Rev Nico Weeber has been invited to preach at St Andrew’s Scots Kirk as sole nominee for the position of Minister at our Church. The plan is that he will preach on Sunday 5th December and those members present at Church on that day will be able to vote as whether to accept him as their future Minister.
Meet God in Worship, Silence and Service
To the Members of St Andrew’s Scots Kirk
20th June 2020
Dear Friends,
Re-opening of St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk (SASK)
We trust that you are physically and spiritually well and we do look forward to seeing you back in
church in the near future. We have to make some changes to comply with the new situation.
This letter is to inform you that the Kirk Session of SASK has been monitoring the advice of the
Ministry of Health, the Public Health officials and the Police on when it would be safe to re-open the church and the protocol we should all follow as it is re-opened.
The Kirk Session has decided to reopen the church from Sunday 21st June at 9.30am.
As you may know numbers worshipping have to be limited to 50 at this stage. SASK is planning to do this on a first come first served basis and to avoid any awkwardness at the door we have asked our congregation to inform the Church Officer by phone, so call Kumar on 0779978870 in advance of your intention to worship. The Church Officer will let you know if the 50 person limit has been reached for the week. We are keen to see members back in church.
With regard to the protocols to follow, please read the list below which we ask you to follow.
We will introduce temperature checks at the entrance to the church and will not permit anyone
with a higher than normal temperature to enter. Further, we would ask that you and your family to wear masks when on the premises. This is the recommended guidance.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Graham de Kretser on 0774708013
We will get through this together and look forward to your cooperation in following the advice
given below.
Yours sincerely,
Rev Ian Gilmour
Interim Moderator
Graham de Kretser
Session Clerk
Protocols to be followed by SASK:
Essential Requirements
- It is vital that the following should NOT attend church:
- anyone with symptoms
- anyone who has recently travelled abroad and should be in self-quarantine
- anyone who has been in contact with an at-risk person in the last 14 days.
- All members of the congregation will wear masks and are required to bring their own masks and hand sanitizer.
- A foot operated hand wash basin is installed at the entrance to the car park.
- Temperature checks will be completed on all people entering the church any person with a temperature of over 37.3 Celsius will not be permitted to enter the church.
- Please enter the church by the front door, unless you have a disability in which case use the disabled access but please leave by the side doors.
- Offering – The offering bowls with covers will be available as you leave church at one of these exits.
- Social distancing measures will be enforced.
- Cleaning will be scheduled throughout the church in between services.
- Any cases of COVID-19 (or close contact with an infected person) will be promptly reported to the Medical authorities.
General Setup
The church has been deep cleaned. The congregation should sit with no more than 2 persons per pew and 2 metres apart (members of the same household can sit beside each other).
Cleaning
The church will be fully cleaned before each service.
Arrival
All members of congregation to wash hands before entering the church building through the main door. Temperature will be checked and recorded on entry into church.
During the service
- Order of service to be on the screen. No bibles will be handed out.
- Handshakes/Hugs to be replaced by bringing the hands together.
- The offerings to be placed in the regular offering bowls at the end of the service which will be placed on your way out from church at the side exits. We must enter by the main door and leave by one of the side doors.
- Communion our arrangements are currently under review.
End of the service
Please leave by one of the side doors and not the main door through which you entered the church building. We ask you to please leave the church premises reasonably promptly after the service is completed as the building needs to be sanitised before the Korean Church members enter. Sadly, we cannot serve refreshments for the foreseeable future and ask that all conversations are enjoyed while members keep a 2 metre rule between them.
About St. Andrew's Scots Kirk
Located in the heart of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk has come to be known as an oasis to its many passing visitors. Within this beautiful early 20th Century building one finds that moment of solitude, away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy city outside, for a quiet time with our Lord.
We invite you to worship with us whenever you are able to.
Minister at St. Andrew's Scots Kirk
Revd Ian Gilmour, here with with Kumar, our church officer at Haputale, is delighted to be serving St Andrew’s.
He arrived earlier this year to be Locum Minister from another St Andrew’s congregation (St Andrew’s and St George’s West) in Edinburgh, Scotland. He finds the church members friendly and committed and is pleased to have witnessed more people attending church. Ian worked in banking, local government and accounting before entering the ministry. He has served mainly in Scotland but has been involved in projects in Africa and America. He is married to Donna and their family will all come to visit Sri Lanka. The best thing about St Andrew’s Scots Kirk is that people are open to attempt a new thing. His favourite saying from the bible is,
"God is love, and those who live in love, live in God and God lives in them."
If you would like to speak with a Minister, we could connect you, so please reach out to our Church Officer.
Interim Moderator - Church of Scotland
Greetings from Scotland!
As some of you will know I am the new Interim Moderator for the Congregation of Saint Andrews Colombo, and it is my hope and prayer to serve you and guide you forward over the challenging times that we in the church and the world.
A little bit about me
As you will see from the photograph, I have been a Minister of the Church of Scotland for many years and served in Congregations in Scotland. I then became a locum serving your church after the Rev John left in 2013, then travelled onto our Churches in Bermuda, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands as locum.
I have had a long held interest in the Church of Scotland as it was planted across the globe. Initially these locations were to suit Scottish business and families who travelled for work and reward. Then slowly they became churches far wider than just Scottish in style, embracing a wide variety of cultures,languages and denominational background. I believe that to be a great bonus, enriching the church at home and overseas. We are part of God’s creation, part of His people on earth. Let us seek ways to discern his will
I hope to be with you sometime in 2023, to share worship with Rev Roshan, and together praise God and learn to be in His Service
Blessings to you all
Rev Norman Hutcheson
