This week we ponder the well-loved story of the road to Emmaus. It’s a beautiful tale filled with all kinds of lessons for Christian life. For that reason, rather than focusing on one, my talk looks at seven ingredients for a tasty Christian spirituality.

I hope you find it rich and nourishing. I hope you take one or two thoughts on board, and enrich your life in response. I hope and pray we all find ways of enabling our faith to be something lovely and attractive to share with those around us.

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

This week we look at the topic of doubt and faith as we hear the well-known story of Thomas.

So, would you count yourself a person of doubt or a person of faith? We may feel awkward or even guilty about doubting some parts of our Christian tradition. But what if both doubt and faith are of equal value on the road to truth?

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

The Lord is risen; he is risen indeed!

Our message this week follows Mary Magdalene as she approaches the tomb on Easter morning. She comes whilst it’s still dark, and she comes in grief and sorrow after the horrors of Good Friday.

Some of us may be feeling the world around us is pretty dark right now. Warfare, climate chaos and the plight of refugees are just some of the problems the whole world faces. You may have personally been going through a dark time.

Jesus’ resurrection presents us with a new reality. Death has been swallowed up by victory. Sin and evil and hell shall never have the last word. To experience that new reality might mean letting go of something, as Mary had to let go of the physical presence of Jesus. Easter challenges us to meet the world’s darkness with unquenchable light.

This is not to downplay the suffering and sin of the world. We feel the world’s pain, but we meet it with the undauntable love of God.

I wish you a very happy Easter.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Welcome to our podcast for Passion Sunday! 

Are these just stories – No!  They ask us:   What are you passionate about?

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Léone Sutcliffe.

Welcome to our podcast material for 5th March. In our church service we’ll nod to St David's Day and think a little bit about a phrase associated with him: ‘doing the little things’. What did St David mean by this?

When big problems come along, it’s easy to forget how important the little things can be. What little things can you do this week to share God’s love in our world? Ordinary actions like making a phone call or sending a card can make such a big difference to someone in need. As Hearsall continues to seek God’s will for the future, we must make sure that we don’t neglect the ordinary little things of church life - like caring for each other!

I am due to have eye surgery in the coming week so we plan to take a break from our podcast until Palm Sunday (2nd April). Assuming the operation goes ahead, I’ll be taking some time to recuperate.

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to change? Most of us have something we’re less than proud of in our character, such as a short temper, a vain streak or the green-eyed monster of jealousy. Is it possible to change such things, or are they just fixed parts of our natures?

This week’s scripture is the story often called the Fall, in which Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. This scripture has become overgrown with myths, legends and half-baked ideas and today we consider what it does actually tell us, especially about the ability to change.

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

So, what do mountains mean to you? Have you ever climbed one? What kinds of lessons do we learn from mountains? Why are mountains regarded as spiritual places?

Today we think about the mountaintop experience of Jesus, when he was transfigured. What did it all mean? What strength did his disciples draw from this startling vision of the majestic Christ?

Perhaps we need a similar strength as our church faces a challenging future. Can we find the strength of Christ to carry us through?

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Most of us enjoy a good old chat! We love to chew over the latest gossip or reflect together on some big news story. I wonder who you enjoy chatting with most.

Chatting Is good, but what about listening? To listen to someone else properly is different from chatting, and is actually quite a difficult skill to pick up. But to listen well to another is to offer healing and comfort. It’s to give a rare gift. As we reflect on Jesus’ teaching today, we might pick up one or two tips on how to listen better. After all, you know that person in your life who’s going off the rails?

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

I wonder what your favourite passage of scripture might be? I have many favourites, but in my top ten I’d have to find room for Isaiah 58. Imagine it being spoken by a Shakespearean actor and you might get a sense of why I love it so. Its language is resonant, challenging, poetic and visionary.

So, what does this chapter of the Bible actually say? It expresses the idea that worship and ethical behaviour are strongly linked. A person who praises God is one who lives their life, not just for themselves, but also for the good of others. A society that is built around public worship is one that also enshrines care for the poor and kindness to all people in need. It's a timely reminder for a church like ours that worship isn't just for inside a church building, but affects all of life. In the words of my talk, we should keep worship fresh - keep it flowing outward to the world at large. 

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.

This week’s service is all about baptism. Three church friends are being baptised as believers, and we look forward to a great celebration in worship on Sunday. You might like to remember your own baptism. What did it mean to you then? What does it mean to you now?

Some sincerely look back to their infant baptism and fully accept that they have indeed been baptised. As Baptists, we respect those who respect their own infant baptism, and don’t try to persuade them to enter the magnificent baptistry at Hearsall.

But in our tradition, we like to completely immerse those who are making a free choice to follow Jesus. In this way, the Christian consciously and deliberately identifies with the death and resurrection of Christ. The ceremony is so powerful because a person has made their own decision to be a disciple of Jesus. They’ll remember the feeling of being plunged under the water for all their lives. They’ll recall with joy that first breath as they emerge into the air. The old life is as good as dead! The new, resurrection life of Christ has been embraced.

You can download a copy of my Message on this link.

With very warm wishes

Rev.David Sutcliffe.