Friends,
“A flight of crossess,” Ian Gillespie, St Andrew’s, Newcastle
This Sunday is special in various ways. In the Christian calendar it marks the beginning of Holy Week, stretching from Palm Sunday to Easter morning. It is the sacred ground covering the events of Jesus’ final days – Last Supper, Gethsemane, arrest, trial, torture, Cross, tomb – and beyond.
Friends,
This Sunday is sometimes known as Passion Sunday. On the fifth Sunday in Lent the shadow of the Cross lengthens, as we consider the story and event that is at the heart of Christian faith. This week the American writer Debie Thomas voices our reluctance to confront this hardest part of our faith:
Friends,
On Sunday, this year’s Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Revd Dr Martin Fair will preach for the live-stream service at 11am. Unable to be with us in person, as he was scheduled to be, Dr Fair has kindly pre recorded sermon, prayers and presentation of Long Service Certificates for five St Columba’s elders. We look forward to his message.
Friends,
“The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.”
(Psalm 19:1)
The opening verse of the psalm set for this weekend, the 3rd Sunday in Lent. A reminder to look up and be astonished at the ever-changing canopy above us.
We sometimes use the words of the poet E E Cummings as a prayer:
Friends,
We are now well into the first full week of Lent. Last Sunday, the Lent Appeal on behalf of Play for Progress www.playforprogress.org was launched by the charity’s co-founder, Dr Anna MacDonald, outlining the work with unaccompanied minor refugees and asylum seekers. She spoke about the importance of giving stability to children who have often experienced trauma of various kinds, have very few adults who they can trust, and operating far from home, in English, which may be their third or fourth language. Anna reminded us of the importance of having someone to speak up for them, especially when interacting with the care and legal systems, as well as the joy that emerges from their music and creativity. The Appeal Tree, prepared by the Mission Committee, at the front of the sanctuary, is a reminder of the season and opportunity to respond.
Friends,
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. At this morning’s Zoom Coffee Morning, discussion centred on, what is Lent for? And, how should we participate in Lent? The consensus was that for the majority of those raised Church of Scotland, Lent played very little part in people’s upbringing or faith journey. Historically, there was an unfortunate presumption that Lent was in some way “suspicious;” something done “by Episcopalians and Roman Catholics!” Fortunately, we are generally more open to other traditions these days.
The office is open from
9.00 a.m. to 4.00 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.