Sermons

Happy New Year. We hope you have all had a restful break and had chance to ponder on “the reason for the season”.  Keeping Christ firmly in view at Christmas can be a real challenge at times,

Our first service of 2018 saw us taking communion, renewing our covenant or promise to God, to ourselves, to each other, the church and the wider world that is our community. The service was led by Ian assisted by Roy and Jonny. Our pastor, Tim Hyde, brought us the Word today.

Tim posed for us all the question “Where do we begin in this new year?”. His message was that we should start start at the beginning. He told that we’re going to explore the highlights of the Old Testament starting with Genesis chapter 1. Even though this might be familiar to us,  re-reading brings out new things for us all. Tim read the whole of chapter 1. He then reflected that it is estimated that  500,000 to 5 million sea life species are yet to be discovered.

If that is not amazing enough consider 6 million atoms on a full stop. How many other particles are there? If you don’t like spiders the next fact Tim shared might not amaze, there are 5.5 million spiders in every hectare and the web they produce is stronger than the equivalent width of steel. (5 million spiders on your football pitch!) The Bible starts and ends with new creation. It is not a science book. Over last 250 years there has been a constant battle with people questing the Bible and using science to defend or overthrow. Some questions may appeal more than others. Did Adam have a belly button is an interesting question. Tim reflected that he met so many people trying to argue Genesis is a scientific account. We struggle if we try to do this with literature that is thousands of years old. We end up with groups of people, evolutionists, creationists, people who interpret the bible literally. Problem of all of these is that it forgets the first principle when studying the Bible which is that it is made up of lots of different types of literature. The bible contains truth.Scientific truth has changed through the years. If we treated the Bible in the same way we’d constantly need to issue updates. The person who wrote the first words of Genesis didn’t even know atoms and molecules existed. It is not a science book. It looks at the why rather than the how. Creationists and evolutionists alike need to let God speak. Tim illustrated this by talking about the physical symptoms of how he felt when thinking about his wife rather the simple, more poetic but probably better understood statement that the message “I love you” would achieve.

We end up asking the wrong question. Creation is fundamental to understanding who we are and what we do. Only God has the power to create something new. Genesis 1 confirms God is the exclusive creator. God is all powerful. Reflect on the statement “Let there be..”. And the world is formed. However it happened it is all from God. God wills it and it happens . God goes on to sustain it. The balance is incredible. One tiny difference and nothing exists. God is creator and the source of everything. Hope for the future is only possible if you believe in a God who created from nothing and who can sustain the change. You don’t have to go far to see it. God’s creation of incredible beauty. Every part of God’s handiwork is there to remind us of his power. How leaves on trees work is just fascinating and something to marvel at. It is how God intended and the best is that he took pleasure in it. We see who we are. We can be creative in a different way. We are created in gods image in a relationship with every person still being unique. Even twins are different with differing personalities. He made us responsible for our own actions and choices. Genesis 1 shows how things were meant to be. There were no barriers between God and between people. Free open creation between humans and their God .

God hasn’t stopped he can still bring light to the darkest of places and order to chaos. God hasn’t changed. All human beings are still in God’s image.

Something to think about in this new year of 2018. Think about the simple fact that if God created everything out of nothing what could he do in your life this year.

In your life what could he do if he brought:
Light out of dark
Order out of chaos
Time and then the effect on your diary
Love from loneliness
Control  from powerlessness.

What could God do in your life this year? Remind yourself of these thought and questions the next time you see something beautiful.

Our last service of 2017 was a café style service led by Ian and assisted by Amanda and Roy. Judith provided some words to guide us and Esther offered a reflection on some of the work done by Young Church through 2017.

Judith led a less formal, more casual period of reflecting and sharing. We looked not only backwards with thanks for the events of 2017 in the church and in individual lives and families, but also forward to what the new year may have in store for us. Judith posed the question, “Did we have good or bad times?”  1 John 9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. We need to remember that we do not do things in our own strength. Ian had already made that point as part of his own personal testimony and Judith reinforced this. God gives us grace and the original Greek word Charis is a dynamic, proactive verb. It is power, it is strength. God’s promise is that His grace is enough, his presence gets you through. Cath offered the thought that Grace can be remembered as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

God opposes the proud but rewards the humble.  We were asked to consider who we are in Christ. We carry his name, his purpose and his Spirit. So what season are we in and what are we facing?  Is it difficult? What challenges do we face? We need to consider where our faith is in relation to his Grace. We need to ensure that our confession actually reflects that we can do this in God’s power.

