30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #244 – Sunday 6th April 2025
From the Minister – Journeying through Lent – Companionship
The measure of your faith is not who you will feed but who you will eat with.” That’s a saying attributed to the writer and preacher, Fred Craddock (1928-2015). I still think that being willing to feed others is a good measure of one’s faith, but I can see what he is getting at; doing something with someone rather than for someone one implies a closer relationship, an indication of something equally shared. This week’s theme for our Lent prayer space (see below) is “companionship”, a word whose origin is in sharing bread together (com-panis). One of the remarkable things about Jesus was that in a society where status was important he shared bread / ate with everyone. He accepted hospitality at the homes of all sorts of people, both the most respected and the least popular. On one occasion he even provided the bread for a whole crowd of people to eat together. If you want to know how God regards you, just ponder on the fact that in Jesus God is ever-ready and willing to share bread with you.
10.30amA communion service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
Bible readings
Isaiah 43:16-21 Focus more on God’s new thing than upon the past
Psalm 126 God changes times of weeping into times of joy
Philippians 3:4b-11 Knowing Christ puts other things in their proper place in life
John 12:1-8 Mary anoints Jesus in anticipation of his death and burial
Reflection on the Readings
‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ asks Judas Iscariot (John 12:5), when Mary anoints Jesus with ‘costly perfume.’ (12:3) A denarius was what a manual worker was paid for one day’s labour. In the UK today the National Living Wage hourly rate is £11.44, so if you multiply that by eight to get a day’s wage, then by three hundred, you arrive at £27,456, which would be a lot to spend on perfume, never mind using it all in one go. Why use it on Jesus’s feet (12:3) rather than for the benefit of the poor? Oscar Wilde, in his play, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” has a character define a cynic as someone “who knows the price of everything and the value of northing.” Some things are difficult or impossible to value in terms of numbers, and loving Jesus falls into that category. Would I lavish something so financially valuable upon Jesus? Probably not, but that says something about me, more than it says something about Mary, I fear. Those who possess one highly valuable item often have others as well, which could be lavished on the poor. It doesn’t have to be either devotion to Jesus or care for the poor; it can be both. And in any case, I wonder how much Judas spent of what he had on helping the poor, never mind how he would demonstrate his own devotion to Jesus.
A song that responds to the readings “Those who sow weeping will go out with songs of joy” – a beautiful song based upon Psalm 126
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 5: “Com-panionship” (those who eat bread together) –featuring a cup of wine and a plate of bread, a reading (John 12:1-8 and a prayer. Photo by CC
“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.
Curry and Quiz tickets now on sale
Tickets will be on sale from Sunday for the Curry and Quiz lunch on Saturday 3rd May at 1.00 pm.
Church Meeting Minutes – accessible this time!
The minutes of the most recent Church Meeting which were sent out with last week’s Update could not be opened – apologies for that. Please find the minutes (which we’ve also taken the opportunity to amend) attached to the email version of this week’s Update.
Was lost but now is found …
In a previous Update there was an appeal for information about a window blind which was missing from the the Lishman Hall. Happy to report that what was lost has now been found!
Next Update – Sunday 13th April
Trevor will edit the next Update. To get your information in for that date, please have it with him by Tuesday 8th April.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
The measure of your faith is not who you will feed but who you will eat with.” That’s a saying attributed to the writer and preacher, Fred Craddock (1928-2015). I still think that being willing to feed others is a good measure of one’s faith, but I can see what he is getting at; doing something with someone rather than for someone one implies a closer relationship, an indication of something equally shared. This week’s theme for our Lent prayer space (see below) is “companionship”, a word whose origin is in sharing bread together (com-panis). One of the remarkable things about Jesus was that in a society where status was important he shared bread / ate with everyone. He accepted hospitality at the homes of all sorts of people, both the most respected and the least popular. On one occasion he even provided the bread for a whole crowd of people to eat together. If you want to know how God regards you, just ponder on the fact that in Jesus God is ever-ready and willing to share bread with you.
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.