30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update # 214 – 4th August 2024
From the Minister Thank You For The Music!
Not to be morbid, but last Sunday evening we had a service at Saint Columba’s which featured hymns which had been sung at the funerals of my father and my father-in-law. The first hymn on the night was ‘I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath,’ written by Isaac Watts. That was the choice of someone who grew up as a Congregationalist, was a missionary overseas, then a URC minister. The closing hymn on Sunday evening was ‘Will Your Anchor Hold In the Storms of Life.’ This was an appropriate choice (perhaps the only appropriate choice !)for someone who had been a member and leader in the Boys’ Brigade for most of his lifetime (I did not really need to look at the words on screen in order to be able to sing the hymn). I wonder what hymn you would choose to have sung at your funeral, and what your choice might say about you. Maybe we could have a Songs of Praise style service some time where people get to choose their favourite funeral hymns – or maybe not., though it would be different! Of course we don’t have to spend all our time thinking about funerals. There are all sorts of occasions for which we might choose a hymn – birth of a child, weddings, a safely gathered harvest, Christmas and Easter for example. Sometimes we choose a hymn simply because we like the tune. At other times it can be about our mood, whether sad or happy. It might be about memories of singing that song all together. Whatever the reason for choosing a hymn, it’s good to pause for a moment and ask, “Now why did I choose that one?”
Trevor (By the way, if there are hymns you do want sung at church, or even at your funeral, even if you think that day is far off, it’s good to let someone know now. It increases the chances of your wishes being coming true.)
Image from Pixabay
Prayer
O God, thank you for the music; for composers and lyricists; for hymns, and psalms and spiritual songs; for the opportunity to sing, both at times of sadness and of joy.
Amen.
Worship Sunday 4th August
10.30 a.m. “Why doesn’t God intervene to make things better?” The third in a series of five Sunday morning services, led by Trevor Jamison, addressing “big questions”, and with an opportunity for those who wish to do so to chat about it together after the service.
Worship Sunday 4th August 6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields service at St Augustin’s Church, Jackson Street, North Shields. Join with others for another of these popular summer evening services. (Note that it starts at 6.00 p.m., not 6.30 p.m.!.)
10.30 a.m. “Why is Church irrelevant as far as so many people are concerned. and what should we do about it?” The fourth in a series of five Sunday morning services, led by Trevor Jamison, addressing “big questions”, and with an opportunity for those who wish to do so to chat about it together after the service.
Also at this service we look forward to meeting and welcoming Irene Frith, our Synod Pioneer Worker, who will be working with St Columba’s, North Shields and St Andrew’s, Monkseaton, to strengthen our connections with local children, young people and families.
CTNS Summer Evening Worship Sunday 11th August 6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at St Hilda’s Church, Stanton Road, North Shields.
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 A grumbling people are fed by God
Psalm 78:23-29 God rained down manna from heaven
Ephesians 4:1-16 Maintaining unity of faith
John 6:1-21 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life’
Reflection on the Readings
In our Exodus reading the Israelites were grumbling. (16:2) They did that a lot. Things, they said, were much better in the good old days, though in reality, the good old days included being enslaved, not free. True, currently they were experiencing hard times. Food was in short supply in the wilderness where they were. (16:3) They vented their anger against Moses and Aaron, but really their target was God. Moses spoke to God, but God had already heard the grumbling (16:12) and was ready to respond. Instead of raining down fire and brimstone, however, God rains food down upon the Israelites – bread (manna) and quails. (16:13-15) This event is memorialised in in psalm 78, and alluded to by Jesus. He points out that it is God who provides what we need to flourish (6:32) Today, we might wonder why God has brought the Church in this land to where it is, in comparison with the good old days of the past. Exodus 16 reminds us that the good old days were not always as good as we would have ourselves believe. And God raining bread, not fire, reminds us about God’s love and generosity, and that the next good thing that God chooses to do for us might be rather different what we expect or hope for.
Our next Bible conversation about 1 John takes on Monday 5th August, in-person at St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton at 2.00 p.m. and then again on Zoom at 7.15 p.m. It is then repeated in-person at St Columba’s on Thursday 8th August at 7.15 p.m. No previous knowledge of 1 John is required. Come along and bring and friend.
The next Granny’s Attic Sale is on Saturday 10th August, 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Any contributions you have for the sale will be gratefully accepted by Norma as soon as possible.
90 Days of John – an invitation to join in reading the Gospel together
Starting on 26th August, the URC North West and Central Newcastle pastorate are spending ninety days reading through John’s Gospel. Other churches and individuals across Northern Synod are joining in with them, and you can too!
To find out more, to download the reading schedule and further information, Click Here
Not to be morbid, but last Sunday evening we had a service at Saint Columba’s which featured hymns which had been sung at the funerals of my father and my father-in-law. The first hymn on the night was ‘I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath,’ written by Isaac Watts. That was the choice of someone who grew up as a Congregationalist, was a missionary overseas, then a URC minister. The closing hymn on Sunday evening was ‘Will Your Anchor Hold In the Storms of Life.’ This was an appropriate choice (perhaps the only appropriate choice !)for someone who had been a member and leader in the Boys’ Brigade for most of his lifetime (I did not really need to look at the words on screen in order to be able to sing the hymn). I wonder what hymn you would choose to have sung at your funeral, and what your choice might say about you. Maybe we could have a Songs of Praise style service some time where people get to choose their favourite funeral hymns – or maybe not., though it would be different! Of course we don’t have to spend all our time thinking about funerals. There are all sorts of occasions for which we might choose a hymn – birth of a child, weddings, a safely gathered harvest, Christmas and Easter for example. Sometimes we choose a hymn simply because we like the tune. At other times it can be about our mood, whether sad or happy. It might be about memories of singing that song all together. Whatever the reason for choosing a hymn, it’s good to pause for a moment and ask, “Now why did I choose that one?”
6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields service at St Augustin’s Church, Jackson Street, North Shields. Join with others for another of these popular summer evening services.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
