Journey of a Thousand Steps

We want to be a church that helps people find financial freedom and lean into the adventures God is calling them into. Jesus came that we could have fullness of life (John 10.10). This means not having an empty bank account, or, a full account that comes with a spiritually bankrupt life. This Sunday we spent time considering how to revise and prayerfully plan a personal budget for 2026, that invests in long-term fruitfulness, saves for a rainy day and avoids the trap of short-sighted living. James' letter to the early Church (James 5.1-12) gives us a powerful reminder that the investments we make in this life will be seen and celebrated in the next, if not immediately. Equally, if we sell out to entirely self-indulgent living, we will be participating in death and destruction in ways that won't be hidden from our eyes forever.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 11 January 2026 

How do you feel about the word 'purity'? The Church often has a reputation for nurturing unhealthy attitudes towards sexuality or natural human desires, or perhaps trying to 'cleanse us' of things that aren't dirty. Whilst we don't want to and were never meant to burden people with shame, today we were reminded by Paul's advice to a young church leader, Timothy, that the Church is called to be clean of the things that hurt people in the world. This week we considered his advice in 1 Timothy 5.1-8, which describes four ways we want to be noticably more transparent, and more pure, than the world. First, we are to be effortful in caring for the elderly. Second, we listen to and invest in young people. Third, we are respectful towards members of the opposite sex, and, lastly, we are generous towards those who are homeless.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 4 January 2026 

How do you stocktake the year that's been and set goals for the year ahead? Would you like to try a biblical framework for your planning? As we prepare to enter the new year, this final Sunday of 2025, we considered Paul's teaching to the Corinthian church about the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.18-25). If we believe that we have been spiritually reborn in Christ and will be physically resurrected after we die, our end-goal starts in Heaven. We don't simply look to what we can achieve in the time we have on earth. We look back from who we are in Heaven, and seek obedience to the mission God has entrusted to us. This week's message comes with a practical, guided reflection to consider your priorities for the year ahead.    Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 28 December 2025 

By the end of this message we hope you will see how believable the Christmas story is - not a fariytale! So many of the details in the accounts of Jesus' birth are too random, inconvenient and imperfect to have been made up. In the middle of an economically depressed and unsafe political context; as well as a socially lonely and difficult situation, signs and wonders emerged. This is exactly how faith leads to social change. First, a small team of people are faithful to a calling, long before there is evidence that it is real. Secondly, life keeps throwing difficulties at the situation to make it even harder than it already was. As people persist in faith, early adopters arrive (shepherds). Then come the wise donors who believe, even though they come from outside of the community. Are you ready for this life?  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025

Do you ever wonder whether the story of Jesus' birth is simply a ridiculous fairytale? As we take a close look at Joseph's story in Matthew 1.18-25, we see his anxiety and uncertainty as he faced a very hard decision. We also notice three dynamics that combined to make sense of something crazy. First, he had knowledge of the scripture and recalled the prophecy of a birth that would come only from God. Second, he had a deeply personal encounter with God through a dream, which calmed his anxiety and gave him a reason to believe in a miracle. Third, he loved Mary. Their love and faithfulness was also a confirming sign that God was at work, even in a very unexpected way. To discern what is from God, versus what is fanciful or crazy, we also need three things: knowledge of the scriptures, confidence in hearing the Holy Spirit and close friendships within the Body of Christ.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 21 December 2025