Don't Be a Weirdo Because You Are a Christian

Rejoicing In All Circumstances: A Demonstration

Have you ever experienced what it is to rejoice on your worst day, or through your darkest year? If not, you are missing out! This week we practiced what it is to live the defiant, rebellious lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus. As Paul described in Philippians 4.4, we choose to praise and rejoice in all circumstances, because we know that whatever is happening today is not the end of our story. We celebrate, sometimes ahead of schedule, that all will be well, everything will be healed, relationships will be reconciled and God will have the victory over our stories. This Sunday, at the end of our service, we put on our dancing shoes as we welcomed a surprise visit from the Bay Street Brass band and danced in the street to When the Saints Go Marching In.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 7 June 2026

Faith and Science Reunited

Have you noticed that theology and religious history have been largely removed from school and university subject offerings? One of the greatest tragedies of the 21st century has been the relegation of theological study to personal interest or private religious observance. Science is, today, seen to be the sole pathway to continuous social improvement, whilst religion is a lightweight topic that is no longer needed to fill the gaps science once left open. When did the Church decide to accept this? Why haven't we managed to meet the signs of the times with curriculum that weds science with theology? Today, we considered the need for a holistic faith that pursues God every day with effort, and with every part of our being, including our minds. We revisited God's command in Deuteronomy 6.4-12 to be tireless in the pursuit of passing on scriptural truth to the next generation.

In Christ There Is No Racism, Classism or Sexism

One of the reasons the early Church grew so rapidly was because it was an ATTRACTIVE community to join. It was uniquely inclusive of different racial groups, campaigned against slavery, and elevated slaves and women to leadership roles that had always been reserved for men. The early Church radically rejected polygamy, infanticide and sex slavery, teaching men to be faithful to and respectful towards their wives. Baby girls were wanted and kept as equal in value to boys. All of this stemmed from the day of Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit was being poured out on all flesh, indiscriminate of race, age, class or gender. How do we reconcile our experiences of communities that call themselves Christian but fail to deliver equality? This Pentecost Sunday we answered this question by taking a close look at Paul's letter to the Galatian province c. 48-50 CE.

When You're Not Sure If It's Worth It

What moments do you look back on in your life and think, “That was worth it!” We can be in a bit of a jam sometimes. We can completely avoid hard things that we wish we did, or we might work hard at something but aren’t really sure why or if its really worth it. In today’s passage, Paul finishes off his letter of advice to Timothy by encouraging him to “fight the good fight of the faith.” He shows us that a life of active faith is not easy, it might even be hard work, but it is good, it is worth the effort. This message is for the one who needs to be encouraged.

Don't Be a Weirdo Because You Are a Christian

Have you ever known any Christians who, over time, seem to become less and less 'normal'? This might be the effect of an unhealthy relationship with religion. When people become more interested in debating finer points of doctrine than being a friend, abstaining from perfectly healthy forms of enjoyment of life, obsessively attending church to the point of having no time for anything else, or stacking up converts like they are point-scoring with God ... we know something isn't quite right. Religion is a danger for all of us, no matter what denominational background we come from. This week looked at how Paul exposes the signs of unhealthy religion and outlines the evidence of true maturity in Christ (1 Timothy 4.1-16).   Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 3 May 2026