30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #232 – 12th January 2025
From the Minister Happy New Year! So when do you stop wishing people a “happy new year”? When does the year stop being new? On the 6th of January, when many people returned to work after a long break, they will have greeted their fellow workers in this way. Then there are those we don’t see every week. If I see someone for the first time in 2025 this coming week is it too late to wish them a happy new year? I think I can get away with it (just about) up until the end of the month. After that we’ll just have to wish for others happiness throughout the year, without attaching “new” to the “year”. John Vockler (see the prayer for the new year below) suggested that we desire peace, faith and love for others, and ask God for the will to translate these desires into actions. That seems like a good way to spend the year.Trevor Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Prayer
For all the possibilities ahead in this new year make us thankful, O Lord. Give us wisdom, courage and discernment to see how in our circumstances we can contribute to peace, faith and love. And give us the will to translate our desires into actions. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by John Charles Vockler)
Worship Sunday 12th January
10.30 a.m. Communion Service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison – the Baptism of Jesus.
Livestreamed Worship from Saint Columba’s
Livestreaming has been stopped for the time being as we have problems with the internet provision. We hope to resume shortly. Past services can be viewed.
10.30 a.m. Service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison – Jesus turns water into wine. A Church Meeting will follow this service – agenda and minutes will follow soon.
Bible readingsIsaiah 43:1-7 God accompanies people through dangerous waters
Psalm 29 ‘The voice of the LORD is over the waters’
Acts 8:14-17 Baptised in the Spirit as well as in water
Luke 13:15-17, 21-22 Jesus is baptised and the Spirit descends on him
Reflection on the Readings ‘Now when all the people werebaptised and when Jesus also had been baptised.’ (Luke 3:21) John the Baptist proclaimed a ‘baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ (3:3) Jesus didn’t require that but decided to get baptised alongside others anyway. It was an act of solidarity. In that sense Jesus was one among many, one among all. At the same time, though, Jesus was unlike anyone else. It was he to whom John pointed, saying that he would offer a baptism ‘with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’ (3:16) It was he upon whom the Holy Spirit descended, with the voice from heaven (God) declaring, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved.’ (3:22) We depend upon Jesus being one like us, so that we can understand what God is really like. We also depend upon him not being like us, so that he has the power us in our shared human weakness. Image: ‘Baptism of Jesus’ Liz Valente, https://www.instagram.com/donalizvalente/
A hymn that responds to the readings
“Christ is our light, the bright and morning star” references the light of epiphany, the baptism of Jesus, and the turning of water into wine. This version features an outdoors keyboard player, a solo singer, a bagpiper, and a lively dog in the background! click here to listen.
News and Notices Café 2-21 closed on 14th January but will resume weekly opening from the 21st
Appointment of new Church Treasurer
Church Meeting has agreed the appointment of Pete Morrell as Church Treasurer with effect from 1st January 2025 (Keith Armstrong continues as Assistant Church Treasurer until the 2025 Annual General Meeting).
Please note that any invoices, claims for expenses incurred on behalf of the church, indeed any issues relating to financial matters should now be directed to Peter Matthew or Gordon Atkinson, and not to Keith Armstrong.
Posada Journey – responses from the hosts
To see how people responded to hosting Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem: view the slideshow that is showing before the Sunday morning service, and have a look at the pictures and comments in the books at the front of the church.
Next Update – Sunday 19th January 2025
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 14th January.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
So when do you stop wishing people a “happy new year”? When does the year stop being new? On the 6th of January, when many people returned to work after a long break, they will have greeted their fellow workers in this way. Then there are those we don’t see every week. If I see someone for the first time in 2025 this coming week is it too late to wish them a happy new year? I think I can get away with it (just about) up until the end of the month. After that we’ll just have to wish for others happiness throughout the year, without attaching “new” to the “year”. John Vockler (see the prayer for the new year below) suggested that we desire peace, faith and love for others, and ask God for the will to translate these desires into actions. That seems like a good way to spend the year.Trevor 
Livestreaming has been stopped for the time being as we have problems with the internet provision. We hope to resume shortly. Past services can be viewed.
‘Now when all the people were baptised and when Jesus also had been baptised.’ (Luke 3:21) John the Baptist proclaimed a ‘baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ (3:3) Jesus didn’t require that but decided to get baptised alongside others anyway. It was an act of solidarity. In that sense Jesus was one among many, one among all. At the same time, though, Jesus was unlike anyone else. It was he to whom John pointed, saying that he would offer a baptism ‘with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’ (3:16) It was he upon whom the Holy Spirit descended, with the voice from heaven (God) declaring, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved.’ (3:22) We depend upon Jesus being one like us, so that we can understand what God is really like. We also depend upon him not being like us, so that he has the power us in our shared human weakness.