March 2014

St Columba’s United Reformed Church Cambridge

News and Events

March 2014

St Columba’s Church, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EL

Contact Details Minister

The Rev’d Nigel Uden

[email protected] (office) 514 389 (manse) 314 586

Church Secretary & Clerk to the Church Meeting

Nicholas Morgan

[email protected] 353 870

Church Secretary

Joan Laidlaw


Church Treasurer

Ian Strachan


Lay worker & Administrator

Giles Waller


Director of Music

Ian de Massini


Caretaker

Elaine Barker

Mornings only – Wednesday is the caretaker’s rest day 312 814

Hospital Visitor

Hazel Morrison

244 947

Cambridge Voices

Ian de Massini

(contact details above)

Web Site

www.stcolumbaschurch.org

From the Minister I grew up in an idyllic Surrey village at the foot of Box Hill. My parents still live on a road that runs parallel to the River Mole, a tributary of the Thames. You turn into their cul-de-sac just before the main road crosses the river. Willows rustle as they hangover the gently flowing water, in the meadow cows lazily munch all day, bovine icons of the countryside, and hours of my childhood were spent getting soaked in river side games. Since December, though, there have been frequent breechings of the bank; neighbours cars have been written off to flood damage; and on Christmas Eve Mother and Dad slept in their armchairs in case the police came during the night evacuating all the homes. Although all has been well for my parents for many people this has been a traumatic winter as lovely places to live have been ruined by water. Idyll and trauma are often not far apart. We know that from other aspects of life. I think of how within weeks families go through both the sadness of bereavement and the joy of babies being born. Or how people know a summer of fulfilment as they graduate and linger through a long winter of frustration as they can’t find a job. Or of how one day God can seem as near to us as breathing but the next as far as the farthest star. At such times life seems to be a postcode lottery, which offers potential and prospect to some yet trauma and tragedy to others, as if they were about the luck of the draw. In truth, of course, life’s storms come to most of us some of the time. One feels particularly with those for whom the sorrows are so rarely ameliorated with the joys. A few weeks ago, on a day of sunshine and showers, I was hurtling north on the M11 when, around the junction for the A11 I observed as never before the most impressive, vibrant and close-at-hand rainbow. It was awesome. In the midst of a storm a rainbow bears witness to the indomitable sun. Quite apart from leaving us awed, it cheers and encourages, suggesting that the storm will end.

And in the midst of life’s storms there are also rainbows that bring hope and help. I think of the emergency services in flood areas, of good neighbours when we are unwell or growing old. I think of those who, when we mess up big time, are still willing to stick with us – not naively convinced we didn’t mess up, but nonetheless committed to us. I think of those who in the dark nights of our own soul cast a beam of spiritual light that somehow makes faith easier, or at least conceivable. Each of these is a rainbow. Rainbows appear in the sky as light reflects and refracts in raindrops, creating exquisite multi coloured arcs opposite the sun. Similarly, those metaphorical rainbows that arch over us as we endure life’s storms are really love reflecting and refracting in our struggles. A rainbow doesn’t mean that it’s not raining, nor that it will never rain again, but that in the rain there is sun that will not be defeated. And so it is with love: it doesn’t take all suffering away, nor does it prevent its return, but indefatigably it transforms it as nothing else can. We sometimes sing, O love that wilt not let me go, with its famous line, ‘I chase the rainbow through the rain and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be.’ May it be so as we stand with each other, and in the community, rainbow-shaped arms in an arc around burdened shoulders, with intimations of what God offers in Christ. Nigel Uden

Forthcoming Events Church Meetings at 12.15 pm in the Gibson Hall Members wishing to have items included on the Agenda of the Church Meeting are asked to inform the Church Secretary by the Elders Meeting preceding the Church Meeting. The Church Meetings in 2014 will be as follows: 11 May (AGM), 20 July and 26 October. Elders Meetings at 8pm in the Macalister Room. The next meeting will be on Monday 17 March. Subsequent meetings this year are on 17 March, 30 April, 14, July, 15 September and 10 November.

Book Group 24 March The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows at 338 Glenalmond Avenue

Gibson's Lunch Club The Lunch Club meets on the third Thursday of the month, at 12.30pm in the Gibson Hall. All are welcome. Thursday 20 March Enquiries and/or transport needs to Dixon Hutchinson (tel: 01223 312046)

Tuesday Club The next meeting of the Tuesday club is on

11 March – Beating the Cistern: tips for a lady plumber, by Sarah Oliver at 1 Champneys Walk

Traidcraft and Bookstalls A stall selling fairly traded goods usually runs on the third Sunday of the month. Please do bring in your books and also DVDs you no longer want to keep. All proceeds to the Agona Asafo library.

Copy for the April Issue of St Columba’s News The next News and Events, will be published on Sunday 30 March. Please send items for inclusion to Giles Waller ([email protected]) by Friday 21 March.

Midweek Services in March In March there will be a service of Prayers & Meditations on Thursday 13 March, and a service of Holy Communion on Thursday 27 March, both led by the Minister. The services will begin at 11.00 am. As usual, we will repair for coffee to a nearby cafe after the service. All are welcome.

Lay Worker & Administrator Giles writes: I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the congregation for my recent sabbatical, and particularly to all those who took on various tasks in my absence.

My office hours will now be on Thursday and Friday of each week.

Member News Andrew McWilliam is receiving treatment following a stroke. Kathleen McBrearty continues to recover after orthopaedic surgery. We offer sympathy to Alan Rickard, following the death in Glasgow of his mother, Mrs Isabel Rickard, aged 101 years.

Traidcraft Big Brew Saturday 8 March 2014 10.30am-Noon The Chapel To mark Fairtrade Fortnight there will be a Big Brew (aka Coffee Morning) a week on Saturday. Fresh homemade biscuits, a Traidcraft Stall and time for a chat. Patterns for knitting tea cosies and/or Coasters are available for Helen or Bethan.

Lent House Groups The details of House Groups for Lent remain to be finalised. Announcements will be made as soon as possible, with meetings beginning in either the first of the second week of March.

The Deans and Chaplains of the University of Cambridge present ENGAGING CHRISTIANITY Friday 28 February-Saturday 1 March 2014

FRIDAY 8-10pm

at Great St Mary’s Church

Engaging Prayer with Prof Sarah Coakley speaking and Taizé-style worship SATURDAY Noon-2.00pm

at Michaelhouse

Engaging with Christians A café style opportunity to engage in informal conversation and discussion with ministers and other Christians 3.00-4.00pm in Trinity College Chapel

Engaging the World Panel discussion with Giles Frazer, Rose Hudson-Wilkins and the Bishop of Ely 4.30-6.00pm in Great St Mary’s Church

Engaging the Heart and Mind Panel discussion with Rowan Williams, Timothy Radcliffe, Francis Spufford and Elaine Storkey 6.30pm

in Great St Mary’s Church

Festival Eucharist celebrated by the Bishop of Ely with Rowan Williams preaching and the choirs of Jesus, Clare, Corpus, Christi and Magdalene Colleges

Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday 7 March 2014 10.30am This year, the Women’s World Day of Prayer is being celebrated at St Columba’s. The service, which has been prepared by women in Egypt, takes the theme “Streams in the Desert”. We are asked to reflect on our Christian role of being a “stream in the desert” for those who experience spiritual drought. Although the service is prepared by women, everyone is welcome, men and women and people of all ages. The service starts at 10.30am and ends with Egyptian style refreshments in the Gibson Hall.

Cambridge Half Marathon Sunday 9 March 2014 Attracting 4500 participants and 10000 spectators, the Half Marathon will affect the roads leading to St Columba’s/ Routes to avoid include Chesterton Road, Elizabeth Way, Trumpington Street and Victoria Avenue. Fuller details of roads affected may be found at www.camconservators.co.uk/pdf/CHM-14-Info.pdf

