We are in the middle of Holy Week, recalling the events of Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem – from the entry into that city riding on the donkey on Palm Sunday, to events and confrontations in the Temple, to the washing of the disciples’ feet and sharing of a Last Supper in the Upper Room, to the prayers, betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane, to the trial, mockery and torture of Good Friday, to the sealed tomb – and then, the empty tomb of Easter morning. It is a poignant and uncomfortable journey. But as was said in a Lent Discussion Group: “You can’t have Easter without Good Friday!” It is through enduring the defeat that we emerge to the victory. Whether you can join us for the significant services of this week, or attend local services of other traditions, perhaps you might prayer the Easter Prayer, recently offered by Canonmills Church in Edinburgh.
Lord, you set your face towards Jerusalem
and walked alongside those who suffer.
Be our inspiration that we, too,
may extend a hand to those we meet,
and walk with those who suffer.
Lord, you stopped to heal the sick,
to cure the lame and give sight to the blind.
Be our inspiration that we, too,
may find time for others
and respond to their special needs.
Lord, you said, “The first shall be last and the last first”.
Be our inspiration that we, too, may work towards a Kingdom where those who matter will give way to those who don’t matter.
Lord, you sat down with tax-collectors and those who were branded ‘sinners’ and you listened to their stories.
Be our inspiration that we, too, may listen to the despised and the rejected and see in them your children.
Lord, you took time to pray and be silent.
Be our inspiration that through our spoken prayers, and in our silence, we, too, may draw closer to you and find your way.
Lord, you entered Jerusalem to cries of “Hosanna!” and left to cries of “Crucify!”
We offer to you our shouts both of joy and anger, of hope and despair, as we commend into your care all who seek to follow you.
Lord, you came to save humankind;
you came to found a Kingdom of Love and Peace.
Amen.
Wishing you a holy week and a joyful Easter when it dawns,
Angus
Live Streaming of Worship
We apologise for recent difficulties with our Livestream. The recent upgrade of the sound and livestream system has offered substantial improvements but also unleashed a few gremlins. Thanks to feedback from livestream participants and the perseverance of the sound team we believe the way ahead should run smoothly. We appreciate your patience in these matters. Happy listening. Onwards and upwards!
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.
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 Morning Worship
Sunday 31st March 2024, 11am, Palm Sunday
Hymn 410 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! (Easter Hymn)
Hymn 159 Lord, for the years (Lord of the years)
Hymn 412 The strife is o’er (Vulpius)
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s, Edinburgh) Psalm
24 Hymn 419 Thine be the glory (Maccabaeus)
Anthem: Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, Stanford
Communion Anthem: Blessed be the God and Father, Wesley
New Testament Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 1-8
Reader: Stuart Steele
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
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.
Holy Week Services, Easter Communion & Hospitality
27th March 1.00pm Prayers for Lent, London Scottish Chapel
28th March 8.00pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion – Light supper in Upper Hall from 7pm
29th March 11.00am Service for Good Friday – Hot cross buns & refreshments in Library to follow.
31st March 11.00am Easter Morning Holy Communion
Note: All Holy Week Services will be livestreamed, except Maundy Thursday. On Maundy Thursday we are offering a light supper (sandwiches etc) in the Library from 7pm – a chance to meet with others before sharing communion at the 8pm Communion Service. For catering purposes please let the Office know if you wish to attend the pre-service hospitality. After the Good Friday Service (11am) there will be hot cross buns and tea/coffee in the Library. We will also anticipate the arrival of the 8th Paisley Boys Brigade Troop on Good Friday morning, as they arrive for an Easter weekend in London, based at Pont Street. Sunday School is not meeting on Easter Sunday, but there will be craft activities provided for younger children in the South Africa Chapel under parental/adult supervision. Congregational Lunch follows the communion service.
Communion Arrangements:
In recent times, responding to the pandemic, we have distributed communion by inviting the congregation forward to receive the bread and wine. In January we trialled serving the elements (bread and wine) to the congregation seated in the pews – similar to our pre-pandemic procedure but using the small communion glasses. To facilitate the elders bringing the elements to the pews we asked worshippers to sit in alternate pews only. On Easter Sunday we will celebrate communion in the same way. You may therefore be asked to sit one row in front/ behind your normal pew to accommodate the arrangements. The pews will be carefully labelled on the day to avoid confusion. As our communion arrangements continue to evolve, we would welcome your feedback. Please let the ministers and/or elders know your views.
