New Things
Readings: John 13:31-35 & Acts 11:1-18
 
Come all who are weary
of wealth, of poverty, of power, of struggle, of division
Come all who are heavy-laden
with too much, with too little, with anxiety, with fear, with anger
Come all who have hope
for liberation, for peace, for freedom, for the kingdom
Hear these words
“See, I am making all things new.”

​(from I Am Making All Things New, written by Rosie Venner. Posted on the WSCF Europe website. http://wscf-europe.org/mozaik-issues/mozaik-25-the-powers-that-be/worship-i-am-making-all-things-new/)
 
The recorded sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/TbPagStJe34
 

John 21: 1-19: The Risen Christ appears to his disciples on the beach and speaks to them of his abiding love for them as well as their responsibility to follow him.
 
For over 65 years I have read or listened to the events of Easter and Post Easter as recorded in the New Testament. And as I read them again this year, it struck me that there is, somehow, always a freshness about them and a sense of the surprising and the unexpected.
 
Watch the recorded sermon - It was outside their own experience! - here: https://youtu.be/Jjqj1_Rpq1E

Good Shepherd Sunday
Ezekiel 34: 11-16
Isaiah 53: 1-9
John 10: 11-18
 
View the recorded Reflections for today’s service here: https://youtu.be/k3PsI1Qmc3A

To those who hear his voice, recognise it and follow Jesus he promises that they will be part of the heavenly choir mentioned in the Revelation of John. To them Jesus promises eternal life.
 
What a wonderful promise that is! Jesus is promising us that if we are genuinely His sheep, then nothing can change that fact. If we are His followers, we will inherit eternal life. To put it another way, God is holding on to us, and won’t let go. This is a tremendous promise that should encourage us when we fail. We cannot mess up so badly that we are lost to God, because we are not holding on to God – God is holding on to us. The Good Shepherd always has us in his care.
 
Thank You that in Your grace and through the Lord Jesus
You seek us out, You find us,
You help us, and give us new joy and hope.
We hear Your call to care for others as You care for us,
to love as You love,
to give and go on giving,
​to heal, to feed, to nurture and reconcile. 

Harvest Thanksgiving
 
From Psalm 65:
You show your care for the land by sending rain;
    you make it rich and fertile.
You fill the streams with water;
    you provide the earth with crops.
This is how you do it:
you send abundant rain on the plowed fields
    and soak them with water;
you soften the soil with showers
    and cause the young plants to grow.
What a rich harvest your goodness provides!
    Wherever you go there is plenty.
The pastures are filled with flocks;
    the hillsides are full of joy.
The fields are covered with sheep;
    the valleys are full of wheat.
Everything shouts and sings for joy!
 
Readings for today:
John 20:19-31
Acts 5:27-32
 
In today’s sermon, Anne explores Faith lessons from “Doubting Thomas” – you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/lg2PxgJkhVA

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Readings:
1 Corinthians 15:19-26: “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied,” says Paul as he recites our hope through the resurrection of Jesus.
John 20:1-18: John tells the story of Easter and the miracle that happened as Jesus’ astonished disciples see the empty tomb. But Mary Magdalene lingers at the tomb and there she is encountered by the Risen Christ.
 
View the recorded sermon for today here: ​https://youtu.be/RSZuLRbbxg4

​The message of Easter is clear – the story is not yet over. We haven’t heard the punch line. If one word of advice comes from the Easter story it is, don’t be premature in your judgement of what God is doing here.

Readings: 
Isaiah 50:4-9a: The prophet Isaiah proclaims the advent of a servant who will come to suffer and to bear the sins of Israel.
 
Luke 19:28-40: Today’s Gospel is the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
 
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Let the shouts ring out!
Let the parade begin!
Wave the palm branches high and join the crowd.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!
 
Palm Sunday is a day where Jesus finally is acknowledged by not only his disciples but by crowds of people as the redeemer King. Yet by the end of this week those same crowds were the ones calling for his crucifixion. Why? What caused them to change their minds?
 
Watch the Sermon here: https://youtu.be/Tvk1eUAH_ko

Our weekly service sheet is available from our News page, and a printable copy of the sermon will be available on there next week.

Philippians 3: 4b-14: Paul stresses the Christian life as a matter of living into God’s promised future, of leaving something behind so that a far better life might be embraced.
John 12:1-8: Jesus is anointed, as if for burial, by Mary who loves him. Thus, we are given a prophetic preview of the events that await him in the coming week.
 
The sermon this week reflects on the John reading. This isn’t the only account of this story in the Gospels. All four writers tell the story but each in their own way, and important details differ.
You can view the recording here: https://youtu.be/_FqwzQHEQPA

Bible Readings:
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 &  2 Corinthians 5:16-21
 
Reflecting on the well-known story of the Prodigal Son, Anne’s sermon this week is entitled “Good News” and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/TbEQrTQ2SkQ

Psalm 32 (New Living Translation)
Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
    whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
    my body wasted away,
    and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
    My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
    and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
    And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
    that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
    you protect me from trouble.
    You surround me with songs of victory.
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
    that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
    but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
  Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-9 & Luke 13:1-9

Choosing wisely: Exploring the parable of the fig tree that would not bear fruit.
​
View the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/pBZ2oAAwt6w

​One of the greatest challenges of having faith and loving God, and knowing we are loved by God, is to let God be God. We have faith that God will come to us, that God will heal us that God will save us – but it is not always on our schedule. Are we prepared to give God the great gardener time to nurture us and tend us as the gardener requested for the fig tree?

With Arms Open Wide
Readings: Genesis 15: 1-12 & 17-18; Luke 13: 31-35
 
Rev Dr Geoff King is our guest preacher this week, and his Sermon – With Arms Open Wide – can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/yyc1muUz2kc

As usual, the weekly service sheet can be found on our News page, if you would like to use it for personal worship at home.
 
And we also wanted to share with you the words for this hymn by Shirley Murray – Community of Christ
 
Community of Christ, who make the cross your own
Live out your creed and risk your life for God alone:
The God who wears your face, to whom all worlds belong,
Whose children are of every race, and every song.

Community of Christ! Look past the Church’s door
And see the refugee, the hungry and the poor:
Take hands with the oppressed, the jobless in your street
Take towel and water, that you wash your neighbour’s feet.

Community of Christ through whom the Word must sound
Cry out for justice and for peace the whole world round:
Disarm the powers that war and all that can destroy,
Turn bombs to bread, and tears of anguish into joy.

When menace melts away, so shall God’s will be done,
The climate of the world be peace and Christ its sun;
Our currency be love, and kindliness our law,
Our food and faith be shared as one forevermore.