Esther shared the work that the children had done through the year on the giants of the Bible. Between her and Ben and Amy they told us of the work they had done around Joshua. Jonah, Abraham and Noah, all people of amazing faith but all had faced their own doubts and challenges. 

Esther also offered her thoughts on the giants of West View Baptist Church who had gone before us. She reflected on the choice of the final hymn for her mother’s funeral, “Turn your Eyes on Jesus” which was also the hymn that closed meetings of the Sisterhood that served across the town for so many years in the different churches that make up  our wider family. We closed this reflective part of the service on the thought “What does God want us to do?”

Matty shared some thoughts on the meaning of  Christmas and Amanda reflected on the work she had been called to in helping a new friend in her battles with addiction and starting a new life in Christ. She shared a recent example of being behind a well known (sometimes) homeless person in the town and how she’d been prompted to pay for the small amount of groceries he was buying. She made the point that it can be easy to be judgemental about such people but when you hear their life story it can be a real challenge to attitudes. She asked us all to pray for him and his partner in their daily struggles.

Our final worship song was Cornerstone and this  was particularly apt for Terry as this was played at his colleague Geoff’s funeral. Yet the contrast from that sad occasion to  watching one of our young church members dancing to the same tune, full of joy seemed so right.

Following our Nativity we took the opportunity to spruce up our carpets. 9 months of Filling Station with all the spills, drops and splashes combined with the cakes, biscuits and other cumbly goodies meant our nearly new carpet had taken a bit of  a battering. Big thanks to Michael Richardson and his company for all their work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim’s theme today was to explore the idea of the Christingle, the symbolism behind each element of the Christingle, and getting the younger members of the congregation running around the church testing out their ideas. We updated our Christingles to use glow sticks rather than candles. It certainly gave it the unique West View angle on a traditional idea. The orange represents the world, the candle (or glowstick) represents Jesus Christ as the light of the world,  the red ribbon around the centre of orange represents the blood of Christ and four skewers with fruit (or sweets) represents the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. Many thanks to Josh for remembering that Terry couldn’t leave the sound and visuals desk and making him a Christingle so he would not be left out.

Ian Thompson led the worship again today with additional musical support from Jonny Hyde. Our pastor, Tim Hyde brought the word again today with the latest instalment on our journey through Advent. Tim started by asking us if we’ve been singing songs this week?

The focus this morning is on the song of Simeon. Simeon was righteous and devout. He’d been promised that he wouldn’t die until he’d seen the Messiah. He told Mary that her son would see the rise and fall of many things. Another elderly but devout person ,Anna,  spoke about the child Jesus to all. Tim asked whether anyone was fans of “One born every minute” or that other family favourite,  “Call the midwife”. Even if you are not a fan there is something about the birth of a child that is compelling.

It has been said that the greatest forces in the world are babies. They offer  hope and life and a future. Babies have the power to change the world, Tim illustrated this point by showing three paintings by Rembrandt.  Simeon’s Song of Praise was painted in 1631. Focus is on the centre where Simeon encounters this couple with a child. It shows clearly two young people on the fringes of Jewish life. These two teenage peasant parents cannot even afford the normal purification offering. They offer two doves because they could not afford the more customary sheep . The simplicity of the offering doesn’t stop folks celebrating. Anna and Simeon, though clearly the old and the widowed do not hold back. Simeon means “hearing one” or “one who obeys”. Unusually Luke is lavish in his description. He outlines two whole descriptive verses. This invisible old man was inspired. Luke is beside himself with excitement in the retelling of this encounter . Three times Luke outlines the Holy Spirit’s role here. We have to think about Simeon and how many hopeful prayers had he prayed over different children over the years. Then Simeon finds the one, he has the saviour of the world in his arms.

Nunc dimittis is the name for this song. It has been used for over 1500 years and used in daily prayer by many traditions. Calvin’s church sang this during communion. It is a  part of daily liturgy and often used as the final song in a service. Three themes are explored in Simeon’s Song ready to die, identify the child in his arms, descriptive and prophetic this child will be a light. He anticipates the reach of Jesus, and his role asthe comfort of Israel.

