30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #176 29th October 2023
From the Minister Good Neighbours
Recently, one member of a group of British MPs on an official trip to Canada was stopped and questioned before being allowed to board his flight alongside his parliamentary colleagues. Airline staff (and possibly Canadian government officials) wanted to know if he was carrying a weapon, and where he was born. The MP’s name is Mohammad Yasin. Meanwhile, according to the news agency, Reuters, between October 1 and 18 this year, the Metropolitan Police recorded 218 antisemitic incidents in London, compared to 15 in the same period in 2022. Jesus, developing what was said in Jewish scriptures (see the bible readings for this week, below), said that there are two great commandments: ‘love your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ and ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Recent events demonstrate how hard this is to do when people have had suffering inflicted upon them, or when they collude with traditional cultural prejudices. We Christians will get a better hearing for what Jesus has to say about love for neighbours when we are seen to practise it towards our religious neighbours, whether they be Jewish, Muslim, or from another faith; and it won’t do any harm when we do the same for those neighbours who neither claim nor practice any religious faith. Trevor
PrayerLead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe. Satish Kumar (1936 -)
Adopted from the Hindu Upanishads, c. 9th Century (R&S 627)
WorshipSunday 29th October Don’t forget! The clocks go back one hour this weekend!
10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison on ‘God’s love, God’s law, and our neighbours.’
This service will be followed immediately by a short, one-item Church Meeting.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services, click here
6.30 p.m. Our monthly evening service at church, led by Dr Ann Sinclair, from Saint Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton.
Next Week Sunday 5th November
10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Richard Firth, from Hawkey’s Lane Methodist Church
Bible readings for this week Bible readings for this week
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
Psalm 1 Delight in God’s law, not in wickedness
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Sharing both God and ourselves with others
Matthew 22:34-46 ‘Which commandment in the law is the greatest?’
Reflection on the Readings
‘So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.’ (1 Thess. 2:8) Paul is looking back to the time when he and Silas (perhaps with Timothy) first came to Thessaloniki. They shared the good news about Jesus with the people who lived there,(Acts 17) and some were persuaded to join in with the Jesus movement. Now Paul is writing to them, asking them to ask themselves why they responded positively on that occasion. In part, they responded to the message which was conveyed to them in words – ‘the gospel of God’ – but it was also about Paul and the others sharing ‘their own selves.’ If we expect others to join in with the Jesus movement today we need to tell them the gospel / good news in words. We also need to demonstrate it in our character and actions. It’s a case of both/and, though, not either/or.
A hymn that responds to the readings
‘Go forth and tell! O Church of God, awake! …. Proclaim Christ Jesus, Saviour, Lord and King … live out your life as Christ your Lord shall choose.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2kvft8QkiQ
News and NoticesMargaret Armstrong – funeral service
On Friday 10th November at 2.30 p.m., at Saint Columba’s, there will be a service of thanksgiving for Margaret’s life, led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison. This service will also be livestreamed https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUpnpWwUxPI3tTH7FRMXMCQ
Granny’s Attic Sale
Our Autumn ‘Granny’s Attic’ sale takes place on Saturday 4th November. Donations for sale will be received at church on Friday 3rd November, 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. They are also welcome at other times by arrangement: please contact Norma.
Poppies Available at the Church
For your information, Royal British Legion poppies are now available for purchase at the church.
Image: Royal British Legion
Carol Service Planning Meeting – Monday 13th November
On Monday 13th November we will have a meeting to plan for our Christmas Eve Carol Service, and for how we will publicise our Christmas services this year. This is an open meeting, so if you want to take part just come along to the church on the night. If you can’t be there but have thoughts or suggestions, please contact Trevor Jamison to let him know what they are.
Next Update – Sunday 5th November
Andrew Atkinson will edit the next Update. To get your information in the 5th November edition please have it with him by Tuesday 31st October.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
Recently, one member of a group of British MPs on an official trip to Canada was stopped and questioned before being allowed to board his flight alongside his parliamentary colleagues. Airline staff (and possibly Canadian government officials) wanted to know if he was carrying a weapon, and where he was born. The MP’s name is Mohammad Yasin. Meanwhile, according to the news agency, Reuters, between October 1 and 18 this year, the Metropolitan Police recorded 218 antisemitic incidents in London, compared to 15 in the same period in 2022. Jesus, developing what was said in Jewish scriptures (see the bible readings for this week, below), said that there are two great commandments: ‘love your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ and ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Recent events demonstrate how hard this is to do when people have had suffering inflicted upon them, or when they collude with traditional cultural prejudices. We Christians will get a better hearing for what Jesus has to say about love for neighbours when we are seen to practise it towards our religious neighbours, whether they be Jewish, Muslim, or from another faith; and it won’t do any harm when we do the same for those neighbours who neither claim nor practice any religious faith.
Don’t forget! The clocks go back one hour this weekend!
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services, click 
For your information, Royal British Legion poppies are now available for purchase at the church.