LISTEN AND ENJOY !
If you missed the Sunday sermon, or you would like to listen over again, just scroll down to find the sermon you missed. We hope you enjoy listening.
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ARRANGEMENTS DURING CHURCH LOCKDOWN
For the foreseeable future, Church worship and Sunday sermon will be available for you to watch, listen and follow along at home.
- The Service itself will be recorded and available as a video file.
- There will be a document file with the order of service for you to follow along which can be viewed and/or dowloaded.
- The sermon will be recorded separately and available for you to listen to together with the worship video or on its own.
- Prayer Ministry support on Sundays will be available via email. Please contact the team at upc.prayerteam@gmail.com
Additional ideas and resources for children and families worshipping at home are available on our Children and Families page
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May 24th
7th Sunday of Easter
Ascension
Acts 1:6-14
John 17:1-11
YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER
At the beginning of Acts, the disciples are living in uncertain times, not sure what is happening, what the future holds for them. Jesus tells them to wait and pray. He will send the Spirit, and they will receive power to be witnesses.
How can that experience of the first believers help us in today’s uncertain situation?
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for the service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
(relating to the passage from John 14)
- What is the most amazing thing
you have ever seen? - What do you think it means to be
baptised with the Holy Spirit? - Why did Jesus go back to
Heaven? - How open are you to receiving
God’s gift of the Holy Spirit?
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Rev Alan Bing - You will receive power
JIGSAW PROJECT
Tim and Kate Lee have sent us a VIDEO UPDATE ON THE JIGSAW PROJECT
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
If you would like to receive prayer, the prayer team is available on Sundays. Please email them at upc.prayerteam@gmail.com
May 17th
6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 17:22-31
John 14:15-21
KNOWING GOD
Matt Topping preaches on Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill in Athens, from Acts 17. Taking the tomb of the unknown god as his starting point, Paul witnesses to the truth that we can not only know about God, but know God personally as our creator and living Saviour.
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for the service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
(relating to the passage from John 14)
- Jesus said he was just like His
father. How are you like your
father/father figure? - Do you find it easy to be obedient
to those whom you love? - Which of Jesus’ commandments
do you need to work on today?
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Matt Topping - Knowing God
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
May 10th
5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60
John 14:1-14
EVERYBODY HAS TROUBLES
Madi Simpson looks at the troubles we all face in this life. Jesus prepares his disciples for the prospect of his own death on the cross and tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. If we know Jesus in our hearts, the abundant life and promise of eternity that he brings can carry us through every trouble that we can ever face.
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for the service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
(relating to the passage from John 10)
- How many rooms do you have in
your house? Will there be more
or fewer rooms in God’s house? - Jesus said he is ‘the way’. Do you
always get your own way? - When do you find it difficult to go
Jesus’ way/be like Jesus? - If we get to know God through
Jesus, how do we get to know
Jesus?
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Madi Simpson -Everybody has Troubles
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
May 3rd
4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:42-47
John 10:1-10
“ALL THINGS IN COMMON”
Chria Taylor reflect on Acts 2:44: “All who believed were together and had all things in common”. We can take heart from this that although we can’t be physically together at this time, we do remain spiritually connected through God. With God’s strength through the Holy Spirit we remain as one with all things in common, and together we can encourage one another to face the fear of an ‘invisible enemy’.
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for the service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
(relating to the passage from John 10)
- Whose voice do you always listen
to? Whose voice do you never
listen to? - Have you ever had anything
stolen? How did it feel? - Why does Jesus refer to himself
as the gate for the sheep? - How do you live life to the full?
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Chris Taylor - "All things in common"
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
April 26th
3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 2: 36-41
Luke 24: 13-35
ONLY THROUGH CHRIST
Rev Alan Bing reflects on Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2). Jesus is risen from the dead, and only through the power of his resurrection can we find forgiveness and new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for the service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
(relating to the passage from Luke)
- Have you ever dressed up in a
costume? What has been your
favourite disguise? - Why do you think Jesus didn’t
reveal himself straight away? - Jesus told the disciples why he
had to die. Do you know why? - How can you show or tell other
people about Jesus?
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Rev Alan Bing - Only Through the Risen Christ
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
April 19th
2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER
1 Peter 1: 3-9
John 20: 19-31
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT DOUBT
Eric Barker looks at the story of Thomas (“Doubting Thomas”) in John 20 and considers the part that doubt plays in our journery of faith.
