For Sunday 26th October 2025, Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Friends,

It was a great pleasure to be part of the Songs of Praise held here in St. Columba’s to mark the 125th anniversary of the opening of Dr. Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong. John Anderson Graham (1861-1942) was a Church of Scotland missionary who had known tragedy and hardship in his own early life and had to leave school at 13, later attending evening classes and becoming a missionary and a minister.
In the Indian Himalayas he and his wife Katherine developed a particular concern for Anglo-Indian children who were rejected by both the Indian and European communities. The first home opened on 24th September 1900 and took in 6 boys. Today around 1300 pupils attend the highly regarded boarding school with 150 children from difficult or impoverished situations being sponsored, some as young as two years old being taken in by the homes. To learn more about the history of Dr Graham’s Homes and their work today see www.drgrahamshomes.org.uk

In recognition of his unique ministry Dr. Graham was appointed Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1931. The May edition of the St. Columba’s Magazine that year carried an article headed “The Moderator-Designate in St. Columba’s” which opens – “On Saturday, 11th April, Dr. John Graham arrived in London. On the Sunday morning, he preached in St. Columba’s. Seventy years of age, he had arranged, if necessary, to fly from Paris to keep the engagement. That is Dr. Graham.

His sermon and presence will long be remembered – the presence as much as the sermon, with its immediate impression of unaffected benignity and loving-kindness…

Dr. Graham referred to the link between the lovely St. Columba’s of the Himalayas and our own church in London. We have been privileged to supply some of its furnishings…”.

Dr. Graham was a man of vision and young people are still benefiting from his foresight. The same is also true of Douglas Macmillan (1884-1969) who founded the organisation we know as Macmillan Cancer Support following the death of his father from the disease in 1924. It is now one of the largest charities in the UK supporting people living with Cancer and their families. I’m delighted that we are holding our third annual Macmillan Coffee Morning here in St. Columba’s following worship this Sunday. You can learn more here www.macmillan.org.uk

The stories of John Graham and Douglas Macmillan show that one person can make a huge difference. Most of us can’t found schools or charities but in our own place and situation, by reaching out to friends and neighbours, by seeing every human being as made in the image of God and loved by him, we can make a difference.

William

THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 26th October 2025, Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Hymn 52 How lovely is thy dwelling place (Psalm 84) (Harington (Retirement))
Hymn 465 Be thou my vision (Slane)
Hymn 517 Fight the good fight with all your might (Duke Street)
Hymn 706 For the healing of the nations (Triumph)

Anthem: Beatus Vir (Psalm 112) (Part 1) Monteverdi 1567 – 1643
Anthem: Beatus Vir (Psalm 112) (Part 2) Monteverdi 1567 – 1643

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 14: 7-10, 19-22
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 9-14
Reader: Rosa Somerville

Church Office Manager Nicky Martin
This week we have welcomed our new Church Office Manager Nicky Martin.
Nicky is excited to be here and looking forward to meeting everyone in due course.

THIS 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.

We are delighted that Rose Swainston, CEO, Caxton Youth Organisation, will be giving a brief talk during the service on 26^th October. Caxton Youth Organisation was our Lent Appeal 2025 recipient. Rose looks forward to thanking everyone for the Lent Appeal donation and will be telling us all about the two outdoor summer residential trips that were funded by the Lent Appeal.

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 2^nd November 11am Morning Service, Sunday School and Baptisms. 5pm Annual Bereavement Service

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)

Lent Appeal 2026: Small UK registered charity (that provides help overseas)
Over the last five years, thanks to your generosity, we have raised a total of £36,929 for small registered charities as a direct result of our Lent Appeals; this is a major part of our work on Mission. The Mission Committee would be grateful for any suggestions you may have for a small UK registered charity, that provides help overseas, that could be considered for the St. Columba’s Lent Appeal 2026. For more information, please contact Naomi Donaldson, naomi.60@live.co.uk (or via the Church Office). Deadline for applications is Wednesday 12 November.

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).

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

Give us a follow then pass it on to your friends and family!