Knowing You Jesus

Welcome to our podcast material for 5th March. In our church service we’ll nod to St David's Day and think a little bit about a phrase associated with him: ‘doing the little things’. What did St David mean by this? When big problems come along, it’s easy to forget how important the little things can be. What little things can you do this week to share God’s love in our world? Ordinary actions like making a phone call or sending a card can make such a big difference to someone in need. As Hearsall continues to seek God’s will for the future, we must make sure that we don’t neglect the ordinary little things of church life - like caring for each other! I am due to have eye surgery in the coming week so we plan to take a break from our podcast until Palm Sunday (2nd April). Assuming the operation goes ahead, I’ll be taking some time to recuperate. You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to change? Most of us have something we’re less than proud of in our character, such as a short temper, a vain streak or the green-eyed monster of jealousy. Is it possible to change such things, or are they just fixed parts of our natures? This week’s scripture is the story often called the Fall, in which Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. This scripture has become overgrown with myths, legends and half-baked ideas and today we consider what it does actually tell us, especially about the ability to change. You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

So, what do mountains mean to you? Have you ever climbed one? What kinds of lessons do we learn from mountains? Why are mountains regarded as spiritual places? Today we think about the mountaintop experience of Jesus, when he was transfigured. What did it all mean? What strength did his disciples draw from this startling vision of the majestic Christ? Perhaps we need a similar strength as our church faces a challenging future. Can we find the strength of Christ to carry us through? You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Most of us enjoy a good old chat! We love to chew over the latest gossip or reflect together on some big news story. I wonder who you enjoy chatting with most. Chatting Is good, but what about listening? To listen to someone else properly is different from chatting, and is actually quite a difficult skill to pick up. But to listen well to another is to offer healing and comfort. It’s to give a rare gift. As we reflect on Jesus’ teaching today, we might pick up one or two tips on how to listen better. After all, you know that person in your life who’s going off the rails? Perhaps what they really need is a jolly good listening to! You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

I wonder what your favourite passage of scripture might be? I have many favourites, but in my top ten I’d have to find room for Isaiah 58. Imagine it being spoken by a Shakespearean actor and you might get a sense of why I love it so. Its language is resonant, challenging, poetic and visionary. So, what does this chapter of the Bible actually say? It expresses the idea that worship and ethical behaviour are strongly linked. A person who praises God is one who lives their life, not just for themselves, but also for the good of others. A society that is built around public worship is one that also enshrines care for the poor and kindness to all people in need. It's a timely reminder for a church like ours that worship isn't just for inside a church building, but affects all of life. In the words of my talk, we should keep worship fresh - keep it flowing outward to the world at large.  You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

This week’s service is all about baptism. Three church friends are being baptised as believers, and we look forward to a great celebration in worship on Sunday. You might like to remember your own baptism. What did it mean to you then? What does it mean to you now? Some sincerely look back to their infant baptism and fully accept that they have indeed been baptised. As Baptists, we respect those who respect their own infant baptism, and don’t try to persuade them to enter the magnificent baptistry at Hearsall. But in our tradition, we like to completely immerse those who are making a free choice to follow Jesus. In this way, the Christian consciously and deliberately identifies with the death and resurrection of Christ. The ceremony is so powerful because a person has made their own decision to be a disciple of Jesus. They’ll remember the feeling of being plunged under the water for all their lives. They’ll recall with joy that first breath as they emerge into the air. The old life is as good as dead! The new, resurrection life of Christ has been embraced. You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Are you any good at praying? If you answered in the negative, you are in good company. Many of us feel we ought to pray more, or pray better, but we find it hard to actually do that. But what if praying is an intimate aspect of living, as natural and necessary as breathing? What if the words we think of as prayer are only an expression of something deeper within us? What if prayer was never intended to be an elite spiritual discipline, but is instead a simple joy we can always experience? This week’s talk offers three biblical prayers for us to incorporate into our daily lives. They’re short and simple; in fact the first is only one word! I hope you may be encouraged in your prayers. You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

Many of us connected with Hearsall Baptist Church in Coventry UK are not so young any more, but can we still make a positive difference to our church and to those around us in the world? I very much hope so. In fact the Bible has many tales of older people making key contributions in the great story of faith, including Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Anna, John and Simeon. This week’s podcast is all about fruitfulness. Psalm 92 includes these words: The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap… But what is the secret of staying fruitful? I hope my message this week answers that question. You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe.

I hope you are well and that you enjoyed the Christmas season. Our worship continues into a new year! But worship can become a dead routine if we’re not careful. How can we breathe new life into our experience of worshipping Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour? This week’s message marks Epiphany - a time to remember the visit of the Wise Men. The story makes it clear that everyone across the world is called to acknowledge Jesus as King and, indeed, to worship him. The Wise Men made a long journey and went to a great deal of trouble to offer their gifts and to prostrate themselves before Jesus. To what lengths would we go in order to worship Jesus? Are we willing to inconvenience ourselves to express our devotion to God? Are we willing to share the happy message of the saving power of Jesus with the people we may come across in our lives? Let’s ponder these things at the start of 2023, and, after our pondering, let’s act on the truth we discover. I send you my warm good wishes for a happy new year! You can download a copy of my Message on this link. With very warm wishes Rev.David Sutcliffe

We rejoice again as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World. With gladness we look back to the time of the manger, the shepherds, the wise men and the star. We remember Mary as she treasured all that had happened in her heart and nurtured the Son of God in her arms. And we also look to find him again today. Will we find him with workers looking for improved conditions? With refugees in a faraway camp? With mothers closer to home, struggling to feed their children? And can you also find him in your particular circumstances? Somewhere amongst your hopes and hears, your dreams and anxieties he lives and awaits to be invited into the centre of your heart. In the words of the old hymns, may we sing, ‘Come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.’ May you know his peace and joy this Christmas time and always. You can access a written copy of this weeks message here.

This will be my first Christmas as the husband of Léonie, whom I married in June. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate as just the two of us, and also for us to treasure time with family and friends. It’s nearly five years now since my first wife Ruth died from pancreatic cancer. She asked me to marry again, telling me I needed to love someone. Well, I guess she was right; Léonie and I are very happy! Most of experience loss or even tragedy along life’s way. The Christmas story shows God entering a world of suffering, and the holy family were refugees from state persecution. But in Christ, there is always a new beginning. He came to bring a kingdom of everlasting love, and our time on planet earth presents us with numerous opportunities to believe in love again.There are always problems and difficulties. Christmas says, there are also always invitations to new starts in countless forms. Not all who lose a partner will want to remarry. But all those who grieve are invited to love and hope again in God. May you experience peace and joy and hope this Christmas time, and may God plant once more the seeds of perennial hope in your heart. You can access a written copy of this weeks message here.

I hope you are keeping warm, happy, safe, well and blessed! This week’s podcast is based on the Magnificat - Mary’s song when she is carrying the Messiah. It's a song that celebrates the way God turns the world upside down, challenging the powerful and the wealthy, and lifting up the lowly and the poor. My own focus this week is on magnifying God. In what sense can we magnify him and praise him? What benefits does this bring into our everyday lives? How does that affect our own concerns and the concerns of the world, if we focus our attention on God?

