Month: February 2015

We are delighted to welcome Dr Geoffrey Higgins as our new Organist and Choirmaster.  Geoff’s first Sunday with us was 15 February, and he has already developed a great working relationship with the choir and the Minister.  If you have been in church over the past couple of weeks, you cannot fail to have been impressed by his organ playing.

Geoff moved to London from Belfast last autumn, to study to be a music teacher.  He studied music at Queen’s University, Belfast, and in addition to his first degree he also has an MA in 18th Century Studies, and a PhD in Musicology.  His experience as an organist, and of working with choirs, is impressive, ranging from Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church to St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast!  We hope that Geoff will enjoy working with us in Crown Court, and look forward to getting to know him better.

Following the very well attended debate held last year prior to the Scottish referendum, there is to be another debate on “The Future of the UK – May 2015 and Beyond” at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 17 March in St Columba’s Church, Pont Street.   In the run up to the May General Election we are keen to discuss devolved powers and our future in the EU.  The BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson will once again be the Chair and so far Margaret Curran MP (who attended last year) and Sir Malcolm Bruce MP have agreed to be on the panel.  St Columba’s are negotiating with other prominent politicians at the moment and are confident of having a great panel and a fascinating evening.  Tickets cost only £1 to cover the hire of extra lighting equipment.  To reserve at ticket email stcolumbasdebate@gmail.com.

The Minister will be leading five Lent Bible Study sessions in the vestry on Wednesday evenings from 6.15 to 7.15 pm.  The first session will be held on Wednesday 25 February, and sessions will be held every Wednesday until 1 April, with the exception of Wednesday 11 March.  Please come along and join in the bible study.

It doesn’t matter if you’re not able to attend every week: you will be very welcome whenever you can make it.

This year’s service for Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held at 2.30 pm in the Chapel at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, on Friday 6 March.  The service will be followed by tea.

The material for the service has been prepared by women of the Bahamas, and the local organisers are particularly keen that the Church of Scotland should be represented at the service as the Presbyterian Church in the Bahamas played a large part in preparing the material.   Both women and men are cordially invited to attend the service.

This is advance notice of the church spring clean which is planned to take place on Saturday 14 March.

As usual we will need as many helpers as possible to come and help us to get the church and the hall looking their best again, so please put the date in your diary now, look out your oldest clothes, make sure your marigolds are without holes, and prepare to come and do battle with the grime and dust in every nook and cranny of the church and the hall – to say nothing of the kitchen and the toilets!  Cleaning materials will be provided: it’s your elbow grease we’re after!

We will aim to start about 9.30 and finish by 4 pm, but any time you can spare will be greatly appreciated – there will be plenty for everyone to do.  Needless to say there will be regular infusions of tea, coffee and home baking to keep you going, and lunch will also be provided.  You may find this hard to believe, but the spring clean is good fun, and is a great way of sharing fellowship and getting to know folk you may not have come across before.  We look forward to seeing you!

We are delighted to announce that an appointment to the post of Organist and Choirmaster has now been made.  Dr Geoffrey Higgins will take up the post on Sunday 15 February.  We look forward to welcoming him to Crown Court and to getting to know him and working with him.

Our diligent stitchers, led by Janet Dowswell and Christine Ward, are now working hard on the Crown Court panel for the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry.  We have until 31 March to complete the panel, so it’s all systems go, and good progress is being made.

Two sewing sessions will be held in the hall for members to put in a few stitches themselves, or just to see the work which has been done so far.  The dates are:  Sunday 15 February from 1.30 to 4 pm; and Tuesday 17 February from 12 noon till 3.30 pm.  Do come along if you can to admire the work and encourage our stitchers.