30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #196 – 24th March 2024- Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday
From the Minister Palms or Passion?
So this Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the following one is Easter Sunday. If you have given up something for Lent (or taken something up) you are almost there! Palm Sunday is associated with excitement – Jesus enters Jerusalem in the midst of a cheering crowd. Easter Sunday is about rejoicing as we celebrate the resurrection. It’s tempting to move straight from the excitement of one Sunday to the rejoicing of the next, but we should avoid doing that if at all possible. There’s a whole week in between in which Jesus shares a final meal with close followers, ponders and prays about his fate, is arrested, tried and executed on a cross. These events are sometimes referred to as Christ’s “passion” i.e. he endured things done to him. To quote Saint Paul, Jesus, ‘humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.’ Few people want to contemplate pain, suffering and death, but in this case we do so in order to acknowledge what Jesus would do for each one of us, and our joy will be all the greater when resurrection comes at Easter.
Trevor Image by Prawny from Pixabay
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, accept our songs of praise as you journey to your cross; and enable us both to grieve at its necessity and to be renewed by its power; for your own name’s sake.
Amen. (C N R Wallwork)
Worship Sunday 24th March
10.30 a.m. A Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday Service led by the Revd Ron Forster
Livestreamed Worship from Saint Columba’s
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
Our Easter Journey– from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 30th March – follow a path through the church via six themed multi-sensory installations, with music and resources for reading, prayer and contemplative actions available at each installation.
The church will be open for you and others to make your journey
7.00 p.m. A reflective time together, remembering the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane. This communion service, led by Trevor Jamison, takes place upstairs, in the Lishman Hall.
Good Friday – 29th March
10.00 a.m. Churches Together in North Shields Good Friday Walk of Witness, commencing in and concluding at Northumberland Square. Everyone is very welcome to come along.
11.00 a.m. – Messy Easter All-generations are together to experience Easter through crafts and other activities, including eating hot cross buns!
Easter Sunday 31st March
8.15 a.m. Easter Worship, with communion, led by Trevor Jamison.
8.45 a.m. Easter Breakfast, open to all, following on from the 8.15 a.m. service
10.30 a.m. Easter Celebration – communion service led by Trevor Jamison
6.30 p.m. Easter Journey – experiencing the Holy Week using our Easter installations, concluding with communion at the empty tomb, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
Bible readings
Palm Sunday
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 God’s steadfast love endures forever!
Mark 11:1-11 Jesus rides into a Jerusalem and pays a visit to the temple
John 12:12-16 Jesus’s disciples understand things better after the event
Passion Sunday
Isaiah 50:4-9a God’s representative is struck, insulted and spat upon
Psalm 31:9-6 God’s servant trusts in God, even in the midst of suffering
Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus, who humbled himself, even accepting death on a cross
Mark 14:1-15:47 From anointing for death to death itself for Jesus
Reflection on the Readings
Philippians 2:5-11 is one of my favourite Bible passages. Paul packs so much into seven verses: a call for us to be Christ-like (5), which avoids trying to make ourselves into gods (6); that Jesus was thoroughly, humbly human (7); willing to die for us in pursuit of God’s plan (8); for which he is exalted above everyone and everything (9), in the whole of humanity and the rest of creation (10); Lord of all, to God’s glory (11). In a week when we are encouraged to remember the death of Jesus on the cross why not ponder one verse a day, all the way to Easter, when we, along with everyone else confess that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’
Contributions for the April edition of our church magazine need to be with Catherine by Monday 25th March.
28th March – C-Aware Launch Event
The Fishermen’s Mission, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support are launching C-Aware, working with the fishing community to increase awareness of cancer, associated risks and symptoms. You are invited to drop by at their office, 42-47 Fish Quay, any time between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. on the day to learn more about this initiative.
15th June at Bishop Auckland – Faithful Flourishing: a Northern Synod festival of faith, fellowship and fun!
People from churches around Northern Synod are invited to take part in this festival, which gives participants free access to all of the venues at The Auckland Project https://aucklandproject.org/ as well as workshops on faith conversations, music, poetry and prayer – plus a packed lunch.
We are hiring a bus to take participants from St Columba’s and St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton.
You can find more information about the event by Clicking Here
Contact Mathew to book your place,
Closing Date for booking for the coach is Sunday 5th May 2024
Next Update – Sunday 31st March 2024
Trevor Jamison will edit the Update for 31st March. To get your information in both the online and printed editions, please have it with him by Tuesday 22nd March.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
So this Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the following one is Easter Sunday. If you have given up something for Lent (or taken something up) you are almost there! Palm Sunday is associated with excitement – Jesus enters Jerusalem in the midst of a cheering crowd. Easter Sunday is about rejoicing as we celebrate the resurrection. It’s tempting to move straight from the excitement of one Sunday to the rejoicing of the next, but we should avoid doing that if at all possible. There’s a whole week in between in which Jesus shares a final meal with close followers, ponders and prays about his fate, is arrested, tried and executed on a cross. These events are sometimes referred to as Christ’s “passion” i.e. he endured things done to him. To quote Saint Paul, Jesus, ‘humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.’ Few people want to contemplate pain, suffering and death, but in this case we do so in order to acknowledge what Jesus would do for each one of us, and our joy will be all the greater when resurrection comes at Easter.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
All-generations are together to experience Easter through crafts and other activities, including eating hot cross buns!
Philippians 2:5-11 is one of my favourite Bible passages. Paul packs so much into seven verses: a call for us to be Christ-like (5), which avoids trying to make ourselves into gods (6); that Jesus was thoroughly, humbly human (7); willing to die for us in pursuit of God’s plan (8); for which he is exalted above everyone and everything (9), in the whole of humanity and the rest of creation (10); Lord of all, to God’s glory (11). In a week when we are encouraged to remember the death of Jesus on the cross why not ponder one verse a day, all the way to Easter, when we, along with everyone else confess that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’