News and Events - Downing Place URC · Seasons Greetings Daphne Thomas and the team ... debate with...
Transcript of News and Events - Downing Place URC · Seasons Greetings Daphne Thomas and the team ... debate with...
News and Events
St Columba’s Church, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EL
December 2017 & January 2018
Contact details
Website www.stcolumbaschurch.org
Minister The Rev’d Nigel Uden [email protected]
(office) 514 389
(manse) 314586
Church Secretary
& Clerk to the
Church Meeting
Nicholas Morgan [email protected]
353 870
Church Secretary Yvonne Norgett [email protected]
264619
Church Treasurer Ian Strachan [email protected]
574 047
Director of
Music
Ian de Massini [email protected]
07801 234343
Church
Administrator
Elaine Barker Mornings only—Wednesday is
Elaine’s rest day
312 814
The Church Office is open
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday from 9.00am to 1.00pm
Hospital Visitor Hazel Morrison 244 947
Cambridge
Voices
Ian de Massini (contact details above)
FROM THE MINISTER
I suppose there are few of us who do not appreciate the Nativity stories
in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Expectant parents on a journey;
shepherds distracted from their sheep and rushing to Bethlehem; kings
kneeling in the straw. Revealing the agenda of their writers, these tales
help us explore both the wonder and the significance of the birth of
Jesus. Because the Gospels are not simple histories of Jesus, we do not
have to read them as if they were accurate in every detail. Their purpose
is to offer us windows onto what God is like, and doorways into a closer
connection with God.
Something occurred to me this Autumn as yet again I thought about
these ever-so familiar narratives: almost every one of them tells us of
the devotional demeanour of the characters. The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. The magi
knelt down and paid him homage. Mary treasured all she heard and
pondered them in her heart. Even Herod recognised that worship was
an appropriate response to the Christ-child. Indeed, if David Kossoff
were to be believed, the donkey, too, responded with a down-to-earth
sense of excitement when he heard what folk were saying about the
difference his mistress’s baby would make. And so it can be for us, too.
A rich tapestry of social, cultural and charitable activities has come to
typify our celebration of the festive season, with parties that delight,
music that inspires, and good works that bless. For the religious person,
all of those are given a particular wholeness as we add to them a
devotion that emulates what is attributed to the Bible’s Christmas
characters. So, we sing our praise in carols old and new and we reflect
upon the theology behind it all through sermon and sacrament. But
those are public expressions of our devotion. Maybe some of us are
more like Mary, preferring quieter, even solitary opportunities for
reflection upon ‘the great mystery of the incarnation’. After all, the
claim that in the infant of the manger God is with us, full of grace and
truth, is pretty breathtakingly awesome. Public worship isn’t the only
way to react to it.
Maybe one way of letting this story give shape and purpose to our
lives is to resolve to build a moment of devotion into each day. Many
do, and witness to the benefits, both to their sense of spiritual health
and to their more general equilibrium. Often some help can be useful.
There are countless books available, and if anyone would like talk
about what’s out there, please do not hesitate to ask me.
There is also the internet. A recent United Reformed Church
innovation is called Daily Devotion. At 6am every morning those who
have signed up receive an email which has a Bible passage, a reflection
upon it and a topical prayer for the day. One hundred URC people are
writing for this site, and over 1700 are now getting the email. It’s also
available on Facebook. There are all sorts of plusses to this option.
First, its reaching one’s Inbox is an immediate prompt not to forget.
Secondly, there is usually unfolding subject matter, as themes or books
of the Bible are gradually explored. Thirdly, the range of writers is
diverse and therefore the messages offered appeal to a similarly wide
range of people; if one day’s doesn’t speak to you, it’s highly likely that
quite soon another’s will. Fourthly, the devotions are not lengthy and
can easily occupy a few minutes chosen to suit the reader’s timetable.
If you are interested in this specific option for nourishing your
discipleship, then you can sign up at http://tinyurl.com/
URCDailyDevotions.
It’s often said that a ‘a dog is not just for Christmas’. Nor is Christmas
just for Christmas. The God who comes to us in the child whose birth
we celebrate in December is for every day. A daily devotional moment
is an ideal way of letting God define who we are.
Bethan, Jess and I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a good New
Year.
