30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update # 205 – 2nd June 2024
From the Minister Promises, promises……….
Last week I wrote the topical prayers of intercession for the United Reformed Church’s online resource for worship leaders click here Resources are available a month ahead, but an extra set of intercessions are written towards the beginning of the week, to take account of current events. As promised, I met the Wednesday morning deadline, referencing climate change and high temperatures in Delhi, as well as to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry Report. Unaccountably, a rain-soaked Prime Minister missed this URC deadline, waiting until the afternoon to announce a general election! Since then politicians have been making promises, including a surprising one from the party of government to (re)introduce National Service for young adults (I wonder why they did not bring it forward during their previous fourteen years in office). Of course, all of the political parties are now making promises. Christians might judge such promises on whether they think a politician really means to keep them – Jesus was so keen on truth he identified himself with it (John 14:6). Then, if you think they do mean it, the biblical tradition of judging on the basis of how actions affect the most vulnerable comes into play: ‘give justice to the weak and the orphan, maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’ (Psalm 82:3-4)Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Trevor
Prayer Almighty God, you are the source of wisdom and justice. Guide us at this time when we are called to choose representatives to serve in the High Court of Parliament. May we cast our votes with a true sense of responsibility. Give to those who are elected the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may provide conditions for a good and honest life for all the people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From the ‘Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland’, 1994 (altered)
Worship Sunday 2nd June 10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Rob Hufton, Hawkey’s Lane Methodist Church
3.00 p.m. Messy Church worship for all ages – come along and bring others!
10.30 a.m. A communion service led by Mr John Drew and Mrs Liz Morrell
Bible readings
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Observe the Sabbath day – don’t work!
Psalm 81:1-10 God relieves people of burdens
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 We proclaim Jesus, not ourselves
Mark 2:23-3:6 Jesus teaches and heals on the Sabbath day
Reflection on the Readings
Six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work.’ (Deuteronomy 5:12, 13) People (and other creatures) need a rest from work. A people who had escaped slavery in Egypt were expected to give time off even to slaves. (5:14, 15) But what constitutes “work”? Do such things as food preparation or health care count? As Mark 2:23-3:6 shows, people interpret such things differently. Sometimes they do so in negative ways, telling others what they think they should not do.* Better though, surely, to ask how people might spend their time enjoying freedom from work, while thanking God for the opportunity. Of course, that might include asking what constitutes sabbath rest in a 24/7 society where Sunday looks like any other day; when flexible work patterns mean many no longer do Monday to Friday with a weekend off; and when many others are retired from work (but find themselves as busy as ever). Image: J C Dollman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons – Sunday golfers caught by stern looking clerics * For a recent dispute about sabbath observance and going to the beach: click here
A hymn that responds to the reflection
Sing along the words and music for ‘O God, you made the Sabbath day, your gift, your law, your healing way … ‘ – a hymn by the American Presbyterian minister, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette click here
News and Notices
Top (Trinitarian) Hymns
At our joint service with friends from Saint Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton, held on Sunday evening last week, whilst fortified by cake, we discussed, voted for, then sang our top three hymns for Trinity Sunday. After discussions and voting over a list of six, the three chosen were, ‘Father, we love you, we worship and adore you’ (R&S 30), ‘Thou whose almighty word chaos and darkness heard’ (R&S 38), and ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’ (R&S 58). (Your minister’s number one choice failed to make the cut, so you can expect he’ll sneak it into a service some time in the next few weeks – not that he’s a bad loser, of course).
You can listen to these three hymns here:
R&S 30 click here R&S 38 click here R&S 58 click here
Café 2.21 Break
We will be closed for 2 weeks’ holiday on 4th and 11th June, and will re-open on Tuesday 18th June.
Strawberry Fayre – 8th June
The next social event at St Columba’s will be the Strawberry Fayre on Saturday 8th June. We are looking for items for the tombola stall, preferably wrapped. If you have anything suitable for the stall, please see Evelyn. Also there will be a cake stall and contributions for that will be gratefully received on the day. Image by Margit Wallner from Pixabay
Get Crafting for Greenbelt
Last year, many of you made Kintsugi hearts for the URC marquee at the Greenbelt Festival, taking place in August. So I’m asking for your help again, please.
Be a part of the URC’s presence at this year’s Greenbelt festival, entitled ‘Dream On’, even if you can’t be there in person. Show us what your dreams for yourself, for the Church and for the world are by designing a 15 x 15cm square. Knit, crochet, make a patchwork square or even draw. All the squares will be joined together to make one massive quilt of dreams. To find out more, click here. The squares need to be with me by Sunday 7th July at the latest so that I can send them on to be sewn together. Liz M.
Next Update – Sunday 9th June
Trevor Jamison will edit the next Update. Please get your information to him by Tuesday 4th June.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.