Belhelvie Church - Sermons Belhelvie Church

Just four little words, but carrying a world of meaning.
Spoken like a breath of  fresh air into a locked room where the atmosphere is heavy and sour with fear.

“Peace be with you” Jesus says. And then he shows them the wounds in his hands and his side.

What did that mean for the disciples, and what does it mean for us today in the place of our real-life struggles?

That’s what we’re exploring in this morning’s service.

https://youtu.be/7mcvhevhn-c

Where does God meet us?

On sea shore and mountain top? In the holy stillness of ancient churches and cathedrals? In quiet moments of beauty and contentment in the privacy of our own hearts?

Yes.

But not just there.

Today’s story of the Road to Emmaus, drawn from the work of Fred Buechner, reminds us that, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, God can also meet us on the rough ground of the uncertain pathways our lives can take. Right in the middle of our loss, doubt and confusion.

The good news for today is that He also walks with us there.



https://youtu.be/ks3FmnL9PsQ

"My God, my God why have you forsaken me?"

We know that Jesus spoke those words from the cross but there's a whole world of meaning, within and beyond them, if you read them in their full context - which is Psalm 22, taken in its entirety.

We're plumbing the depths of that Psalm this evening and finding reasons for an expansive hope, even among the desolation of the cross.

A 90’s pop band, Roger Moore, a huge breed of dog with a wee barrel of brandy around its neck, Southampton Football Club, spoof rock and roll front man David St Hubbins……

Do you see the connection yet?

If not (or even, if yes!) watch on for a St Patrick’s day
special!

https://youtu.be/lNTDRVRVV5Y

It’s a gospel story that most of us know, or at least have
heard of – the parable of the prodigal son. It tells the story of a Father whose youngest, having demanded his inheritance, turns his back on his family in pursuit of the high life. But when things go badly wrong there’s only one place he wants to be – back home. But how will he be received by his parents, and his older brother, having treated them so badly?

Today, in the context of Mothers’ Day, we’re entering
imaginatively into the story and hearing from the one person who doesn’t get a mention, but from whom we can learn a lot about the nature of God’s parental
love. The boys’ mother.



Today, she gets to tell us her story.

 

https://youtu.be/rkp3inyUHls

Join us, and our local uniformed organisations,  for our Founder’s Day and Thinking Day
service.

We’re reflecting on the theme ‘Our World, Our Thriving
Future’. What does it mean to thrive? Given all that’s going on in our world,
is it even realistic to use that word of our collective future? What does God
have to say about it? What part we might have to play in making a more thriving
future?

Lots of questions and maybe even some answers in today’s
service!

 

https://youtu.be/hvP_oXWXup0