Friends,
Time is transfigured, opened out
and ample,
It touches on eternity. I stay
Awhile within this quiet church: its simple
Furnishings, and storied windows say
More to me of heaven than the pale
Abstractions of theology. A day
Spent in an empty church has been as full
Of goodness as an age elsewhere. I feel
Its peace refresh me like a holy well.
Malcolm Guite, from David’s Crown: Sounding the Psalms
Almost two years after the idea was suggested, the Festival of Silence takes place at St Columba’s this Saturday. It certainly represents a step into the unknown. At its heart is the belief that our beautiful building holds a silence that is precious. As a visitor commented: “The silence is already here. It is up to us if we want to enter it.”
Festival implies something that is celebratory – joyous – even if it is a Festival of Silence. While we hope that the day will be profound, it is definitely not meant to be overly sombre. To that end, the offerings by skilled practitioners in their fields – yoga, sketching, poetry, music, mime and meditation – aim to offer creativity, release, beauty and quiet. And because this is happening at St Columba’s, there is hearty soup and sandwich, with a warm welcome on offer as well. I do hope you might be able to visit the Festival at some point during the day. If not, please keep the enterprise in your prayers.
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 Sunday 19th November 2023. 11.00am
Hymn 76 How can I ever thank the Lord (Jackson, Byzantium)
Hymn 485 Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Repton)
Hymn 668 According to thy gracious word (Ballerma)
Hymn 286 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (Woodlands)
Anthem: Ave Virgo Sanctissima (Guerrero)
Musical Interlude: Verleih uns frieden (Mendelssohn)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
New Testament Reading: I Corinthians 11:17-26
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:
Festival of Silence at St Columba’s, Saturday 18th November 2023
https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/festivalofsilence
The Festival of Silence is the first event of its kind taking place at St Columba’s, inviting the public into our beautiful building for a day of quiet, contemplative and peaceful activities amidst the hustle and bustle of the capital city. Offering a mixture of artistic workshops, music-framed communal silence and prayer, the day offers something for those already familiar with the fascination of silence and those curious to explore new terrain.
From whichever tradition of prayer you come or none, there is an activity for everyone at the Festival of Silence. These include:
Sketching Into Silence: A guided drawing class with London’s oldest sketch club, the Langham Sketch Club and the Royal Drawing School’s Sharon Brindle. Turning Into Silence – Movement to Prayer: Revd. Pauline Steenbergen combines body, breath and mediation in a powerful, accessible yoga session. Speech Without Words: A masterclass in mime with theatre producer and practitioner Rowan Tolley. Profound Simplicity: Internationally renowned Scottish poet, Kenneth Steven, offers a prerecorded soundscape of poems, read and curated by him. Silence In The Sanctuary: With a selection of Scottish nature-influenced compositions, classical saxophonist Jonathan Radford frames periods of intermittent meditative silence.
CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony: Groundbreaking sound installation created by Rainforests of Wales and Environmental Sound Artist, Cheryl Beer. A house of prayer: Opportunity throughout the day to find quiet in the prayerful space of the London Scottish Regimental Chapel, with prayer resources provided by the World Council of Christian Meditation (WCCM).
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-of-silence-at-st-columbas-knightsbridge-tickets-721916962067 The ticket structure for the event allows for an affordable entry ticket and additional purchases for individual activities. £10 Day Ticket: Includes entry to the building, access to live music performances, poetry listening sessions, Rainforest Symphony installation.
Additional cost £20 Sketching Pass: Includes entry to a two-hour sketching session £10 Movement and Mediation pass: Includes entry to an hour-long guided yoga session and equipment £10 Mime Masterclass pass: Includes entry to an hour-long mime masterclass session. Thanks to volunteer caterers, a “quiet” soup and sandwich lunch (£5 payable on the day) will be served between 12.30-1.30pm.
Seeing the Light, Kenneth Steven.
Kenneth is one of the contributors to the Festival of Silence. His latest poetry collection from Canterbury Press is now available. Each copy is £12 with postage. Kenneth is delighted to send cards with personal greetings with signed book copies. A delightful Christmas gift. Details via kenneth.steven@btinternet.com
THIS SUNDAY: Guest Preacher, Sunday 19th November 2023
On Sunday 19th November our guest preacher is Church of Scotland minister, Revd David Donald Scott. David was brought up in Ardrishaig, Argyll and studied Pure Mathematics at St. Andrews and theology at Edinburgh. Between the two degrees, he taught mathematics at Navrongo Secondary School in Northern Ghana for one year as a missionary of the Church of Scotland. He served as Probationer Assistant in Barlanark (Easterhouse), Glasgow. Over four decades he worked as a parish minister in four charges – Forth:St. Paul’s, Lanarkshire, Logie Kirk, Stirling, New Kilpatrick, Bearsden and Traprain, a union of three churches in East Lothian – Prestonkirk (East Linton), Stenton and Whittingehame. He is married to Mary-Catherine. They live in St. Andrews and have two sons and two daughters. Attending the previous day’s Festival of Silence, David will preach on that theme. You can find out more about David via his daily reflections at https://daviddonaldscott.blogspot.com/
THIS SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s Recital, 1.30pm, Lower Hall Choir of St Columba’s: Baroque Masterpieces in Concert & Canvas
This “event” is a collaboration of music and film – marking the final recital of 2023 and the close of the highly anticipated Festival of Silence. Revd David Donald Scott will show the film, “Things that cannot be touched” made by David himself and his musician son. The film beautifully explores the paintings of Vermeer and the theme of silence. On either side of the film the Choir will explore the music of J.S. Bach. Do join us for what will be a unique St Columba’s moment.
