Friends,
“Life can have many twists and turns, which brought me back to St Columba’s Church, which feels like coming home.”
The Newsletter below introduces you to six individuals who will become members of the congregation on Sunday morning. They do so on the Sunday that the Church celebrates Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon the followers of Jesus, fifty days on from Easter’s resurrection – and the day that we as a congregation celebrate St Columba. All in all, quite a day to anticipate.
Our new members come to this Sunday via diverse routes – though there is a strong thread of Scottish Country Dancing binding many of them! “It was my passion for Scottish Country Dancing that brought me to St Columba’s. Now is the time to become a full member of this church.”
While our new members encompass a variety of denominational traditions and indeed international experience, another commonality is that they have felt welcomed. “I started attending some of the services and found how comfortable and welcoming I was made to feel, and am now very happy to become a member of the congregation.” “What attracted me to St. Columba’s is the feeling of community and I love the hymns sung during the services.” “I feel welcomed and valued at St Columba’s which is why I now feel that becoming a member of the Church is the next step on my journey.”
At the Annual Congregational Meeting last Sunday, Marcus Railton, who is leading this year on our social media to promote the life and work of the congregation, spoke about contacts developed with the many user groups that occupy our building throughout the year. By inviting them to advertise their own activities on our new “totem” screen in the entrance hall, alongside the congregational activities, we are developing a sense of shared community. “The external users of the building – Support groups, music classes, schools – see their activities represented and valued. Feedback from these groups has been overwhelmingly positive.”
As we celebrate the “birthday of the Church” and the saint who lends us his name, faith and history, and as we welcome our new members, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have continuing roles to play, ongoing welcomes to offer – whether in our sixth decade or first six months of St Columba’s life. And let us be encouraged by the words of others: “I now wish to become a full member of this lovely Church and its family.” “I feel honoured on this day to be joining the St Columba’s family.” Happy Birthday Church, Happy St Columba’s Day and welcome New Members!
Angus
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 8th June 2025, New Members’ Service & Holy Communion for Pentecost & St Columba’s Day
Hymn 594 Come, Holy Spirit, come! (Diademata)
Hymn 584 Like fireworks in the night the Holy Spirit came (St John Havergal)
Hymn 303 It came upon the midnight clear (Noel)
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s, Edinburgh)
Hymn 622 We sing a love that sets all people free (Woodlands)
Anthem: Justorum Animae – Byrd
Anthem: Almighty and everlasting God – Gibbons
New Testament Reading: Acts 2:1-21
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 11:1-9
Reader: Dr Iain Beveridge
Associate minister, Revd William McLaren leads worship and celebrates Holy Communion this Sunday at our linked charge of St Andrew’s, Newcastle.
St Columba’s Member
A Service of Thanksgiving will be held in the London Scottish Chapel at St Columba’s on Friday 6th June at 2pm. Please let the office know if you would like to attend.
THIS SUNDAY: Congregational Prayer Group (10.15am), Kirk Session meets (10.30am), New Members’ Service & Holy Communion for St Columba’s Day, (11.00am) Sunday 8th June Service of Welcome for six new members & holy communion – on the day we celebrate St Columba himself! For those watching at home you may wish to have bread and wine (or equivalent) prepared and to take it at the appropriate time. In the sanctuary it is served to the congregation in the pews. Gluten free bread is available – please indicate to the serving elders. Similarly, if you wish to receive the wine from the chalice/cup, please indicate to the serving elders. For pastoral reasons the wine is non-alcoholic. At end of service please leave your communion glasses on the pew shelf. Following the service, there will be refreshments in the Upper Hall.
THIS SUNDAY: Friends of St Columba’s AGM, Sunday 8th June, Upper Hall from approximately 12.30pm Followed by the Friends’ traditional Celebration Tea, which gives us the opportunity to mix and mingle with other Friends and catch up with those we have not seen for some time.
THIS SUNDAY: Visiting Photographer As part of our continuing efforts to share the life of our congregation and extend a welcome to newcomers, we are currently updating our website and other means of promotion e.g. the totem screen in the entrance hall and assorted social media channels. To assist these improvements, this Sunday a photographer will be present to collect images of the congregation at worship, mixing informally and sharing congregational lunch.If you do not wish to be in any of the photographs please do let a member of the duty team know. If you are happy to be “captured for posterity” you are allowed to smile! (Note: This was originally scheduled for Sunday 1st June, but required to be changed.)
Meet our New Members
Peter Knight I was brought up in Kent, but work took me to London, and Scottish Country Dancing to St Columba’s Church. I met Denise Haugh who asked me to join her Lunch Team. Attending Services followed, becoming a Friend, joining Coffee Rota and getting involved with the Lower Hall Sound. I now wish to become a full Member of this lovely Church and its family.
Vivien Rigden She was confirmed at St Andrew’s Church in Hampstead and originally came to St Columba’s many years ago through Scottish dancing. She worked at Edinburgh Festival office in London which moved to Edinburgh for the festival period. She enjoyed travelling and languages. She worked in Sweden and kept up Scottish dancing there. She later worked at the Swedish embassy in London. Her husband was Swedish who has now sadly died. Life can have many twists and turns which brought her back to St Columba’s Church which feels like coming home. She feels honoured on this day to be joining the St Columba’s family.
