February 1st - Positive with God
Everyone experiences times when things don’t go well but how we react to these setbacks was the theme of Local Preacher Maureen Simpson’s message to us this week.
Matthew Ch 4 vs 12-23 charts the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry here on Earth. Having recently been baptised in public by His cousin John and received God’s affirmation, Jesus had gone away to prepare Himself, and been tempted by the Devil, but having dealt with that, He returns to be told that John has been arrested. In those days, being arrested was likely to mean summary execution, so we can imagine that Jesus was probably anxious and worried. Anxiety is an emotion we have all faced, so we can very much sympathise!
But what do we do at such times? Do we give up, or run away, simply losing the hope of finding a solution? Or do we act positively and look for the light at the end of the tunnel?
What Jesus did next was to react positively by going to find and commission His disciples who, in a small community, will have heard of Him and may even have been present at His baptism. They will also have known their Scriptures, which predicted their Saviour Messiah coming from a certain place.
And the ordinary working men that Jesus approached acted positively too, changing their lives utterly by leaving treasured possessions and their jobs as fishermen, hoping for a better life by following Him and recognising Jesus for who He was. Jesus went forward in the light and power of God.
We all need the light of Jesus to live by and we need supporters too. Let Him turn darkness into light for you. So ask yourself what you can do to walk closely and positively with God and with His power.
Enjoy this service here in full:
January 25th - What God Requires
If you’ve ever wondered what God wants from you then this morning, Local Preacher Jean Shotton cleared this up by pointing us to the Old Testament prophet Micah who in Micah Ch 6 vs 8 says: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Jesus summarised this message in Mark Ch 12 vs 30/31 as loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and loving your neighbour as yourself.”
The urgency and simplicity of both teachings is timeless. We are being taught to live in a way that honours God, not confining that to ourselves or just when we are in church, but by acting justly in our lives at all times, standing up for what’s right and being prepared to use our voices when needed. Justice is not only about the big issues it’s about trusting in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide us in all the choices we make throughout life and treating people fairly. Ask God for the courage and words to speak, and remember that sometimes just one word can change things!
We have a personal relationship with God who loves us, so walk humbly with Him by living ethically, encouraging others and listening to them, because His voice, may be speaking to you through another person’s words. Before condemning, let the mercy, kindness and compassion you’ve received from God flow through you but if necessary, say sorry quickly so that any hurt caused doesn’t fester.
We all have a place in God's plan, so don’t live in a bubble – reach out! God wants us to act for good in His world.
Enjoy this service here in full:
January 18th - Promises to God
Each January every Methodist church holds a covenant service and this week Rev Jenny Porterpryde led ours, the purpose being for all of us to renew our promise to God that we will continue to follow His Son Jesus.
Although we only need to believe in God to gain eternal life with Him (John 3 vs 16 and Romans 10 vs 9) the covenant service is an act of worship where we remind ourselves that we need to place our lives in His hands. In life our plans don’t always go as we would want them to but God’s Plan always does, even though we might not be able to see it.
God knows what we are going through the great love He has for each one of us so we need to trust that He will carry us through whatever difficulties we might be facing, even when those problems are of our own making.
At Christmas we receive gifts some of which have the potential to be life changing. God’s gift of Jesus is the greatest gift of all so will we allow the promises we make in our covenant prayer to let God shape our lives and change us?
God, in Jesus, came into the world and asks us to follow Him and to step into His love. When we get things wrong He is always ready to forgive enabling us to start again. God also gives us freewill to make our own decision as to whether to follow Him of not. Sometimes doing His will is not always easy, but when things are hard, He will always support us.
Have you got the confidence to say ‘yes’ and promise your life to God?
Enjoy this service here in full:
January 11th - Seeking God's Will
This morning local preacher David Parker, considered the lessons to be learnt from the story of Jesus’ baptism, told in Matthew 3 vs 13 -17. Here we see Jesus coming to the place where His cousin, John the Baptist is baptising people in the River Jordan. Of course today, we think of baptism as the naming of a child, but back then it was done for people who wished to be admitted into the Jewish faith, symbolising their repentance for previous wrongdoings and to affirm their membership of God’s chosen race.
John knows who Jesus is and says that it is he that should receive baptism from Jesus not the other way round, but the Lord is having none of it and insists that John baptise Him. In doing so, Jesus is demonstrating His humility and obedience to the will of God.
Obedience is not a popular word these days, but Jesus needed to discern God’s will before beginning His work and the same is true for us. Jesus is showing us that we too need God’s approval and the power of His Holy Spirit before doing anything and that we shouldn’t try to ‘go it alone’ in our own strength. Just think to yourself how good it feels and how energising it is when someone says ‘well done’ which is, as the story describes, what God says about Jesus when He emerges from the Jordan and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him.
Can we follow Jesus and do God’s will or is it too scary? If so, read Isaiah 43 vs 1-10, which is one of the Bible’s great affirmations of faith. It tells us not to be afraid because God has our backs through all life’s adventures and problems and will keep us safe.
Enjoy this service here in full:
January 4th - Jesus IS the Light
Mark begins his gospel by referencing Jesus to the book of Isaiah whilst Luke starts his with the story of Jesus’ birth. Matthew tells about Jesus’ birth too but also establishes Him by quoting His kingly family tree back to the father of Israel, Abraham.
But John’s gospel roots Jesus quite differently, as the One who existed before the very beginning of time, identifying Him as no other than the Creator of the universe in human form. It is an absolutely stunning affirmation!
John 1 vs 9 says: ‘The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world’ and vs 14a goes on ‘the Word became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us. But how does that amazing revelation translate for us in 2026?
Rev Dr Jason Swan Clark puts it like this: Light doesn’t simply illuminate – it inhabits. The Light of Christ steps into the dark beside us quietly saying, ‘Follow Me’. The Word that once spoke galaxies into being now takes breath in a manger.
Jesus’ light longs to be your compass this year. Not a glare that exposes your flaws, but a glow that guides your path. Not a spotlight of judgement, but a sunrise of mercy. Christ doesn’t simply show you the way – He is the way, lighting you from within.
Let His presence inhabit every part of your life. Just stay close to His Flame – living near enough to it that His light becomes your own.
Light is meant to be seen. God lights us up to make Himself visible through your kindness and forgiveness reaching into the dark places of others. Let your life burn with His borrowed glory until others find their way home by its light.
May the Word incarnate, Light wrapped in love – move into your life this year.