The world has changed so much in our lifetimes. It’s common to lament the things that have gone wrong, but we ought to notice, also, the things that have improved. This week’s service and podcast are about the theme of diversity. In the old days, we looked down on all kinds of people. Everyone had to fit into definite patterns of identity and behaviour, and people who didn’t do that were looked down on. Minority groups of all kinds experienced prejudice, ridicule and at times violence. I think that one thing that has improved is our increasing ability to celebrate variety. People can be different, and that’s a good thing. Do you agree?

How do you cope with waiting? Some of us struggle and feel desperate to get to the thing we’re waiting for. Others are more naturally serene, and can wait with patience for their situation to improve. Advent begins this Sunday. It’s a time of waiting to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas. What should we do with this time? It’s a time to prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas. It’s a time to pray for the coming of Christ into our hearts and into the world. It’s a time to practise spiritual discipline. Spiritual life is lived in the tension between Christ is here already and Christ is yet to come. There’s always thankfulness for what we have but also yearning for what’s yet to come. Christians live between thankfulness and yearning, so both active service and patient waiting are always aspects of faith. During Advent we practise the yearning and the waiting, and this is a form of prayer. May God guide and bless you through this Advent season.

Hi, what’s your favourite season? I think mine is autumn as far as the natural world goes - though I am weary of fireworks and halloween! At last it begins to feel like autumn in the UK with both leaves and temperatures falling. This season inspires us to think of the dying away of the old so that new life can grow. This week we think about the reign of Christ. What needs to die away in life so that love can reign supreme? Don’t forget, you can email me about the podcast on podcast@hearsallbaptist.org Rev. David Sutcliffe.

Hello and welcome to Knowing You Jesus.  We are coming to that time of year when we remember those people who risked or gave their lives in recent wars.  Remembrance Sunday is 13th November 2022, and up at Hearsall we’ll be remembering in a two-minute silence at 11am that day.

Welcome to our brand new podcast, Knowing You Jesus. In this, the first ever episode, we consider the topic of ‘Green Faith’ and reflect on our responsibilities as Christians for the care of the planet. As COP27 begins, we focus our minds on what we can all do to respond to the climate crisis. The format of the new podcast is very simple. You’ll hear a sermon with a scripture passage, a song or a meditation, and then a conversation with a guest about the themes of the week. My first guest is Jan Clemons, our dedicated eco-deacon, who has led the church in achieving an A-Rocha Silver award as an eco-church and who inspires us to be practically involved in environmental issues. My text is Hebrews 1: 1 -3. This is a passage that makes such grand claims that they are really too big to be kept inside a church. Can Christians make a special contribution to help with the climate crisis? If this passage is our guide, the answer must be a resounding ‘Yes!’ I hope you enjoy the new format and if you want to make a comment, you can email me on minister@hearsallbaptist.org or podcast@hearsallbaptist.org.

We very much hope you have enjoyed listening to, or reading, Hearsall at Home both this week and over the past couple of years. We are indebted to our musicians, including Joan Cobb, Nick Leonard, John Pettifer, Martin Prue, Seb and Fran Farrall and others who have provided such beautiful sounds to accompany our worship. We are grateful to all our readers and leaders of intercessions and to our interviewees and other contributors. Thanks too, to Jackie Pritchard, who faithfully edits the script for the podcast. We are especially grateful to Andy Thompson, our technical manager, who every week weaves together all our various contributions into a coherent sound file. Starting from next week, we will be slimming the podcast down a bit and giving it a new name: Knowing You Jesus. You’ll read or hear the readings and a sermon, and a song or a reflection. In a new feature, the audio file will include a conversation between myself and a guest about the theme of the week. We hope you will be blessed by it. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sarah Lewis. The readers were Louise and Martin Prue and Sarah Lewis. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Our theme today is good news for the poor. We look at the announcement Jesus made about his ministry as described in chapter four of Luke’s gospel. What does this message mean for us? Do we consider ourselves ‘poor’ in any sense? Have we personally accepted the good news of Jesus? What does the message mean for a church community? Do we share life together in Jesus’ upside down way, where the last can be first and the servant is the greatest? And what does the message mean for the nation all around us? As the cost of living crisis looms, how can we support people who find themselves in serious financial difficulties? That’s quite a bunch of challenging questions. Even so, I hope you find the service uplifting this week. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Peter Fearn. The readers were Fran Farrall and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Today we explore the extraordinary power that comes through a prayer of pain. What do I mean by a prayer of pain? Sometimes life gets too much! A person may sense that the only place to take their accumulated heartache and grief is God. At last the pain is poured out. Such moments may be very traumatic, but they have the potential to become turning points in a person’s life, and also in the life of the world around them. These themes are explored through the story of Hannah. How do you like to pray? With many words, heart-felt cries, walks in nature or silent contemplation? There are many ways to pray, but when a broken heart is brought to God, healing can at last begin. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Denise Ree. The readers were Angela and Roger Bull and Denise Ree. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week saw World Animal Day celebrated on Tuesday. This annual event dates from the 1920s, and aims to raise the status of animals and call for their compassionate treatment at human hands. Those going to Hearsall on Sunday are invited to bring a dog. We will thank God for all that our animals mean to us, consider what they mean to God, and pray for those who campaign for the humane treatment of all God’s creatures. Perhaps you may be thinking of a pet you once loved, or an animal you care for. What can we learn about God’s love from our dogs, cats and other animal companions?     Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Val Grecu. The readers were Val Grecu, Cynthia Baker and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

I hope you are okay and managing to stay warm. Do get in touch if you need help in any way. This week’s service is all about Wonder. It’s been defined as “a feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar.” I wonder when you last felt wonder. How did you respond? Did the wonder bring you closer to God? When we’re young we might find many aspects of life to be rather wonderful. As we grow older, our sense of wonder might become a little jaded, perhaps. We’ve seen it all before! But moments of wonder are precious gifts when they arrive. Can we learn to recognise them, welcome them and be made better people through them?  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Anne & Colin Bunting and Cynthia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week we celebrate the harvest. Fresh produce brought to church on Sunday will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will go to support Practical Action, a wonderful charity providing development assistance in some of the world’s poorest countries. You can support them too via their website on this link. Non-perishable goods will this year go to Coventry Food Bank. Again it’s great to be able to share our food with those who may be struggling. Do get in touch if you need help in getting a donation to the church. Giving is meant to be a joyful act. If you are able, then find a way of sharing with those less fortunate than yourself. You’ll feel so much better for it! Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Jan Clemmons. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson and Jan Clemmons. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb & Fran Farrall, and Nick Leonard. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

So much has happened since you last invited me into your home. A couple of days after I prepared this podcast last week our wonderful Queen passed away at Balmoral. She was an extraordinary lady, a sincere Christian, a wise advisor to world figures, a caring family member and a reassuring presence who took an interest in the lives of ordinary people, and represented us all on the global stage. How so many people loved her! We mourn her passing and pray for her family. We especially remember our new King Charles III as he takes up the great responsibility of being our monarch immediately after losing his beloved mama… So today’s service includes much reflection on Queen Elizabeth’s life. I wonder whether you ever met her. I wonder what she meant to you. We have much to learn from pondering her example as a sincere Christian living through changing times. This week we also consider the meaning of the cross. How does it change us as we meditate on the fact that while we were still sinners Christ died for us? Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Rev Roger Woodward. The readers were Graham Walker, Peter Fearn and Rev Roger Woodward. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and our organist John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Why do we find it so hard to apologise? How often have you heard someone say sorry, but sense that they don’t really mean it? This week’s service looks at Psalm 51. It’s a humdinger of an apology - or, I should say, a confession. There’s so much to learn about the basis for seeking God’s forgiveness. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Peter Fearn. The readers were Jackie & Alan Pritchard and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb & Fran Farrall, and Nick Leonard. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Our message this week brings some challenging teaching from the bible. Is it enough to put Christ first in our life? Christ’s call embraces every aspect of our beings.

