The Gospel reading set for this Sunday includes Jesus inviting his disciples: “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat (Mark 6:31-2).
Friends,
It was a huge honour to be invited to the recent ordination of Monsignor James Curry as Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and titular Bishop of Ramsbiria. It fills me with joy that whatever the differences between our denominations we can share these special occasions and I was delighted to be able to wish "Father Jim" well as he embarks on this new phase of his ministry. The invitation to attend the service in Westminster Cathedral and the party afterwards came from Cardinal Nichols, the envelope looking very official, complete with his coat of arms, and I must confess that I've never lost the sense of excitement I had as a youngster when an unexpected and important-looking letter arrives.
Friends,
Some years ago, at one of the Early/Family Services, held in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel, it was our custom to ask, before the prayers, if there was anything people would like to give special thanks for, or any situation/person we would particularly like to pray for. Teachers, holidays, ice-cream, the World Cup, Wimbledon, grandparents and siblings all figured. Memorably, on one occasion, one young voice responded: “Pray that Mr Trump doesn’t visit Britain.” There was a collective in-take of breath, as we considered this very specific petition; a public airing of what was clearly domestic/parental politics. The response was given: “I am not sure how God will answer that prayer, but perhaps we could remember: Politicians should never be above our criticism, or beneath our prayers.” Our young companion looked unconvinced.
Friends,
I received the recent gift of an exquisitely crafted cross, from craft group member Gillian Buchanan. It is created using the lace-making technique of tatting. This was definitely new to me – further research informed, tatting uses “a series of knots and loops to create a particularly durable type of lace, perfect for motifs and edgings. Becoming very popular in Europe in the early 19th Century, it goes by many names… The American’s call it tatting, the French, frivolet, the Italian’s, chiacchierino and the German’s, schiffchenarbeit, which charmingly translates to "work of the little boat" referring to the boat shaped shuttle used to create it!”
Friends,
I've said before that I love books! I always have a pile of books beside the bed - books I have read, books I am reading and books I intend to read - mainly biography and history. A recent acquisition is a book called "Eleanor and Franklin", a biography of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt by Eleanor's friend Joe Lash. They were a truly remarkable couple; Franklin Delano Roosevelt - FDR as he was known - was president of the United States from 1933-45, leading his country out of the Great Depression and through the Second World War, dying at the early age of 63 in April 1945 just as the war was coming to an end.
Friends,
With recent days characterised by military anniversary and continued electioneering, the voice and perspective of one Normandy veteran has come to mind. Sydney Jary MC, aged 20, served as a platoon commander with the Somerset Light Infantry, leading his soldiers from Normandy to Germany, between 1944-45. Years after the war, his book, Eighteen Platoon, recounted the ground level experiences of a junior infantry officer.
The office is open from
9.00 a.m. to 5.00 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).
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St. Columba's
Pont Street London SW1X 0BD |
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+44 (0)20-7584-2321
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office@stcolumbas.org.uk
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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.