Mark Visser continues the early start to the Advent mini-series in the build up to Christmas. The second message of Advent is Peace. We live in a world in turmoil where there hasn't been peace for hundreds of years, but despite this we, as believers in Jesus Christ can live in peace. How do we do that? That is what Mark looks at in his message.

Mark Visser kicks off the Advent mini-series in the build up to Christmas. It is early, but because of what else is happening in December we are starting this mini-series now. Mark looks at the first of the four themes, Hope. The Jews were waiting in Hope for their promised Messiah, and are still waiting because they missed the signs pointing to the baby born in Bethlehem during the time of the census.

Gill picks up on the Unlikely Heroes series after our Heroes Family Service. Gill take a look at Jesus as her Unlikely Hero. He was never acknowledged in His lifetime as even being of any importance – in fact He was despised and mocked, tried and unfairly convicted and His punishment was death, death on a cross. Even His closest friends denied Him and betrayed Him.

For the past number of months we have been looking at Unlikely Heroes in our preaching. This Sunday we did things a little differently, reaching out to parents and friends to come and have a Family Service that was all age focused, with short talks and some very interactive games and challenges. What we have here is the short talks focused on the story of The Good Samaritan.

Andy Belsey continues the Unlikely Heroes series looking at Gideon, a man called mighty by God, while he was hiding from the enemy threshing wheat in a wine press. Despite his protestations of being the least of the least, God raised him up to be a might man of God.

Mark Visser carries on with the Unlikely Heroes sermon series, looking at someone who on the surface might not look like an Unlikely Hero, his actions and his attitude are not great, but what he does do, in the end, makes him an Unlikely Hero. His story is sometimes hard to swallow, our Unlikely Hero is Jonah.

Mark Visser continues the Unlikely Heroes series looking at the early life of Moses. He should have been murdered at birth, then he was given away to a princess and raised as a prince of Egypt until he murdered an Egyptian slave master. Moses then fled for his life and lived as a refugee until God grabbed his attention.

Gill Visser choses to speak about the little known character Phoebe as her Unlikely Hero. Phoebe was entrusted to take Paul's letter to Rome, and as the carrier of the letter it was expected that she would also read the letter to the various church gatherings happening in Rome. Paul put his trust in Phoebe to carry out this important task.

Mark Stoneham continues the Unlikely Heroes series looking at Caleb, one of the 12 spies sent into spy out the Promised Land before the Israelites were to go in. He was one of two spies that gave a positive report while the other 10 spies all feared the inhabitants they saw. Forty-five years later, at the age of 85, Caleb is ready to take on the giants to claim the land promised to him. Mark speaks about how age should not prevent us from doing what God has called us to do, citing a number of older people who served or are still serving.

Mark and Gill Visser share the pulpit as they speak about Matthew, who until Jesus called him to follow him, was a despised tax collector. Matthew followed Jesus without hesitation, throwing a banquet to celebrate his new life. Not much is known about the life of Matthew apart from the Gospel he wrote and other anecdotal stories of his later life. He is one of our Unlikely Heroes.