I have prepared a talk about whether or not we are facing a serious crisis as a planet, given everything that is going on in the world. Should we Christians be prophets of doom or bringers of hope? We remember Jonah who was disappointed when the people of Nineveh averted disaster by repenting, and we think of Peter, who was astounded that the Holy Spirit came even on the Gentiles. God can be far more generous than we sometimes imagine! Well, however we may feel about such matters, Christians are called to be confident agents for positive change, bringing together those who have been separated to work on positive solutions to the world’s problems

We are all subject to so many influences on our lives: from TV, radio, the internet; from neighbours, family and friends. Even things said to us a very long time ago can still affect us today. But what if we could hear God’s voice? What if that voice is the most true and loving voice of all? What if God’s voice reveals who we really are? Our service this week is called “What HE said.” His voice is the most important of all. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard. The readers were Sylvia & Roger Woodward and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Did you watch The Commonwealth Games? There were so many sporting activities weren’t there? - running, cycling, swimming, judo, and all the team games; all competitors the best in their field…. In his letter Paul is writing to those early Christians in Corinth, telling them that as followers of Jesus they needed to be ready to run ‘The Race of Life’, as God in Jesus wants them to. And that goes for us today, no matter what our age - young or old. Hearsall at Home is written and presented this week by Sandra Noel, with additional material from Anne Thompson. The readers were Zoe & Andrew Brendon-Penn and Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

I wonder if you are a sports fan. Whether you are or not, you can’t have missed the celebrations around the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory last Sunday. I guess there are all kinds of lessons for life that we can learn from the inspiring efforts of dedicated sportswomen and sportsmen. One is simply how to sit on the bench - being ready, but not necessarily being called into action. In our strange old world with its mix of sheer delight and grim tragedy and everything else in between, how can we stay faithful to God’s dream? How can we remain ready to serve him, his way and at his time? Today we think of the way of trust: Living according to God’s dream in a changing and challenging world. May God bless and guide you whatever joys or sorrows you are experiencing in your life at the moment. Whether your life feels calm or stormy, may you know God’s loving care for you. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Eric Bremner. The readers were Lin Wallace and Anne & Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

There is so very much suffering in the world. Why doesn’t God do something about it? Is it possible that we have the wrong idea about who God is and how he acts in the world? If we had a different picture of God, might things start to make a bit more sense? As I write we have just had a welcome shower of rain. It’s good to feel some slightly cooler weather, isn’t it? Whatever the weather, I hope you are keeping well. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Anne Thompson, Louise Prue and Cythina Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

What is the point of praying? I wonder how you might answer that question. Is it to get things we want? Is it to get to know God better? Is it to help other people? There are many ways of praying, and it always helps to remember that we should pray as we can, and not as we can’t. But that said, it’s helpful to grow in prayer and get to know God’s love more deeply as we do so. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Denise Ree. The readers were Ann and Colin Bunting and Denise Ree. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

I hope you have been keeping hydrated and cooled in this very hot weather. We Britains’ are a strange old bunch. We love to talk about the weather, and it’s actually quite rare for us to conclude that the weather is just right on any given day. There are so many unsatisfactory things about life right now; rising prices, war and climate change to name three of the most severe. But the Bible presents a vision of everything being brought together in Christ. This week’s service explores how we may live in the light of this wonderful message. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sandra Noel. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

So I am back home after our wedding, and settling into my new life with my wife. All is going well - but we still have quite a few boxes left to unpack as Léonie moves into the manse and we merge our possessions. We had a very happy service at Hearsall to affirm our and celebrate our marriage and we are so grateful to everyone who helped with either the service or with the lunch that followed. Sometimes we have celebrations; sometimes we meet hard work. Our wedding was a day of delight; now we must roll up our sleeves and sort out our home! I wonder what is going on in your life right now. Whatever it may be, we are called by Jesus to live his way. Today we’ll be thinking about how to put Jesus’ teaching into practice even when we meet a controversial issue. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Peter Fearn. The readers were Jackie and Alan Pritchard and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Hearsall at Home was written and presented this week by Andy Thompson, with the Sunday message by Rev Roger Woodward.  Additional material was by Jan Clemmons. The readers were Martin Prue and Jan Clemmons. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard, and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Derek Noel. The readers were Annie & Nick Leonard and Derek Noel. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Hello again and welcome to Hearsall at Home for the 19th June 2022. Our regular host Rev. David Sutcliffe is currently away on his honeymoon so this week we welcome back Robert Savoiu, a Baptist minister in training, who will be bringing us God's message today. Hearsall at Home was presented by Andy Thompson with the message this week by Robert Savoiu. Additional material was from Anne Thompson. The readers were Robert Savoiu and Anne Thompson Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb and Fran Farrall, Nick Leonard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry,in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Have you got a hero? Maybe someone from the movies or a sporting star? This week we welcome the first of our guest speakers Rev Gareth Garland from Rickmansworth Baptist Church who will be talking about the presence of God in ouyr lives. Hearsall at Home was written by the Rev Gareth Garland, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard. The readers were Peter Fearn, Graham Walker and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, and Nick Leonard, the organ was played by John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week’s service marks a day of celebration! We celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of our wonderful Queen, and we celebrate Pentecost Day - the birthday of the church. I wonder how you like to celebrate. Cake? Platinum pudding? Something fizzy? Well just as everyone gets a slice of cake at a birthday party, everyone in the life of the church is given the Spirit of God and everyone belongs to him.  I do hope you are doing okay and staying healthy and happy. May God give you joy at this time of celebration. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Rev Roger Woodward. The readers were Anne Thompson and Roger Woodward. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Nick Leonard, Joan Cobb, Seb & Fran Farrall and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week I have given myself the rather grand title, ‘Authentic Witness in the 21st Century’. As Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a changin and sometimes it’s hard to keep up. Are Christians surrounded by those seeking to undermine our faith, or can we see many of the changes as actually quite positive? Well I take the second line, and like to find God in all kinds of surprising ways. We need never be afraid of science, or of people who are different from us, or of other religions. We can find God in all things. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Sylvia & Roger Woodward and Cynthia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Nick Leonard, John Pettifer, Seb Farrall and Fran Pritchard. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Do you have a special place where you might feel close to God? Is there a favourite church building that draws you into the divine presence? In the New Testament, the word ‘Church’ always refers to God’s people and never to a building. Yet many of us find comfort in familiar places devoted to prayer and worship. This week we are thinking about sacred spaces. Some might have a part of their home given over to prayer. Some might feel that sense of peace or joy on a garden bench or on a favourite walk. Some might feel it in a church building. If you don’t have a special ‘sacred space’ at home, maybe you could create one. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Anne Thompson. The readers were Elaine & Stephen Mitchell and Anne Thompson Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, and Fran Pritchard. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

It’s Christian Aid week! This week we hear of Jessica, a farmer in Zimbabwe who struggles to feed her family in a region hit by drought. That drought has been made worse by climate change and by the knock-on effects of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. We have our problems here in the United Kingdom, but now is an opportunity to look beyond ourselves to people in much greater need. If you’d like to donate, you can do that via the Christian Aid website, or by giving a donation to whoever brings this letter your way. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe. This weeks readers were Chris & Maria Pierce. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

