30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #233 – 19th January 2025
From the Minister When All Is Lost
I’m most of the way through watching “The Lincoln Lawyer”, a murder mystery and court room drama series currently available on Netflix. It’s set in Los Angeles, with the murder victims being found at the luxury beachside home of the multimillionaire accused. The house is luxurious, filled with art works; it’s a series of architectural glass boxes, towering over the swimming pool and looking out across the Pacific. As I have been watching the series, though, I’ve been distracted by the thought the house where they were filming may no longer be there, nor the ones adjacent to it. The same homes may be some of the smoking ruins I have also seen in recent days, this time as part of the news reports of widespread, destructive fires in and around Los Angeles. Wealth, and the trappings that go with it, often seem to insulate the rich from the sufferings experienced by those less well off. On this occasion, though, fires seem to have been somewhat democratic in their destructive effects. It’s sobering to contemplate how I might respond if my home and possessions went up in flames one day. I hope I would be able to be like some of those who have been interviewed, able to be thankful for lives spared in the midst of possessions lost. I hope there would be people here to comfort and help me in such a difficult time.
O God, you bring hope out of emptiness, energy out of fear, new life out of grief and loss. Comfort all who have lost their homes and the things they hold most dear. Give to them security, a place to live, and those they can trust for help in their time of need.
Amen. Based on a Christian Aid prayer written by Janet Morley
Worship Sunday 19th January
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 were sent in a separate mailout.
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. Service led by the Revd Richard Firth from the Methodist Church
Bible readingsIsaiah 62:1-5 God and people are like a married couple
Psalm 36:5-10 The extent of God’s love and righteousness
1 Cor. 12:1-11 Many gifts, but one Spirit
John 2:1-11 Jesus turns water to wine (loads of it)
Reflection on the Readings
‘There were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.’ (John 2:6) One hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty gallons equates to four hundred and fifty to six hundred and eighty litres of liquid. That, in turn, would fill three hundred and fifty to five hundred wine bottles. If Jesus turned water to wine on a ration of one-to-one that’s an awful lot of wine! And it wasn’t any old plonk either. The person in charge of the wedding feast commented that ‘you have kept the good wine until now.’ (2:10) Anyone would be impressed by the ability to turn water into wine, but there was more to it than that. In his Gospel John says that this was the first of a series of signs from Jesus and that as a result of it ‘his disciples believed in him.’ (2:11) Why? What did it signify? It showed that Jesus possessed God’s power to create and change the material world. Not only that, but that what God provides for us is good, and it is given with massive generosity; all we could need and more besides. These are good grounds for belief and for celebration, for those disciples and for us.
‘There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit’ (1 Cor. 12: 4) ‘Join us in one spirit, join’ – from the hymn, “Christ, from whom all blessings flow.”
We will be having a discussion series, responding to what Saint Paul wrote to one congregation about what’s involved in being a church. Monday evenings at 7.15 p.m. on Zoom, and on Thursday evenings at 7.15 p.m. at St Columba’s URC. Led by Trevor Jamison and Louise Sanders, these are conversational meetings and open to anyone from any church (or none) who wishes to come along to take part.
MondayThursday
27 Jan 30 Jan. Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-11)
3 Feb 6 Feb One Body, Many Parts (12:12-31)
10 Feb 13 Feb Faith, Hope and Love (13:1-13)
17 Feb 20 Feb The Resurrection of Christ (15:1-11)
24 Feb 27 Feb The Resurrection of the Dead (15:12-20)
We have received news of the deaths of Cath Bell and Joyce Lothian, both previously having been part of the life of the Saint Columba’s congregation. Our sympathies go to their families and friends.
Next Update – Sunday 26th January 2025
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 21st January.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.