30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW Weekly Update #261 – Sunday 3rd August 2025
From The Minister Why Am I Doing This?
How would you like to go and knock on a stranger’s door and offer them a copy of Luke’s Gospel to read? Not much or not at all? That’s you and me both then. So how did I find myself doing that very thing a few days ago? “Good news For Everyone” – the organisation that used to be called “The Gideons” – is encouraging churches in North Shields to deliver attractively designed copies of Luke’s Gospel to all the households in the area; not just to shove them through the letterbox and run away, but to knock on the door and offer it to people. That’s a daunting prospect. Still, since one or two were enthused, and some more were willing, and (being the minister after all), I agreed to take part as part of a group of six. And it was really rather good. Yes, some people declined to take a booklet, but they were fairly polite about it. Most who answered the door were willing to accept a copy and some of them were very positive about it. There were doorstep conversations, none of which were arguments, about who we were and life in North Shields. It was all very positive. In fact, on Monday 4th August we’re going out for another go, and I think I’m looking forward to it. Trevor Image: Good News For Everyone
Prayer
Make us, O blessed Master, strong in heart and full of courage. May we be strengthened with all might by your Spirit in our hearts. Amen. Based on a prayer by F B Meyer (1847-1929)
Worship Sunday 3rd August 10.30 a.m.A service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
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,
Sunday 10th August 10.30 a.m. A service led by the Revd Dr Trevor Jamison
Bible readings Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 Work isn’t everything
Psalm 49:1-12 Money isn’t everything
Colossians 3:1-11 Focus on Jesus (not greed)
Luke 12:31-21 Bad news for someone focused on work and riches
Reflection on the Readings ‘Money may not make you happy,’ my grandfather used to say, ‘but at least you can be miserable in comfort.’ There’s nothing romantic about poverty and God doesn’t want people to be suffering – in the Magnificat God is pictured as lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things. (Luke 1:53) That said, all of our Bible readings warn against living a life that’s wrapped up in work and the acquisition of wealth. The author of Ecclesiastes sees toil as an ‘unhappy business’ (1:13) which people worry about too much (2:23). The Psalmist points out that no amount of money will buy you life from God, and that all – rich and poor alike – are mortal. Paul, writing to the Colossians, urges them to focus on Christ, identifying greed as a form of idolatry. (3:6) And Jesus puts it all in story form, with a parable about a rich man who is only interested in being richer so that he can enjoy himself, showing no interest in God or others; and he does not get to enjoy his wealth in the end anyway. (12:20) We need to be wary about focusing upon wealth, or depending upon it for what matters in life. In world terms, fortunately for us, we are comparatively wealthy – we can even be miserable in comfort. Let’s not let it go to our heads, however, remembering it’s a gift from God, to be used for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. Image by Peter J. Althammer from Pixabay
News and Notices Churches Together Summer Service – Saturday 2nd August, 5.30 p.m.
Join with others from Churches Together for the second in our popular series of summer evening services. This week on Saturday at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Wallsend Road, North Shields, NE29 7AA
Church Prayer Space – a Summer Prayer Tree
The prayer space is available in the church for your personal prayers on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. Simply write your prayer and add it to the tree.
Photo by LM
Pairs of Parables – Thursday 7th August, 7.15 p.m. at St Columba’s
Trevor Jamison leads a relaxed conversation about the parables of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and The Great Feast (Luke 14:15-24). Come along and explore what these stories might be saying to you about ourselves, about the world, and about God.
Granny’s Attic Sale – Saturday 9th August
Our Summer sale is on Saturday 9th August. Any contributions will be gladly received at the church on Friday afternoon, 8th August between 2pm and 4pm.
Next Update – Sunday 10th August
Please get your information to Trevor Jamison by Tuesday 5th August.
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
To watch the morning service live, catch up with it later in the week, or view previous services,
‘Money may not make you happy,’ my grandfather used to say, ‘but at least you can be miserable in comfort.’ There’s nothing romantic about poverty and God doesn’t want people to be suffering – in the Magnificat God is pictured as lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things. (Luke 1:53) That said, all of our Bible readings warn against living a life that’s wrapped up in work and the acquisition of wealth. The author of Ecclesiastes sees toil as an ‘unhappy business’ (1:13) which people worry about too much (2:23). The Psalmist points out that no amount of money will buy you life from God, and that all – rich and poor alike – are mortal. Paul, writing to the Colossians, urges them to focus on Christ, identifying greed as a form of idolatry. (3:6) And Jesus puts it all in story form, with a parable about a rich man who is only interested in being richer so that he can enjoy himself, showing no interest in God or others; and he does not get to enjoy his wealth in the end anyway. (12:20) We need to be wary about focusing upon wealth, or depending upon it for what matters in life. In world terms, fortunately for us, we are comparatively wealthy – we can even be miserable in comfort. Let’s not let it go to our heads, however, remembering it’s a gift from God, to be used for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. 
The prayer space is available in the church for your personal prayers on Tuesday and Sunday mornings. Simply write your prayer and add it to the tree.