Friends,
The parable of the Good Samaritan is probably the best known and best loved of Jesus’ parables. Indeed the term “Good Samaritan” has entered the language and means anyone who helps in time of need. However, our very familiarity with the parable often prevents us from feeling its full impact.
A lawyer asks a religious question expecting a religious answer and gets one, but then he seeks clarification. And there he treads on dangerous ground! In elaborating on his answer, Jesus turns the question upside down and highlights the lawyer’s own hypocrisy. Everyone is your neighbour, Jesus says, especially those in need. Jesus’ words here echo the parable of the sheep and the goats which concludes “… just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). The Samaritan, the despised foreigner, who belonged to another religion, becomes a model of righteousness for the pious lawyer who would normally have crossed the street to avoid him. For us the lesson is twofold – that we should help anyone in need regardless of their race or religion and that we can learn lessons in Christian living from seemingly unlikely people – in the old phrase “we should accept light from any source”.
Every human being is made in the image of God and loved by him and we forget that at our peril, in the words of the hymn
“And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter…”
William
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 13th July 2025, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 21(i) Lord, teach me all your ways (Psalm 25) (Garelochside)
Hymn 225 Summer suns are glowing (Ruth)
Hymn 543 Longing for light, we wait in darkness (Christ be our light)
Hymn 544 When I needed a neighbour, were you there (Neighbour)
Anthem: Oculi omnium – Wood (1866-1926)
Anthem: Exsultate, justi – Viadana (c1560-1627). Ps 33 1-3
Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 9-14
New Testament Reading: Colossians 1: 1-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Reader: Rona Black
TTHIS SUNDAY: Sunday 13th July, Congregational Prayer Group, London Scottish Chapel, 10.15am- 10.30am Join with others to pray for the continuing life and work of St Columba’s.
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by refreshments in Upper Hall
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 20th July, Morning Service followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
New Church Magazine
The new issue of the Church Magazine should be available this Sunday at the Bookstall for £1.50. Why not pick up copies for yourself and one for a friend or neighbour? Big thanks to Editor Susan Pym and all who help bring us the good news of St Columba’s and beyond.
Christian Aid Week thanks: Total £2,418.71 Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Christian Aid Week Appeal. Through a variety of ways, from cake sales to donations we raised £2418.71. Those donations will help improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. In the year that Christian Aid celebrates its 80th Anniversary, thank you for your support.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club: Our next book choice is Sebastian Faulks’ “The Seventh Son“ which we will discuss on Monday 28 July. After that we shall be reading “On the Other Side of the Bridge” by Mary Lawson.”We meet by Zoom. New members welcome. For further information please contact the church office
Scots in London June newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest see https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/scots-in-london-june-newsletter-12817435 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. While proud of our shared nationality, we endeavour to be international in outlook. Note: The Scots in London VE Day 80th Anniversary publication is now online at https://www.scotsinlondon.org/publications
RSCDS London, Scottish Country Dancing Across the capital Open Air Dancing, Saturdays 16, 23 and 30 August 2025, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Kensington Gardens. By the bandstand near the Round Pond.
Poet Painter, Kenneth Steven
Friend to St Columba’s, Scottish poet, writer and broadcaster, Kenneth Steven is now turning his hand to painting. Kenneth’s current “Highland and Hebridean oils” are available via https://kennethsteven.co.uk/painter/
UPCOMING: Glass Door Sleep Out, Friday 3rd October, Duke of York Square, Sleep Out is our biggest fundraising event of the year, taking place at Duke of York Square in Chelsea. At Sleep Out, we ask participants to give up their beds for one night to reflect on our guests’ experiences of homelessness. While Sleep Out doesn’t replicate the challenges of rough sleeping, it aims to raise awareness about the difficult conditions thousands of people experiencing homelessness in London endure on any given night.
2025 marks 25 years of Glass Door Homeless Charity. Thanks to supporters like you, we can continue to provide routes out of homelessness for our community. Join us for a night of reflection and the chance to hear from frontline workers and speak to other Glass Door Homeless Charity supporters. Register online on this link
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream. Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary. Note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel. If you experience any issue with livestream on the day, please email livestream@stcolumbas.org.uk (please note that this address will only be monitored on Sundays).
Dial into Sunday Service
If you are aware of church members or friends who do not have access to internet, please inform them that they can phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow: Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
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Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas Anyone wishing to contribute to St Andrew’s, Newcastle please contact the Session Clerk on standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com for bank details or other means of donating.
Office Hours –
The church office is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