Raise the Roof Two Fund Raisers for the Church Roof 1. Advance Notice of a Hymn Tune Marathon DATE - 14 JUNE 2014 - You will be pleased to have an early notice regarding the above event; a gathering of the finest hymns and songs

of praise. Our minister Nigel Uden, will be playing the piano in the church during this whole day marathon of music from 8 am to 8 pm; raising money for St Columba's Roof Appeal. Refreshments - will be provided during the day and you are welcome to come and go as you please. The "climax" of the day will be from 6 pm onward with an opportunity for you to join in and share further in the event. Our Fairtrade shop will be available in the vestibule. Free - The event is FREE, but donations and sponsorship will be gratefully received Invite Friends - We would like you to invite anyone who you might feel would be interested from the wider community - schools, families, visitors, churches , user groups, neighbours, colleges - and hope that you will feel minded to pass this invitation on – PLEASE CONTACT - Geoff Bailey for further details email - [email protected] phone - 01223 366772 mobile/text – 07593 282897

2. An immediate opportunity Spare Cash It is surprising how quickly small amounts of money mount up Spare Cash Tins - You might like to know that SPARE CASH savings tins will be available to be used at home; the idea being that all those small coins that wear a hole in your pocket can be collected and put toward the St Columba's Roof Appeal. Ask for one - If you would like one please phone or email Geoff Bailey on [email protected] or 01223366772 - giving details of your name and contact details and he will produce one for you and your family.

Personal Use Only - The tins should not be used for door to door or street collections and are for personal use only [rules of the Charity Commission]. The proceeds of this initial fund raising will go towards Nigel's Raise the Roof event on the 14th June 2014. Contact - For more details contact - Geoff Bailey, as above

Lent, Holy Week and Easter All services at St Columba’s and conducted by the Minister except where stated Ash Wednesday 5 March 7.30 Holy Communion – The Minister with music from Cambridge Voices Palm Sunday 13 April 11.00am Holy Communion – Preacher TBA Holy Monday 14 April 7.30pm Holy Week Meditation Holy Tuesday 15 April 7.30pm Holy Week Meditation Holy Wednesday 16 April 7.30pm Jewish Festivals VIII – Passover at Fulbourn URC with The Rector of Fulbourn Maundy Thursday 17 April 11.00am Holy Communion 7.30pm Holy Communion with Tenebrae Good Friday 18 April 10.15am Free Churches Service at Memorial Unitarian Church led by its minister, The Reverend Andrew Brown

11.40am 2.00pm 4.00pm

with Pfarrer Oliver Fischer of the German Lutheran Church preaching Ecumenical Act of Witness in Market Square A quiet hour at the foot of the cross – Fulbourn URC Bach’s St Matthew Passion Part I at Emmanuel URC with Cambridge Voices

Holy Saturday 19 April 9.00am Holy Week Meditation 4.00pm Bach’s St Matthew Passion Part II at St Columba’s with Cambridge Voices Easter Day 20 April 9.00am Easter Morning Communion with Breakfast 11.00am Holy Communion – The Reverend Dr David Cornick

Tribute to Cameron Wilson The following tribute was given by Dr Michael Minden of Jesus College at the memorial service for Cameron Wilson on Saturday 8 February, in Jesus College Chapel For nearly forty years Cameron Wilson and Jesus College were inseparable in the minds and experience of its Fellows. Things move on quickly and it is hard to realize that for a substantial fraction of today’s Fellowship the name Cameron is associated more immediately with the current Prime Minister than with our dear departed colleague and friend. It is a privilege though of course a sad one to have this opportunity of recalling his particular uniqueness today in this chapel which is the heart of the institution to which he devoted the whole of his working life. Cameron’s typically modest yet practical contribution to the life of the chapel was that for years he took Morning Prayers on a Wednesday, permitting the Dean or Chaplain of the moment a lie-in one day a week. Prayers would be followed by

