Our office administrator is on leave for a couple of weeks, so this page won't be being updated during that time.
It is intended to have recorded sermons available, though, and you will be able to access these from our YouTube channel: ​​https://www.youtube.com/@cashmerepresbyterianchurch

Text: Genesis 1: 1-11, 2:4-7

This planet earth is a beauty miracle of creation! The miracle is that we humans are here and able to perceive this beauty.
When I contemplate the extreme odds of a planet like ours and the creation narrative of Genesis, I wonder…… I wonder if God needed a universe this big, this vast, in order to provide the conditions that would allow a planet like earth to come into being? That is, God was prepared to create something as expansive and generous as this universe just to achieve earth with its life-giving dimensions!
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Hamish explores this concept in this week’s sermon, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/L2RNy-6Cu2E 

1 Kings 8:1,6,10-11, 22-30, 41-43
Ephesians 6:10-20
 
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

This is the last sermon on our series on the Letter to the Ephesians. You can watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/4QjSiN8bZnA

Text:
1 Kings 2: 10-12; 3:3-14
Ephesians 5: 15-20
 
Come, and praise God!
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 us worship God.
God’s praise will last forever!
 
Continuing the sermon series on the Letter to the Ephesians, the passage today begins with the image of a ‘walk’; verse 15 literally translated being “be very careful how you walk.” This passage then goes on to give us 2 vital components to walking the Christian life well. I am thinking about the image of 2 hands on the steering wheel, a basic component of driving carefully and well!

For those worshiping at home, you can download a copy of this week’s service sheet here: Bulletin 18 August 2024, and the text of the sermon will be available to download next week from our News page.
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Watch the recording of the sermon here: https://youtu.be/hnDej2J9Sac

Text: Ephesians 4: 25 – 5:2

Until this point in the book of Ephesians you could accuse Paul of being “Too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use!” But here in this passage, Paul changes gear and brings us down to the realities of basic human behaviour that are required to work towards the lofty vision God has for us, for the church, and for humankind on planet earth.
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/64_F9Xd4_R0

Come, let us put away all things that divide us and love one another.
For we are members of one body
Come, let us put away lies, anger, stealing, and unkind words.
For we have been shown the way to love
Let us be imitators of God, walk as the children of God, and love as Christ first loved us.
Come, let us be the people of God we are called to be

Readings:
John 6:24-35
Ephesians 4:1-16
 
Loving God, we are a body of your people:
from different ages and stages, with varied gifts and passions,
unique histories and circumstances, yet united by our shared faith,
our living hope and the strong bonds of Your love.
We gather to praise you, to be fed by your word,
and to respond in faith to what you ask of us.
Be with each one of us today, O Lord,
that our love for you and others will be strengthened,
and we may be inspired to share all that you have given us, with others.

Today’s sermon is based on the reading from Ephesians, and can be watched here:
https://youtu.be/INxtkaqWW2c

Texts:
Ephesians 3: 14-21
John 6: 1-21

Loving God, we come to you in worship today.
Strengthen us in our innermost being
and dwell in our hearts through faith.
May we be rooted and grounded in Christ,
whose love is beyond all knowledge.
Help us comprehend even the smallest part
of the beautiful mystery of your grace.
Grant that we may experience the fullness
of your presence with us.
 
The Ephesians passage profiles Paul’s fervent and heartfelt prayer for the church, that we might be jolted out of our tendencies to be small-minded and lacking in vision. He wants us to expand our understanding, knowledge and experience of God.

Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/d0WVYSIAIPY

​Text: Ephesians 2:11-22

A pivotal verse in our Ephesians reading is ‘With his own body Jesus broke down the walls that separated them and kept them enemies.’
Paul was talking about the walls that separated Jews and Gentiles in his time. But this wall building enterprise is everywhere! In this Ephesians passage, Paul talks about God’s desire to break down those walls wherever they exist.

Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/sANNCT3DrqY

Text: 2 Samuel 5: 1-10

A love that never ceases
A creativity that designed the universe,
A hope that cannot be quenched,
A pursuit of reconciliation no matter the cost:
These are the things that are of God
 
Today, as a dreadful war rages in and around Israel, we look back to the establishment of Jerusalem as David’s city – David is confirmed as King of Israel and makes his base, his capital city, Jerusalem. This sermon seeks to look back, look at the present, and look forward in terms of this troubled city and the place of Israel in the history, present and future of the world. It has been for so long, and certainly is today, a pivotal place in human affairs.

Firstly, a disclaimer: this is complicated and confusing. The more I looked into this, the more I realised I did not know! This topic lends itself more to a conversation than a sermon – so I will put out there my thoughts and definitely invite engagement from you, the listeners.
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Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/Knm3e4egpeY

O God of peace, you established Jerusalem as the Lord's House and a place of peace, and you have called on all who live there to love you and prosper. Instil in her inhabitants – Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Christians and Muslims - a hunger for justice and dignity and a resolve to end the distrust that culminates in violence.
Let us burn incense, not children. Let us break bread, not bodies.
Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries.
We beg for love and compassion to prevail
on all your holy mountains.

Reading: Mark 6:1-13

Following two dramatic stories of healing, Mark now tells of Jesus being rejected by the people of his hometown – after all, he is “only” the carpenter’s son!

​Jesus then goes on to send the 12 Disciples out to preach and teach – calling them to be Faithful Followers.

Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/rzCVgbQlons

Lord of all, inspired by your word and your love,
your apostles preached the good news to those they encountered.
Strengthen us as we seek to respond to your call
and to the needs of others,
that through the goodness of our actions,
the thoughtfulness of our faith
and the quality of our common life,
many would come to know the joy of life with you,
in Jesus Christ, our Lord.