30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #54 – 11th April 2021
From the Minister Saying it with Hearts
From Palm Sunday onwards the church railings were festooned with knitted hearts, made by members of our congregation. Passers-by were told that ‘Easter hearts remind us of God’s love for us, shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ’. They were invited to take one away, ‘to remind you of God’s love for you.’ Over fifty hearts were taken. We were able to share the good news about God’s love in a way in which others wished to take part. Let’s find more ways of doing that. Trevor Photos by SGU
Online URC audio service https://devotions.urc.org.uk/10.00 a.m. RadioRadio 4Sunday Worship 8.10 a.m. Television BBC1 Songs of Praise 1.15 p.m.
DISCLAIMER: TV and Radio schedules can change, so check the timings are correct!
Bible readings for Sunday (from the Revised Common Lectionary)
Acts 4:32-35 Sharing good news and possessions
Psalm 133 How unity is a blessing
1 John 1:1-2:2 Fellowship with God and walking ‘in the light’
John 20:19-31 ‘Jesus came and stood among them’ with a word of peace
Poor Thomas. He’s forever saddled with being ‘doubting’, even though elsewhere in John’s Gospel (11:14) he’s the one prepared to follow Jesus to the death when others were hanging back. And if you or I were informed that someone had been resurrected from the dead I’m sure we would prefer to see (and feel) for ourselves, rather than just relying on what our friends said. Also, Thomas is the one who articulates the implications of what has happened: ‘My Lord and my God’ is his response. (20:28) Jesus comments that’s it’s an even greater blessing to believe without having seen. That’s good news, because that’s the only faith option on offer to you and me, since we can’t time-travel back to that locked room. Still, that shouldn’t prevent us from admiring all that was good about Thomas, and understanding his initial response on this occasion.
Church members –
Please Return Your Voting Papers for Election of Elders
Voting papers for election of Elders accompany this edition of the Weekly Update. Church members (and only church members) should e-mail, post or hand deliver their voting paper to Peter Matthew, to arrive by 20th April 2021.
Minutes from Church Meeting
Minutes from the meeting held on 24 March can be read, attached to the email version of the Weekly Update.
St Columba’s Coffee and Conversation
on Saturdays at 10.00 a.m.
Meet friends for conversation and company, online or by phone.
Poor Thomas. He’s forever saddled with being ‘doubting’, even though elsewhere in John’s Gospel (11:14) he’s the one prepared to follow Jesus to the death when others were hanging back. And if you or I were informed that someone had been resurrected from the dead I’m sure we would prefer to see (and feel) for ourselves, rather than just relying on what our friends said. Also, Thomas is the one who articulates the implications of what has happened: ‘My Lord and my God’ is his response. (20:28) Jesus comments that’s it’s an even greater blessing to believe without having seen. That’s good news, because that’s the only faith option on offer to you and me, since we can’t time-travel back to that locked room. Still, that shouldn’t prevent us from admiring all that was good about Thomas, and understanding his initial response on this occasion.