Friends,
While on leave recently I spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. I am amazed at the imagination and the technical skill of those who created the show gardens and was especially drawn to “The Oregon Garden”, inspired by the beauty of America’s West Coast.
Another favourite was “The Miller’s Garden”, complete with water mill and designed to show the younger generation how lives were lived before the First World War, and how jobs that are now forgotten or lost were carried out at that time. And of course, the entire Garden Festival takes place against the backdrop of Sir Christopher Wren’s magnificent palace.
By way of contrast, last Sunday afternoon I visited a friend whose garden was open to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme, the organisation which raises millions of pounds for health charities every year. His garden is just 30ft x 40ft but is tended with no less care and devotion than the show gardens at Hampton Court and because of the very clever use of mirrors actually looks much larger. This year the highlight of his magnificent display was one flowerbed in which was a wonderful representation of the Coronation State Coach.
Despite being descended from a long line of gardeners I have not inherited that talent. However I do enjoy growing herbs, parsley, chives, mint and have even attempted to grow mustard. As a small child I confused mustard with custard and wanted a dollop on my plate but as we all know a little mustard goes a long way! Our Gospel lesson this week is from St. Matthew 13: 31-33 and reminds us that the mustard seed is tiny and easy to miss. Even when someone does venture to plant it, it will take time to grow into a tree. It grows at it’s own pace but in time it will be big enough to provide a home for the birds. This is an important lesson for us about the nature of the Kingdom of God which will grow in God’s time not ours.
William McLaren.
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 30th July 2023
Hymn 15 The Lord’s my Shepherd (Orlington)
Hymn 193 God is love; his the care (Personent Hodie)
Hymn 543 Longing for light (Christ be our light)
Hymn 535 Who would true valour see (Monk’s Gate)
Anthem: Sicut cervus, Palestrina
Musical Interlude: Thou judge of quick and dead, Wesley
Organ Postlude: In dir ist Freude , J.S. Bach
Old Testament Reading: I Kings 3: 5-12
New Testament Reading: Romans 8: 26-39
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
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.
Congregational Prayer Group
The congregational prayer group will be on holiday during the month of August and therefore there will not be a prayer session on the 13th August…but we will be back in September when hopefully you will come and join us in prayer.
Some prayer points over the summer may include:
- protection over children and young people and for their parents as they spend time together that they will have fun
- for teachers that they will find time to relax after a difficult teaching year
- for our church leaders and numerous volunteers that they will enjoy the summer break and be refreshed to serve come September
- pray for God to speak to each one of us as a community through His Word
- and pray that God would give us persistent hearts of prayer like Daniel in Daniel 9:3 when he “turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition
Have a great summer!
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
There will be a fine Sunday Lunch served in the Lower Hall after the service on Sunday. Future dates for lunches are 6th & 20th August and 6th & 20th September 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
All members present really enjoyed the Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham and thought that it was multidimensional and had good characterisation. Our next choice is a non- fiction one, “Landlines” by Raynor Winn which is the third book in a trilogy but also stands alone. It is set, in part in Scotland and is on the Sunday Times best seller list. We next meet virtually on Monday 11th September at 6.30pm.
We have also selected the book after that, “Nightbloom” by Peace Adzo Medie.
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.
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
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE 21st AND 22nd AUGUST.
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.