Christ Church Selly Park

Pentecost: Living water

Allan Bartlam | Acts 2:1-17 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was marked by wind and fire, so where does water fit in? Allan reminds us that we need not just the initial filling of the Holy Spirit, but also a daily re-filling so that we can overflow to others. The service is introduced by Cathie Bartlam with a reading from Cheryl Homer and prayers from Dave Lucking. The audio quality isn't as good as we would wish, but coronavirus restrictions require us to keep the windows open which leads to some traffic noise.

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

Jesus prays for his followers

John Lanchbury | John 17:6-19 (Common English Bible) 

[Jesus said,] “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world... I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one.”

How amazing it is that we get to hear what was on Jesus' heart the night before he died. He prays not just for the small group of disciples who were with him, but for all who would become his followers throughout the ages. John describes some of the challenges but also the privileges and promises that we enjoy today.

The service is introduced by Martin Garrod and also includes a reading from James Howley and prayers from Becky Parnell.

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

Jesus' compassion

Graham Romp | Matthew 9:35-38 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

This is one of many places in the Gospels that refer to Jesus' compassion, and as Graham explains, there are so many occasions where this turns into practical action. How can we do the same? The service is introduced by Susan Haynes (in her garden, with bonus birdsong) and also includes a reading from Alan Haynes and prayers from Anna Gaved.

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

Jesus' prayer life

All-In Service Team | Mark 1:29-39 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’

Making time to be alone with his Father is just one part of a cycle of prayer that enabled Jesus to fulfil his calling. In this extract from our All-In Service Janet Chalmers, Rachel Fasham, Susan Haynes and Dan Parnell explain how we can emulate Jesus' prayer life even allowing for our different personalities and lifestyles. The service also includes a reading from Ann Fasham.

The full video version of this service, including music and much more, can be viewed on YouTube. All the links to the various follow-up activities are on our website.

Jesus' serenity and joy

Peter Frere | Hebrews 12:1-3 

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Peter continues our series on the character of Christ by looking at the attitude that kept Jesus going throughout his ministry, even to death. This extract from our Sunday service is introduced by Bobbie Frere with a reading from Michael Dewsbury.

The full video version of the service, including music and news of the appointment of our new vicar, can be viewed on YouTube.

Jesus' humility

Dan Parnell | Philippians 2:5-11 

Christ Jesus... made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross.

How do you settle a dispute? Paul wrote this letter to instruct quarrelling Christians to follow Jesus' example of servanthood and suffering. In his talk Dan challenges us to think how we can take the same steps. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service, introduced by John Lanchbury with a reading from Maggie Bywater and prayers from Elsie Lanchbury. The audio quality isn't as good as we would wish, but coronavirus restrictions require us to keep the windows open which leads to some traffic noise.

The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Jesus' courage

Chris Turner | Matthew 23:1-12 (The Message) 

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them... Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next.”

Does this way of speaking fit your image of Jesus? This is far from the "gentle Jesus, meek and mild" of Nativity scenes, says Chris. What was Jesus really like as a person? Introducing  a new series focusing on the character of Christ, Chris points to Jesus' determination and love of the truth which enabled him to rage against hypocrites and yet show the greatest of gentleness to broken sinners.

The service is introduced by Janet Chalmers and also includes a reading from Alison Cooper and prayers from Graham Chalmers.

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

Easter Sunday: A message of first importance

Bobbie Frere | 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 

What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve... last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Christian belief is not based on blind faith or wishful thinking, but rather on historical facts which, if true, transform our relationship with God. Bobbie explains why the Easter message lies at the heart of our faith.

The service is introduced by Rachel Fasham and also includes a reading from John Lanchbury and prayers from Peter Frere.

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

Palm Sunday: The road to Jerusalem

Rachel Fasham | Luke 19:28-44 

As [Jesus] went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

This was the high point in Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem. As Rachel points out, he had spent much of the day making the ascent from Jericho, and ahead of him lay betrayal and crucifixion. The past year has been a difficult journey for us, yet God walks with us and into a future of hope.

The service is introduced by Dan Parnell and also includes a reading from Val Hanson.

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

Facing the invisible enemy

Chris Turner | Ephesians 6:10-20 

Finally, 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.

Yes, we are in a fight, but we also have armour and weapons. In the last of our series on Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Chris explains how we can stand against the opposition by using the resources God has given us.

The service is introduced by Martin Garrod and also includes a reading from Pat Clayton.

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