Nigel Uden
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
FILM NIGHT
Advance notice that the next Film Night is planned for Thursday 1st February. This will be at the usual venue and the film is yet to be decided. Suggestions are welcome. Doors open 6.45 for a 7.00pm start, followed by ice cream and conversation. Venue details from Nigel or Rosemary. Lifts can be offered. It would be helpful, but not essential, to know who plans to be there.
BOOK CLUB
The book club dates for the next few months are yet to be agreed but the books for discussion are as follows: January - “Conclave” by Robert Harris at 18 Fenners Lawn , CB1 2EH February - “The Arrival “ by Shaun Tan at 5 Fenners Lawn , CB1 2EH
EVENTS AND CATERING NEWS
Epiphany Service, Sunday January 7th starting at 6pm.
A Cheese and Wine, light supper will be served after the Service.
It has been decided to ask for Donations towards the costs.
Burns Night Supper, Saturday 27th January—6.30 for 7pm
Tickets costing £15.00 will be on sale 10th and 17th December as well as Sundays in January.
Shrove Tuesday February 13th 2018
Now that our granddaughter has started school, our son has asked us to help with childcare. I therefore feel unable to offer to organise the Shrove Tuesday Coffee morning, in half term, next year. I wondered if someone felt they could organise it instead.
Obviously I will consult the people who have been involved in past years, but it would be extra special if a new face might want to do it. Seasons Greetings
Daphne Thomas and the team
GIFT DAY
The staff at Cambridge Women’s Aid who received our donations were quite overwhelmed by the gifts from the congregation. We have received a letter thanking you all for your generosity towards women and children who have lived with domestic violence. Many thanks to all.
Yvonne Norgett
BOOKSTALL
A bookstall will be held in the Gibson Hall after the service on Sunday 10th December 2017. Christine and Michael Russell
HEIDELBERG EXCHANGE
Many of you will know that Cambridge is twinned with Heidelberg, and that there are regular contacts between the two city councils. What some of you may not know is that for many years, Churches Together in Cambridge have also operated exchange visits, whereby every two years, guests from each city are accommodated and entertained for a few days. The next visit planned is for the Heidelbergers to come to us from Sat.29th Sept 2018 till Wednesday 3rd October.
If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Rosey Feuell: [email protected], or 01223 213305. It is really a most enjoyable experience for people of all ages, and many wonderful friendships have been formed over the years. Do think seriously about it! Most of them speak excellent English too! Christine Clarke
STREET PASTORS
As we host the Street Pastors’ NightLite, members of St Columba’s
may be interested to learn of two Street Pastor -shaped events on
Sunday 21st January 2018:-
At 4.00pm in Great St Mary’s Church the annual service for the
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will have as its preacher
The Revd Les Isaacs, founder of Street Pastors
At 6.00-7.30pm Mr Isaacs will speak less formally about Street
Pastors at Wesley Methodist Church, Christ’s Pieces
REFORMATION TODAY
On Saturday 4th November some forty people gathered at St Columba’s to think about the events of five hundred years earlier when Martin Luther gave particular expression to his critique of the Church – events that led to the start of the Reformation.
In the morning there were three lectures by Professor Ulinka Rublack of St John’s College, The Revd Dr John Bradbury of Emmanuel Church and Dr Gareth Atkins, of Queens College.
In the first talk, we were enabled to reflect upon some of detail of what Luther initiated through some of his seminal work, including the Ninety Five theses, but also his 1520 thoughts on marriage, which he saw as a state that enables humanity not to be sinful and his debate with Erasmus 1524. As Professor Rublack put it, Luther reminds us that ‘God has taken salvation out of the control of my will and taken it into his’. John Bradbury, who suggested that the Reformation unleashed a love affair with Scripture, focussed upon a basic understanding of the Reformation’s significance as less about the newness than the restoration of the doctrine of justification by faith. With immediate relevance to the journey Emmanuel and St Columba’s are taking, John mused on how the church is ordered, observing that ‘we have never sorted out whether there is an essential form to the life of the church’, and that that, however uncomfortable, is good. In an illustrated talk, Dr Atkins spoke of the way previous generations have marked Luther anniversaries, and particularly Edwardian England.
