BeachcomberFX

Author: David Wynd

  • Bring on the Sacrifice

    Bring on the Sacrifice

    Over the last few months we have been reflecting on books, films, music and other things that has inspired or challenged us.  Well over the past few weeks all I have done is consume vast amounts of material on the book of Leviticus.  I am afraid that is what you are going to get here.  Bring on the sacrifice!

    A very brief intro to this much maligned and often ignored book of the Old Testament. 

    1. It shouldn’t be called Leviticus (which measures of the Levites). It should be referred to using the Hebrew term vayikra which means ‘and he called’ the he here referring to Yahweh so it should be ‘and Yahweh called’.
    2. It wasn’t written by Moses. But you knew that already.
    3. The timescale the book covers is a one month period. So we have 27 chapters focused on one month of Moses life and the life of the Hebrew people.  

    I can understand why people don’t like this book. There are a lot of animals that die. There are a lot of rules about what you can and can’t do. There are a lot of things that are repeated over and over again.  Anyone reading it can quite rightly say, this has no relevance to me and skip on to the book of Numbers (which kills off there reading the bible from cover to cover).  There are also lots of bits of vayikra that get cherry picked to make particular theological stands and lots of bits that are ignored.

    Yet this is the book where we are first told to love our neighbour as yourself. The next time you hear those words is from Jesus in the gospels. Maybe vayikra can teach us something after all. Let me summarise some of the things this book might be trying to say to us and show us about what it means to be a people who dwell with the divine presence. 

    Working out a new way of living

    The people that this book is addressed to are a group of former slaves who have been rescued from living under an oppressive regime. I haven’t been a slave and I don’t know what it feels like to live in that way, from reading the experiences of others, especially those taken into slavery from Africa to the US during the transatlantic slave trade it is a dehumanising experience.  For the people rescued from Egypt by God they had only known one way to exist.  In Exodus we get some hints about the kind of community these people were being called to be. One that would bless other nations, would be a royal priesthood (like God’s body in the world) and a holy nation (a different kind of community to those in the world, especially those like Egypt).  In order to become something new and different you need to set out how you will do the things that you need to do. Vayikra does a lot of that. There is a lot of information about what should be done and what shouldn’t. How it should be done and how it shouldn’t.  Sometimes these look like weird arbitrary rules and distinctions but at the heart of them is we aren’t going to be like everyone else. We are going to be different so that we can show people there is a better way.

    Finding a new rhythm 

    Lots of vayikra is about finding a new rhythm to life. If you are trying to do something new or leave a bad habit behind then you need to be intentional about how you go about this. It doesn’t just happen. If you want to become a great cook you have to cook things. If you want to run a marathon you have to set out a training plan and stick to it. If you want to quit smoking then you are going to have to work out what triggers your cravings and what you are going to do to help you resist them.  You need to find a new rhythm, a new order to how you live your life.  To make this kind of thing stick you will have to be pretty strict at the beginning otherwise things will never change. vayikra is about finding a new rhythm to live by.

    An escape from guilt and anxiety

    If you lived with a worldview that told you there were forces at work in the world that could help you or hinder you in your life you may find a way to appease them.  You might offer some of your harvest up to these forces to keep them on your side.  But if you did this and no rain come you would worry.  Worry because you can’t feed your family and you might have angered the forces by not giving them a pleasing gift. This time you offer an animal hoping this will be accepted. The problem with this system is you are never sure where you stand. Worry and anxiety can begin to eat away at you as you try to work out how you secure favour. In many places at the time of vayikra writing and before that led to sacrificing a child, the greatest gift you had, to keep the forces on your side. If you have a set system with clear rules about what was needed and when it was needed then this guilt and anxiety is relieved.  vayikra goes further and tells people that they can actually spend time in God’s presence that they can even sit down together and enjoy a meal with the creator of the world.

    We aren’t that different

    I think maybe the reason we ignore vayikra and pretend it isn’t for us is that maybe it nags at us a little. Maybe we sense in its pages a reminder that we aren’t actually that different from these people. Our world looks different and we have made progress in some ways but in others, maybe we have actually gone backwards.

