For Sunday 15th September, Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Three encounters in recent days. A gentleman discussing a family bereavement, explained a long-standing connection to St Columba’s. Born in June 1940, he was baptised in the original Victorian church, before the building was destroyed in the Blitz of May 1941. As he observed: “I got in just in time!” Another church member, formerly of the Flower Guild, returned for a special occasion. She spent much of a day arranging the floral displays, that twenty four hours later would celebrate her own wedding day. Another recently married St Columban, returns to offer the gift of his music at one of our Sounds of St Columba’s recitals. Three quite different individuals, at different life stages – but each finding, or refinding, a connection to this church at the crossroads. Illustrative of how lives weave in and out of this place; passengers/pilgrims, boarding and alighting the “St Columba’s Express”. For the continuities that this place offers, the memories and associations which it holds, let us be grateful.
While connectedness to a place and its people, inevitably has much to do with our shared past, as a congregation we are challenged to be loyal to the future. We can do that in a variety of ways. On Sunday, the Sunday School year restarts. Last week the adult volunteers gathered to affirm the hopes and plans for the coming year. We will continue to offer Sunday School activities on the first and third Sundays of the month, coinciding with congregational lunches. On any Sunday I hope we will always provide a collective warm welcome to any young people who attend, even when formal Sunday School activities cannot be provided. Please keep our youg people and their volunteers in your prayers this week.
This Sunday also offers congregational lunch and the restart of the Sounds of St Columba’s Recital series (1.30pm, Lower Hall.) Over time our Director of Music, Ben Lewis-Smith has built up the series. The provision of high quality and varied music on the third Sunday of each month is a real gift to our community. The musicians report how much they enjoy playing – and the audiences have been delighted. The recitals are a treat, not to be missed.
Looking further ahead, on Sunday 22nd September there is the invitation to all, regardless of age, to spend an afternoon at the St Columba’s Tennis Club. And futher still, as publicised in last week’s service, the St Andrew’s Book Festival, presented by Scots in London (25th November - 1st December) is on the horizon. The organisers have assembled an astonishing array of authors – many of whom will speak at St Columba’s. Tickets go on sale from Monday 23rd September. Though if you become a Friend of the Book Festival, you will have opportunity to buy tickets earlier than that.
All these activities, branching out from, but rooted in our weekly worship, are aimed to be life-affirming and community building – small expressions of the creativity of our congregation and wider circles. Ways to keep drawing us back to this remarkable place.
Angus
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.
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.
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Morning Worship Sunday, 15th September 2024, Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 210 Awake my soul and with the sun (Morning Hymn)
Hymn 604 Holy wisdom, lamp of learning (In Babilone)
Hymn 402 Take up your cross the Saviour said (Breslau)
Hymn 529 Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go (Warrington, CH4 470)
Anthem: The Heavens are Telling, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Musical Interlude: Teach me O Lord, Thomas Attwood (1765–1838)
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
New Testament Reading: James 3:1-12
Gospel Reading: Mark 8:27-38
Reader: Nadia Dallsingh
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for bank details or other means of donating.
St Columba’s member
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s member Helen Givan, who died on 5th September 2024. Her funeral will be held at St Columba’s at 12 noon, Friday 27th September 2024. Rest eternal grant unto her and let light perpetual shine upon her.
Hymns Books and Bibles Mending:
If you find any of these books need attention, please kindly put them on the bookcase on the left-hand side of the sanctuary as you leave or give them to an elder after the service.
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Congregational lunch in the Lower Hall
THIS SUNDAY: Sounds of St Columba’s, Sunday 15th September, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Jonathan Radford, Saxophone and Iain Clarke, Piano.
Join us to enjoy music from Paule Maurice, Vaughan Williams, Sarasate and Vitali
Photo: Olivia Da Costa
Some other dates for your diary:
- Sunday 20th October 2024 - Ruby Skilbeck, Soprano and Liz Hayley, Piano Recital
- Sunday 17th November 2024 - Choir of St Columba’s, Requiem by Duruflé
- Sunday 19th January 2024 - Operaclass
- Sunday 16th February 2025 - Choir of Imperial College, Let My Love Be Heard with music by James MacMillan, Gustav Holst, Stephen Paulus, A Cappella
- Sunday 16th March 2025 - Emily Sun, Violin and Caterina Grewe, Piano Recital
NEXT WEEK: Midweek Prayers, Wednesday 18th September, 1pm, London Scottish Chapel
NEXT SUNDAY: Congregational Outing to St Columba’s Tennis Club, Sunday 22nd September, 2.00 – 4.00pm
Come and enjoy an afternoon of activity at our very own tennis club. We have two courts booked for those feeling active, with club coach on hand. Alternatively, just enjoy an afternoon at a hidden gem of west London. The club is a ten-minute walk from Acton Town tube. We will provide tea and cake during the afternoon.
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/StColumbasTennisClub.
