Setting the Scene
There are points in your life when no matter what you do, you will have to set off on a journey you have not done before or are unfamiliar with the route. I always found these quite challenging. I like things to stay the same, I like to know the route that I am going to take so that I know where I am going. I like to know what I need to take, and who I’ll meet on the journey. I don’t mind change, but when you are busy with life, I much prefer to know the direction I’m going to travel in. But life is not as simple as that. Sometimes we are called to do something different, and that means travelling a different route.
When we read through the Bible we find many people whose journeys transformed who they were and transformed their relationship with God. Just take Abraham, Moses or Ruth as a few examples. They were all people who God called to take a different journey to the one they started on. It took them to new places, with new challenges. But it also completely changed their relationship with God. This can be the same for us. It can be a time of hope and of joy, but also one of fear. We can journey alone or journey together, and if we journey with Jesus, it can be one that can transform how we live our lives as a disciple.
The New Year brings a new journey for us here at St Mary’s as we start along a new path without David and Jo. We thought it appropriate then that the preaching theme that we are going to explore is on the theme of Journeying. Over the next weeks we will explore a range of ideas:
- Journeying with hope at the start of the New Year
- Journeying with Jesus out of captivity
- Journeying - taking time out
- Journeying with Jesus - transforming fear into Joy
- Journeying with Jesus –our heart’s desire
- Journeying - recognising the distance you have travelled
- Journeying in Community
- Journeying from disciples to apostles
We would encourage you to take time to reflect on the themes preached upon each week. To aid this, we will provide a weekly sheet with a summary of the theme and some questions to help you explore further the ideas that have come up. You could do this individually or as part of a Life Group.
If this sermon series raises questions for you, then our Curates Sue and Andrew, or any of the weekly preachers, will be happy to explore your questions further.
The information each week will be put on our Discipleship website here:
Life Groups
We are also hoping that many of our Life Groups will spend some time thinking, reflecting and praying on these themes. If you would like to join a Life Group then please contact the Parish Office parishoffice@stmarysrisborough.org.uk
Or speak to Rev. Andrew Walmsley, Claire Barbary, or Liz Stoddard in church.
For more information
For more information about the work that we do at St Mary’s Church then please visit our website at: