Friends,
With recent days characterised by military anniversary and continued electioneering, the voice and perspective of one Normandy veteran has come to mind. Sydney Jary MC, aged 20, served as a platoon commander with the Somerset Light Infantry, leading his soldiers from Normandy to Germany, between 1944-45. Years after the war, his book, Eighteen Platoon, recounted the ground level experiences of a junior infantry officer.
It became a set text, for the training of future officers at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. It speaks with hard earned authority, conveying principles of leadership, based on professional skill, but also, upon respect, care and compassion for those under command. Sydney always maintained that his men were “ordinary people called to extraordinary times.”
One telling incident concerned Private Raven. Before the war he was a clerk. Temperamentally not a warrior; yet he had served and survived from Normandy through to Holland. The toll was heavy and what reserves of courage and endurance he had, were all but gone. One evening while the platoon were in the damp and dangerous Hoven Woods, Raven came to his platoon commander. He explained that he was frightened, and he asked permission to report sick in the morning. Essentially, he was asking Sydney if he might be excused; to leave the platoon; to sit out the rest of the war. The platoon commander’s response? Sydney just told him that if he must report sick in the morning, then he should do so, but that they should speak together before he went. Raven didn’t come to him in the morning; he didn’t report sick. The matter was never raised again. Raven soldiered on to the end of the war Sydney refers to Raven as “the bravest of the brave.”
In 2003, shortly before the Allied invasion of Iraq, Sydney wrote: “Little that happens in life or is said in life is really important; political rhetoric and media hype particularly. The fundamental and really important matters are all relative, and connected with love, truth and beauty.” (Sydney Jary MC)
Angus
Live Streaming of Worship
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 phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Morning Worship Sunday, 16th June 2024, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 56 How good it is to thank you, Lord (St Fulbert)
Hymn 229 We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflugen)
Hymn 343 The reign of God, like farmer’s field (Land of Rest)
Hymn 252 As a fire is meant for burning (Beach Spring)
Anthem: Introit by Duruflé
Musical Interlude: Kyrie by Duruflé
Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24
New Testament Reading: II Corinthians 5:6-17
Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34
Reader: David Kerr
Revd William McLaren, our Associate Minister is guest preacher at Amersham United Reform Church this Sunday.
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.
Church members
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s members Elizabeth (Betty) Watson and Patricia Ross. The funeral service for Betty will take place at 2pm on Tuesday 2nd July 2024. Please keep their loved ones in your prayers. “Rest eternal grant unto them and let light perpetual shine upon them.”
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
THIS SUNDAY: Teens and families get together & LEGO Club
Join us on Sunday 16 June from 10:30 in the Upper Hall for tea, coffee and pastries before the morning service. During morning service put your skills to the test to create and construct a mini masterpiece entirely out of LEGO. Look forward to seeing you there.
THIS SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals, Sunday 16th June 2024, 1.30pm, Upper Hall, Emily Sun and Dina Duisen
Emily Sun is an international violin soloist, performing with orchestras around the world, and has performed at Buckingham Palace for King Charles III. Upcoming concerts include with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She is a violin professor at the Royal College of Music. Kazahk British pianist Dina Duisen has performed at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, St Martin-in-the Fields, King’s Place, Cadogan Hall and The Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall. She has been the resident class pianist at the IMS Prussia Cove and is currently working at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music as collaborative pianist. Program: Mendelssohn: Violin Sonata in F major MWV Q26 & Barber: Violin Concerto Op. 14
St Columba’s Day Celebrations
We were delighted to welcome (see photo) Arthur King, Carlos Martinez, Ruaraidh Drummond, Hannah Crawford and Patterson Gough as new members of the congregation last Sunday. Ruaraidh and Carlos will get married at St Columba’s on Saturday 22nd June, at 1.30pm and warmly welcome members of the congregation to attend, if they would like to do so. Thank you to our elders for preparing and serving communion on St Columba’s Day. There is a lot involved to achieve it, but it is much appreciated. And well done to the Friends of St Columba’s who convened for their AGM and Celebration Tea. All round a very happy Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers, Wednesday 19th June, 1pm, London Scottish Chapel
Church Magazine, June – July 2024 Now available via the Bookstall for £1.50.
Pick up a copy with its stunning front cover, from the bookstall. Then pick up another to give to a friend! Thanks once again to our Editor, Susan Pym and her team of contributors.
UPCOMING: Summer Tuesdays
Tuesday 25th June sees the start of the Summer Tuesdays season of Scottish Country Dancing in the Lower Hall. Each week, until the 10th September, there is dancing to a live band with all the profits going to the Church. Summer Tuesdays have been running for over 50 years, and the opportunity to dance each week to live music from a top band attracts dancers from all over the South. The dances are not suitable for beginners, as to ensure a fast-paced evening, there are only very limited recaps and few walkthroughs. However, if you have some dancing experience you will find plenty to enjoy. Full details, including links to cribs and videos of the dances, can be found on the Summer Tuesdays website: www.summertuesdays.org
UPCOMING: Sunday 30th June, Families’ Communion & Congregational Picnic in Hyde Park.
A day to celebrate our young people offer our thanks to Sunday School adult volunteers, as well fresh air and fun to mark the end of the Sunday School year.
UPCOMING: Songs of Praise – Choose your favourite hymns!
Our last evening service before the summer is on Sunday 7th July (5pm.) It is our annual Songs of Praise, based on congregational choices. You can make a recommendation via the sign up board outside the sanctuary or make a recommendation and explain a little of why that hymn is special via email to William at associateminister@stcolumbas.org.uk All recommendations by Sunday 30th June.
UPCOMING: Book Club, Monday 22nd July, 6.30pm
The Book Club met on 3 June to discuss Frederick Backman’s Anxious People. There were mixed views about the book and some confusion but it generated a lot of discussion. Our next choice is The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd, son of Scottish missionaries in Japan. The novel is set in the first half of the 20th century in China and Japan and we shall meet to discuss it on 22 July by Zoom. After that we plan to read A Single Thread by Tracey Chevalier. New members to the book club are welcome, for more information please contact the church office.
Sounds of the Western Isles
Kenneth Steven began writing and sending out podcasts at the beginning of this year (he’s written and presented many essays and features for BBC Radio over the years). The podcasts are intended to be offering some inspiration at what feels a dark time: they’re inspired by his passion for the Celtic Christian path and Iona, and by his passion too for the wild world and its conservation. Kenneth is sending out a podcast each month and an occasional extra poetry podcast to those who sign up to the series. Please think of joining!
The link: https://www.patreon.com/ImaginingThings
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