Let's look at the text of the prodigal son through the perspective of Lent - a season of spring cleaning and decluttering all that obstructs God's claim on our lives. Lent helps us see the 'lostness' of all the characters. This story invites us to stand in the experience of lostness, whichever brother we identify with - or even the father who weeps for his children.

Major Caroline Mingay

This is a huge story. It is an event that instilled wonder in the three simple fishermen - Peter, James and John. They are stunned by this mountaintop experience.

Mountaintop experiences are not everyday occurrences but they are necessary because they can really change how we react and respond to life when we come back down the mountain. They can give us new perspectives. We see God's glory in new ways.

Major Richard Mingay

How should we treat our enemies? Jesus speaks to the violence within us by encouraging us to love to the extremes - because we are extremely loved by God. Living in that reassurance we can pass it on.

Major Caroline Mingay

The story of the storm is a strong metaphor for those disruptions that come and smack into our lives and personal situations. And so I'm going to speak on the following three thoughts:

- the nature of the storm

- reaction to the storm

- how to come through the storm

Major Richard Mingay

Christ's message was to welcome the marginalised, love the foreigner and the outcast. You see God's love and blessing cannot be boxed within the confines of human prejudice and preference. God's story for all is a big fat word called 'Grace'.

Once we understand Grace for ourselves, then we too are charged with spreading the Truth of his Word.

Major Richard Mingay

We look at Jesus's first sermon - in fact it's the first thing he says at all in Luke's Gospel. It's also his personal vision statement. And it speaks to us today, as we pray

'pour out your Spirit on us today, that we who are Christ's body may bear today the good news of your ancient promises to all who seek you. Amen.'

Major Caroline Mingay

The story of Jesus's baptism as recorded in Mark's Gospel is all about Jesus confirming and setting his identity both with an earthly context and also within the much wider eternal Kingdom picture. Holy Spirit Baptism gives us our means of identity as Christians, individually and corporately. It can challenge us and help us identify our true priorities.

Major Richard Mingay.

In our light service we take time to consider how those we have loved and lost are nearer than we comprehend because, through the Divine, the distance has been covered.

Major Richard Mingay

Biblical narrative is packed with advent longing: Old Testament waiting for the promised Messiah; New Testament waiting for Christ to return.

We must dwell in advent because it trains us to ache for God. Let this advent guide you back home to God who will open the heavens for your salvation.

Major Caroline Mingay

CS Lewis made a famous remark at the beginning of The Screwtape Letters: 'The average person has two equal and opposite reactions when faced with demons and devils. Either they're tempted to say that this is all a bunch of nonsense and we can't believe in them, or they take a very unhealthy interest in them.'

And Lewis rightly say neither of those is the right approach. In this message we are going to look into what the Scripture actually means.

Major Richard Mingay