    Questions – don’t answer all of them – chose the ones that seem relevant

    • If you could introduce one rule that all people would have to follow what would it be?
    • Can you think of a time when you found yourself  living in a way that was different from others around you? What was that experience like?
    • What’s something you’ve done that has required you to create a whole new rhythm or routine in your life? How hard was it to stick to?
    • vayikra talks about ‘being different’ to show a better way of living. What’s one thing you think BFX could do differently to show a better way of living?
    • vayikra talks about rituals and sacrifices that help to maintain a relationship with the God and with the created world. How do we find ways of developing practices that build up our relationship with creator God, nature, and the environment, today in light of climate change?
    • vayikra offers systems to help people deal with guilt and anxiety, often through ritual and community. In today’s world, where anxiety and mental health challenges are rising, what are some ways we can create faith practices that provide support and help alleviate these struggles?
    • vayikra is the first place where we hear the command to ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ How do you think this teaching applies to issues like immigration, climate refugees, or homelessness in today’s world?
    • What does BFX have to do to look like a community that seeks to live differently in the world? What things could we change/start/stop to make this happen?

    Photo by Vincent M.A. Janssen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-animal-skull-on-sand-3258243/

  • Eric

    We are meeting at the Sea View Lounge at the Crescent Club again at 7:30pm. This is because it doesn’t have a TV so it should be quieter up there as any venue with a television that is showing the game will be very busy. Depending on how well/poorly England play there may be some late comers but hopefully we should be all together, about 8pm at the latest.

    I recently watched the Netflix mini series, Eric, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch.  The series is set in 1980’s New York and follows Vincent whose son goes missing.  There is also a lot of puppets… but not the creepy kind, honest.  The show deals with a whole load of issues from addiction, racism, homophobia, wealth and corruption.  It asks questions that are just as relevant today as they were in 1980’s. About who we focus on and who we disregard in society. About how power corrupts those who are meant to help others.  It focuses in on how we battle with the secrets we carry with us and those that we think will bring shame upon us. At the heart of it all though, it is a story about the monsters we journey with and our search to find a place we can call home.

    Benedict Cumberbatch said of the show “This is a story about people finding their home… whether it’s a child, a homeless person, a gay Black cop, a wife in an unhappy marriage, or even Eric on the show, it’s all about finding a place.”

    For me these two themes are something we can all relate to in some way.

    We have all probably been scared at some point of the monster that hides under are bed or in the closet. The one that stalks us, prying on are anxieties.  We have probably also feared the monster our society has warned us of. Maybe though our monsters can also help us.   They can show us that the things we are told are scary and should be feared aren’t and that sometimes the real monsters are found elsewhere.

    The second theme is that of finding a home. Home should be the place where we feel safe and where we belong.  for many of us that is all we want. A safe and secure place where we don’t have to worry about the monsters that lurk outside and we can be who we were made to be.

    Questions

    When you were growing up did you have an imaginary monster? If you did, what did they look like and what made them scary?

    What are you scared of?

    Where would you call home?

    What might the monsters in the Bible be trying to tell us?

    How would you describe “home”?

    Is God present in the place you call “home”?

     

  • A Question of Thanksgiving

    A Question of Thanksgiving

    If you are joining us tonight then we will be at The Quarry at 7:30pm tonight.

    I went to an awards ceremony last night.  I had been nominated along with some others for an award as part of the Northumberland FA’s Grassroots football awards. I sat in a room with a 100 or so people and 22 awards were handed out to individuals and groups recognising the good work they have done in different areas.  

    Last week I was re-invited to stay another 5 years in the circuit.  When this happens people are invited to say things in appreciation of your ministry (not something I find easy to listen to).  But should we need a formal process to give thanks for someones gifts and then wait five years  to do it.

    I sat in our weekly Mother House prayers as well this week.  As those gathered were chatting Rob shared about giving thanks and telling people about the positive impact they have had on us.  Often we save this for someones eulogy.

    In a world filled with busy schedules, constant distractions, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to forget the simple yet profound act of giving thanks. We often find ourselves caught up in the rush, the deadlines, and the chaos, neglecting to express our gratitude when someone does something good or when a positive impact is made on us, a group, or within an organisation. 

    The fact is that a simple “thank you” can carry immense power? It’s not just about being polite; it’s about acknowledging the positive forces people have in our lives and cultivating a culture of appreciation.  It is more than just thank you though. It is about expressing to someone the important, often unseen things that they do and are that inspire us in our lives.  It is the legacy they pass on to us.

    Paul often in his letters celebrates and gives thanks for those he is writing to or he wants to mention. 

    Ephesians 1:16 (NIV):

    “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

    Romans 1:8 (NIV):

    “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

    Philemon 1:7 (NIV):

    “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

    The challenge of all of this then is to ask how we can give thanks for one another.  For the groups we are part of that support us and the things people do that inspire us. So some questions on being thankful.

