30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #260 – Sunday 27th July 2025
From the Minister It just falls out of the sky?
I see that some parts of the UK now have hosepipe bans in place. One of the water companies imposing such a ban is Thames Water. It’s “Demand Reduction Manager” (now there’s a job title!) declares that it’s impossible to say when the ban will end because we “are generally waiting for rain.” (BBC, 23/07/2025) The announcement does little for of a company with a poor reputation concerning stopping leakages and preventing pollution; encumbered with debt whilst paying shareholder dividends and large salaries to senior managers. Unsurprisingly, people are angry, and all the more so because this is all about water. Living in homes with multiple water taps it’s easy to take it all for granted until rationing starts or the water bill arrives. Water is essential for living – to drink, to cook, to keep clean. It’s the need for water (and food) which drives people in Gaza to risk (and suffer) death at the hands of the Israeli Defence Forces. On the one hand, water really is something that falls down free from heaven as a gift from God. On the other hand, human communities then have to organise how water is collected and distributed. That said, those who control something so essential to life as water supply have a mighty responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to it, and if they decline to do so, they should be held accountable.
God of the deep ocean and the tiny brook, we praise you and adore you for the gift of water that sustains all life, and we remember with thanksgiving all the manifold manifestations of your grace through the gift of water. Amen. Based on a prayer from the Student Christian Movement India
Worship Sunday 27th July 10.30 a.m.A service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison 6.00 p.m. Churches Together Summer Service at Saint Columba’s – the first of our popular Churches Together evening services, led by Trevor Jamison. Please note the 6.00 p.m. start time!
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,
Sunday 3rd August 10.30 a.m. A service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
Bible readings Genesis 18:20-32 Abraham bargains with God
Psalm 138 God’s enduring love for all
Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) God makes us alive by forgiving our trespasses
Luke 11:1-13 Jesus teaches about prayer
How do you feel about haggling? I know someone who tried to haggle over the price of a haircut, and that was frowned upon. At the same time, most of us expect to haggle over the price of a car when we are in the showroom. Abraham may have lived in a time and culture where haggling was part and parcel of life, so haggling with God may not have seemed such a big thing to do. What do you think God intended to do before Abraham started trying to beat God down over how many people righteous people had to live in Sodom and Gomorrah before divine destruction was averted? Did there have to be fifty or were ten enough, even without Abraham’s intervention? How you answer that question depends on how you perceive God in the first place – easily annoyed and bloodthirsty, ever ready to forgive no matter what the circumstances, or something in-between. Presumably Abraham understood God to be more to the forgiving end of the scale, otherwise he would not have dared to bargain with God in the first place: ‘Oh do not let my lord be angry if I speak just once more …’ (Genesis 18:32) And here Abraham serves as role model in our dealings with God. Image: Image by S K from Pixabay
A song that responds to the readings
“Our Father” – a song inspired by the Lord’s prayer and prayer in generalclick here
News and Notices
Church Prayer Space – a Summer Prayer Tree
The prayer space is available in the church for your personal prayers on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. Simply write your prayer and add it to the tree.
Photo by LM
Join in Planning Celebration Service – Monday 28th July
St Columba’s is having a service to celebrate the centenary of the election of its first woman elder, Edith Smith, and the contribution of women Elders in the succeeding years. The service will be on September 14th, and a group is meeting at church on Monday 28th July at 7.15 p.m. to plan and organise for the service. If you would like to be part of that group please come along on Monday.
Saint Columba’s Family Fun Day, Wednesday 30th July, 1.00-4.00 p.m.
Saint Columba’s is running a family fun day at the church, featuring a wide range of fun activities, accompanied by refreshments.
Everyone’s invited to come along, bringing their family, friends and neighbours. There are rumours that the minister will be in charge of “Splat the Rat”!
This free community event takes place on Wednesday 30th July, 1.00 p.m.-4.00 p.m.
If you would like to find out more, or wanted to offer to help with one of the activities, please contact our Synod Pioneer Worker, Irene Frith irene.frith@urc-northernsynod.org
Tel: 07350 397770.
Pairs of Parables – Thursday 31st July, 7.15 p.m. at St Columba’s
Trevor Jamison leads a relaxed conversation about the parables of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) and The Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8). Come along and explore what these stories might be saying to you about ourselves, about the world, and about God.
Next Update – Sunday 3rd August
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 29th July.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
I see that some parts of the UK now have hosepipe bans in place. One of the water companies imposing such a ban is Thames Water. It’s “Demand Reduction Manager” (now there’s a job title!) declares that it’s impossible to say when the ban will end because we “are generally waiting for rain.” (BBC, 23/07/2025) The announcement does little for of a company with a poor reputation concerning stopping leakages and preventing pollution; encumbered with debt whilst paying shareholder dividends and large salaries to senior managers. Unsurprisingly, people are angry, and all the more so because this is all about water. Living in homes with multiple water taps it’s easy to take it all for granted until rationing starts or the water bill arrives. Water is essential for living – to drink, to cook, to keep clean. It’s the need for water (and food) which drives people in Gaza to risk (and suffer) death at the hands of the Israeli Defence Forces. On the one hand, water really is something that falls down free from heaven as a gift from God. On the other hand, human communities then have to organise how water is collected and distributed. That said, those who control something so essential to life as water supply have a mighty responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to it, and if they decline to do so, they should be held accountable.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
How do you feel about haggling? I know someone who tried to haggle over the price of a haircut, and that was frowned upon. At the same time, most of us expect to haggle over the price of a car when we are in the showroom. Abraham may have lived in a time and culture where haggling was part and parcel of life, so haggling with God may not have seemed such a big thing to do. What do you think God intended to do before Abraham started trying to beat God down over how many people righteous people had to live in Sodom and Gomorrah before divine destruction was averted? Did there have to be fifty or were ten enough, even without Abraham’s intervention? How you answer that question depends on how you perceive God in the first place – easily annoyed and bloodthirsty, ever ready to forgive no matter what the circumstances, or something in-between. Presumably Abraham understood God to be more to the forgiving end of the scale, otherwise he would not have dared to bargain with God in the first place: ‘Oh do not let my lord be angry if I speak just once more …’ (Genesis 18:32) And here Abraham serves as role model in our dealings with God.
The prayer space is available in the church for your personal prayers on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. Simply write your prayer and add it to the tree.
Saint Columba’s is running a family fun day at the church, featuring a wide range of fun activities, accompanied by refreshments.