30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #236 – 9th February 2025
From Andrew Racial Justice Sunday
This Sunday, the Church reflects on racial justice. Race is something we all have, it is simply part of who we are. However, within our culture and society are deeply-ingrained thought-patterns about race. Some of this at the level of unconscious bias, and some is more intentional. We are all affected by it, and it underlies some of the structures of society, including the Church.
It is unjust for some people to be treated differently to others simply because of how they look or their ethnic background. In a country where there is majority of white people, there can be more hurdles for people of other ethnic groups. White people may not even be aware of those hurdles, because they do not experience them.
The United Reformed Church is made up of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, and in 2020 our General Assembly resolved that we should be an anti-racist Church. This calls for us to work harder to be a place where all are equally valued, to redress imbalances, and to challenge injustice wherever we see it. Andrew
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, show us Your beauty, reflected in all the peoples of the earth, so that we may discover anew that all are important and all are necessary, different faces of the one humanity that God so loves. Amen.
An extract from Pope Francis’ Encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
Worship Sunday 9th February
10.30 a.m.A service of Holy Communion led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison.
Followed by Tea, Coffee, Cake, and Growing Church meeting
After two enjoyable, positive meetings in 2024, exploring growing as a church in faith, service and numbers, we will begin with a recap on where we have got so far. Then we’ll make a map of our connections with others, and identify which are the church events where we are most confident to invite someone to come along. Once again the conversation will be fuelled by an array of cakes!
Livestream of morning services from Saint Columba’s
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
Isaiah 6: 1-8 (9-13) Isaiah is called to speak God’s message
Psalm 138 Thanks for God’s steadfast love
I Corinthians 15: 1-11 The Good News is spread by the apostles
Luke 5: 1-11 A miraculous catch, and a call to fish for people
There has been a fishing port at North Shields for 800 years, but I don’t suppose they have ever taken a catch like the one described by Luke’s Gospel. God provided a superabundance – not just more than the fishermen could imagine, but more than they could handle. Nets were straining and breaking, boats were filling and sinking with the weight of fish.
The readings from Isaiah, I Corinthians and Luke each begin with an awe-inspiring encounter with God – recognising God’s overwhelming power, generosity and holiness. Perhaps we need to take time to appreciate all that God is – so much more than we can imagine. For the prophet Isaiah, and for Paul and Simon, that led them to a painful consciousness of their own smallness and sinfulness. God bridged the gap and called them to service, to tell of their own experience and bring people to God (whether they or not they respond).
We may not have caught fish enough to sink a boat, but we have stories to tell of what God has done for us. We can invite people to come to St Columba’s for a variety of religious or social events which we expect to be worth attending. How people respond or whether that sparks a connection with the church or faith is up to God.
St Oswald’s Hospice has written to thank St Columba’s for the £500 raised at the Christmas Eve carol service. To read the letter in full, click here.
Love Lets Go Of Power
The third of five sessions discussing how to be a better church takes place this coming week: Monday 10th at 2.00 pm at St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton; repeated on Zoom at 7.15 pm that night; then once again in-person at St Columba’s, North Shields, at 7.15 pm on Thursday 13th. You can find the handout for the third meeting, on a theme of “Faith, hope and love”, here.
Led by Trevor Jamison and Louise Sanders, these are conversational meetings and open to anyone from any church (or none) who wishes to come along to take part.
The Social Events Team has arranged a soup and sandwich lunch with bingo and raffle. The date is Saturday 8th March at 1 p.m. Tickets will be on sale soon, price £7.
Elders Needed
We have 3 Elders standing down at this year’s AGM and 2 Elders who can stand for re-election. If you feel this is something God is calling you to do, please speak to the Church Secretary no later than 10th March.
Next Update – Sunday 16th February
Trevor Jamison will edit the next Update. Please get your information to him by Tuesday 11th February.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
This Sunday, the Church reflects on racial justice. Race is something we all have, it is simply part of who we are. However, within our culture and society are deeply-ingrained thought-patterns about race. Some of this at the level of unconscious bias, and some is more intentional. We are all affected by it, and it underlies some of the structures of society, including the Church.
The third of five sessions discussing how to be a better church takes place this coming week: Monday 10th at 2.00 pm at St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton; repeated on Zoom at 7.15 pm that night; then once again in-person at St Columba’s, North Shields, at 7.15 pm on Thursday 13th. You can find the handout for the third meeting, on a theme of “Faith, hope and love”,