30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #218 – 22nd September 2024
From the Minister My goodness, it’s cold here …
On the evening of Friday the 13th of this month I flew to Edinburgh airport from Portugal. In Portugal the temperatures had been in the mid to high twenties (centigrade). In Edinburgh, it was much, much cooler. It felt like I had left the UK in Summer but returned in Autumn. That feeling has remained. Some days here are quite mild temperature-wise, but others are not. I notice that the leaves are beginning to turn to yellow, gold and brown on some of the trees. Autumn is arriving. I like living somewhere where we have seasons (the closer to the equator you live the less this is the case). I also like (some) Church seasons – periods of time set apart to concentrate on an aspect of our faith. There is Advent (preparing for the arrival of Christ), Christmas (celebrating the birth, the incarnation of Jesus), Epiphany (focusing on the light of revelation), Lent (contemplating the suffering and death of Jesus), and Easter (celebrating his resurrection). We’re in the middle of another Church season: the Season of Creation. We’re invited and encouraged to give thanks for creation (of which we are a part), thanking God, and responding by taking care of the little part of it where we reside (aka Planet Earth). One way we can do that is to thank God for giving us the opportunity to experience the beauty and variety of the different seasons, including the Autumn we are now entering.
God of all seasons, thank you that you are with us in times of joyful abundance as well as when times are cold or difficult. Thank you for the gift of Autumn, with its berry bounty, vibrant colours, crisp leaves and first frosts.
Amen.
Taken and adapted from a prayer by Ruth Flatman
Worship Sunday 22nd September 2024
10.30 a.m. A service led by Trevor Jamison, as part of the Season of Creation, focussing on a theme of on nature and humanity.
Livestreamed Worship from Saint Columba’s
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
10.30am A service celebrating the harvest, led by Dr Andrew Graydon. During this service we will be accepting gifts for Nite Bite, a churches project in North Shields, offering a meal to those in need of one. This year, tins of soup, beans and meat, tinned fruit and cartons of custard are particularly sought, but all gifts are welcome.
6.30 p.m. A contemplative service on a harvest theme, led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
Bible readings
Proverbs 31:10-31 A (very) capable woman
Psalm 1 The way of the righteous versus the way of the wicked
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a ‘Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you.’
Mark 9:30-37 How do we know which of us is the greatest?
Why encourage a little girl to think of herself as a princess (always in need of rescue by a male prince?) when they might become an engineer, a doctor, or an astronaut instead? Our reading from Proverbs offers an ancient world role description for the capable woman. It reflects attitudes of that time (some of which continue in our own era). It matters greatly who she is married to and what her husband thinks of her (31:11-12, 23, 28-29). She excels at looking after the household and in the domestic arts (31:15, 19, 22, 27). She works long hours but never seems to get tired. (31:15, 19). At the same time, though, this woman confounds some traditional expectations. She buys land and establishes a vineyard (31:16). She is a business woman, selling merchandise (31:18), including clothing (31:24).She is known not just for her business achievements but for her charitable giving (presumably with her money) (31:20). In matters of religion she thinks for herself (31:30). Given that this biblical role model woman describes someone who exceeds social expectations in her time then “biblical” women in our time should be encouraged to do the same.
Image: Mae Carol Jemison, American engineer, physician and NASA astronaut. Also the first Black woman to travel in space. NASA Image and Video Library (file), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78843250
A hymn that responds to the readings “God of the women who answered your call, trusting your promises, giving their all … O God of Phoebe and ministers all, may we be joyful in answering your call.” – a hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Irene Dougal
We are sorry to report the death of long-standing Saint Columba’s member Irene Dougal. Our sympathies to Irene’s family and to her friends. Arrangements for her funeral service will be shared when known.
Church Meeting – Tuesday 24th September
Our next Church meeting is due to take place at Saint Columba’s on Tuesday 24th September at 7.15 p.m.
You can find the agenda for the meeting in the post and email version of the Weekly Update.
Also you can re cap the last meetings minutes in the post and email version of the Weekly Update.
Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
On Friday 27th September at 10am HANDS are hosting a coffee morning at St Columba’s Church as part of the annual event where people from all over the UK raise monies for Macmillan Cancer Care Support. Everyone is invited to come along. (In addition to those provided by HANDS members, donations of cakes would be most welcome on the day. Thank you.)
Operation Christmas Child
Shoeboxes have been ordered for anyone who would like to fill a box with gifts for a child. A leaflet will be inside to help you with ideas. They will be available very soon, and each box will be 50p.
Next Update – Sunday 29th September
Trevor Jamison will edit the next Update. Please get your information to him by Tuesday 24th September.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
On the evening of Friday the 13th of this month I flew to Edinburgh airport from Portugal. In Portugal the temperatures had been in the mid to high twenties (centigrade). In Edinburgh, it was much, much cooler. It felt like I had left the UK in Summer but returned in Autumn. That feeling has remained. Some days here are quite mild temperature-wise, but others are not. I notice that the leaves are beginning to turn to yellow, gold and brown on some of the trees. Autumn is arriving. I like living somewhere where we have seasons (the closer to the equator you live the less this is the case). I also like (some) Church seasons – periods of time set apart to concentrate on an aspect of our faith. There is Advent (preparing for the arrival of Christ), Christmas (celebrating the birth, the incarnation of Jesus), Epiphany (focusing on the light of revelation), Lent (contemplating the suffering and death of Jesus), and Easter (celebrating his resurrection). We’re in the middle of another Church season: the Season of Creation. We’re invited and encouraged to give thanks for creation (of which we are a part), thanking God, and responding by taking care of the little part of it where we reside (aka Planet Earth). One way we can do that is to thank God for giving us the opportunity to experience the beauty and variety of the different seasons, including the Autumn we are now entering.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
Why encourage a little girl to think of herself as a princess (always in need of rescue by a male prince?) when they might become an engineer, a doctor, or an astronaut instead? Our reading from Proverbs offers an ancient world role description for the capable woman. It reflects attitudes of that time (some of which continue in our own era). It matters greatly who she is married to and what her husband thinks of her (31:11-12, 23, 28-29). She excels at looking after the household and in the domestic arts (31:15, 19, 22, 27). She works long hours but never seems to get tired. (31:15, 19). At the same time, though, this woman confounds some traditional expectations. She buys land and establishes a vineyard (31:16). She is a business woman, selling merchandise (31:18), including clothing (31:24).She is known not just for her business achievements but for her charitable giving (presumably with her money) (31:20). In matters of religion she thinks for herself (31:30). Given that this biblical role model woman describes someone who exceeds social expectations in her time then “biblical” women in our time should be encouraged to do the same.
On Friday 27th September at 10am HANDS are hosting a coffee morning at St Columba’s Church as part of the annual event where people from all over the UK raise monies for Macmillan Cancer Care Support. Everyone is invited to come along. (In addition to those provided by HANDS members, donations of cakes would be most welcome on the day. Thank you.)
Operation Christmas Child