    1. Have you ever won or been nominated for an award and if so what was it?
    1. When was the last time you told someone how thankful you were for them?
    1. Have you ever been in a group or organisation that did giving thanks well?
    1. How can we build thanksgiving for others into what we do with BFX?

    Photo by Vie Studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/thank-you-lettering-on-white-surface-4439457/

  • A Question of Noticing

    A Question of Noticing

    Hi folks, I hope you are doing ok? This week we are meeting in homes, if you would like to come then please do send me a message so I tell you where to go.
    This week Karen was supposed to be writing something on being female, but since we have just done a fair bit on gender, we thought we might kick that down the road until September, so today’s reflection, is based around some thoughts by Nadia Bolz-Weber.
    Maybe you can remember the beginning of the pandemic, when we were all staying at home and going for our daily exercise. You may remember that many people started to notice nature… particularly the birds… apparently at that time people were googling “are the birds getting louder’?
    Recently I went on retreat, it was organised by a bunch of lay employees across the North, it was the second time I had attended, this year I helped to put some of the program together, we wanted to create plenty of space across the couple of days to let people rest, recuperate and to connect with each other, the environment and the divine.
    I have realised in recent years that I am much more of an introvert than I first thought, the pandemic taught me that. Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer to be around people, but i’m beginning to recognise I need space. Over the couple of days away I spent a fair bit of time by myself, I especially loved walking around the gardens and particularly the large labyrinth (pictured).
    I noticed that it took me ages to switch my brain off… I found it was cluttered with all kinds of thoughts. I found I was thinking about work: should I have said that, done that? Food: maybe I should cut down on this or that? Worrying about Karen, my mum, Karen’s parents, my brother, friends… not to mention things like the environmental crisis and world war breaking out as a result of the situation in Ukraine! All of these things seemed to dance together conspiring against me from stopping, and allowing me to just ‘be’.
    This is backed up by neuroscientist Judson Brewer who says we have two basic networks in the brain.The Narrative Network this is the one we default to and has its uses (in the narrative network our brain can plan and strategise), but about 50% of the time, our brain is occupied with the self; thoughts of self, events in the past, and anxieties or fantasies about the future. Rumination of the narrative mind rarely result in serenity. That’s often how I feel, and maybe you can relate.
    Back to Judson Brewer, he also suggests that when the Direct-Experiential Network part of the brain is active, rumination ceases and we become engulfed in what is happening in the present moment. While on retreat I did notice moments when that was the case: while deliberately walking the labyrinth, while deliberately stoping and listening I ‘heard’ the birds, I heard nature itself, it was often fleeting, but never-the-less I heard. These were mindful moments and I have tried to do that more… this extrovert that loves noise and distraction has begun to stop… and just be… who knew!!
    So the birds are singing whether we notice it or not. Hearing them is a pleasure we can ignore or indulge in. But it is difficult to tune in and pay attention if I am also wondering why someone isn’t returning my text and that it’s probably because they just don’t love me anymore after I said that stupid thing last week.
    All this reminds me of Matthew 6 when Jesus says,

    “Do not worry about your life, ….Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

    When Jesus spoke about the cost of worry I do not think it was a coincidence that he said look at the birds and consider the flowers. And I think it’s more than him saying “look, literally birds are better at trusting God than you are”!
    I think maybe Jesus gets that the beautiful things that surround us are meant to be enjoyed today – and they are the exact same things I totally miss out on when I am busy worrying about tomorrow. I guarantee that if I am in my head about something, the last thing I will notice is if a bird happens to be singing around me – and the second to the last thing I will notice are probably the flowers. Although I am getting better at noticing the trees.
    So I like to think that Jesus’ thing about not worrying and then inviting us to consider birds and notice lilies ….is both permission to let go, and an invitation to joy and even pleasure.
    An abundance of direct-experiences are available to us through our senses and while I’m an admittedly terrible at stopping the noise in my house, I also happen to be desperate for some relief from self-obsession, and the distractions that stop me from noticing, so I am trying to realise when I am “in my head” and to then drop into my body and feel for what, in this moment, there is for me to hear – to see – to touch.
    This too, is itself, a prayer.
    Some questions
    What’s your favourite bird or flower?
    What do you remember most about your lock down daily walk?
    When was the last time you really stopped?
    Do you have strategies to help you stop?
    How can this passage support those with mental health difficulties (Karen hated it when she had chronic anxiety)?
    Peace, Rob
  • Where the Lost Things Go : All That’s Lost is Found

    Where the Lost Things Go : All That’s Lost is Found

    27th March : 6pm
    Meeting on Victoria Street, NE29 6TS (W3W props.copy.natively) walking to Minton Lane,
    NE29 6DQ, (W3W posts.maps.return. Approx 1.2miles 30mins round trip.

