Newsletter for Sunday 6th September 2026

Friends,

The Season of Creation encourages Christians of all denominations to engage in prayer and action for the protection of the environment. It started on Monday 1st September with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation; it concludes on Saturday 4th October, on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. The Season of Creation had its beginnings in 1989 when the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church stated there should be a day of “protection of the natural environment”.

Perhaps in this “season” we could make this “Prayer for Others and the Earth” our own; to deepen our awareness and response:

“We pray for a world in crisis
and a Church learning to respond.
We pray for communities on the frontlines
of climate change –
for those losing land to rising seas,
for those whose harvests fail in drought,
for those displaced by floods and fires
they did nothing to cause.
May our advocacy be as loud as our prayer.

We pray for our political leaders –
for courage to act beyond the next election cycle,
for wisdom to choose justice over short-term growth,
for ears open to the cry of the Earth
and the cry of those with lived experience of poverty,
which are so often one cry.

We pray for Eco-Congregation Scotland and congregations like us –
may our buildings, our budgets, and our voices
reflect the values we profess.
May we be communities of genuine belonging –
belonging to this earth,
belonging to each other,
belonging to God.

We pray for the more-than-human world:
for species on the edge,
for rivers running low,
for soils stripped bare.
May we be part of their healing,
not the continuation of their harm.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Angus

THIS SUNDAY: 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

Crown Court Church of Scotland, Saturday 12th September, Partners & Friends Showcase
There is a warm invite from fellow London,
Church of Scotland congregation, Crown Court,
to hear about their ambitious new plans
for building improvement and related activities.
To help with catering numbers please RSVP by 8th September to futures@crowncourtchurch.com

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 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.

August-September Church Magazine
With thanks to the Editor, Susan Pym
and her contributors, the excellent August/ September issue of the church magazine is available via the bookstall, £1.50.
(Note the beautiful front cover photo from Iona)
Pick up a copy for yourself
and consider one for a friend or neighbour.
Help spread the St Columba’s story.

Scots in London August Newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest
check out the Scots in London August newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/aug-newsletter2026-12822222?e=a7a1f1deca Scots in London is an umbrella organisation for Scottish cultural societies, sports clubs, alumni groups, charities, churches and the Scottish military in London. Its mission is to promote Scottish culture and heritage, co-ordinate and communicate events, support Scottish charities in the capital, and contribute to the life of the city where we live.

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.

Scottish poet Kenneth Steven will be one of the speakers at the London St Andrew’s Book Festival in November. Kenneth is also an artist. He writes: “Greetings to you from across the water in the Scottish west! I’m letting you know of the newest oil paintings on my website: kennethsteven.co.uk All but one is of the west coast where my wife Kristina and I live: it’s hard to imagine not being inspired by the Scottish Hebrides, and by my beloved island of Iona lying at their heart. Remember I send work easily and often to North America (a recent painting went to its home in New Zealand). When sending a painting to someone as a gift perhaps from someone else, I like to include a present of one of my books, signed, and together with a handwritten card of greeting.” To see more https://kennethsteven.co.uk/painter/

UPCOMING: The Passage: Walk to End Homelessness on Sunday 18th October 2026
This is The Passage’s 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’