Under the watchful gaze of former ministers, the production line for Mothering Sunday daffodils was in full swing last weekend.
Friends,
I wandered lonely as a cloud, is perhaps one of English poetry’s most famous first lines; starting point for William Wordsworth’s recollection of stumbling upon a wondrous sight by the lake shore.
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
… … …
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
… … …
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
We have had both daffodils and dancing at St Columba’s in recent days. A hugely enjoyable, inaugural Scots in London Ceilidh on Saturday night, bringing together a wide variety of people and ages, some familiar with St Columba’s, many here for the first time. Then on Sunday as the photo caption above explains, presentation of daffodils to the women of the parish, in honour of Mothering Sunday.
Wordsworth’s poem concludes with the realisation that the sight of those flowers not only exhilarated him at the time, but that calling them to mind later, offered continued/continuing blessing.
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
Whether in the moment, or in mind’s eye – may there be much that is good to gaze upon, and give thanks for, in a St Columba’s week;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Angus
Live Streaming of Worship
We apologise for recent difficulties with our Livestream. The recent upgrade of the sound and livestream system has offered substantial improvements but also unleashed a few gremlins. Thanks to feedback from livestream participants and the perseverance of the sound team we believe the way ahead should run smoothly. We appreciate your patience in these matters. Happy listening. Onwards and upwards!
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 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
Sunday 10th March 2024, 11am, Fourth Sunday of Lent
Hymn 39 God the Lord, the King Almighty (Hyfrydol)
Hymn 386 Lifted high on your cross (Pulling Bracken)
Hymn 557 O Love that wilt not let me go (St Margaret)
Hymn 514 Onward! Christian soldiers (St Gertrude)
Anthem: Ave verum, Peeters
Musical Interlude: A litany, Walton
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 51:1-12
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10
Gospel Reading: Gospel Reading: John 12:20-33
Reader: Rosa Somerville
Associate Minister, Revd William McLaren leads worship at our linked charge, St Andrew’s, Newcastle 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.
Holy Week Services, Easter Communion & Hospitality
24th March 11.00am Morning Service for Palm Sunday & Reading of the Passion
28th March 8.00pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion – Light supper in Upper Hall from 7pm
29th March 11.00am Service for Good Friday – Hot cross buns & refreshments in Library to follow.
31st March 11.00am Easter Morning Holy Communion
Note: All Holy Week Services will be livestreamed, except Maundy Thursday. On Maundy Thursday we are offering a light supper (sandwiches etc) in the Library from 7pm – a chance to meet with others before sharing communion at the 8pm Communion Service. For catering purposes please let the Office know if you wish to attend the pre-service hospitality. After the Good Friday Service (11am) there will be hot cross buns and tea/coffee in the Library. We will also anticipate the arrival of the 8th Paisley Boys Brigade Troop on Good Friday morning, as they arrive for an Easter weekend in London, based at Pont Street. Sunday School is not meeting on Easter Sunday, but there will be craft activities provided for younger children in the South Africa Chapel under parental/adult supervision. Congregational Lunch follows the communion service.
In recent times, responding to the pandemic, we have distributed communion by inviting the congregation forward to receive the bread and wine. In January we trialled serving the elements (bread and wine) to the congregation seated in the pews – similar to our pre-pandemic procedure but using the small communion glasses. To facilitate the elders bringing the elements to the pews we asked worshippers to sit in alternate pews only. On Easter Sunday we will celebrate communion in the same way. You may therefore be asked to sit one row in front/ behind your normal pew to accommodate the arrangements.
The pews will be carefully labelled on the day to avoidconfusion. As our communion arrangements continue to evolve, we would welcome your feedback. Please let the ministers and/or elders know your views.