    EZEKIEL 37:1-14

    Journeying God of the lost things

    the dead things Can they live?

    Where do we see life?

    Where do we see hope?

    Where do we see need?

    Where have we uprooted?

    Moved away?

    Abandoned?

    Maybe in those places all that is lost, is found

    Amen

    Ezekiel was taken up by the Spirit to a valley full of bones. As he wandered amongst the bones he noticed a number of things. First, there was a lot of them. Second, they were very dry. This tells us that a lot of people died in this place to leave so many bones and the fact that they were dry means they had been lying there a long time.

    Now God asks Ezekiel a question, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel fires it back to God and tells him that only he would know if that was possible or not. God then instructs him to speak to the bones and that they would indeed live.

    As Ezekiel speaks to them they begin to come together. As the old song goes, Them bones, them bones, them dry bones… Oh hear the word of the Lord! Once the bones have taken on flesh, Ezekiel notices that although they are no longer dry and lying on the ground these bodies still do not live. God instructs him to speak breath into them and with this they come alive.

    The purpose of all of this is to show Ezekiel what God’s plan for the people of Israel is. They may feel that exiled in Babylon that they are like dry bones, and cut off from all hope. With God, though, nothing is beyond saving. It doesn’t matter how far gone or how impossible it seems; God can breath life into anything.

    We are staying in North Shields again this week and looking at three chapels. The first was situated not too far from where the chapel was on South Street.

    Dene Street Methodist chapel was a United Methodist Free chapel and seated between 300 and 550 (different accounts note different numbers). It stood from 1808 to 1921 when it was demolished. This whole area was cleared for the industrial complex that surrounded the banks of the time and the docks that would spring up.

    A little further in land stood Coach Lane Methodist Chapel, a Wesleyan chapel which was built around 1881 and closed around 1980. This building is still a church, having been renovated by the Iglesia Ni Christo in 2019.

    Finally we move out of the centre of North Shields to the Ridge Estate Mission. The Mission started in 1934 as a mission church. It held its meetings in the open air or in members’ homes. In 1939 a wooden hut on Minton Lane was bought and this acted as the chapel for a time. Later a permanent chapel was built close by in 1949 until the church closed in 1969.

    The Ridge Estate was built as a place for those to live who were displaced from slum clearances elsewhere in North Shields. Some of these people may have worshipped in places like Dene Street or South Street. Some, though, would have joined when they saw the open air meetings.

    Dry bones, closed chapels, ageing members, dwindling help. Can these things yet live? Maybe the question God asked Ezekiel is the questions God is asking us. Maybe our answer should be the same as Ezekiel’s… Sovereign Lord, you alone know!

    Questions to reflect on:

    1.What is your favourite season and why?
    2.What is the most remarkable thing you have ever witnessed?
    3.Have you ever questioned God’s ability to do something? What was it and why did you question?
    4.Which one of the below would you describe yourself as and why?
    a.Dry bones
    b.A body but lacking the breath that gives you life?
    c.Fully alive and raring to go?
    5.How would you describe the chapel you are part of?
    a.Dry bones
    b.A body but lacking the breath that gives you life?
    c.Fully alive and raring to go?
    6.Is there an area/building/place in your community that you look at and think, God could breathe new life into this place? Where is it and what do you think God could do?
    7. Ezekiel was shown this vision to give hope to the people of Israel in exile. What might be the thing God is showing/telling you to encourage others with?

  • Where the Lost Things Go : Waiting Here Until it’s time to Show

    Where the Lost Things Go : Waiting Here Until it’s time to Show

    24th March : 1pm
    Meeting at the bottom of Howard Street, NE30 INZ (W3W adults.medium.poker) walking to
    Saville Street, NE29 6QW, (W3W spider.scars.audit). Approx 1.2miles 35mins round trip.

    1 KINGS 19:11-13

    Journeying God of the lost things

    We are often waiting

    waiting for a bus 

    waiting for test results

    Its often not comfortable to wait physically, mentally

    but wait we must

    We wait in the storm

    we wait in the noise

    We wait for the whisper

    Waiting there until it’s time to show

    up Amen

    Elijah is having a down day. Being a prophet for the creator God is not always an easy job to have. He has been rejected and ridiculed and he feels life isn’t really worth living. He tells God this and promptly falls asleep.