breakfast in his rooms. There is something typical about that breakfast too. John Cameron Wilson, called Cameron Wilson to distinguish him from the historian Charles Wilson who was a prominent Fellow at the time, came to this college as an Exhibitioner, later Scholar, in Modern and Medieval Languages in 1960, just as the world was changing. He always retained something of an older era, not just in his unvarying tie, white shirt and dark suit, but also in other ways too. The philosopher Ernst Bloch talked about Die Ungleichzeitigkeit des Gleichzeitigen, which badly translated means the Unsametimeliness of the sametimely. By this I think he meant that at any point in history different times coexist, and with them different conditions, values and attitudes. Cameron embodied throughout his life a moral constancy and lack of interest in outward show, a sense of substance above surfaces, that was then fast becoming, and has remained, unfashionable. Cameron would never have tolerated bad translation. A small c conservative in many ways, he was a defender of the discipline of translation within modern language teaching because it was something that happened in the service of communication between people and cultures. He was both a brilliant linguist and somebody whose use of language, his own as well as French and German, was exceptionally careful, one might say, responsible. It’s hard to remember, but I don’t think he made sounds like ‘um’ or ‘er’ (what I understand linguists call ‘dysfluencies’). He used scrupulously chosen words, grammatically entire sentences, he worked in completed thoughts, but these thoughts were always thoughts that took full account of the reality and interests of others before his own. Cameron graduated in 1963 (in those days the year abroad was discouraged), embarked upon his PhD project on Molière, and went on very rapidly to be elected first to a research fellowship and then, in 1966, to a teaching fellowship. This was the beginning of a professional lifetime teaching French language and literature to pupils of Jesus and most, possibly all, other Colleges, as well as a lifetime of

different kinds of service to the collective work of the subject in Cambridge. The thing that colleagues in MML most remember him for (or for which they most remember him) is that he set up an annual meeting for all teaching fellows in the faculty. On his own initiative, he organised, ran, chaired this meeting himself for many years in this college, and when he retired the tradition continued, and still continues, providing what has become an indispensable forum for the exchange of information and for cooperation across the colleges. Of course, nobody can be found to do the job single-handedly, and so it rotates from college to college, but it is still ‘Cameron’s meeting’. This is an outstanding example of Cameron’s willingness to take on those jobs others were unwilling to do, and to do them with the same commitment and thoroughness that he brought to everything he did. His work on behalf of the subject extended beyond Cambridge. Like Trevor Jones the eminent German lexicographer, who, with the Mallarmé expert and eventual Drapers Professor of French, Lloyd Austin, made up the distinguished Jesus MML team at the time, Cameron took a great interest in the transition from school to university. As well as serving as a governor at several schools and acting as Schools Liaison Officer for the Faculty, he served on schools’ examination boards, and played a central role in the running of the various forms of entrance examination that existed during the course of his career, regularly devoting most of his December to the task. In 1989 he co-published (with Wendy E. Everett) a book with the characteristically polite title: An Invitation to the Study of French, aimed at those considering a degree course in Modern Languages. He was an extremely shrewd judge of both character and potential, and an excellent interviewer, kind but probing and very observant, both for MML, and in the role of Admissions Tutor for Arts, an office he held for ten years. His full and detailed interview notes, in such beautifully legible handwriting, were a shaming contrast to my own hastily scribbled and partial impressions arising from the self-same experience. While on the subject of Cameron and the written word, it would be an incomplete tribute indeed that made no mention of his close and

lasting relationship to the typewriter. The specific format of his many typed communications was familiar to all who worked with him, all the more so with the advent of the computer age. He once told me ruefully that he had had the @ (at-sign), for which he had been able to see no use at all, replaced on his keyboard to make way for a French accent, leaving him ill equipped for the era of emails, just as, in general, Cameron and computers were a perfect example of what, as you know, the philosopher Bloch referred to as die Ungleichzeitigkeit des Gleichzeitigen. If Cameron served the discipline of Modern Languages in higher education conspicuously well, he was also an especially dedicated College Officer, not only as Admissions Tutor and Director of Studies, but in many other capacities too, ultimately as President from 1992 to 1995. His fairness and consistent awareness of detail and nuance made him an excellent Committee Chair (he chaired College Council with quiet efficiency during Colin Renfrew’s leave of absence). Cameron was Tutor for Rooms for eight years when the Malcolm Street and Jesus Lane houses were still looked after by landladies, for whom he held a lunch every year. He took extraordinary care with matching individual student to individual houses or college rooms, in a way for which I think nobody would have time today. But it was, perhaps, as an advocate that Cameron’s contribution to the life of our college community was most remarkable. Both as Director of Studies in MML and as a Tutor he deployed his matchless command of the smallest print of College and University Statutes and Ordinances to the very best advantage of those students who for one reason or another, found themselves in need of help. Self-effacing, modest and mild-mannered as he was in his own cause, he was implacable in that of others. There are so many examples of apparently hopeless cases eventually proceeding to the BA degree, sometimes after many years, as a result of Cameron’s wise, stern but above all humane representation. I can do no better than to read you the words of one colleague quoted in Cameron’s obituary in the Annual Report: ‘He was almost notorious for his ability to persuade

