‘Rhythms and rituals episode 4 - Pentecost, the festival of Weeks’ by Owen Lynch - 31 May 2026

What does it mean to celebrate things that grow slowly? Owen Lynch looks at the Jewish festival that marked 50 days after Passover. In the time since offering first fruits of the harvest to God, more crops had grown and matured, and bread could be made that had time to rise. Offering this to God showed thanks for his provision of things that took time to get right. How often do we appreciate these things more than what we can get instantly, on demand, for ourselves?

Pentecost also used to be understood as a celebration of the nation-defining law given to Moses so Jewish people could grow. Christians remember the Holy Spirit given to believers at the time of this festival too. What does God want us to know about what can happen when we let this Spirit define us and grow fruit slowly in us?

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‘Closed minds, blown minds, open minds’ by Karen Green - 10 May 2026

What difference does our state of mind make when we see new things happening? Karen Green shares experience of life in Bristol and looks at stories of people around Jesus who looked at God’s coming kingdom in different ways. Can getting to know Jesus better and growing our faith in him change the way we see the world, and develop open minds to new possibilities?

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‘Rhythms and rituals episode 3 - Firstfruits’ by Owen Lynch - 3 May 2026

How can celebrating and giving the first part of our year’s grown food be helpful to us? Owen Lynch looks at the festival of Firstfruits, given in the Bible for Jewish people to mark a few days after Passover. It recognises how a food-growing community that has gone through a season where nothing grew could look forward to more fruitful life ahead. They didn’t wait for the whole year’s harvest, but made offerings from their first fruits in faith that new life had overcome the threat of death. What difference could that kind of faith make to us, and how can we practise it?

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‘Faith, flags, and an unlikely kind of King’ by Dan Green - 29 March 2026

What do we expect from God’s kingdom and Jesus as King? In this Palm Sunday talk, Dan Green looks at what the crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem hoped and believed might happen, and how they would have been shocked by Jesus and what would happen next. Similarly, when crowds gather today with faith, flags and the nation in mind, does Jesus fit expectations? What do we expect from Jesus?

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‘Rhythms and rituals episode 1 - Passover’ by Owen Lynch - 11 January 2026

How do we find meaning in life through what we regularly do? Owen Lynch looks at the role of repeated patterns, habits or rituals in diverse places, from the minds of sports stars to the tables of families. God's people have also been encouraged for centuries to remember who we and God are to each other through shared festivals with meaningful meals. This year, people at Severn can expect to share the Lord's Supper regularly, and we remember what this means - Jesus' life, given for us - as we share it today.

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‘For such a time’ - 4 January 2026

What might God have prepared you for this year? The story of Esther describes a woman in an unusual work situation, picked out by leaders with their own purposes in mind, but seemingly placed by God for an unimaginably important role.

Jewish people regularly celebrate this story and credit God, who is not directly seen in it, for saving and supporting them through Esther's faith and faithfulness. Can we also discern purpose from God in our work, family or community?

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‘Following the star to Jesus’ by Owen Lynch - 14 December 2025

What would a meeting with the baby Jesus have been like? Owen Lynch looks at this from the viewpoint of Magi - the “wise men” who came with expectations set by prophecy, valuable gifts and a hazardous journey that brushed with powers who wanted nothing to come from Jesus’ life.

Could Jesus have held the power to change lives, and could this have been seen at the time we celebrate at Christmas?

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‘Come and be free’ by David Jennings - 30 November 2025

What difference does faith in Jesus make to our sense of freedom? David Jennings shares experiences of people who have found transformation when starting to believe and trust in God, and looks at how Jesus described what to expect. When we feel a sense of tiredness from heavy burdens as we try hard to do the right things, is this coming from what God wants from us, or could Jesus be looking to relieve, empower and refresh us?

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‘Advent - an invitation’ by Kyle Henderson-Begg - 23 November 2025

What is special about the new season we’re about to enter? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at the role that festivals play in people’s lives, providing inspiration - literally, breath in - to fuel our lives and day to day expressions of faith. They can show us God’s character and our purpose, as well as interrupting regular life to refresh and remind us that life ahead can be different, better than what we are used to. How can engaging with Advent in the approach to Christmas help you see life differently this year?

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