Friends,
Last Sunday, Amy Lonsdale, an Activism & Campaigns Support Volunteer for Christian Aid spoke during the Morning Service, to promote the launch of Christian Aid Week. This is part of what she shared:
“This year, our focus lies in being a neighbour. The Bible is filled with stories about being a neighbour. Jesus’ life was the ultimate show of being a neighbour. He lived to serve God’s plans and was a neighbour to so many – tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, women, the poor – all those who were shunned and oppressed by society at the time. One of our key callings as Christians is to live as Jesus did. Our focus of being a neighbour this Christian Aid week highlights women on the frontline of the climate crisis in Zimbabwe who are becoming unable to harvest enough crops to feed their families due to increased frequency and severity of droughts. The kind of women that Jesus was a neighbour to.
One of the ladies we work with in Zimbabwe is called Jessica. Jessica is part of the 70% of Zimbabwean women who rely on their own farm produce and crops to feed their family and earn a living. But Zimbabwe is the second worst hit country in the world for droughts. Erratic and unpredictable rainfall mean that most days now, all she and her children can eat is one bowl of porridge. I don’t have kids myself and probably won’t for a long time, so I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be putting your children to bed each night knowing they’re hungry and you can’t do anything about it.
But because of her children, Jessica has hope. She is a woman of strength and determination. She said ‘my children give me power to go ahead. I pray that they have a better future’.
So, what can we do? We can pray. Pray for God’s provision, for decision makers and those in power to make a change, for God’s blessing and strength into the millions of women like Jessica who are fighting the climate crisis with everything they have.
We can also act. Share Jessica’s story with your friends, family, colleagues, the barista you get your morning coffee from, anyone and everyone. You can also sign the Loss and Damage petition https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/loss-and-damage-petition that we’ve got on our website that calls on the Prime Minister to set up an international fund to financially support women like Jessica be able to deal with the effects of the climate crisis. Loss and damage was mentioned at COP26 in Glasgow last year but not much action has happened since so we’re really pushing it ahead of COP27 in Egypt this year.
And finally, if you’re able to, we’d love it if you could give. Without financial support from our partnering churches and supporters, we wouldn’t be able to help women in Zimbabwe. £5 could help buy water taps for a community garden. £15 could help buy drought resistant seeds like sorghum or millet to help 10 farmers like Jessica grow food. £60 could train 50 women farmers to adapt and grow food in the changing climate. I know that times are really tough at the moment with the cost of living going up so much, but whatever you can give will help families facing poverty and injustice.
To close, I wanted to say thank you on behalf of everyone at Christian Aid, Jessica, and all the women and families we work with across the world. Without your prayers, actions and giving we wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do. Lives really are being changed because of supporters like you, so thank you.”
Following service, there were some joyous scenes in the entrance hall – courtesy of the cake sale on behalf of Christian Aid. To all who organised, baked, supported, and shared – thank you.
This Saturday the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland opens in Edinburgh. The Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland offers this prayer for the General Assembly:
Almighty God, your Son promised his disciples
that he would be with them always.
Hear the prayer we offer for your servants
now to meet in General Assembly.
May your Holy Spirit rest on them:
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
Grant them vision and courage;
unite them in love and peace;
teach them to be trustworthy stewards of your truth.
And so guide them in all their doings
that your kingdom may be advanced,
your people confirmed in their most holy faith,
and your unfailing love declared to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Have a good end to the week
Angus
This Sunday’s Preacher
Revd Duncan Macpherson leads worship on Sunday whilst Angus is at St Andrew’s, Newcastle and William is attending the General Assembly in Edinburgh.
Duncan is a Church of Scotland Minister serving as a Senior Chaplain in the British Army, currently based at Regent’s Park Barracks London.
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, 6th Sunday of Easter
Sunday – 22nd May 2022
Hymn 167 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda)
Hymn 659 Put peace into each other’s hands (Vriede in Handen)
Hymn 706 For the healing of the nations (Triumph)
Hymn 500 Lord of creation, to you be all praise! (Slane)
Choir Anthem – My beloved spake, Hadley
Choir Anthem – Ave verum, Svein Møller
Organ Postlude – Nun danket alle Gott, Karg-Elert
Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 34: 1-12
New Testament Reading I: Revelation 21:10 & 21 – 22:5
New Testament Reading II: Acts 16: 9-15
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.
