Sunday 17th March 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Readings: Philippians 2:1-11 John 12: 20-33 In our John text today Jesus says ‘unless a kernel of wheat falls in the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds.’ Service is a clear and repeating biblical theme - what does it mean to die to personal ambition and live for the needs of others? And what determines whether that service will be life-giving? Watch the sermon here: https://youtu.be/yVw8cnYnD4A Benediction (from St Patrick’s Breastplate)
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today
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Sunday 10th March 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Texts: Ephesians 2: 1-10 Luke 12: 16-30 (rom Psalm 65.8,10,11,13; 67. The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us. You visit the earth and water it; you make it very plenteous. You soften the ground with showers; and bless the increase of it. You crown the year with your goodness; and your paths overflow with plenty. The meadows are clothed with sheep; the valleys stand so thick with corn, they shout for joy and sing. The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us. Generosity is a gift! Not only is it a gift to the recipient, it is possibly even more so to the giver! The New Zealand Health Foundation has identified giving as one of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and they have a chart up in doctors’ surgeries everywhere saying this. The Christian festival of Harvest Thanksgiving beautifully captures this idea of generosity, so let’s explore the gift of generosity through this ancient practice of Harvest Thanksgiving. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/Z82TU7oq72w A Foodie Prayer of Praise:
For food, glorious food and those who provide it Let us praise God for potatoes and pasta, crumbly cheese and juicy tomatoes Let us praise God for the smell of freshly baked bread, for butter and honey, jam and cream Let us praise God for colourful carrots and bendy bananas, peppers and peanuts and pears Let us praise God for sizzling sausages and bacon butties, for crunchy apples and seedless grapes Let us praise God for milk and for juice, for fish and for chips Let us praise God for chocolate and for biscuits, for cornflakes and toast Let us praise God for food, glorious food and those who provide it Let us praise God Amen Sunday 3rd March 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Readings: Ephesians 1: 3-10 Matthew 16: 21-23 Jesus was a man with a mission, resolute and purpose filled! We know just how resolute he was because, when Peter got in his way with protestations and opposition to the plan he was told, in effect ‘Get on board with God’s plan, Peter.’ Christians generally have a heightened sense of purpose. We believe that this is a planned and purposeful universe, planned from before the beginning of time and moving toward a time when all things are reconciled. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/DeUvTzIbvQc Sunday 25th February 2024 Readings: Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 Today we recall the faith of Abraham, who believed and trusted in God, even when there was no reason for hope. Gracious and loving God, when we struggle to place our trust in you; have mercy on us and forgive us. Help us when we hesitate, guide us when we are bewildered, and strengthen us when we are weak. Breathe your Spirit upon us so that we may have the courage to follow Jesus wherever he takes us. Amen. “God will count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:24b-25) Hear and believe these words about God's amazing grace. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/14G4dg8SOjU Sunday 18th February 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Readings: Genesis 9:8-17 Mark 1: 9-15 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. in this sanctuary where You meet us. Research and thinking about the topic of the power of positivity, the attitude of gratitude, indicates that it is important in both the good times and the bad times. In fact, it comes into its own in times of difficulty. You can watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/DleiLtkxRkE Sunday 11th February 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Readings: Matthew 5: 17-20 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Happy are those who walk in God’s ways. Blessed are those who observe God’s commandments. Faithful are those whose eyes are fixed on righteousness. Joyful are those whose hearts are filled with praise. Come, let us love the Lord our God. We come to worship the One who leads us in the ways of life. (inspired by Psalm 119: 1-8) This is the 4th sermon in a series that reflects on the research that shows people who belong to faith communities tend to live good and longer lives than average. Based on this research, in an article called The Surprising Connections between Faith and Health, the writer Rob Moll comments: “If religious faith could be packaged in a pill, the stock price of drug companies would soar. Religion, not merely spirituality, is a profound predictor of health.” One of the keys to winning at life is to know the guidelines and rules, the instructions and maker’s manual, and to follow them! Watch the full sermon here: https://youtu.be/zJG-oBuLvvo For those wishing to worship at home, our Bulletin/Service Sheet can be downloaded from our News page. Sunday 4th February 2024 Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Readings: Mark 1: 29-39 Philippians 4: 4-9 Research on the Healing Power of Prayer indicates that the well-being impact of prayer is increased when it is not only practiced alone, but also within a faith community. Today’s passage from Mark’s gospel is an early look at a day in the life of Jesus, a ‘specimen day’ as one commentator coins it, and, clearly, Jesus’ daily rhythm was prayer soaked! It is such a trap to forgo prayer because of the busyness of life! Martin Luther once said “Work, work, from morning until late at night. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer.” There are lots of studies that demonstrate the positive impact of prayer on well-being. If Jesus was so invested in the importance of prayer, this is surely a template for life as Christian people. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/3pxB34EVCqU Sermon Series: Living Long in the Land Sunday 28th January 2024 Readings: John 17: 20-26 Acts 2:44-47 This sermon series explores living long and living well! What are the factors that lead to a good, long life? Today’s theme is Life Giving Community and in our bible reading from the book of Acts we hear about the immediate and spontaneous result of the Pentecostal experience, the forming of a thriving faith community. This was an attractive community. People liked what they saw and joined in their droves. And so it is that this very first Church community set a pattern that people have been drawn to and found life in for the centuries to follow. And people have found Christian church community life giving! Watch the recording of the sermon here: https://youtu.be/qcPnbhAbn3g Come, and praise God!
In the company of the God’s people, let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Great are the works of God, full of glory and majesty. Our God is gracious and compassionate; our God is merciful and forgiving our God is faithful and trustworthy, our God is just and good. So come, let’s worship God together. God’s praise will last forever Sunday 21 January 2024 Readings: Jonah 3:1-5 Mark 1:14-20 This week’s readings lead us to think about the theme of repentance – it’s the message God sent Jonah to Nineveh to deliver, and it’s the message that Jesus also began his ministry by proclaiming. In Mark’s gospel the first words Jesus speaks are: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” The sermon, though, focuses on the call to holiness as part of discipleship. Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/DoBantXfkBU God of majesty, Trinity of Love,
Accept and make holy all that we are, all that we have, and all that we offer you. Keep us firm in our faith, and strong in your service. Create in us a new heart, that we may respond willingly to your transforming grace and power. One God, our Saviour, now and for ever. Amen. Sunday 14th January 2024 Readings: Psalm 139 1 Samuel 3:1-20 John 1:43-51 We have come to worship God, who loved us before we were yet born, who knows us even better than we know ourselves, whose presence never leaves us, and whose love for us never ceases. Today’s sermon considers the readings from Psalm 139 and from 1 Samuel 3. You can watch the recording of it here: https://youtu.be/SBmqX5Oudws I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need; The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward, The word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. |
Worship ResourcesWorship Services are held at 10am every Sunday. For those unable to join us in person, a recorded version will be available from 9am each week. Archives
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Administrator: Gail Weaver |