I am delighted to say that our service this week has been prepared and led by someone we all know and love - Sandra Noel. She is leading us to ponder God’s vision for us, drawing from two passages of scripture.  The first is a description of the servant of the Lord from Isaiah 42, a passage that expresses the breathtaking humility of Jesus, our servant king, and yet also his powerful mission to establish justice to the earth. The second shows the remarkable events when the first Jewish Christians were shown by God that the good news was for Gentiles too - everyone was included. I can’t wait to hear what Sandra makes of these passages.  As the world copes with war and climate change, we need to hang onto a vision that offers life and hope to everyone on God’s earth.  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Sandra Noel, with additional material this week from Denise Ree. The readers were Jo Almond, Cynthia Baker and Denise Ree. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week’s service is called Turn. turn turn! It’s about how we need to keep on turning back to love and back to God in our day to day lives. I wonder what sort of faith you have these days. Is it strong or fragile, complicated or simple? What is the essence of your faith in just a few words? What are the next steps on your journey of faith?  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Peter Fearn. The readers were Anne & Colin Bunting and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Well along with many of us, I have been fighting off a bout of covid. I hope you might be among those who have stayed well, but, if not, I trust you are making a good recovery.  I suppose it’s covid itself that has inspired my title today: Catching our breath. If there’s been a physical disease that makes it hard for our bodies to breathe, is there also a spiritual disease that makes it hard for us to receive the Holy Spirit and reach out to others in true fellowship, mercy and kindness? Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on his disciples and immediately gave them the authority to forgive sins. Have we received the Holy Spirit? Are we sharing his mercy and forgiveness with others? Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sandra Noel. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Good Morning and welcome to Hearsall at Home for Easter Sunday 2022. Unfortunatly our minister Rev David Sutcliffe is ill with Coronavirus and so he is unable to record his usual podcast this week. However, we have assembled a short devotional from some of the previous Easter recordings that we have in the archive and we hope that you will enjoy listening at home. We are grateful to Lyn Wallace for recording the intercessionary prayers and to Graham Walker and Peter Fearn for the bible readings. Our music and songs are presented by our ever faithful music group of Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. There is no written download this week. I am Andy Thompson, the post-production compiler. Finally, we are grateful to Rev Roger Woodward who is presenting our in-person services at Hearsall church both on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Our service today marks Palm Sunday - the day when Jesus made his celebrated entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Crowds of people lined the route shouting Hosanna! and waving palm branches. But what was in the minds of these people? Why did they think Jesus was coming to Jerusalem? Who did they think he was? I wonder what you make of Jesus. As Holy Week begins, this is the ideal time to reflect on these matters. Earlier in life, you may have been taught to call Jesus your ‘Lord’ and ‘Saviour’. What do such words actually mean to you today?  If we call Jesus, ‘Lord’, are we ready to live our lives as he did? If we call him ‘Saviour’, do we trust that his death on the cross on Good Friday can save us from our sins? I do hope you are well and that you will know God’s blessing as we walk with Jesus on the route to the cross. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe. The reader was Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

It’s so easy to get stuck in our ways and not be able to imagine anything new. I wonder if you are able to ‘think outside the box’… One woman in our readings today certainly did think outside the box, though a man in the story was unimpressed by the result. And we hear an old prophet telling us to forget about the past, because something new is happening. What new things would you like to happen in your life, our church, or the world around us? I’d like to know what you think! Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Jackie & Alan Pritchard and Cynthia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Everyone is welcome! Most churches want to make a statement like that, but, in truth, sometimes individuals or groups don’t feel the welcome really applies to them… Here’s a challenge: Are there people you would prefer to avoid? What would church life be like if, in truth, all kinds of people joined our activities? The apostle Paul encouraged his followers not to regard anyone from a worldly point of view. He was against things like: putting people into boxes, judging people, labeling people, looking down on people. It’s a real challenge to turn a slogan - everyone is welcome - into a reality. It requires a change in ourselves and a change in the way we share our life with others. Are we up for the challenge?

Everyone has a story. I wonder how you would tell the story of your own life, with its highs and lows. Sometimes, people feel their own story has been forgotten. One such person might be Hagar in our Bible reading this week, who might have felt quite abandoned in the desert. However a surprising visitor sees her, and lets her know that her story has many amazing chapters yet to be written. God sees all of our stories and promises a future and a hope as we learn to trust in him. I hope your story is having some happier moments in recent days. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sarah Lewis. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson and Sarah Lewis Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

The world currently feels like a frightening and upsetting place. Warfare, covid, inflation and climate change can make many of us feel very low. Our service this week considers how we can remain strong in difficult times. How can we hold on to our faith, continue to pray and do our best to bring a better world? These things are all addressed. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Rev Roger Woodward. The readers were Cynthia Baker and Sylvia Woodward. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

I hope you are well. I’m told that spring is here, so I hope you are able to enjoy a garden waking up, and appreciating the growing daylight. It’s the start of Lent, so this week’s service is about being tested or tempted. We hear the familiar story of Jesus’ own temptations in the wilderness and consider what we might learn from them. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Denise Ree The readers were Angela & Roger Bull and Denise Ree. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week’s topic is forgiveness. It’s the foundation of our faith. God’s new covenant of love is based on grace and not achievement. We belong to God because God declares that to be so, and demonstrated it on the cross.  But we so often find it hard to forgive others - especially when they sin against us.  This week we explore some ways of forgiving that you might find helpful. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Linda Wallace. The readers were Fran Pritchard, Seb Farrall and Linda Wallace Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrall, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week’s message is about facing our own demons! It’s easy to point the finger elsewhere and to blame others for the ills of society, but a Christian starts by looking at their own heart. Many of us can think, feel, say or do things that are actually not very sensible! Many of us can sometimes find our hearts are in turmoil. But what if it were true that, simply by naming our ‘demons’ we might break free of their power? That’s the idea being explored this week. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Eric Bremner. The readers were Maria and Chris Peirce and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

I am delighted to say that we have a guest preacher this week: Mr Robert Savoiu. Robert is about to start training as a Baptist minister, and we pray for him as he prepares for this exciting venture. In fact, his message is about prayer. I wonder how you pray. Do you chatter away with God about this and that as you go through your day?  Perhaps you have a special time in the morning or evening when you focus more deliberately on  bringing your needs to God. Perhaps for you, prayer is only something you do occasionally. There’s probably not a single right way of praying, but if we do pray, prayer can transform our lives by transforming our hearts. I hope - and pray - that Robert’s message encourages you in your own prayers. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with special guest speaker Robert Saviou. Additional material this week was from Jan Clemons and Sarah Lewis. The readers were Anne Thompson, Sarah Lewis andJan Clemons Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week marks the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. I wonder what memories you have of Her Majesty. Perhaps you have met her; perhaps she inspired you at some key moment in your life. We thank God for her service and for her Christian faith. What lessons might you draw from Her Majesty?  There are so many possibilities, but I settled on one word: Resolute. Through thick and thin she has stuck with her commitment to serve nation and commonwealth. May we know what we believe and live with a resolute commitment to what is right. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Peter Fearn. The readers were Annie & Nick Leonard and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week marks the 100th edition of our podcast. I feel tickled pink to know that we have reached this landmark. It seemed fitting, then, that our theme should be creativity. So, how have you been creative over the last week? Knitting? Cooking? Writing? Singing? Whatever you may have done, creativity is so enjoyable in part because it enables us to reflect God’s own character. God creates, and so do we, his children. I am so grateful to the amazing team of people who send this material out week by week. And I am grateful to you for listening and reading and worshipping along with us all. You can visit the on-line exhibition at www.festivalofhopecoventry.org Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Jo Almand, Peter Fearn and Cythia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

