It is ten years since Dunblane’s finest, Andy Murray won the Wimbledon men’s tennis championship. Prior to that triumph in 2013 his tournament record in SW19 was: 2008, quarter final; 2009, 2010 & 2011, semi-final; 2012, runner up. On the Sunday morning of the final in 2012 I recall a church member telling us that his mother had told him he shouldn’t waste time watching the final, as “Murray will never win!” On that occasion, her low expectations were met. Happily, a year later, Murray defied the odds and clinched the title. It took a long time, was seemingly beyond his grasp, but it did come.
Earlier this week former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries spoke about his first visit to Palestine’s West Bank in 1962. It was difficult then; it appears to be worse now, as events in Jenin and Tel Aviv testify this week. To the violence there seems no end in sight; no prospect of peace. However, the Bishop reflected that 1962 was also the era of the Cold War. There was no hint that within less than three decades the Berlin Wall would come down, as it did in 1989. It was also the period of apartheid, and it was impossible to imagine how that could change without massive bloodshed. Yet, in 1994 Nelson Mandela was peacefully elected.
In a meditation entitled Working for the Kingdom,
sometimes attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero, we are
asked to consider:
It helps, now and then,
to step back and take the long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete,
which is another way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
… … …
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects
far beyond our capabilities.
… … …
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers,
not master builders,
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own. Amen
Vaclav Havel, first President of the Czech Republic (1993-2003) distinguished between hope and optimism. “Hope transcends the world that is immediately experienced and is anchored somewhere beyond the horizons. Hope has the ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out. It is hope above all, which gives us the strength to live and continually try new things.”
May we continue to be a place and community of hope,
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 16th July 2023
Hymn 500 Lord of creation, to you be all praise! (Slane)
Hymn 226 God, whose farm is all creation (Shipston)
Hymn 229 We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflugen)
Hymn 707 Healing river of the Spirit (Joel)
Anthem: My soul, there is a country (Parry)
Musical Interlude: Ave verum (Elgar)
Organ Postlude: Paean (Moore)
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 25:19-34
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
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 WEEK – Sounds of St Columba’s 2023
Sunday 16th July, we welcome pianist Ashley Fripp. British pianist Ashley Fripp has performed extensively as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Australia in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. Highlights include the Carnegie Hall (New York), Musikverein (Vienna), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), the Philharmonie halls of Cologne, Paris, Luxembourg and Warsaw, the Bozar (Brussels), the Royal Festival, Barbican and Wigmore Halls (London), the Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), Palace of Arts (Budapest), the Megaron (Athens), Konzerthaus Dortmund, the Gulbenkian Auditorium (Lisbon) and the Konserthus (Stockholm).
Ashley Fripp studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Ronan O’Hora and with Eliso Virsaladze at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole (Italy). In 2021 he was awarded a doctorate for his research into the piano music of British composer Thomas Adès. Future engagements include his debut at the Mecklenburg Vorpommern Festival (Germany) and a commercial film production of Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 with accompanying concert tours in Germany and the Czech Republic with the Prague International Youth Orchestra.
Please note future dates, bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start. These exceptional recitals are one of the “gems” of current St Columba’s life. Not to be missed.
17th September 2023 – Richard Phillips, Cello Recital
15th October 2023 – Oscar Simms, Baritone
19th November 2023 – The Choir of St Columba’s
THIS WEEK: Congregational Sunday Lunch
This Sunday there will be a fine Sunday lunch served in the Lower Hall. Future dates for lunches are 30th July and 6th & 20th August in the Lower Hall.
Please note the small increase to £4.00 per lunch – still exceptional value for a two-course meal. 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.
St Columba’s Book Group
The St Columba’s Book Group will meet (on Zoom!) on Tuesday 25th July at 7.00pm. The book we will discuss is The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham.
New members are always welcome. Contact the Church Office for the log in details.
Save the Date: Congregational Away Day, Saturday 30th September 2023
We are holding a Congregational Away Day on Saturday 30th September. Led by an outside facilitator it is the opportunity for the congregation to take stock and consider the challenges, possibilities and priorities for the ongoing life and work of our congregation, for the next five to ten years. (In 2034 it will be the 150th Anniversary of the congregation.) The Away Day will actually take place at St Columba’s, but our hope is to hear the thoughts and ideas of as wide a representation of the congregation as possible. Provisional timings 10am – 3pm. More detail will follow in due course.
Save the Date: Safeguarding Training,
Mandatory Safeguarding Training for those who require it will be offered on the following dates:
- Wednesday 20th September 2023, 6.45pm – 9.15pm – online
- Saturday 21st October 2023, 10.00am – 12.30pm – in person. Venue Crown Court Church/St Columba’s Church tbc.
Staff Change
We are sorry to announce that early in the autumn our office manager, Lucy Llewellyn will be leaving us after nine years, to take up a post with Oxford University. We have very mixed feelings: it sounds a really exciting opportunity and because it enables her to work from home regularly it will mean that she can see much more of the family, so we congratulate her wholeheartedly; but at the same time, I know that we will miss her very much indeed. We will make sure that we have an opportunity in September to say proper goodbyes. As Session Clerk, Charlotte Bradford wrote to the elders this week: “It won’t be goodbye, of course: I have great hopes of luring Lucy back for every Quiz Night, Burns Night and all our other festivities. But nevertheless, we are very sad to be losing her.”
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.