On Reading 2: Reading Changes Lives
By Gerry Straker, 20 Apr 2020Reading is very powerful, it changes lives. ‘An ungodly Welsh clergyman, shopping at a fair in the eighteenth century, bought an article which happened to be wrapped in a page torn from an old Puritan portfolio [a form of book]. The reading of that one page...
On Reading 1: Under lockdown or not, Bible first
By Gerry Straker, 17 Apr 2020Psalm 19: ‘The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.’...
Resurrection Hope
By Gerry Straker, 13 Apr 2020Everyone’s hopes have been dashed in all sorts of ways whether that’s going away, enjoying the sunshine, or eating lunch with friends. This coronavirus seems to know no boundaries and no borders. Country, class, colour, clan, culture or creed make no difference. And some people’s hopes...
Serving during Coronavirus
By Gerry Straker, 10 Apr 2020On Good Friday, we think about Jesus the Servant King (Mark 10:45). Jesus’ whole life is serving his death is serving and his rule is serving as he blesses his subjects. And we are to be servants, slaves of all. That is true greatness. So: ‘Do...
God’s gift of technology
By Gerry Straker, 06 Apr 2020Technology is everywhere; it is utterly inescapable. I am writing this on my desktop computer with a bluetooth keyboard on a desk I put together made by Ikea, under electric light, in a house with a roof, and I am suspended 2 and a half...
Mark 15:29-39 Reflection
By Gerry Straker, 05 Apr 2020Right now, it can feel like the world is against us, but Jesus really did have the world against him – even those crucified with him, mock him (32)! Mark’s recorded some of what was said to teach us. The insults are ironic (with irony, the...
Why we sing
By Jon Lindsay, 04 Apr 2020I really miss meeting with my church family.I really miss eating with my church family.I really miss singing in my church family. When the elders ‘met’ to discuss what church would look like in the age of a pandemic, singing was one of our non-negotiables. Why?...
Making the most of the times II
By Gerry Straker, 03 Apr 2020Yesterday, we were reminded that we want to make the most of the times. Here are some of the practical ideas from Wednesday night along with a few new ones. Obviously, we need to do our very best to follow government advice. We're to stay at...
Making the most of the times
By Gerry Straker, 02 Apr 2020Do you remember before the coronavirus? Can you remember driving? Can you remember the Morecambe Prom? Can you remember there used to be something called ‘sport’? Well at Church by the Bay, before the coronavirus hit we were thinking about the first step to Church growth. Each of us...
Dealing with Disappointment
By Ben and Caz Petersen, 31 Mar 2020‘If we as a family are making more time for Jesus, he will help us make sense of these strange days we’re living through, he’ll help us feel less disappointed about what we’re missing out on and more excited about what he has done for...