LITURGY FOR WORSHIP SERVICE
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for todays service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
- What do you believe in that you
cannot see? - Why do you think Thomas
didn’t believe the disciples’
story? - Why did Jesus give them the
gift of the Holy Spirit? - Are there times when you find
God/Jesus hard to believe in?
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Eric Barker - Some Thoughts About Doubt
Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
EASTER SUNDAY
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
John 20: 1-18
LITURGY FOR HOLY COMMUNION
If you would like to follow along with the liturgy for todays service you can view or download the document file here.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
- What is the heaviest thing you
have ever pushed/lifted? - Do you think Mary wanted to
roll the stone away? If not,
what was she doing there? - Why didn’t she recognise Jesus
at first? - What does Jesus’ resurrection
mean to you?
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Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
HOLY WEEK reflections
During Holy Week, members of the staff team will be posting a daily reflection on the lectionary reading of the day.
Similar resources can also be found on the C of E web page.
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MONDAY
A reflection from Rev Alan Bing
(Luke 22:1-23)
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PALM SUNDAY
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Matthew 21: 1-11
WHO IS THIS MAN?
This week we begin our Easter journey, together with other Christian worshippers around the world, with the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
- Have you ever made a grand
entrance? - What happened?
- What makes you think that Jesus has
planned ahead for this day? - Why had such large crowds
gathered to welcome Jesus? - What sort of king was everyone
expecting?
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Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
JESUS BRINGS LIFE OUT OF DEATH
The focus of worship for this week is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). The sermon was recorded for us at home by Steve Parkinson.
You can view and/or download the order of service HERE.
EXPLORE TOGETHER QUESTIONS
- Why didn’t Jesus arrive at
Bethany sooner? - Why do you think Martha
believed that Jesus could bring
her brother back from the dead? - Can you imagine how the
mourners in the garden reacted
when Jesus told them to roll the
stone away? - Jesus prayed to God before the
miracle happened. What can we
learn from this prayer?
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Every Sunday the prayer team meet to ask God for words or Scripture verses to share with the church. These will be posted HERE
If you feel led to respond to any of these words please contact the prayer team at upc.prayerteam@gmail.com
As Church gatherings have been suspended for the time being, as a result of the coronavirus situation, Rev Alan Bing records a podcast, reflecting on the significance of Mothering Sunday at this difficult time, and our appropriate response in times of trouble and social isolation.
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LENT 3 – Let the land produce vegetation
March 15th – Tom Cox
Tom Cox preaches the third of our Lent series based on Ruth Valerio’s “Say Yes to Life”.
This session focuses particularly on the important role that trees played in the Old Testament story, and in Jesus’ own life and teaching. He encourages us to value the natural world around us and to play our part in protecting our woods and forests.
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LENT 1 – Let there be light
March 1st – Brian Bull
Brian Bull begins our Lent series of teaching based on Ruth Valerio’s “Say Yes to Life”.
The light of God’s creation enables us to view the natural world around us in all its different moods, in all the varying seasons. But we need to acknowledge that this world is God’s, not ours. In Job 38, God reminds Job in no uncertain terms that this world is his, We have been charged to be stewards to care for his creation, not to exploit it for our own benefit.
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TRANSFIGURATION
Feb 23rd – Eric Barker
Eric Barker preaches from the story of the Transfiguration in Matthew 17. Jesus sometimes gives us special blessings or experiences to strengthen our faith and bless our witness for him. We can’t remain for ever on the mountain top, but we can know that the God who is with us on the mountain top will also be with us in the valley.
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HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Feb 16th – Madi Simpson
Madi Simpson uses the opportunity from Valentines Day to preach from Psalm 136 and Romans 8:18-25 on the character of God’s love. Romans 8:20 tells us that creation is subject to frustration, or futility. If this world is all we have to look forward to, then we have nothing permanent to rely on or to give us hope for the future. But our hope lies in the promise that God’s love endures forever!
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THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS
Feb 2nd – Rev Mike Talbot
Rev Mike Talbot was vicar of Emmanuel, Northwood and is currently Director of Mission Community Development for Carlisle Diocese. Mike preaches from the story of Jesus’ presentation at the Temple in Luke 2:21-39, and considers the example of Simeon (a lesson in expectation) and Anna (a lesson in faithfulness).
