After introducing our year text for 2024 a couple of weeks ago, Chris now looks at the verse in the original context. What was Paul trying to say to the Corinthians through this part of his letter, and how is that teaching going to be applicable to our lives throughout 2024?
Andy leads the rest of the service with an update on the Mission of the Month for January, CSW, whilst Mike leads our sung worship this week.
As we continue into 2024 we take some time this week to look back on what God has done through the church over the last year. Chris leads us through some of the ways that we’ve been led as a church and looks forward to what is going to happen in the coming year. We also reveal our year text and Chris speaks briefly about the meaning and decision behind the verse being chosen. But more on that in a couple of weeks!
Susan leads the rest of the service with a reflection on the Psalms whilst Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.
As we conclude our Advent series for 2023 Chris looks at Jesus bringing peace to the world. This doesn’t just mean no conflict; it means true Shalom peace, the reconciliation and reunification of God’s people. The making right of the world. And Jesus calls us to do that right alongside him.
We also have prayers for peace in situations in our lives and around the world whilst Pete leads our sung Christmas worship.
In our traditional carol service Chris speaks about the hope that we have through the birth of Jesus. The readings are brought to us by members of the congregation, whilst Mike, Lynne, Zoe and Dave lead us in our carols and songs.
We continue our Advent series for 2023 and Chris looks this week at the joy that Jesus brings. Joy is a simple but powerful word. It’s not something that we can force ourselves to feel, but something that processes out of glorifying and rejoicing in the Lord. Even in our darkest moments we are called to rejoice in the Lord and what Jesus has done, from this rejoicing will come our joy!
Ant leads the rest of the service with a rather unorthodox baking tutorial whilst Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.
After our all-age service last week we now start our Advent series for 2023 in earnest with Chris looking at the interconnected nature of hope, faith, joy and peace. This week he looks at faith, the nature of the faith we have in God, how faith comes out of hope, and how faith must inevitably lead to action: otherwise we might as well not have it at all.
Susan leads the rest of our service whilst Pete and Nick lead 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.