After lunch, we came together again for a roundtable discussion
about the implications of the Reformation for today as seen through
the lens of various traditions. Chaired by Professor David Thompson
(URC), the speakers were, in alphabetical order, Professor Eugenio
Biagini (Baptist), The Revd Alice Goodman (Anglican), Dr Cynthia
Lumley (Lutheran), Dr Simone Maghenzani (Waldensian) Professor Ian McFarland (Lutheran) and The Revd Colin Smith (Methodist).
Participants in the REFORMATION TODAY round table discussion: L to R, Professor Ian McFarland (Lutheran), the Revd Colin Smith (Methodist), Professor Eugenio Biagini (Baptist), Professor David Thompson (URC, in the Chair), Dr Cynthia Lumley (Lutheran), Dr Simone Maghenzani (Waldensian). Missing from the picture, the Revd Alice Goodman (Anglican).
The day concluded with a thoughtfully programmed concert by Cambridge Voices, the Ersamus Chamber Choir and the Baroque Band of Cambridge. Two Reformation-related cantatas by J. S. Bach were complemented with related organ music and Ian de Massini’s a capella setting of Karg-Elert’s Nun danket.
On Sunday 5th, at 4.00pm there was an ecumenical service at the renowned Reformation church of St Edward, King and Martyr, by kind permission of the Vicar Chaplain, The Revd Dr Mark Scarlata. An enthusiastic congregation filled the church, and participants included people from Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist,
Roman Catholic and United Reformed Churches.
The choir of Girton College sang music from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries, and the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, The Revd Dr David Cornick, preached.
The weekend enabled us to ponder the ambivalences and ambiguities of the Reformation, not least how it emphasised the way our contact with God is mediated through the Bible and the mind.
UPDATE IN UNION PROGRESS
Statement from John Bradbury at the Joint Church Meeting
Sunday 19th November 2017
General
Emmanuel and St. Columba’s Church Meetings agreed to an outline time-line for union earlier this year. The joint Elders Meeting has subsequently been working to realise this. A (hopefully) final draft of the constitution is now available for consultation, and both Church Meetings will be invited to adopt this before March 2018. We will begin worshipping together from Easter Sunday, 1st April, 2018. For the period of time where we have two usable buildings, we will spend blocks of time worshipping in each. Bringing the two congregations together as one legal entity will follow on shortly after this at the end of May 2018. This will give time for uniting the accounts of both churches, and uniting as Charities with the Charity Commission. There are also implications for the staff employed by both churches, and a small group is working on the process by which staff will transfer employment to the new church without losing any of their accrued benefits of employment.
Alongside these broad general matters, various groups have been set up to address specific matters of importance.
Worship and Music Group
This group has been thinking through the implications of uniting our Sunday morning worship and how we honour our existing patterns of worship whilst enabling the new church to find its own worshipping identity. David Cornick offered a talk on Reformed Worship for us recently, and the ‘Together Groups’ running at the moment are giving opportunity for people to reflect on the nature of worship and the aspects of worship important to us. Later this year will be a questionnaire going out to all members of the congregations about worship, and a chance for open discussion at a ‘forum’ in the early part of next year.
In the meantime we are already worshipping together a significant amount, and Nigel and John have been exploring in worship how we find a pattern of worship that will enable all of us to feel ‘at home’ within the new congregation.
Mission Group
The Mission Group was responsible for organising a significant session at our joint Away Day in September, and subsequently have been working through some of the ideas and material gained at that. It is thinking through our already existing activities, in terms of which of those it might make sense to unite. It is also thinking through the question of how many activities the new church can hold so that we are effective without spreading ourselves too thinly. It is also thinking through possible new pieces of mission work that might be effective within the context of the city of Cambridge, paying attention to work that is already happening elsewhere and ideas that have worked in other similar places. The next joint Elders Meeting in January will give significant time to thinking through the work of the Mission Group. Reports with suggestions will then come to Church Meetings next year.
Buildings Group
The buildings group is at a stage in its work where it is doing ‘ground work’. It cannot begin serious design work until it is clear how we wish the building to be used, which depends on the work of the Mission Group. In the meantime it is in the process of meeting potential architects to appoint a firm to undertake survey and feasibility work on the Downing Street site. There is a need for detailed knowledge of the building as it is, as well as digital drawings of the building which will form the basis of later design work. The hope is that by the time we are ready to give a more detailed brief to architects about what we want from the buildings, all the spade work will be in place to be able to proceed with reasonable speed.
Operations Group
The operations group is thinking through the nitty-gritty of day to day
church life and how we will unite our Sunday operations next April. It is thinking about creating a new system for Sunday morning rotas,
how we will unite our Church Magazines, what groups will be needed in the new church, how data bases will be integrated and the like. In so far as is possible any new work being done in either church at the moment is being done in such a way as can be easily united with the other. For example, the Emmanuel Membership list has recently been updated and the opportunity taken to turn it into a form easily merged with St. Columba’s membership list.
Finance and Staffing
Groups have been looking at matters of finance and staffing, and thinking through how to merge our financial systems. The way the Emmanuel System is set up, and the fact that it already supports the employment of a number of staff, means that the Treasurers are recommending that we use a system based on the Emmanuel system for the new church. Advice has been sought about how to ensure a smooth transition for staff in both congregations to being employed by the new church from the middle of next year.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
All conducted by the Minister, except where stated
Sunday 17th December Advent III
11.00am
Festival Service - A joint all age service
at St Columba’s—Led by the Ministers
3.00pm
Carols with Cottenham Band at Fulbourn URC
6.00pm
A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Emmanuel
- Led by the Ministers
Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve
11.00am
Public Worship at St. Columba’s
7.30pm
Holy Communion in St Columba’s Chapel
11.30pm
Midnight Communion at Emmanuel URC
Monday 25th December Christmas Day
9.30am
Christmas Service at Fulbourn URC
11.00am
Christmas Service at St Columba’s
Sunday 31st December Christmas I
11.00am
Joint Service at St Columba’s
With The Revd Dr John Bradbury
Sunday 7th January Epiphany I
11.00am
Joint Communion Service at Emmanuel URC
6.00pm
Joint Epiphany Service with Cambridge Voices
at St Columba’s
Date/Month Time Event Additional Info
NOVEMBER
Sunday 26th
The Sunday next
before Advent—
Christ the King
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
6.00pm
Public Worship
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
Holy Communion at
Fulbourn URC
The Minister
Gibson Hall
Gibson Hall
The Minister
Monday 27th 2.30pm Together Group 5 Fenners Lawn
Wednesday 28th 7.30pm Together Group 17 Fulbrooke Road
Thursday 29th 7.30pm Together Group 9 The Crescent,
Impington
DECEMBER
Sunday 3rd
Advent Sunday
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
Holy Communion
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
The Minister
Gibson Hall
Monday 4th 4.00pm Office &
Communications
Group
Minister’s Room
Tuesday 5th 2.30pm Together Group 2A Rathmore Road
DIARY
Sunday 10th
Advent II
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
Public Worship
Coffee and bookstall
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
The Revd John Proctor
Gibson Hall
Monday 11th 6.30pm Joint Officers’
Meeting
St. Columba’s Manse
Tuesday 12th
2.30pm
7.30pm
The Word Together
Tuesday Club
Christmas Service
Fulbourn URC
Fulbourn URC
Thursday 14th 11.00am
12.30pm
Midweek
Communion with
the Minister
Gibsons’ Lunch
Club Christmas
Meal
Chapel at St. Columba’s
Cambridge Regional
College
Sunday 17th
Advent III
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
6.00pm
Joint Festival Service
at St. Columba’s
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
Joint Carol Service
at Emmanuel
The Minister
Gibson Hall
The Minister
Sunday 24th
Advent IV
Christmas Eve
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
6.00pm
7.30pm
11.30pm
Public Worship
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
No Evening Service at
Fulbourn URC
Holy Communion in
the Chapel at St.
Columba’s
Holy Communion at
Emmanuel URC
The Minister
Gibson Hall
The Minister
The Revd Dr. John
Bradbury
Monday 25th
Christmas Day
11.00am
Christmas Morning All
Age Service
The Minister
Sunday 31st
Christmas I
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
Joint Service at St.
