Friends,
This morning the Church of Scotland website carries the following: As Europe wakes this morning to news that Russia has launched an invasion of Ukraine, the Church of Scotland is calling on all parties to renew peace-making efforts and prepare to offer humanitarian aid to the people of that country.
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “Our prayers are with the Ukrainian people who are now under attack and in fear of their lives. We call on the UK government to join with governments across the world and together persuade all parties to agree to a ceasefire and to immediately return to the negotiating table. At the same time we ask the UK government to prepare a generous humanitarian response to assist people fleeing the war. As a matter of urgency, the government should prepare a plan to receive and resettle refugees from the conflict and to support neighbouring countries to respond locally to the crisis. The Covid pandemic and the intensifying climate crisis has shown us that no catastrophe can be isolated and what affects one region affects all of us. More than ever, national governments need to find a way to work together for the sake of our common humanity.”
In response to another invasion, that of Poland by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939, poet W H Auden wrote, ‘1st September, 1939.’ Auden had recently gone to live in New York, having spent time in Berlin. The poem begins:
I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
The poem is lengthy https://poets.org/poem/september-1-1939 and expresses dismay at both at national leadership and public apathy. Yet, perhaps because of its final lines it has continued to resonate in times of crisis. In the aftermath of 9/11, many American newspapers reprinted Auden’s poem in its entirety. With its mentions of September and New York, circulating fears, and the unmentionable odour of death, all in its first stanza, it was “the right poem, in the right place, for a wrong time.”
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.
Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
The Moderator and Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, ask all of us to pray (our affirming flames) for those who are suffering from the violence in Ukraine.
O God, the refuge and strength of all,
You hold the people of Ukraine in the palm of your hand.
The name of each person there,
Is written on your heart.
In the darkness of invasion
And in the mire of political machinations,
Spread we pray, the light of hope and of justice
And of peace.
Encourage those who are frightened,
To find strength in you
And in those around them –
Near and far.
Help the worldwide family of nations
To respond in love
With outstretched hearts,
Open minds,
And with too, the wisdom needed
to effect a peace that lasts.
Save us we pray,
From not caring enough.
For your Son’s sake.
Angus.
Worshipping at St Columba’s & COVID Precautions.
While Government guidance has changed and we are still assessing the best and appropriate way forward. This Sunday we continue to recommend mask wearing within the building (unless exempt) and social distancing.
We suggest dressing warmly as we try to keep the sanctuary well ventilated and hand sanitiser will continue to be available throughout the building. In all our arrangements we recognise that people are at various stages on the pandemic journey – our aim is to keep everyone confident and safe.
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, 27th February 2022 – 11am
111 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty! (Nicea)
81 I to the hills will lift mine eyes (French, Dundee)
355 You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd (Triumph)
512 To God be the glory, great things he has done! (To God be the glory)
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-43a
Anthem – Te lucis ante terminum (Balfour Gardiner)
Musical Interlude – Cantate domino (Pitoni)
Organ Postlude – Improvisation No.7 – Saint Saëns
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.
Lent & Ash Wednesday Communion (1pm, Wednesday 2nd March, London Scottish Regimental Chapel)
Wednesday 2nd March is Ash Wednesday, the formal start of the season of Lent – forty days leading up to Holy Week & Easter. This year there will be a short service of communion on Ash Wednesday at 1pm in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel.
There are a variety of resources provided to deepen our Lenten journey. In coming days look out for the Congregational Pastoral Letter, posted to all members & adherents. There will also be weekly offerings, via the website – recorded bible readings from church members’ homes, prayers from the congregational prayer group, Lent Book study groups, short films from Rev Christopher Rowe (minister of Colston Milton Parish Church, Glasgow) and picture meditations for our young people, created by retired minister, Rev David Donald Scott (formerly minister in Forth, Logie, Bearsden and finally, Traprain.)
Lent Appeal 2022
Collaboration à la Santé Publique Burkina Faso (CSPB) a small registered French charity http://cspb.cagnes.pagesperso-orange.fr
The CSPB Association is a small French charity created in 2012, providing much needed Family Planning and other related medical services in the Northern Region of Burkina Faso. The charity was created by a French GP, Dr Pierre Leon, who worked and studied in Burkina Faso and saw the need for improving Public Health (especially in Family Planning) in rural parts of the country. There is a massive problem of too many children per family as young women and girls have no access to family planning, contraception. The yearly growth rate is more than double the world average. Burkina Faso is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. Only one in eight find work.
