For Sunday 11th August, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
The Royal Albert Hall is one of St Columba’s famous, neighbouring landmarks, currently hosting the Proms, gathering its musicians and audiences from near and far. This week retired Church of Scotland minister, Revd Tom Gordon blogged on a musical theme, sharing three quotes to make us think and smile.
First, from Thelonius Monk, American Jazz pianist who died in 1982. Monk had a unique improvisational style, so much so that the ground-breaking nature of his composing and playing often left him misunderstood as a musician, and occasionally lampooned. When an “expert” commented that Monk created extraordinary music “in spite of playing the wrong notes on the piano” Monk replied: “The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.”
That, for TV watchers of a certain generation that might echo the second piano quote; comedian Eric Morecombe’s wonderful explanation to celebrity guest, conductor André Previn: “I’m playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order”
And thirdly, in a similar key, Tom Lehrer, American composer and pianist offered: “Life is like a piano: What you get out of it depends on how you play it.”
All of which led Tom Gordon to conclude: It is the combination of notes, how they work together, that matters. The tunes may be different. The style of music may vary. The quality of the composition and the playing may differ. Indeed, what’s produced may be completely misunderstood. But Thelonius Monk’s defence of his improvisational style remains valid.
So too, it’s worth remembering that in your church, community, society, workplace, social-circle, sports’ team, or whatever, “The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.” Every note matters. Every note can be put to good use.
Angus
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.
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 phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number - simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Morning Worship
Sunday, 11th August 2024, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 87 Lord, from the depths to thee I cried (Martyrdom, Fenwick)
Hymn 657 Father most loving, listen to your children (Christe Sanctorum)
Hymn 721 We lay our broken world at your feet (Garelochside)
Hymn 527 Lord make us servants of your peace (A Waly Waly)
Anthem: My eyes for beauty pine, Howells
Musical Interlude: Cantique de Jean Racine, Fauré
Old Testament Reading: II Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
New Testament Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Gospel Reading: John 6:35, 41-51
Reader: Isobel Carter
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for bank details or other means of donating.
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Worship followed by Coffee and Tea in Upper Hall (by donation)
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers, Wednesday 14th August, 1pm, London Scottish Chapel
Church Member:
We are sorry to announce the death of Reverend Marion Dodd, former member and elder of St Columba’s Church on 30th July 2024. Marion’s funeral will be held at Melrose Parish Church, Weirhill, Melrose ,TD6 9LJ on Tuesday 27 August at 1.00pm. The service will be livestreamed on this link. “Rest eternal grant unto her and let light perpetual shine upon her.”
Memorial Service:
A memorial service for the late Revd Dr Cameron Hunter Langlands, member of the Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands, will be held on the 6th of September 2024 at 1pm at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham BR3 3BX. Reception to follow at the Museum of the Mind. If you would like to attend please let Revd Ian MacDonald (Head Chaplain) know This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hot off the Press, Church Magazine, August – September 2024. Available via the Bookstall for £1.50
Pick up a copy with its stunning front cover, from the bookstall. Then pick up another to give to a friend! Thanks once again to our Editor, Susan Pym and her team of contributors.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club, Monday 9th September
The Group met last Monday to discuss The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd. Unusually there was no disagreement about this choice which was universally liked. It was difficult to believe it was a work of fiction. Our next meeting will be by Zoom on 9 September, when we shall be discussing A Single Thread by Tracey Chevalier. The book after that one will be Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn. New members to the book club are welcome, for more information please contact the church office.
UPCOMING: Sounds of St Columba’s Programme.
Some dates to put in your diary as our director of music Benedict Lewis-Smith has booked a great programme for the coming months.
- Sunday 15th September 2024– Jonathan Radford, Saxophone Recital
- Sunday 20th October 2024 - Ruby Skilbeck, Soprano and Liz Hayley, Piano Recital
- Sunday 17th November 2024 – Choir of St Columba’s, Requiem by Duruflé
- Sunday 16th February 2025 – Choir of Imperial College
- Sunday 16th March 2025 - Emily Sun, Violin and Caterina Grewe, Piano Recital
Glass Door's annual Sleep Out, Friday, 4 October 2024.
Participants give up their bed for one night to give someone a chance to find a pathway out of homelessness. Find out more and sign up at www.glassdoor.org.uk/sleep-out
RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 6th December 2024, outside St Columba’s Church.
Every year the staff, volunteers and supporters of Restart Lives spend one night outside. Although there is much that separates the experience of the controlled environment of the Sleepout from that of a person living life on the streets, we hope the event will help all those who participate to imagine what London's homeless have to contend with.
We can only accommodate 80 sleepers at this event, so if you would like to reserve your spot, don’t delay and sign up now
ScotsCare Podcast, Series 2
ScotsCare is back with series 2 of its podcast, where in each episode a well-known guest chats about how their Scottish background influenced the person they’ve become today, life journeys and how being Scottish relates to their interactions with the world. The charity supports Scots away from home in London with a range of services. The series has already aired episodes with football legend Pat Nevin (Chelsea, Everton and Scotland), bestselling cookbook author The Hebridean Baker and comedy actress Michelle Gomez (Green Wing, Doctor Who) with more to come. The series will be released in three blocks over the course of the next year. Tune in on all regular podcast platforms and the ScotsCare website www.scotscare.com. Missed series 1? It’s available on podcast platforms and the website, with guests such as broadcaster and singer Isla St. Clair, Star Wars and Andor actor, Duncan Pow and celebrity chef Tony Singh MBE, to name a few.
Scots in London presents the St Andrew’s Book Festival
Scots in London’s most ambitious collaboration to date is the St Andrew’s Book Festival (25th November – 1st December 2024.) St Columba’s is one of the three venues hosting a superb array of authors – both household names and new writers. Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Judy Murray are among headline speakers. Look out in the coming weeks for ways to get involved including volunteering. We are delighted to report that the new Scots in London St Andrew’s Book Festival is now live! Please head over to www.standrewsbookfestival.org to have a look around or if you are interested in Friends and other memberships with exciting benefits options.
There is a full A-Z listing of our authors and I think you will agree that this is a stellar line-up for our inaugural Festival.
You can also access the Festival first newsletter on this link.
For more information about Scots in London, please follow this link. You can join their newsletter here to be informed about their latest news, events and opportunities as well as their member organisations. The August Scots in London Newsletter is published at https://mailchi.mp/6ab0f4bf731f/scots-in-london-july-newsletter
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271