    Elijah then wakes up, eats and then sets off on one of those 40 day journeys that we find in the Bible. Having slept in a cave, he is awoken again by God who asks him why he is in this place. Elijah reminds God about how bad things are at the minute, and in response God tells him to go and stand on the mountain so he can pass by.

    As Elijah waits he is battered by a powerful wind, withstands the force of an earthquake and manages to escape a great fire. Then at the end of all the noise and energy of these three terrifying occurrences he hears a whisper, to which he responds.

    North Shields has been the heart of Methodism in North Tyneside for many years. We can find some of the earliest Methodist chapels in the town and much of what has happened in Cullercoats, Whitley Bay and beyond started in this busy port town.

    On Howard Street there was the Wesleyan Chapel that stood from 1807 till 1891 and seated 2000 people. Another early chapel was the United Methodist in Milburn Place which was built sometime before 1855 and closed sometime after 1914. This is said to have seated 440 people. It sat on South Street and overlooked the Tyne in what began as a very well off area of North Shields but eventually became a slum.

    Another early chapel was the wonderfully named Ranters Bank chapel on Union St. This was a Primitive chapel that stood from 1823-1861 when it moved to Saville St. A member noted when this new building went up that “So soon as a colliery was won, they all knew that a large number of people were collected together, and he was glad to be able to state that the difficulty of providing places of worship for them was speedily met by the earnestness and desire of the Dissenters to supply this want, as well as to do all they could to promote the religious instruction of the people.” Saville St lasted till 1930. When it closed the building became a Woolworths and is now a furniture shop.

    All in all there are maybe around another 4/5 Methodist chapels that sprang up in this small area of North Shields. We haven’t time to look at Howard Street Primitive (1856-1941), Linskill Street (1836-1969, may also be connected to Salem and Low Street) and we will pick up some others tomorrow. All in all there were around 10 chapels in the centre of North Shields between 1808 and 1980.

    The Methodist Church across the UK is facing some difficult questions. COVID has taken its toll and the cost of living crisis that has followed has heaped more pressure on the church from top to bottom. We can all look at what was and is and wonder what might be for the church where we live. Like Elijah we can feel like we are standing in the middle of a hurricane of noise and disorientation. Or like the very surface we stand on is shaking about us. Yet like Elijah we have to somehow wait and listen to try and discern the still small voice that comes to us through the noise and calls us on.

    Questions to reflect on

    1.What is the worst weather you have ever been caught in?
    2.What do you do to cheer yourself up when you are having a hard day?
    3.How would you describe your relationship with God in this moment?
    4.How does God communicate with you? Have you ever
    heard an audible voice? Is it through pictures? Or when you are reading? Or is it a feeling in your gut?
    5.Elijah goes on a 40 day journey between hearing God address him the first time and then again when he is in the cave. During that 40 days we have no idea if Elijah heard from God at all. Do you expect God to communicate with you everyday or do you feel more like Elijah with huge gaps between those moments?
    6.Elijah responds to the gentle whisper that comes to him. Do you think we too often look for big signs to know what God is doing?
    7.How can we get better at listening to the gentle whispers of those in our chapels, our communities and of God?

  • A question of AI

    A question of AI

    If you are joining us this week we are meeting at The Brewery in Whitley Bay at 7:30pm. This weeks blog is written by a special guest.
    Faith and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two seemingly unrelated concepts that are becoming increasingly intertwined in our modern world. While AI is a powerful tool that can be used to advance and spread religious beliefs, it also raises important questions about the relationship between technology and spirituality. In this blog post, we will explore some of these questions and consider the implications of the intersection of faith and AI.
    Can AI replace religious leaders? One potential use of AI in religion is to create chatbots that can answer questions about religious beliefs and practices. While this technology could help make religion more accessible, it raises questions about the role of human religious leaders. Can a chatbot replace the guidance and wisdom of a spiritual mentor?
    What is the impact of AI on human agency? Many religious beliefs are based on the idea that humans have free will and the ability to make choices. However, as AI becomes more advanced, it may challenge traditional notions of human agency. How does the rise of AI impact our understanding of what it means to be human?
    Can AI have faith? As AI continues to advance, it is becoming more sophisticated in its ability to learn and adapt. However, faith is a complex concept that goes beyond mere intelligence. Can an AI truly experience faith or is it limited by its lack of emotional and spiritual depth?
    How can AI be used to spread religious beliefs? Some religious organizations are already using AI to analyze religious texts and identify patterns in religious teachings. However, there are concerns about the potential for AI to be used to spread extremist beliefs. How can we ensure that AI is used in a responsible and ethical manner when it comes to religious beliefs?
    What is the role of faith in shaping our relationship with AI? As we continue to develop and integrate AI into our lives, it is important to consider the ethical and spiritual implications of this technology. How can faith help guide us in our use of AI and ensure that we use it in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs?
    In conclusion, the relationship between faith and AI is a complex and multifaceted topic that raises many important questions. While AI can be a powerful tool for advancing and spreading religious beliefs, it also challenges our traditional understanding of spirituality and human agency. As we continue to navigate this intersection, it is important to consider the implications of AI on our faith and to ensure that we use this technology in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs.
    Written by ChatGTP to the prompts – Write me a lighthearted questions on the subject of AI and Write me a blog with 5 questions on the subject of faith and AI. Image generated by DALL-E using the prompt a digital render that represents the interaction between the christian faith and AI
    Questions
    1. If AI could have a favorite food, what do you think it would be?
    2. Can AI replace religious leaders?
    3. How does the rise of AI impact our understanding of what it means to be human?
    4. Can AI have faith?
    5. How can we ensure that AI is used in a responsible and ethical manner when it comes to religious beliefs?
    6. How can faith help guide us in our use of AI and ensure that we use it in a way that is consistent with our values and beliefs?
  • Where the Lost Things Go : Nothings Gone Forever

