Friends,
At the worship in the London Scottish Chapel that began last Saturday’s meeting of the Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands, the outgoing moderator spoke to us about 2024 Booker Prize winning author, Samantha Harvey’s novel, Orbital. The main plot revolves around a single day in the life of six astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Throughout this day, they orbit planet Earth 16 times, and they watch and observe our silent, beautiful, precarious, blue planet. From two hundred and fifty miles above the Earth’s surface, Japan is a “but a wisp”. The Nile appears like “a single human hair”. The Philippines appear “scarily frail”. All of Europe is “outlined with fine precision”, ringed by “a golden thread of night-lit roads”. So far from earth, they have never felt more part – or protective – of it.
They go about their laboratory tasks with a sense of devotion that does not waver, monitoring microbes or the growth of cabbages. Earth is “newly ravishing” every moment, as it moves through the “ballroom of space”. Small things enchant them; “the lights of fishing boats off the coast of Malaysia”. Even the atheists among them, ponder whether those lucky enough to live on Earth, might already have died and be in a heavenly afterlife. Orbital is about wonder, the awesomeness of Earth and the universe around us. Described as a hymn of praise, “it reads like a love letter or an act of worship”.
Saturday’s preacher spoke about how the scale of space, and our place in it, overwhelmed her. From earthbound perspective current world events risk overwhelming us. Some days ago, I received a collection of thoughts from Revd Peter Miller, former Warden of Iona Abbey. His gathered, alternative voices offered as an encouragement.
“My own way of struggling with all the tough news is to remind myself that wherever there is suffering, even of great magnitude, there are wonderful people struggling to alleviate it. The work they do and the sacrifices they make lift up our hearts and spirits.” Peter Godfrey
“We dare to swim against the bleakest of tides, celebrating what is good and remembering that this is the only world we have, and that it is often beautiful.” Patrick and Alison Duncan
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead.
Angus
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 22nd June 2025, Second Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 32 As pants the hart for cooling streams (Martyrdom, Fenwick)
Hymn 606 Lord, you sometimes speak in wonders (Stuttgart)
Hymn 253 Inspired by love and anger (Salley Gardens)
Hymn 706 For the healing of the nations (Tune: Regents Square CH4 110)
Anthem: O how amiable – Williams (1872-1958)
Anthem: Above all praise – Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Old Testament Reading: I Kings 19:1-15a
New Testament Reading: Galatians 3:23-29
Gospel Reading: Luke 8:26-39
Reader: Rosa Somerville
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service & Coffee/Tea in Upper Hall. Note: There will be no “Reflections” (Theme/bible study, 12.30pm, Fourth Sunday of the month) this week
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.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 29th June, “Families’ Communion” To mark the end of the Sunday School year, our young people help us celebrate communion by serving the bread and wine, at the 11am Morning Service. Afterwards Sunday School families are invited to join together at the congregational lunch, served on the fifth Sunday of the month. Please come and support our young people and enjoy the life that they bring to our congregation.
UPCOMING: Songs of Praise – Choose your favourite hymns! Our last evening service before the summer is on Sunday 6th July (5pm.) It is our annual Songs of Praise, based on congregational choices. Please make a recommendation and explain a little of why that hymn is special via email to William at associateminister@stcolumbas.org.uk All recommendations by Sunday 29th June.
Kirk Session The Kirk Session of St Columba’s meets at St Columba’s on Friday 27th June 2025 at 6.35pm. Non elders are welcome as observers.
Elders’ Pastoral Care Training Day The Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands is holding a pastoral care conference for elders on Saturday 28th June 2025, 10.30am – 3.30pm at St Columba’s.
Stamp Collection: Thanks to all who have contributed with used stamps over the past year to the basket on the Welcome Desk. We have sent off nearly 2 kilograms of British and Foreign stamps to the company in Glasgow which sells them on behalf of the RNIB. They estimate a kilogram is worth about £20. Apparently, the collectors prefer newer stamps while I always enjoy the older ones with long dead heads of governments and kingdoms, animals and commemorations. By a happy coincidence the floral clock in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh this year is dedicated to the …RNIB! So if you go up there, visit, feel proud, and please continue to bring your stamps to church on Sundays. Rosa Somerville
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
NEXT WEEK: Summer Tuesdays Tuesday 24th June sees the start of the Summer Tuesdays season of Scottish Country Dancing in the Lower Hall. Each week, until the 9th September, there is dancing to a live band with all the profits going to the Church. Summer Tuesdays have been running for over 50 years, and the opportunity to dance each week to live music from a top band attracts dancers from all over the South. The dances are not suitable for beginners, as to ensure a fast-paced evening, there are only very limited recaps and few walkthroughs. However, if you have some dancing experience you will find plenty to enjoy. Full details, including links to cribs and videos of the dances, can be found on the Summer Tuesdays website: www.summertuesdays.org
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
