30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #243 – Sunday 30th March 2025
Hello again everyone, from John.
Outside it is a lovely sunny day, I have just had a walk along the seafront at Cullercoats and there were a lot of people out and about, walking, cycling, motoring and just admiring the view over the peaceful seascape. There was still that sharp chill wind which seems to be a permanent feature of our coast in recent years. It is good to be outside on a day like this, seeing God’s creation around us, even if Man has changed it somewhat over the years. All that is happening around us in the world should not spoil our pleasure in our surroundings, we should be grateful for what we have and try to find ways that we can improve the life of those who are not so lucky, there is plenty of scope for us there! Of course, the best thing to share is the story of Easter, of the Gethsemane Garden, the Cross and the Resurrection, and it will be here soon.
If the weather is as good as today, the seafront will be heaving with trippers, how can we share the Good News of Easter with them?
Prayer
Father God, we thank you for your beautiful creation which is with us all day, every day, even if we don’t always appreciate it. You clothed this planet so wonderfully and completely; all we need is available to us when we share in love with each other. Just as is Jesus, our Saviour, your Son. Amen.
Worship SUNDAY 30th March 2025
10.30am. led by our Worship Team, focusing on Mothering Sunday. 6.30 pm. led by John Drew
Livestream of morning services from Saint Columba’s
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
Joshua 5:9-12 – The Israelites were at last able to eat from the harvest in the Promised Land, so God’s manna was not needed any more.
Psalm 32: 1- 6 – The Psalmist proclaims, confession of your sins restores your connection with God’s love and care for you.
2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 – As Christians, we are a new creation in Christ, and are reconciled to God.
St. Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 – How a young man tried going his own way and ended up returning to his family in shame.
Reflection on the Readings
Preparing a reflection to follow the Lectionary can be quite challenging at times, the readings do not always fit together at first reading and a lot of care and research might be required to achieve a useful service. Fortunately, that is not the case this time, I hope! Let’s see where we are led by these words.
Joshua, (Yahweh is salvation), was Moses’s personal assistant, his right-hand man, and took over from Moses on the entry into Canaan. The Israelites have now been in the country long enough to find crops to eat, they have arrived in the Promised Land as promised by God, so He stopped feeding them the manna they had received during their wandering in the desert. The Psalm, one of David’s, proclaims that when God has forgiven our sins we are greatly blessed, but when we refuse to acknowledge our sins, we suffer mentally. Therefore we should praise God and pray to Him, not hide from Him but wrap ourselves in His protection. He will guide us and take care of us. Trust His leadership and rejoice, singing His praises. If we turn to Luke’s gospel now, it is that well known parable of the Prodigal son. How many sermons have we heard on this passage? In its simplest form, Jesus is telling us not to turn our backs on our Father God but when we stop trying to do our own thing, thinking we know best, and start relying on and listening to Him, our relationship is greatly improved. Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthian Church reminds us that as Christians we should not look at people through our human eyes but consider how they might look to God, who created them. V17,” if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come”. When we confess our sins to God we are reconciled to Him because of Christ’s sacrifice. Because Jesus had no sin he was able to take all our sins, old, new and future ones, to His cross and receive for us God’s reconciliation, His righteousness. Did He die in vain for us?
It seems to me that there are probably many people in a severe mental state nowadays because they are in denial of their sins. We are floundering under the pressure of poor mental health in the population, of all ages. It has never been so bad. Is it all a result of the Covid experience? I doubt it. I wonder if we have confessed all our sins to our Maker. I hope I have but I might have forgotten some.
An Appeal for Help! Does anyone know where the missing roller blind has gone to out of the Lishman Hall? Please have a word with Peter Matthew if you have any information.
Prayer Space for Lent – Open Every Tuesday and Sunday
During Lent the church will be open every Tuesday, 10.30 am–1.30 pm to allow for quiet reflection and prayer. A prayer table and seating at the front of the church is available for anyone to use. The space will also be available before and after each Sunday morning service.
There is a different theme each week. Week 4: “Growth (in faith)”, featuring a vase of sprouting branches, readings and a prayer. Photo by LM
“The Whole Easter Story” – Lent Conversations
Six discussion group sessions for Lent, taking place on Thursday evenings at St Columba’s URC, then repeated on the following Mondays at 2.00 p.m. at St Andrew’s URC, Monkseaton, and 7.15 pm. that night on Zoom. Click here to join Zoom.
Church Meeting Minutes are attached to the email version of the Weekly Update for your information, and thanks to Lisa for taking them for us.
Church Eco Team Recycling Request
In a recent Synod Newsletter an article appeared detailing the recycling that St James’s URC, Newcastle is undertaking. Our Eco Team has given some thought to the ideas and items that can be recycled (independently of the normal recycling bin). Click here to read the article and share any thoughts and ideas you may have with members of our Eco Team.
Next Update – Sunday 6th April
Trevor will edit the next Update. To get your information in for that date, please have it with him by Tuesday 1st April.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
Outside it is a lovely sunny day, I have just had a walk along the seafront at Cullercoats and there were a lot of people out and about, walking, cycling, motoring and just admiring the view over the peaceful seascape. There was still that sharp chill wind which seems to be a permanent feature of our coast in recent years. It is good to be outside on a day like this, seeing God’s creation around us, even if Man has changed it somewhat over the years. All that is happening around us in the world should not spoil our pleasure in our surroundings, we should be grateful for what we have and try to find ways that we can improve the life of those who are not so lucky, there is plenty of scope for us there! Of course, the best thing to share is the story of Easter, of the Gethsemane Garden, the Cross and the Resurrection, and it will be here soon. 
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
During Lent the church will be open every Tuesday, 10.30 am–1.30 pm to allow for quiet reflection and prayer. A prayer table and seating at the front of the church is available for anyone to use. The space will also be available before and after each Sunday morning service.
