Friends,
It was a privilege to conduct worship at Chelsea Methodist Church last Sunday. There has been a Methodist church on that site since 1903 but like St. Columba’s it took a direct hit in 1941 and was subsequently rebuilt. Someone described it to me as “The Tardis Church” – much bigger inside than it looks on the outside. In fact, it is now the only church with a door on King’s Road but behind that narrow entrance are a variety of rooms, including a beautiful sanctuary and I am very grateful to the congregation for their warm welcome.
Of course, this was not my first contact with Methodism. Many Church of Scotland folk living south of the border and not fortunate enough to be close to a presbyterian church (!) find a home in the Methodist church, including some of my own family in Derbyshire.
In 2001 I was appointed Presbyterian-Methodist Chaplain at Dublin City University and at that time there were a number of joint appointments and shared activities between the two denominations in Ireland, especially in the republic. Sadly, and for a variety of reasons, that is not happening now in the way that it did then. Indeed looking further back to my student days in the 1980’s the ecumenical scene was very positive with the World Council of Churches publishing the “Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry” report and in Scotland, England and Ireland as well as other parts of the world, things seemed to be moving forward. Since then the ecumenical movement has gone into decline. I suspect that as membership has fallen across the churches the different denominations have each retreated into their own corner. This is a pity for there is so much that we can learn from each other and our differences should be seen as gifts not threats.
However we should not be without hope. The signing of the St. Margaret Declaration last November, a declaration of friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland was a historic and very moving occasion. And all over these islands there are many smaller, local initiatives bringing Christians of different traditions together.
Ecumenism is not a hobby for those who like that sort of thing. It is central to the Gospel and to the mission of the Church. Jesus prayed that “All might be one, as the Father and the Son are one that the world might believe” – with those words in our hearts let us move forward together.
William.
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 16th July 2023
Hymn 46 Most glorious Lord, you have gone up (Sheffield)
Hymn 181 For the beauty of the earth (Lucerna Laudoniae)
Hymn 268 O God of Bethel! (Salzburg (Haydn))
Hymn 465 Be thou my Vision (Slane)
Anthem: As the apple tree (Walker)
Musical Interlude: A new song (Macmillan)
Organ Postlude: Toccata in F (J.S. Bach)
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 44: 6-8
New Testament Reading: Romans 8:12-25
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43
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.
Stamps!
Big Thank You for all the used stamps. A box containing about 2 kg worth of stamps donated by you is on its way to the centre in Glasgow who collect for the RNIB who are most grateful for our contributions. Please keep bringing them to church.
Sounds of St Columba’s
Please note future dates for our wonderful recital series- bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start. These exceptional recitals are one of the “gems” of current St Columba’s life. Not to be missed.
17th September 2023 – Richard Phillips, Cello Recital
15th October 2023 – Oscar Simms, Baritone
19th November 2023 – The Choir of St Columba’s
21st January 2024- Catherine Olver, Organ Recital (Church)
Congregational Sunday Lunch
Future dates for lunches are 30th July and 6th & 20th August in the Lower Hall. Please note the small increase to £4.00 per lunch – still exceptional value for a two-course meal. 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.
St Columba’s Book Group
The St Columba’s Book Group will meet (on Zoom!) on Tuesday 25th July at 7.00pm. The book we will discuss is The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham.
New members are always welcome. Contact the Church Office for the log in details.
Save the Date: Congregational Away Day, Saturday 30th September 2023
We are holding a Congregational Away Day on Saturday 30th September. Led by an outside facilitator it is the opportunity for the congregation to take stock and consider the challenges, possibilities and priorities for the ongoing life and work of our congregation, for the next five to ten years. (In 2034 it will be the 150th Anniversary of the congregation.) The Away Day will actually take place at St Columba’s, but our hope is to hear the thoughts and ideas of as wide a representation of the congregation as possible. Provisional timings 10am – 3pm. More detail will follow in due course.
Save the Date: Safeguarding Training,
Mandatory Safeguarding Training for those who require it will be offered on the following dates:
- Wednesday 20th September 2023, 6.45pm – 9.15pm – online
- Saturday 21st October 2023, 10.00am – 12.30pm – in person. Venue Crown Court Church/St Columba’s Church tbc.
Staff Change
We are sorry to announce that early in the autumn our office manager, Lucy Llewellyn will be leaving us after nine years, to take up a post with Oxford University. We have very mixed feelings: it sounds a really exciting opportunity and because it enables her to work from home regularly it will mean that she can see much more of the family, so we congratulate her wholeheartedly; but at the same time, I know that we will miss her very much indeed. We will make sure that we have an opportunity in September to say proper goodbyes. As Session Clerk, Charlotte Bradford wrote to the elders this week: “It won’t be goodbye, of course: I have great hopes of luring Lucy back for every Quiz Night, Burns Night and all our other festivities. But nevertheless, we are very sad to be losing her.”
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
To sign up and receive the weekly newsletter detailing future events, contact the church office or go to www.stcolumbas.org.uk (News Section.) Paper copies of this week’s newsletter are available at the bookstall.
If you require this information in a different format please contact the Church Office.