Posts tagged Miscellaneous
‘Rhythms and rituals’ by Owen Lynch - 11 January 2026
‘Rhythms and rituals’ 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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Owen LynchSevern VineyardCommunion, Luke, Miscellaneous
‘For such a time’ - 4 January 2026
‘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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Severn VineyardEsther, Miscellaneous
‘Following the star to Jesus’ by Owen Lynch - 14 December 2025
‘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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Owen LynchSevern VineyardAdvent, Daniel, Miscellaneous
‘Come and be free’ by David Jennings - 30 November 2025
‘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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David JenningsSevern VineyardAdvent, Miscellaneous
‘Advent - an invitation’ by Kyle Henderson-Begg - 23 November 2025
‘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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Kyle Henderson-BeggSevern VineyardAdvent, Miscellaneous
‘Inviting God in’ by Karen Green - 26 October 2025
‘Inviting God in’ by Karen Green - 26 October 2025

What does it mean to be fully known and loved by God? Can we trust that this is a good thing for us? Karen Green looks at how her understanding and experience of God have grown over years, and considers Psalm 139’s reflection that trusting God and growing a relationship with him can lead to intimacy and the release of anxiety. Can this help us to grow in love for people and enjoy a better quality of life?

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Karen GreenSevern VineyardPsalm 139, Psalms, Miscellaneous
‘What is God doing in my life?’ - 12 October 2025
‘What is God doing in my life?’ - 12 October 2025

To celebrate Severn’s 16th birthday, people from the church reflected on what they could see God doing with them, individually and in relationships, community, work and the rest of life beyond church gatherings. Some common themes emerged, including the growth of spiritual fruit like love, joy and patience when dealing with difficult situations, and many from the church contributed to a video about how we see the extraordinary in everyday life.

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Severn Vineyardfruit, Miscellaneous
‘What if God is a fruit inspector?’ by Phil Joiner - 28 September 2025
‘What if God is a fruit inspector?’ by Phil Joiner - 28 September 2025

Can a garden show us what God wants from us? Phil Joiner shares his experience of life at different paces, with various demands and expectations, including guilt about not doing enough. But does God have a different way of looking at productivity that is less about our industrial machinery and more about what happens naturally in a garden across different seasons? How much of this do we control? And what is God really looking for in our lives?

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Phil JoinerSevern Vineyardfruit, Galatians, John, love, Miscellaneous
‘Waking up’ by Chris Simmonds - 7 September 2025
‘Waking up’ by Chris Simmonds - 7 September 2025

What does it mean to become spiritually awake? Chris Simmonds shares his experiences of moving between times of feeling that life is comfortable within his own plans and times where reality delivers a wake up call. Sometimes this is challenging, but awakening to who God is and what he does can often be described as simply good, wonderful or awesome. How can we experience this kind of awakening ourselves, and what difference does it make to how we see ourselves, others and the world?

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Chris SimmondsSevern VineyardMiscellaneous
‘The revolution’ by Kyle Henderson-Begg - 13 July 2025
‘The revolution’ by Kyle Henderson-Begg - 13 July 2025

How is life different when we follow Jesus into God’s kingdom? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at how Jesus encouraged and congratulated people in difficult, undervalued and suffering circumstances. They would be the first to welcome the news that Jesus turned life upside down, compared with how most judged success. His way of life was, and still is, open to everyone. So what differences should it make for us?

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Kyle Henderson-BeggSevern VineyardMiscellaneous, Matthew
‘Prophecy’ by Claire Lynch - 1 June 2025
‘Prophecy’ by Claire Lynch - 1 June 2025

How can we hear from God and share this to help others? Claire Lynch looks at our belief that prophesy is about connecting with God’s heart of love for someone, and is accessible to all. This is described as a promise in the Old Testament and as practice in the New Testament, thanks to the work of Jesus and the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But how do we actually do it faithfully, or weigh up whether someone else’s words to us are from God? The guidance here can help us to practise.

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Claire LynchSevern VineyardProphecy, Miscellaneous
‘Who am I?’ - 27 April 2025
‘Who am I?’ - 27 April 2025

How do you describe yourself? Is it mainly about what you do, or other things about who you are, and what you are becoming? This talk looks at Moses, a key character in Biblical history, and shows how his identity had many sources. This included how he was born, how others saw him, what people had seen him do, and what he took on from what people said about him. But God had a different view, and became the source of Moses’ identity. How can we live out our identity with God?

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Severn VineyardExodus, Identity, Miscellaneous
‘Being in the palm parade’ by Jason Whiley, 13 April 2025
‘Being in the palm parade’ by Jason Whiley, 13 April 2025

What would it be like to see Jesus enter Jerusalem in his unusual triumph parade, days before he died? Jason Whiley looks at what happened, and what this would have looked like from the different angles of people in the story. If you can imagine yourself there with them, how might God grab your attention? What could he show you about his love, encouragement and purpose for you?

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Jason WhileySevern VineyardMatthew, Palm Sunday, Miscellaneous
‘Servant leadership and power in weakness - the upside-down way of Jesus’ by Dan Green, 6 April 2025
‘Servant leadership and power in weakness - the upside-down way of Jesus’ by Dan Green, 6 April 2025

What makes a great leader? Dan Green looks at the differences between what people often expect and what Jesus showed through his service and self-sacrifice. Why was it controversial to put a life-size, captive Jesus (Mark Wallinger’s “Ecce Homo”) onto a giant plinth in Trafalgar Square, and would we find this comforting, inspiring or disturbing to see? Could it help to remind ourselves of how people were so surprised to see Jesus lead the way he did, and even more surprised to see the power of his kingdom?

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Dan GreenSevern VineyardJohn, Miscellaneous
‘Who do you say I am?’ by Joanna Ashby, 30 March 2025
‘Who do you say I am?’ by Joanna Ashby, 30 March 2025

What difference can it make to be told who we are? Joanna Ashby looks at a conversation between Jesus and one of his followers, Simon, who knew the identity and historic role of Jesus as the Messiah or Christ. Jesus gave Simon a new name, Peter, which gave him the identity of a rock that Jesus could build his church on. What has God said to us about who we are and what he can do with us? How can we put that into practice?

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Joanna AshbySevern VineyardMatthew, Miscellaneous
‘Remain in my love’ by David Jennings, 9 February 2025
‘Remain in my love’ by David Jennings, 9 February 2025

How do we grow in God’s love, and what does it mean to remain? David Jennings looks at Jesus’ teaching that his followers are branches in him, a vine, made for fruitfulness under God’s gardening care. This fruit isn’t work we do, it’s the character of love, joy and peace that grows as we accept Jesus’ love and become defined by him and his character. Is it challenging to allow this to happen, sometimes needing to give up what we’d been aiming for ourselves? If so, can we find assurance in Jesus’ promise that, by remaining in him, we will be incredibly fruitful?

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David JenningsSevern VineyardJohn, Galatians, love, Miscellaneous, fruit