One of the great joys of being at St. Columba’s is meeting so many people from different parts of the world. Indeed, when I am telling people about St Columba’s I always stress that our congregation is not exclusively Scots but includes women and men from every continent many of whom have no Scottish or presbyterian connection but have found their way to us and feel that St. Columba’s is “a home away from home”. We were recently joined for Sunday worship by two Spanish presbyterians who were visiting London and had looked on the internet for presbyterian churches in London and discovered us. They own an arboretum near Barcelona and apart from coming here I think that the highlight of their holiday was a visit to Kew Gardens. It was lovely to meet them and I have since received an email saying how welcome they felt and how much they enjoyed worship. They pointed out that the Spanish Evangelical Church (Presbyterian and Methodist) and the Church of Scotland are fellow members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. To learn more I looked at their website www.iee-protestante.org which you may find interesting. In our gospel lesson this week from St. Matthew 28:16-20 the risen Christ summons his disciples to a mountain in Galilee. He tells them that all authority is his and that they should make disciples all over the world, baptizing them and teaching them to obey his commandments. He promises to be with them always. Let us think about what it means for us to be sent by Jesus, and how we can know him with us, as we embark on his mission to all. And let us thank God for the privilege of being part of a worldwide family of believers.
William
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 31st May 2026, Trinity Sunday
Morning Service
Hymn 4 How excellent in all the earth (Psalm 8) (Winchester Old)
Hymn 577 Christ be beside me (Bunessan)
Hymn 522 The Church is wherever God’s people are praising (The Bard of Armagh)
Hymn 260 Eternal Father, strong to save (Melita)
Anthem: Holy, holy, holy, Tchaikovsky (1840-93)
Anthem: Te Deum in C, Haydn (1732-1809)
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 1:1 – 2:1-4a
Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 13: 11 – 13
Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:16 – 20
Reader: Roderick Cameron
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 31st May 2026, Trinity Sunday
11:00 a.m. Morning Service
12.15 p.m. Short service of Holy Communion, London Scottish Chapel
12:15 p.m. Tea and Coffee in the Upper Hall {by donation}
Note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer congregational lunch on this 5th Sunday of the month.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 7th June 2026, St Columba’s Day
11:00 a.m. Celebration of Holy Communion & Sunday School
12:15 p.m. Tea and Coffee, Upper Hall {by donation}
12:15 p.m. Congregational Lunch, Lower Hall {£4}
1.30 p.m. Friends of St Columba’s AGM & Celebration Tea, Upper Hall
Departing Assistant Organist
Sadly, Catherine Olver, our Assistant Organist, will be leaving us this summer. Alongside her role as Director of Music at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth, and as conductor of the Renaissance Choir, Catherine has given so much to the music ministry of St Columba’s and we have been enormously fortunate to have her as part of our musical life. We wish her every happiness and success in the next chapter of her career. Those wishing to contribute towards a leaving gift are warmly invited to contribute cash/card, via the church office.
Dates for the Diary
Sunday 14th June, New Members’ Service of Welcome (11.00am) We look forward to welcoming five new members to our congregation.. Please come to support and celebrate their commitment and give thanks for our collective family of faith.
Saturday 20th June 2026 Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands
meets at Crown Court Church of Scotland (10.30am) & Induction Service
for Reverend Tara Porr Granados as minister of Crown Court (1.30pm)
A chance to welcome the new minister of our Kirk neighbours and show our support. All welcome.
Sunday 21st June, Sounds of St Columba’s Recital, “Bellows & Brass”: 1.30pm
celebration of trumpet and organ music by Verdi, Handel and Purcell.
Simon Tong & Benedict Lewis-Smith (piano/organ). This London-based duo brings sparkle, warmth, and creativity to the classic pairing of trumpet and organ, performing everything from Baroque masterworks to bold contemporary arrangements. Together, Bellows & Brass offers a fresh take on this majestic instrumental duo – full of colour, character, and the unexpected. (Main Church)
Sunday 28th June, Families’ Communion Service, (11.00am) Marking the conclusion of the Sunday School year our young people help serve and celebrate communion. And most probably cake and juice to follow for after service refreshments. A precious moment in the worshipping life of St Columba’s.
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club, Tuesday 16th June, 7pm, via Zoom
We shall be discussing The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller, which was a shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. After that we are going to read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. We welcome new members. To learn more contact the Church Office.
UPCOMING: ReStart Lives Tennis Day at St Columba’s Tennis Club, Sunday 14th June ReStart Lives who organise the Friday drop-in meal at St Columba’s throughout the year are holding a Summer Fundraiser at the St Columba’s Tennis Club (nearest tube Acton Town.) The format is doubles, for those who are playing, and you can either come with a partner or you can be paired up. It’s aimed at intermediate level and above, but for beginners and children there will also be coaching sessions and fun tennis games. There will be strawberries and cream, sandwiches, drinks, and everything that makes a British tennis event fun – so non players will have a great time too!
St Andrews Book Festival, presented by Scots in London
The Book Festival returns to several central London venues, with St Columba’s as the primary focus of the festival. Look forward to another array of well-known and new authors bringing Scottish writing to the heart of London. Keep
18th to 22nd November 2026 in your diaries, both for attending and/or volunteering to get involved.
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: Evening Services (1st Sunday of the Month, London Scottish Chapel) are not live streamed. 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 8.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
