30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #92 January 23rd 2022
From the Minister Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
I have been writing the report from the St Columba’s Worship and Nurture Team for Sunday’s Church Meeting. This includes the Team’s review of worship services at St Columba’s in October, November, and December 2021. One thing we noted was that things were better than they had been during the same period in 2020, when often we could not gather in the building at all. This time around we were able to gather for worship, but not always in the ways in which we wished, or in the ways we had done in 2019, or even in earlier 2021. Particularly, having returned to post-worship socialising in the hall, Omicron came along, so we had to suspend social gathering once again. It feels like, ‘two steps forward, one step back.’ Now, perhaps, Omicron has peaked, and we look forward to moving forward once again, but knowing there might be setbacks (or should that be ‘step-backs’) along the road. So, here’s to celebrating steps forward in 2022, to understanding and mutual caring if and when we have to take steps back, and hoping that steps forward continue to outnumber steps back.
‘One more step along the world I go, one more step along the world I go, from the old things to the new, keep me travelling along with you.’ (Sydney Carter, 1915-2004)
Prayer O God, your Son Jesus called disciples to travel along with him. Help me to keep travelling with Jesus in my life today. Amen.
WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST COLUMBA’S
Sunday 23rd January at 10.30 a.m. – God Revealed in Creation and Scripture A service led by Trevor Jamison, and with Roberta Ritson preaching Church Meeting will take place shortly after this service – see below for details
Sunday 30th January at 10.30 am. Service led by the Reverend Trevor Jamison
After-service refreshments in the church hall are due to recommence from this date
Bible readings for this week (from the Revised Common Lectionary)
Nehemiah 8:1-10 The earliest Bible study session in action?
Psalm 19 God encountered in creation and “law”
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Think of the Church as body with many parts
Luke 4:14-21 How Jesus reads and interprets Scripture
Reflection on the Readings Isaiah – The Fifth Gospel?
From early times in the history of the Church, Isaiah, a book in what Christians call the ‘Old Testament’, has been called ‘The Fifth Gospel’. That’s because it was seen as foretelling the coming of Jesus as messiah – just think how often you hear it read around Christmas time. Whatever you think about that, there’s no doubt that it was important to Jesus. Given the choice he read a passage from the prophet in his hometown synagogue, then applied the message to himself: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4:210 If we want to understand Jesus, and if we want to treasure the things he valued, we need to spend time with the ‘Old Testament.’ What’s your favourite Old Testament story or book? What do you think Jesus might say about it?
A song that responds to the readings
Lord You Sometimes Speak in Wonders by Christopher Idle. God speaks in wonders, whispers, silence, Scripture, and through Jesus
Church Meeting – Sunday 23rd January at 11.30 a.m.
Church meeting will take place at St Columba’s on Sunday 23rd January, following on from the morning service. Items we will be discussing will include evening worship at St Columba’s, progress on work on the building’s roof and stonework, and events planned for 2022.
Suggested items of ‘any other business’ must be with the Church Secretary and/or Minister at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
To read the Agenda, see the email version of the Weekly Update.
To read the reports for the meeting, see the email version of the Weekly Update.
To read Last Meetings Minutes, they can be found in last week’s Weekly Update.
Learning From Luke – six meetings on Thursdays in January & February
Trevor Jamison leads a second conversation in this series, asking, ‘Why does Luke connect the Lord’s Prayer with Jesus’s story about a midnight food request?. Everyone welcome. No previous knowledge or involvement is required in order to take part.
To join this and subsequent meetings, click here.
To join by phone: 01314601196 Meeting ID: 878 1032 5730
Saturday Coffee is now meeting again, observing practices in place to keep everyone safe and healthy.
IT Skills Day Saturday 5th February, 10.30 a.m. -3.00 p.m.
A ‘drop-in at any time’ event, open to all, taking place at St James’s United Reformed Church in Newcastle city centre.
An opportunity to learn new skills and have your IT questions answered.
New To The UK seeking volunteers
New To The UK, is an established project of Churches Together in North Shields, working from the Baptist Church premises, offering help and support to others. They are seeking volunteers to help with this work. If you are interested, you can visit without further commitment one Wednesday between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. To find out more, contact Pat [email protected] or 0796 3972756
Keeping in Touch
You can contact your designated Elder, the Minister, or Church Secretary.
I have been writing the report from the St Columba’s Worship and Nurture Team for Sunday’s Church Meeting. This includes the Team’s review of worship services at St Columba’s in October, November, and December 2021. One thing we noted was that things were better than they had been during the same period in 2020, when often we could not gather in the building at all. This time around we were able to gather for worship, but not always in the ways in which we wished, or in the ways we had done in 2019, or even in earlier 2021. Particularly, having returned to post-worship socialising in the hall, Omicron came along, so we had to suspend social gathering once again. It feels like, ‘two steps forward, one step back.’ Now, perhaps, Omicron has peaked, and we look forward to moving forward once again, but knowing there might be setbacks (or should that be ‘step-backs’) along the road. So, here’s to celebrating steps forward in 2022, to understanding and mutual caring if and when we have to take steps back, and hoping that steps forward continue to outnumber steps back.
From early times in the history of the Church, Isaiah, a book in what Christians call the ‘Old Testament’, has been called ‘The Fifth Gospel’. That’s because it was seen as foretelling the coming of Jesus as messiah – just think how often you hear it read around Christmas time. Whatever you think about that, there’s no doubt that it was important to Jesus. Given the choice he read a passage from the prophet in his hometown synagogue, then applied the message to himself: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4:210 If we want to understand Jesus, and if we want to treasure the things he valued, we need to spend time with the ‘Old Testament.’ What’s your favourite Old Testament story or book? What do you think Jesus might say about it?
IT Skills Day