For Sunday 28th September 2025, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Friends,

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church defines a creed as a “concise, formal and authorised statement of important points of Christian doctrine.” Originally, they were simple formulas spoken by those about to be baptised, but by the early C4th, as conflicting views of Christ became more pronounced, creeds came to be used as standards of orthodoxy. They came to define what Christians believe – as opposed to Gnostics, Arians and other religious movements current in the early centuries of Christendom, which started as Christian but veered away over certain disputed beliefs/understandings.

It is now 1700 years since the formulation of the Nicene Creed – one of the foundational statements of Christian belief, shared across most Christian traditions. It was first agreed at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, (now İznik in present-day Türkiye) at a gathering of bishops from across the Christian world, convened by the Emperor Constantine. The Council sought to resolve disputes about the identity of Jesus and affirmed that he is “of one being with the Father”. The Creed was expanded in its present form at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381. It sets out the Church’s faith in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It has been recited in Christian worship for centuries – a shared declaration of belief, unity and hope.

The American writer and theologian, Kathleen Norris comments: “At their best, the (Christian Church) creeds are simple storytelling. They relate the history of salvation as understood by Christians. That Jesus came, and died, and will come again. That the Holy Spirit who came at Pentecost is the one who spoke through the prophets. That there is the forgiveness of sins and the promise of life everlasting. At their worst… they can seem like a grocery list of beliefs that one has to comprehend and assent to fully, before one dare show one’s face in church.” (“Amazing Grace”)

On Sunday our “Reflections” discussion group, (Library, 12.30pm), considers “some” of the Nicene Creed. Prompted by that, we include the Nicene Creed in our 11am Communion Service. Profound and not easily comprehended words – “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God.” But as one of the World Council of Churches theologians celebrating the 1700th anniversary reassures: “… even if Christians do not use the Nicene Creed liturgically, or lack the theological expertise to unpack its precise meaning, the faith it articulates remains widely shared.”

On Sunday, gathering to hear God’s word preached by our returning friend, Reverend Christopher Rowe, responding with the words of the creed and celebrating communion, we will touch into the shared faith, experience and wisdom of centuries past, in every time and place. Which is no small thing.

Angus

THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 28th September 2025, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Holy Communion

Hymn 500 Lord of Creation, to you be all praise! (Slane)
Hymn 468 Son of God, eternal Saviour (Blaenwern)
Hymn 363 We have a gospel (Walton Fulda)
Hymn 517 Fight the good fight (Duke Street)

Anthem: Beati quorum via – C.V.Stanford (1852-1924)
Communion Anthem: O Lord, increase my faith – O.Gibbons (1583-1625)

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15
New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-19
Gospel Reading: Luke 16: 19-31
Reader: Ian Russell

THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Coffee and Tea in the Upper Hall followed by Reflections – The meeting of the Group will be held on at 12.30 in the Library. The discussion will be based on parts of the Nicene Creed.

THIS SUNDAY: Guest Preacher, 28th September

A special welcome to our guest preacher, Revd Christopher Rowe. Christopher is the minister of Glasgow’s, Colston Milton Parish, an area of considerable social deprivation. His ministry is resourced as part of the Church of Scotland’s responsibility, as the National Church, to provide Christian ministry as widely as possible across Scotland.

This is funded in part by the contributions of congregations, such as St Columba’s, enabling the Church to have a presence in places, that on their own, could not afford a minister. Christopher’s presence is a helpful reminder of the wider work, responsibilities and impact of our denomination. This is Chritopher’s fourth visit and is joined by two of his children, Carys and Euan.

St Columba’s members
The funeral of St Columba’s former elder, Lady Jean Macpherson will take place at Laggan Church, 11am on Friday 10th October 2025. 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. Rest eternal grant unto them and let light perpetual shine upon them.

THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 28^th September, 1pm, Lower Hall
St Columba’s Church has been, for decades, the centre of Scottish dancing in London and we’re delighted that we are able to bring children’s classes back to the Lower Hall from this month. If you’ve ever wished to draw your children, grandchildren or family friends into the joys of dance – now is your chance. Working together with St Columba’s Church, RSCDS London will offer two Sunday classes this term, with more to come in 2026. The classes are aimed mainly at primary school children (4 and above, but do let us know if you have interested teenagers as we would love to encourage that age group too) and will run 1pm – 2.15pm on Sunday 28 September and Sunday 9 November. There is a nominal fee of £10 per term per child (capped at £20 per family) and more information about the classes, plus registration link, may be found at https://www.rscdslondon.org.uk/children. Any questions, please contact classes@rscdslondon.org.uk

Harvest Appeal 2025 – The Upper Room (UR4 Meals) www.theupperroom.org.uk
Harvest is approaching and we will be collecting again for The Upper Room (UR4 Meals). The charity provides thousands of meals a year to the homeless and disadvantaged people. Your food donations will contribute to such a valuable meal service. We will be collecting: tuna, mixed herbs, curry powder or paste, paprika, vegetable stock cubes, sunflower or vegetable oil, chopped tomatoes, basmati rice, biscuits, instant coffee, tea bags (not loose tea) and sugar.
Collection point: Upper Vestibule by the Harvest Display Board, on three Sundays 21st, 28^th September and 5^th October (culminating at the Harvest Festival Service).
Thank you in advance, UR4 Meals!

NEXT SUNDAY, 5TH October: Harvest Festival Service followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
St Columba’s Craft Group, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, Kirk Session Room
Many of us are knitters and crocheters of varying levels of experience; others are embroiderers spinners and patchworkers, so whatever your interest is you will find a welcome with us. For more details contact Susan Pym or Fiona Lang via the church office.

Evening Service 5pm followed by Coffee/Tea in the Upper Hall

UPCOMING: 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 »

Diary Date: New Members’ Enquiry Evening & Service of Welcome, Wednesday 8^th October & Sunday 23^rd November 2025 If you would like to learn more about what becoming a member of St Columba’s involves, you are warmly invited to an evening of food and discussion on Wednesday 8^th October 2025, 7.00pm. For those who would then like to become members there will be a Service of Welcome on Sunday 23^rd November – which is celebrated as Christ the King Sunday. For more information speak to either of the ministers and please sign up via the Church Office. (Note the Enquiry Evening is a revised date, from the originally published date of Wednesday 15^th October. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.)

UPCOMING: 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.

St Andrew’s Book Festival 2025
The St Andrew’s Book Festival team are delighted to announce that first 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! For more see https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/ Membership Scheme for 2025 is also now open. To become a Festival Friend please click here.

Scots in London September newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest see https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/scots-in-london-september-newsletter-12818372?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. While proud of our shared nationality, we endeavour to be international in outlook.

Christian Aid: Annual Lecture – Monday 6 October, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square. 7pm to 8.30pm.
The speaker for this year’s annual lecture is Mariana Mazzucato, Professor at UCL, where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose. The theme for the speakers is taken from the words of Martin Luther ‘Here I am Stand; I can do no other‘. Tickets are free but you are required to book. Registration may close early if capacity is reached. Book your free ticket here.

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

NEXT WEEK: Supporting Wounded Veterans, Rollicking Reels, Supporting Wounded Veterans, Saturday 4^th October, 6.30pm, Lower Hall. All abilities are welcome to join but some experience is preferable. To buy your tickets, visit swvreels2025.eventbrite.co.uk

RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 5^th December 2025, outside St Columba’s Church. The number of people sleeping on the
streets in the UK is at a record high. London
saw a 10% increase in rough sleeping in 2024/2025 compared to the previous
year. To participate to 2025 SleepOut, sign up
on this link or you can donate and set up a
fundraiser on this page. Adults or children over
the age of 10 accompanied by an adult are
welcome, as are school groups or other
groups of children under adult supervision.
Contact us if you would like any information or
have questions: Olivia olivia@restartlives.org

“Secret Surprise Gift” Members may be aware that our office manager Stef Christ is leaving us in mid-October for a new post with the London School of Economics (LSE). After two years at St Columba’s, we are very sorry to be losing her, as she has played such an important role in the running and promotion of the building. If you wish to donate towards Stef’s leaving gift, please put it in an envelope marked for her attention. She has promised not to open and will pass on to others who will collate and action. Contributions in by Sunday 5th October.

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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