30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #238 – 23rd February 2025
From the Minister What’s Love Got To Do With It?
A couple of weeks ago I asked our organist, Paul to play a specific piece of music after the service. I was also clear that there was another piece that I did not want to hear. In the service we were going to be looking at 1 Corinthians 13, which is probably the Bible reading most people get to hear these days, because it now is a popular choice not only at wedding but also at funerals. It begins, ‘If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love …’ and concludes ‘ and now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.’ I requested “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing.” I did not want “All You Need Is Love.” It’s a bit of an earworm, and it’s also wrong. If you were about to take off from the runway and were told the pilot had been selected on the basis of how loving they were you would not be reassured. They need to be competent. At the same time, you want the pilot to have a care for the well being of the passengers and the crew; now is not the time to demonstrate their gift for aerobatics. There are many things in church life that require competence: playing the organ, looking after the buildings, preparing food and drink, keeping vulnerable people safe. If we don’t get these things right, the church will not function well. On the other hand, if we don’t do them with love we won’t be a church at all, for, as the accompanying image reminds us, that’s the way God works.
PS Paul might also have played “I Just Called To Say I Love You”, which might not have been a bad choice either.
Prayer
Tender God, touch us. Be touched by us; make us lovers of humanity, compassionate friends of all creation. Gracious God, hear us into speech; speak us into acting; and through us, recreate the world. Amen.
(Carter Heyward)
Worship Sunday 23rd February
10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Louise Sanders, St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton.
6.30 p.m. Evening service – The Revd Rob Hufton, North Shields Methodist Church.
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,
10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison, focusing on what the resurrection of Jesus means for us.
Bible readings
Genesis 45:3-11, 15 Joseph forgives his brothers
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 Forsake wrath – it only leads to evil
1 Cor. 15:35-38, 42-50 What’s the resurrection body like?
Luke 6:27-38 Do good to those who have done bad to you
It’s hard to dislodge a fixed idea, particularly if is a widely held one. Taking three of today’s readings together, and taking them seriously, should do just that to one pervasive, pernicious, but popular idea. That’s the mistaken belief that God in the Old Testament is both angrier and more judgmental, and less loving and forgiving, than God in the New Testament. (If you believe that, it probably doesn’t say a lot for your view of Jewish people.) Yet look at Genesis 45 and Psalm 37. In the former, Joseph, having been terribly mistreated by his brothers, now has them in his power. Now is the time for revenge, except that it is not what happens. Instead, accompanied by hugs and tears, he forgives them, and readers are invited to see this as the right thing to do. Then in Psalm 37 we are told not to fret because of the wicked, or indulge in anger and wrath, for these only lead to evil. There in the Old Testament forgiveness and restraint in the face of wrongdoing are commended. It’s upon that foundation that Jesus builds when he demands that his followers love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. One Bible, and one God, who is both just and loving, and calls us to be the same.
The fifth and final session discussing how to be a better church occurs this coming week: 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 at 7.15 pm on Thursday.
You can find the handout for the fourth meeting here.
During Lent 2025 we are sharing in “The Whole Easter Story”, using a book about how the cross transforms not only our own individual connection with Jesus, but also our relationships with each other and our world. On each day of Lent, for personal use, there is a short Bible reading, a reflection, and a prayer, accompanied by illustrations of creatures from around the world.
There will also be six discussion group sessions, taking place on Thursday evenings at St Columba’s URC, starting on 6th March, then repeated on the following Mondays at 2.00 p.m. at St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton, and 7.15 pm. that night on Zoom. To join on Zoom, click here.
To obtain your copy of the book – please use the sign-up sheet in the church hall or contact Trevor Jamison by this Sunday (the church will buy the books, and any who wish to make a donation are welcome to do so).
(Image: Bible reading fellowship / A Rocha)
Moses Basket request
Do you have a Moses basket that Gill O could borrow for use in the Mothering Sunday service on 30th March? If so, please get in touch with Gill asap.
