For Sunday 19th October 2025, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Friends,

I would be very reluctant to take part in Mastermind or any such television quiz because if there were a biblical question and I gave the wrong answer it would be hugely embarrassing! In fact I once took part in a pub quiz which included the question “How many books are there in the Bible?” I was sure that the correct answer was 66 but that was not the answer the quizmaster gave so during the break a member of my team spoke to him and said “We have a minister in our team and he says…” Fortunately I was right and we were awarded an extra point!

The Kensington & Chelsea Faith Communities Partnership exists to foster practical cooperation and stronger relationships between faiths. Through our regular dialogue, shared visits and learning, and joint community initiatives, we bring people together to listen, support and act for the common good. In the days ahead, we will continue working with our partners across the Council and community to offer support to those affected, to reassure local congregations, and to maintain open channels of communication so that compassion and solidarity guide our borough’s response.

In our reading from the Second Letter to Timothy this week Paul stresses the importance of knowing the Bible and having a faith rooted in scripture. Paul writes “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching…” (2 Timothy 3:16). We are blessed with many different translations of the Bible today; in church we use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) regarded by many scholars as the most accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts. For personal reading I like the Living Bible and if I’m struggling with the NRSV translation of a particular passage I will sometimes look at it in the Living Bible or The Message. Some people start reading the Bible at Genesis and work their way through to Revelation but most of us would find that rather daunting, so we are also very fortunate to have a great variety of commentaries and Bible reading notes available to assist us. I would particularly recommend those published by Bible Reading Fellowship which may be used either by an individual in their own devotions or by a group studying together www.brf.org.uk

Like many of you, one of my early heroes was Brother Andrew whose memoir “God’s Smuggler” tells the story of smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War era when Communist governments in eastern Europe were persecuting the church. I’m very glad that I met Brother Andrew before his death in 2022. His mission is carried on today by the organisation he founded, Open Doors, which continues to support persecuted Christians in various parts of the world and still provides Bibles for those in need www.opendoorsuk.org Here in the UK we enjoy freedom of worship and may buy a Bible in our preferred translation anytime we wish, without fear of retribution. Let us not take our freedom for granted nor forget to pray for our persecuted sisters and brothers around the world.

WIlliam

THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 19th October 2025, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Hymn 81 I to the hills will lift mine eyes (French, Dundee)
Hymn 255 Father, hear the prayer we offer (Gott Wills ’S Machen)
Hymn 545 Lord, teach us how to pray aright (Edgbaston)
Hymn 153 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father (Faithfulness)

Anthem: O God the King of Glory – Purcell
Anthem: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom – E Farrar

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 32: 22-31
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 3: 14 – 4:5
Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 1-8
Reader: Hamish MacKay

THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service & Sunday School followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall

NEXT SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s, Sunday 19^th October, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Vernal Duo: Katy Taylor (flute) & Yiyao Li (piano) “Flights of Fantasy: Music for Flute and Piano”, Music by Handel, Gaubert and Faure.
Join us for this free recital and pick up a full year programme from the book stall.

Prisons Week 2025, 12^th – 18^th October
For 50 years, Prisons Week has encouraged Christians everywhere to pray for prisoners and their families, victims of crime and their communities and those working or volunteering in the criminal justice system. The organisers of Prisons Week suggest: “Please pray each day during Prisons Week, but also ask yourself if there is one thing that you as an individual, or as a church, can do to help any of the people for whom you are praying.”

St Columba’s member
A Service of Thanksgiving for St Columba’s member Alison Scheurer-Dewar will be held at St Columba’s, Pont Street on Friday 17th October at 2.00pm. The service will be livestreamed and available to watch via the church website, regular livestream link. Please keep Eric, Stephanie and Sebastian in your prayers as they prepare for Alison’s funeral this Friday morning.Rest eternal grant unto them and let light perpetual shine upon them.

THIS WEEKEND: Friends of St Columba’s Visit, Saturday 18 October – Dr Johnson’s House & Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Rendezvous 11am at 17 Gough Square, EC4A 3DE | Adult: £10.00 | Tube: Blackfriars or Chancery Lane We begin our programme with a visit to Dr Johnson’s House, an 18th-century townhouse tucked just off Fleet Street, where Samuel Johnson lived and worked while compiling his pioneering Dictionary of the English Language. One of the few surviving buildings of its kind in the City of London, the house offers insight into the life and mind of one of English literature’s most influential—and idiosyncratic—figures.

THIS WEEKEND: And on Saturday 18th October Crown Court host a “Come & Sing” for Fauré’s Requiem & “A New Song” by James MacMillan, led by Thomas Allery, Director of Music at Temple Church, accompanied by Benedict Lewis-Smith. Book via Eventbrite »

UPCOMING: Tuesday 21^st October, 2pm, Dr Graham’s Homes 125^th Birthday Songs of Praise at St Columba’s, Pont Street (events@drgrahamshomes.co.uk)
There is an open invitation to attend this special anniversary service, followed by refreshments in the library.

Dr Graham’s Homes was founded in September 1900 in Kalimpong, West Bengal in the Himalayas by Rev John Anderson Graham, a Church of Scotland missionary. The School was built on the “cottage homes” model which are family style houses named after benefactors, with “auntys” looking after the children. Originally aimed to educate and give vocational training to impoverished Anglo-Indian children; over time it became a wider community school. By the 1920’s it housed nearly 600 children and had grown into a near self-sufficient village with a church, hospital, farm, and workshops.