The CTEC Charity Talk 2022 marks the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and introduces the chosen CTEC charity for the year. This year the talk is given by Matthew Horspool who is promoting the work of the Torch Trust. This exists to enable blind and partially sighted people to encounter Jesus, grow in their Christian faith and thrive in Christian community. "If you are living with sight loss or support someone who is, Torch is here for you. There is all sorts of help and support available from lots of different sources, but Torch has a unique focus on the spiritual needs of blind and partially sighted people. So whether it’s an accessible Bible or Christian book, encouragement, fellowship or support, we’re here to serve you." In previous years the CTEC Charity talk is given as part of an ecumenical Fellowship meal which is hosted by one of the CTEC churches in the area, however, due to the rise in Covid19 cases this years lecture was given on Zoom. Churches Together in Earlsdon and Chapelfields (CTEC) is an ecumenical group of churches in the Earlsdon and Chaplefields areas of Coventry who work together to bring the love of the Lord to the local and the wider community. We are grateful to Zapsplat.com for the incidental music.

What sort of things please you? A purring cat? A playful child? A good detective novel? A tasty meal with friends? It’s right and good to take pleasure in life, but what about considering first what pleases the Lord? What if the best way to please ourselves is actually to please God and serve him? What if helping others is actually the best way to make ourselves happy? Perhaps you learnt such lessons long ago, but they still remain true whatever our age or circumstances. Instead of concerning ourselves first with our own problems, how would it be if we thought first about helping someone else with theirs? Have a think: who might need your comfort or help this week? Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard. The readers were Graham Walker and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Jesus spells plenty! That’s the title of this week’s service. If Jesus is around, barriers are broken down, resources are shared and life is better. The gospel story shows Jesus turning water into a plentiful supply of wine after the drink at a wedding had run out.  As well as saving the face of a bridegroom, the story reminds us that the grace of God found in Jesus is always plentiful and wonderful. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Anne Thompson The readers were Zoe and Andrew Brendan-Penn and Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

This week’s service features a message from Gavin Kibble MBE, founder of Coventry Food Bank and Operational Director of Feed the Hungry UK. He will use Luke’s gospel to share with us about the important work of sharing food with needy people in and beyond our city. I hope you find it interesting and that some of you may consider supporting the Food Bank. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, and featured Gavin Kibble MBE, Operational Director of 'Feed the Hungry UK'. The Bible reader was Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

Dare I say the words? Happy New Year!! We are called to muster some hope as the year changes to 2022. Last year was very tough for so all of us, but, if we looked hard, we would find many things to be thankful for amidst concerns of the pandemic and climate change. The world’s problems can suck all the energy and motivation away from us. We must be realistic about those problems, but at the same time nurture a strong hope based on the saving love of God. His mercy endures forever. So I do wish you much happiness and hope in 2022, for, whatever is going on in the world, the Lord remains the same and his years never end. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Roger Woodward The readers were Anne & Colin Bunting and Roger Woodward. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, in the heart of the United Kingdom.

The 2021 Christmas Carol Service recorded live at Hearsall Baptist Church on Sunday 19th December.  The service was presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with music from the Midlands Brass Ensemble. The soloists were Fran Pritchard and Martin Prue. The readers were Anne Thompson, Annie Leonard, Graham Walker, Louise Prue, Cynthia Baker, Peter Fearn and Syliva and Roger Woodward. Hearsall at Home Carol Service is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Happy Christmas! My prayer and hope is that you find joy in celebrating and in spending time with people you love. Today’s service concludes our Advent preparation for the coming of Jesus by looking at the subject of prayer. Is prayer about getting what we want from God, or is it about God getting his way with us? It’s been quite a year, and we all need to be refreshed and blessed at Christmas. Thank you for sharing in our worship. Thanks also to everyone who helps make our weekly online service such a special product. Their devotion, creativity and hard work is so inspiring. I pray for your health and happiness at this special time. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Linda Wallace. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson and Linda Wallace. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by David Gwyn-Jones via Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week’s service is called On Loud Singing! This is a reference to the prophet Zephaniah who declared that God rejoiced loudly over his people, even after all their misadventures and mistakes. Meanwhile, a reading from Philippians encourages us to rejoice in the Lord always…  It’s not easy to find joy at the moment, is it? But real joy is rooted in God, and he is always with us, so I do wish you joy as you prepare for Christmas. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Derek Noel. The readers were Elaine Henson, Sarah Lewis and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

It’s the second Sunday of Advent!  Dare I ask, how are your preparations for Christmas coming along? Presents, cards, food, visits, carols… there’s a lot to think about at this time of year. But are you also remembering to prepare your heart once more for the coming of Christ? Perhaps this season could be a time when you deepen your prayer life, learning to wait quietly in God’s presence, and allow him to touch your heart in the stillness. May your heart be filled with his abundant love. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Rev. Roger Woodward The readers were Louise Prue, Jo Allmand and Roger Woodward Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week’s service sees the conclusion of Job as we consider chapter 42. Loose ends are tied up. The author seeks a sense of resolution. There’s much to learn: about rehabilitating offenders; moving beyond a time of lamentation; staying open to God’s blessings; looking for God to do new things; and much more... It’s also the first Sunday in Advent, the season when we await the coming of the Christ child. Can we wait patiently? Can we learn to pray more deeply? Can we look for light to be shining in our world, which often seems so dark? Can we discover a sense of enduring hope in our faith? May the hope of Christ bring light into your world on this Advent Sunday. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Jan Clemons The readers were Angela & Roger Bull and Jan Clemons Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded from our website: www.hearsallbaptist.org Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Have you ever put money in a vending machine and got nothing out in return? It’s a very frustrating experience. But are we sometimes guilty of treating God a bit like a vending machine? We do our part and, in return, God should give us what we need, or even what we want... The book of Job shows us how such a way of thinking is a bit silly really. God must be far greater than some heavenly slot machine. Indeed, God wishes us to be in a loving relationship with him for his own sake, and not because we might get some benefits from that. God invites us to wonder at the marvels of his creation, and to do so all the more as science unfolds more of creation’s mysteries. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard The readers were Linda Wallace, Cynthia Baker and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Today’s service marks Remembrance Sunday. Some of you listening to the service will remember that fateful night of the Coventry blitz 81 years ago. Others will have wartime memories from elsewhere. It’s important that we remember all who give their lives in the search for peace. There’s a short talk that constitutes sermon four in our six-part series on Job. Sometimes, only in the very darkest moments, do we see the love of Christ shining. You may be happy to hear that from next week, the picture from Job gets much more positive, with an exploration of God the majestic creator who speaks from the storm, and a resolution in which, at last, Job’s fortunes take a turn for the better. For next Sunday, if you’re reading along, have a look at chapters 38 - 41.  As this service is pre-recorded; to ensure that the Act of Remembrance is at 11:00am GMT, please start listening at 10:45am. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Anne Thompson. The readers were Anne Thompson, Graham Walker and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The trumpet solo was played by Fran Pritchard. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