    Where the Lost Things Go : Nothings Gone Forever

    16th March : 11am
    Meeting beside The Priory Theatre on Percy Street, NE30 4HA (W3W supply.winner.melon)
    walking to The Land of Green Ginger, NE30 4BO, (W3W blocks.silver.robots). Approx 0.4 miles
    10 mins round trip will probably include a stop at a coffee shop.

    EXODUS 3:1-22

    Journeying God of the lost things

    What have we not noticed?

    What have we seen, but not seen?

    What stories are becoming distant?

    What remembering do we need to fanin to flame?

    Nothing is gone forever.

    When embers are given life When deep roots are watered
    They can be brought to life again.

    Amen

    Moses is out looking after his father-in-law’s sheep when suddenly in the distance he notices something a little odd. A bush seems to be on fire. Yet there is something strange about the way it burns. Usually out in the wilderness a bush burns up in minutes if not seconds. Yet this bush seems to be burning at the same intensity as when Moses first noticed it.

    Moses goes over to investigate and, as he approaches, this burning bush begins to speak. Well, the bush doesn’t speak, but a voice comes from the bush, instructing Moses to take off his sandals because he is on holy ground.

    What follows is a conversation about what Moses needs to go and do because God has decided to act in response to the cries of the people.

    Some of the Rabbis, who reflected upon the Hebrew scriptures and gave interpretation and instruction on them offered this thought. What if the bush had always been burning, it is just that Moses only just noticed it on this day?

    Tynemouth has no Methodist chapels. Yet over the last 200 years it has had three grand buildings that Methodist people

    have gathered in. The first still stands. In fact some of you will have sat in it even though it closed it doors in 1870. A conversation with someone in the last week revealed just this as I talked about Percy Street Methodist Church. Today it is the Priory Theatre but its original use was as a Wesleyan Chapel.

    Like this person, if you look closely when you are there you will notice that it still refers to its original use on a plaque.

    Percy Street Wesleyan Methodist closed when a larger chapel was built in pride of place on Front Street. This grand building seated over 700 and sat where the library and flats are situated now. The Chapel closed in 1934, becoming the Carlton Cinema until it was demolished in the 70s.

    The Methodists from Front St did not go far though. On the corner of Front St stood the Congregational Church that today we know as the Land of Green Ginger. A Congregational member by the name of John Patton, through his enthusiasm, brought together the two churches to form the Covenant Church that existed from 1950 to 1973.

    The Rabbis’ question to the story of Moses and the burning bush is one of noticing. Was the bush always burning, or was

    it that Moses didn’t notice it until that day? Maybe he had walked past it many times and just paid no attention. When he did notice it, and approached it, he then heard the voice of God speaking to him from it.

    When I moved to the area one of the things I noticed was that there weren’t many churches in Tynemouth. In the years I have lived in the area I have noticed some talk about planting a church in Tynemouth but nothing has ever come of it. I have noticed the work of Street Pastors who have served its night time economy and the Mouth of the Tyne festival.

    Since I began researching these notes, I have noticed that the Methodist church has been present, that its history can still be found if you look for it.

    And maybe there is a burning bush in Tynemouth or somewhere else today just waiting for someone to take notice.

