30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #45: Sunday 7th February 2021
From the Minister, They Say It’s Good to Share
It was impressive. Whereas other take years or decades to get the political parties in Northern Ireland to grudgingly agree on anything, the European Commission united them overnight. Along with the British Prime Minister and the Irish Taoiseach, they all denounced the Commission’s plan to reintroduce a border on the island of Ireland in order to safeguard EU vaccine supplies. Of course, it’s easier to take the moral high ground when you are the one holding the vaccines. And also, at what point will we share with our neighbours rather than just take care of ourselves? Perhaps that decision will tell us as much or more about a nation’s greatness than its vaccination rate.
If you want to join a service or other meeting, online or by phone, and are unsure about how to do so, please contact Mathew Hall (07792 782647) who will talk you through the process.
To receive a copy of the hymn book, Rejoice and Sing, contact Alison Drew.
To request paper copies of orders of service please contact Trevor Jamison
Other options for worshipping at home on Sunday
Other options for worshiping at home on Sunday
Online URC audio service https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ 10.00 a.m.
Radio Radio 4 Sunday Worship 8.10 a.m.
Television BBC1 Songs of Praise 13.15 p.m.
DISCLAIMER: TV and Radio schedules can change, so check the timings are correct!
Bible readings for Sunday
Isaiah 40:21-31 The God who sits above creation still cares for us
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Praise for God healer, creator, provider, and more …
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 How far would go for the sake of the gospel?
Mark 1:29-39 Jesus’s good news message, in words and actions
In the Bible I’m reading they have added a title to Psalm 147 to help us understand what it is about: ‘Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem.’ I know they are trying to be helpful, and the psalm does say that ‘the LORD builds up Jerusalem,’ but it seems to me that it’s about much more than that. God, says the psalmist, is a healer of emotional and physical pain (3), author of creation (4), powerful and wise (5), just (6), our provider (8) and our sustainer (9), and is more concerned with our relationships than our achievements (10-11). No wonder the psalm begins and concludes with the same phrase: ‘Praise the LORD!
Three Elders will be stepping down from service and one Elder is eligible to stand for a further two years of service (Elders at St Columba’s serve for three years, with the option to serve for a further two years. After a break of one year they may again stand for election for a further period of service.)
If you feel this is something God might be calling you to do, please talk to Alison Drew. You may nominate someone for election but must have their permission to do so.
Closing date for nominations: Monday 22nd March – names to Alison Drew.
St Columba’s Coffee and Conversation
on Saturdays at 10.00 a.m.
Meet friends for conversation and company, online or by phone.
