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1 February, 2026Pastor John Strelan

In 2019, Sarah Wise broke her spinal cord which left her with quadriplegia. She was 24 years old. Although doctors said she would never walk again, Sarah was determined to prove them wrong. Over many agonising months she did! With the help of physiotherapists, she taught herself to walk again. Of that experience she writes:

“I would try not to think too hard about the fact that before my injury, walking was something I didn’t even have to think about; it was automatic.  

But at every physio session I went to, I had to think about it, and I had to think about it hard. It wasn’t just remembering to put one foot in front of the other anymore. I had to remember eight things at once! “Walk on train tracks, lift the leg, don’t snap back, lift your toes, tuck your bum under, tense your abs.”*

She had to go through that process for every step! Imagine having to do that every time you wanted to take a step? How blessed we are when those basic tasks can be done without thinking about every step, when they are done automatically.

Now, imagine what a better place the world would be if the task of being kind to other people was automatic, for everyone!

~ Pastor John 


Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.


If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

Micah 6:1-8   

1 Listen to what the Lord says:

‘Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 ‘Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.

For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 ‘My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.

5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.’

6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

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Breaking the Spell

29 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

Words of wisdom from children:

· Never trust a dog to watch your food.

· When your dad is angry and he asks you, “Do I look stupid?” don’t answer him.

· If you want a kitten start out asking for a horse.

· Never try to baptize a cat.

This Sunday we celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. He went into the temple and the children shouted ‘Hosanna’. He turned to the chief priests and scribes and asked, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

This Sunday four young people will be confirmed. Come and hear their words of wisdom.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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Little Deaths

22 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

I pulled a muscle in my shoulder on Monday night. At a swing dancing class of all places! (Don’t ask!) Don’t worry, it only hurts when I move. It wouldn’t have happened five years ago. Perhaps it’s a sign I’m getting older? Perhaps it’s a sign of my mortality?

Woah! Hold it right there! Did you see what I did just then? It seems quite a leap from an injured shoulder to dying! But, is it such a leap? Or is it that we don’t want to think about dying? Even when we are surrounded by death everyday. Even when we suffer from ‘little deaths’ all the time. You know those moments that suck a little bit of life out of you?

Our society’s way of dealing with death is to deny it (never mind the irony that we can’t get enough of death on our TV screens!) But, I wonder if by denying death we are missing out on a bit of life? Perhaps a lot of life?

And, I wonder if Jesus’ words to Martha might not be translated: ‘Those who believe in me, even though they are dying, are living’ (John 11:25)?

I wonder.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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There but by the grace of God go I

15 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

This [see image] is the checker shadow illusion designed by Professor of Neuroscience, Edward Adelson. When you look at the image which is the darker square on the checkerboard, is it A or B?

Well, as you may have guessed (even if your eyes are telling you something different), both squares are exactly the same shade. (Or perhaps you didn’t guess that?) In truth, neither is darker or lighter than the other.

Sometimes even our eyes blind us to reality.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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