For Sunday 17th September 2023, 16th Sunday after Pentecost
If your spirits are dented by the recent fortunes of Scotland’s sporting representatives, outgunned by South Africa’s rugby giants and England’s footballers, do not lose heart. To restore morale, we are delighted to announce that this autumn St Columba’s, in collaboration with others, is at the heart of a new initiative, to celebrate and widen one part of our shared identity.
On the evening of Wednesday 11th October, Scots in London launches with an inaugural Gala Night, at St Columba’s. This new umbrella organisation grows out of the former collaboration between ten London-based Scottish organisations who joined together as Scots in Great War London, commemorating in 2018, the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I. St Columba’s, with its remarkable wartime story of hospitality to 50,000 transiting troops was at the heart of Scots in Great War London.
Now, following the difficulties and delays of the pandemic, Scots in London is a new, extended collaboration between clubs, societies, charities, congregations, regiments, and government – bringing people together. With an official opening by Scots in London Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the Gala evening will offer a showcase of Scottish music and entertainment. Acts will include music from the London Scottish Regimental Pipes & Drums, the ScotsCare Choir, folk duo and others, as well as spoken word recitation and Highland dance; all compered by Scots actor, David Robb (of Downton Abbey fame.) The performance starts at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm), to be followed by a reception with drinks and canapes, and further live music. At the reception, member organisations will host information stalls, offering an opportunity for attendees to meet with others in London’s Scottish community.
Tickets for the whole evening cost just £20. To purchase a ticket visit www.scotsinlondon.org For congregational members there will also be opportunity to purchase tickets following morning service on Sunday.
We are so fortunate to have our beautiful church space and such good meeting halls. It is the perfect venue for the Gala evening in its various parts. I hope the Gala evening will set Scots in London off to a good start. I hope too, you will feel that by collaborating with others and welcoming them into a place we call home, we are making creative and generous use of our wonderful resource.
To find out more about Scots in London visit www.scotsinlondon.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. And by the time you have bought a ticket and enjoyed a special evening, let’s hope our sportsmen and women will be on the right side of future results!
Angus
P.S. On a different, but upcoming note. Please remember to sign up for the Congregational Away Day (at St Columba’s!) on Saturday 30th September. We are particularly keen to encourage attendance from people who have only recently arrived at St Columba’s. You don’t have to be an elder, or a formal member of the congregation – if St Columba’s is a place you feel drawn to/care about, then you will have something to contribute. The wider our range of voices, the more profound the symphony!
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream
To access the live stream from the homepage (front page) click the Menu button in the top right-hand side of the page and scroll down and click on “Live Stream”. This will bring up the live stream to the church. The act of worship of approximately 60 minutes, includes include prayers, a sermon and music. The words for the hymns and readings will be on the website.
For those without internet, the Dial-In facility continues. Many people comment that they do have a sense of worshipping together, even if invisible to each other.
Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary.
Please note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel.
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 now phone in to join the Sunday service. No visuals clearly, but at least they can hear the service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0203 051 2874.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 266 883 5072#
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number - simply press the #.
Step 4: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
Hymns, Music & Readings for 17th September 2023
Hymn 68 O thou my soul, bless God the Lord (Coleshill)
Hymn 193 God is love; his the care (Personent Hodie)
Hymn 147 All creature of our God and King (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
Hymn 681 Send out the gospel! (Old Clarendonian)
Anthem: Te Lucis ante terminum (Balfour Gardiner)
Musical Interlude: Beati quorum via (Stanford)
Organ Postlude: Prelude in F minor (J.S. Bach)
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 50: 15-21
New Testament Reading: Romans 14: 1-12
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 21-35
Congregational Offerings
Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas
Would anyone wishing to contribute to St Andrew's, Newcastle please contact the Session Clerk on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for bank details or other means of donating.
TODAY: Donald Shaw Birthday
We would like to wish congregation member Donald Shaw a very happy birthday today, the 14th September – 102 Not Out. What an innings!!
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday School Activities
The first Sunday of the new Sunday School year will be Sunday 17th September. In the period up to Christmas we aim to offer Sunday School during the morning service on the first and third Sundays of the month. Please contact the Office if you would like to find out more. Once again, we are very grateful for those congregational volunteers who make the Sunday School activities possible. Please keep our young families and their teachers in your prayers at the start of the new school year.
