Friends,
A popular interpretation of the 4 Sundays of Advent runs thus –
1) The people of God waiting for the Messiah
2) The Prophets foretell his coming
3) John the Baptist prepares the way
4) The Virgin Mary
Now it seems to me that in our Reformed tradition Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Christ, is rarely given the place she deserves. This may be an understandable reaction to the excesses of the medieval church which ascribed to her a place to which she never aspired, but the fact remains that without her simple “Yes” to God, the incarnation would not have been possible. Nazareth was a backwater in a remote province of the Roman Empire; the Jewish people said, “Can any good come out of Nazareth?” and the people there lived in caves on the hillside. And yet, it was to a young girl in Nazareth that the Angel Gabriel appeared and foretold the birth of Jesus. Think how scared and confused she must have been! An unmarried mother might well be the object of gossip and scandal in the village but despite everything Mary said, “let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). So, Mary became the first Christian, the first to accept Christ into her heart and into her life.
But as with all of us, accepting Christ was simply the beginning. Mary was present at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and she was present at the foot of the cross on what must have been the worst day of her life – a scene vividly reimagined in Colm Toibin’s novella “The Testament of Mary”. The story of Mary of Nazareth demonstrates how God can use the most unlikely people from the most unlikely places as part of his great plan, all that is required is a simple “Yes”. That is as true today as it was 2000 years ago.
“One day an angel here on this earth
spoke of God’s presence coming to birth.
Mary was listening; humbly her heart
sang at the Word God chose to impart”.
(Alison M. Robertson, CH4 299)
William.
P.S. Don’t forget the service on Christmas day begins at 10.30am (not 11am.)
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. If you experience any issue with livestream on the day, please email livestream@stcolumbas.org.uk (please note that this address will only be monitored on Sundays).
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 Sunday, 22nd December 2024, Fourth Sunday of Advent
Hymn 282 Christmas is coming! (v.1-4) (Advent Ring)
Hymn 314 Child in the manger (Bunessan)
Hymn 286 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (Woodlands)
Hymn 310 See him lying on a bed of straw (Calypso Carol)
Anthem: Coventry Carol – Traditional
Musical Interlude: A Babe is Born – Mathias (1934–1992)
Old Testament Reading: Micah 5: 2-5a
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 10: 5-10
Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 39-55
Reader: Nadia Dallsingh
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.
Christmas Services
| 22nd December 11.00 am: | Morning Service Revd William McLaren |
| 22nd December 5.00pm: | Pont Street Carols by Candlelight Revd Angus MacLeod |
| 24th December 11.15pm: | Watchnight Communion Service* Revd Angus MacLeod |
| 25th December 10.30am: | Christmas Day Family Service & Communion Revd William McLaren |
| 29th December 11.00am: | Morning Service Revd William McLaren |
| 5th January 11.00am: | Morning Service, Sunday School & Baptisms Mr Gary Wallis, elder of St Columba’s |
| 5th January 5.00pm: | Evening Service for Epiphany * Revd Angus MacLeod |
Attend in-person or visit online www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream
(Congregational Lunch, £4, served on 29th December) Services over Christmas at St Columba’s are live-streamed, except Watchnight (11.15pm Tuesday 24th December) & Evening Service, (5pm, Sunday 5th January 2025).
Parking Restrictions in December
During all Sundays in December there is NO PARKING in residents’ parking bays. On Sundays, parking is permitted on single yellow lines and in Pay & Display bays (free).
THIS SUNDAY: QUIET PRAYER FOR ADVENT 10.15 – 10.30am, Kirk Session Room.
Join the congregational prayer group for a short time of quiet prayer with an Advent theme, led by the Minister, to prepare for the coming of the Christmas Christ. All welcome.
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Coffee and Tea in the Upper Hall
THIS SUNDAY: Pont Street Carols, Sunday 22nd December, 5pm
Join us for an evening of Carols at St Columba’s to celebrate our community. Do think about inviting friends to come and enjoy beautiful music, a special atmosphere and a retelling of the Christmas story. Seasonal refreshments afterwards. All welcome.
Advent Appeal 2024 (for Glass Door) Sox and Boxers + other items
During Advent we will be collecting donations for the following items: small pocket size puzzle books (sudoku, crossword etc), pens, reusable water bottles, reusable coffee cups, 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 Sunday 22nd December. The remainder of items will help restock supplies with Glass Door www.glassdoor.org.uk for their homeless clients. Collection point for donations will be the Upper Vestibule by the Advent Appeal Display Board. Starts from the first Sunday of Advent 1st December and each Sunday up until Christmas Day. Thank you for your continuing support. Mission Committee.
ScotsCare – 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://cafdonate.cafonline.org/23231#!/DonationDetails Cheques payable to: ScotsCare. Post to ScotsCare, Ground Floor, 22 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AJ.
UPCOMING: Sunday 19th January, Sounds of St Columba’s, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Operatic Treasures – an assortment of operatic arias and duets
Gulshan Akin – Soprano
Efim Zafalny – Baritone
Rebekka Magomedova – Piano
UPCOMING: “A Not-Quite-the Burns-Supper”, Saturday 25th January 2025.
Not the all-singing, all-dancing Church Burns Supper of regular times, but an enjoyable evening of traditional fayre with some community singing and Burns recitations.
Tickets £15 from Eventbrite only on this link and will include two course Supper (Haggis, Neaps and Tatties followed by Cranachan). Cash bar on the night.
UPCOMING: Tuesday 27th January 2025, 6.30pm
The Book Club met to discuss The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina. It is a novel based on a real phone box in Japan. Although most found the first few chapters rather challenging, the universal view was that it was definitely worth persevering with and a good read. Our next meeting is by Zoom on January 27 when we shall discuss The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. After that we shall read Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel.
Office Hours
Office Hours: The church office will be closed from Tuesday 24th December to Sunday 29th December inclusive.
The church office is open from 9am to 5pm, 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