​Text: Genesis 12:1-9

The theme for this week's Sermon is the first of the "Abraham’s Legacy" Sermon Series.

Text: Acts 2:1-21

Today is Pentecost – the day when the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mark considers this momentous event in his sermon, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/xlUVnxikCXE?si=2ZW9i3OWzcMSWrLK

Text: Acts 1: 6-11
 
Call to Worship for Ascension Day based on Psalm 68
Sing to God! Sing praises to the One who rides upon the heavens!
We rejoice before the Lord, whose name is mighty and glorious..
From the highest heavens, God’s voice resounds in power and majesty.
Christ is ascended and reigns in glory over all creation.
Proclaim the strength of God, whose power fills heaven and earth.
Awesome is God in holiness and splendour!
Blessed be God, who gives strength and power to the people.
We come to worship the risen and ascended Christ. Alleluia!
 
 
While often glossed over because the idea of Jesus just disappearing up to the clouds seems a bit weird to our modern ears. It feels more like the stuff of myths and legends. However, it is such a mistake to quickly gloss over this incident in the Easter story.
We must not let our modern world view blind us to the core message being communicated, that this ascension story is a key element in the overall Jesus story.
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/Kq8YQIVQaC4

Text: Acts 17: 16-33 (Paul in Athens)

Paul arrives in Athens as part of his second missionary journey; he has already been in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea and his is heading towards quite a long stint setting up a church in Corinth.

This text captures key elements of the ongoing work of Paul and the Apostles in the book of Acts: The idea of spreading out; The idea of a hunger for God; The idea of making God known.

There are lessons here about interacting with people who are expressing interest in spiritual things. We can learn from Paul to applaud that interest and work with that interest to invite exploration of the life-giving answers Christianity bring to spiritual enquiry.
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/BWIWFaFaAjY
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Text: Acts 7:55-60

Psalm of Praise (Psalm 34:1-4,7-8)
I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him!
 
The text this week tell the story of the stoning of Stephen, considered to be the first Christian martyr.
The intent of the author of Acts is to remind the readers of the cost of following Jesus but also to encourage them to fully commit to following Jesus.
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The sermon has been recorded and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/wmUpe9EJhqs?si=9N-OMbJS7TVDnP6K

Text: Acts 2:42-46

Today we are looking at the Early Church and flourishing community they were. We explore what needs they had and how they were met.
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You can watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/sBvXPLfndoM?si=NMYWkY3mpWKSN62H

Text: Acts 2: 14a, 36-42
 
Imagine Peter coming home to his family on the Day of Pentecost and they ask the standard question – how was your day? He had to reply with something like “mind blowingly fantastic! It started before 9am with this wash of the Holy Spirit washing over us and through us. And then I preached my very first sermon, and it just flowed with God-given passion and eloquence. But wait, there’s more! 3,000 people responded to the message and became followers of Christ!” That’s a pretty good day in any preacher’s working life. The question I want to explore today is, why was there such a strong, numerous and immediate response to this sermon?
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/U2kNk68zgIQ

Texts:
John 18:17, 25 – 27
Acts 2: 14, 22 - 24, 32 – 33
 
One of our Cashmere folk raises butterflies in his lounge! He carefully stewards swan plants and caterpillars through to the point where he is able to release monarch butterflies from his lounge window. In part this is a response to the decreasing numbers of butterflies, under threat as they are to the introduced pest wasps. But I also sense a lovely fascination with metamorphosis, the amazing transformation from humble caterpillar to majestic butterfly, from crawling along to flying free.

This process of caterpillar is a wonderful and beautiful metaphor for what happened in the early disciples and what is possible for all of us.
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Hear more about this in the recorded sermon, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/nODYVnZWFgc

Text: John 20
 
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
The resurrection story in John’s Gospel addresses some huge existential issues that humankind is presently facing, but the resurrection of Jesus rings out through the ages with resounding answers to these deep angsts.
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/CmyNf0X8Wgs

Text: Matthew 21:1-11

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday – Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of a Donkey – a significant event in the Christian calendar. We think about how central this event is to the Christian family and to the world.

The recorded sermon can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/8oTO6ZmCgRY