Lena Robinson I retired in 2011 after working for Tate and Lyle in Cadogan Square for 20 years, and moved to Kennington. My first introduction to St. Columba’s was when I took up Scottish Dancing, after quite a while I started attending some of the services, and found how comfortable and welcoming I was made to feel, and am now very happy to become a member of the congregation.
Margaret Shaw I was brought up in Bolton as a “3 times on a Sunday” Methodist. When I came to London I went to a local church. It was my passion for Scottish Country Dancing that brought me to St Columba’s. Here I met John Laurie, Jimmie MacIntosh, Robin Adshead, Denise Haugh and Margaret Brown, and got involved in “Entertaining” at Lyle Park, Church Lunches, cleaning, and latterly, the Coffee Rota and The Friends of St Columba’s. Now is the time to become a full member of this church.
Sarah Shaw Born in London in 1970 I first came to Pont Street as a child attending a Scottish Dancing Children’s Christmas Party. In more recent years, I returned to Dancing at Pont Street and met Denise Haugh. Not only was Denise a dancer she was also a Church Lunch leader and asked me to get involved. Since then I have volunteered to help with hospitality at many Church events. I feel welcomed and valued at St Columba’s which is why I now feel that becoming a member of the Church is the next step on my journey.
Lorrayne Reis Silva She is Brazilian and currently living in London to pursue her MSc; she considers herself a full-time student and a part-time tourist. In her free time, she enjoys walking around the city, reading books, writing her own book and cooking vegan recipes. What attracted her to St. Columba’s is the feeling of community and she loves the hymns sung during the services. It has also been a pleasure to discover more about Scottish culture. (Photo: Lorrayne was baptised in the London Scottish Chapel at last Sunday’s evening service.)
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.
“Small steps, big strides”: Lent Appeal 2025 We received a lovely letter of thanks fromEsther Norman, Interim CEO of Caxton Youth Organisation:
“Thank you for showing you care about the learning disabled and autistic young people supported by Caxton Youth Organisation through your recent generous donation of £6,265.85. With an additional £50 donated directly to us, you raised a total of £6315.85.
Your gift enables disabled young people aged 11-25 access to activities and experiences they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do. Your support is building community, breaking barriers, and empowering young people to live happier, healthier, more independent lives.
One of our parents recently shared the journey of their daughter, Ashley, starting at Caxton. “At first I was a little bit nervous, but then once she had settled in she was so happy. It made me really happy for her because she’d never really been anywhere where she felt at home. Ashley has made friends at Caxton, she’s been able to be herself somewhere other than at home, she has a safe space to go.”
This is only possible with support like yours, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity. Your impact is summarised by one of our youth workers, Floyd, as he describes Caxton as helping young people to “take small steps which turn out to be big strides”. Your gift is making even more of these big strides possible for disabled young people. Thank you again from all of us here at Caxton Youth Organisation.”
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 15th June, Sounds of St Columba’s, Upper Hall, 1.30pm,
Benedict Lewis-Smith, solo piano. Our director of music will be performing JS Bach ‘Goldberg Variations’ BWV 988. Donations in support of Jessie’s funds https://jessiesfund.org.uk/
UPCOMING: St Columba’s Book Club, Our next book club choice is Lily by Rose Tremain. It is the story of a foundling and is described on the cover as “A Tale of Revenge”. We shall meet by Zoom on Tuesday 17 June. At the following meeting we shall be discussing The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulkes. New members are always welcome. Please contact the office for more details and joining instructions.
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.
Scots in London May newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest see https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/scots-in-london-may-newsletter 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
UPCOMING: 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
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.
Give us a follow then pass it on to your friends and family!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stcolumbaschurchpontstreet
Twitter / X: https://x.com/LondonKirk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stcolumbaspontst
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/londonkirk.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106040984/admin/dashboard/
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.
And finally, a prayer based on Psalm 46, offered by the Congregational Prayer Group, which meets on Sunday 8th June, 10.15 – 10.30am.
You can also sing this prayer (Tune: The Church’s One Foundation, Aurelia)
God is our strength and refuge. A helper ever near.
While resting in his shelter no evil will we fear.
Not if the mountains crumble into the angry sea.
Nor if the surging ocean exceeds its boundary.
A quiet stream refreshes the City of our God.
His throne stands unaffected while kingdoms rise and fall.
One word from Jacob’ saviour will melt a raging throng.
The lord of hosts is with us. He is our fortress strong.
Behold God’s glorious power. He makes all warfare cease, each weapon he will shatter, the world will be at peace.
Be still cries Heaven’s Sovereign. Be still and know that I am God.
All kingdoms, all creation, will bow beneath my feet.The violent sea turned placid. When Jesus cried be still.
Twelve men stood gasping when waves obeyed his will.
And soon the same voice speaking will calm earth’s rebel storm.
The Lord of hosts is with us but now and evermore.
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
