Month: September 2023

The Presbytery of England and the Channel Isles
Saturday 14 October 2023. Crown Court Church.

As part of the Presbytery meeting being held in London Crown Court Church Hall there will be an open session in the afternoon, running from 12.45 to 3pm, which anyone is welcome to attend – not just those who are members of Presbytery. Attendance can be either onsite or online. Details of the log in will be circulated, or can be obtained from Alistair Cumming Presbytery Clerk. acumming@churchofscotland.org.uk

We are delighted that that session will be facilitated by Rev. Eleanor McMahon and Very Rev. Dr. Martin Fair who will be travelling down from the Church Offices in Edinburgh to join us for the weekend. Between them, Eleanor and Martin have sixty years of experience in ordained ministry but since earlier this year, they’ve assumed national roles focusing on:

• Encouraging more men and women to consider whether God might be calling them to ministry
• Examining what new pathways into ministry might be opened up to open the way for those for whom the traditional route is not suitable
• Overhauling the way in which we prepare people for the various ministries of the Church, keeping in mind the very changed circumstances facing us in the 21^st century
• Supporting candidates for ministry through their discernment, assessment, formation and into the early years of ministry

 Have you ever considered that there might be a calling upon your life? Or do you know someone in whom you see the necessary gifts? Or would you simply like to know more about what the Church is planning and doing to address some of the major challenges facing us in these days?
 
This day is for you.
 
And beyond the particular business of ministry, Eleanor and Martin will offer an introduction to the recently-launched Church of Scotland Learning platform and various others of the initiatives currently being piloted and launched.
 
Information and inspiration together with plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions and answers. Come and be a part of it.
 

Crown Court is one of the founding members of new initiative Scots in London, which brings Scottish organisations in our great city together by running events, and by co-ordinating and publicising the activities of its members and other Scottish groups. The inaugural gala evening will take place on Wednesday 11th October 2023, at 7pm, at St Columba’s Church of Scotland. After an official opening by our Patron HRH The Princess Royal, the evening will feature a concert showcasing Scottish music, dance, and recitation, and followed by a reception with drinks and refreshments. At the reception, member organisations will host information stalls, offering an opportunity for ticket holders to connect with others in London’s Scottish community. 
 
The concert itself, curated by Crown Court member Mary-Jannet Leith, will include traditional music from a Scottish folk duo, choral performances from the Scotscare choir, and by the Crown Court choir and the Gaelic Choir combined, piping from the members of the Pipes and Drums of the London Scottish Regiment, a recitation from Downton Abbey’s actor David Robb, a Highland Dance display and much more. 

For more information and to book tickets, please visit www.scotsinlondon.org or email events@scotsinlondon.org. There will also be a small number of tickets available at Crown Court for cash payment from Sunday 24th September onwards.

Come and join us on Thursday 5 October at Bloomsbury Baptist Church for a Harvest Supper. To sign up for this event, please contact the Session Clerk by September 27, and be sure to let us know of any dietary restrictions.

The Friends of Crown Court will hold their special lunch event on Sunday 24 September.  If you would like to join the lunch please email or speak to the Session Clerk after morning service.  Tickets for lunch are £7. There will be a speaker at the lunch.  

Our Harvest Festival service will be held on Sunday 15 October. Once again this year we are asking you to bring gifts of food or money to support the Westminster Food Bank, based at Westminster Chapel. At the service a volunteer from the Westminster Food Bank will give a testimony about his/her experience.

The Food Bank publishes a list of items which are acceptable, and this will be circulated with the church notices nearer the time of the Harvest Festival. Items should be unopened, undamaged and have a “best before” date at least three months away.