16th December 2012.

The third in the Advent series on waiting Jane looks at Luke 2:33-38 and the brief synopsis provided by Luke of Anna the prophet. Jane spoke of the years in worship, prayer and fasting and the keeping of an active vigil looking to the coming of Jesus as the one to set people free , for God’s will to be done on earth. When praying blessing into people’s lives what are we praying for? Jane refers to what Jesus spoke of as a blessed life in the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount. The talk finishes with a call for us to reflect on our ability to wait and pray and witness with purpose through the years.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website .

 9th December 2012.

Jane continued in the theme of waiting by looking at the life and example of Simeon recorded briefly in Luke 2:22-35. The long wait for the Messiah was now fulfilled and he could leave this life in peace but that the nature of Jesus was not a local hero but as a global Messiah. A stone to trip some up and raise others . The Biblical associations with the idea of “stone”. Jane linked and drew to an incident in Genesis 31:44-49 between Jacob and Laban who sealed their agreement with a covenant meal after building a cairn of stones as a monument and named the site Mizpah (may the Lord watch between you and me till we meet again). This was used as a lead into communion in us sitting round the “Stone” and eating a covenant meal and watching and actively waiting for the Second Advent. We must wait for the Kingdom to fully come in the return of Jesus Christ. And we must wait to see again those who have died and from whom we are separated.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

2nd December 2012.

Jane started with the Advent season with the theme of waiting. The reading was from Luke1:26-38. Mary waited. Jane looked at the stages of waiting and what Mary waited for in the course of her life. How good are we at waiting? How to find the balance from wishing your life away to enjoying the benefits of delayed gratification. But also how good are we in waiting for answers to prayers and prophecy - and looked at Micah 4:1-5 and the extraordinary promises related to Jesus. Can we learn to wait for God’s time and explore why the answer is not a poplar answer but that waiting in itself is important and the lessons we can learn from Romans 3:3-5.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

25th November 2012.

Jane spoke to Prayer & Spirituality: a spirituality of work. The reading is from Ephesians 2; 8 – 10. What is your attitude to work and how has this attitude been shaped? As we focus in on developing our relationship with God we need to have an understanding about work – task and time. This Jane suggests relates to you whether you are in paid work, or looking for paid work, or volunteering, or even “retired”. Some people view paid work as “real work”. Our identity is tied into work. Work is often viewed very negatively but work whether paid or voluntary can be viewed as service/worship. God works and so do we if we are human. Work can be seen as sacred – that is holy and for God – service or worship…for the praise of God and the benefit of not just myself but the world. Human work can reflect God’s work by being:

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

18th November 2012.

Rhythms, rituals and routines. Jane used the Psalmist’s invitation to pray seven times a day to thank God from Psalm 119:57-64 and v 161-168 to explore how prayer becomes increasingly a lifestyle rather than an event. Where we can be creative and courageous in drawing on the “prayer wells” where other Christians have deeply discovered through prayer more of God from the throne of grace to live in the peace Jesus promised and evidence it. Within the Christian community the place of prayer and our call to pray for others. In pausing to remember God I will also remember who I am.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

11th November 2012.

This week Jane speaks to “Prayer: spirituality and remembering “from 2 Timothy 2:8-14 where Paul reminds us to “remember Jesus Christ who was raised from death.” It begins with looking at the act of remembering within the context of remembrance Sunday and what and how to profitably base the acts of remembering on and from. That remembering extends to welcoming stranger, those in prison and suffering, the needy and evolving a keen sense of history to give strength, understanding and meaning in the present.

We are particularly to remember the things that Jesus said and taught. That prayer too is a way of remembering. We need to be selective as to what we chose to remember and what we choose to forget. We learn patience through remembering what we have seen. Remembering too stops us going astray and repeating mistakes. We also have a responsibility to remind others, to be attentive to what the Holy spirit reminds us of and also to be forward thinking as we remember where we have come from and what God has done.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

4th November 2012.

