Friends,
My one-teacher primary school would seem like something from the dark ages to children today. In fact, I suspect that even in the 1970’s our little village school would have seemed very old fashioned to city children. Of course, there were no computers in those days, and I was in Primary 4 when the school got its first television. The day began with us saying the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the teacher reading us a Bible story. We stood whenever a visitor entered the classroom. The minister visited every Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning we enjoyed hymn singing – I hate to think how tuneless it was! Nevertheless, my favourites were “Mine eyes have seen the glory” and “Who would true valour see”. I’m not sure how much I understood but I enjoyed belting them out. I also remember that we all wrote out Galatians 5:22
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”.
Our schooling might have been very different from education today, but it gave us all a good grounding, not only academically – although certainly that – but also in the fundamentals of life. We are living in dangerous and uncertain times when the world is in need of peace, patience, kindness and the other fruits of the Spirit. And it begins with each of us in our own place and in our own situation. When we look at people do we smile, or do we frown? Do we welcome them or turn them away? May today be an open door through which others may walk into the love of God.
William
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 29th June 2025, Third Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 9 O God, my refuge, keep me safe (Psalm 16) (Wetherby)
Hymn 528 Make me a channel of your peace (Prayer of St Francis (Channel of Peace))
Hymn 657 Father most loving, listen to your children (Christie Sanctorum)
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s Edinburgh) Psalm 24
Hymn 818 Praise ye the Lord, ye servants of the Lord (Old 124th)
Anthem: Pray that Jerusalem Stanford (1852-1924)
Anthem: O quam gloriousum Victoria (1548-1611)
New Testament Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Gospel Reading: St Luke 9:51-62
Reader: Ian Russell
THIS SUNDAY This week’s flowers are sponsored by Helen Nicoll in memory of her late husband Sir William (Bill) Nicoll.
THIS 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. If you are watching via the livestream you are very welcome to prepare bread and wine (or equivalent) and to share the communion at the appropriate moment.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