What a wonderful world we live in, but currently we are very, very conscious of the threats to that wonderful world caused by climate change. How have you noticed the effects of climate change? What were winters like in your childhood? How do you feel when you hear about ever more extreme weather events? What a rich service we have for you this week, with contributions from Sir David Attenborough, from musician Einaudi, a song from an 8-year-old boy, a reflection from our own Sandra Noel, and practical suggestions about how to change our lives so as to be more green. I hope you enjoy it, but, more importantly, I hope it helps you think about how to respect  this beautiful planet so we can pass it on to future generations. The Psalm says that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. It’s high time we all learnt to live in the light of this truth. You have been listening to the Hearsall at Home Climate Sunday special which was written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Jan Clemons, Sandra Noel and Sarah Lewis. The readers were Anne & Andy Thompson, Jan Clemons, Louise Prue, Sarah Lewis and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week we take a break from the story of Job and we join Rev Roger Woodward who explores the Bible passage from Mark's gospel Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. If we can learn to love God and our neighbour we should have done well. For although these two commandments slip easily off our tongue, it is not all that easy to say what precisely and exactly they mean, far less to obey them. Hearsall at Home is written and presented this week by Rev Roger Woodward, with additional material from Denise Ree. The readers were Denise Ree, Fran Pritchard and Seb Farrell. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Remember that you can download a written version of this and our previous services from our website, just click on the Listen Again tab. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

So, we continue with Job and if you like to read, try chapters 29 to 37 over the next three weeks. The sweep of Job has an interlude in our chapter this week. It takes the form of a poem on wisdom.  How come children can appear wise? How can it also be the case that wisdom seems a terribly difficult thing to achieve, as Job teaches? And what does it mean to say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom?  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Eric Bremner. The readers were Alan & Jackie Pritchard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

So, we continue with Job and if you like to read, try chapters 25 to 28 this coming week. In this week’s study, Job, in the midst of his great suffering, and misunderstood by his friends, feels sure that one day a Redeemer will speak up for him. As Christians, we naturally think of Jesus at this point! Meanwhile we look at the surprising story of a foreign woman whose motherly love pushes Jesus into revealing the breadth of God’s love.  Religious experts don’t always get it right. Job’s comforters were unable to understand his predicament with sympathy. But God is active in our world, and our ordinary human desires for justice point us toward the God who saved us, and loved us, and embraces all he has made in unending mercy.  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sarah Lewis The readers were Anne & Colin Bunting and Sarah Lewis Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com featuring David-Gwyn Jones. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Well if you enjoy reading you might like to cover Job chapters 18 - 24 over the next seven days. It can be a difficult read, but if you let the text run through you, I think you will find it rewarding. Today we think about hope. All of Job’s hopes were dashed. Sometimes, things we were hoping for fail to materialise. Whilst this may be disappointing, spiritually it can invite us to love God simply for he who is, rather than for what he gives us.  I hope you are well and staying peaceful in our changing world. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sandra Noel. The readers were Angela & Roger Bull and Sandra Noel. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week we begin a series of talks on the biblical book of Job. If you enjoy reading, you might like to read through that book, ideally arriving at chapter 17 by about 10th October. If not, don’t worry; the services will still make sense anyway. Today we think about searching for truth. In all life’s ups and downs, how can we get closer and closer to truthful ways of living? Why did Job’s comforters get it so wrong in their attempts to bring solace to their friend? What can we learn from their experience? Are there old ways of looking at life that you might consider leaving behind? As I write this it’s pouring with rain! I hope you are staying cosy at home even as the weather turns a bit.  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Sylvia & Roger Woodward and Cynthia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week we celebrate, along with the hardworking farmers of the UK, the rich harvest that has been taken in. Traditionally, in medieval times, harvest was one of the great celebrations of the year, the whole village would work in the fields to bring in the crops, the animals that could not be fed over winter were slaughtered, and foodstuffs that would not keep fresh were preserved. There was great celebrations and feasting before the first frosts of autumn and the snows of winter, when the nights were long and dark. There is plenty for most of us in the UK, but this is also the time to think of those who don’t have regular supplies of food, and to whom a bad harvest can mean starvation. We feature this week the charity Operation AGRI, which celebrates their 60th year of helping people establish good and sustainable crops enabling them to have a reasonable reassurance of life. May God bless you this week. Hearsall at Home is written and presented this week by Andy Thompson, with additional material from Jan Clemmons and Rev David Sutcliffe The readers were Lin Wallace, Anne Thompson and David Sutcliffe Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Who is the wisest person you ever knew? What makes a person wise? How can we become a little wiser than we already are?  The biblical book of James contrasted two sorts of wisdom - worldly wisdom and the wisdom from heaven. Worldly wisdom concerns working out how to get the best for yourself. Heavenly wisdom is about belonging and kindness; peace, mercy and love for everyone.  Jesus placed a child amongst disciples who had been arguing about who was the greatest. Can we learn heavenly wisdom from a child? Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard The readers were Jo Almond, Anne Thompson and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

What three words would you use to describe your own character? What three words would you use to describe Jesus? Can we ever capture the essence of a person however many words we may use? Peter was asked by Jesus, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ How many words would you need to answer that question? In Mark’s gospel, Peter offers only one: Messiah! But then Jesus tells his disciples to keep it a secret! We reflect on these and other mysteries this week. Whatever you may or may not understand about God, I trust that you know how he loves you. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Linda Wallace. The readers were Stephen and Elaine Mitchell and Linda Wallace. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by GospelRiver.com. what3words is a global location software application and is the registered trade mark of what3words Limited Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

This week’s service is about inner spiritual strength, and is called ‘True Grit’. There are so many influences on us in our world, and many evil forces seek to sway us one way or the other. How important it is then to know ourselves, to respect our inner being, and to be true to our beliefs. This is the source of our inner strength as Christians. It can be hard to remain strong if we are sick or anxious about the way things are going in the world. Paul spoke of putting on the whole armour of God as a way of protecting ourselves every day, and especially when times are hard. So, are you a strong person? Or are you easily diverted from your convictions? This service seeks to help us all to gather some true grit! Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard The readers were Chris & Maria Peirce and Nick Leonard. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Today’s service includes a starting vision of Christ recorded in Revelation chapter 1. It presented a very different version of reality from the one experienced by many in the early church who knew suffering and persecution. It assured them that Christ was triumphant and evil would never have the last word. As we reflect on the plight of people living in Afghanistan, and as we remember the plight of refugees seeking help in our own country, we all need to hold on to the vision that in the end goodness and love will prevail. We also think today about the alternative reality of the internet, and reflect on how we as Christians should make sense of it. I hope you enjoy the service, and are inspired to live from the truth that Love WIns! Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material from Louise Prue. The readers were Louise Prue, Peter Fern and Graham Walker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, and Nick Leonard. A written version of this service was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and is available from technicalgroup@hearsallbaptist.org. Please use this address to let us know if you would like a copy for this or future podcasts. Post Production was by Nick Leonard. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

I hope you are knowing God’s blessing. This week’s service is called Nothing ventured… It’s about being willing to give ourselves to God’s service. Our gospel reading this week includes a sad story about an investment manager who was entrusted with some money to invest, but instead wrapped it up in a piece of cloth. His boss was not best pleased! But do we do something similar with our time, our talents or our resources? Are we willing to invest ourselves in God’s Kingdom, venturing the treasure of our hearts to bring a handsome return for our Lord and Saviour? Or do we hide it all away? It's never too late to invest in God’s kingdom Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sarah Lewis The readers were Andy and Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard. Post Production was by Nick Leonard. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