Jane speaks to “Prayer & Spirituality: Imitation “from Ephesians 5: 1 - 20. If we are learning from and imitating Jesus then spirituality has to do with unlearning as well as learning. In the New Testament spirituality focuses not just on the individual’s relationship with God, but how the individual flourishes through the group and the group through the individual. We learn many things from our parents – some of this will be in line with what God our spiritual parent does and teaches and some will need to be unlearned if we are to please God. This is also true for church practice and tradition. The NT is clear that we are to follow/ to imitate Christ. We cannot, however, imitate what we do not see and know. The consequences, if we do not learn to imitate the behaviour and actions of Jesus, means we will have no response that is adequate to the current lostness of humanity, the darkness of the evil we face, the vastness of the suffering that is present in the world.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

21st October 2012.

Jane spoke to 1 Timothy 3:8-13 looking at prayer and the spirituality of leadership. The talk examines in detail the roles and responsibilities of a church leader in Victoria Park Baptist and how leadership works in principle on a Congregationalist model of church like the Baptists. It looks at the purpose, role and the specific duties of each leader and the current range of work stream responsibilities working as part of a team. Ahead of the nominations to the leadership team elections in November the talk also looks at the qualities to look for in assessing if people are ready for the role and that they show they are developing and growing as Christians.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

14th October 2012.

Jane continues the series on prayer and spirituality using the motif of “thirsty companions “ and referring to the story found in Luke 24:13 to 35 with Cleopas and his unnamed fellow traveller( possibly his wife) encountering and eating with Jesus unawares. Aside from highlighting the Haiti water project linked to the Harvest Appeal “Thirsty” from BMS the talk touches on those who have accompanied us on the road that have revealed to us things about Jesus. In this communion service the lives of Harry ( whose funeral was on Wednesday) and Marlene Twine were remembered as an example encouragement of committed service lasting decades. A long, effective journeying on with Jesus that resulted in significant and shared ministries both inside the church and out of it.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

7th October 2012.

Using 2 Timothy 2:20-26 and Romans 9:19-26 Jane explores the imagery of being vessels for God. What the potentials are and the barriers to being made available and usable in God’s purposes. The talk looks at some of the challenges that poses for us as we explore being progressively transformed as we are increasingly filled with God.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

30th September 2012.

Jane spoke to Luke 9:57-62 about a call to be a pilgrim people or sojourners and drew from the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (SUKKA) where the people built booths as a reminder of the time in the wilderness and their dependence on God and his provision. This reminds us that we are not to get too settled or comfortable and that our relationship with the world needs to be balanced against our relationship with God. So although Jeremiah encourages the exiles to build houses and settle( Jer 29:5-7) our mind-set is to build as a task within a task and that our homes are just places we move out from, that God may have to push us out into the world. Jane also makes the point that God does not live in a house made by human hands and where Jesus tabernacled for a while with us (John 1:14) and that our human bodies are only temporary tents ( 2 Cor 5:1,4)and then highlighted some of the implications of the kind of relationship with God this reality brings about.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

23rd September 2012.

Jane spoke to the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42 and with reference to Acts 4:13 around linking hospitality to listening and deepening Christian spirituality. Being hospitable is not simply the practical elements of serving but in choosing to stop and listen. That the anxiety of service and constant working can be a form of enslavement, avoidance and escape which means we miss out and do not take the freedom that is offered to us. Companionship and service is listening and spending time with Jesus. Although each of us may be different as to how much of our day we can control each of us can find strategies to create the space even in what we are doing to be close enough to be transformed and touched by spending deliberate time in the presence of Christ.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

16th September 2012.