THIS SUNDAY: Richard Phillips, Cellist - Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals
This Sunday we are joined by Richard Phillips – Cellist. Hailing from the Forest of Dean, Richard moved to London in 2009 to study at the Royal College of Music. He co-founded the award-winning folk group, iyatraQuartet, in 2011 with friends in south London. They have self-released two albums of original music ('absolutely beautiful', Cerys Matthews, 6 Music), titled 'This World Alone' and 'Break the Dawn'. Their third album is due for release in Spring 2024.
Richard performs regularly in the West End on shows such as The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Sunset Boulevard, Les Mis, Frozen.... He has toured extensively with the Heritage Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy's Orchestra of Life, and the Hofesh Shechter Company (contemporary dance), with whom he was involved in the creation of three shows, including Olivier Award nominee, Grand Finale.
Please note future dates for our wonderful recital series - bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start. These exceptional recitals are one of the “gems” of current St Columba’s life. Not to be missed.
15th October 2023 - Oscar Simms, Baritone
19th November 2023 - The Choir of St Columba’s
21st January 2024- Catherine Olver, Organ Recital (Church)
THIS SUNDAY, 17th September from 2pm: Congregational Outing to St Columba’s Tennis Club
Following the successful trip to St Columba’s Tennis Club last year, we are organising a congregational outing again. An afternoon of fun, tennis-related activities for all ages will be provided by their coach followed by refreshments. Open to everyone- keen tennis player, total beginner or relaxing spectator. Equipment can be provided. For planning and catering purposes please let Gary Wallis know if you are attending on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Tennis club address is 30-32 Carbery Avenue, Acton, W3 9AL. Find more details on the club here stcolumbastennis.co.uk.
THIS SUNDAY - Congregational Sunday Lunch & Future Dates
There will be a fine Sunday lunch served in the Lower Hall following the service on Sunday. Future dates for lunches are 24th September in the Lower Hall. The 24th September is an additional date on which we will say farewell to outgoing Office Manager Lucy Llewellyn. October dates 1st, 15th and 29th.
Please note the small increase to £4.00 per lunch – still exceptional value for a two-course meal. Big thanks to all our catering teams who provide for us on congregational lunch Sundays. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall – donations for coffee most welcome.
Safeguarding Training, Wednesday 20th September
Mandatory Safeguarding Training for those who require it will be offered on the following dates:
Wednesday 20th September 2023, 6.45pm – 9.15pm – online & Saturday 21st October 2023, 10.00am – 12.30pm – in person. Venue /St Columba’s Church – Upper Hall. Please sign up with the church office.
SAVE THE DATE: Congregational Away Day, Saturday 30th September 2023
It is an important opportunity for the congregation to take stock and consider our collective possibilities and priorities. Guided by the skill and experience of others, and appreciating why St Columba’s remains precious and meaningful to many people, we hope it will be a fruitful day. Timings for the day are 10am – 4pm. A soup and sandwich lunch will be provided. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide childcare, as originally hoped. Please sign up to indicate attendance via the Church Office. And please keep Rev Russell McLarty and Dr Magdalen Lambkin in your prayers as they prepare to lead us on the day.
St Columba’s Book Group, 6th November
Our next meeting is on Monday 6th November, 6.30pm when we shall be discussing Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie. It is a story about two Ghanaian cousins who are great friends but whose lives take quite different paths. We then plan to read The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.
Contact the Church Office for the Zoom details.
Harvest Appeal 2023 – The Upper Room (UR4 Meals) and Guest Speaker, Simon Tuke (Trustee and Chair) on Sunday 24th September.
To launch our Harvest Appeal, we are delighted that Simon Tuke (Trustee and Chair) from the charity will be joining us on Sunday 24th September to do a brief talk during the service. Simon will be talking about The Upper Room charity and in particular UR4 Meals and how your Harvest Appeal donations will be put to very good use.
We will be collecting: ground black and white pepper, vegetable stock cubes, sunflower or vegetable oil, chopped tomatoes, flour, pasta (preferably penne), rice (preferably basmati), spaghetti, biscuits, instant coffee, tea bags (not loose tea). Collection point: Upper Vestibule by the Harvest Display Board, on Sundays 24th September, 1st and 8th October (culminating at the Harvest Festival Service).
With such an increase in the need for meals by the homeless and disadvantaged people, your food donations will contribute to such a valuable meal service. UR4 Meals provide around 160 meals and take away meals each day.