There is opportunity to support the Recital series via a retiring collection. The programme will last approximately forty-five minutes. Future date for our wonderful recital series will be: 21st January 2024 – Catherine Olver, Organ Recital (Church).
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch in 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. Future Dates are Sunday 3rd, 17th and 31st December 2023
Evening with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Tuesday 21st November 2023.
This year’s Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Revd Sally Foster-Fulton chairs a discussion on Homelessness, at Crown Court Church of Scotland at 7pm, Tuesday 21st November 2023. This is our opportunity to meet and hear from the Moderator during her London week. Unfortunately, due to scheduling changes the Moderator will not be leading worship at St Columba’s on Sunday 26th November 2023, as previously advertised on the church website and Magazine.
Kirk Session Meeting, Friday 24th November 2023
Kirk Session meets on Friday 24th November at 6.35pm in the Upper Hall, at St Columba’s. As always, non elders are welcome to attend as observers.
Advent Study, “Bethlehem’s Road”
We will read “Bethlehem’s Road” by Ray Simpson, a series of 40 meditations, described as “A journey through Advent” and continuing to Epiphany. We meet on Zoom on Wednesday 6th, 13th and 20th December at 7.15pm, with a final Epiphany meeting on 3rd or 10th January (to be agreed!).We will look at “roadblocks, signposts and glimpses of glory on the journey.”
Ray Simpson is founding guardian of the international Community of St. Hilda and St. Aidan, and may be found at www. raysimpson.org If you are hoping to join us, please notify the office and you will be sent the Zoom link. (Revd William McLaren.)
Advent Appeal 2023 (for Glass Door) Sox and Boxers + www.glassdoor.org.uk
This year we have added some extra items for donations: small pocket size puzzle books (sudoku, crossword etc), pens, reusable water bottles, reusable coffee cups, in addition to our usual request for: boxer shorts, ladies’ pants (all sizes), ladies’ sanitary products, thermal hats, thermal socks (for both men and women), thermal tights, thermal gloves (or very thick ones). Christmas gifts will then be wrapped by Mission Committee for the homeless guests staying overnight at church on Christmas Eve. The remainder of items will help restock supplies with Glass Door for their homeless clients. Collection point for donations will be the Upper Vestibule by the Advent Display Board. Starts from the first Sunday of Advent, 3rd December and each Sunday up until Christmas Day. Thank you in advance for your continuing support. Mission Committee.
Financial Donations (Advent Appeal) www.scotscare.com
As an alternative, you may wish to consider making a financial donation to ScotsCare for their ongoing work. Details for online payments and text donations, please click on this link (or access via the charity’s website). https://scotscare.com/how-to-donate/ Cheques payable to: ScotsCare. Post to ScotsCare, Ground Floor, 22 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AJ.
Christian Aid – Annual Lecture 2023 – Monday 20 November, 7pm at St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Christian Aid will be hosting Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, for the Christian Aid Annual Lecture at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ. The lecture is titled, ‘Here I stand: Women’s Advancement and Role in Tackling Climate Change’. Tickets are free but for security purposes need to be booked here: Christian Aid Annual Lecture 2023 and www.christianaid.org.uk
Friends of St Columba’s at Charles Dickens’ Museum, 25th November 2023
The Friends of St Columba’s have put together a fantastic programme of events for 2023/2024. Next event will be the visit of Charles Dickens’ Museum. All details can be found via the website https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/friends-of-st-columbas and printed programmes are available on the bookstall.
Happy Hour, Wednesday 6th December, 6.30pm, Lower Hall
Our topic, drawing on various examples is ‘whether causing public nuisance is justifiable for the greater public good.’ This is the last planned session for the time being so it would be good to see as many faces, old and new, as possible. Refreshments provided, all welcome.
Burns Supper 2024: Tickets &Volunteers
The Burns Supper will be held on Saturday 27th January 2024. Tickets are on sale from Sunday 12th November after the service or you can also contact the Church office. We are looking for volunteers to come forward to help in the kitchen and serving of food. If you are interested, please contact Church office.
ReStart Sleep Out, Friday 1st December
This year’s ReStart Sleepout at St Columba’s is on Friday 1 December. The charity writes: “The Sleepout is in no way a replication of the harsh experience homeless people face night after night but we do hope it helps to raise some consideration and acknowledgement for what so many in London and across the country cope with and live through.” It also is a crucial fundraiser for RESTART LIVES, and usually helps us generate almost half of their overall income for the year. In 2023, ReStart are proud to continue and expand offering food; a warm friendly space for guests; essential casework, advice & support – and have branched into strong collaborations with the Jobcentre (DWP) and Mind (mental health charity) too! “We want to keep up the work we do and support people into safer, secure places to live.”
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