TowerPod: St Mary's Marston Moreteyne and Lidlington

<p>The George Orwell Statue outside BBC Broadcasting House: the text reads;<em> “If Liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”</em></p><p>Dear Reader,</p><p>I enjoyed writing this sermon - I hope you enjoy listening/reading. Did you know - you can read a transcript of the audio by clicking the transcript button above?</p><p>Here’s an our Christmas poster for you below. I’m delighted to invite you to our Christmas services - enjoy the #realmeaningofchristmas - I hope to see you soon.</p><p>Blessing of Advent to you.</p><p>Andrew+</p><p></p><p><strong>Matthew 11:2–11 NIV</strong></p><p>When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”</p><p>Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”</p><p>As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:</p><p><em>“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,</em></p><p><em>who will prepare your way before you.’</em></p><p>Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Listen and enjoy! Andrew+</p><p><strong>Matthew 3:1–12 NIV</strong></p><p>In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, <em>“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:</em></p><p><em>“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,</em></p><p><em>‘Prepare the way for the Lord,</em></p><p><em>make straight paths for him.’ ”</em></p><p>John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.</p><p>“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”</p><p><p>Thanks for reading St Marys Marston Moreteyne & Lidlington! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Dear Reader,</p><p>Our Mission should we accept it:</p><p><em>To be a Tower of living stones; chosen, mended and built by Jesus our Cornerstone - to make followers for Him, to be a sanctuary of prayer and a community of love.</em></p><p>I was therefore very struck when Sonia shared on our Community Bible Study Whatsapp a sermon by Captain Rev. Astor Carlyle to the Garrison church family Jamaica. His words resonated strongly. And resonated too with the poignant line drawing by artist Jenny Cooper of a Tower above. After all, we do have our own dramatic Tower!</p><p>Enjoy! Andrew+</p><p>1 Peter 2:1–10 NIV</p><p>Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.</p><p>As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:</p><p>“See, I lay a stone in Zion,</p><p>a chosen and precious cornerstone,</p><p>and the one who trusts in him</p><p>will never be put to shame.”</p><p>Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,</p><p>“The stone the builders rejected</p><p>has become the cornerstone,”</p><p>and,</p><p>“A stone that causes people to stumble</p><p>and a rock that makes them fall.”</p><p>They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.</p><p>But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.</p><p><p>Thanks for reading St Marys Marston Moreteyne & Lidlington! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Dear Reader,</p><p><em>Be still, and know that I am God</em>.</p><p>From Psalm 46:10 - our psalm for Sunday last. May I invite you to our Taizé Prayer, with optional Anointing and Prayer for Healing? Next Sunday at 7pm, 30 November, the fifth Sunday of the month.</p><p>In the beauty of candlelight we will chant contemplative Taizé songs, listen to a Gospel Reading and enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ, the High King…</p><p>I look forward to seeing you.</p><p>Andrew+</p><p><strong>Luke 23:33–43 NIV</strong></p><p>When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.</p><p>The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”</p><p>The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”</p><p>There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.</p><p>One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”</p><p>But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”</p><p>Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”</p><p>Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p><strong>Luke 21:5–19 NIV</strong></p><p>Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”</p><p>“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”</p><p>He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”</p><p>Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.</p><p>“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>