Thank you in advance, UR4 Meals! (Mission Committee)
“Lucy’s Secret Surprise Gift” & Farewell Lunch, Sunday 24th September
There will be a congregational lunch on Sunday 24th September at which we will say farewell to departing Office manager, Lucy Llewellyn. On previous leave-takings, when a collection for a member of staff has been invited, donations have come in via the office – collected by Lucy. This gives us a somewhat awkward current scenario. My suggestion is this: If you wish to donate towards Lucy’s leaving gift, please put it in an envelope marked: “Lucy’s Secret Surprise Gift” and hand it into her. She has promised not to open and will pass on to those others who will collate and action. Please could we have contributions in by Sunday 10th September. We are currently in the midst of the interviewing process for her successor. Please continue to keep those applying, and those with the responsibility for appointing, in your prayers.
Happy Hour, Wednesday 4th October
Happy Hour returns to The Carpenters Arms, 12 Seymour Place, W1H 7NE, upstairs room at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 4 October.
First a discussion around the text from Hebrews, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” and also drawing on the biography of Eric Liddell, For the Glory, by Duncan Hamilton. After this, general socialising. No advance reading or booking required, just turn up on the night.
Happy Hour's programme for the rest of the autumn season can be found on the website under Community Life
https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/community-life/happy-hour.
Friends of St Columba’s - Visits 2023
The Friends of St Columba’s have put together a fantastic programme of events for 2023/2024, starting with a visit to the Cutty Sark and Royal Naval College on the 14th October. All details can be found via the website https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/friends-of-st-columbas and printed programmes are available on the bookstall.
Save the date: Scots in London Gala Night & Reception, Wednesday 11th October 2023, 7pm
Join us for a Gala Evening of Scots in London for the launch by Scots in London with the group’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal. (See Minister’s message above.)
Tickets £20 including reception with drinks and Scottish canapés. To book visit https://www.scotsinlondon.org/.
New Members’ Conference
On Saturday 28th October, we will hold a New Members’ Conference for those who wish to consider becoming members of the Church of Scotland here at St Columba’s. For those who attend the day and then wish to formally join the congregation a New Members’ Service will be held on Advent Sunday – Sunday 3rd December 2023, at 11am. More details to follow but please keep the dates in your diary.
GKexperience Update
We received a lovely update from our friends at the GKexperience this week. GKe were chosen as our Lent Appeal some years ago. That led onto their bi-annual group weekend in London, staying at St Columba’s. Calum Johnston writes: “Just wanted to send you both a little update from all the goings on at the GKexperience, please pass on our well wishes to the rest of the congregation at St Columbas.
As usual we’ve had a very busy year since we lasted visited in November, with residential trips to the Highlands, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Mull being some notable highlights.
In Easter, we visited a hostel in Roybridge just outside of Fort William with a group of around 30 people! While there, we took the gondola to the top of the Nevis range on a bluebird day - kids and staff were taken aback with the views that we got that day!
The Summer programme was one of our busiest in recent years with residentials to; Ballater Youth Hostel, Mountain Biking residential to Aviemore with some of our young leaders, a week spent with the Iona community at the Camas Centre on the isle of Mull and our first ever all girls wilderness expedition! Our trip to Ballater was the first time we had visited, and the young people loved it! A visit to Balmoral (not quite as good as Buckingham Palace) and our very own ‘GK Olympics were some of the highlights. Our mountain biking trip or better known as On Yer Bike (OYB) was led by one of our Trustees, Martin Steele who works for Endura and is an expert rider! The group of young leaders had a terrific time and clocked an impressive 120 kilometres of riding across the 4 day trip.
Our first ever girls’ expedition has been a long time coming and was led by one of our new staff members, Tiegan Johnston who replaced ‘Hutchie’ at the start of the year. Tiegan and the girls had an amazing time on Mull, learning how to survive in the wilderness, trekking with ponies and trying to catch the ever-reliant Calmac services!
Our final trip of the Summer took place on Mull again, at the Iona Community’s Camas Centre. A group of 28 of us went for a week and lived as a community alongside the residents, picking our own food from the garden, helping to do chores and spending a night camping at the nearby beach, Market Bay.
We are now busy planning the next couple of months with Christmas on the horizon ???? How are things at your end? Please feel free to pass this on to members of the congregation. With best wishes, Calum and everyone at the GKexperience.
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Contact details; Tel: 020 7584 2321
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271