Today's gospel is from John 3:16, which begins, "For God so loved the world." These words carry profound significance. If they are true, they have the power to change everything. However, if they are not true, the world without God's love is depicted as a dark place, devoid of hope, future, and meaning.
In March's intergenerational service, as we follow the Big Story of God, we focus on Abraham. Abraham is known as the father of faith. God called him to follow, promised to bless him and told him to look up at the stars and trust him that he would have many descendents. We too are called to follow, trust and obey.
A grand service today as we celebrated the baptism of Lucas.
Jonathan & Michele have served in South Sudan with Mission Aviation Fellowship for two years. Last time we met, they were about to go. Now we hear how the last two years have gone. God has been faithful.
Three of the girls performed a dance to the song, "Build a Boat". The sermon explored God's willingness to heal and our willingness to obey.
As the schools go back, we focussed Jesus as a boy of 12 and on prayer for the schools, teachers, the children, their friends.
There was a different sermon at the 8am service on Isaiah 40. This is posted on the sermons blog.
As Jesus teaches in Capernaum, the people are amazed at his authority - both in his teaching and in delivering a man from a demon. As we continue with the gospel, we find he delegates authority to the apostles, the disciples and to their followers - to us. In Prayer Ministry we use the delegated authority which Jesus has given us.
Today, Rev. Anne Aspden reflected on the Old Testament story of Jonah and the Gospel account of Jesus calling fishermen to follow him. Jonah initially resists God's call, leading to a series of events, including being swallowed by a fish. In the Gospel, Jesus calls fishermen to discipleship, emphasising the need for a positive response to God's kingdom. Anne encouraged us to reflect on our own responsiveness to God's call, stressing the transformative journey of aligning one's life with God's will and embracing discipleship with an open heart.
In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul deals with sexual immorality and the spiritual ties we have with the Holy Spirit and which are established through sexual activity. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and we are to be clean vessels for the Lord to use. This concept of spiritual ties is clearly established here by Paul. There are also bonds formed between parents and children, by oath, in fellowship, by authority and submission. In ministry we sometimes need to set people free of such soul ties. Ian explains these principles and the process of bringing oursleves or other people to freedom.
Warren leads us today. As we hear about the baptism of Christ, Warren draws out four benefits for us from our baptism.
Today, the Revd Warren Watson is leading and preaching while Ian is on leave. Warren addresses the value of making New Year's resolutions.
The fourth Sunday of Advent has themes of love and the obedience of Mary. The Revd Don Battley is leading and Peter Lloyd preaching.
(We lost sound at the beginning of the service - hence we pick up the liturgy at the reading of the Old Testament.)
Today we rejoiced in the baptisms of Keita and Rayne and Ava's reaffirmation of her baptism.
Join us for the service today. The focus is on finding God's forgiveness when it is hard to believe you are forgiven.
Sorry we had trouble with the sound in the recording. Only the sermon portion was recovered. See the Sermons blog for that recording.
As we explore the Big Story of God, today we explore what it means to be made in the image of God.
Drawing on the story of David and Saul in the cave at Ein Gedi, Ian taught on principles of forgiving others. Southwell School's Choiresters from Hamilton were staying at Peter Snell Youth Village and attended the service singing two songs during communion.
Today, Captain Peter Lloyd preached from Hebrews 11:1-9. This passage serves as a foundational text that asserts the divine origin, authority, and redemptive power of the Christian faith. Peter quoted from C.S Lewis - 'Christianity, if true, of infinite importance, and if false, is of No importance'. Christianity is not merely a human philosophy but a revelation of the eternal and all-encompassing truths of God, offering infinite significance to the lives of believers.
In our readings we find the people of God rejecting God's ways and indeed His very self. We are among those called into the Kingdom, let us not treat lightly so great a salvation.
Our Intergenerational service is based on the theme of God as the creator and incorporated a blessings of animals. This is the first of a new connection with Messy Church where we introduced the same theme.
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March 2024
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