the College to give the most hopeless or compromised or unhappy students another chance. He never lost patience with anyone. The epitome and justification of what it once meant to be a Tutor.’ It is, I think, no exaggeration to say that Cameron’s students loved him. This was apparent on the occasion of a dinner organised in his honour in January 2006 (about a year after his premature retirement) to which a very large number of his old MML and tutorial pupils from the preceding forty years came (at their own expense), to express their gratitude for the care had taken of them. Again a quote, this time from an ex-student, from the Obituary in the Annual Report: ‘Cameron’s faith in me, his kindness but firmness, and his utter commitment to supporting and mentoring his students to do their best and become whole young adults was fundamental, and from talking to other linguist and non-linguist friends I know my life is not the only one that owes more than I can possibly say to this absolute gentleman’. While deeply committed to his responsibility to his students and the college, Cameron was a very private man, for whom family, and religious faith, were also of central importance. He was born in 1942 in the village of Sutton-in-Craven, North Yorkshire, the only son of two teachers (his father eventually becoming Registrar at the Manchester College of Music, now part of the Royal Northern College of Music). Cameron attended Manchester Grammar School, the most celebrated and largest of the direct-grant schools, where his interest in languages was kindled. In 1966 he married Brenda, then a school teacher, who he had met during a Cambridge vacation while attending Beaver Park Baptist Church at Didsbury. In later life, they became members of the United Reformed Church, of which Cameron became an Elder, having also served earlier as a Baptist Deacon. Cameron often preached in local churches and was very involved in their activities (such as writing texts for the anonymous ‘wayside pulpit’). In Shrewsbury after his retirement Cameron continued his commitment to the URC as well as to the Anglican church, thus maintaining the pattern of his religious life in Cambridge

shared as it had been between the College Chapel and St Columba’s Church. Cameron and Brenda had two children, Martin and Helen. In his later years at the College Cameron displayed stoicism in the face of serious eye trouble, cancer, and a broken collarbone sustained in a traffic accident. In all these cases he barely interrupted his duties, and had it been left to him, and physically possible, would not have interrupted them at all. Martin tells me that this quiet personal strength and determination in the face of adversity manifested itself early on in his life, when he lost his mother to cancer while still an undergraduate. The greatest blow, however, came with the serious illness of his beloved wife Brenda – at her funeral he called her his ‘hero’ – who was eventually diagnosed with motor neurone disease. This distressing and demanding new circumstance led to Cameron taking early retirement and bringing forward the previously planned move up to a retirement property in Shrewsbury. There Cameron nursed Brenda until she died in early 2005. Cameron went on to appreciate, enjoy, and contribute to many aspects of life in his new home town, and it was obvious from his funeral in the United Reformed Church, Shrewsbury, that his special gifts and character had communicated themselves to all who had known him there, even though it had been for such a short time. Of course his stroke put an end to all that, but it would be quite wrong to imagine a Cameron solitary and despondent away from his familiar surroundings at Jesus College and in Cambridge: quite the opposite! For a while he really flourished. I have tried my best to convey something of the uniqueness of Cameron, but the difficulty is that his qualities were of an unassuming moral and spiritual nature that it is hard to put into words. He was profoundly himself, seemingly impervious to the changes all around, but at the same time deeply aware of his singularity amongst them, and I would say he was exactly as respectful of their reality, not as he perceived it to deserve, but as it objectively deserved to be respected, if for no other reason than that it was reality. Perhaps the word pragmatic is the one I am looking for. At all events, this expressed