    Questions to reflect on

    1.How would you describe your eyesight?
    2.Have you ever walked past or spoken to someone famous and not noticed who they were? Or have you been somewhere when something dramatic or strange has happened and you didn’t realise till afterwards?
    3.Can you describe how you get from your house to your chapel on Sunday? Which way do you go? What do you pass? Who else is out and about?
    4.Do you think Moses took notice of the bush that day because…?
    a.It was burning
    b.It didn’t burn up
    5.What would have caught your attention in that situation? 6.Think about one of the following places and ask the questions below.
    a.Your street
    b.Your workplace
    c.Your local shopping street/centre
    d.Your chapel
    What have you noticed recently about this place? What do you notice about the people who are there? Have you noticed anything that is missing or that you think should be there? Have you noticed God at work?

  • Where the Lost Things Go : Waiting in the Place

    Where the Lost Things Go : Waiting in the Place

    Lent 2 : 5th March : 3pm
    Meeting beside Whitley Bay Health Centre on Whitley Road, NE26 2ND (W3W jokes.ruins.dust)
    walking to Beverly Terrace, NE30 4NU, (W3W wedge.atomic.alien). Approx 1.4 miles 30mins
    round trip.

    GENESIS 32:22-32

    Journeying God of the lost things

    be with us as we wrestle

    as we laugh as we cry

    May we keep going may we stand firm

    may we learn to rebuild when we need to

    It is easy to knock down Takes nerve to wait, in the place.

    Amen

    We pick up the story of Jacob now as he and his family prepare to meet Esau, his estranged brother. Jacob is right to be wary of his brother, since he robbed him of his birthright when they were younger. He sends his herds of sheep and goats, as well as his slaves ahead of him as a gift in an attempt to quell any anger Esau may have towards him.

    Before Jacob meets his brother, though, he has an interesting encounter. He sends his wives and family across a stream with the rest of his possessions until he is the only one left. As he stands alone on the bank of the stream he is approached by a man and they begin to wrestle.

    This tussle wasn’t a short lived scrap but lasted all night and in the end the man dislocates Jacob’s hip in order to bring an end to the fight. Even with this injury, Jacob refuses to let go until this man has blessed him.

    Jacob, who is fond of naming places, calls this one Peniel which means face of God. It was at this place that he wrestled God and lived.

    This week we look at a number of churches that suffered struggles on their journey. We start with Trinity Methodist,

    Whitley Bay, a Wesleyan chapel that was built in 1885 and was situated on Whitley Road where the health centre is located now. We don’t know a lot about the church other than on the 29th August 1940 a 500lb bomb hit the church.

    A little further down Whitley Road stood the United Free Methodist Church that would later become known as St Margaret’s. This church had begun in a cottage on Simpson Street in Cullercoats in 1868 and moved into the building in 1878 when the then President of Conference, Revd A Halliday, spoke at its first service. It grew over the years, adding a school hall in 1891. In 1899 the church left its circuit to become a one church circuit.

    On the 16th October 1903 the church caught fire during some building work, completely destroying it. From its ashes a new chapel was built, opening in 1904. Its ministry continued until major repairs meant the church had to close in 1989.*

    Up the road from St Margaret’s was John Street Primitive Methodist Church. There had been a chapel on the site since 1833. This was developed in 1868 when revival hit North Shields and the surrounding area. An even bigger chapel was built in 1900 alongside the existing one. But in 1942 on 8th August a German plane dropped a bomb on the church, completely destroying it and killing 13 year old Dennis Armstrong who was in the church alone, practicing on the organ.

    With John Street destroyed, a new home was found within weeks in the Monks Haven guest house on Beverly Terrace. Eventually the stable at the back was converted into a chapel and the church met here until its current building was finished in Cullercoats in 1957.

    *Some note the chapel was closed and demolished quickly as there were those who wanted to list the building.

    Jacob receives his blessing after a wrestling match that left him in pain and struggling. The stories of three of these chapels are also ones of struggle. Yet despite the destruction and setbacks that they suffered, God’s people persevered.

    The people of Trinity joined St John’s and other churches and continued to worship with them. St Margaret’s rebuilt after the fire and continued to grow. John Street became Monks Haven which in turn became Cullercoats Methodist.

    To quote Harry Taylor, a member of John Street, “We’ve lost the ship, but the crew are sound and we can build her again”.

