St Mary’s Attenborough Church

Gratitude

Liam O'Boyle takes us through Luke 17:11-19, focusing on gratitude. He talks about how we can cultivate an attitude of gratitude and embed it in the culture of St Mary's. Gratitude starts with encouragement, and takes practice to become habitual - it is a choice we make every day, even when things get tough. Ultimately, we are grateful for God's future cosmic redemption.

Community : Stay Together to Grow

Toby Artis concludes our series on Community. He discusses how living in community can be challenging, but by being united with Jesus, leading to greater spiritual maturity, we are able to navigate our differences well. Ultimately, spiritual formation occurs within community and can lead to our flourishing and the building of God's kingdom.

Community: Confess Your Sins

Guest preacher, Ian Paul, talks us through how confessing our sins enables us to: confront our condition in the enslaving power of sin; call on Christ, who is merciful and just; cancels condemnation by the cross bringing new creation into the present; and creates space for change by the Spirit. 

Community Practice: Sharing Joys and Sorrows

Toby Artis looks at a bible passage from the last supper ( a meal of joy) and Jesus' last moments in the Garden of Gethsemane ( a moment of deep sorrow). Both these passages teach us that as followers of Jesus we have to be intentional in choosing to live in the deep joy of the lord together, and we must embrace sorrow, coming alongside one another. Both joy and sorrow are part and parcel of authentic community.

Prayer: Highs and Lows

As we bridge our Summer Series of 'Encounters with Jesus' with our Upcoming Series on 'Community' Liam O'Boyle, shares with us the challenges and joys of prayer. He encourages us to above all keep showing up for prayer whatever that looks like, and however difficult it may be. This is how God will continue to bless us with His peace, bringing wholeness and protection in the everyday. 

Encounters with Jesus: Calling (Saul/ Paul's Conversion)

In this final part of our Summer Series, Toby Artis looks at the famous 'Conversion' encounter than Saul/ Paul has. In this passage we read how Jesus by His Spirit spoke to Saul, a religious man full of hatred and darkness in his heart, very personally. Jesus longs for him to understand who He is, what is heart is like, and what is was calling Paul to go on and do. This transformed his life forever. 
It's an invitation for us, to listen to Gods voice calling us by name, and for us to experience the heart of Jesus, and seek what how he wants to lead us in our own lives.

Encounters with Jesus: The Bleeding Woman

Oliver Towlson continues our summer series on Encounters with Jesus looking at the story of the Bleeding Woman. This encounter shows us we can have faith and confidence when reaching out to Jesus and he will find us.

Encounters with Jesus: Nathanael

Toby Artis continues our Summer Series looking at Nathanael, a religious sceptic. This powerful encounter shows us both how unsure we can be about Jesus, and how Jesus' loving revelation to us in mind, heart and soul, can transform how we perceive him. 

Encounters with Jesus: Authentic Faith

In the second part of our Summer Series Toby Artis looks at Matthew 8:5-13, the faith of the centurion. Whilst this passage is about a need for healing, there is a deeper aspect of a faith encounter taking place. We unpack what kind of people can experience authentic faith, what it means to respond with heartfelt faith to who Jesus truly is, and finally reflect on how this might shape our lives in the long run. 

Encounters with Jesus: Lift Up Your Head

Jo Stephens kicks off our Summer Series 'Encounters with Jesus'. In this episode, Jo shares a creative immersive perspective from the bent over woman in Luke 13:10-13. We are drawn in to the reality of how the baggage of life, our brokenness, our physical ailments, our self centred nature can all contribute to us keeping our head down, rather than looking up to see a greater vision of Jesus. It's as we lift up our heads that Jesus meets us where we are and brings the deepest healing for our souls.