“Jesus overcame hate and evil, with love. The cross is the ultimate example of love your enemies. On the cross, Jesus died for all. He died for those that love him.
He died for those that hate him.”

How should our Christian faith shape the new normal that is emerging in society? How does our trust in Jesus enable us to cope with a rapidly changing world? This service forms part of a series that explores how we face the new normal. 

Our theme in this week’s service is “Love your enemies” and explores the priority of love in the Christian faith. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and offer them forgiveness, to transform the world with the love God inspires.

Ross looks at this theme by reflecting on the world’s old normal and by seeing what Jesus has to say on expressing a radical love for all. 

Our Bible readings for this Sunday are Luke 6.27-36 and Romans 12.9-21, read by members of our church.

Our service opens with the hymn King of glory, King of peace and closes the song Amazing love, both recorded at previous services at South Street Baptist Church.  The service also includes with the song, Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo which was recorded for these recorded services.

Our closing music is played by Mary Ellis, one of our organists.

This week's service was recorded and edited by Patsy Taylor with sound and final  editing by Simon Taylor. We are continuing to make available each week an online service.

To learn more about our church, please visit www.ssbcexeter.co.uk. If you want to be in touch with us, you can leave a message here or at our Facebook page @SouthStBaptist. Contact details are also given our website.

If you want to know more about the Christian faith, we suggest you visit https://christianity.org.uk/ or get in touch with us.

Facing a New Normal: love for enemies (Service for Sunday 4 July 2021)

“God's plan was never to do away with his beautiful creation… but to tenderly re-make it… to tenderly re-create it… to tenderly reconcile it to him. God wants to restore all of creation to himself. Could the 'new normal' be one in which we once again find harmony with creation, joining God's mission to reconcile all things to himself?”

How should our Christian faith shape the new normal that is emerging in society? How does our trust in Jesus enable us to cope with a rapidly changing world? This service forms part of a series that explores how we face the new normal. 

Our theme in this week’s service is “The Reconciliation Plan - living as if the earth matters”, and explores God’s purpose of renewing the earth he created and bringing all things into a glorious harmony in Christ.

Ross talks of how God cares deeply for this earth and in Jesus it is part of God’s salvation plan. We are called to share in the plan by caring for the earth and his message ends with some practical ideas for church and individual. 

Our Bible readings for this Sunday are Psalm 65.5-13 and Colossians 1.15-20, read by members of our church. Our worship uses prayers that celebrate God’s creation, sorrow for our misuse of it and pray for reconciliation between humanity and nature.

Our service opens with the hymn All things bright and beautiful and also includes the hymn Morning has broken, both recorded at previous services at South Street Baptist Church. The service closes with the hymn, For beauty of meadows which was recorded for theseonline services.

Our closing music is John Rutter’s version of All things bright and beautiful played by Mary Ellis on flute and piano.

This week's service was recorded and edited by Patsy Taylor with sound and final  editing by Simon Taylor. We make available each week an online service.

To learn more about our church, please visit www.ssbcexeter.co.uk. If you want to be in touch with us, you can leave a message here or at our Facebook page @SouthStBaptist. Contact details are also given our website.

If you want to know more about the Christian faith, we suggest you visit https://christianity.org.uk/ or get in touch with us.

Living as if the Earth Matters (Service for Sunday 11 July 2021)

The great hymn I cannot tell sung to the tune Londonderry Air at South Street Baptist Church in Exeter during Advent 2021.

This popular hymn was written by William Fullerton (1857-1932) and expresses the wonder of the birth of Jesus into our world and the hope of his return to bring the fullness of his peace to the world.

I cannot tell why he whom angels worship

This sermon was originally given on Sunday 21st October, 2021  and formed part of a series on Bible stories that give us hope.

The Bible readings for this talk are Deuteronomy 5.3-14 and Matthew 5.21-26. The talk was first given on the Sunday when the UK was engaged in the ten yearly census.

The sermon was written and spoken by our minister Simon. He speaks about how the 10 Commandments are a gift of grace from a loving God that help us find together the life that works. Jesus affirms them and encourages us to bring hope to our communities by living lives that reflect the love behind the Commandments.

Sermon -  The life that blesses and brings hope

The great Easter hymn "Thine be the glory" sung to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at South Street Baptist Church in Exeter on Easter Sunday 2022.

This a much loved hymn of hope and joy, sung with enthusiasm by those gathered in the church to celebrate that Jesus is risen.

The words were written by Edmond Budry (1854-1932) and the tune "Maccabaeus" is by G F Handel (1685-1759).

You can watch the whole service at our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7aywP526kDGh04Xfsor2w

Thine be the glory

The wonderful hymn Guide me O thou great Jehovah written by William Williams (1717-91) set to the beautiful Welsh tune Cwm Rhondda composed by John Hughes (1873-1932).

The hymn is filled with Bible images that speak of God being our eternal strength, comfort and hope. It affirms that God is present to lead us through this life and to lead us through death to the eternal song of heaven's light.

This version was recorded on 15th May, 2022 at a united service in Sidwell Street Methodist Church in central Exeter. Here, Free Church and Anglican joined in the harmony of praise through these timeless words and notes.

Guide me O thou great Jehovah

A talk given by our minister Simon in 2021 exploring what it means to be church. We are called to centre ourselves around Jesus and be community with grace at the heart. We are called to be a refuge for the broken seeking, and a safe space where all can encounter God in Jesus and discover their own gifts and skills.

The talk is based on Mark 3.19b to 35 and Ephesians 4.7 to 16.

Christ's new community is to grow together in love as we centre ourselves on the loving saviour at the heart of our circle.

From the talk:
"Going forward in these changing times, we are to strive to encourage each other in love and encourage all to discern and develop and grow the gifts Jesus is giving by the Spirit with us.

As we seek to be a home church for many, may our community be a safe space for people to practise the gifts God is giving them - in music, reading Scripture, preaching, showing hospitality, arranging flowers, befriending people.... 

In love, may we encourage one another to recognise the gifts we have, to try them out and develop them."

Belonging in A Home Church

As followers of Jesus, we seek to express God’s unconditional love for every person. We will encourage everyone to know God in every aspect of living through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

South Street Baptist Church

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