In the account of Jesus' birth given in the Gospel of Luke there are two messengers. The first issues a decree from Caesar, the second an announcement from God. The first message is bad news, the second contains wonderfully good news. The first implied threat, the second brought joy. Their difference is what makes Christmas so lastingly relevent for our own lives - whateve...
Keep ReadingThis Sunday we begin our Advent celebrations as we prepare for Christmas. In place of our morning service, there will be a Toddler Service, for those with children aged 0-4yrs, beginning at 10am, at the Foyer Paroissial, St Sulpice. In place of our evening service, there will be our traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, open to all, beginning at 6pm, at the F...
Keep ReadingWhen someone experiences a catastrophic moral failure it rarely, if ever, comes out of the blue. There were multiple small decisions made along the way. Multiple small steps down the spiral. David expereinced just such a catastrophic failure. His descent into sin, and the way back up to hope has much to teach us. Join us at our Morning Service, 10:30am or our Evening Serv...
Keep ReadingHow do you respond when a plan is thwarted, an opportunity closed down, or a door is shut in your face? When such things happen it can reveal something of what was motivating us. We think that our best is always going to be found in our plans coming together, and us getting to do what we want to do. What if the truth is different to that? Join us this Sunday as we contin...
Keep ReadingPower is never an end in itself. Not even for the power hungry. Even they want power because it promises them something else. So, when Jesus promises that those who follow him will be 'clothed with power', what was he meaning? What was that power he spoke of and what was it for? This Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost - the time when we remember the coming of the Hol...
Keep ReadingIt would be hard to miss the fact that we live in the middle of a war of ideas. Not least, a war of ideas as to how you can really thrive as an individual. Strangely enough, this is nothing new. The apostle Paul found himself in the very same battle, and this Sunday we'll look at what he had to say about the shooting match. Join us for our Morning Service at 10:30am. Ple...
Keep ReadingWhat does a 'full' life look like? What if your life could be filled with wisdom, fruitfulness, inner strength, perseverence, joy and thankfulness? That would be a full life. The question is, where do you find those things? And how do you see them growing and filling your life? This Sunday we will be looking at Colossians 1 and seeing how all of these qualities can be o...
Keep ReadingWhat does it mean to be truly great? What does a life well-lived look like? How can we rise above our failures and the sufferings of life that drag us down? In our Morning Service we'll be looking at what Jesus has to say about greatness - that the way up is down; to be truly great you must humble yourself. In our Evening Service we'll be looking at what Peter has to say...
Keep ReadingWho has the power to change your life for the better? Who has the power to help you face the tough times of life? Today, our culture will tell us that only you have the power, and the right, to change your life. That the strength you need for the hard times is inside you. But the Gospel says something different - it says the power we all need to change our lives doesn't co...
Keep ReadingOur culture says that we must be true to ourselves - and let the real us 'out'. Jesus says something very different - and it has profound implications for the way we live and relate to others. He also says it's the way to real life. In our Morning Service we'll be continuing in the Gospel of Matthew: Cross and Crown. In our Evening Service we'll be continuing in 1 Peter ...
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