Easter 2021, for Sunday 25th April
*This week all the images come from the artwork of the recent Play for Progress exhibition in Croydon, London.
Friends,
In line with recent sunshine, we can now announce the glad news that Revd William McLaren has accepted the invitation to become our new Associate Minister. Ordained for 30 years, William brings profound and varied experience of ministry, in the parish, as a university chaplain and as a part time prison chaplain.
He has previously worked as part of a team ministry. In his current parish, Stobswell Parish, Dundee, he has also been an Army Cadet Force chaplain and chaplain to a large inner city secondary school. Aware of the aging profile of many churches William writes: “There is a challenge to the Church to examine how we minister to that older section of the population. It should not be either/or, either reaching out to young people or continuing to minister to the elderly. The church should provide a safe place for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore issues of life and faith.”
Provisionally, William will be with us from Sunday 11th July, although his Service of Introduction, led by the Presbytery of England, may be slightly earlier (Thursday 8th July tbc.) As we give thanks for new arrivals, please keep William and the congregation of Stobswell in your prayers in the coming weeks of transition. At St Columba’s the building has definitely seen increasing signs of life as groups begin to return. Holland Park Opera have been rehearing in the sanctuary every day this week; the Upper Hall has had a fair share of mini ballerinas and the Lower Hall has hustled and bustled with Knightsbridge School children. News too, that this weekend a group of our young people and their parents will be going wild in Barnes – a “bushcraft experience!” We await reports and photos… Meanwhile St Andrew’s, Newcastle will be reviewing their plans to reopen for worship shortly. All lovely and varied signs of Spring and Eastertide!
The church is open during the week for prayer and to worshippers on Sunday. To assist with smooth and safe running we continue to request that you register in advance to attend Sunday service. Thanks to good stewarding and the co-operation of everyone, we aim to make attendance at worship as positive an experience as possible, even with continued mask-wearing, social distancing and restriction on singing. If we can ensure good sound quality, we hope to reintroduce the choir to worship in May. The live streaming of services continues.
So, I hope you will find this encouraging news; there is a lot to be grateful for.
See you on Sunday,
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. (Note: This will not be public worship that everyone can attend, but an offering of prayer and praise, on behalf of us all.) 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. While current regulation forbids singing in the pews, the live stream strongly recommends singing in the sitting room!
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 Ben's organ music from 10.50am.
Hymns, Music & Readings, 3rd Sunday of Easter:
Hymn 200 Christ is made the sure foundation (Westminster Abbey) Hymn 462 The King of Love my Shepherd is (Dominus Regit Me) Hymn 461 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds (St Peter)
New Testament Readings: Acts 4:5-12 & 1 John: 3:16-24
Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18
Anthem: O quam gloriosum, Victoria
Organ Postlude: Fugue in G Minor, J S Bach, BWV 558
Office Hours
Contact details;Tel: 020 7584 2321
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet. Twitter: @LondonKirk Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
Maintaining Community and Supporting Each Other
Everybody can play a part in maintaining contact with others via telephone, e-mail or letter, especially those who are particularly vulnerable. Our Elders are encouraged to make contact with those in their districts, and church members are welcome to contact the church office to request a contact from their elder or the Minister.
Lent Appeal 2021- Play for Progress - www.playforprogress.org
Mission Committee would like to thank everyone so much for donating to the Lent Appeal. A total of £10,715.00 inc Gift Aid has been raised so far, the closing date for the Appeal was this week. For information, a very generous donation of £3k was sent direct to Play for Progress and specifically requested for use re. Lent Appeal and the London Reels who use the Lower Hall to dance have donated £500.00 directly also. Plus £7,215.00 (inc Gift Aid) of donations which were raised at church for the Lent Appeal, making a total of £10,715 inc. Gift Aid. Should any further donations be received, Mission Committee will update everyone. The money raised will certainly help Play for Progress continue with the incredibly valuable work they do to help the unaccompanied minor refugees and asylumseekers recover from trauma and isolation by providing therapeutic support through the creative arts, education, advocacy work and general support.
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for bank details or other means of donating.
Happy Hour
The next Happy Hour session will take place on Wednesday 5 May at 6.30pm, via Zoom.
Michael Stevenson will lead our discussion on the role of office bearers within the Church of Scotland, drawing on his many years of experience as our former Session Clerk.
If you would like to join this session please contact Kate
on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you will be sent the link on the day. Please join us - all participants, old and new are very welcome.
St Columba’s Quiz
Due to the COVID 19 restrictions we were not able to get together for the annual St Columba’s Quiz. So, this year we have taken the quiz online. The quiz is available on the website here
https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/community-life/quiz-2021 - for the answers please email the Church Office.
St Columba’s Book Club
The next meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club will be the 7th June (via Zoom) at 7pm. This month’s book will be Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell.
Scotscare Sheltered Housing
Scotscare, the charity for Scots in London currently has sheltered housing vacancies available at Rothesay Court, Grove Park, London. The accommodation provides supported living for Scots over 55, or over 50 living with a disability. Allocations are made on a priority system ensuring those most in need receive the housing they require. If you know someone or you yourself are interested in the accommodation please contact Scotscare directly on 0800 652 2989 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.
*Play for Progress exhibition in Croydon, London, Eastertide 2021.