CSPB have a midwife and a nurse specialised in HIV and reproductive health, three birth attendants all of whom work with local rural bush nurses and in villages, running clinics and training. The charity provides information talks on contraceptive implants and follow up appointments for girls/women of child bearing age offering them implants for those wanting them. CSPB organise talks in rural village school and colleges, the charity run ‘the school of husbands’ for men providing them with advice on Family Planning. Awareness campaigns for adolescent girls to help reduce unwanted pregnancies that often result in forced marriages and that can cause girls to stop schooling. The charity’s work is supported by local religious leaders, tribal chiefs and the government.
We look forward to welcoming Alasdair MacKenzie (member of St. Columba’s) to do a brief talk during the service on: Sunday 6th March and Sunday 10th April (Palm Sunday).
If you would like to contribute to the Lent Appeal: Gift Aid helps, if you are eligible. If you need to complete a Gift Aid declaration form, please contact the Church Office. Various options to donate:
White Lent Appeal envelopes are available in the Upper Vestibule.
Alternatively, by electronic bank transfer: Please use “Lent Appeal” as the payment reference.
St Columba’s Church of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
Account Number 00264741
Sort Code 16 00 42
Cheques payable to: “St. Columba’s Church of Scotland” and with a note that it is for the Lent Appeal. Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
Congregational Sunday Lunch & Future Dates
The next lunch dates are 6th March, 20th March & 3rd April in the Lower Hall. Those taking lunch and /or coffee are asked to wear masks until they find a seat and wait to be served.
Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall. These Hospitality Services are much valued in supporting Fellowship.
Hospitality – Sunday Lunch Teams
We now have five lunch teams, each led by a Team Leader serving lunches on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month and on the 5th Sunday of any month with 5 Sundays. One lunch team is a bit short handed, whilst a second team is in need of two cashiers. Team members assist in the kitchen, in the laying of tables, or serving lunch. Whatever your skills, we have a place for you. A cashier will be “shown the ropes” by our Hospitality Treasurer. This much valued service contributes greatly to the fellowship at St. Columba’s. If you are interested in finding out more about ways to help please contact me on: 01206 795244 or by e-mail: ben.gourlay41@gmail.com, or via the church office. Thank you. Ben Gourlay, Convener of Hospitality Committee, February 2022.
Service of Holy Communion, 5pm, Sunday 6th March
Evening services are held on the first Sunday of the month, at 5pm. Future evening services dates are 6th March & 3rd April. They are held in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel. [Please note they are not live-streamed.] Sunday 6th March will be a service of holy communion.
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
The Nail: Lent Study Group
This year we have chosen The Nail as our Lent Study book. Written by the current Archbishop of York it offers imaginative reflections on Christ’s crucifixion. Via a specific passage of scripture, each of the seven chapters is focused on a different key character, who describes his or her experience of the Passion. The nails used to crucify Christ are used as a jumping off point for their reflections. The weekly sessions will be introduced by/include a short film made by Rev Christopher Rowe, minister of Colston Milton Parish Church, Glasgow. The study groups will meet on Wednesday evenings 7-8pm or Thursday mornings (10.30-11.30am.) The first meetings are Wednesday 2nd March & Thursday 3rd March. To sign up, please contact the office. Attendees are asked to provide their own copy of the book.
St Columba’s Book Club
The next online meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club is the 28th of February at 7pm. The book this month will be Our Lady of the Nile, by Scholastique Mukasonga. The joy of the St Columba’s book club is that is all on Zoom so you can join from anywhere in the world in the comfort of your own home.
Happy Hour
What’s happening post COP26 to address climate change? We’ll share news about Glasgow’s new initiatives, London Transport’s plans, St Columba’s plans -and our personal responses.
Do join us at our new venue, The Carpenters Arms 12 Seymour PlaceW1H 7NE (upstairs room) on Wednesday 2 March at 6.30pm for discussion and fellowship. No booking required – a modest cash contribution on the night to cover refreshments.
St Columba’s Coffee Mornings
The St Columba’s Coffee Mornings will return in March! We are looking forward to seeing many faces on the Zoom Screen!
- 16th March 2022- Alasdair MacKenzie (member of St Columba’s) will tell us about this year’s Lent Appeal charity Collaboration Santé Publique Burkina Faso (http://cspb.cagnes.pagesperso-orange.fr/)
- 20th April 2022- The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Lord Wallace of Tankerness will join us to talk about his moderatorial year.
- 11th May 2022- TBC
- 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 lullaby’s for prisoners children.
Sounds of St Columba’s
On the 20th March, The Choir with No Name will join us for a concert also to be held in the Sanctuary from 1.15pm. The Choir with No Name now rehearse weekly at St Columba’s and you can find more details on them here
https://www.choirwithnoname.org/
Stamps
If you would like to leave stamps for Royal National Institute of Blind People, please pop them into the Church Office on Sundays.