St Andrew's in the Grange, Church of Scotland (Guernsey )

Justin Taylor

This podcast shares sermons from St Andrew’s in the Grange, Church of Scotland, in Guernsey. We are an open, inclusive, and questioning church, rooted in the Reformed tradition and shaped by a commitment to thoughtful faith, hospitality, and justice. Our sermons are usually drawn from our weekly worship and engage Scripture with honesty and care, taking both faith and doubt seriously. We believe church should be a place where people are welcomed as they are, questions are encouraged, and the Christian story is explored in ways that connect with real life.

  1. May 27

    29 MARCH 2026 (JOHN 19:16b–22)

    Welcome to St Andrews in the Grange, Church of Scotland, Guernsey. This service was recorded on Sunday, 29 March 2026, Palm Sunday. Our reading is John 19:16b–22. Palm Sunday often begins with crowds, branches and celebration, but John’s Gospel draws us quickly toward the cross. Jesus carries the instrument of his execution through the city while Pilate orders a sign to be placed above him: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” It is written in multiple languages so that everyone passing by can read it. What was intended as mockery becomes proclamation. This is a story filled with contradiction. The one proclaimed king does not arrive with violence or military power. He does not defeat his enemies or silence his accusers. Instead, he walks willingly into suffering and rejection. John presents a Christ whose kingship is revealed not through domination, but through self-giving love. This sermon reflects on the kind of power Jesus embodies and the challenge this poses to the ways societies often understand strength, success and leadership. It explores how Palm Sunday confronts us with a choice between spectacle and compassion, between the kingdoms built on fear and the kingdom revealed in vulnerability and truth. At St Andrews in the Grange, we seek to be a community shaped by grace, honesty and hope, where difficult questions are welcomed and where faith is rooted in compassion rather than certainty. If you would like to connect or find out more about our community, you can email Justin at jtaylor@churchofscotland.org.uk If this reflection encouraged you, please like, subscribe and share. It helps others find thoughtful and inclusive faith online. #PalmSunday#HolyWeek#John19#InclusiveChurch#ProgressiveChristianity#ChurchOfScotland#GuernseyChurch#Sermon#JesusChrist

    29 MARCH 2026 (JOHN 19:16b–22)
  2. May 26

    22 MARCH 2026 (JOHN 19:1-16a)

    Welcome to the St Andrews in the Grange sermon podcast from Guernsey. This sermon was preached on Sunday, 22 March 2026, and is based on John 19:1–16a, the account of Jesus before Pilate. In this part of the Passion story, Jesus is mocked, beaten and publicly humiliated as political and religious power close in around him. Pilate struggles between conscience and self-preservation, while the crowd and authorities demand control and certainty. At the centre of it all stands Jesus, vulnerable before violence and empire. This reflection explores the nature of power, fear and responsibility. It asks how ordinary people become caught up in systems that dehumanise others, and what it means to follow a Christ who refuses to answer violence with violence. The sermon also reflects on how the Passion story continues to speak into modern public life, inviting us to consider truth, courage, compassion and the cost of standing alongside those who suffer. St Andrews in the Grange is a progressive and inclusive Church of Scotland congregation in Guernsey, seeking to create space for thoughtful faith, honest questions and compassionate community. If you would like to connect or find out more, you can email Justin at jtaylor@churchofscotland.org.uk If you found this sermon meaningful, please subscribe, share and leave a review. It helps others discover thoughtful and inclusive Christian reflection online. #John19#Lent#HolyWeek#ProgressiveChristianity#InclusiveChurch#ChurchOfScotland#PodcastSermon#GuernseyChurch

    22 MARCH 2026 (JOHN 19:1-16a)

About

This podcast shares sermons from St Andrew’s in the Grange, Church of Scotland, in Guernsey. We are an open, inclusive, and questioning church, rooted in the Reformed tradition and shaped by a commitment to thoughtful faith, hospitality, and justice. Our sermons are usually drawn from our weekly worship and engage Scripture with honesty and care, taking both faith and doubt seriously. We believe church should be a place where people are welcomed as they are, questions are encouraged, and the Christian story is explored in ways that connect with real life.