Sounds of St Columba’s
On the 20th March, The Choir with No Name will join us for a concert also to be held in the Sanctuary from 1.15pm. The Choir with No Name now rehearse weekly at St Columba’s and you can find more details on them here
https://www.choirwithnoname.org/
Reflection & Points For Prayer
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
St. Columba’s, Pont Street, & St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.
Sunday 13th March 2022, Second Sunday of Lent
Introduction
“Lent is a sacred treasure hunt.” In this season we do not give up something up for the sake of giving something up – but to make room for something wonderful. This Lent we use a mixture of scripture & poetry to lead us into silent prayer. The scriptures reflect those selected by the Revised Common Lectionary, which we use at Morning Service. Once the silence begins let yourself be drawn to a particular verse, or even just a single word. Try to savour that.
“Above all do not spend the whole time of prayer talking yourself. Bring the needs of the world, and the problems of your life, before God; then leave them with Him and wait for a while in silence not only from speech, but as far as possible from thought, just desiring with all your force that in these things God’s will may be done, and resting in the quiet assurance of His love and power. There is no limit to what God will do by means of us If we train ourselves to trust Him enough.” Archbishop William Temple (1881-1944)
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, let the words of this week fall silent:
kind words – that have encouraged us;
cruel words – that have corroded us;
pointless words – that have emptied us;
powerful words – that have uplifted us.
Into speechless time and gentle silence,
let your unspoken words
of kindness and rest
enfold us in blessing,
and with us,
this word-weary world.
Word of Life,
we pray that in this stillness,
new strength may come
and sentences of love be formed
to fill the day that is to come. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 27:1-4
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes– they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
Poem: The Avowal, Denise Levertov (1923–1997)
As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
free fall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
Prayer Points
- Pray: For time and space in Lent for Christians to remember the sacrifices Jesus makes on his journey towards the cross; and to contemplate how our own actions can better reflect his way.
- Pray: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13:34
- Pray: For peace in places of conflict and violence (those known via the news & those overlooked or forgotten.)
- Pray: For those continuing to face the demands of the COVID pandemic – medical staff, carers, researchers, mental health services; the sick, the isolated, the dying, the bereaved.
- Pray: A thanksgiving for all that has been good in the past week.
- Pray: For any particular concerns or hopes for the week ahead.
- Pray: A time of listening silence – “just desiring with all your force that in these things God’s will may be done, and resting in the quiet assurance of His love and power.”
- Pray: The Collect for Second Sunday of Lent:
Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy
but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory
before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we,
walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other
than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen - Pray: The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Word of Life, heal, forgive, comfort, bless.
Be still, be glad, and be at peace. Amen.