Newsletter for Sunday 17th May 2026

Friends,

The epistles we know as 1st and 2nd Peter were sent to churches in what is now Turkey around the year AD64. Peter was in Rome when he wrote the first and so we assume that he was still there when the second was written a couple of years later. Peter assures these early church communities that Christ is with them and cares for them in their suffering. He urges them not to give up in the face of opposition, to respond with grace to verbal challenges, to maintain high moral standards, and to respect the authorities. Believers should be humble, resist evil and lift up their concerns to God. Those who are steadfast in their faith will receive their reward.
God’s peace is more than the absence of war. God’s desire for “shalom”, wholeness, and peace for individuals, communities, nations and the cosmos is at the heart of the gospel.
In this country we enjoy freedom to worship as we choose although we may sometimes feel that Christian values are challenged and even threatened by secular society and wonder how we should stand up for what we believe. In some other parts of the world there is no freedom of worship. Our scripture lessons this week all remind us that whatever we face, we can withstand testing times with support from God and those around us. Peter comes back to the theme several times in his epistle, promising restoration and comfort through identifying with Christ.
Let us remember in prayer our sisters and brothers in war-torn lands or where Christ’s people are persecuted.

“Living God,
we pray for all who witness for you,
all who preach and proclaim the message of Christ,
who challenge people with the message of the Gospel.
Give them inspiration, courage, and sincerity,
so that their witness may lead others
to know Jesus for themselves.

We pray for all those who hear,
all who in different stages are confronted
with the challenge to respond to Christ.
May those who earnestly seek find faith,
those who are undecided be convinced,
those who glimpse a little see more clearly,
those whose faith is shallow be led to deeper understanding,
and those who refuse to listen be challenged again.

Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer,
in the name of Christ.
Amen.
(“Prayers for all Seasons”, Nick Fawcett).
William

Christian Aid Week, Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th May Christian Aid’s focus this year is on the temporary settlement in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Kenya. Many families are suffering from intense urban poverty; people like Fridah and her family who live in rented corrugated metal shelters. They share toilet facilities with other families in the compound and have no running water. Fridah’s worry is about how to get enough food for everyone in her family. However, with help from Beacon of Hope (Christian Aid’s partner in Dagoretti) Fridah has been able to improve things and has hope for the future; by being offered training, seeds, tools and space-efficient plots to grow produce near their homes. It has enabled Fridah to grow vegetables in tiny urban spaces to feed her family and with enough to sell on a market stall. Let’s help others in Dagoretti push-back against extreme urban poverty and create a better future.
Please do click on the link below to watch a short video (4 mins).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTS1c4F0CpM

Ways to donate:

• There will be red CA collecting buckets in the Upper Vestibule after the service on Sunday 10th and 17th May. The main CA collection Sunday will be on Sunday 10th May.
• CA envelopes will be available on a table in the Upper Vestibule and a tick box for those eligible to Gift Aid their donation. Some CA envelopes will also be in the pews.
• Online donations: We have our own church e-envelope, Please click on the link, or scan the QR code.
https://caw.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2026/st-columbas-church-scotland-pont-street-caw-2026

We are very grateful for the visit of Christian Aid’s Nick Georgiadis to speak at the launch of Christian Aid Week last Sunday. He was delighted to be welcomed by the sight of the Christian Aid Cake Sale. Thank you to all who baked, donated, munched and enjoyed. A very happy congregational moment.

THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 17th May, Sounds of St Columba’s
Benedict Lewis-Smith (organ) performs
Charles Marie Widor’s Fifth Symphony.
Composed in 1879 for the great organ
of Saint-Sulpice Church, Charles-Marie Widor’s
Fifth Symphony treats the instrument as a full orchestra
in sound and colour.
It culminates in the famous Toccata –
brilliant, driving, and instantly recognisable –
one of the most exhilarating finales in all organ music. 1.30pm in the Church Sanctuary

UPCOMING: Friends of St Columba’s, Saturday 23rd May
The Friends will be visiting Oxford.
Lunch is at 1pm at the Turf Tavern. If you would like to attend, please contact Isobel Carter or Nicky Martin for a program and a map – collected from the Church Office or Isobel Carter. Full details in the program.
Contact details for Isobel Carter is 07768.275.591 and email
isobel@in-carter.com

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 Columba’s Book Club We met last week to discuss Colm Toibin’s Long Island. We had a very lively discussion and came up with lots of scenarios which might be worthy of pursuing in a follow up novel, which we were almost positive would ensue. We next meet on Tuesday 16 June at 7pm by Zoom when 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 so please get in touch with the Church Office if you would like more information

A Message & Invitation from The Passage The Passage continues to support those at risk of and experiencing homelessness in the Borough of Westminster. Their services make a difference. Between July and September 2025 there were 4,780 people rough sleeping on the streets of London. Over 1,000 people were sleeping rough in the Borough of Westminster which is where The Passage is based. However, with your support, in the year 2024-25, we supported over 3000 people, helped 2261 people find and keep a home and served 46, 266 meals. We have some exciting updates to share.
Firstly, we have published our new organisational strategy: The Art of the Possible – the Passage’s Three-Year Strategy to Prevent and End Homelessness. The Passage believes that as a society, we need to reframe homelessness as something that is prevented from happening in the first place, rather than simply being managed when it does. Our new strategy outlines how we will contribute to that goal over the next 3 years, with a focus on three core objectives: preventing, convening, and sustaining. These objectives will be underpinned by a commitment to collaboration.

Secondly, we wanted to let you know about some exciting events we have coming up. Our Summer Party, will be taking place on Thursday 2nd July. The year, the Party will be in an exciting new venue – the beautiful garden of Lambeth Palace, which is one of the oldest gardens in England. Tickets are on sale now and we would love to see you and your congregation there. These gatherings are a great way to stay connected with our work, meet others in the community, and support our vital services.
If you want to explore Lambeth Palace further, we are pleased to offer the opportunity to enter the Palace on Friday 28th August at the Lambeth Palace HOPE Day. A unique opportunity to enjoy a self-guided your of the Palace with all proceeds from ticket sales coming to The Passage. For tickets and more information please click on https://passage.org.uk/get-involved/social-events/lambeth-palace-hope-day/

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.