30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #149 26th March 2023
From the Minister Do You Have the Time?
In 1752 Great Britain moved from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, changing the formula for calculating leap years. The move involved dropping eleven days from the month of September that year. Allegedly, there were riots, with crowds demanding that parliament return the eleven days that had been “stolen” from them. That makes our one-hour change this weekend seem quite minor. In any case, we know that we are gong to get our hour back again at the end of October. It’s hard to get one’s head around the concept of time, though attempts to do so have produced a lot of good science fiction stories over the years. Whatever our uncertainties about it, time is a gift from God, as part of God’s creation. In the poetic early chapters of Genesis, everything starts with light and dark, night and day, which involves time coming into being. Time gives structure to our lives, and a sense of purpose, as long as we don’t obsess over it.
‘For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.’ (Rom. 5:6)
O God I thank you for the gift of time and that you reached out to me in time. Amen.
Worship Services in the Building Sunday 26th March – CLOCKS GO FORWARD ONE HOUR! 10.30 a.m. service at church, led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison – nine months to go until Christmas!
6.30 p.m. service at church, led by the Revd Jack Macadam
Sunday 2nd April 10.30 a.m. Palm Sunday service at church led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison 6.30 p.m. Zoom Communion service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison: “From Palms to The Cross” To join on Zoom, click here.
Livestreamed Worship from Saint Columba’s Each Sunday morning we livestream our services from Saint Columba’s. To watch the service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services, click here.
Bible readings for this week– The Annunciation (25th March)
Isaiah 7:10-14 ‘Look, the young woman is with child’
Psalm 40:5-10 Giving thanks for being rescued
Hebrews 10:4-10 One sacrifice is enough
Luke 1:26-38 Gabriel tells Mary about an event nine months in the future
It seems strange to have a reading about the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary when we are so far away from Christmas. In fact, though, we are nine months away from Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. March 25th is the Feast of the Annunciation – the announcement to Mary that she would conceive in her womb and give birth to a son named Jesus. Since the reading comes at this time of year we are also encouraged to connect Christmas and Lent, the cradle with the cross.
We are holding a leaflet drop in and around North Shields, advertising our Easter service. If you are willing to deliver some leaflets, please would you meet at the front of the church when the service concludes Sunday, so that we can make arrangements for distribution. Alternatively, please let Trevor Jamison know of your availability.
Three Conversations for Lent
The final conversation in our Lent series takes place on Tuesday 28th, on Zoom, and Thursday 30th, in-person at church. Both meetings start at 7.15 p.m. You can find more details about the conversations here.
Café 2.21 will be holding a fundraising event on Tuesday 4th April. We will be serving tea/coffee, scones, cakes, hot cross buns from 10.00 a.m. Lunches will be served from 11.00 a.m., with special Easter Desserts. We will be holding a raffle. Prizes include a chocolate hamper, Easter eggs and lots more. All proceeds will go to the Special Baby Unit at RVI.
We will be having a short early communion service in the Lishman Hall at 8.15 a.m., followed by an Easter breakfast at 8.30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come to the communion and breakfast, or simply to come for the breakfast itself.
Next Update – Sunday 2nd April
Trevor Jamison will edit the next Update. To get your information in the 2nd April edition, please have it with him by Tuesday 28th March.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
In 1752 Great Britain moved from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, changing the formula for calculating leap years. The move involved dropping eleven days from the month of September that year. Allegedly, there were riots, with crowds demanding that parliament return the eleven days that had been “stolen” from them. That makes our one-hour change this weekend seem quite minor. In any case, we know that we are gong to get our hour back again at the end of October. It’s hard to get one’s head around the concept of time, though attempts to do so have produced a lot of good science fiction stories over the years. Whatever our uncertainties about it, time is a gift from God, as part of God’s creation. In the poetic early chapters of Genesis, everything starts with light and dark, night and day, which involves time coming into being. Time gives structure to our lives, and a sense of purpose, as long as we don’t obsess over it.
Each Sunday morning we livestream our services from Saint Columba’s. To watch the service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services, click 
Volunteers sought to deliver Easter leaflets
Café 2.21 will be holding a fundraising event on Tuesday 4th April. We will be serving tea/coffee, scones, cakes, hot cross buns from 10.00 a.m. Lunches will be served from 11.00 a.m., with special Easter Desserts. We will be holding a raffle. Prizes include a chocolate hamper, Easter eggs and lots more. All proceeds will go to the Special Baby Unit at RVI.