Easter Lilies
The Flower Guild would like to offer the opportunity for you to remember a loved one this Easter. You can purchase one or more lilies costing £4 each which will then be used to decorate the church on Easter Sunday. There will be a list of the names of those remembered in the Church on Easter Sunday. Please put cash or cheques in an envelope clearly marked with the name of the person you wish to remember and hand it in to the office or give it to Liz Maliphant, Patricia Clarke or Kate Payne. You can do this anytime up to Sunday 24 March.
Lent Appeal 2024 – Firefly International www.fireflyinternational.org
Our chosen charity for the Lent Appeal this year is Firefly International, a small Scottish registered charity that provides help overseas for children affected by war. The charity works in a few countries, but for the Lent Appeal we are focussing on its work in Brcko, Bosnia, with the charity’s partner organisation Svitac. The population in Brcko is a mix of Serb, Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croat. The charity was created in 1995 by Ellie Maxwell, while a student, to help children affected by war. Sadly, Ellie died young but her work carries on through the charity. In the aftermath of war and conflict there is such a need to build relationships and reconciliation between all faiths and different ethic groups. The children and young people in Brcko, are really benefiting from Firefly / Svitac and it is having such a positive impact there. Funding is required to keep this project going. Lent Appeal donations will certainly play their part in that. Firefly / Svitac provide a safe location for children and young people to meet, they run the only inter-ethnic kindergarten in Brcko and provide after school clubs, music/band, art, workshops, IT, filming. Two summer camps are organised for children of different age groups. These fantastic opportunities bring together children and young people of all faiths and from various ethnic groups, giving them the chance to build friendships, trust and learn to live together in peace and mutual respect for each other.
Please click on the links below, to watch brief video clips from the children and young people involved with Firefly / Svitac in Brcko, Bosnia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHCX4j8umbE&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxXeRF_YmM&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKQ-L1l7_hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Kpr-2rN-Y
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 and in the pews, as from Sunday 18th Feb. until Easter.
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 attached to cheque indicating it is for the Lent Appeal. Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
If you would like to make a card donation, please go into the Church Office.
With your donations we can help children affected by war to build a better future together, thank you. Mission Committee.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch, Lower Hall – £4 per person
Thank you to our team of volunteers. As we are a “gathered” congregation, being able to have lunch, or coffee after the Morning Service, is important for fellowship. We really do need a few Volunteers for the lunch teams when we cater for lunches on the 1st and 3rd Sundays every month – this means being part of a team six times a year and could be helping in the kitchen, laying tables, serving and clearing tables. We also serve lunch on 5th Sundays (four times a year). If available please contact Ben Gourlay at ben.gourlay41@gmail.com or on 01206 795244, or via the church office. Thank you, Ben Gourlay, Convenor of Hospitality Committee.
Future dates for Congregational Lunch are 31st March and 7th April 2024.
THIS SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s Recital, Sunday 17th March, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Join us for a classical guitar recital by Axel Krogness (https://www.axelkrogness.com/) who will be playing original tracks.
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers for Lent,
Wednesday 20th and 27th March, 1.00 – 1.20pm, London Scottish Chapel.
UPCOMING: Craft Group
This month’s Craft group will be held on Wednesday 20th March from 2pm to 4pm in the Session Room. This is a great opportunity to pick up tips and new techniques from our talented and experienced members. All welcome. For further information please contact Fiona Lang or Susan Pym through the church office.
NEXT WEEK: Saturday 23rd March, Friends of St Columba’s Visit
Museum of London, Docklands, Canary Wharf, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL. Free entry, Rendezvous just inside the entrance at 10.30am on Saturday 23rd
March followed by lunch in the Museum café or in a local pub.
Contact Isobel Carter for more information on isobel@in-carter.com
UPCOMING – Curry Night
Join us for our Curry Night on Friday 12th April from 7pm in the Upper Hall. £7.50 for a three-course meal and bring your own bottle. Tickets will be on sale before and after 11am service on Sunday or you can also contact office@stcolumbas.org.uk. Guest speaker Nadia Dallsingh will give a talk on ‘The impact on the pandemic on mental health services’.
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