Chris continues his series in Starting With God by looking at all of those things that we contstruct for ourselves to replace God or to divert our attention away from Him. The Bible has a word for those things: idols. Idols can even be things that make us think that God approves of what we’re…
This week we begin a new series focussing on re-setting our relationship with God. In the introduction Chris lays out what the series will encompass using the illustration of a jigsaw puzzle. The final piece that completes the puzzle is Jesus, but how do we ensure that we don’t lose him in the noise of life?
Karen leads the rest of the service with sung worship this week led by Pete and Nick.
Unbelievably we are now in the period of Advent, time to reflect on the period of waiting for Jesus’ coming. As we enter this time for 2025 Chris speaks on the times where God leaves us waiting, in our minds for seemingly no reason. But we are reminded that God doesn’t work on our timing…
This week we held our annual Science Sunday service where we invite a guest speaker to join us (through one of Chris’ many science contacts!) and explore the intersection of faith and science. This year we are joined by Andy Boston, a physicist by training, who has worked in the energy sector for several decades, latterly heading up a government-commissioned group to look at how the energy industry can more easily transition to green alternatives. Andy speaks on where our energy comes from, both in terms of our physical and spiritual needs.
Chris leads the rest of the service as we light the first candle on our Advent wreath (yes, it is that time of year already), and Pete leads our sung worship.
This week is the final part of our series in Isaiah 61, with Chris looking at verse 7. We see the last exchanges that Isaiah is prophecying about: that through God’s Spirit our shame and disgrace will turn into an inheritance of joy. Thanks to Jesus’ unthinkable sacrifice on the cross we don’t need to bear any more shame for the sins we have comitted and can exchange those for joy in God, which is our strength.
Andy leads the rest of the service as we get an update from Trevor about our mission of the month Mercy Ships, whilst Lynne and Mike lead our sung worship.
This week Chris continues our series in Isaiah 61, looking at verses 5 and 6 and asking one of the oldest questions in civilisation: what is our purpose? Thankfully the Bible has the answer, through the grace of Jesus our ultimate purpose is to be a priesthood for God. To teach and show His ways to others in the hope that they might also become part of the mighty and royal priesthood. How can we carry this out?
Ant leads the rest of our service for Remembrance Sunday as we join with the rest of the country to pause and remember those who have served and died for our peace and freedom. Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.
It’s the first week of November which we usually reserve for our all age services. However, this week we’re trying something different: tying in our all age service with our ongoing series in Isaiah 61. Chris leads us through looking at verse 4 and thinks about all of the damaged and destroyed things that God can rebuild through His Spirit and through us ourselves.
Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship for this week.
We continue our series in Isaiah 61 looking at the second part of verse 3 where Isaiah makes the astonishing promises that God can take the situations in our lives where we are in mourning or dispair and turn them around to give us beauty, joy and praise. Chris challenges us to bring our pain and grief to God and allow him to transform our lives. Stephanie also brings us her testimony of how God has worked this verse through her life over the last few years.
Susan leads the rest of the service and Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.
We continue our new series in Isaiah 61 with Chris this time focussing on verses 2 and 3. Isaiah is very clear in his writing that alongside the year of the Lord’s favour also comes the day of his vengeance and judgement. There will be tough times for everyone and in the end we need to make sure that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Thankfully through Jesus there is an easy route to have our names in the Book – keep our faith in him! Isaiah also prophecies that the spirit of the Lord can bring comfort to those who mourn and grieve. Sometimes we are not even aware of our need to grieve until it is pointed out to us, but come to God and he will give you comfort and rest.
Andy leads the rest of the service with prayers for the ongoing situation in the Middle East, whilst Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.
Today we begin our new series looking at Isaiah 61. Isaiah prophecies to Israel in verse 1 that one will come who can say: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me” and Chris uses that as the overarching title of the new series. This week he looks in depth at the promises made in verse 1 that the Spirit will allow the promised servant to proclaim good news, bind the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom to the captives and release prisoners from their darkness. Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy, and he delegates his power to us so that we also may be able to fulfil the prophecy. What a gift!
Karen leads the rest of the service as we share communion together and pray for the various situations around the world that badly need God’s intervention. Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.