Columba’s
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
The Revd Dr John
Bradbury
Gibson Hall
JANUARY
Sunday 7th
11.00am
2.00pm
6.00pm
Joint Communion
Service at Emmanuel
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
Epiphany Service with
Cambridge Voices at St.
Columba’s
The Revd Nigel Uden
The Minister
Tuesday 9th 2.30pm Tuesday Club. The
Curious Tale of
Redundancy, Joye
Grenfell and Maureen
Lipman’s Handbag.
Speaker—Jane Bower
Organiser: Pamela
Cressey
147 Thornton Road,
CB3 0NE
Thursday 11th 11.00am Midweek Service Speaker TBA
Sunday 14th 11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
Public Worship
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
Dr. Augur Pearce
Gibson Hall
Monday 15th 7.30pm World Church and
World Mission Group
147 Thornton Road
Tuesday 16th 2.30pm The Word Together Fulbourn URC
Thursday 18th 12.30pm Gibsons’ Lunch Club Gibson Hall
Sunday 21st 11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
4.00pm
Public Worship
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
United Service to mark
the Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity at
Great St. Mary’s
Church
The Minister
Gibson Hall
Preacher—The Revd
Les Isaacs—Founder
of Street Pastors
Tuesday 23rd 7.30pm Worship and Local
Mission Group
Minister’s Room
Thursday 25th 11.00am Midweek Worship Speaker TBA
Saturday 27th 6.30 for
7.00pm
Burns Night Supper St. Columba Hall
Sunday 28th
11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
Public Worship
Coffee
Chinese Christian
Church
The Minister
Gibson Hall
FEBRUARY
Thursday 1st 7.00pm Film Night Usual Venue
Sunday 4th 11.00am
12.10pm
2.00pm
6.00pm
Holy Communion
A service to mark the
30th Anniversary of
Cambridge Voices
Coffee
Cambridge Chinese
Christian Church
The Minister preaches at
Sidney Sussex College
The Minister
Gibson Hall
LECTIONARY
Sunday 27th November Ezekiel 34.11-16
Psalm 100
Ephesians 1.15-23
Matthew 25.31-46
Sunday 3rd December Isaiah 64.1-9
Psalm 80
I Corinthians 1.3-9
Mark 13.24-37
Sunday 10th December Isaiah 40.1-11
Psalm 85
II Peter 3.8-15a
Mark 1.1-8
Sunday 17th December
11.00am Festival Service -readings TBA
6.00pm Carol Service – readings TBA
Sunday 24th December II Samuel 7.1-11, 16
Magnificat
Romans 16.25-27
Luke 1.26-38
Monday 25th December Readings TBA
Sunday 31st December Isaiah 61.10-62.3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4.4-7
Luke 2.22-40
Sunday 7th January
11.00am Holy Communion Jeremiah 31.7-14
Psalm 147
Ephesians 1.3-14
John 1.1-18
6.00am Epiphany Service Readings TBA
Sunday 14th January I Samuel 3.1-20
Psalm 139
I Corinthians 6.12-20
John 1.43-51
Sunday 21st January Jonah 3.1-5, 10
Psalm 62
I Corinthians 7.29-31
Mark 1.14-20
Sunday 28th January Deuteronomy 18.15-20
Psalm 111
I Corinthians 8.1-13
Mark 1.21-28
Sunday 4th February Readings TBA
For tickets or further information please contact Elizabeth
Thomson on 01954 210592
Or email [email protected]
EMMANUEL URC - DECEMBER 2017 AND
JANUARY 2018
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS AT 1.00 P.M.
Free Admission with a Retiring Collection
Weds 6th December Cambridge Renaissance Ensemble
Weds 13th December Cambridge Voices directed by Ian de
Massini
Weds 10th January Amahl and the Night Visitors
Weds 17th January Ian de Massini (piano)
Weds 24th January Andrew Harsley (cello) Weds 31st January Drew Steanson (piano) ————————————————————————————-
30th November , 7th December and 14th December Advent Lunchtime Worship 1.00 to 1.20pm on the theme“Preparing the Way”. On 30th December this is followed by a print workshop At 2.00pm run by Jane Bower and Alan Revill 6th & 7th December Knit Café Table Top sale in the foyer from 1.00pm to raise funds for postage and more wool. Come and buy the wonderful goods knitted by the Knit Café members.
