St Matts Weekly Message

Join Claire (chaplain at Plymouth Marjon and member our church) as she carries on our "Back to Basics" series, looking at the often missed discipline of Solitude - space we all need in this busy life to reconnect with Jesus.

Why do Christians get together on Sunday to sing together? And is that even what worship is? Join Mike and our panel - Noah, Naomi, Claire and Graham as they discuss all things worship - why we do it, who it's for and how we can grow together in this area of our life as a church. Enjoy!

Sally speaks about the beautiful and fundamental practice of forgiveness. Forgiveness starts with God's great mercy, it flows to us — sometimes we need to learn to forgive ourselves and it enables us to make those difficult costly choices to forgive those who have hurt us: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free... and to find that the prisoner is yourself."

What's your experience of communion? A key part of your discipleship, or something slightly weird that happens up the front of church which you're not quite sure about? Communion was given as a gift by Jesus to his disciples so that we might remember and enter into the story of his death and resurrection- it is a beautiful picture of the promises of God to us, promises which we step into simply by opening our hands and receiving. And through it we get to experience union with God and union with each other — what a gift!

We often pray 'Come Holy Spirit' - but what (or who) is the Holy Spirit? How do we understand the Holy Spirits work in the world and in our lives and how can we each invite Holy Spirit to come and make a home in us? Join Jeff as we explore some of these questions!

Are you feeling refreshed, rested and full of life? Probably not. God has built into the fabric of creation a rhythm of rest - it's called the Sabbath. Come join Mike as we explore what the Sabbath is and why the idea is so important for us... so we can Get Grace, Learn to Stop and Practice Delight.

Money is a funny thing - it doesn't want to just be useful in our lives but has this strange ability to exert control over us. But generosity is in the DNA of the Kingdom of God! WE have a God who has designed a world in which those that sow, reap a harvest of multiplication and the same is true with our giving- the harvest will be worth it. Join Teressa as she explores this important topic and you might find out out a few things about St Matts too...

If you'd like to know more about giving at St Matts or how you can join in head here.

Why has the Bible been the number 1 selling book ever since it was first published? Why should we bother reading it? Graham unpacks the message and purpose of scripture for us — it is the way that God has chosen to reveal himself, to impart life and to empower his people!

Mike begins our new series 'Back to Basics' asking the question Why Church? Have you ever found yourself asking why you turn up to church or why you are part of one? We look through 1 Peter 2:4-10 where we see the church as the People of God defined by grace, The Temple of God built on christ, and a Priesthood of believers whose purpose is to declare his praises. What a gift to us as believers to be part of this beautiful thing that God has created called The Church!

As part of our 7th Birthday celebrations, Mike our curate reminds us how we can make faith simple, following in Jesus' way: Know God, Love each other and Make a Difference!