Episodes
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Ambassadors of God
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Bobbie Frere | 2 Corinthians 5
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In this chapter Paul speaks of us as being citizens of heaven, yet living as its representatives in our world. Bobbie explains what this means for our values and lifestyle. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service introduced by Martin Garrod with a reading from Dilys Garrod.
The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
The flock of God
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Allan Bartlam | John 10:11-30
[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
This would have been a very familiar image to Jesus' listeners, and even today's city dwellers understand something of the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. Allan explains some of the implications for us as followers of Jesus - the benefits of that relationship, and the dangers of wandering away.
The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service introduced by Peter Frere with a reading from Trevor Whitehouse and prayers from Dan Parnell.
The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
The bride of Christ
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
Chris Turner | Isaiah 62:4-5 | Ephesians 5:25-27 | Revelation 19:6-9
As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.
The wedding feast is something for the future, when the universal church is finally united with Christ. Before that can happen, though, the company of believers has to be made perfect - and that brings us to the present day. Chris explains what Jesus is looking for in his people and how he is at work to bring it about.
The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service introduced by Janet Chalmers with readings from Matt Fox and prayers from Susan Haynes.
The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.
Sunday Nov 08, 2020
Remembrance Sunday 2020
Sunday Nov 08, 2020
Sunday Nov 08, 2020
Chris Turner | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
On Remembrance Sunday, when we focus especially on those who lost their lives in war, Chris reminds us of God's call to care for refugees, many of whom are driven from their homelands by war and persecution. That call goes back to the times of the ancient nation of Israel which was itself born out of exile. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service introduced by Rachel Fasham with a reading from Sarah Trinder and prayers from the Brownies and Guides.
The full video version of the service, including music and more contributions from the Christ Church Guide and Scout groups, can be viewed on YouTube.
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
The army of God
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
Sunday Nov 01, 2020
John Lanchbury | 2 Timothy 2:1-7 | Ephesians 6:10-20
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
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.
It's easy to forget that we are in a battle, says John, but it's real all the same and we need to be well equipped to take part. Fortunately the Commander provides everything we need, and we fight together, not on our own. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service introduced by Martin Garrod with a reading from Alison Cooper and prayers from Phil Ennis.
The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.