Friends,
Last weekend the Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands offered a training day for elders on the theme of pastarol care. It was a good day with plenty to think about, led by the Revd Dr Gillian Straine, CEO of GoHealth https://gohealth.org.uk/
The Guild of Health and St Raphael (GoHealth) is an ecumenical Christian charity with over 100 years of experience in holistic health and wellbeing. It exists to equip and inspire churches and individual Christians to be healing presences in the world – for the benefit of all. “This is the mission Jesus has given us and what God empowers us to do.”
Unexpectedly, we discovered that Gillian had an existing connection to St Columba’s. It was while attending St Columba’s as a young woman that she first began to consider a call to ministry. Once back in her native Aberdeen, former St Columba’s Assistant Minister, Revd Easter Smart became a strong companion along Gillian’s way. Returning last Saturday to Pont Street produced a whole range of memories and emotions.
While Gillian is now an Anglican priest, as part of her introduction, she explained her Kirk roots. Reflecting on her childhood parish she recalled two things. Firstly, she firmly associated the voice of her female minister as “the voice of the Almighty”! Secondly, she reflected on the elders of her chidhood and teenage years. She might not remember their names, but she could visualise them very clearly. Perhaps only now, with the benfit of the years, she can see how their quiet constancy, their facilitating of youth activities, their being there helped shape and form her own Christian identity.
The evening before our own St Columba’s elders gathered for a meeting of the Kirk Session. As usual “business” ranged from holy communion to contracts of hire; social media to safeguarding; from the minutiae of minutes to the contemplations of eternity (maybe?). Elders are always faced with the challenge of balancing procedure and imagination, practicality and vision, as they seek to sustain and inspire the life of the congregation and the communities that gather round us.
As Gillian’s visit to St Columba’s prompted a thanksgiving for the elders of her youth, maybe we might take a pause this week to be grateful for the elders of past generations who have served St Columba’s and elsewhere, and especially for the elders who continue to do so today.
Angus
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 6th July 2025, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 130 Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim (Laudate Dominum)
Hymn 137 All things bright and beautiful (All things bright and beautiful)
Hymn 707 Healing river of the Spirit (Joel)
Hymn 248 For my sake and the gospel’s, go (Bishopgarth)
Anthem: Expectans expectavi – C.Wood (1866-1926)
Anthem: O Lord, increase our faith – H.Loosemore (1607-1670)
Old Testament Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-11
Reader: Jo Wallis
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 6th July, Morning Service & Baptisms & Congregational Lunch A special welcome to the family and friends of Finlay Jack William Nicol and Theodore “Teddy” Pedro Rogan Fienberg who gather for their baptismal service this Sunday. Join us for food and friendship after service.
THIS SUNDAY: 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 details: Susan Pym or Fiona Lang, via church office.
THIS SUNDAY: 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.
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.
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.
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 13th July, Congregational Prayer Group, London Scottish Chapel, 10.15am- 10.30am Join others to pray for the continuing life and work of St Columba’s.
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
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.
Poet Painter, Kenneth Steven
Friend to St Columba’s, Scottish poet, writer and broadcaster, Kenneth Steven is now turning his hand to painting. Kenneth’s current “Highland and Hebridean oils” are available via https://kennethsteven.co.uk/painter/
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