For busy people, summer may bring an opportunity to rest. It’s great to lay down regular responsibilities and relax. I have recently spent a week with three of my children, their partners, and my six grandchildren in Bristol.  In one way, it was very unrestful, as we all ‘camped out’ at my youngest son’s house. I slept on a sofa; but I slept very well, because I was tired out from the family fun we’d had all day. Perhaps the old saying is true, and a change is as good as a rest. As I write to you I am preparing to take a second week off my church duties. This week at Hearsall our preacher is our Regional Minister, the Revd Neil le Tissier, so I leave you in very good hands. Enjoy a different preacher again… A change is as good as a rest! Hearsall at Home was presented by Rev. David Sutcliffe, with the message written and delivered by Rev. Neal Le Tissier and additional material from Anne Thompson The readers were Alan & Jackie Pritchard and Anne Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

I have been spending the week down in Bristol with three of my four children and their spouses, and with all my six grandchildren. Since two little girls were born in lockdown, this is the first time all six have been together. It’s a very special time. But even families can get into difficulties sometimes. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth saying how fed up he was, because they had split into groups. Some followed Paul; some Apollos, some Cephas, some Christ. He explains how sad this is. They are meant to be a family who love each other. Jesus met religious people who put the close following of rules ahead of people’s welfare. Somehow, even good rules intended to help people can be twisted to upset people. Well rules are necessary and good, but we should remember that at the heart of them all is one simple rule: Do to others as you’d have them do to you. If we keep that rule in our hearts, maybe all the others might make more sense! Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Eric Bremner The readers were Colin & Anne Bunting and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

The school term is over now here in the UK and many people, including our Minister David, are enjoying time with their families. Whether you are confident and able to get away or feel more secure at home we hope that the next few weeks will be a time of relaxation and refreshment.  I enjoy going out for a meal and whatever I choose from the menu the choice the person has made on the next table to me always looks more interesting. I wonder if this is true for you?  More important than food for our bodies, and that is very important, where do you find your spiritual food?  Our theme for this Sunday, August 1st, is Food for the Journey remembering that Jesus referred to himself as the “Bread of Life”. How do you sustain your spiritual life?  Is it through reading, prayer, bible study worship? Why not use the next few weeks to reflect on your spiritual diet and see if it might need a little adjustment. Hearsall at Home is written and presented this week by Rev Roger Woodward, with additional material this week from Cynthia Baker. The readers were Annie & Nick Leonard and Cynthia Baker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

As I am writing this introduction the weather in the UK is still extremely hot and many of us are complaining! It seems that British people are never really happy whatever the weather may be doing. I must admit, it is a bit hot even for me, and I love the sun. Well this week’s service is called, Be Prayerful. Prayer! What does it mean to you? Did you develop habits of prayer as a child? How do you pray currently? We often think that prayer is primarily asking God for things, but this is only one small aspect of prayer. More broadly, prayer is about aligning ourselves with God’s kingdom - his values, concerns and mission. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Denise Ree and Jenny Baxi. The readers were Jane Chan, Denise Ree and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by ZapSplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

So, what’s in a church building? I can remember being told, as a boy, that the local church was the house where God lived. I think I found that idea a bit odd. Why would God want to hang out in a building on his own all week? I suppose that religious buildings are more for our benefit than for God’s. We need a place to meet and worship together. We like to have a sacred space set aside for spiritual activity. But as far as God is concerned, the people are the church; the community of faith is God’s building.  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sandra Noel. The readers were Jo Almond, Anne Thompson and Orane Onyekpe-Touzet. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Today’s service is called, Be honest. I probably don’t need to tell you that life can be very tough. Most of us have plenty of difficulties and also lots of good times. Faith concerns honestly integrating them all into our life and worship. Our Old Testament reading looks at King David dancing before the Lord. Our New Testament reading describes the brutal death of John the Baptist. Life has always been a mix of goodness and evil. Christians learn to find the love of God through all such experiences and worship him in both light and darkness. Faith does not guarantee an easy ride through life, but it does guarantee the presence of God always with us, giving us the strength and hope to remain strong even when we feel weak. I am keen to know your views on this podcast, so please email me at minister@hearsallbaptist.org Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Ali Bushnell and Peter Fearn. The readers were Ali Bushnell, Martin & Louise Prue and Peter Fearn. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music from Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Today’s service is called, Dare to be Different. We look at the anointing of David as king of both Judah and Israel; we remember Jesus, who stood out from the expectations of his family and friends in Nazareth; we think of the disciples called to transform the world around them. Being a Christian is rarely dull! It’s about living our life to the full, and making a difference in our world. It’s about having the courage to be our best selves, with the grace and power of God to back us up. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Graham Walker and Jan Clemons. The readers were Denise Ree, Jan Clemons, Anne Thompson and Graham Walker. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by GospelRiver.com and Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

At Hearsall Baptist Church we are opening our doors again for worship at Queensland Avenue, Coventry this Sunday! Yes, there are significant restrictions, but many of us are delighted to have the opportunity to worship in person together again. We thank God for the blessing of fellowship and worship. Some are ready to return to real-world services; some are not, but for the time being, these printed materials and the online podcasts will continue. At this time of change, let us hold on to our faith and, in the words of our service today, be kind to one another. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Derek Noel and Seb Farrell. The readers were Annie & Nick Leonard, Seb Farrell and Andy Thompson. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by GospelRiver.com and Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

How do you feel about storms? Do you hide behind the sofa during a thunderstorm or watch the lightning from your window? Have you ever been at real risk from a storm? Our lives often experience different sorts of storms. Covid has been like one long horrible storm. How do Christians hold onto their faith when storms arise? Can we learn to rest in the eye of the storm? These are our themes this week.  Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Sarah Lewis and Louise Prue The readers were Angela & Roger Bull, Louise Prue and Sarah Lewis. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by GospelRiver.com and Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

I have recently been given for my garden some tomato plants, a couple of fuschias, some hostas and some other plants too. It’s nice for me to develop my rather basic skills and get the pleasure of watching things grow and doing what I can to nurture that growth. I wonder whether you are a gardener. Have you ever planted a tree? Our Bible readings this week include two stories of trees being planted. There are all kinds of lessons we can learn from a garden: the importance of timely work; community sharing; the beauty of nature; and the need for rest and recreation, to name but a few. I wonder what lessons you would learn from a garden? One of the most vital is surely patience. A plant takes time to grow. The best things take time to come. God’s kingdom is always coming and yet also always here. We need to be able to wait and trust that God is at work to bring about his purposes on the earth. So our service this week is called, All In Good Time. Perhaps the very best things take the longest time to arrive Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev. David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Val Taylor and Rev. Roger Woodward. The readers were Cynthia Baker, Val Taylor, Linda Wallace and Rev. Roger Woodward. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by GospelRiver.com and Zapsplat.com. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021. As the current lock-down is timetabled to ease in the UK we are currently re-evaluating our online presence. Thus we would like to know your opinion when choosing our podcast content as we continue into the future, so whether you listen in the UK or further afield please email us and let us know. The email address is technicalgroup@hearsallbaptist.org

How lovely to see the sunshine here in the UK! I hope wherever you are that you’ve been enjoying it, and that warmth and light have lifted your spirits, and that fun and laughter have come with it. Today’s service is called ‘Cradling Renewal’, and is built around the songs of two famous women in the Bible: Hannah and Mary. Both songs spoke of a God who turned the tables on the rich and powerful; who remembered the hungry and the poor; and who challenged the arrogant and the powerful. In our hearts, we as Christians cradle a vision of a better world. There’s one secret weapon that enables us to do that, and I’ll be mentioning that in my talk this week. Hearsall at Home is written and presented by Rev David Sutcliffe, with additional material this week from Nick Leonard. The readers were Jan Clemons, Nick Leonard and Cheryl Culliford-Moreton. Music and songs by Martin Prue, Joan Cobb, Seb Farrell, Nick Leonard, Fran Pritchard and John Pettifer. The written download was compiled by Jackie Pritchard and can be downloaded on this link. Post Production was by Andy Thompson. Incidental music and sound effects by GospelRiver and Zapsplat. Hearsall at Home is brought to you by the members and friends of Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry in the heart of the United Kingdom.

