I love watching American cop shows on television, especially “Law and Order” and “N.C.I.S.”. My mother always enjoyed “Ironside”, so that may be where it comes from. It is fascinating seeing detectives collect evidence while they build a case they hope will convince a jury.
When the risen Christ first appeared to the disciples who were sheltering behind closed doors (St. John 20:19-31) Thomas was not present, he may have slipped out for supplies. On his return, he refused to believe their story and said that unless he saw the evidence for himself he would never believe.
A week later Jesus appeared to disciples and this time Thomas declared “My Lord and my God!” Tradition tells us that Thomas, inspired by his encounter with the risen Christ, travelled to India taking the Gospel there. The ancient Christian church in India is still referred to as the Thomas Christians.
We may not have the same experience of meeting the risen Christ and seeing the marks of the nails in his hands and feet in the way that Thomas and the other disciples did, but the church exists today because they believed the evidence of their own eyes and passed on the good news of the resurrection. For all its blemishes the existence of the Christian church today is evidence of the resurrection.
Every Sunday is Easter Day, when we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and I wish you the continued joy, hope and light of Easter,
William.
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.
No Dial into Sunday Service this Sunday, 7th April 2024.
Due to technical problems that we have not been able to resolve this week, we are unable to offer the Dial In facility for joining morning service. We are really sorry about that and will make every effort to rectify that as soon as possible.
Hymns, Music & Readings for Morning Worship
Sunday 7th April 2024
Hymn 411 Christ the Lord is risen today (St George’s Windsor)
Hymn 635 We know that Christ is raised and dies no more (Engelberg)
Hymn 194 This is the day (The Lord’s Day)
Hymn 413 The day of resurrection! (Ellacombe)
Anthem: This Joyful Eastertide, Wood
Musical Interlude: O Praise the Lord, Batten
New Testament Reading: I John 1:1-2:2
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31
Reader: Andrew Smith
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.
St Columba’s members
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member, Ross Gibbons. Funeral details to be announced in due course. 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
There is still time to donate to our chosen Lent Appeal Charity. Firefly International is 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: Welcome to newly baptised
Special welcome this week to the family and friends of Edward Matthew Farwell who comes for baptism this Sunday.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Lunch
Congregational Lunch will be served in the Lower Hall after 11am service. We will be joined by a few of our new members and families of children baptised at St Columba’s. Future lunch dates are Sunday 21st April and Sunday 5th May 2024.
THIS SUNDAY: St Columba’s Craft Group, Kirk Session Room from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
This is a great opportunity to pick up tips and new techniques from our talented and experienced members whilst sharing a tea or coffee. All welcome. For further information please contact Fiona Lang or Susan Pym through the church office.
THIS SUNDAY:
Evening Service 5pm in London Scottish Chapel followed by Coffee and Tea in the Lower Hall.
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‘.
NEXT WEEK: Congregational Prayer Group, 10.15am – 10.30am, Sunday 14th April, Kirk Session Room
Join others for a time of prayer for our congregational life and the wider work of the Church of Scotland. All welcome.
NEXT WEEK: Scottish Dancing for Children, Sunday 14th April, 1pm in Lower Hall
With the support of RSCDS, we are delighted to offer the children a Scottish Country Dancing class. Classes take place on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Rose Kreloff is an RSCDS London member who teaches regularly in London and the Southeast. Classes are free thanks to support from St Columba’s and RSCDS London but donations are welcome. We ask that parents/carers contact classes@rscdslondon.org.uk to book a place in the class. Please include name and age of children so that we can make sure we have the right amount of support for each class.
UPCOMING: Congregational Talk by Revd Alistair Cumming, Sunday 21st April, 1.30pm, Upper Hall.
St Columba’s member and current Clerk of the Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands will explain about his role and work with the Church of Scotland’s Faith Action Programme Leadership Team. In advance of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland this is a good opportunity to hear more.
UPCOMING: New Members’ Conference & Service,
Wednesday 8th May & Sunday 9th June 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