———————————
EMMANUEL URC - DECEMBER 2017 AND
JANUARY 2018 (Contd)
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS:
Mondays Young Adults Group meets
Contact Beth Humphries on
Tuesdays URCHINS—a weekly drop-in for
Parents, carers and under 5s. In the
Fair Shares café from 1.00-3.00pm.
Soft play area.
Thursdays Knit café 1.30 to 3.30pm in the Fair
Shares café.
Cherry Hinton Road
The Tuesday Fellowship meets in the Chapel at CHR every
Tuesday from 2.30 to 3.30 pm. Men and women welcome.
Contact the Revd Julia Stone 01954 781297
FULBOURN URC
SERVICES FOR DECEMBER 2017
3rd 10.30am Morning Worship – The Revd Allen Morton
10th 10.30am Morning Worship with Holy Communion -
The Revd Nigel Uden
2.00pm Christingle Service (Café Nativity and Christingle) – The Revd Nigel Uden
17th NO MORNING SERVICE
3.00pm Carol Service with members of Cottenham Brass Band – The Revd Nigel Uden
24th 9.30am Christmas Eve Morning Worship –
The Revd Nigel Uden
NO EVENING SERVICE
25th 9.30am Christmas Morning Family Service –
The Revd Nigel Uden
31st 10.30am Morning Worship – Brian Mizon
FULBOURN URC (Contd)
SERVICES FOR JANUARY 2018
7th 10.30am Morning Worship – The Revd Allen Morton
14th 10.30am Morning Worship with Holy Communion -
The Revd Nigel Uden
21st 9.30am Morning Worship – The Revd Nigel Uden
5.00pm Breathing Space – Jenny Mashford
28th 10.30am Morning Worship – Sue Foakes
6.00pm Evening Worship with Holy Communion –
The Revd Nigel Uden
THE WORD TOGETHER BIBLE STUDY GROUP AT FULBOURN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
The first meeting in 2018 will be held on Tuesday 16 January at 2.30pm.
All are welcome to this ecumenical group.
St Columba’s Activities
A Social Hour takes place after Public Worship on Sunday mornings and provides an opportunity for the members of a scattered congregation to meet other members, friends, students and visitors over refreshments.
Interest in the Developing World is catered for, among others, by the ecumenical International & Social Affairs Christian Network (ISACN). St Columba's has a special relationship with Emanuel Presbyterian Church, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, with Christ Anointed Church in Krobo-Odumase, Ghana, with Bethel Presbyterian Church, Ola Estates, Cape Coast, Ghana, and (through Commitment for Life) with Christian Aid supported work in Central America. St Columba’s supports the Council for World Mission (CWM), the United Reformed Church's annual Commitment for Life appeal, Centre of Cambridge Churches, Churches Together in England (CTE) and the St Columba Group Therapy Centre housed in part of the Church’s premises.
The Tuesday Club, an informal meeting open to all, meets monthly on a Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm from October to June.
Gibson’s Lunch Club is held on the third Thursday of each month in the Gibson Hall.
The Book Group meets monthly to share ideas on authors and books members have enjoyed.
A Traidcraft Stall selling fairly traded goods will be in the Gibson Hall every third Sunday of the month following the morning service.
The Church Choir sings at Public Worship from time to time. In 2006, a strong and enthusiastic nucleus of singers drawn from our own church membership became established. Membership of the choir is open to all, and attendance at the choral services and their attendant rehearsals is purely voluntary. Also, there are no auditions! If you would like to sing in the choir, simply turn up at one of the advertised rehearsals, ideally
contacting the Director of Music, Ian de Massini, on 0780 1234 343.
St Columba's is an open and inclusive church, and welcomes all.
The church was founded in 1879 as the Presbyterian church in
Cambridge and has continued since 1972 as a congregation of the United
Reformed Church, and the Church of Scotland chaplaincy to the
University of Cambridge.
St Columba's is also the home of the St Columba Foundation (Group
Therapy Centre), the Cambridge Chinese Christian Church, and the city-
centre home of Cambridge Voices.
The next News and Events for February 2018 will be published and
available on Sunday 28th January. Please send items for inclusion to
Elaine Barker ([email protected]) to arrive no later than
Friday 19th January 2018