itself in a remarkable self-deprecating and tolerant sense of humour. This too is very difficult to convey, although anyone who ever attended the annual Modern Languages dinner and witnessed one of his semi-impromptu after-dinner speeches will know exactly what I mean. They usually centred on a journey by rail, and his love of train travel and especially the Network South East railway was legendary. The best I can do to convey the flavour of this genre of part-wistful partsatirical mini-travel narratives is to recount the objective circumstances of one such trip and leave you to imagine what Cameron made of this when he told it about and against himself. December for Cameron was always even busier than all the other months of the year, mainly because of the examining load he took upon himself, so that there was never any time for Christmas shopping. A tradition developed according to which he took off by train on the last shopping day available to the farthest flung corner of the railway network he could reach in a day in order to buy the family presents. Martin reports: this yearly ritual was for him more a chance to relax on a train (and for mum to get him out of the house and his typewriter off the dining table) than a targeted retail exercise, and the family often found themselves with odd gifts as a result. On the occasion of which we speak, Cameron found himself in thick fog on the Isle of Wight, when not only was the last ferry to the mainland about to leave but the only shop still left trading was a hardware store. Reports vary as to whether Brenda or Helen got the tea pot that year, or whether Martin liked his spanners, but I am pleased to be able to conclude by saying that Cameron made it home in time for Christmas. Dr Michael Minden, Jesus College

Hello Its Emma Christy! If you don’t already know I’m currently fundraising for a project I’m going on in June. I’m volunteering with a charity called East African Playgrounds. In order for me to go I have to fundraise £700 to go directly towards the materials needed to build the playground. Why am I volunteering? The project involves building a playground in a local community in Uganda. EAP work alongside local communities to build creative play spaces, contributing in a local, personal way, using locally sourced materials. This will provide stimulating play activities for children to reach their full potential and provide opportunities for communities to come together. The charity also provides long term employment and training for local tradesmen ensuring the work is long lasting and only impacting on communities positively. However, in order to make this all possible I need the help of you generous people! Where does the money go? All the money raised goes directly to the materials needed to build the playground. Here is an idea of what your donation would go towards: £10 seven tyres £20 games, tyre bench, tyre motorbike £40 playshop, hammock £60 tyre swing, playschool £80 tyre tunnel £100 tyre trampoline, sand pit, music area, welders kit £200 seesaw balancer, slide

There will be a cake stall after church on 6 April which you are welcome to buy goodies from to go towards East African Playgrounds. Otherwise please feel free to donate at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/emmachristy

Calendar for March Sunday

23

11.00am 12.10pm 2.00pm

Public Worship Social Hour in the Gibson Hall Cambridge Chinese Christian Church

Monday

24

2.30 pm

Tuesday Club joint meeting with Emmanuel URC at 47 Gough Way, Newnham

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

25 26 27

11.00pm

Prayers and Meditations, led in the Chapel by Giles Waller

Friday

28

8.00pm

Engaging Christianity event

Saturday

1

12.00pm

Engaging Christianity events

March Sunday

2

11.00 am 12.10pm 2.00 pm

Holy Communion Social Hour in the Gibson Hall Cambridge Chinese Christian Church

Monday

3

7.30pm

World Church & World Mission

Group meets at 147 Thornton Rd Tuesday

4

10.30am

Wednesday

5

7.30pm

Thursday Friday

6 7

10.30am

Service for Women’s World Day of Prayer at St Columba’s

Saturday

8

10.30am

Traidcraft Big Brew in the Chapel

Sunday

9

11.00 am

Public Worship – led by Dr Christine MacLeod Social Hour in the Gibson Hall Cambridge Chinese Christian Church

12.10pm 2.00pm

Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Coffee Morning with bring and buy stall in the Gibson Hall Holy Communion for Ash Wednesday, with music from Cambridge Voices