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THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
January 26th – Matt Topping
Matt Topping preaches on the story from today’s Gospel reading, when Jesus calls his first disciple to follow him (Matthew 4:12-23). The Message of the Gospel can be summarised in three words: Repent, Follow, Unite. Matt encourages us to put aside any arguments and disagreements and serve together in sharing the message of Jesus with our needy world.
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HEALING SERVICE
January 19th – Madi Simpson
Madi Simpson preaches from 1 Corinthians 1:8; “He (Jesus Christ) will keep you firm to the end.” Many cosmetic products today advertise similar extravagant claims. What does this verse really mean? Do we believe the adverts more than we believe the claims and promises of Christ in our lives?
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COVENANT SERVICE
January 5th – Hannah Wallace
Hannah Wallace preaches at our annual Covenant Service. As we move forward from Christmas to the coming year, are we willing to follow the example of the Wise Men, to journey in commitment and worship, to follow the star that leads us to Jesus?
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December 25th – Rev Alan Bing
(Christmas Day)
December 24th – Jen Cox
(Midnight Communion)
December 22nd – Tom Cox
Alan Bing preaches from Isaiah 35 and Matthew 11:2-13 (Jesus’ message to John the Baptist in prison). Like John, the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day were in dire circumstances, surrounded by imminent danger. Yet Isaiah gives a message of hope for future blessing, the same message can help us when we find ourselves in difficult or concerning situations.
Despite the way things might seem, God is with us and will save us. We are commanded to share this message of hope with the world around us.
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Brian Bull looks at Paul’s instructions for navigating our journey through this world, while keeping ourselves focused on the destination that God has prepared for us.
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This week is the final week of the church year – the Feast of Christ the King. Alan Bing preaches from Colossians 1:9-20 and asks: “What does it mean to say that Christ is King?”
The sermon is followed by an interview with Beth and Sam Wallace, who share about their work with YWAM in Boise, Idaho.
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Madi Simpson preaches from the Gospel of John, chapter 11, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus encourages Mary and Martha to trust in his power to raise their brother from the dead, stretching their faith, and showing that he can always be trusted, whatever the circumstances. Jesus can use our faith, however small, however wobbly, to bring hope to the world and to do great things in our lives.
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Rev Alan Bing preaches from the story of Elisha and King of Aram (2 Kings 6:8-23) and the healing of the blind man (John 9:13-41).
Are we willing to take the opportunities to speak up for Jesus from the heart, even on our own, or in a hostile situation? When we are positive, loving and courageous in the way we share our faith in Jesus, we will lead others to know him, the way, the truth and the life.
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Madi Simpson continues our series on Generosity, looking at the story of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:14-end) and the healing of the lame man by the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-18). We should use our actions, not to serve our own ends, or to fulfil rules and regulations, but considering how we can respect the needs and concerns of those we are called to serve, following Jesus’ example of selflessness and sacrifice.
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Peter Taylor considers the story of the Wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). Whatever difficulty or problem we have in our lives, the first thing we should do is to ask Jesus into the situation.
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David Parkinson from Christians Against Poverty introduces the work of CAP and encourages the church to support the CAP Debt Help Centre which has just been opened at the Parish Church.
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Alan Bing preaches from 1 Timothy 6:6-19. Paul encourages us to be content with what we have, not always looking for more and concerned for our own welfare, but thankful to God for all he has given us, and willing to share generously and to use our gifts sacrificially in God’s service
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Brian Bull preaches from 1 Timothy 2:5: “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
As illustrated from the story of Joseph and his brothers, Reuben, Joseph and Judah all provide examples of the mediator role, and remind us of how Jesus, through his position as mediator, introduces us into the presence of God the Father, and provides for us from God’s abundant riches.
God calls us to share in his mediator role, standing before God in prayerful intercession for the world, and representing God before the world by sharing his message and witnessing by our example of God’s love and compassion.
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Jen Cox looks at the stories of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin in Luke 15. Jesus, unlike the Pharisees and religious of his day, loved to spend time with “tax-collectors and sinners” because he valued the eternal worth of each individual. and came into the world to seek those who were lost, however far they strayed from God. God loves each one of us and we can always trust him and come to him with confidence to ask his forgiveness and give us the strength to follow his purpose for our lives.
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Andy Dykes preaches from Luke 14. Jesus tells his Pharisee hosts the parables of the wedding feast, and the banquet, condemning them for taking the best seats and disregarding those who are worse off than themselves. Jesus encourages us to take the lowest positions, showing humility and compassion for the poor, and turning the world’s standards on their head.
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