Weekly Update #44: Sunday 31 January 2021

St Columba’s United Reformed Church

30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #44: Sunday 31st January 2021

From the Minister                           Have you had yours?

I haven’t had mine yet – my vaccine jab against Covid, that is, but I know more and more who have. There are lots of people ahead of me on the list (a testament to my relative youth and general good health) so I’m not expecting to offer my arm to be jabbed any time soon, which is as it should be. Watching the scenes on tv and listening to the reports, I was reflecting that our National Health Service is not only facing a tidal wave of Covid hospital admissions, plus treating others at home, and looking after millions of people with ‘ordinary’ health conditions, but also, simultaneously, has set up and is running the largest vaccination programme in our nation’s history. All at the same time. Awesome. Astonishing. Thank you.

Trevor                                                             

Image: Department of Transport

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY via ZOOM
ON THE THEME
SHARING KNOWLEDGE”

Currently, our services are held via Zoom –  every Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m., and also at 6.30 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month.

To join this week’s morning service Click Here 

Meeting ID: 816 5800 7437            NO PASSWORD

Phone: 0203 051 2874

If you want to join a service or other meeting, online or by phone and are unsure about how to do so, please contact Mathew Hall  (07792 782647) who will talk you through the process.

Hymns for this Sunday morning:

Rejoice the Lord is King.;
Colours of day.;
Lord thy church on earth is seeking;
Brother, sister let me serve you.

To receive a copy of the hymn book, Rejoice and Sing, contact Alison Drew.
To request paper copies of orders of service please contact Trevor Jamison

Other options for worshipping at home on Sunday

Other options for worshiping at home on Sunday
Online            URC audio service   https://devotions.urc.org.uk/            10.00 a.m.
Radio              Radio 4                      Sunday Worship                                8.10 a.m.
Television      BBC1                         Songs of Praise                                13.15 p.m.

Online             Yourchurch Zoom service – share nationwide worship          6.30 p.m.
Click here to join
Meeting ID: 965 1457 5443    Passcode: YourChurch

DISCLAIMER: TV and Radio schedules can change, so check the timings are correct!

Bible readings for Sunday

   Deuteronomy 18:15-20
A new prophet, like Moses, the bringer of the law
Psalm 111 
  God’s great gifts to us, including food
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 
   Eat what you want … if it doesn’t hurt others
Mark 1:21-28
  Jesus, a healer, and teacher, with a new authority

You can read the Bible passages online at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash

Reflection on all the Readings

I worked for a year in a council social services department. Lots of good work was done but any time anyone had an idea for doing anything new the response was, ‘Is this a statutory requirement?’ Unless the law required it, we did not offer it. In Jesus’s setting people asked ,’what does the law (provided through Moses) say?’ about this teaching or that action. Jesus, however, ‘taught them as one having [his own] authority’ (Mark 1:22); like a new Moses, or something more. So for Paul (and us), every teaching and action, even deciding what’s right to eat or not, is made with reference to ‘our one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.’
(1Cor. 8:6)

A song that responds to the readings
We Cannot Measure How You Heal – a hymn by John Bell and Graham Maule

To listen to the song Click Here

Church AGM and Nominations for Election of Elders

We will be holding our AGM in April.

Three Elders will be stepping down from service and one Elder is eligible to stand for a further two years of service (Elders at St Columba’s serve for three years, with the option to serve for a further two years. After a break of one year they may again stand for election for a further period of service.)

If you feel this is something God might be calling you to do, please talk to Alison Drew. You may nominate someone for election but must have their permission to do so.

Closing date for nominations: Monday 22nd March – names to Alison Drew.

News Of Church Members 

Sadly, we have to share news of the deaths of Agnes Shilliday and Enid Foster.

Agnes’s funeral will take place Friday 5th February at 11.15 a.m., conducted by the Reverend Gordon Connacher.

Enid’s funeral will take place on Monday 8th February at 10.30 a.m., conducted by the Reverend Trevor Jamison.

Both services will take place at Tynemouth Crematorium.

Last chance to submit
February church magazine articles!

Your articles for The Square, our church magazine, are wanted by January 31st.

They should be 300 words or less in length, and sent to Catherine Collins [email protected]
Or by post to 22 Lovaine Row, Tynemouth, NE30 4HF.

St Columba’s Coffee and Conversation
on Saturdays at 10.00 a.m.

Meet friends for conversation and company, online or by phone.

When you are ready with your coffee, Click Here 

Meeting ID: 836 6933 6748            Passcode: 909779

Phone: 0131 460 1196

Peter Matthew is Hosting this weekend

Keeping in Touch – Your contact details

If your contact details (address, telephone or email) change please make sure to inform our Church Secretary Alison Drew.

You can contact your designated Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.

Minister: Reverend Trevor Jamison                 Church Secretary: Alison Drew
minister.northshieldsurc@gmail.com               [email protected].com
0191 290 1193         07896 899538                 0191 251 9774

Copyright © 2021 St Columba’s United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.

Registered Address:
St Columba’s United Reformed Church

30 Northumberland Square

North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE30 1PW

United Kingdom

St Columba’s United Reformed Church Charity is a registered charity in England & Wales, number 1164784.

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