Monday Tuesday

10 11

7.30pm

Tuesday Club meets at 1 Champneys Walk

Wednesday Thursday

12 13

11.00am

Prayers & Meditations in the Chapel

Friday Saturday Sunday

14 15 16

11.00 am 12.10pm 2.00pm


Monday

17

8.00pm

Elders Meeting


18 19 20


21 22 23

Monday

12.30pm

Gibson’s Lunch Club in the Gibson Hall

11.00pm 12.10pm 2.00pm


24

8.00pm

Book Group meets at 338 Glenalmond Avenue


25 26 27

11.00am

Holy Communion celebrated in the Chapel


28 29 30

11.00 am 12.10pm 2.00pm


Sunday Lectionary & Prayers of Intercession Sunday 2 March, Last Sunday before Lent Lessons: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 Reader: Donald Douglas Ash Wednesday 5 March Joel 2.1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51; II Corinthians 5.20b-6.10; Matthew 6.16, 16-21 Sunday 9 March, First Sunday of Lent Lessons: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19 ; Matthew 4:1-11 Reader: ‘frin Lewis-Smith Intercessor: Yvonne Norgett Sunday 16 March, Second Sunday of Lent Lessons: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:117 Reader: Ian Strachan Intercessions: Alan Rickard & Dixon Hutchinson Sunday 23 March, Third Sunday of Lent Lessons: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 Reader: Jan Brownhill Intercessor: Naomi Young Sunday 30 March, Third Sunday of Lent Lessons: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 Reader: Jenny Jacobsberg

Intercessor: Elizabeth Whitehorn

Minutes of Meetings The Finance and Property Group met on Monday 10 February. Minutes will be published in a future edition of News & Events.

The Office & Communications Group met on Monday 3 February. In summary, the following matters were discussed: Office matters This item focussed on Giles’ return and resumption of duties. A meeting involving Nigel, Alan and Jenny Jacobsberg had looked at Giles’ duties given that his hours were being reduced to enable him to complete his PhD. Alan had met with Giles before this current meeting to convey their recommendations. Decisions taken would be forwarded to the Elders and to the Church Meeting and announced in ‘News and Events’. It was agreed that Giles’ hours will be reduced from 22 hours per week to 15 hours per week. He will work Thursdays and Fridays, two 7.5 hour days. The following decisions were made based on the division of Giles’ duties from October: • Giles will only attend the Elders’ meetings and meetings of the Office and Communications Group. Groups will minute their own meetings; • He will have some continuing involvement with mid-week services and Junior Church;

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The telephone will no longer be diverted to Elaine, although urgent messages will be passed to Nigel and Elaine. Elaine reported that there were more contacts via the website; Emails – the diversion to Jenny will be removed. A new message for rapid response will be in place. Jenny had looked through the emails so there was little catching up for Giles; Elaine will continue to look after the post; Jenny and Fred Jacobsberg will continue to produce the duty rotas and maintain the membership lists; Contractors’ visits – Elaine, David Thomas and Alan will normally be available; Giles and Elaine will discuss the new contract with Cannon; The minutes of the November Office and Communications Group meeting will be published in the March edition of ‘News and Events’; ‘Life and Work’ – Alan will give a list of current subscribers to Giles; Ian Strachan and Evelyn Bailey have been looking after the payment of invoices during Giles’ sabbatical. The Finance and Property Group will be asked to enable Evelyn to become a signatory for cheques. Alan will raise this and the possibility of electronic payments with Ian Strachan; It was agreed that the priorities for this week would be: (i) placing the Safeguarding Policy on the notice-boards and on the website; (ii) November World Church and World Mission payments with Giles speaking to Pamela Cressey; (iii) emailing the Church accounts to members in preparation for the Church meeting on Sunday 9th February.

Publicity and advertising • The Cambridge Voices Concert* on Saturday 15th February and Public Worship on Sunday 16th February. The latter will include the compositions of and organ playing by Carl Ruetti. These have already been announced in ‘News and Events’. They will be advertised on the website and A4 notices will be placed on the church notice-board near the Revolution bar;

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The Shrove Tuesday pancake morning will be advertised in the March ‘News and Events’, in Sunday bulletins, on the website, on the Church Facebook page, and, on the morning, using the A notice-board in the Church entrance; The Ash Wednesday [5th March] Holy Communion with music from Cambridge Voices*, has been advertised in the February ‘News and Events’. It will be advertised in the March ‘News and Events’, in Sunday bulletins, and on the website; The schedule of Easter services has already been printed in the February ‘News and Events’; Cambridge Voices will also publicise these events. The more general question raised was, “Who generates and creates such advertisements?” It was agreed that all organisers will relay the information to Giles and, where appropriate, create their own advertisements. The meeting recognised the need for more pictures to be used on the website and in the next issue of ‘Reflections’. We already have photographs from the Burns Supper, and from the December allage service. At the next Church meeting Alan will encourage members to take photographs for printing.