Evening Service, Sunday 5th June, 5pm
Evening services are held on the first Sunday of the month, at 5pm. Future evening services dates are 5th June and then the 4th September. They are held in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel. [Please note they are not live-streamed.]
St Columba’s Songs of Praise – Choose a hymn!
Our Songs of Praise Evening Service is on Sunday 5th June 2022. It is definitely for those who enjoy a good sing. To suggest a hymn please inform the Church Office of your choice and a brief explanation for your choice, by Friday 20th May 2022, or via flip chart at the sanctuary door. Requests by Monday 23rd June.
Congregational Sunday Lunches, Future Dates
Future lunch dates are the 29th May & 5th June 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.
There will be a very special “street party” lunch on Sunday the 5th of June to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. If you are planning on attending the after service “street party” on the 5th June can you please indicate to the office (office@stcolumbas.org.uk) how many your party will be so we can ensure all are catered for? Lunch that day will be £3.50 as normal and hospitality are providing prosecco to make the occasion very special.
Happy Hour
Happy Hour‘s Summer Social will he held at The Carpenters Arms 12 Seymour Place London W1H 7NE on Wednesday 1 June from 6.30pm in the upstairs room.
This is our last gathering before the summer break and we invite past attendees – and newcomers – to come along for a couple of hours of social fellowship. As the pub doesn’t provide food, we‘ll use outside catering so it would be helpful to know numbers in advance. Please email the office or katherineapayne@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to join us.
Former St Columba’s Members
The funeral of former St Columba’s elder, Evelyn Lovie will take place on Wednesday 1st of June 2022, at 11.30am at Baldarroch Crematorium, Banchory
James (Jimmy) Nicholson’s funeral will take place on Thursday 16th June, 10.15am at Colchester Crematorium, Mersea Road, Colchester, CO2 8RU. All welcome.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of George Potts will take place at St Columba’s, Pont Street on Friday 24th June 2022, at 2pm.
Sounds of St Columba’s
Join our continuing ‘Sounds of St Columba’s recital series on Sunday 19th June, with an organ recital from our very own Catherine Olver. Catherine will perform a varied programme commencing at 1:15pm. A retiring offering will be taken in support of the church’s musical provision.
St Columba’s Coffee Mornings
We are looking forward to seeing many faces on the Zoom Screen!
- 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.
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.
Friends of St Columba’s 2022 Programme
Please do join us for our 5 events planned for the summer and autumn:
- Friday June 3 at 11 a.m. Visit to Fenton House, Windmill Hill NW3 6RT, (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fenton-house-and-garden). Free for NT members, otherwise £10 for adults and £5 for children). Beautiful C17 house with magnificent orchard and garden.
- Sunday June 12 St Columba’s Service, followed by AGM and Celebration Tea. Please do forward to the Secretary any special items which you would like to see included (isobel@in-carter.com). A chance to mix, mingle, catch up with old friends and make new ones.
- Friday 23-Sunday 25 September: visit to Dumfries and its surroundings led by Hugh Pym. The itinerary includes the original home of the TSB, founded by a Church of Scotland minister), a visit to Ruthwell Church with its 8th century cross, Robert Burns heritage sites and possibly the early Christian settlement at Whithorn. Booking: contact Hugh asap via the Church Office regarding dates and accommodation. Two options: The Powfoot Inn (£115 double bed and breakfast; £95 single) or The Queensberry Arms Hotel, Annan (starts at £48/night). Preference is given to Members of the Friends – but it’s very easy to join! Only £10 annual and £50 Life Membership. Payment by BACS: Sort Code 16-00-42; Account No: 00269670; RBS (Please use your name and subscription as description of the payment), or by cheque made payable to Friends of St Columba’s to the Honorary Treasurer, Alan Lennox c/o The Church Office.
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: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271