Readings:
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19

We are not here because we have found God
but because God our Creator has called us here,
challenging us to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
and to be servants in the service of the whole human family.
But the call is also God’s promise:
A promise of forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
and eternal life in that realm which has no end.
Blessing and honour and glory and power be to God!
 
Today’s sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/a9hJp07pSC8

Today's Readings:
​Exodus 24:12-18: Moses and Joshua, at the command of God, ascend the mountain taking with them representatives of the people. At the half way point Moses and Joshua continue alone. God, signified by the descending cloud, meets them there.

Matthew 17: 1-9: Jesus takes three of his disciples up on a mountain. There he is miraculously transfigured before them and a voice declares, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased; listen to him!” The disciples, upon seeing the vision and hearing the voice, were overcome by fear.
 
Transfiguration is not a word which is in common usage. We are more familiar with the words transform, transcribe, transfix or transgress.
 
Transfiguration is one of those “church” words which have a specific meaning. Because this is Transfiguration Sunday, in this context, the word refers to Christ’s appearance in radiant glory to three of his disciples on the mountaintop. Before the eyes of the disciples Jesus was transformed into something more beautiful or spiritual. The Transfiguration experience was a revealing to the disciples who Jesus really was: God’s Son, the Messiah or Christ.
Jesus was changed so as to glorify – which is what, in this context, the word transfigure means.
 
The Sermon for today - Good things come to those who wait! – has been recorded and you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/Mb3AZz6rlDc

The Choices we make

Readings:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Matthew 5:21-25
 
Making a decision is not always easy. We weigh up our options, think of all possibilities, consider what the outcome may be and then, if you are like me, procrastinate for a while. Those who Moses was leading through the desert were good at this. They wanted Moses to make the decisions for them and then they complained when they didn’t like the choice he made. How like those people are we?
 
The recording of the sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/YxkDqnTE7xU

What do we learn from our history?

Readings:
Isaiah 58:1-12: Isaiah becomes an instrument of God’s truth – telling as he announces to rebellious Israel the depth of their sin in this stirring call for national repentance. The call to repentance ends with the announcement of divine mercy for the penitent.
Matthew 5:13-20: Jesus continues his sermon on the mount by urging his followers to be salt and light for the world by obeying all of his commandments.
 
The recording of today’s sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/H1ed1svYAng