St Mary’s Attenborough Church

Pentecost

Our Vicar, Toby, reflects on Pentecost in Acts 2, exploring the power, presence, and transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Just as God’s ruakh - the Hebrew word for breath, wind, or spirit - brought life out of chaos in Genesis 1, the Spirit comes afresh to ordinary people, fulfilling Jesus’s promise and empowering the first Christians. Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit brings peace, freedom, discernment, and changed hearts - yet many Christians can still resist the Spirit’s work because it challenges comfort and control. “Everything the Spirit touches, he changes.” The challenge is whether we are willing to welcome that change and live with boldness and openness to God’s presence, rather than trying so hard to fit comfortably into the world around us.

Ascension

Oliver Towlson preaches on the Ascension through Acts 1:1–12 and Ephesians 4:1–10, exploring how the Ascension is not about Christ’s absence, but about his presence with us in a way beyond imagination: Christ has filled all things with himself. Paul uses this truth to call the Ephesians to unity, reminding them that no one possesses more of Christ than another. The Ascension also means there is nowhere Christ cannot be found. In taking on human pain, weakness, weariness, and fear, Jesus has transformed even suffering into a place where he may dwell, so that no one faces any part of life alone. There is no corner of human experience beyond the reach of his redemption; there is no pit so deep that he is not deeper still.

Practicing the Way of Witness ( Sharing the Good News)

This is a re-recording of a sermon from our Vicar Toby Artis. In this talk Toby reminds of the importance of holding on to the hope of Jesus as the best Good News story we can experience. It's only from this hope that we will experience the overflow of a life living out this beautiful story and speaking of this beautiful story of Jesus' unwavering commitment and love for us.

Practicing the Way: Witness (Partner with the Holy Spirit)

Chris Doig continues our series on Practicing the Way of Witness, exploring how we partner with the Holy Spirit through Acts 8:26-40. He highlights how God works through the Spirit to bring people to Himself, often before we even arrive. God desires all to be saved - a truth revealed both in creation and in Jesus. Even those without Christian faith sometimes cry out in prayer from desperation. In the passage, the Spirit directs Philip to leave his successful ministry and travel along a desert road, leading him to engage the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip begins with a question, echoing Jesus on the road to Emmaus, showing that gentle curiosity opens hearts. We often assume people aren’t interested, yet some are ready to respond if we simply walk alongside them. As the Spirit guides us, we are reminded to pray for boldness, trusting that God will equip us with both the words and courage needed to witness faithfully.

Practicing the Way: Witness (Practice Hospitality)

Liam O’Boyle continues our series on Practicing the Way of Witness by exploring hospitality through Luke 19:1–10. The story of Zacchaeus confronts our preference for comfortable, respectable gatherings by introducing a deeply awkward and socially rejected guest. Yet Jesus redefines hospitality as radical welcome. By choosing to eat with Zacchaeus, he publicly identifies with him, demonstrating a vision of hospitality rooted in the Greek word xenophilia - the love of the stranger. In Luke’s Gospel, meals appear repeatedly, shifting faith from sacred sites into the home, where all are equal and belong around the table. These are not elite banquets but family-style gatherings, where attention and presence matter most. Ultimately, practicing the way of witness through hospitality means truly noticing and valuing the person before us, because love begins with paying attention.

Practicing the Way: Witness (Begin with Love)

This week, Oliver Towlson starts our series on Practicing the Way of Witness, focusing on starting from a place of love rather than expectation. Using 2 Corinthians 5:14-20 and Luke 24:13-35, he explores the Greek word martus, meaning to witness by sharing the truth about Jesus, especially with those who don’t yet know him. As Christian witnesses, we participate in Jesus' mission by journeying with others and mediating Christ through our words and actions. Practically, we are called to be present, curious, brave, and patient. Ultimately, we rely on the Spirit of Jesus, partnering with God in his ongoing work in people’s lives, knowing God is already pursuing them with love.

Resurrection

Chris Doig preaches on the Resurrection of Jesus and how it transforms grief into joy and despair into celebration. More than a moment of Sunday joy, it shapes our everyday lives. The Resurrection is not just a symbol, but a physical, historical event - the empty tomb and the risen Jesus who ate and spoke with his followers - confirming that he is the Son of God and providing the foundation of our faith. It reminds us that God is in control, even in a troubled world, and that his kingdom is growing despite hardship. For those who trust in him, death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious eternity. Just as Jesus is the firstfruits of new creation, we can be sure that we too will be raised with him. Through his Spirit, Jesus is present with us now, offering peace in every circumstance, even when we don’t always feel him. We are invited to know him intimately and be transformed by his Spirit.

The Lessons of the Desert

Our Vicar, Toby Artis, concludes our series on the Desert Fathers, looking at Matthew 21:1-11.

Choosing the Way of Humility

Liam O'Boyle continues our Lectio365 sermon series on the Desert Fathers and Mothers. He explores the transformative power of humility, drawing on Philippians 2:5-11 to show Jesus’ mindset of self-emptying. Liam illustrates how humility plays out in real life. Unlike societal values that celebrate status and upward success, Jesus's humility follows a downward trajectory. Humility frees us to live in truth and recognise that our worth comes from being precious to God. As CS Lewis states, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, rather thinking of yourself less". While voluntarily embracing lower status can feel risky, Jesus does His most important work when we are at our lowest, reminding us that we are never alone.

The Foolish Way of Wisdom

Oliver Towlson continues our series on the desert mothers and fathers by considering their upside wisdom in rejecting their culture's obsession with long life, riches and honour. By looking at the garden of Eden stories, Proverbs 8:1-21 and James  3:13-18, Oliver makes the case that we are likewise driven by these things, but when we seek after them as ends in themselves, we unleash damage to ourselves and others: division, pride, shame, isolation and mistrust and ultimately death. This is depicted as choice between two trees: the tree of life (and trusting God's wisdom) and the tree of knowing good and bad (seizing wisdom for ourselves). But where Adam and Eve and every other human has failed, Jesus chooses to obey God and enter the consequences of our enslavement and failure, through the cross, in order to unite humanity with God and the tree of life once again.