30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #75 19th September 2021
From the Minister Showing others the Red Card – in the nicest way!
It feels like the church building is opening up. Next week, for example, Café 2.21 and Square Table Lunches recommence (see below for details). This Sunday, in morning worship, we relax some of the precautions we have been following (again, see below for details). Volunteers have been at work to move more chairs into the church worship area, and it looks rather nice, even if I do say so myself! With chairs now linked together, couples, families, and those in a ‘social bubble’ may sit together. At the same time, with COVID still a reality, not everyone is comfortable sitting next to others, and that’s where red cards come in. If you need or wish to have a space between you (an individual, couple, or group) and others, pick up one or two of the red cards available in the church vestibule. Place them on the seat(s) next to you, so that others know not to sit too close. And when you see the red card that someone has placed next to them, respect it, don’t resent it; they may be protecting you as much as you will be protecting them.
Lord of the harvest, we offer you our worship. We adore you and thank you for the beauty and the bounty of the world which you have made. Lord of the harvest, accept our offering of praise. Amen.
(Peter Sheasby)
WORSHIP FOR HARVEST SUNDAY – 19th SEPTEMBER – 10.30 a.m.
This service will include a collection of food items for Nite Bite, the church-run project in North Shields, providing food for those who are finding life hard. Items sought include tinned potatoes, meat or fish. Coffee, sugar, and soups where you just add water to make them would also be particularly welcome. Other items will not be refused! Please drop off your contributions as you enter the church building.
CONTINUING TO STAY SAFE IN WORSHIP
Sanitising of hands upon entry to and exit from the building will be maintained
Chairs in the worship area are linked back together – couples, families, and those in a ‘social bubble’ may sit together. Space for individuals who wish or need to maintain distancing will also be respected using the red cards
Face masks are required when singing – but it’s also absolutely fine to wear one throughout the service if you wish to do so
Services may now last up to 45 minutes
More worshippers will now participate through Bible-reading and leading prayers
Worshippers should still leave the building before stopping to socialise
From Sunday 3rd October
We will begin offering refreshments in the church hall after the service and further details about how this will be organised will follow soon
Options for worshipping at home on Sundays
Radio 4 Sunday Worship 8.10 a.m. OnlineURC audio service https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ 10.00 a.m. Television BBC 1 Songs of Praise 1.15 p.m.
DISCLAIMER: tv and radio schedules can change, so check the timings are correct!
Bible readings for this week
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Remembering who the harvest comes from
Psalm 67 ‘The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us’
Galatians 6: 6-10 Reaping what you sow
Luke 12:13-21 The peril of hanging on to the harvest for yourself
“In my context I see a thoughtless theism (believing in God) being replaced by a thoughtless atheism and I am not sure which is worse.” (Noel Irwin) In the past, it’s certainly true that lots of people believed in God because that was what ‘everyone’ believed. Nowadays lots of people don’t believe in God because that’s what ‘everyone’ believes. Today, though, I think the other big category is ‘thoughtless agnosticism’ i.e. people don’t think about God at all, one way or the other. Our reading from Deuteronomy reminds us not to be unthinking about the harvest, not to take things for granted. Instead, we’re told to think about the good things we receive from creation, and also to think about from where (and who) they come.
Covid precautions to keep everyone safe on Tuesdays and Thursdays
extra ventilation and cleaning will be in place
everyone asked to take care over social distancing
wearing a face mask is a matter of personal choice, but please wear one, if you can, until you sit down at your table
hand sanitizers available on all of the tables
your server will come to your table to take your order, and bring food and cutlery to you.
after your meal, please take your payment slip to the cashier.
Collection for Macmillan Cancer Support –Sunday 26th September
HANDS continue to support the world’s biggest coffee morning, run to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Care. This year, taking the pandemic into account, there will not be a coffee morning. Instead you can donate at the church door on Sunday September 26th. Alternatively, if you wish, you can drop off a donation with Audrey, or donate online at https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your designated Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
It feels like the church building is opening up. Next week, for example, Café 2.21 and Square Table Lunches recommence (see below for details). This Sunday, in morning worship, we relax some of the precautions we have been following (again, see below for details). Volunteers have been at work to move more chairs into the church worship area, and it looks rather nice, even if I do say so myself! With chairs now linked together, couples, families, and those in a ‘social bubble’ may sit together. At the same time, with COVID still a reality, not everyone is comfortable sitting next to others, and that’s where red cards come in. If you need or wish to have a space between you (an individual, couple, or group) and others, pick up one or two of the red cards available in the church vestibule. Place them on the seat(s) next to you, so that others know not to sit too close. And when you see the red card that someone has placed next to them, respect it, don’t resent it; they may be protecting you as much as you will be protecting them.
Hymns:
“In my context I see a thoughtless theism (believing in God) being replaced by a thoughtless atheism and I am not sure which is worse.” (Noel Irwin) In the past, it’s certainly true that lots of people believed in God because that was what ‘everyone’ believed. Nowadays lots of people don’t believe in God because that’s what ‘everyone’ believes. Today, though, I think the other big category is ‘thoughtless agnosticism’ i.e. people don’t think about God at all, one way or the other. Our reading from Deuteronomy reminds us not to be unthinking about the harvest, not to take things for granted. Instead, we’re told to think about the good things we receive from creation, and also to think about from where (and who) they come.
Café 2.21 – from Tuesday 21st September, 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m., for tea, coffee, scones, cakes, light lunches
HANDS continue to support the world’s biggest coffee morning, run to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Care. This year, taking the pandemic into account, there will not be a coffee morning. Instead you can donate at the church door on Sunday September 26th. Alternatively, if you wish, you can drop off a donation with Audrey, or donate online at