Rembrandt paints another picture 38 years later. Nowadays we would say that Rembrandt zoomed in on a key feature of the scene he pictured earlier. Simeon is the often described as the God-Receiver. His faith and actions remind us we too can receive the Saviour. Simeon takes us back to Isiah . Every phrase of the song is like pieces of a jigsaw, a jigsaw that revolves around and describes this child in his arms . In between those Rembrandt also paints Simeon’s Prophecy to Mary. Simeon changes key here sharing dark work about the sword. Anna reinforces this message.. These old people were filled with hope in their years of waiting and believing. They were f0lk who devoted their lives to prayer and hope. Some of the people who encourage us have been prayerful hopeful people, filled with the Spirit. Even when darkness is around God sends his son to experience this. We met Elizabeth and Zechariah. We’ll hear Mary’s own story at Christmas.

No matter who you are this story can be your story. Luke is keen to show a new era has dawned. As we live in the now in the darkness of advent, there is a need for ordinary people be waiting watching and praying.

That same spirits that inspired Simeon and Anna should inspire us. We need to reflect and pray on what chances will we get this season to bring light into darkness.

Will our words be filled with praise and hope? Tim prayed that we may we be willing and open to receive the coming one. We closed by offering thanks that we’ve been chosen and that we will be guided to bring hope and light to others

 

Another great service with Ian and Amanda providing the music and worship lead. Our pastor Tim Hyde brought today’s word, continuing on the Advent journey. He started by thinking about the songs and tunes we hear whilst out shopping at this time of year. Have you found what you’re looking for by U2 was playing in one store and seemed sadly apt as people become increasingly desperate to find a particular gift for someone.

Zachariah’s song, sometimes referred to as the Benedictus, shows God’s plan interweaves with routine ordinary life. Zechariah was old, a priest and he and Elizabeth were childless. Imagine the pain they carried through life. In a society where children were a sign of blessing and success this must have been a trial for them.

They were from the same kinship group as Mary. Given the role of Zechariah they must be Levites. Zechariah has it even tougher when he is muted by Gabriel when he doubts the message he is given. Ready to burst with excitement and yet he’s muted! Imagine at that moment he can’t speak and he has to wait 9 months for the fulfilment of the promise. Living with the hope God would fulfil the promise. Zechariah is unmuted and lets rip exuberant praise.

The words he wrote setting out John’s name are displayed at the  Church of St John in the Mountains in Israel. 

The Promise fulfilled in the birth of John. It was both a promise and a threat as he came as the refiners fire to purge people and make them pure and clean. Zechariah’s song looks for redemption and salvation through the forgiveness of sins. John and Jesus will bring light to those in darkness. We don’t normally think of judgement and usalvation together. Here the ultimate goal is to create peace and freedom for all the families of the earth. The words are outside the church of St. John in the mountains.. the birthplace in Israel. Maybe these words help us feel the long years of silent prayer and hope. Zechariah is a reflection of a new sign from God, acting out his own prophecy.

Tim asked us all to reflect on how long people have  prayed for changed, hoped for something to be different, for God to intervene in issues like apartheid, Mugabe, the toppling of the Berlin Wall. We’ve all known of people praying for relationships to be restored. Countless stories of people on their knees in prayer. We cannot say everyone’s prayers have been answered. Life deals some tough things at times but folks like Zechariah never give up hope or stop trusting . We all know older people who stay faithful to the end, people like Bob and Elizabeth Patten. Giving us all knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. God is coming says Zechariah. Better watch out, better not cry may be familiar call at Christmas but it is not the Jesus message, not fire and brimstone but the incredible peace, the peace that runs all through Luke’s gospel. By the time these words are written by Luke the Roman Empire is not a peaceful place, Jerusalem is destroyed, both John and Jesus are put to death but preach peace to the end. We have a God that came down for us. A light shone in the darkness, it is about being transformed. All of these are a fulfilment of the prophecy in Joel. Luke’s tells the story of real people hesitating at times between faith and doubt. Both big and the little stories matter to God and he delivers on his promises.