The Trinity of Love: Love God; Love your neighbour; Love yourself
Readings: Psalm 139: 1-18 & 23-24 and Luke 10: 25-37
 
Today’s service has been prepared by rev Ivan Pierce and is being delivered by a range of people from our congregation. The service sheet can be found on our News page, and, this week, includes a page of “exercises” to help you work towards loving yourself.
 
A video based on today’s service can be viewed at https://youtu.be/_zUW-HrLAPo

PENTECOST
Acts 2:1-21

“It is typical of God’s calling to us that on the day of Pentecost, instead of being allowed to dwell on what it feels like and means to have tongues of fire resting on you, the disciples have to go straight out and start preaching.” (Lectionary reflections – Year A, by Jane Williams)

​A recorded message for Pentecost can be found here: https://youtu.be/CmB8MYFgf8g

Departures & Arrivals
Text:  John 17:6-19; Acts 1:1-10
 
“We, like the disciples, are called to journey into this world as bearers of a message, a way, a truth that has the power to draw the world back to God.
May we know this journey is blessed, prayed for, in the good company of God and other like minds, and ultimately the one good, true way to go.”
 
For those who cannot make the Service today, Hamish has recorded his message, which can be accessed here:
https://youtu.be/NrswR9BLHJ4

Mother’s Day
Text: John 15:9-17 & 1 John 5:1-6
In the passage from John, there is a theme of love and obedience. The biblical commentator Leslie Newbigin puts it this way:
“Life in the vine is love manifested in obedience, and obedience manifested in love.”
 
Copies of this week’s service sheet can be viewed on our News page, and a printable copy of the sermon will be uploaded there early next week. In the meantime, a recorded version of the sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/BkvXHqMFTpI

Theme: Remaining Fruitful
Text: John 15:1-8; 1 John 4: 7-21

The theme of the service today comes from John 15 where Jesus says he is the true vine and we are the branches.

When Jesus uses the image of the vine in John 15 he is drawing on along biblical lineage. The image is Israel as a vine planted in the promised land by God, care for by God, but with a mind of its own, prone to grow out of control and consequently becoming unfruitful.
This is the background well known to the Jewish hearers of Jesus as he said:
“I am the true vine, and the Father is the gardener (15:1)
 
A recorded version of this week’s message can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/tcTbP-sEjGM