Jane spoke to Matthew 13 45-46 concerning the discovery of the pearl of great price and Matthew 6:24 -34 about where true wealth lies not just in knowing about God but in experiencing God. That Dr Luke’s fondness for the Greek nautical term of discovery is a reminder of adventure inherent in God’s kingdom that we taste and see, seek and find, as pilgrims we look for a country and city found of a different citizenship while being good citizens of the present and discovering God and his world. That God has put a lifelong spirit of discovery and enquiry into each person and encourages us to keep on discovering and growing in expanding horizons as we grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

9th September 2012.

Last day of the Paralympics today and London 2012. Jane continues on the series in prayer and spirituality looking at the knowledge of the presence of God via the story of the road to Emmaus and the encounter by two of Jesus disciples in Luke 24:13-35. In this incident the disciples fail to recognise who Jesus is and this is true for us as we do not always recognise the presence of God in the everyday. Using the example of Brother Lawrence Jane looks at the cornerstone of the implications of the incarnation of Jesus , God’s presence that does not leave us for a second. In looking at the example of Elijah God’s presence is discovered through voice and word. While stressing as well that just as God was not in the wind, earthquake and fire so too that creation is in God as creator not a pantheism that simply sees God in creation. Although we have many experiences of God it is “ in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son “( Hebrews 1:2) and founded on Jesus promise that “ I am with you always “ is taking time to stop and listen as Jesus reveals himself and speaks to us by name.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

2nd September 2012.

“There is a river that brings joy to the City of God.” Using Psalm 46 Jane looks at the significance of historical examples, metaphors and symbols of rivers in the Bible. The Psalm itself contrasts the destructive waters of v1-2, with the river of Gods city as the presence of God running through God’s people. Drawing from the writings of Isaiah, Ezekiel and John these point to the new Jerusalem of Revelation 22 flowing from the throne of God and bordered with the tree of life. Yet this is not simply a hope after death but is to be experienced now, an invitation  to drink of the living water extended to us and made possible through Jesus Christ.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

26th August 2012.

Looking at the contrasting story of blind Bartimaeus and the rich young man in Mark 10 Jane continues in the series of prayer and spirituality. In examining how each man faced the challenge around seeking to encounter God it looks at the reasons behind their contrasting willingness for turning and changing. Of thus causing us to reflect on what we really value which is also reflected in what we are willing to let go. Coupled with this is the willingness to seek God and to hear what God has to say. That the question of “what do you want Jesus to do for you ?” is linked to a willingness and curiosity to find what God asks of us and it is this that puts us on the quest of Christian spirituality (John 17:3)

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

19th August 2012

 The reading is from James 1:16-25 and continues on the short series of prayer and spiritualty. This time looking at how prayer and the deepening of spirituality is closely linked to a life of change and turning, of repentance and moral reflection and a reorientation toward the light . Changing circumstances require a change and a readiness to respond. Our relationship with God can enable this. As society and culture changes new moral choices are required.  Yet we are not constantly changing our minds and spinning round to suit our situation as there are times to stand our moral ground but there are many times to change by small degrees. Prayer and reflection on God’s word help ( re) orientate ourselves to the Light of God. As the potter moulds the clay as it is by being tuned in the potters hand our lives are shaped and formed by God hand in our lives living in the acceptance of God’s timing in the light of disappointments.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website 

12th August 2012  

In the second week of the Olympic outreach, having said goodbye to the YWAM team from Latvia last week and hello to the second team from the DTS base from Kona in Hawaii, this is the team’s last Sunday with us as we gear up for the closing ceremony of the Olympics in the evening. The talk is on Matthew 20:1-16 of workers hired at the final hour and reflects on the upside down principles of Gods kingdom. That as friends and co workers we need to make room for each other, reflect on our motives for service and to be willing and available for God’s invitation to recruitment.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website 

5th August 2012.

This is a simple and short talk for the Holiday Club “True Champions” weekend and our first weekend into our Olympics programme. Jesus is the “Yes” to all Gods’ promises ( 2 Corinthians 1:7-20) and that as a follower of Jesus our “yes” should mean “yes” and an our “no” mean “no“( Matthew 5:33-37).

