When I'm watchin' my TV

And a man comes on to tell me

How white my shirts should be

But he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke

The same cigarettes as me

I can’t get no satisfaction.

When Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones belted out those words way back in 1965 he intended them partly as a critique of commercialism. I’m sure he doesn’t mind now the irony that The Rolling Stones became one of the most commercially successful bands in history!

Seeking satisfaction. Jagger was expressing more than baby boomer angst, he was speaking of the human condition. And, if the choice of 30 different types of margarine and 15 different types of milk in the supermarket is any indication, we’re still seeking satisfaction, but not finding it in ‘stuff’.

A few generations earlier Philip of The Twelve Apostles seemed to think he had the answer to finding satisfaction. “Show us the Father”, he said to Jesus. I reckon he was on the right track, but I wonder what he expected to see.

~ Pastor John

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The Australian Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami) never sees its parents. When a chick hatches, it digs itself out of a mound of decaying vegetation and immediately fends for itself.

Even more extreme, baby Labord’s chameleons (Furcifer labordi) never get to meet any other adult chameleon’s because all the adults die before the next generation is born. Baby Labord’s chameleons are truly on their own.

By contrast, human beings (homo sapiens) are born helpless, blind, and defenceless. Without extensive care from birth life would not be possible. But, human life is more than just been fed and protected from harm. In the story of human origins told in Genesis we hear God say, “It is not good that humans are alone”. Life for human beings is a life of relationships. Without relationship human life is not what it could be. So, when Jesus says that he has come that human beings might have life and have it abundantly he is promising that we will never be alone. In relationship with him life reaches its full potential.

~ Pastor John

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

“Hope” is the thing with feathers–

“Hope” is the thing with feathers —

That perches in the soul —

And sings the tune without the words —

And never stops — at all —

And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —

And sore must be the storm —

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm —

I’ve heard it in the chillest land —

And on the strangest Sea —

Yet — never — in Extremity,

It asked a crumb — of Me.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

~ 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