30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update # 215 – 11th August 2024
From the Minister Being Part of The Group? We are all members of groups, whether these are formal or informal ones. Around here many people would see themselves as Geordies. There are lots of Northumbria car stickers to be seen, some Scottish saltires, and even the occasional Cornish one. Some of us are church members, and there is no shortage of logos for different denominations. Sociologists talk about ‘identity theory’ as a way of understanding how individuals claim a group identity. There’s a cognitive dimension (recognising that you share beliefs, views and experiences), an emotional dimension (how we feel about belonging to a group like this), and an evaluative dimension (how we rate ourselves by belonging to this group in relation to others). This last aspect contains dangers. Experience shows that there’s a strong tendency to look down on ‘the others’. In some cases it leads to discrimination or even violence. In recent days you don’t have to look too far to see how this might work out in practice. You see yourself as part of a group, perhaps one that feels it has grievances. Then you compare yourself to another group and respond with hostility. This might be a partial explanation of recent street violence in parts of the UK, though it’s no excuse for it, especially when all are members of a group called ‘humankind.’ Christians will want to bear that in mind as we relate to other churches, other religions, other nations, and the rest of our fellow human neighbours. Trevor Image: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Prayer O God, Father of all humankind, we beseech you so to inspire the people of this land with the spirit of justice, truth and love, that in all our dealings with one another we may show forth our shared identity as your children. Amen. (Based on a prayer from ‘A Book of Common prayer, South Africa)
Worship Sunday 11th August 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. You can find out more about Irene here.
6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at St Hilda’s Church, Stanton Road, 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.!)
Livestreamed Worship 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. “What happens to us (and others) when we die?” the fifth and final Sunday morning service in a series 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. 6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at Church of the Holy Saviour, Tynemouth
Bible readings
1 Kings 19:4-8 Elijah is given food for his journey.
Psalm 34:1-8 ‘O taste and see that the LORD is good.’
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Put away falsehood and ‘walk in love.’
John 6:35, 41-51 Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life.’
Reflection on the Readings
‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6:35) This one of a series of ‘I am’ sayings in John’s Gospel: ‘I am … the light of the world’ (8:12); ‘the door’ (10:9); ‘the good shepherd’ (10:11, 14); ‘the resurrection and the life’ (11:25); the way and the truth and the life’ (14:6); and ‘the vine’ (15:15). In his conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well you might feel that although Jesus never says, ‘I am the living water’ but he seems to come close to it.(4:1-15) These are strong sayings. Jesus does not say ‘I am like bread’ (or like light, a door, a shepherd, resurrection, a way, or a vine). He says, ‘I am the bread of life.’ Yes, he is speaking metaphorically, but metaphors are very powerful things. They invite us to experience one thing in terms of another, so coming to a deeper appreciation of both. Jesus is basic to our existence. Jesus sustains us and strengthens us in life. He is the bread of life.
A hymn that responds to the readings Jesus the Lord said, “I am the bread, the bread of life for the world am I” a hymn originally in Urdu, but here in English, sung by members of Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, NJ click here
News and Notices
1 John Bible Conversations – session 4
Our next Bible conversation about 1 John takes place on Monday 12th 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 15th August at 7.15 p.m. No previous knowledge of 1 John is required. Come along and bring and friend. To join Zoom Meeting click here
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
We are all members of groups, whether these are formal or informal ones. Around here many people would see themselves as Geordies. There are lots of Northumbria car stickers to be seen, some Scottish saltires, and even the occasional Cornish one. Some of us are church members, and there is no shortage of logos for different denominations. Sociologists talk about ‘identity theory’ as a way of understanding how individuals claim a group identity. There’s a cognitive dimension (recognising that you share beliefs, views and experiences), an emotional dimension (how we feel about belonging to a group like this), and an evaluative dimension (how we rate ourselves by belonging to this group in relation to others). This last aspect contains dangers. Experience shows that there’s a strong tendency to look down on ‘the others’. In some cases it leads to discrimination or even violence. In recent days you don’t have to look too far to see how this might work out in practice. You see yourself as part of a group, perhaps one that feels it has grievances. Then you compare yourself to another group and respond with hostility. This might be a partial explanation of recent street violence in parts of the UK, though it’s no excuse for it, especially when all are members of a group called ‘humankind.’ Christians will want to bear that in mind as we relate to other churches, other religions, other nations, and the rest of our fellow human neighbours.
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. You can find out more about Irene 
6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at St Hilda’s Church, Stanton Road, 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.!)
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
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!