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

27th July 2012

Due to a technical fault there was no recording of this weeks sermon

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

22nd July 2012.

Jane continues in the series on prayer and spirituality in pray using our anxieties, fear and anger speaking from Mark 2:1-12. It looked at the role of the carers, the faith of friends and how anger and desperation are strong emotions but not always wrong. Using Ephesians 4:26 and Psalm 4 as practical examples of how to deal with anger and allowing it to be means of encountering God in a deeper way.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

15th July 2012.

Persevering in prayer for all the saints was the theme of this talk taken from Ephesians 6:10-18. In having set the scene for our relationship to the world last week, it was now the turn to think of our relationship with all God’s people. We are (all) saints because of our status in Christ, not in a stained glass window but in a moving kaleidoscope of broken pieces made into beautiful holy lives, separate from evil and available to God. Using the prayers of Paul in Ephesians Jane summarised how and what we can pray for all the saints, ending with a call to practical holiness and to persevere in prayer for all the saints.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

8th July 2012.

The reading is from John 17:1-19. Jane spoke on the Jesus prayer as he faced the greatest conflict with the evil one. Jane again stressed that prayer relationship we have with the triune God but also Jesus’ relationship to the world (cosmos). It is a world that God loves but is in rebellion and under the rule of the evil one. Jesus was sent to save the world and by the same token we are sent by Jesus as his ambassadors to be in the world. Nonetheless we may expect to be hated, just as the world hated Jesus. The talk then looks at how Jesus prays for us and teaches us to pray and as a consequence our relationship to evil.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

July 1st 2012.

Looking at Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm, 1; 1-3 and John 7:37-41 Jane looks at the intertwining of Word and Spirit on the second of this mini series on prayer and spirituality. The passage in Ezekiel is a prophecy of resurrection not just revival. The passages help us understand how prayer builds relationship with a triune God as body, mind, soul and spirit. So in Matthew 6:7-15 it forces us to ask the same request “Lord teach us how to pray.” That we learn from Jesus what it means to discover true prayer. We further uncover this as a community of prayer. Where in building the walls of prayer this comes together to form a house of prayer for all nations as a means of bringing about God’s will and purpose on earth.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website

24th June 2012.

Jane begins a new sub theme within the “handing on the eternal flame” in the lead up to the Olympics in a few weeks time. This is the place of prayer and spiritualty. In bringing together prayer, theology, and practical Christianity and how it shapes our deepening spirituality. Jane spoke of six areas for spiritual growth drawing from Baptist distinctives of spiritualty but recognising and celebrating too other church streams where we have many things in common. The weight and ingredients may vary but the drawing together of these help call us to areas which may have been neglected and from which we can learn and (re)discover from others such as stillness and journey.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

17th June 2012.

Jane reviewed and recapped the mini series on Hospitality taking a whistle stop tour through each word of the acronym and puling it together around the fact that God had already set the precedent in the love of stranger and of even enemy and that we are both commanded and compelled to respond. Yet we also have to be inspired and strengthened by the Holy Spirit for our love for stranger as it is likely to be more than we can give or cope within ourselves.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

6th June 2012.

Looking at “you” in the ”y” of Hospitality, when stranger becomes neighbour. In the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 Jane explores the inter relationships between the culture and background of the scribes and the casting of the Samaritan as the hero. Jane asks the questions as to what sort of people do you feel are your Samaritans and our willingness to learn from their kindness and example as well as extend our love of neighbour to strangers.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

3rd June 2012.

Jane spoke from Ephesians 4:1-16 around the place of Team and hospitality and where God’s gifted people work together to share the tasks. As friends and co-workers our working together is maintained by prayer and speaking the truth in love. This helps us deal with the inevitable immaturities that can threaten the unity of the team and in exercising mutual accountability. As we consider the various areas of outreach linked to the forthcoming Olympics we (like Paul) can get excited about people joining together in Jesus to achieve God’s will.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the website.

