22nd February: Lent 1 Look at Jesus: Led by God -Transfiguration & Temptation (Focusing on Jesus)

 

Lent 1, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

In Lent we journey with Jesus in the Judean Wilderness. Jesus is going to take a small step in this wilderness

that would be a giant leap for mankind and a step that we (as followers of Jesus) may not haven’t fully taken yet!

1st March: Lent 2 Born of God: God’s event - our participation (Focusing on God)

 

Lent 2, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown                                                          

In his ministry Jesus would not only teach, but would share the generosity of God. He would reveal how it is better

to give than to receive: he knew this truth better than any other.

 

8th March: Lent 3 Inclusive Love: ‘Agape’ & God’s love (Focusing on God - Trinitarian: love, grace and me)

 

Lent 3, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown                                                          

Jesus has considered the breadth of God’s love, not only for this people, but for the outcast, the leper, the tax-

collector, the Roman occupiers of this holy land, and even God's love for the scum, like the Samaritans.

“Truly Father, your love is aboveand beyond us… for your love excludes none."

 

15th March: Lent 4 Travelling from Old to New (Following Jesus: Moving forward in faith)

 

Lent 4, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown 

But what kind of holiness of spirit and purity in our ways does God seek in us? Surely it’s the kind that was

found in his Son… who sat with, ate with, walked among, who got his feet blistered and his hands dirty in

caring for others? Jesus is surely our model for holiness and purity?

 

22nd March: Lent 5 Despair and Hopelessness – and Hope (Focusing on God - our Sure and Steadfast

Hope)

 

Lent 5, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

You came here to think, reflect and to be challenged. You came here knowing you’d be tested - and tested

to the extreme. How are you going to face these challenges – what do you do with your renewed faith?

 

 

29th March (Palm Sunday): Lent 6 The Servant King (Focusing on Jesus: a Church with a vision)

 

Palm Sunday, Sermon and reflection by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

Matthew tells us that the whole city was thrown into turmoil. The excitement at Jesus’ arrival and eventual

entry into the city causes fervour of religious joy and excitement.

 

Good Friday, Sermon by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

His agony was real. His pain was real. The sin of the world he experienced was real. This was a genuine agony

for his soul. Here he experienced the world of sin (the sin of the world); he experienced the darkness of sin; and

he experienced the death and despair of sin. His experience was the absolute opposite of his way, his life and

his Kingdom.

 

Easter Sunday, Sermon by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

On one occasion where Jesus forgives sins the cry that is raised is “blasphemy – only God can forgive sins.” Why have the disciples included this picture of Jesus forgiving sins? To show to us how they saw Jesus. This was how they saw him: and how they would introduce him to us… that we might see him as they did. What is this image designed to say to us?

 

First Communion Sunday after Easter, Sermon by Rev Dr Kenneth Brown

To some people, if there is love, it must be out there somewhere, but it doesn’t include them. To people such as this Jesus would break into their world and their cycle of hopelessness with God’s love. He delighted to reveal God’s love among tax-collectors, outcasts, Romans… even to Samaritans, and anywhere else where love’s presence would surprise and shock.