First Sunday in Advent

Readings: Luke 21:25-36 & Psalm 25:1-10

For the first Sunday in Advent, we light the Candle of Hope, and the theme of hope is throughout our service today.

For those who want a bit of a refresher, or who have not been able to join us in person, the recording of the sermon can be viewed here: ​https://youtu.be/wifkb_3Dxr8

Reign of Christ the King
Readings: Luke 1:59-80; Isaiah 9:1-7

Hamish’s message for this Sunday is around how we do Advent in COVID times?
How do the Advent themes of love, joy, peace and hope speak into our situation?
How does the birth of Jesus lighten the shadow of pandemic that hangs over us?

You can access the video message by using the following link: https://youtu.be/8hdhqgT2xhw

Everything she had
Reading: Mark 12: 38-44

It is interesting to note what we notice and what we fail to notice. Our vision is selective; it has to be. We can’t focus our gaze on everything that appears before our eyes.

In this reading, sitting in the Temple opposite the Treasury, Jesus uses the occasion to teach the disciples the difference between pride and humility.
 
You can view the recording here: https://youtu.be/7RD1FvA3Nh0, and download the service sheet from our News page.

Seed or Stone?
 
Readings: Ruth 1:1-18 & John 11: 32-44
 
A celebration of All Saints’ Day
In many churches, All Saints’ Day (1st November) celebrates all people of faith, recalling how, in New Testament usage, the word saints refer to Christians collectively, as well as those people of special significance who have been set apart by the church or canonized. It is the recognition of the common bond of Christians, both living and dead, and the common bond of the church here on earth and the church triumphant in heaven.
Revelation paints a picture of God’s victory in Jesus Christ, that place, that time when “the dwelling of God will be with humanity,” when God at last will have had God’s way with the world. That’s what Christian talk of heaven is about – God’s victory in Jesus Christ when God’s loving purposes will at last be accomplished forever and ever.
 
Today’s service sheet can be found on our News page, and the recorded sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/N0V8i9SY6lk – a pdf of the sermon will be uploaded to the News page early next week.

The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46-52)
 
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him (v.51)
 
We explore more about this story in this week’s sermon, which can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/2P5WtApnP5Y
 
To conclude, you may wish to listen to this music for reflection - John Rutter’s setting of a Celtic blessing, “Deep Peace,” sung by Aled Jones (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9Ook_bp0w), the words of which are
 
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you. 

Focused

Matthew 6: 16-24
Fasting
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Eye Health
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

What do you think – what is the link between these 3 topics?
I am suggesting that the thing that links the 3 sayings here is the importance of a single focus and the potential damage of being distracted into double vision!
 
The recording of the sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/xCKUUm0R9Wg.
 
And the weekly Bulletin/service sheet can be found on our News page.

This Sunday David Coster is leading worship, and will be preaching on the theme of “Why me? What have I done?" which is based on the reading from Job 23:1-9 & 16-17.

The Book of Job is one of the more interesting books in the Hebrew scriptures, because it is not historical or prophetic, rather it stands with the wisdom material of Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The subject of the narrative is as old as the hills and as modern as the Space age. If God is just and good, why does God let innocent people suffer?
 
If you cannot make it along to worship we have prepared a video for you to watch which you can access by using the following link: https://youtu.be/SbTdGOiazxs

(Just a quick note about the video: Hamish has been in charge of these up to now, and David and Gail have just learnt how to use the programme. We didn’t quite stop the recording when it should have, so ignore the last couple of minutes of the video! I’m sure we’ll get it right next time!)

World Communion Sunday
Theme: Through the eyes of a child
 
Texts:
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 “Israel, remember this! The LORD—and the LORD alone—is our God.”
Mark 10: 13-16 - Jesus Blesses Little Children
 
We have gathered here this morning to worship God.
We have come seeking comfort, community, insight and inspiration.
We have come to open ourselves to God’s transforming love.
We come acknowledging our need of God’s help.
 
The recorded sermon can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/EE6tzIn4Igo
 

Readings for this week:
​Esther 7:1-6, 9-10 and 9:20-22
Mark 9:38-50
 
Inclusive God, we gather together.
Welcoming God, we come to you.
Valuing God, we see our worth in you.
Challenging God, open our ears to your words,
open our minds to explore your ways,
open our hearts to receive all that you offer.
Loving God, we come to you.
Amen.
 
The recording of the sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/Sxxywymv6og

The Road to Greatness
(Mark 9:30-37)

In today’s story the disciples clearly had ego problems, arguing amongst themselves about positioning in the coming kingdom. Jesus takes them aside and works on their attitude issues!

There is a generic lesson here about allowing Jesus to sit with us and work on our issues, and a particular lesson about the road to greatness.

To view the recording of this week’s sermon, go to https://youtu.be/X94aC7AzbeM

The text of the sermon, as well as the service sheet for this week, can be found on our News page.