30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #216 – 18th August 2024
From the Minister Eat to Live or Live to Eat?
Do you eat to live or live to eat? That question is on my mind this week because the Bible lectionary readings (see below) all feature food and drink in one way or another. Few of us simply eat to live or live to eat. If you prefer one food over another then you can’t be quite at the end of the scale where ‘only eat to live’ is located. That said, I remember one woman who was regarded as the world’s greatest baker for church events. She told me, “as far as eating it goes, it’s just fuel as far as I’m concerned.” At the other end of the scale, if someone lives to eat we get concerned about their health and welfare. Happily, the great majority of us are somewhere between the two extremes, though in a society when we are presented with adverts featuring mountains of food and invited to “Just Eat”, society-wide health problems are never far away. Churches which offer their members and others the opportunity to enjoy food and drink together, are onto something though, sharing and celebrating God’s gifts to all.
Trevor will be on away a reading week from Thursday 22nd August, then on holiday for two weeks (which might feature interesting food and drink), returning on Sunday 15th September. Please contact the Church Secretary concerning issues which are both significant and urgent during this time.
Prayer
Blessed are you, O God, Sovereign over the universe, for you give us food to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Amen
(Episcopal Church of the USA – altered)
Worship Sunday 18th August
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.
Livestreamed Worship from Saint Columba’s
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at Church of the Holy Saviour, Tynemouth. An opportunity to experience worship together along with other North Shields Christians in these popular joint services.
Sunday 25th August
10.30 a.m. A service led by the Revd Dr David Whiting, retired URC minister from Sunderland.
No evening service at St Columba’s on 25th August
Having enjoyed three evening services already in August, we’re taking a break from our last-Sunday-of the-month evening services at St Columba’s, but we’ll be back with a harvest-themed evening service, led by Trevor Jamison on 29th September at 6.30 p.m.
Bible readings
Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom issues an invitation to dine at her house
Psalm 111 God, the provider of our food
Ephesians 5:15-20 Wise people fill up with the Spirit, not with too much wine
John 6:51-58 Christ is the true food and drink
Reflection on the Readings
It’s “Food and Drink Week” as far as the Bible readings are concerned. In Proverbs, divine Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who invites those in need to dine at her house. (9:2) The psalm, in extolling God’s ‘wonderful deeds’ (111:4), includes that ‘he provides food for those who fear him.’ (111:5) In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, the congregation are warned not to get drunk with wine (interesting that he felt he had to tell them that!), but rather to ‘be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ (5:18) In John’s Gospel, in terms some may find shocking, Jesus declares ‘my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink [and] those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.’ (6:56, 57) Eating and drinking are universal activities. Ultimately, we depend on God for to be able to eat and drink, and we depend upon that food and drink in order to live. That makes dining a powerful metaphor for receiving God’s wisdom, God’s Spirit, or God’s Son. It’s also true about how our bodies depend on God-given material food and drink.
Image of bread and wine (anonymous, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Social Events Team thanks everyone who supported the Granny’s Attic sale on Saturday 10th August. We raised £455 for church funds.
1 John Bible Conversations – session 5
Our final Bible conversation about 1 John takes place on Monday 19th 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 22nd August at 7.15 p.m. No previous knowledge of 1 John is required. Come along and bring and friend. To join the Zoom meeting, click here.
Church Garden
Louise lovingly tends our church garden. We are looking for a small number of people to join a Garden Team, along with Louise, for some upcoming jobs in the garden. Please contact Louise if you are interested.
Flowers
It is hoped to strew the railings outside the church building with take away crafted flowers, which include a prayer card, during September, the Season of Creation. If you would like to knit, crochet or sew a few flowers for this, please pass them on to Liz M via the box at the back of church, labelled “Flowers for Railings”. They can be any size, colour and design. If you require a knitting pattern for a simple flower, here are some instructions. Thank you in advance.
Photo by LM.
Season of Creation worship during September
September is the “Season of Creation” a period when churches around the world focus on thanking God for creation, and looking at the best ways in which we can look after the world. This will be reflected in our worship during September:
1st The Goodness of Creation Led by Church Members
8th All Creation’s Worship Led by Mrs Liz Morrell
15th Environmental Challenges Led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
22nd Nature and Humanity Led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
29th Harvest service Led by Dr Andrew Graydon Evening harvest reflection Led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
Do you eat to live or live to eat? That question is on my mind this week because the Bible lectionary readings (see below) all feature food and drink in one way or another. Few of us simply eat to live or live to eat. If you prefer one food over another then you can’t be quite at the end of the scale where ‘only eat to live’ is located. That said, I remember one woman who was regarded as the world’s greatest baker for church events. She told me, “as far as eating it goes, it’s just fuel as far as I’m concerned.” At the other end of the scale, if someone lives to eat we get concerned about their health and welfare. Happily, the great majority of us are somewhere between the two extremes, though in a society when we are presented with adverts featuring mountains of food and invited to “Just Eat”, society-wide health problems are never far away. Churches which offer their members and others the opportunity to enjoy food and drink together, are onto something though, sharing and celebrating God’s gifts to all.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
6.00 p.m. Churches Together in North Shields evening service at Church of the Holy Saviour, Tynemouth. An opportunity to experience worship together along with other North Shields Christians in these popular joint services.
It’s “Food and Drink Week” as far as the Bible readings are concerned. In Proverbs, divine Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who invites those in need to dine at her house. (9:2) The psalm, in extolling God’s ‘wonderful deeds’ (111:4), includes that ‘he provides food for those who fear him.’ (111:5) In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, the congregation are warned not to get drunk with wine (interesting that he felt he had to tell them that!), but rather to ‘be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ (5:18) In John’s Gospel, in terms some may find shocking, Jesus declares ‘my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink [and] those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.’ (6:56, 57) Eating and drinking are universal activities. Ultimately, we depend on God for to be able to eat and drink, and we depend upon that food and drink in order to live. That makes dining a powerful metaphor for receiving God’s wisdom, God’s Spirit, or God’s Son. It’s also true about how our bodies depend on God-given material food and drink.
Weekly Update goes on holiday
It is hoped to strew the railings outside the church building with take away crafted flowers, which include a prayer card, during September, the Season of Creation. If you would like to knit, crochet or sew a few flowers for this, please pass them on to Liz M via the box at the back of church, labelled “Flowers for Railings”. They can be any size, colour and design. If you require a knitting pattern for a simple flower, here are some 
September is the “Season of Creation” a period when churches around the world focus on thanking God for creation, and looking at the best ways in which we can look after the world. This will be reflected in our worship during September: