SAVE THE DATE: Congregational Away Day, Saturday 30th September 2023: Towards a Positive Shared Future for St Columba’s, Pont Street
Friends,
Plans for our upcoming Congregational Away Day on Saturday 30th September are coming together. The day will be led by Revd Russell McLarty & Dr Magdalen Lambkin, both volunteer practitioners with Place for Hope https://www.placeforhope.org.uk/
They will begin with an interview panel to enable us to hear from members of our own congregation, as well as others who use our building regularly. During the rest of the day, we will have a series of workshops to help us build ideas of what our church might be like in five to fifteen years’ time. (In 2034 it will be the 150th Anniversary of the congregation.) Russell writes: “The workshops will help us shape a future vision statement and hopefully also form 3-4 working groups to take forward some of the ideas emerging from the day.”
As I wrote in the new Church Magazine, a single Away Day will not be a one-day wonder; we must be realistic about the scale of what we are discussing and the likely timeframe of any outcomes. Rather, the Away Day is the start of a season of discernment, not necessarily a day of absolute clarity or decision-making. It is an important opportunity for the congregation to take stock and consider our collective possibilities and priorities. Guided by the skill and experience of others, and appreciating why St Columba’s remains precious and meaningful to many people, let us pray that it will be a fruitful day.
Timings for the day are 10am – 4pm. A soup and sandwich lunch will be provided. We aim to provide childcare for part of the day to enable families to attend. Please sign up to indicate attendance via the Church Office. And please keep Russell and Magdalen in your prayers as they prepare to lead us on the day.
Angus
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 6th August 2023
Hymn 685 For everyone born, a place at the table (A place at the table)
Hymn 633 Child of blessing, child of promise (Shipston)
Hymn 167 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda)
Hymn 348 Praise the One who breaks the darkness (Joel)
Anthem: Oculi omnium by Wood
Musical Interlude: O for a closer walk with God, Stanford
Organ Postlude: Choral Song, Wesley
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 32:22-31
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:13-21
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.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Sunday Lunch, Sunday 6th August
There will be a fine Sunday Lunch served in the Lower Hall after the service on Sunday. Future dates for lunches are 20th August and 3rd, 17th & 24th September in the Lower Hall. The 24th September is an additional date on which we will say farewell to outgoing Office Manager Lucy Llewellyn. 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.
NEXT WEEK: 11.00 a.m. Morning Service, Sunday 13th August 2023
We welcome Gary Wallis, St Columba’s elder, beadle, Youth Committee Convenor, theology student, husband and Dad as our guest preacher.
NEXT WEEK: Congregational Prayer Group
Please note 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 on the second Sunday 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
- pray for the appointment of a new office manager
- pray for the preparations for the Congregational Away Day on Saturday 30th September
- 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!
New Church Magazine
Do take time to pick up a copy of the excellent new issue of our Church Magazine. Thank you to Editor Susan Pym and her contributors for another rich mix of St Columba’s related thigs.
‘Being with’ Enquirers’ Course, Autumn 2023
Are you interested in exploring more about the Christian faith? Would you like to meet with some friends over food and conversation to think about what it means to be Christian in London today? Why not come along to an informal six-week course with supper and conversation on Sunday evenings at 6 pm for six weeks beginning on Sunday 3rd September at Crown Court Church. You’ll be made most welcome. The course, entitled ‘Being with’ is open to people curious about faith, new to faith, or maybe even looking to reconsider what it means to follow Christ in today’s world. Wherever you are on your journey, you’ll be made most welcome. For more info or to book your place please contact Scott Rennie, on minister@crowncourtchurch.org.uk
Service in Recognition of Probation Ministers
Many of you will remember David McKee who spent the summer with us last year, as part o his training for the Church of Scotland ministry. He has sent an invitation to any of the congregation that want to attend the Service in Recognition of Probation Ministers on the 17th August, at 7pm at Bothwell Parish Church. Revd Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will preach.
St Columba’s Craft Group
The group will meet on the first Sunday of every month from 1.30 pm until 3.30 pm in the Library. This is a great opportunity to pick up tips and new techniques from our talented and experienced members. All welcome. For further information please contact Fiona Lang or Susan Pym through the church office.
Happy Hour
Following our discussion earlier this year on the Middle East, led by William, the September Happy Hour session will see a change to our format. Rather than meeting at our usual venue, the plan is to attend the lecture at St Martin-in- the- Fields where the Archbishop of Canterbury and an expert panel will explore reconciliation and hope for the Middle East. The proposal is for everyone to book their own ticket, details attached. Booking info: You can book to attend in person or to watch online. https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/calendar/here-i-stand-reconciliation or call 020 7766 1100. Tickets are free, although a £10 donation to cover the cost of the event is suggested. The lecture starts at 7pm and is followed by a reception where we’ll have a chance to socialise and discuss the evening. Happy Hour’s programme for the rest of the autumn season can be found on the website under Community Life https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/community-life/happy-hour.
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.
Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals
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)
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 /St Columba’s Church – Upper Hall. Please sign up with the church office.
St Andrew’s, Newcastle website
https://www.standrewskirknewcastle.org/
You might be interested to see the new website of our linked charge, St Andrew’s, Newcastle. Well done to them for the work that has gone into that. And just to share (and be inspired by) one of their upcoming activities: Session Clerk, Irene Wilkinson writes:
“You will all be aware by now that we need to carry out fairly major repairs to the roof and we have been raising funds for this project for some time now. The Quinquennial inspection raised some of the issues we were already aware of but highlighted some as urgent. We are therefore asking for your support in our efforts to meet these challenges by attending our fundraising events. The next event is the Quiz night and supper, details on the attached poster, which takes place on 18th August. We are happy to have bookings as teams or as individuals. Individual bookings will be allocated to a “team” on arrival.”
We wish all who attend, a fun evening.
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.