Friends,
It still feels like early in a new year, with people continuing to greet with, Happy New Year, and ongoing chat about new year resolutions. So, two pieces sent to me recently, for consideration. Firstly, a sort of “recitation of resolutions” from Mother Teresa (circulated by the Congregational prayer Group – thank you.)
“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God.
It was never between you and them anyway.” (Mother Teresa)
Secondly, a prayer for beginnings and endings from the late Eugene Peterson.
God of all beginnings and endings,
I bring all my unfinished business to you –
everything that I started and couldn’t finish,
all that I began but lost interest in,
all that I began in hope but quit in despair.
Make finished work of all of it,
by your grace. Amen.
Happy continuings. Have a good week and see you on Sunday,
Angus
Worshipping at St Columba’s & COVID Precautions.
The current arrangements for worship at St Columba’s remain unaltered but reinforced. Unless you are exempt from wearing a face mask, we ask you to wear a face mask in the building and maintain social distancing in the pews. You may wish to complete a negative lateral flow test no more than 24 hours prior to Sunday service. We suggest dressing warmly as we try to keep the sanctuary well ventilated. In all our arrangements we recognise that people are at various stages on the pandemic journey – we ask for sensitivity around social distancing and keeping everyone confident and safe. (Our arrangements are under constant review, and we will publicise any changes as promptly as possible, should the need arise.)
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live stream.
To access the live stream from the homepage (front page) click the Menu button in the top right-hand side of the page and scroll down and click on “Live Stream”. This will bring up the live stream to the church. The act of worship of approximately 60 minutes, includes include prayers, a sermon and music. The words for the hymns will be on the website. We believe it is really important to continue to live-stream the Morning Service under its current format i.e. for the benefit of those joining worship from afar or those as yet unable to make the journey to Pont Street. For those without internet, the Dial-In facility continues. Many people comment that they do have a sense of worshipping together, even if invisible to each other.
Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary.
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 now phone in to join the Sunday service. No visuals clearly, but at least they can hear the service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0203 051 2874.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 266 883 5072#
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #. Step 4: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
Hymns, Music & Readings, 16th January 2022 – 11am, Morning Worship
Hymn 320 Joy to the world (Antioch)
Hymn 700 As man and woman we were made (Sussex Carol)
Hymn 696 We come, dear Lord, to celebrate (Repton)
Hymn 519 Love divine, all loves excelling (Hyfrydol)
Old Testament Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5 & Psalm 36:5-9
Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11
Anthem: Magi veniunt ab oriente (Clemens non Papa)
Musical Interlude: And the glory of the Lord (Handel)
Postlude: Fugue in C minor BWV 537 (J.S. Bach)
Short Service of Weekly Holy Communion
Following Morning Service there is a short service of Holy Communion, combined with prayers for those in need, at 12.15pm in the London Scottish Chapel. Worshippers can receive bread and wine; wine is distributed via small individual “thimble” glasses. The names gathered from the prayer cards, at the back of the sanctuary, are prayed for during the communion service. This is a very welcome return for a small but precious part of St Columba’s life.
Office Hours
Contact details; Tel: 020 7584 2321
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
Congregational Sunday Lunch, 16th January 2022 & Future Dates
A reminder that due to the reduced number of available lunch teams (9 down to 5), lunches will only be served on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month, and on the 5th Sunday where there are 5 Sundays in any month.
The next lunch dates are the 16th of January, 30th January and 6th February in the Lower Hall unless circumstances change. Those taking lunch and /or coffee to wear masks until they sit down and wait to be served.
Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall. These Hospitality Services are much valued in supporting Fellowship.
Maintaining Community and Supporting Each Other
Everybody can play a part in maintaining contact with others via telephone, e-mail or letter, especially those who are particularly vulnerable. Our Elders are encouraged to make contact with those in their districts, and church members are welcome to contact the church office to request a contact from their elder or the Minister.
Advent Appeal 2021 – Thank you
Thank you very much to all who donated socks, boxers and thermal items for the homeless and disadvantaged people that the Glass Door charity help. The items will now be passed to Glass Door to restock their supplies for the homeless, much needed during the winter months. Thanks too for those who made a financial donation to Borderline in support of their work. Both charities really appreciate the help, generosity and support you give to them. Mission Committee.
Congregational Offerings
Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas
Would anyone wishing to contribute to St Andrew’s, Newcastle please contact the Session Clerk on standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com for bank details or other means of donating.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Tuesday 18th to Tuesday 25th January
The story of the Magi visiting the Holy Family in Bethlehem is one very familiar to us. The Magi have sometimes been seen as a symbol of the world’s diversity – different religions and cultures – that comes to pay homage to the Christ-child. The story might therefore represent the unity of all created that God desires.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2022 has been prepared by the churches of the Middle East, the history of which was, and still is, characterised by conflict and strife, tainted with blood and darkened by injustice and oppression. The Christians of the Middle East offer these resources conscious that the world shares many of the travails and much of the difficulties that it experiences and yearns for a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness.
Serving the Gospel today requires a commitment to the human being, especially the poorest, the weakest and those marginalised. It requires from the churches transparency and accountability in dealing with the world, and with each other. This means churches need to cooperate to provide relief to the afflicted, to welcome the displaced, to relieve the burdened, and to build a just and honest society. This is a call for churches to work together so that young people can build a good future according to God’s heart, a future in which all human beings can experience life, peace, justice, and love. (From Churches Together in Britain & Ireland https://ctbi.org.uk/)
Prayer resources for the Week of Christian Unity can be found at https://ctbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WPCU-2022-English-A5-1.pdf
ScotsCare film
A film made for the ScotsCare charity has been nominated for an award at the upcoming Charity Film Awards. See the film via the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtOUl04Tbik
St Columba’s Book Club
The next online meeting of the St Columba’s Book Club is the 24th January at 7pm. The book this month will be The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis. The joy of the St Columba’s book club is that is all on Zoom so you can join from anywhere in the world in the comfort of your own home. In your newly purchased/gifted diaries do put the forward date of Monday, February 28 2022 as well.
Sounds of St Columba’s
Unfortunately, the first in the ‘Sounds of St Columba’s’ concert series, due to restart this Sunday (16th January 2022) has been postponed due to illness among the performers. We plan to restart the series as soon as we can. Recitals at 1.15pm will continue throughout the year on the third Sunday of the month (excluding April, August & December). Full details of the performers and repertoire will follow a little later this year. These recitals are free to attend, with a retiring offering. For more information contact Ben Lewis-Smith music@stcolumbas.org.uk
Happy Hour
Our first meeting will be on Wednesday 2nd February when our speaker will be Elder, Donald Johnston. We plan to meet at The Carpenters Arms in Seymour Place W1.
Stamps
Stamps if you would like to leave stamps for Crossreach, please pop them into the Church Office on Sundays.