Website All agreed that the website was a great improvement. However, it has not been possible to keep the website fully updated while Giles was on sabbatical. Ian Gray, the web designer, and Nigel have been able to complete some updating during this period. Website issues had been raised under a number of other agenda items but are collected together here. Giles was asked to focus on updating the website each week. Other website items and ideas were: • To correct the price of the Lunch Club meal from £3 to £4; • A page for ‘lost property’; • Giles will look at the numbers who access the website;

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There should be a link created to expedite communication between Elaine and Hall users; All editions of ‘News and Events’ will be included; There was a discussion of how to encourage more ‘friends’ on Facebook. The website has a link to Facebook. Posters for events should be added to Facebook; Giles suggested the need for a number of topical short articles for the website, and that we might include all or parts of sermons in a separate section; We should publicise members’ church activities outside St Columba’s within the wider URC, and other communities.

St Columba’s News Editorial Board a) ‘News and Events’ – Lynette and Nigel were congratulated and thanked for the production of the November, December/January and February editions. Giles will resume responsibility for future editions. b) ‘Reflections’ – Giles will speak to Augur Pearce about any material for publication. Giles hoped to work on the spring edition in the next few weeks with a target date of March for printing. Sound System Alan reported on the issues related to the quality of the loud speakers and the problems of vibration that have occurred with one in particular. The engineer had adjusted the output to the speakers. Alan can now adjust the output as necessary. The Worship and Local Mission Group have requested the routine recording of all services. Currently this is a complex procedure, including the length of the services being longer than a single CD. A number of possible solutions were discussed, including new software and the use of an MP3 player. Issues raised included the quality of the recording, whether to record sermons alone or some of the music as well, and how to link to the website. Alan reminded the Group that recording was not part of the design specification for the new system. He undertook to speak to Yvonne Norgett from the Worship and Local Mission Group.

The Worship & Local Mission Group Met on Thursday 28 January. In summary, the following matters were discussed: Lent House Groups The minister and convenor reported on a meeting held with representatives from Emmanuel URC to discuss a joint programme of Lent House Groups. The WLM group decided that we would proceed in making the arrangements. It is likely that there will be a morning, an afternoon and either one or two evening groups. Venues will be homes from both churches. Study material is still being discussed. Recording of Services There have been a few requests from members that we record services either on a regular or on an exceptional basis and make them available via download from the website. YN will look into the technical, copyright and training requirements. Printing sermons A request has been received for a printed copy of the sermon to be made available for those who have difficulty hearing and others who may wish to read it either during the service or afterwards. It was decided that we should try this. Initially, the minister will produce the copies on the Sundays he is at St Columba’s and on other Sundays this will be done by Ian de Massini, Helen Christy or Yvonne Norgett. Anniversary of the beginning of WW1 It is recognized that for the next four years, there will be commemoration events and media recognition of significant events in the course of WW1. We discussed whether and in what ways we should mark these dates in St Columba’s. Along with the Cambridge Voices

concert in autumn we felt that occasional mention of significant anniversaries in prayers of intercession would be appropriate. YN will compile a list of significant dates and distribute to those involved in preparing prayers. Bible Society Elizabeth Whitehorn drew attention to a meeting of the Cambridge Bible Society Action Group Spring Supper on 21st February at 7-9pm, with a talk entitled ‘Have we got Jesus right? Jesus in the ‘other’ Gospels. Guest speaker: Dr Simon Gathercole Autumn event with Cambridge Voices- Saturday 11th October A theme of War and Peace is being explored. Slots A provisional plan is as follows, subject to speakers being available: February 23 (swap with WCWM) Lucy McKittrick or another volunteer to talk about the churches’ winter homeless project. March WCWM group swap from April April (Easter Sunday) retiring offering for Benevolent Fund May

retiring offering for Benevolent Fund

June

WCWM group

July


August 10th

Helen O’Dell Miller

September retiring offering for Benevolent Fund October

WCWM group

November


December

Cambridge Dhiverse

The World Church & World Mission Group The next meeting would be at 7.30pm on Monday 3 March at 147 Thornton Road.

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 (ISAC). St Columba's has a special relationship with the Myung Um Church in Seoul, Korea, 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 Jamaica. 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 for the women of the congregation, 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.