    Questions to reflect on:

    1.If something with sentimental value breaks are you more likely to…?
    a.Keep it even though it is broken
    b.Throw it away and buy a new one
    c.Find someone who can fix it
    d.Try and fix it yourself
    2.Why have you chosen that answer?
    3.When was the last time you struggled to do something?
    Did you manage to complete the task? Or did you give up? 4.Would you ever say that you have wrestled with God? Are you still wrestling? How would you describe this experience?
    5.If the chapel that you worship in on a Sunday no longer existed what do you think you would do? a.Build a new one on the same site
    b.Build a new one somewhere else
    c.Go to another church elsewhere
    d.Meet in another building in the area e.Something else
    6.What are your reasons for choosing that answer?

  • Where the Lost Things Go : Watching as you Grow

    Where the Lost Things Go : Watching as you Grow

    3rd April : 6pm
    Meeting on Cumberland Street, NE28 6SL (W3W voted.spare.leader) walking to St John
    Street, NE29 6JD, (W3W slam.depend.drill). Approx 1.2miles 30mins trip. Short walk to metros to get back to start point.

    JOHN 12:12-24

    Journeying God of the lost things

    Are they all lost to death? Is it inevitable?
    Can death be defied?

    Death feeding the very earth providing nutrients

    encouraging flourishing

    Earthy resurrection divine echoing

    watching as we grow encouraging new life

    Amen

    We have arrived at Palm Sunday. Jesus journeys into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and the people greet him with songs of praises. There would have been people of all nationalities in the city at that time. Some to worship, and some who may have just come to see the spectacle of it all.

    Some Greeks who were there, and had obviously heard about Jesus wanted the opportunity to meet him. They speak to Philip who in turn speaks to Andrew and Philip and they eventually tell Jesus.

    The response they get is probably not what they were expecting though. Instead of responding with a yes, bring them over, they get a prediction of his death.

    Jesus uses the image of a kernel of wheat needing to fall to the ground and die in order for it to produce more seeds.

    Anyone with even a small and basic understanding of gardening will know this to be true.

    Plants are designed to reproduce. Many of them do this by making seeds that are either blown by the wind to new places, eaten by birds and dropped elsewhere, or just fall to the ground. These seeds may look dead but in the right conditions they will eventually begin to sprout, take root and grow into a new plant, and the cycle begins again.

    This is death and resurrection at work.

    Our final few chapels are situated in Willington Quay and Percy Main. Willington Quay had at least two chapels at one time. One was situated on Norman Terrace and was a Primitive Methodist. It opened in 1844 and had 150+ members and a thriving Sunday school according to the census return.

    There is record of another Methodist chapel in Willington Quay known as Central Methodist. Some records have this as Primitive and some have it as Wesleyan. We know it closed around 1969 and the building was close to, if not the same one as, Norman Terrace. The chapel was situated where the toll booths for the northbound exit of the Tyne Tunnel are situated.

    A note was made in an early publication to the dedication of the members of the chapel who gave up their leisure time to help shift stone from the nearby quarry to build the chapel.

    If we move on up to Percy Main we are going to look at two churches, though records suggest there have been five chapels in this small area. The Primitives started in 1821 when William Clowes preached in the village and the first chaple had 18 members. They built a chapel in 1829 which was in use till 1884 when a new one was built on Backworth Street. This second chapel made it to 1902 when a third Primitive chapel was built to seat 300. It was in use till 1974.

    The Wesleyans had an early chapel on Middle row which may have been the old Primitive chapel. Eventually they built their own chapel at a cost of £300 in 1884 and this lasted till 1956. In 1956 the Wesleyans joined with the Primitives in their chapel and then in 1976 they joined the local Anglican Church.

    Chapels open, chapels close, chapels expand and merge. This is the story of Willington Quay and Percy Main Methodist Chapels. This is the story of North Shields and Whitley Bay Methodist Church and the Methodist Church at large.

    Our history is rooted in the stories told this week and in the weeks gone by. It is also rooted in the story of Jesus and his life, death and resurrection.

    Seeds have to die in order to produce more.

    Questions to reflect on:

    1.How would you describe your gardening skills?
    2.What is the most magnificent thing you have ever grown? 3.Have you ever had to stop something or lay something down? How easy did you find this? How did it make you feel?
    4.Following on from the question above. When you stopped, did it open new doors for you to do new things? 5.What would you stop doing tomorrow if it meant you could achieve your biggest dream in your personal life? 6.Think about your church community and all that it does.
    What would you stop tomorrow if it meant you could achieve your church’s dream?
    7.Jesus gives us an example of sacrificial love. Giving of himself for others. What would you give up as an individual or as a church in order let God’s work flourish in another place?