30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #15: Sunday 28th June 2020
From the Minister
Take a look at the image of the stain glassed window. It shows Jesus walking on the water and Peter about to step out of the boat to join him, though he soon begins to sink. (Matthew 14:22-33) Is Peter’s jumping from the boat an example of faith to follow or foolishness to avoid? I’m never quite sure. As lockdown regulations loosen and change, we have decisions to make, as individuals and as a church, being faithful but avoiding foolishness. That’s worrying. Move the focus back from Peter to Jesus, and the message is, ‘Take heart … do not be afraid.’ (14:27)
Trevor
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
In these perplexing times,
In all I think and say and do,
Keep me faithful,
And save me from unnecessary foolishness.
Amen.
The upstairs southeast window at St Columba’s United Reformed Church, North Shields (Photo by KA).
St Columba’s URC – Worship on Sunday July 5th at 10.30 a.m.
We will be worshipping together online, including holding a virtual communion, on Sunday July 5th at 10.30 a.m. We will use Zoom software that enables those who have internet to see and hear what’s happening. Those who do not have internet will be able to dial in to a local-rate telephone number to hear the worship.
If you are uncertain about how to link up with the service, online or by phone, we have a practice session on Friday 3rd July, 10.00 – 11.00 a.m., hosted by Mathew Hall. To join, when the time comes click here.
Sacrifice of Isaac, by Adi Holzer, 1997 For a sermon by Trevor Jamison, responding to the Genesis reading, which features the possible sacrifice of Isaac, by his father, Abraham, go here.
Reflection on the Readings
‘For the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23a) has a certain ring to it, though in my mind it conjures up images of pulpit-thumping, hellfire, sermons that seem to belong to a previous era, not to twenty-first century preaching. Maybe we don’t take ‘sin’ seriously enough, misunderstanding or misrepresenting it as only about individual rule-breaking, so enabling us to ignore it. ‘Sin’, as a description of a condition which so distorts our individual and communal lives as to cause suffering (and death) to ourselves and others, needs to be taken seriously. But taking sin seriously also means never uncoupling talk about it from the declaration that ‘God’s free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ deals with it. (6:23b)
For further reflections and prayers relating to these readings, click here.
St Columba’s Coffee and Conversation – Saturdays at
10.00 a.m.
Join the conversation on the day by clicking here.
Meeting ID: 859 3129 9698, Password: 874010
To join by telephone, dial this local rate number: 0203 051 2874
A thirty-minute opportunity for prayer together and hand it all to God, including learning a shared signed-response to some prayers.
For further information, contact Charlene Clark charleneclark@hotmail.co.uk
To join, when the time comes click here.
Meeting ID: 883 5396 7400 Password: 194003
Columba Conversations – from Thursday 2nd July
at 7.15 p.m.
Third in a series of six weekly, relaxed conversations, led by Trevor Jamison, to (re)explore things we’re taught as children and might believe as adults. This week: The Life and Ministry of Jesus.
Meetings will be one hour long. To join the meeting, click on the link or telephone in.
If you can’t join in, don’t hesitate to contact Trevor to request a copy of the handout relating to the meeting
Trevor Tweets
Trevor Jamison contributed the reflection to the Synod Weekly Newsletter for 19th June. You can find that here.
Keeping in Touch
We will keep in touch with each other. Elders will have a list of members and friends to contact each week, both to provide information and to ensure that people are safe and well. You can contact your designated Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
From the Minister
Sacrifice of Isaac, by 