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

Texts:
Psalm 65:9-13
John 11:17-27

Today is our Harvest Thanksgiving service.

Watch the recorded sermon here: ​https://youtu.be/voK3IxxMP6A

Text: John 9:1-41

Today we look at Jesus Healing a Blind Man in a way that has echoes of Creation in Genesis.  May we be encouraged as we look at this Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Watch the recorded Sermon here: https://youtu.be/WWmkrX8VTvs​

Text: John 4: 1-30
 
Call to Worship (based on Jeremiah 17: 5-10)
This is what the Lord says:
When we put all our trust in human strength--
in systems, success, security, or ourselves--
we end up with diminished and dried up lives
We know what it feels like to run on empty.
We know the ache of unfulfilment
A life rooted only in material things is like a shrub in the desert--
surviving, but not flourishing.
God, we don’t want to just survive.
We want to live.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord--
not halfway, not when it’s convenient--
but fully.
When we trust in God,
we are like trees planted by water--
steady when heat comes,
unafraid in drought,
alive and growing even in hard seasons.
Plant us by Your living water.
Grow deep roots in us.
Keep our leaves green.
We come to worship the One who knows us
and loves us.
We come to trust the Lord--
our living water,
our steady stream,
our source of life.
 
The text this week tells the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. It starts with one tired and thirsty man by a well alone, and ends with a crowd of previously disconnected people enthusiastically crowded together!

Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/NyhSkK9XBNI