St Columba’s members
The Memorial Service for St Columba’s member, Elizabeth Sandison will take place at St Columba’s on Tuesday 9th April 2024, at 2pm.
The funeral of Ian Thislie, former elder of St Columba’s, will take place on Friday 19th April 2024 at 1.30pm, at Kirkcaldy Crematorium.
Rest eternal grant unto them and let light perpetual shine upon them.
THIS SUNDAY: Lent Appeal 2024 – Firefly International www.fireflyinternational.org
We were delighted that Saska Haramina, a Trustee of Firefly International, joined us last Sunday to speak inspiringly about the work of this year’s Lent Appeal chosen charity.
Our chosen charity for the Lent Appeal this year is Firefly International, a small Scottish registered charity that provides help overseas for children affected by war. The charity works in a few countries, but for the Lent Appeal we are focussing on its work in Brcko, Bosnia, with the charity’s partner organisation Svitac. The population in Brcko is a mix of Serb, Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croat. The charity was created in 1995 by Ellie Maxwell, while a student, to help children affected by war. Sadly, Ellie died young but her work carries on through the charity. In the aftermath of war and conflict there is such a need to build relationships and reconciliation between all faiths and different ethic groups. The children and young people in Brcko, are really benefiting from Firefly / Svitac and it is having such a positive impact there. Funding is required to keep this project going. Lent Appeal donations will certainly play their part in that. Firefly / Svitac provide a safe location for children and young people to meet, they run the only inter-ethnic kindergarten in Brcko and provide after school clubs, music/band, art, workshops, IT, filming. Two summer camps are organised for children of different age groups. These fantastic opportunities bring together children and young people of all faiths and from various ethnic groups, giving them the chance to build friendships, trust and learn to live together in peace and mutual respect for each other.
Please click on the links below, to watch brief video clips from the children and young people involved with Firefly / Svitac in Brcko, Bosnia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHCX4j8umbE&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxXeRF_YmM&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKQ-L1l7_hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Kpr-2rN-Y
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 and in the pews, as from Sunday 18th Feb. until Easter.
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 attached to cheque indicating it is for the Lent Appeal. Send to:
Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
St. Columba’s Church
Pont Street
London SW1X 0BD
If you would like to make a card donation, please go into the Church Office.
With your donations we can help children affected by war to build a better future together, thank you. Mission Committee.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch
Congregational Lunch is served after the Easter Communion Service and future Congregational Lunches are offered on Sundays 7th and 21st April 2024.
UPCOMING – Curry Night
Join us for our Curry Night on Friday 12th April from 7pm in the Upper Hall. £7.50 for a three-course meal and bring your own bottle. Tickets are now on sale, please contact office@stcolumbas.org.uk. Guest speaker Nadia Dallsingh will give a talk on ‘The impact of the pandemic on mental health services‘.
UPCOMING: New Members’ Conference & Service, Wednesday 8th May & Sunday 9th June
If you would like to learn more about what becoming a member of St Columba’s would involve, you are warmly invited to an evening of food and discussion on Wednesday 8th May, 2024, 6.30pm. For those who would then like to become members there will be a Service of Welcome on Sunday 9th June – which appropriately is the day we celebrate St Columba himself! For more information speak to either of the ministers and please sign up via the Church Office.
Hot Off the Press: Atoms of Delight
Kenneth Steven, writer and poet who knows St Columba’s well has just released Atoms of Delight, a book of essays inspired by the “wildscape” of Highland and Island Scotland. It describes what Kenneth considers pilgrimages into nature – walks to find high lochs where nature has gone to hide; the annual climb to pick cloudberries at a secret location in Highland Perthshire, the pilgrimage to St Columba’s Bay on Iona for fabulous serpentine pebbles. The book might make a gift; it’s been beautifully produced by Saraband. Each copy is £10 (including postage). Kenneth is very happy to add personalised dedications. Cheques can be sent to: Kenneth Steven, Clachan Dubh Lodge, Balvicar, Isle of Seil, Argyll, PA34 4RA, Scotland.
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, 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