Newsletter for Sunday 24th May 2026

Friends

Last week, while attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, the city was alive with the hopes and dreams of many hearts – more specifically, the hopes and dreams of Heart of Midlothian football fans – as they came close, but ultimately short of their prize – to win the Scottish Premiership after decades of un-trophied endeavour. While that was the talk of the town, a trip to the theatre gave a timely perspective.

“Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil” is a musical based on the book, written by Church of Scotland minister, Ron Ferguson. The book is his love letter to Cowdenbeath Football Club – famous for its underachieving, across many decades – ironically known as the Blue Brazil. The book is also a describing of a working class, mining town and community, with all its ravages and its dignities. The theatrical adaptation sets these reflections in the life of a young woman mourning the loss of her father, a lifelong fan of the Blue Brazil. It traces her resentment about the small world that she grew up in and her efforts to move away – to London. But through the commissioning her father gives her – to spread his ashes on the hallowed turf of Central Park – crucially, only after a Cowdenbeath win – she is temporarily locked into the Saturday ritual of watching the team. Due to the team’s dire results – there is no home win – the unwished-for delay gives her time to comprehend more and more about this football loving town – to understand more about her father and the community she wished to leave behind. Slowly, she comes to appreciate the community that forms around the shared love and frustration of the endlessly hopeless team. Yet, which can also in rare moments, engender a joy that is indescribable.

Towards the end of the play the daughter reflects on the team’s social club
that meets in midweek. She has always dismissed it as a bunch of old men
talking endlessly about a game she felt nothing for. But then: “I realised it wasn’t really about the football. It was about a cup of tea and a bite to eat, and the chat.
It was the chance for tough men (miners) to be soft; to look after each other.” And she recalls her father telling her: “There are things more important than winning.”

His daughter discovers the spirit of a place and its people. Might a football club, however humble, have lessons to impart to the Church and its congregations? As we anticipate Pentecost (this Sunday) with its imagery of the risen Jesus breathing life into his disciples – Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22) – what is the spirit of communities such as ours, and where might the Spirit be prompting us to follow?

Angus

THIS SATURDAY: 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

Saturday 20th June,
Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands
meets at Crown Court Church of Scotland (10.30am)
followed by the Induction Service
for Reverend Tara Porr Granados
as minister of Crown Court (1.30pm)
A chance to welcome the new minister of our Kirk neighbours and show our support. All welcome

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.