30 Northumberland Square | North Shields | NE30 1PW
Weekly Update #96 February 20th 2022
From the Minister Get Angry, But Don’t Lose Your temper
If you google the phrase, ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ you find all sorts of cartoons and comments casting doubts or poking fun at the idea. For example, ‘the meek shall inherit the earth, but not its mineral rights,’ according to J P Getty. We usually attribute the biblical saying to Jesus (Matthew 5:5). Probably, though, he got it from Psalm 37:11, which many Bible translations render as ‘the meek shall inherit the land’, giving it a potentially radical edge. To us, the idea that the meek shall inherit the earth, the land (or its mineral right) sounds daft, but that might be to do with our notions of meekness. The idea that “meekness = timidity” is a modern one. It didn’t appear until the eighteenth century. Prior to that it described those who refused to indulge themselves in destructive emotions and actions. The meek were not weak, they were self-controlled. They did not run away, but might choose to yield – to others and to God. They might get angry when it was merited, but they did not lose their temper. This still would not make much sense to emperors, but then the Roman Empire of Jesus’s day, and a host of others since then, have come and gone, whilst Jesus’s influence lives on, so who is it that inherits the earth here? Trevor Image:https://pixabay.com/images/id-3751682/
Prayer O God. Don’t let me be apathetic, but make me meek, a good sort of way. Make me more like Jesus. Amen
WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST COLUMBA’S
Sunday 20th February at 10.30 a.m. – Fairtrade Fortnight Begins! To find out more, Click Here Marked in a service led by members of the congregation, along with Roberta Ritson
Sunday 27th February at 10.30 a.m. A service led by the Reverend Trevor Jamison, continuing to explore the theme of what resurrection means for us today and tomorrow
Bible readings for this week (from the Revised Common Lectionary)
Genesis 45:3-11, 15 I forgive you, brothers, says Joseph
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 ‘The meek shall inherit the land’, says the Psalmist
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 Our resurrection is not (just) spiritual, says Paul
Luke 6:27-38 Let them have the shirt off your back, says Jesus
One widely but mistakenly held belief about the Bible is that that the Old Testament is about violence and judgement whilst the New Testament is all about love and forgiveness. Today’s Old Testament readings remind us that things are not so simple. Joseph sets up a meeting with his brothers. Last time they were together they beat him up and threw him in a pit. When that didn’t kill him they trafficked him into slavery in Egypt. Now, though, he’s in charge in Egypt, and they have come begging for food. No wonder that when he revealed his identity to them they were struck dumb, ‘so dismayed were they at his presence.’ (45:3) What would he do to them now? Consistent with the message of Psalm 37:8, Joseph refrained from anger and forsook wrath. Instead, consistent with the later demands of Jesus, he turned the other cheek and generously shared with them from his possessions. (6:29-31) ‘And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.’ (45:15)
Help Us to Accept each Other as Christ Accepted Us by the URC Minister and hymn writer, the late Fred Kaan. This version comes St John the Apostle United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas
News and Notices “Going Out” – Learning from Luke – Thursday Feb. 24th at 7.15 p.m. Trevor Jamison leads our sixth (and final) conversation in this series. Old and new Testaments come together when two travellers on the road bump into the resurrected Jesus.
Everyone welcome. No previous knowledge or involvement required in order to take part.
‘We are sorry to inform of the death of our fellow church member, John Carter. Our prayers and sympathies are with John family at this time. Details concerning John’s funeral service will be made available when known.
Creative Conversations About Future Ordained Ministry in Northern Synod
Two online discussions FOR ANYONE in URC churches to share views, ideas and contribute to plans for future ministry in Northern Synod.
Monday February 21st at 7.00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 1st at 7.00 p.m.
