Lent and Easter 2021

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Journey to Easter

Congregational Lent Reading - Week Five

St Columba's Church · Never Weather Beaten Sail

REFLECTION & POINTS FOR PRAYER
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
St. Columba’s, Pont Street, & St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.
Sunday 21st March 2021, 5th Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits.

Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us with the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ, and serve you in holiness and righteousness all our days. Send out your light and your truth to be our guide; let them lead us to your holy hill, to your dwelling place. Amen.

Scripture Reading John 12. vv20-36
The Request of the Greeks

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him “Sir, we should like to see Jesus”. So Philip went and told Andrew, and the two of them went to tell Jesus. Then Jesus replied: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. In truth, in very truth I tell you, a grain of wheat remains a solitary grain unless it falls into the ground and dies; but if it dies, it bears a rich harvest. The man who loves himself is lost, but he who hates himself in this world will be kept safe for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; where I am, my servant will be. Whoever serves me will be honoured by my Father.
“Now my soul is in turmoil, and what am I to say? Father , save me from this hour. No, it was for this that I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” A voice sounded from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing by said it was thunder, while others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus replied, “This voice spoke for your sake, not mine. Now is the hour of judgement for this world; now shall the Prince of this world be driven out. And I shall draw all men to myself when I am lifted up from the earth.” This he said to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
The people answered, “Our Law teaches us that the Messiah continues for ever. What do you mean by saying that that the Son of Man must be lifted up? What Son of Man is this? Jesus answered them: “The light is among you still, but not for long. Go on your way while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you. He who journeys in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, trust to the light, so that you may become men of light.” After these words Jesus went away from them into hiding.

With Thee there is Light

O God, early in the morning do I cry unto Thee.
Help me to pray and to think only of Thee.
I cannot pray alone.
In me there is darkness,
but with Thee there is light.

I am lonely
but Thou leavest me not.
I am feeble in heart,
but Thou leavest me not.
I am restless,
but with Thee there is peace.
In me there is bitterness,
but with Thee there is patience.
Thy ways are past understanding,
but Thou knowest the way for me.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

O heavenly Father, help us to listen and act, to put into practice that which you taught, both at our day’s work and at our instructions in the faith. Help us to remember that words are poor things without deeds, and that faith without works is dead. We thank you for the dedication to your church of our elders recently named after 30 years of loyal service. May we follow their example and join in the instruction at their ordination to be servants of Christ Jesus, and to share the ministry of love to all people. May we all “get out and do good” (Rt Rev. Dr. Martin Fair) and be amongst those who “look to God [and] are radiant with joy”. Amen

Blessing

Lord, we thank Thee for this place; in which we dwell;
for the love that unites us;
for the peace accorded to us this day;
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers.
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

May the love of the Lord Jesus,
draw us to himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen us in his service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus
fill our souls. Amen
(William Temple)

Opening Hours

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.

Connect with us

Find us

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

Getting here by tube

Knightsbridge Station

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.

South Kensington Station

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!

Sloane Square Station

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.