Newsletter for Sunday 9th August 2026

Friends,

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much loved musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brought the story of Joseph to an audience who might not be so familiar with the ancient Biblical text but are happy to sing along to “Any dream will do”. It is great family entertainment and the writer and composer danced around (pun intended!) some of the darker aspects of Joseph’s story. That’s not a bad thing and if audience members are encouraged to go home and read the Biblical account of Joseph’s often chaotic life contained in Genesis chapters 37-50 they will see that it is a good example of what it means to hold on to faith throughout a turbulent lifetime.
Joseph had to let go of his splendid multicoloured coat, but he held on to what it symbolised – his special calling. And no one could take away his dreams. He held onto them and holding on is about hope – remembering the coat and the dreams helped Joseph to stay hope-full even when his situation seemed hope-less. If we hold on to God, we can stay focussed on our hope, not our fear.

All our scripture readings this week encourage us to hold on to the word of God through troubles. Because he stayed faithful to God’s word throughout his life, Joseph grew into a man of mercy. Writing to the church in Rome, St. Paul likewise reminded them to keep the word “On your lips and in your heart” (Roman 10:8), because then they can never be put to shame. In our Gospel lesson Peter’s holding on to the word is rather more literal – he clung to Jesus, the Word incarnate, and so was brought safely through the stormy waters.

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!”.

(Priscilla Jane Owens, CH4 737).

William

UPCOMING: The Book Club is meeting next on Tuesday 8th September to discuss the prizewinning novel, The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. If you want to plan your summer reading list, after that we shall be discussing, The Caspian Amulet. For joining details, please contact the church office.

UPCOMING: Sunday 6th September. RESTART Lives is hosting a doubles tournament at St Columba’s Tennis Club, with strawberries and cream, tea, coffee and prosecco available throughout the event. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring together both familiar and new faces in our community while raising vital funds for RESTART services.
To sign up to this wonderful event, please click on the following link: RESTART Tennis Tournament🎾or by visiting www.restartlives.org.
More information can be found on www.restartlives.org or by emailing Olivia@restartlives.org

DIARY DATE: Churches Together in Kensington & Chelsea with Churches Together in Notting Hill,
Season of Creation 2026 Ecumenical Service,
Thursday 1st October, 7.00p.m.
St Luke’s Parish Church, Sydney Street, SW3 6NH.
Everyone is warmly invited.

UPCOMING: The Passage: Walk to End Homelessness on Sunday 18th October 2026
This is our flagship challenge event and is taking place on Sunday 18th October in Battersea Park. Participants are invited to walk 2.5km, 5km, or 10km with friends, family and other local community members to raise vital funds for The Passage. On the day, you will be able to enjoy music, food and drinks as you walk alongside hundreds of like-minded people, united by a shared goal to prevent and end homelessness.
This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the congregation to get involved,
To sign up to this event, please click on the following link: Walk to end Homelessness and click on ‘Sign up Today’

Scots in London Newsletter
Scots in London, the umbrella organisation that brings together ten Scottish, London-based organisations produces a monthly newsletter which shares information about upcoming events and usually has a monthly focus on one of the organisations. Check out the July issue which promoted the Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals and gives a nice welcome to Revd Tara Porr Granados, the new minister of Crown Court Church of Scotland. https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/july-newsletter2026

St Andrews Book Festival,
presented by Scots in London
Update on St Andrew’s Book Festival, November 18th-22nd. We are pleased to announce that Carol Kirkwood, Andrew Lownie and Val McDermid are among the authors who will appear at the festival with most events at St Columba’s. Ticket details will follow.
The Book Festival returns to several central London venues, with St Columba’s as the primary focus of the festival. Look forward to another array of well-known and new authors bringing Scottish writing to the heart of London. Keep 18th to 22nd November 2026 in your diaries, both for attending and/or volunteering to get involved.