Christ Church Selly Park

The valuable pearl

Rachel Fasham | Matthew 13:44-46 

[Jesus said,] 'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.'

One stumbles across it by accident, while another seeks it out. Each finds something they recognise as being worth everything they own. What kinds of people are they, and what is the treasure? Rachel explains how we can become part of the story.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Janet Chalmers, with a reading by Pat Clayton and prayers (recorded) from Phil Ennis.

For copyright reasons we can't include the music in the recording. The opening hymn, "Great is Thy faithfulness", was also used in the service held on 14 June 2020 and the closing hymn, "Be Thou my vision", was used in the service held on 25 April 2021 (the links are to YouTube videos).

The two sons

Allan Bartlam | Matthew 21:28-32 

[Jesus said,] 'What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard." "I will not," he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.'

'Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, "I will, sir," but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?'

It's a simple story and the crowd have no difficulty in coming up with the right answer. But when Jesus goes on to identify who each of the sons might represent, things get a lot more uncomfortable. This is the first of a series in which we look at some of Jesus' parables and how they apply, not just to Jesus' hearers but also to us today. Which "son" is each of us more like?

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by John Lanchbury, with a reading by Dave Lucking and prayers from Margaret Tucker.

For copyright reasons we can't include the music in the recording, but the songs used in the service were "Loved before the dawn of time" and "Hear the call of the kingdom".

Come away and rest, not!

Chris Turner | Mark 6:30-34, Mark 6:53-56 

The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.‘

Having returned from the spiritual adventure of a lifetime, Jesus' followers now find themselves surrounded by a demanding crowd - as does Jesus himself. How to balance the desire to show genuine compassion with the need to recharge and find new strength? Chris points to ways in which we can apply Jesus' instructions to our lives today, and especially to the situation we find ourselves in as we prepare to be joined by our new vicar, Ben Green. 

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Martin Garrod with a reading by Susan Mole and prayers from Susan Haynes. The full video version of the service, including music and a celebration of Holy Communion, can be viewed on YouTube.

Faithful to the end

John Lanchbury | Mark 6:14-29 

On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.’ And he promised her with an oath, ‘Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ ‘The head of John the Baptist,’ she answered.

In this grisly story we discover how the life of John the Baptist came to an end, as Herod's wife, whom he had denounced, took advantage of Herod's vanity and folly. The cost of being a true disciple of Jesus can be high, says John Lanchbury, even to the extent of our physical lives, and indeed we are all called to die to ourselves.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Bobbie Frere, with prayers from Elsie Lanchbury and a reading by Trevor Whitehouse. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

During the service a video "Chu in Vietnam: No Turning Back" was shown. This can be viewed on the Open Doors Vimeo channel.

Equipped to go?

All-In Service Team | Mark 6:1-13 

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’

After being rejected in his home town, Jesus challenges his disciples to step out in faith and join him in taking the Good News to the surrounding villages. In this extract from our All-In Service Janet Chalmers, Susan Haynes, Dan Parnell and Rachel Fasham explore how we can share in Jesus' outreach today, and how some of our partners around the world are living out these values. The service also includes a reading and prayers from Ann Fasham.

The game Rachel refers to in her talk was a challenge to identify common objects just from extreme close-up photos, and the sketch showed a young person about to set out on a venture with fully-laden rucksack. The full video version of this service, including these visual items as well as music, can be viewed on YouTube. All the links to the various follow-up activities are on our website.

Meeting Jesus changes lives

Allan Bartlam | Mark 5:21-43 

A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

As the story continues, we learn that this woman, who had been an outcast for so many years, is not only healed but commended by Jesus for her faith. And this event is itself sandwiched within another story about Jesus raising a young girl from death. Allan draws lessons for us from these dramatic encounters with Jesus which show that he has the power to change lives.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Cathie Bartlam, who also leads prayers, with a reading by Adrian Jones. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

The music played during the prayers is "O Lord hear my prayer". Permission to stream this music obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-738107. All rights reserved.
Jacques Berthier
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé

Calming the storm

Susan Haynes | Mark 4:35-41 

[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?' They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'

It's one thing to read or hear about a storm, and quite another to feel the force of the wind and waves and fear for our own safety. The disciples knew about and believed in God's power over creation, but to see it demonstrated through Jesus in their small boat astonished them. It is hard to trust God when the storms come in our lives, says Susan, but it's then that we most need to believe Jesus' promise to be with us. 

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Peter Frere with a reading by Dilys Garrod and prayers from Bobbie Frere. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Parables of the kingdom

Bobbie Frere | Mark 4:26-34 

[Jesus] also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn - first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. As soon as the corn is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.'

If the seed is the gospel, what is our part in making it grow? We are more than passengers, says Bobbie, but co-workers with God in planting the seeds and then nurturing them towards the eventual harvest. The service is introduced by Martin Garrod and also includes a reading from Matt Fox.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Happy families?

Chris Turner | Mark 3:31-35 

Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting round him, and they told him, 'Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.'

'Who are my mother and my brothers?' he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle round him and said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.'

At first sight, says Chris, Jesus' treatment of his physical family seems rather harsh. We know that family life brings about tension and conflicting priorities, so how did Jesus handle this? Chris has a message of hope for everyone who feels misunderstood by their own family.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music and the celebration of Holy Communion, can be viewed on YouTube.

Climate Sunday 2021

Bobbie Frere | Colossians 1:15-20 

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus is the firstborn over all creation, and also head of the church. Yet so often we treat our physical and spiritual lives as if they were unrelated. In this special Climate Sunday service Bobbie and other participants remind us that making right choices in the way we treat the natural world are acts of worship to God. The service is introduced by Peter Frere and also includes a reading from Phil Banting.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music and further links, can be viewed on YouTube.

There are more downloadable resources for this service, mentioned by Peter near the end, available on our website.