Friends,
Reverend Tom Gordon writing for this Holy Week (https://swallowsnestnet.wordpress.com/) reminisced about his student days. His sports team won an inter-university trophy. In celebration, the cup was filled with whisky several times and passed around (pre-Covid days) before the coach journey home. Between pub and bus, the team member carrying the silverware jumped on a bike, disappearing down an alleyway, “weaving dangerously and swinging the cup like a madman.” There followed shortly an almighty, cartoon-style, crash as trashcans, bike and human had an unsurprising coming-together. Undeterred, the lad soon reappeared bleeding and bruised, but waving the trophy triumphantly and shouting, “It’s OK guys. The cup is fine!”
Decades on, the now retired minister reflected on those words: “The cup is fine!” Despite its guardians being the worse-for-wear and messing up the responsibility they’d had, the precious cup made it home. Going on to say:
“Through Holy Week, we carry a precious trophy that’s been committed to our care, the glory of the Easter Gospel. But we may be so over-familiar with it that we don’t carry it as carefully as we should. We may feel we’re too busy, or too wayward, or too unconcerned, to do justice to our task. Our human failings may put it in danger. We may mess up the responsibility we’ve been given. There might even be the occasional crash along the way. But here’s the truth: the precious trophy will come safely home. Despite the errors of our ways, “The cup is safe!”
Despite all that might weigh us down this Holy Week: mistakes we’ll make; inadequacies that will threaten to spoil things; possible disasters or crashes; let’s remember that every Eastertide, despite our human failings, what is most precious in our lives of faith will be brought safely home.”
Tom’s blog ends with the prayer:
How precious is your Love!
How inadequate we are as guardians of it.
Yet how sure we remain in the victory won for us
and the Gospel we can cherish. Amen
Wishing you prayerful days in Holy Week and a joyful Easter when it dawns, especially those in Newcastle, celebrating 300 years of the Kirk in the Toon!
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, Easter Sunday – 17th April 2022
Hymn 419 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son (Maccabaeus) Hymn 416 Christ is alive! (Old Clarendonian)
Hymn 19 Ye gates, lift up your heads, on high (St. Georges ((Edinburgh)) Hymn 436 Christ triumphant, ever reigning (Guiting Power)
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65: 17 – 25
New Testament Reading: Acts 10: 34 – 43
Gospel Reading: John 20:1-18
Introit- Jesu the very thought of thee, Bairstow
Anthem- I was glad, Parry
Anthem- Blessed be the God and Father, Wesley
Postlude- Hallelujah Chorus
Holy Week Worship at St Columba’s
Thurs 14th April, 8p.m. Maundy Thursday Holy Communion
Fri 15th April, 11a.m. Words & Music for Good Friday
Sat 16th April, 12 noon Short act of worship (via website)
Sun 17th April, 11.00 a.m. Easter Morning Holy Communion
(The Minister leads worship at St Andrew’s, Newcastle on Easter morning. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will preach, marking the celebrations for 300 years of Church of Scotland presence and worship in Newcastle.)
50 Days of Prayer
Those attending Holy Week (and subsequent) services in person will be offered a copy of the newly published 50 Days of Prayer: Easter to Pentecost 2022. It is a beautifully produced volume created by St Columba’s member, Revd Andrew Anderson. For each day between Easter and Pentecost, Andrew provides a verse of scripture, a short meditation and a prayer. Originally inspired by his idea of prayers for busy people, it is a wonderful contribution towards the life of the congregations in London and Newcastle. For those currently unable to attend services in person, please request a copy via the church office.
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
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
On Easter Sunday, 17th April there will be a fine congregational Sunday lunch served in the Lower Hall after the service. Future lunch dates are the 1st May & 15th May 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.
Evening Services Future Days
Evening services are held on the first Sunday of the month, at 5pm. Future evening services dates are 1st May & 5th June. They are held in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel. [Please note they are not live-streamed.]
Office Hours – Holiday Closures
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
The Church Office will be closed on the 15th April to the 18th April inclusive.
St Columba’s Book Club
The May book of the St Columba’s Book Club will be “O Caledonia” by Elspeth Barker. It is a coming of age novel set in a draughty crumbling castle in the wilds of Northern Scotland and has great reviews. We shall be meeting on Monday 30th May at a new time of 6.30 pm 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 returned in March! We are looking forward to seeing many faces on the Zoom Screen!
- 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- Speaker from Christian Aid tbc – for Christian Aid Week ∙
- 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 lullabies for prisoners’ children.
Friends’ Trip
There are a number of trips planned by the Friends of St Columba’s. You don’t need to be a “friend” to attend, they are open to anyone. For more details please email secfriendsofstcolumbas@gmail.com. Dates below;
- Sunday April 24– Chelsea Physic Garden. (www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk) 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HS
- Saturday May 14– Explore the City of London: 2,000 Years of ceaseless Growth and Change
- Friday June 3 at 11 a.m- Visit to Fenton House Hampstead.
- September 23-25/26 September– Visit to Dumfries area led by Hugh Pym