After years staffing the church office, former office manager, Lucy Llewellyn gave the verdict: “People come to St Columba’s for one reason, but come back for others.” Current days illustrate reasons why people might come, and why they might return – to hear an astonishingly beautiful recital of Duruflé’s Requiem by our own St Columba’s choir – to listen to the Moderator (Rt Revd Dr Shaw Paterson) reflect on the experiences of his moderatorial year.
The imminent arrival of twenty five young people with their adult leaders, the GKexperience group down from Scotland for a fun-packed London weekend.
Our worship on Sunday, to welcome new member Genevieve Collett, celebrate communion, share Sunday lunch, join an Advent study group, deepening our anticipation of Christmas – to attend the Night Shelter on Sunday evening, as guest or volunteer.
School pupils and adults, to enjoy the rich programme of authors at the inaugural St Andrew’s Book Festival brought to us by Scots in London. That is a small flavour of who and why people might come to St Columba’s.
This Sunday is sometimes designated as Christ the King Sunday – the last Sunday of the liturgical year, before Advent Sunday (1st December) begins the new, annual cycle. It would be good to think that for whatever reason people cross our threshold, they will consistently find welcome, creativity, practical support, peace, beauty, laughter, friendship and prayer – so sense, in ways recognised or not, something of the Christ, who we call King.
Angus
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, 24th November 2024, Christ the King Sunday
Hymn 132 Immortal, invisible, God only wise (St Denio)
Hymn 680 You are called to tell the story (Regent Square)
Hymn 655 For your generous love providing (Holy Manna)
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s, Edinburgh) Psalm 24
Hymn 438 The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus, Nottingham)
Anthem: Above all praise and all majesty, Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Musical Interlude: Oculi omnium by Wood (1866-1926)
Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37
Reader: Ian Russell
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.
THIS SUNDAY: Admission of New Member & Service of Holy Communion, followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
We welcome Genevieve Collett as she makes her public profession of faith to become a member of St Columba’s. A special welcome too, to the leaders and young people of the GKexperience. They join us for their bi-annual London weekend visit. Big thanks to our Hospitality Team for providing an extra lunch this Sunday.
This Sunday: “Waiting can be beautiful and, at least sometimes, it takes us to the heart of the Holy.” Advent Study (1.30pm, Sunday 24th November in person, or 10.30am Wednesday 27th November online)
As much at home with Strictly Come Dancing as the mystical writings of Julian of Norwich, Rachel Mann writes with disarming verve of something we all experience – waiting. It may seem unlikely when you’re stuck on a train, or nervously anticipating hospital treatment, or simply fearful of an uncertain future, that there is treasure to be found in the waiting. Yet the Psalmist says, ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.’
The Advent groups will meet four times before Christmas. Join an in-person Sunday group (first meeting 1.30pm, Sunday 24th November) or the Wednesday online zoom group (first meeting Wednesday 27th November,10.30am.) Please sign up via the church office.
THIS WEEK: Friends of St Columba’s Visit to Benjamin Franklin House, Saturday 23rd November, 11am.
Rendezvous just inside main entrance, 39 Craven Street WC2 5NF (Embankment Tube)Scientist, diplomat, inventor, postal pioneer, Founding Father, Franklin lived in this elegant Georgian townhouse between 1757 and 1775. Although his primary reason for being in London was to mediate between Britain and the increasingly fractious American colonies, Franklin still found time to invent bifocal spectacles and the glass armonica, reform the alphabet and hobnob with the leading figures of the day. For more information, please contact Isobel Carter
isobel@in-carter.com Cost: Under 12s Free, Adults £12, Concessions (over 65)– £10. Please check the Programme of Events you were sent in September or look at our web page: www.stcolumbas.org.uk/friends-of-st-columbas. We look forward to see you there!
NEXT SUNDAY: Joint Service with Crown Court Church of Scotland for the St Andrew’s Book Festival & Sunday School
Followed by Congregational Lunch, 11am, St Columba’s
NEXT SUNDAY: Evening Service, 5pm, Music and Readings for Advent
followed by Coffee and Tea in the Lower Hall
There will be no Midweek Prayers on Wednesday 27th November due to the St Andrew’s Book Festival
ST ANDREW’S BOOK FESTIVAL: 25th November to 1st December 2024, St Columba’s & other venues.
Seven days celebrating all things literary, featuring a star-studded line up of authors, riveting discussions, and exclusive book signings.
Whether you’re an avid reader or a budding writer, this festival is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the world of books and creativity. Check out the website for a full author A to Z listing and book tickets from here: https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/
Scots in London Newsletter
Read the latest Scots in London newsletter here, packed full of our autumn news and events: https://mailchi.mp/a941547662ee/scots-in-london-october-newsletter-6420260
Subscribe to the newsletter directly to hear all the latest news and make the most of our current special offers with The Scotsman newspaper.
GlassDoor Sunday Night Shelter & “Potatoes & Peas” Appeal
Jill Bruce, who co-ordinates our Sunday Night volunteers at St Columba’s writes: “Our night shelter for homeless guests operated with the GlassDoor charity opened successfully on Sunday 10th November. We are part of the Kensington & Chelsea circuit where we provide an accommodation venue and an evening meal every Sunday from now until early April. Our volunteers provide a 3-course meal of homemade soup, sausages, peas & mash as well as dessert. Please support our annual ‘Potatoes & Peas appeal’ to support the evening meal costs. Donations should be clearly marked ‘Potatoes & Peas’ and handed into the church office. Many thanks for your support.” If you are interested in volunteering at the Night Shelter please contact the church office.
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 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)
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.
RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 6th December 2024, outside St Columba’s Church.
Every year the staff, volunteers and supporters of Restart Lives spend one night outside. Although there is much that separates the experience of the controlled environment of the Sleepout from that of a person living life on the streets, we hope the event will help all those who participate to imagine what London’s homeless have to contend with. We can only accommodate 80 sleepers at this event, so if you would like to reserve your spot, don’t delay and sign up now.
Crown Court and St Columba’s Sunday School Families Pantomime trip
It’s that time of the year again. Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is! Sunday School families from Crown Court and St Columba’s are invited to join us on Sunday 8th December at 17:30 to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Please email Gary (gary@thewallis.com) to reserve tickets. Numbers are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so grab your magic beans and don’t delay!
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club, Tuesday 10th December, 6.30pm
The Book Club met to discuss Colm Toibin’s “Brooklyn” and found it to be a very believable depiction both of a small town in Ireland in the 1950’s and the life of an immigrant to the USA, and elicited an interesting discussion of personal experiences of coming to London and the importance of St Columba’s. Our next meeting will be on TUESDAY 10 December when we shall be discussing “The Phone Box at the Edge of the World” by Laura Imai Messina and our choice for the first book of 2025 is “The Outrun” by Amy Liptrot. We meet by Zoom and new members are welcome. For details please contact the Church Office
UPCOMING: Pont Street Carols, Sunday 22nd December, 5pm followed by refreshments.
Join us for an evening of Carols at St Columba’s to celebrate our community. All welcome
Office Hours
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