30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #33: Sunday 1st November 2020
From the Minister
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6) It’s amazing how a government spending billions in response to the impact of Covid 19 can trip itself up over whether to spend (only!) a few millions more on free school meals during holidays. Or maybe not. Any situation that combines children, hunger, and doing the right(eous) thing will engender strong feelings. Any government that omits including hungry children while providing financial support for others will be called ‘unjust’ (or worse). And in a social situation, ‘justice’ is another world for ‘righteousness’. So, let’s hope our government does the right thing, and that those of us who never worried overmuch about free school meals during holidays, until Covid came along, don’t get too self-righteous about it all.
Trevor
Prayer
‘Give us this day our daily bread.’
Thank you God for food, and family, and friends.
We remember those who have no food today,
and those who have food, but nobody to share it,
As you have blessed us, help us be a blessing for others;
As you have fed us, encourage us to feed others. Amen.
To attend the 10.00 a.m. or 11.15 a.m. service, contact Alison Drew between Monday morning and midday on the Friday in the week before the service. (Contact details below.)
Please remember to follow the practices that keep you and others safe in worship.
Click here for a musical reminder about wearing face masks in worship – from Saint George’s URC, Morpeth
SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP – NOVEMBER 1ST at 6.30 P.M.
ALL THE SAINTS!
Join us on Zoom to celebrate All Saints Day, to induct new Elders into office, and to share in communion. The service will be led by our minister, the Reverend Trevor Jamison.
To join, click here when the time comes.
By phone: 0131 460 1196 Meeting ID: 838 7865 9168 Passcode: 410179
DISCLAIMER: TV and Radio schedules can change, so check the timings are correct!
Bible readings for All Saints Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary
Revelation 7:9-17 A multitude from every nation praises God
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 ‘I will bless the LORD at all times’
‘My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.’ (Psalm 34:2) Enjoy hearing a diverse group continue to praise God, even in this trying season.
1 John 3:1-3 You are loved by God
Matthew 5:12 Who is blessed? Jesus says …
Click here to listen to “Beatitudes” by Bernice Johnson Reagon, beautifully performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock, live at Carnegie Hall, November 7, 1987.
‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ (Revelation 7:13) John’s revelation – vision – is of ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation’,(7:9) singing their praises to God. Who are they? – all sorts of everyone who died, coming through ‘great ordeal.’ (7:14) November 1st is All Saints Day. We remember God’s faithful ones who have gone before us. Some, their memories we cherish, others, as the saying goes, are ‘known only to God.’ What’s revealed is God’s hospitality to all sorts, including people like you and me. Also, we’re invited to see that when we worship God – in our own homes, in a church building, or online – we are part of a huge company, that says and sings, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’ (7:12)
Items of News
We are sorry to share the news that Birket Foster died on the 24th of October. Our sympathy and prayers go out to Enid and members of the family. Birket’s funeral is due to take place at Tynemouth Crematorium on Wednesday 4th November at 10.30 a.m., led by our Minister, Trevor Jamison.
For those who wish to make a donation to the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade in memory of Birket, click here.
The funeral for Mabel Croll is due to take place at Tynemouth Crematorium on Monday 9th November at 1.30 p.m., again, led by Trevor Jamison.
St Columba’s Coffee and Conversation –
Next meets on November 7th
Please note: No meeting on 31st October
Don’t forget, you’re allowed to invite friends along to take part in the conversation!
Mark’s Gospel in an Hour! – Thursday 5th November at 7.15 p.m.
Travel through Mark’s Gospel in one hour in the company of our minister, Trevor Jamison. Who was Mark? Why did he write about ‘the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’? What’s special about the way Mark wrote about Jesus? Trevor will cover these and other questions in his talk, with additional time for questions and discussion.
Join online or by telephone:
When the time comes, click here to join. Meeting ID: 812 0199 6330 Passcode:063418 Telephone: 0131 460 1196
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6) It’s amazing how a government spending billions in response to the impact of Covid 19 can trip itself up over whether to spend (only!) a few millions more on free school meals during holidays. Or maybe not. Any situation that combines children, hunger, and doing the right(eous) thing will engender strong feelings. Any government that omits including hungry children while providing financial support for others will be called ‘unjust’ (or worse). And in a social situation, ‘justice’ is another world for ‘righteousness’. So, let’s hope our government does the right thing, and that those of us who never worried overmuch about free school meals during holidays, until Covid came along, don’t get too self-righteous about it all.
ALL THE SAINTS!
Travel through Mark’s Gospel in one hour in the company of our minister, Trevor Jamison. Who was Mark? Why did he write about ‘the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’? What’s special about the way Mark wrote about Jesus? Trevor will cover these and other questions in his talk, with additional time for questions and discussion.