Two World Day of Prayer services on Friday 7th March
Two ecumenical services on Friday 7th March. – 2.00pm, at St Joseph’s Church, Wallsend Road. Chirton, North Shields, and 7.30pm, at the Methodist Church, Broadway, Cullercoats, NE30 3LJ. Everyone is welcome at either service. Light refreshments will be available after both services.
A reminder that tickets for the Soup and Sandwich lunch with bingo are now on sale. The price is £7.00. The event is on Saturday 8th March at 1.00 p.m. See Norma M to buy your tickets
Blue Light Choir in Concert on Saturday 29th March
The Blue Light Choir, composed of emergency services and NHS personnel, and key workers, will be performing in aid of the North East Fishermen’s Mission at North Shields Baptist Church, 29th March at 3.00 p.m. Tickets for adults £10.00, children go free.
Church Meeting minutes now available
Minutes of the Church Meeting held on Sunday 19th January are now available in the email version of the Weekly Update or from the Church Secretary, Alison Drew.
Next Update – Sunday 2nd March
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 25th February.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
A couple of weeks ago I asked our organist, Paul to play a specific piece of music after the service. I was also clear that there was another piece that I did not want to hear. In the service we were going to be looking at 1 Corinthians 13, which is probably the Bible reading most people get to hear these days, because it now is a popular choice not only at wedding but also at funerals. It begins, ‘If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love …’ and concludes ‘ and now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.’ I requested “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing.” I did not want “All You Need Is Love.” It’s a bit of an earworm, and it’s also wrong. If you were about to take off from the runway and were told the pilot had been selected on the basis of how loving they were you would not be reassured. They need to be competent. At the same time, you want the pilot to have a care for the well being of the passengers and the crew; now is not the time to demonstrate their gift for aerobatics. There are many things in church life that require competence: playing the organ, looking after the buildings, preparing food and drink, keeping vulnerable people safe. If we don’t get these things right, the church will not function well. On the other hand, if we don’t do them with love we won’t be a church at all, for, as the accompanying image reminds us, that’s the way God works.
It’s hard to dislodge a fixed idea, particularly if is a widely held one. Taking three of today’s readings together, and taking them seriously, should do just that to one pervasive, pernicious, but popular idea. That’s the mistaken belief that God in the Old Testament is both angrier and more judgmental, and less loving and forgiving, than God in the New Testament. (If you believe that, it probably doesn’t say a lot for your view of Jewish people.) Yet look at Genesis 45 and Psalm 37. In the former, Joseph, having been terribly mistreated by his brothers, now has them in his power. Now is the time for revenge, except that it is not what happens. Instead, accompanied by hugs and tears, he forgives them, and readers are invited to see this as the right thing to do. Then in Psalm 37 we are told not to fret because of the wicked, or indulge in anger and wrath, for these only lead to evil. There in the Old Testament forgiveness and restraint in the face of wrongdoing are commended. It’s upon that foundation that Jesus builds when he demands that his followers love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. One Bible, and one God, who is both just and loving, and calls us to be the same.
During Lent 2025 we are sharing in “The Whole Easter Story”, using a book about how the cross transforms not only our own individual connection with Jesus, but also our relationships with each other and our world. On each day of Lent, for personal use, there is a short Bible reading, a reflection, and a prayer, accompanied by illustrations of creatures from around the world.
Two ecumenical services on Friday 7th March. – 2.00pm, at St Joseph’s Church, Wallsend Road. Chirton, North Shields, and 7.30pm, at the Methodist Church, Broadway, Cullercoats, NE30 3LJ. Everyone is welcome at either service. Light refreshments will be available after both services.
A reminder that tickets for the Soup and Sandwich lunch with bingo are now on sale. The price is £7.00. The event is on Saturday 8th March at 1.00 p.m. See Norma M to buy your tickets
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