2/3/25
Your weekly update from the Benwell & Scotswood Team.
Click below for the latest news from the parish and texts for worship.
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Dates for your Diary
5 March
1.15pm - Ash Wednesday service at St James
Time TBC - Lent bible study with Kathy at St John's
9 March
Exploring Faith group begins 1pm at Ven Bede (continues Sundays throughout Lent)
29 March
Centenary of Montagu Pit Disaster Commemoration at St Margaret's
30 March
11am - Mothering Sunday Team Service
Services this week
Sunday
9.30am - St John's Holy Communion
9.45am - St Margaret's Holy Communion
11am - Hub service (Parish Eucharist) at Ven Bede
Tuesday
4.30pm - Farsi Bible Study at St James
Wednesday
1.15pm - Ash Wednesday eucharist at St Jame
Thursday
10.30 am - Holy Communion at Ven Bede
News
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 5 March 2025
Ashes-to-go from 10am until 12.30pm
1.15pm communion
at St James, NE15 6RS
Exploring Faith
A group to explore, ask questions, and learn about the Christian faith.
Beginning Sunday 9th March
Continues every Sunday throughout Lent
1pm at Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
Lunch included (free: donations welcome)
Who is it for?
Exploring faith is a non-pressurised group for anyone who is simply curious, anyone who wants to refresh their faith, and anyone who might want to take the next step of baptism or confirmation (and those who are just unsure!).
All ages, abilities, and backgrounds are welcome.
What will happen?
Depending on who would like to come, we may split into smaller groups for young people and speakers of other languages.
Our clergy and other lay leaders will guide us through different resources and bible passages, and discuss together what they might mean.
Contact & RSVP
You’re welcome to just turn up on the day. But to help us prepare, let us know if you want to come and any dietary requirements or if we can make any adaptations to help you join in the discussion.
If you have any other questions feel free to get in contact:
Centenary of the Montagu Pit Disaster
On Saturday 29th March there will be a drop-in event at St Margaret’s Church in Scotswood starting at 10.30am, followed by a service of commemoration at 2pm.
2025 marks the hundredth anniversary of the Montagu Pit Disaster in Scotswood when the pit flooded on 30th March killing 38 men and boys. This was the worst mining disaster in the Great Northern Coalfield between the wars, and is still remembered locally today.
There will be a number of events and activities taking place around that date to commemorate the disaster.
Embrace - Gaza appeal
Conflict across the Middle East is unfolding with relentless intensity, devastating the lives of millions. Even as they live through these dark times, Embrace’s partners in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are working tirelessly to bring the light of Christ amidst the suffering.
You can click below to donate online. If you would rather donate by phone, please call 01494 897950.
Sunday Worship
Sunday before Lent
Green
Intercessions
Prayers for others:
John Nicholson
Malcolm Smith
John Peterson
Maria Hawthorn
Herbert Agbeko
Pauline Nelson
Michelle & Peter Wilson
Alan & Maureen Taylor
Irene Foskett
Pat Law
Moe and Mary
Christina Wilson
Diane Humphrey
Baptisms
Elizabeth Iyagbaye
Joyce Iyare
Joel Iyare
Kevin Edique
Ella Edigue
Rest in peace:
Joyce Foley
Carol Ann Briggs
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list please email church@benwellscotswood.com
The name will stay on the list for 1 month unless requested to be long-term.
2 Corinthians 3.12 – 4.2
12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. 14But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
4Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Luke 9.28–36 [37–43a]
28 Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
[37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ 41Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ 42While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43And all were astounded at the greatness of God.]
Sermon
Revd Chris
“I am sure God has a plan, but I’d like it if he could tell me what it is” seems to be one of my favourite phrases at the moment.
We often wonder what God is up to, and feel confused, worried and dismayed at events, whether in our own lives or in the wider world. Indeed, it’s not unusual for people to tell me they are angry at God. Whether it’s because of grief, illness, bad relationships, loneliness or just the ongoing daily grind of hardship, I often have people telling me “I’m angry at him” as they point upwards. They may whisper it, thinking it’s wrong to be angry at God, or expect me to be shocked. But I am not, because I have been angry at God, often several times before breakfast.
*
When things are bad, we may tell people “don’t worry, I’m sure God has a plan” and that “God can transform bad situations into good”. But the thing is, we see suffering happening to people who don’t deserve it all the time. I do believe God can intervene, can perform miracles, can change things, but the fact is he often doesn’t.
*
In our Gospel today we have two side-by-side stories, meant to be read together. The story of what happens at the top of the mountain and what happens at the bottom.
On top of the mountain, with the exhausted disciples Peter, James, and John present, Jesus is transfigured, shining brightly in glory. He communes with Moses and Elijah and the heavenly and earthly realms briefly cross over. Peter begins babbling about building some shelters to commemorate the occasion, the Gospel writer even tells us he literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about and God the Father himself has to interrupt. A cloud descends on them, the disciples cannot see, they are scared and God says ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’
Listen to him.
* In the next part of the story, Jesus and the three disciples descend the mountain to encounter a father whose son who appears to suffer from what we would now probably diagnose as epilepsy, but the biblical writers name it as a type of demon. The other disciples who remained at the bottom of the mountain have tried to heal him but been unable to.
This is one of those times that Jesus is frustrated. He says: “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’” And then the boy is healed.
*
There is no explanation of these stories, but the stories of the transfiguration and the healing of the boy are joined together for a reason. None of the disciples seem to understand what is happening, the disciples at the top of the mountain do not understand the meaning of the transfiguration, the disciples at the bottom of the mountain misunderstood how to help those who need it.
God may have a plan, but it is not always easy to perceive it. And maybe that’s how God intends it to be, because maybe his plan is less concerned with changing a series of events than the hearts of the people involved.
*
The glory of Jesus being revealed means the healing of those who suffer. The transformation into glory means the transformation of the world. But this transformation truly comes through the change in our hearts.
When God intervenes, it is rarely to make life easy and smooth and understandable for us and more about what is in our hearts. He doesn’t just want to fix what is broken, but transform the people who broke it.
*
None of us can control what life will throw at us, but we can have control over who we choose to be and what our values are. Jesus tells us time and time again, whatever happens, you are called to act with justice, mercy, love and integrity in all the situations you find yourself in. What is God’s plan for you? It could be anything. The real question is, who has God made you to be?