27th May 2012.

Jane spoke this Pentecost Sunday on Acts 2 using the word “Ignition” from the letter “I” in our mini-series on Hospitality. The talk looks at some of the metaphors of the Holy Spirit (fire, water, oil, wind) and how they combine to drive the power of Jesus’s authority in lives that demonstrates integrity and authenticity while also powering our lives for service. The work of the Holy Spirit combines too with holiness and, above all the consuming fire of God’s love, this is our motivator to mission and service.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website.

20th May 2012.

Jane spoke to the need for love to be the motivator in “Hospitality.” The reading is from 2 Corinthians 5; 11-21. Love of stranger is derived from Jesus which causes motion into action that comes from our heart. Our energy of love must come from Jesus as it outstrips our own. That in the midst of responsibilities and duties we need to be ruled by Christ’s love for others and that this love can grow as our understanding of Jesus grows.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website.

13th May 2012.

Jane spoke to Mark 2:1-12 noting that the workers are few and the balance between genuine availability to God and his work and in fulfilling our responsibilities to others is a difficult one to strike. Jesus was not always available to some people in the way they wanted and made it a priority to go to the lonely places to be with God. Jane raised a series of questions. What is the best use of our time and resources? Are we spending enough time listening to God about what He wants you to do? Are we doing our share of kingdom work? Are some of us too available to people and not to God? What is really driving us forward or keeping us stationary? To be doing God’s work is to be genuinely available to God.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website.

6th May 2012.

Geoff brings the talk this week from Acts 10:1-35 covering the second Pentecost as described by Luke. Entitled “tea for two” as the first “T” in “Hospitality” the talk examines whether modern western attitudes towards hospitality as illustrated in the Broadway song “tea for two” models new testament biblical models. It looks at the three lessons Peter learned towards a Spirit inspired hospitality and the journey it required and left with three questions to ask ourselves about the giving and the receiving of hospitality.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website

29th April 2012.

Jane explored inclusion and the need for this to be coupled with integrity in the “ I “ of “Hospitality.” The reading was from Ephesians 2:13-22. While the message is the same we need to be prepared to change our company and our practice, and therefore have to be willing to see change in ourselves. All of us need to reconsider our behaviour and thoughts in the light of what God requires of us. God through His forgiveness and grace creates an inclusive community that has integrity as a many voiced church.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website.

April 22nd 2012.

This week we continue on the theme of hospitality this time looking at the importance of cultural awareness. In looking at the phrase coined by Bishop Ambrose in response to Augustine’s query “when in Rome do as the Romans do” and using the passage from Romans 14:13-19 and I Corinthians 9:19-23 the talk looks at Paul’s attitude of mind and heart. The talk raises a number of practical issues where a willingness to change our usual practice is tinged with the willingness to share all the blessings of the gospel.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website.

15th April 2012

Moving to the S for “Street “ as part of the Hospitality mini-series of sermons. The reading is from Luke 14:12 to 24, which includes the parable of the “Great Banquet.” Using the encounter with being at dinner with the Pharisee the talk looks at the motives for offering hospitality. Then linking this to the expectations of who they thought would be there at God’s feast and Jesus challenging those assumptions and behaviours. Jane then gives 5 practical tips for inviting those outside the circle of “people like us. “

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website

8th April 2012

8^th April

The Easter Sunday service today is led by Jane. Continuing in using the word “hospitality” as an acronym we get to the letter “O” for the “Open Tomb.” The reading is from John 20:1-18. In exercising hospitality as a gospel value we are reminded of Hebrews 13:2. God reached out to strangers in welcoming us to “ come and eat “ reflected in our sharing today of the communion meal. The open tomb itself is an open invitation to come and see and tell.

Notes will usually be available on the downloads section of the VPBC website