Please dial 0131 460 1196 and enter Meeting ID: 865 5649 2924
Any Problems please contact Mathew Hall on 07792782647 as he is the host of the Zoom Meeting
Collection for Christian Aid Work in Afghanistan – Sunday 6th March
Drought, war and the COVID 19 pandemic have combined to cause a catastrophic rise in hunger in Afghanistan, and all this in the midst of a freezing winter. Christian Aid are making a special appeal to support their work with partners on the ground. We will hold a retiring offering at our service on Sunday 6th March, with the money going to this appeal
Planning for Evening Services at Church – Monday March 7th 7.15 p.m.
Join the group planning for these services! At our January Church Meeting we agreed to start holding one evening service per month at the church, possibly on the last Sunday of the month. We will start in March and the services will continue up to and include September. Then we’ll review how things are going. Now, a group will meet at church on 7th March to sort out the practical details for making this happen. Anyone who is interested may come along and take part. Nor will be limited to doing everything in the way that things were done in previous evening services in the building, so come with your imaginative ideas.
Invitation to Support Compassion UK
Compassion is a Christian charity, fighting poverty through a child sponsorship scheme. We sponsor three children, two live in Rwanda and one in Ethiopia. Our young boy Gilbert who lives in Ethiopia is now eight years old. Our sponsorship is due this March when each person/family pays £15 for the year. If you would like more information or would like to take part in this work, please contact Shirley.
Building work in Northumberland Square and elsewhere in North Shields
The latest newsletter from the Historic England / North Tyneside Council, on the extensive redevelopment work going on in the centre of North Shields is available now.
If you google the phrase, ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ you find all sorts of cartoons and comments casting doubts or poking fun at the idea. For example, ‘the meek shall inherit the earth, but not its mineral rights,’ according to J P Getty. We usually attribute the biblical saying to Jesus (Matthew 5:5). Probably, though, he got it from Psalm 37:11, which many Bible translations render as ‘the meek shall inherit the land’, giving it a potentially radical edge. To us, the idea that the meek shall inherit the earth, the land (or its mineral right) sounds daft, but that might be to do with our notions of meekness. The idea that “meekness = timidity” is a modern one. It didn’t appear until the eighteenth century. Prior to that it described those who refused to indulge themselves in destructive emotions and actions. The meek were not weak, they were self-controlled. They did not run away, but might choose to yield – to others and to God. They might get angry when it was merited, but they did not lose their temper. This still would not make much sense to emperors, but then the Roman Empire of Jesus’s day, and a host of others since then, have come and gone, whilst Jesus’s influence lives on, so who is it that inherits the earth here?
To find out more, 
One widely but mistakenly held belief about the Bible is that that the Old Testament is about violence and judgement whilst the New Testament is all about love and forgiveness. Today’s Old Testament readings remind us that things are not so simple. Joseph sets up a meeting with his brothers. Last time they were together they beat him up and threw him in a pit. When that didn’t kill him they trafficked him into slavery in Egypt. Now, though, he’s in charge in Egypt, and they have come begging for food. No wonder that when he revealed his identity to them they were struck dumb, ‘so dismayed were they at his presence.’ (45:3) What would he do to them now? Consistent with the message of Psalm 37:8, Joseph refrained from anger and forsook wrath. Instead, consistent with the later demands of Jesus, he turned the other cheek and generously shared with them from his possessions. (6:29-31) ‘And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.’ (45:15)
Trevor Jamison leads our sixth (and final) conversation in this series. Old and new Testaments come together when two travellers on the road bump into the resurrected Jesus.
Drought, war and the COVID 19 pandemic have combined to cause a catastrophic rise in hunger in Afghanistan, and all this in the midst of a freezing winter. Christian Aid are making a special appeal to support their work with partners on the ground. We will hold a retiring offering at our service on Sunday 6th March, with the money going to this appeal
Join the group planning for these services! At our January Church Meeting we agreed to start holding one evening service per month at the church, possibly on the last Sunday of the month. We will start in March and the services will continue up to and include September. Then we’ll review how things are going. Now, a group will meet at church on 7th March to sort out the practical details for making this happen. Anyone who is interested may come along and take part. Nor will be limited to doing everything in the way that things were done in previous evening services in the building, so come with your imaginative ideas.
