Friends,
This week Revd David Donald Scott, who preached at St Columba’s in November, having packed away the seasonal decorations, made his annual analysis of Christmas cards received (See https://daviddonaldscott.blogspot.com/)
He writes: “Once again, the balance between sacred and secular was not disturbed but it is narrowing – 54% to 46%. Shepherds and Kings were equally matched this year. The full nativity was top of the pops. Fifteen per cent of the religious cards were doves celebrating our almost universal longing for peace. Removing cards with doves, churches and words of Scripture and carols, there were fewer cards celebrating the Nativity than secular cards.
The largest section in the secular cards was ‘Wildlife’. This included two robins, but they also appeared in four other cards. The other animals celebrated this Christmas included the polar bear, the penguin, the fox, the kingfisher, the pheasant and the cardinal. The latter is the state bird for North Carolina! Most of the customs featured on the cards were evergreens like holly and ivy. We had no ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ and no carol-singers. There was only one candle, two wintry scenes and no stars. Strangely, we had three cards celebrating the work of the RNLI and several featuring CrossReach, the social work arm of the Kirk.
David’s musings remind us of the late poet U.A Fanthorpe’s poem, “Christmas in Envelopes.” (Fanthorpe and her partner created an annual homemade card with Christmas poem, sent to friends and loved ones.)
Monks are at it again, quaffing, carousing;
And stage-coaches, cantering straight out of Merrie England,
In a flurry of whips and fetlocks, sacks and Santas.
Raphael has been roped in, and Botticelli;
Experts predict a vintage year for virgins.
From the theologically challenged, Richmond Bridge,
Giverny, a lugger by moonlight, doves. Ours
Costs less than these in money, more in time;
Like them, is hopelessly irrelevant,
But brings, like them, the essential message
Love.
David noted most of his cards supported assorted charities. One used ‘responsibly sourced paper’ and ‘vegetable-based ink’. Oxfam gave an instruction about reusing the card. ‘Cut out gift tags or send the front page as postcard to a friend.’ He concluded: “I think I am going to cut up each of my cards into five bits and send them off to friends next year as Christmas jigsaws! What fun!”
Keep it creative!
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 Morning Worship, 14th January 2024,
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Hymn 96 You are before me God you are behind (Sursum Corda)
Hymn 608 Spirit of truth and grace (Down Ampney)
Hymn 268 O God of Bethel! By whose hand (Salzburg)
Hymn 251 I the Lord of sea and sky (Here I am Lord)
Anthem: Lo star-led chiefs, Crotch
Musical Interlude: There is no rose, Joubert
Old Testament Reading: I Samuel 3:1-20
Gospel Reading: John 1:43-51
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 Time, Sunday, 14th January 2024
Kirk Session Room, 10.15-10.30am
Come and join us for 15 minutes to pray for our church, our community, our nation and our world. Everyone is welcome and our prayers, both spoken and silent do make a difference. Pray peace over all who come in and out of St Columba’s and an understanding that God’s desire is “to prosper and not to harm; to provide a hope and future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Pray that as we pray, we would remember that He is good and is worthy to be praised! See you there! (Congregational Prayer Group)
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday School, 11am, Sunday 21st January
NEXT SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch, Sunday 21st January
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.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s: Organ Recital, Catherine Olver in the Church, 1.30pm, Sunday 21st January
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.
UPCOMING: Burns Supper 2024
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.
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:
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: 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
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
Congregational Prayer Resources:
“Lean not on your own understanding.”
There are times in all our lives when our faith is tested; life could overwhelm us but for the fact that the Maker of heaven and earth is on our side. David is one of the most tried and tested figures in the bible and like David, we are to remain faithful to God, trusting in Him.
Psalm 95
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
And extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
The great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
And the mountains
Peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
And his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
For he is our God
And we are the people of his pasture,
The flock under his care.
John Paton (1824-1907), a Scot, travelled to the New Hebrides determined to tell the tribal people about Jesus but he struggled to find the right word for ‘faith’. One day, when his indigenous servant came in, Paton raised both feet off the floor, sat back in his chair and asked, “what am I doing now?” In reply the servant used a word that means “to lean your whole weight upon.” This became the expression that Paton used. Faith is leaning your whole weight upon Jesus.
“Always be joyful and never stop praying.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) At the start of this new year, may we never stop praying even when we’re weary, disappointed or disillusioned. Paul writes “the first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. (I Timothy 2: 1)
Prayer for the Year Ahead:
Lord, I bring to you today all our fears, anxieties and challenges that lie ahead of us this year. We put our trust in you. We lean our whole weight on you. Thank you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Final Thought
“We do not become less needy, less dependent when we pray; we become more needy, more dependent, which is to say, more human.” (Eugene Peterson)
[Thank you to Congregational Prayer Group for this week’s prayers and commentary. Reminder: Congregational Prayer Time this Sunday (14th January) 10.15-10.30am, Kirk Session Room. All welcome.]