UPCOMING: Congregational Talk, Sunday 29th September, 1.30pm, Upper Hall
Viv Dickensen, the CEO of Crossreach will give a talk on the work of the organisation. Crossreach is the social work arm of the Church of Scotland and is a key major contributor to social work in Scotland. At a time when the Scottish government is struggling with budgetary constraints and the Church itself is unsettled due to major changes, its work is more important than ever. Please come and hear about this vital but often under-advertised work.
UPCOMING: Sunday 29th September at 7pm, Crown Court.
You are invited to a book launch for the newly published ‘Oh all right then: Stories from a Varied Ministry’ by The Rev Dr Marjory MacLean. Marjory is a well-known and respected figure in the Church of Scotland, currently serving as a Parish Minister in Orkney, and formerly in various parishes as well as Depute Principal Clerk to the General Assembly. Her newly published book draws upon a wealth of experience in ministry to reflect on the call to ministry within the Church of Scotland. Of interest to any considering a call to the Ordained Ministry, but also to members of the Kirk at large, Marjory reflects on parish ministry with her trademark light-hearted humour, as well as serious and important reflection. Crown Court Church is delighted to host the London launch of her book on Sunday 29 September at 7 pm followed by book signing and refreshments. Please let us know if you are able to come by RSVPing to Laura Daniels our Church Administrator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
UPCOMING: Harvest Church Decoration Saturday 5 October 1.30 - 3pm.
Flower Guild members will be decorating the church for Harvest on Saturday 5 October from 1.30 - 3pm, followed by tea and cake. Newcomers with or without any experience are very welcome to join us either to help, watch or just enjoy tea! We are also seeking volunteers to take away vegetables following the service to make soup which will then be used in the Night Shelter. For more information please contact Patricia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
UPCOMING: Sunday 13th October, 1pm, Lower Hall
We are delighted that RSCDS will bring back Scottish Country Dancing for children. The class will take place once a month on Sunday afternoons (3rd Sunday of the month) taught by Rose Kreloff. Children should be at least primary school aged (typically 4-12) but dancers in their early teens also welcome. Please book into the class by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. advising your child's name and age, to help to prepare the class.
UPCOMING: New Members’ Conference & Service, Wednesday 16th October & Sunday 24th November.
If you would like to learn more about what becoming a member of St Columba’s would involve, you are warmly invited to an evening of food and discussion on Wednesday 16th October 2024, 7.00pm. For those who would then like to become members there will be a Service of Welcome on Sunday 24th November – which is the day we celebrate Christ the King. For more information speak to either of the ministers and please sign up via the Church Office.
UPCOMING: SCOTSCARE CEILIDH, Saturday 16th November 2024, Lower Hall 7pm – 10.30pm
ScotsCare are excited to announce that they will be hosting their first ever Ceilidh on Saturday 16th November at St Columba’s Church, from 7.00 to 10.30pm (doors open from 6.30pm). The ScotsCare St. Andrew’s Festival Ceilidh will have live entertainment provided by the Craigievar Ceilidh Band and London Scottish Pipes and Drums. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun! We will have a caller to guide dancers, step by step so everyone can join in regardless of experience. Tickets include light bites, and a bar will be available to purchase drinks. All profits from the evening will go back into ScotsCare’s services. We look forward to seeing you on what a festive and memorable evening will be. Tickets are £20 each and can be bought via this link:
www.scotscare.com/project/scotscare-ceilidh/.
The first 50 tickets only are available at an early bird price of £17.50 (until the end of September).
Glass Door's annual Sleep Out, Friday, 4 October 2024.
Participants give up their bed for one night to give someone a chance to find a pathway out of homelessness. Find out more and sign up at www.glassdoor.org.uk/sleep-out
RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 6th December 2024, outside St Columba’s Church.
Every year the staff, volunteers and supporters of Restart Lives spend one night outside. Although there is much that separates the experience of the controlled environment of the Sleepout from that of a person living life on the streets, we hope the event will help all those who participate to imagine what London's homeless have to contend with.
We can only accommodate 80 sleepers at this event, so if you would like to reserve your spot, don’t delay and sign up now
Scots in London presents the St Andrew’s Book Festival
Scots in London’s most ambitious collaboration to date is the St Andrew’s Book Festival (25th November – 1st December 2024.) St Columba’s is one of the three venues hosting a superb array of authors – both household names and new writers. Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Judy Murray are among headline speakers. Look out in the coming weeks for ways to get involved including volunteering. We are delighted to report that the new Scots in London St Andrew’s Book Festival is now live! Please head over to www.standrewsbookfestival.org to have a look around or if you are interested in Friends and other memberships with exciting benefits options.
There is a full A-Z listing of our authors and I think you will agree that this is a stellar line-up for our inaugural Festival.
You can also access the Festival first newsletter on this link.
For more information about Scots in London, please follow this link. You can join their newsletter here to be informed about their latest news, events and opportunities as well as their member organisations. The August Scots in London Newsletter is published at https://mailchi.mp/6ab0f4bf731f/scots-in-london-july-newsletter
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbas churchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271