What still amazes you in life? What makes your heart sing? What brings you delight? What makes you stand and stare? I hope you find some things still make you excited! Today’s service is about delight and wonder. Of course, Christians delight in God and in the fact that Jesus Christ is their Saviour. But once we have received his love, that can open our eyes up to finding lovely things in every corner of life - to enjoy the abundant life offered by Jesus. You can access a written copy of the service on this link.

So, how easy is it to pray? For whom do you pray? Do you work through a list or just go with the flow? Can we pray without any words at all? In this weeks podcast we find some surprising answers to these questions. I have managed to get to see some more of my grandchildren recently. It’s such a joy to meet up with loved ones, but we all still need to exercise common sense and do what we sensibly can to stop new variants of the virus from spreading. Download the written service on this link.

This week our service is about being loyal to our faith. Sometimes we ‘just know’ that God is with us, leading us and blessing us, and we might find it hard to explain to someone else. Our faith is very precious to us, but can’t always be reduced to a simple explanation. Perhaps the simplest explanation is the phrase ‘God is Love’, but even that can be misunderstood. Perhaps the very holiest moments in our lives are simply beyond the comprehension of others. This is perhaps what Jesus meant when he counselled against casting your pearls before swine. You can access a written copy of the service on this link.

Our service today is called ‘Being Aspirational’. It’s about finding ways of sharing the love of God with others, through actions and, occasionally, words. None of us should take the world onto our own shoulders, but it’s good to aim to do our little bit to make the world a better place: whether a phone call, a thoughtful card or sharing some practical help. Click this link to download the written service

Our service today is called ‘Being Attentive’. We will be exploring the theme of how to read the Bible. It can be a perplexing book, but if we look at it as a simple way of keeping in touch with the Lord, we can establish wholesome patterns of regular reading. New this week you can download a written version of the service on this link.

Our service today is called ‘Being Whole’. By this I mean living a life that is all of a piece - a life of integrity and love. According to the Bible, a Christian is so overwhelmed by the cross of Jesus that they long for their lifestyle to reflect God’s love.

Today we continue our series called Being Christian. Today’s topic is simply Being Loved. Sadly, some people have difficulty believing they are loveable. But in fact, God’s love is freely available to all who simply trust him. Our mistakes can be barriers to receiving God’s love; but he loves us even when we get it wrong. Maybe our successes can also be impediments - we risk starting to think we don’t need God, and we think we made it on our own. Either way, whatever’s going on, his love is ready for you. So… Enjoy the song and hymns; open your heart up to God and let his love flow into your soul. Love begins with God, and he longs to bless you.

Today we begin a preaching series called Being Christian in which I hope that we will be able to survey some of the key points of our faith.  For those who have lived all their lives as Christians, I hope this will be a useful reminder. For people only just rediscovering faith, I hope it will provide something of a foundation. And for all of us, I hope that rather than simply restating what a preacher might have said a hundred years ago, we will be expressing what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century, whilst remaining loyal to the core tenets of our faith.

I send you warm Easter greetings of hope. After such a hard year, we pray to our God for life, love and liberty to emerge once more. As we celebrate the defeat of death, the forgiveness of sins and the unending reign of Christ’s love, we pray that God in his mercy will lead our church, our country and our world into bright new places. This audio service for Easter Day is also available as a video on our YouTube channel. Either way that you enjoy this service there’s some great Easter music, and a selection of short clips and messages from various city locations. Perhaps a highlight is an interview with Derek and Sandra as they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary. We will also hear from Jan as she shares about the River Sherbourne Living Landscape Project. The service concludes with holy communion, celebrated in our homes. Please arrange for some bread and wine or juice to be at hand if you’d like to take part.

Sport allows us to experience intensely an old enduring instinct to define ourselves as part of one group, and not part of another. In the moment, a sporting triumph or defeat means everything. Years later, people will remember this it builds National Identity, but is it a good thing?

One of Newton’s Laws of Mechanics is that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Well, if you are pootling around minding your own business, you probably won’t provoke much reaction in the world around you but if you start making a difference to things, you are sure to get reactions, and some of them will be negative. So, how will we respond, and how will we sustain ourselves?

As the season of Lent continues, today we are invited to allow the loving light of God to show us who we really are. Most of us know we’re far from perfect, but God loves us anyway, and, in the light of his love, we can be inspired and empowered to live a bit more like him.

You sit in the market square watching the world go by. A man sits down next to you and starts to tell you a story about a man call Nehemiah who had a really big building project in mind, but can it be done?

We continue to pray for God’s guidance as we look to develop both our character as a church and our buildings. Today, our gospel passage includes the challenging invitation to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Christ. Meanwhile, back in Nehemiah, we learn about how to present a bold planning request to a powerful authority.

Our country and our world faces huge problems. Climate change, coronavirus, travel and business restrictions and economic downturns. Even our little church faces problems. With buildings crumbling and facilities way past their best-before date, who should take the blame for the muddle that we seem to be in?

What do we know about St. Valentine? Today we explore the patron saint of lovers and maybe what love is all about.

Spiritually, we can be just like a hermit crab. We can reach a point where certain things we now need to embrace in our faith, mean that the shell of our faith must be enlarged. That outgrown shell can be traditional beliefs, patterns of worship, prayer practices and more. What’s it like to change our shell on the journey of faith?

We are living at a time when the nature of truth itself is being questioned, we have seen that news can be manufactured, that fake stories can be deliberately spread online. Rev David investigates how to live true lives.

Safeguarding is always an emotive subject especially at this time of Lockdown, there are worries about the social, mental and spiritual health of everyone, Rev David investigates.

This is an introduction to contemplative prayer designed for those who would like to learn to meditate but have little experience of doing so. Meditation has many health benefits and, for the Christian, can be a way of learning to live with a quiet awareness of God’s loving presence. This is the first in a series of stand-alone meditation and prayer guides.  From time to time Revd David plans to post these here and we hope you will find them helpful.

We know there is sin and failure in every human heart, but will you allow Jesus to look beyond all that stuff and to name what you have to offer to his world in January 2021?

During this difficult time of when we are in danger of being overwhelmed by the things going on around us, David uses Marks gospel to point out three qualities that the church needs, and that the country needs, at this time of national crisis, resilience, solidarity and vision.

As Epiphany arrives on Wednesday, this week David ponders the story of the Magi and the Two Kings.

Join Rev David Sutcliffe from Hearsall Baptist Church, Coventry each week as he brings the church service into your home. Each week we will be singing, praying and exploring the scriptures.