“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” (Roald Dahl, Matilda)
Three encounters in recent days. A gentleman discussing a family bereavement, explained a long-standing connection to St Columba’s. Born in June 1940, he was baptised in the original Victorian church, before the building was destroyed in the Blitz of May 1941. As he observed: “I got in just in time!” Another church member, formerly of the Flower Guild, returned for a special occasion. She spent much of a day arranging the floral displays, that twenty four hours later would celebrate her own wedding day. Another recently married St Columban, returns to offer the gift of his music at one of our Sounds of St Columba’s recitals. Three quite different individuals, at different life stages – but each finding, or refinding, a connection to this church at the crossroads. Illustrative of how lives weave in and out of this place; passengers/pilgrims, boarding and alighting the “St Columba’s Express”. For the continuities that this place offers, the memories and associations which it holds, let us be grateful.
Friends,
One of the consequences of the pandemic was the change it provoked to the “lifting up”, or dedication of the weekly offering, during Sunday morning worship. Pre-pandemic, we passed the collection bags along the pews; then, once assembled, carried them to the communion table, where they were received with prayer. It was a regular and recognisable feature of our worship. Consciously, or not, while it was the financial offerings that were processed forward, they represented something bigger. Each week, via this collective, symbolic act there was a recognition and thanksgiving for the gifts we receive from God – and the gifts of our time, talent and treasure that we offer to God. As a congregation we prayed for generosity and wisdom in the way that we used such gifts, serving not just our own needs, but also those of others beyond our walls.
Friends,
This Sunday we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. This is always a very special occasion as parents bring their child into the church and promise to raise her in the Christian faith with the support and prayers of her Godparents and the congregation. But it is always important to remember that this is a sacrament of grace, a gift from God and that baptism is not something we do for God but a celebration of what God has already done for us in Christ. I am especially pleased to baptise Matilda as I married her parents two years ago, a reminder of how long I've been at St. Columba's. I hope that Matilda and all children baptised into the church will find a welcome and a church family to join wherever in the world life takes them.
Friends,
Every now and again I say that I'm going to give up social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I sometimes find myself drawn into pointless arguments about politics, the Church, the constitution or whatever, with people who are not interested in any point of view but their own and certainly don't want to have a reasoned discussion. But having said that Facebook is a good way of maintaining contact with cousins and old friends and although I might not be 'phoning or writing to them every week, thanks to Facebook I know what they and their children are doing. Later than everyone else I've also been persuaded to join Whatsapp which is another useful way to keep in touch. One of the people I enjoy following on Twitter is Eduard Habsbsing, Hungarian ambassador to the Vatican. He recently invited his followers to post photographs of the church in which they were baptised and many responded with beautiful pictures of churches all over the world. Unfortunately I did not have a good picture of St. Ninians Old Parish Church in Stirling which I could contribute but as it is the church where my parents were married, where I was baptised and where many of my family are buried in the churchyard it is a place for which I have great affection.
This week congregation members met to continue the thinking initiated by the Congregational Away Day in September 2023. Specifically, how can we build awareness and connections between our Sunday congregation (members and visitors) and the many hundreds of people (young and old) who cross the threshold of our building almost every week of the year. In the light of those discussions, the following might be of interest – it originally appeared in Revd David Donald Scott’s, Blog on the Learig.
The office is open from
8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m,
Monday to Friday.
There is a 24-hour answering machine service.
St Columba’s is located on Pont Street in Knightsbridge in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Church is within easy reach of three London Underground stations – Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line), South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle and District Lines) and Sloane Square (Circle and District Lines).
|
St. Columba's
Pont Street London SW1X 0BD |
|
|
+44 (0)20-7584-2321
|
|
|
office@stcolumbas.org.uk
|
Take the Harrods exit if open (front car if coming from the East, rear car if coming from the West). Come up the stairs to street level, carry on keeping Harrods on your right. Turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on into Walton Place with St Saviour’s Church on your left. At the traffic lights, St Columba’s is to your left across the street. If the Harrods exit is closed, take the Sloane Street exit, turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on past Harrods with the shop on your right, into Walton Place as before.
Come up the stairs out of the station and turn left into the shopping arcade. Turn left again into Pelham Street. At the traffic lights at the end of Pelham Street cross Brompton Road, turn left then immediately right into the narrow street of Draycott Avenue. After just a few yards turn left into Walton Street. Carry on walking up Walton Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn right and after a few steps you will be at St Columba’s!
Cross over the square into Sloane Street. Walk along Sloane Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn left into Pont Street. St Columba’s will then be in sight.