The UK charity arm (DGH UK) currently sponsors over 100 children in need, mostly from the streets of Kolkata, through fundraising and individual sponsors, some of whom have lifelong connection with their sponsored children. Today it continues as a boarding and day school on a large hillside campus at Kalimpong. The new Chairman of the Board of Management was a sponsored child from the age of two. He is now a world renowned neurosurgeon based in Shillong, near Kalimpong.

There are records of Dr Graham visiting St Columba’s during his visits to London. St Columba’s is the London home for all the DGH UK events, hosting an annual curry lunch for several years.
For further information see www.drgrahamshomes.co.uk

New Church Magazine
With thanks to the Editor, Susan Pym and her contributors, the excellent October/November issue of the church magazine is now available via the bookstall, £1.50.
Pick up a copy for yourself and consider one for a friend or neighbour. Help spread the St Columba’s story.

NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 26^th October, Morning Service, Macmillan Coffee Morning & Reflections discussion group (12.30pm) Join us for worship at 11am, followed by Coffee Morning in support of MacMillan Cancer Support, followed by Reflections discussion group, with guest speaker Keeler Mears, representing Narcotics Anonymous (NA), one of the many support groups that meet regularly at St Columba’s.

Calling all bakers! If you would like to bake a cake(s), or biscuits, scones, shortbread, meringues – either bring it to the Entrance Vestibule before the service on Sunday 26^th October, or leave it with the Church Office before Sunday 26^th October. That would be very much appreciated. Please label cake packaging with what type of cake it is. Cakes etc. can then be purchased after the service. All money raised goes to MacMillan Cancer Support.

UPCOMING: 75^th Anniversary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone Service, Sunday 16^th November 205, 11am Seventy-five years ago, the foundation stone of the “new” St Columba’s was laid. From the ashes of war, a sign of hope, a loyalty to an unknown future. Since then so much life takes place here, every day of the week – school pupils play, support groups welcome, homeless guests find shelter, dancers twirl, food is cooked, music performed, and prayer offered. We are very grateful for all of that.

On Sunday 16th November we celebrate that anniversary milestone. We are specifically sending invitations to the many groups who know and love this special building to join us that morning. It is also opportunity for congregational members to invite family members and friends.

11.00 am Morning Service. All welcome (No ticket required)
12.15 pm Catered lunch by The Passage £7.50
(Tickets via Eventbrite for a 2 course meal:
Menu – vegetarian option available upon request
Sausage, Mash, Onion Gravy & Peas
Chocolate Fudge Cake & Cream)
1.30pm Choir of St Columba’s, sing Rheinberger Cantus Missae and other works – All welcome (no ticket required)

Sunday 19th October 2025, Service of Installation of the Revd Dr Camille Cook Howe at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago.
Former St Columba’s Assistant Minister Camille begins her new ministry in Chicago. You can watch the service via: (9.30am Chicago time, which is 15.30 UK time.) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfB53ueJ2dzrJNH5-61V6A/streams

UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club: Monday 10^th November Next book choice, “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Neapolitano, a novel inspired in part by Little Women. After that we shall be reading “Free – Coming of Age at the End of History” by Lea Ypi, which promises to be very interesting, as are all our choices. For details of how to join the book club, please contact the church office.

St Andrew’s Book Festival 2025
The St Andrew’s Book Festival team are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale with St Columba’s being one of the main venue. Events include Nicola Sturgeon, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. On Friday 28 November one of Scotland’s true national treasures, broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson,will speak at a special literary lunch celebrating her spellbinding new novel The Shapeshifter’s Daughter. Book now to avoid disappointment as some of the events’ tickets are already going fast! Book now to avoid disappointment.

See https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/ for full programme and tickets

Scots in London October newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest see https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/scots-in-london-october-newsletter2025. 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.

RESTART LIVES annual Winter Resource Fair is coming up – taking place on Friday 14 November.

Calling our supporters at St Columba’s
At this time of the year, temperatures drop and the weather can become more challenging for our homeless guests. Please help us provide essential kit and keep homeless people safe and warm and help make their rough sleeping conditions a little more bearable. We’d gratefully receive items such as hats, gloves, scarves, warm socks (those would need to be brand new) or rucksacks (second hand accepted but in good condition only). Thank you so much in advance. We expect 50-100 guests at this Fair and will do all we can to meet demand. Thank you to the church as well for helping us collect and store donations for this event and hosting the space so that we can distribute essentials and support guests to make it through the Winter safely.
Donations will need to be brought in the church office between Sunday 26^th October to Sunday 9^th November.
You can also donate directly on https://www.restartlives.org/donate (please make sure that you mention this is for the Resource Fair so donations can be allocated accordingly).

Church Office Manager
This week we said farewell to our office manager, Stef Christ. Thank you to everyone who donated to Stef’s leaving gift. Part of the gift was theatre tokens. We can report that she has already purchased tickets to see ‘Bacchae’ at the National Theatre. We send her all our good wishes for her new job.

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.

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
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirkPastoral
Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271

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