Sunday 14th July 2024 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. 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.
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Sunday 7th July 2024 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. Sunday 23 June 2024 Text: Mark 4:35-41 Today’s Gospel reading tells of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The Disciples were afraid, so it must have been quite a big storm as several of them were fishermen, used to all sorts of weather whilst on the water! But Jesus helped them go from “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” to “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Watch the recording of the sermon here: https://youtu.be/plgm07kRWrQ O God, our Help in ages past,
our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home. O God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, be Thou our Guard while life shall last, and our eternal Home! Sunday 16 June 2024 Texts: Micah 6:6-8 John 13:31-34 The Treaty of Waitangi remains highly relevant and topical for us today. It is 184 years since the signing of the Treaty, yet it is so topical today with Act’s Treaty Principles Bill up for debate, surging protests in response, and strong rhetoric from all sides of the argument. My key question today is, should we be talking about this in our churches? And I have come to the resounding answer – yes, we should! My hesitations were along the lines of: this is too controversial and divisive; what do I know about this?; isn’t this politics, not religion? But my hesitations were overcome in listening to a talk by Alistair Reese at the Transitional Cathedral a few weeks back. Alistair is an historian and theologian. He gave an inspirational speech at the Waitangi church service on Waitangi Day this year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXYxhiacKu4). As a result of that he was asked to speak here in Christchurch and, on a cold Tuesday night, the Cathedral was packed with people eager to hear more! He convinced me that we need to be talking about this in the church. But there is a huge disclaimer – this is a big and controversial topic and I do not pretend to be an expert! Watch Hamish’s sermon here: https://youtu.be/JRTP3xqQ48A Sunday 9th June 2024 Based on 1 Samuel 8, this sermon looks at the biblical interplay between human and divine leadership Sunday 2nd June 2024 Text: 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12 Mark 2: 23 – 3: 16 Our first passage today helps to show just how ensnared the Pharisees had become in rule bound religion. From the life-giving commandment around respecting the Sabbath, the Scribes and Pharisees had developed a huge tangled web of rules and regulations about the Sabbath that moved it away from its life-giving nature towards a life-robbing burden! So that healing couldn’t take place! It is so interesting how rules, regulations and traditions grow up in religion and take on sacred qualities not warranted! Paul’s dramatic conversion moved him immediately from the dark arts of rule-bound traditions to the light of Christ. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/TR6LWRX_5ro A mission lies before us
To go and to proclaim The hope we have in Jesus, The glory of His name The faint and weak He's chosen His power to display By placing gospel treasure In fragile jars of clay. Sunday 26th May 2024 Readings: John 3:1-12 Isaiah 6:1-8 The John passage today features a debate between 2 theological heavyweights. Jesus in one corner, Nicodemus in the other. Both came to this with great credentials. Nicodemus came to Jesus looking for a theological debate; he got a religious experience! He was spiritually open to change, he was genuinely seeking, humble and enquiring; Jesus saw his need and cuts straight to that need, to open his heart to God’s forgiveness and power. Watch the recording of this week’s sermon here: https://youtu.be/hxFuQG0la7M Sunday 19th May 2024 Pentecost Readings: Acts 2:1-21: Gathered together in Jerusalem on the Jewish festival of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes upon the followers of Christ and propels them into the streets, speaking the languages of the earth and astonishing the inhabitants of the city. John 15:26-27 & 16:4b-15: In the hours nearing his betrayal and arrest, Jesus assures his disciples with the promise that God will send a counsellor, the spirit of truth, to bear witness to Jesus and to guide them in speaking the truth about him to the world. Pentecost Sunday is when the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to the first disciples of Jesus who were gathered together to celebrate Pentecost in the Jewish tradition. On this day many hundreds of years ago the birth of the Church took place and the Holy Spirit was gifted to the people.). No sooner had these folk gathered to look back and remember than there was a sound “like the rush of a mighty wind” that came “down from heaven,” and shook the foundations, and the Holy Spirit descended “like tongues of fire upon them.” The recording of this week’s sermon can be watched here: https://youtu.be/5XzJG4_ljhg Sunday 12th May 2024 Ephesians 1: 13-14: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession….” Call to Worship: We gather in this place and at this time In this intersection between Ascension and Pentecost yearning for the Holy Spirit to fill us. We come, with our fellow seekers these ordinary people who are our friends trusting that God will continue to illumine our hearts. We will open your Word of grace so we might be fed by your love: that graced, we may serve others; that healed, we may bring hope to the world. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/UK2o4UYosCQ Sunday 5th May 202 Texts: Psalm 98 Acts 10:44-48 Sing to the Lord a new song, a song of hope and rejoicing! Praise God for wonderful acts of mercy and kindness! God has remembered God’s faithful ones. God has poured blessing upon blessing upon us! Praise the Lord, all the earth, shout your praise! Rejoice, for God is truly with us. AMEN. Music is a wonderful thing, with an amazing ability to capture mood and invoke memories! Our hymn books are full of songs of praise – but life has seasons, and they do not all call for songs of rejoicing. So, where are our songs of lament? They are in the Psalms – the Psalms are full of lament and sorrow expressed around the hard times people faced: “why, O Lord” and “how long, O Lord” are common cries of the Psalmist’s heart. Watch the recorded sermon here: https://youtu.be/SN5Rwc12fbE |
Worship ResourcesWorship Services are held at 10am every Sunday. For those unable to join us in person, a recorded version will be available from 9am each week. Archives
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Administrator: Gail Weaver |