Friends,
It’s not fair! How often have you heard a child say these words? Children have a highly developed sense of justice and are quick to spot adult hypocrisy.
Our Old Testament lesson this week from 1 Samuel 3: 1-20 tells the story of the call of the child Samuel: the boy was being trained by the priest Eli at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. In the dark, three times he heard someone calling his name and thought it was Eli. Eventually, Eli realised that God was calling Samuel, and Samuel responded to God.
God gave Samuel an insight into what was soon to happen and, as he grew up, all Israel came to know that Samuel was one of the great prophets.
It may have taken more than one attempt, and a nudge from the older man, but once he realised who was calling him, Samuel was open to doing what God wanted – not just there and then, but for a lifetime. This week we explore what it means for us to be open to God, whatever our age, condition or social status. In the words of the lovely old hymn –
O give me Samuel’s ear,
The open ear, O Lord,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of thy word,
Like him to answer at thy call,
And to obey thee first of all.
(James Drummond Burns, CH3 123).
William.
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream. Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary. Note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel.
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 phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from
10.50am.
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Morning Worship Sunday, 2nd June 2024, Second Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 96 You are before me, God, you are behind (Sursum Corda)
Hymn Hushed was the evening hymn (Samuel)
Hymn 485 Dear Lord and Father of mankind (Repton)
Hymn 644 O Jesus, I have promised (Thornbury)
Anthem: Cantata Domino by Pitoni
Musical Interlude: View me Lord by Lloyd
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 3: 1-20
New Testament Reading: II Corinthians 4: 5-12
Gospel Reading: Mark 2: 23- 3:6
Reader: Rona Black
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
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.
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service & Sunday School activities (11am),
THIS SUNDAY: Serenades and Sundaes lunch
Lovely live piano music playing from 12.15- 1.15pm. There will be a delicious two course lunch of homemade chicken and vegetable pie, and fresh berries and ice cream sundaes (with other options available such as vegetarian/gluten free/lactose intolerant/vegan).
THIS SUNDAY: Evening Service (5pm), London Scottish Chapel followed by Coffee and Tea in the Upper Hall
THIS SUNDAY: Getting to Iona, by Tomás Barry, 1.30pm, London Scottish Chapel.
St Columba’s will hold the premiere of new play, “Getting to Iona”, written and performed by Tomás Barry. Tomas’s grandfather, Canon John Barry was a Church of Ireland priest. In 1963 Canon Barry and twelve accomplices sailed to Iona from Northern Ireland in a replica curragh, which they had constructed, to commemorate the original voyage of St Columba to Iona in 563AD. From that expedition Canon Barry wrote and published his personal account, “Joyful Pilgrimage”. Inspired by his grandfather’s book, Tomas has written a one-act play, directed by Graham Butler-Breen, describing it as “a play about leaving home for the unknown. What we seek, what we find, and what we leave behind.”
The premiere will be performed at 1.30pm on Sunday 2nd June 2024 in the London Scottish Chapel. This performance will be free to congregational members. Please book your space with the church office at office@stcolumbas.org.uk as places are limited. The play will also be performance for the public from Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th June 2024 at 7pm in the London Scottish Chapel. You can purchase your ticket on this link.
NEXT WEEK: St Columba’s Book Club, Monday 3rd June
At our last meeting, the group discussed The direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah. Everyone enjoyed the book. Our next choice for the meeting on 3 June is Frederick Bachman’s Anxious People and provisionally that will be followed by The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd. We welcome new members, so please let the church office know if you would like to join us.
NEXT SUNDAY: St Columba’s Day Celebrations
Sunday 9th June promises to be a very special day. We mark St Columba’s Day with a celebration of Holy Communion, and the service of welcome for five new members of the congregation. Following the morning service there will be refreshments in the Upper Hall and also the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of St Columba’s, at 1.30pm. The AGM is followed by the traditional Celebration Tea, giving opportunity to mix and mingle with Friends, catching up with those not seen for some time.
Note: Congregational Prayer Group also meets at 10.15am in the Kirk Session Room on Sunday 9th June. All welcome.
NEXT SUNDAY: Scottish Country Dancing for Children, Sunday 9th June, 1pm in Lower Hall
With the support of RSCDS, we are delighted to offer the children a Scottish Country Dancing class. Classes take place on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Rose Kreloff is an RSCDS London member who teaches regularly in London and the Southeast. Classes are free thanks to support from St Columba’s and RSCDS London but donations are welcome. We ask that parents/carers contact classes@rscdslondon.org.uk to book a place in the class. Please include name and age of children so that we can make sure we have the right amount of support for each class.
Friends of St Columba’s visit postponed
Unfortunately, the visit to the synagogue at Bevis Marks, City of London, EC3A 5DQ, on Friday 21 June is postponed until 2024-25, as the extensive works are not yet completed. Watch this space!
Scots in London
Scots in London is an umbrella organisation for Scottish cultural societies, sports clubs, alumni groups, charities, churches and the Scottish military in London. The Scots in London mission is to co-ordinate members’ events, promote Scottish heritage and culture in the London area, and to support relevant charities, as well as running events. HRH the Princess Royal is the organisation’s Royal Patron.
Scots in London presents the St Andrew’s Book Festival
Scots in London’s most ambitious collaboration to date is the St Andrew’s Book Festival (25th November – 1st December 2024.) St Columba’s is one of the three venues hosting a superb array of authors – both household names and new writers. Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Judy Murray are among headline speakers Look out in the coming weeks for ways to get involved including volunteering. If you are interested in Friends and other memberships with exciting benefits, visit this link for options.
For more information about Scots in London, please follow this link. You can join their newsletter here to be informed about their latest news, events and opportunities as well as their member organisations.
St Columbans supporting worthy causes
Two of our elders are currently working hard to support causes dear to their hearts. You might like to support them. Nadia Dallsingh is travelling in Nepal and preparing for her climb to Everest Base Camp to support MIND, the mental health charity, particularly its work with young people. Meanwhile Susan Pym is preparing for a not quite so arduous sponsored walk to support the North London Hospice where she volunteers weekly and where her sister Marion was lovingly cared for in her last days. We salute these efforts. If you are interested in supporting Nadia and Susan their JustGiving pages are below.
Nadia’s link: Vashtee Nadias fundraiser for Mind
Susan’s link: Please Sponsor Team Marion/Maz
STAMP COLLECTION FOR RNIB
Please put any used stamps, British or foreign (clipped if possible about 1 cm round the stamp) into the basket in the office (weekdays) or at the Welcome Desk on Sundays. They are still worth money to the charity. Many thanks.
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
