30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #253 – Pentecost – Sunday 8th June 2025
From the Minister Mind Your Language
At my secondary school everyone had to learn French, or at least try to do so. I was not an outstanding linguist. I still remember my teacher exclaiming, “Oh come on, Wilson, even Jamison got that right!” I wonder if I would have been better at Spanish, noting that nowadays more schools in Northern Ireland teach Spanish than French, whilst the numbers offering German have plummeted. Language is important. We need a common language in order to understand each other. Speaking a shared language can bind a people together, but also can be used to identify and exclude those ”others” who do not. It’s notable that the Day of Pentecost, seen by some as the “birthday” of the Church, featured the Spirit-inspired ability to speak many languages (Acts 2:4), including the people of many nations. Nowadays, in our setting, the Church needs some Spirit-inspired ability to speak the language of faith in ways that resonate with those who don’t possess the same vocabulary. That’s a big challenge, but not one that’s any greater than that which faced the first followers of Jesus on Jerusalem all those years ago. À bientôt,
O God, just as your Holy Spirit came in wind and fire at Pentecost, may that same Spirit come to us, breathing life into our souls, kindling love within our hearts, and enabling us to speak to others about Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Based on a prayer by J W G Masterton
Worship Sunday 8th June
10.30 a.m. Pentecost Sunday communion service, led by Trevor Jamison
3.00 pm. Messy Church – intergenerational, activity-based worship. This Sunday, celebrating North Shields 800 through exploring home and community. Come along, and bring your family and friends.
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,
10.30 a.m. A service led by the Revd Ron Forster, URC minister, from Morpeth
Advance notice: Sunday June 29th from 3.00 p.m.
“Summer In The Square”
Saint Columba’s is going to hold a worship event and picnic in Northumberland Square. We’ll have a trail of six simple activities, based on the first six days in creation in Genesis 1. On the “seventh day” we’ll gather for a 15-minute worship, followed by a picnic, accompanied by summer-themed music. You can come and go as you please from 3.00 p.m. It’s designed so that anyone, whatever their church experience can take part, so do invite others to come along: “Summer in the Square” is happening It’s going to be good! I’m going. Would you like to come with me?
Image: North Tyneside Council
Bible readings Genesis 11:1-9 God destroys the Tower of Babel
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Praising the God of all the earth
Romans 8:14-17 God’s Spirit makes us God’s children
Acts 2:1-21 The Spirit arrives on the Day of Pentecost
John 14:8-17 (25-27) The gift of God’s Spirit of truth
Did you notice that half a verse is missing in the reading from Psalm 104? The compilers of the Revised Common Lectionary have a habit of doing that – dropping a verse or even part of a verse from a suggested reading. Psalm 104 overall is one that praises God as creator and sustainer of the earth in all its beauty and diversity. The first half of verse 35, however, reads, ‘Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more.’ You can see why they omitted it, but in my view that’s misguided. Sometimes it’s wrestling with the difficult bits of the Bible which produce something significant. I once heard a church minister say that he feared God removing all sin and wickedness from the earth because in that case quite a large part of him might disappear. So be careful what you ask for! The psalmist wants God to consume sinners and destroy the wicked, but in love God seems willing to let them (the psalmist and us included) enjoy this earth instead, at least for the moment.
A song that responds to the readings
“She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters …” is a hymn about the Holy Spirit, sung by the choir of Devana Parish, Church of Scotland, Aberdeen
The funeral of Marjorie Dalrymple will be held at 2.45 p.m., on Tuesday 17th June at the church, led by the Minister.
Kaleidoscope Request
Do you have a kaleidoscope you would be willing to lend to the church for our summer afternoon event in Northumberland Square on Sunday 29th June? If so, please contact Trevor Jamison.
Image by Nadiobotta on Pixabay
Next Update – Sunday 15th June
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 10th June
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
Minister: The Reverend Dr Trevor Jamison Church Secretary: Alison Drew [email protected][email protected]
0191 290 1193 07896 899538 0191 251 9774
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
Advance notice: Sunday June 29th from 3.00 p.m.
