Grantown & Dulnain Bridge Parish Church

13/09/2026

Our final sermon in the “I AM” series looks at one of Jesus’ simplest, yet most challenging, pictures:

“I am the vine; you are the branches.”

What are we really rooted in?
What do we turn to when life becomes difficult?
And what does it mean to remain in Christ?

In a world that constantly tells us to be independent, strong and self-sufficient, Jesus offers a very different invitation:

“Remain in me.”

This is a reflective sermon about connection, faith, growth, letting go — and discovering where our deepest source of life really comes from.

If you missed the service, or simply want to spend a little time reflecting, take a few minutes, press play and listen.

Perhaps the question Jesus asks us today is one worth sitting with:

“Where are your roots?”

Come and listen. You might discover that the answer matters more than you think.

13/09/2026

From the Manse: A Thought for the Week
Forgiveness: Giving, Receiving and Living It
Sunday 13th September 2026

Dear Friends,

This week in Alpha we were thinking about forgiveness. It is one of those words that sounds so straightforward when we say it but becomes much more complicated when we actually have to live it. For forgiveness is hard. It is hard to forgive someone who has hurt us, disappointed us, betrayed our trust or said something that we simply cannot forget. We can understand what Jesus asks of us, but knowing something in our heads and living it out in our hearts can be two very different things.

Sometimes we carry hurt for years. We replay conversations. We remember what was said or done. We imagine what we wish we had said. And sometimes, if we are honest, holding on to our anger can feel easier than letting go. But forgiveness is not pretending that nothing happened. Forgiveness doesn't mean that what happened was acceptable. It doesn't mean that there should be no consequences. It doesn't mean that trust is automatically restored or that a damaged relationship can simply return to the way it was before.

Forgiveness is, in part, about refusing to allow what has happened to have the final word. But there is another side to forgiveness which can be just as difficult: Being forgiven is hard. We can sometimes find it easier to forgive somebody else than to accept that we ourselves need forgiveness. We like to think that we are good people. We have our reasons, our explanations and our excuses. Yet the Christian faith invites us to be honest enough to recognise that we all get things wrong.

We have all said things we regret. We have all failed someone. We have all made choices that have caused hurt. Sometimes our greatest difficulty is not forgiving somebody else but believing that God could really forgive us.
Yet forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel.

We don't have to earn God's forgiveness. We don't have to make ourselves good enough before we can come to him. We come honestly, acknowledging our failures, and discover the extraordinary grace of God.

And perhaps this is something we need to remember not only as individuals, but also as the Church. For the Church is not exempt from needing forgiveness. We sometimes speak about the Church as though it is somehow different from the rest of humanity. But the Church is made up of ordinary, imperfect people – people who get things wrong, people who misunderstand one another, people who sometimes say the wrong thing, make mistakes, hold grudges and occasionally hurt one another. Churches can have disagreements. People can fall out. Words can be spoken that cannot easily be taken back. Sometimes people leave a church carrying hurt because of something that happened within it. And we need to be humble enough to acknowledge that.

If we are going to proclaim God's forgiveness to the world, then we also need to be willing to practise forgiveness within the Church. That doesn't mean sweeping difficult things under the carpet. It doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations. It doesn't mean ignoring injustice or pretending that everything is fine when it isn't. Sometimes forgiveness requires us to say “I'm sorry.” Sometimes it requires us to say “I was wrong.” Sometimes it requires us to hear someone else's pain without becoming defensive.
And sometimes it requires us to say “I forgive you”, even when the words are difficult to speak.

Jesus prayed, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Those words are both comforting and challenging. They remind us that we are all people who need forgiveness. And they remind us that we are called to become people who offer forgiveness. Perhaps that is one of the things that should make the Church distinctive – not that we are a community of perfect people, but that we are a community of forgiven people who are learning how to forgive.

So this week, perhaps there are three questions worth quietly asking ourselves: Is there someone I need to forgive? Is there something I need to ask forgiveness for? And is there something I need to accept God's forgiveness for myself?

Forgiveness is hard. Giving it can be hard. Receiving it can be hard. And admitting that the Church needs it can be hard. But perhaps that is precisely why we need to keep coming back to the cross, where we are reminded that God's grace is bigger than our failures, God's mercy is greater than our mistakes, and God's forgiveness is offered to all of us.

May we have the courage to receive it, the humility to ask for it, and the grace to offer it to others.

With every blessing,

Rev Jade

12/09/2026

Tomorrow we come to the final service in our “I AM” series, as we reflect on Jesus’ words:

“I am the vine; you are the branches.”

It’s a simple picture, but it makes us stop and think…

Where are our roots?
What gives us strength when life is difficult?
And what helps us stay connected to what really matters?

We would love you to come along and share this time with us.
If it’s been a while since you’ve been to church, please don’t feel awkward about coming back. And if you’ve never been to church before, you are just as welcome.

There’s no need to have all the answers, no need to know what to say, and no need to be anything other than yourself.

Just come as you are.

Come for a little time to pause, reflect, listen and perhaps discover something new.

There’s a place for you here. ❤️

Everyone is welcome. We’d love to see you.

08/09/2026

Sadly, due to a lack of numbers, we have had to cancel the BBQ. We’re sorry for any disappointment this may cause, and we hope to be able to arrange another get-together in the future. Thank you to everyone who had planned to join us.

07/09/2026

Which way are you going?

Life doesn't always come with a sat-nav, and sometimes we all need a little help knowing which way to turn.

In this week's reflection, we explore Jesus' words:

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

What does it mean to trust Jesus when we don't know what lies around the next corner? And what might be the next step He is asking us to take?

A reflection for life's journey, wherever you find yourself today.

Why not take a few minutes to listen online?

You may discover that you don't need to know the whole journey – you simply need to trust the One who knows the way.

Jesus is the Way.
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus is the Life.

Take a moment. Listen. Reflect. And perhaps discover your next step.

06/09/2026

From the Manse: A Thought for the Week
The Gift of Friendship
Sunday 6th September 2026

Dear friend,

There are many things in life we can manage on our own, but none of us is really meant to walk through life alone. And that is why one of God's great gifts to us is the gift of friendship. Friendship comes in many forms. Some friendships last a lifetime; others belong to a particular season of our lives. Some friends live nearby, while others may be many miles away. Yet the best friendships have something in common – they bring joy, encouragement and a sense that we belong.

The Bible gives us some beautiful examples of friendship. One of the most moving is the friendship between David and Jonathan. Their friendship was tested by difficult circumstances, jealousy and danger, yet Jonathan remained loyal to David. He encouraged him, protected him and put his friend's wellbeing before his own interests and even above the bond of father and son. Their story reminds us that a true friend is someone who stands beside us, not only when life is easy, but when life becomes difficult too.

We see friendship too in the life of Jesus and his disciples. Jesus called them to follow him, but they became much more than simply his followers. They travelled together, shared meals, talked, argued, laughed and learned together. They experienced the highs and lows of ministry side by side. Jesus knew their gifts and their strengths, but he also knew their weaknesses and their failures, and no matter what, through the good and the bad he continued to love them.

Perhaps that is what makes friendship such a precious gift. A real friend knows us as we really are – not simply the person we try to show to the world – and still chooses to walk beside us. We all need people who will celebrate with us when life is good and support us when life is difficult. Sometimes friendship is as simple as a cup of coffee, a phone call, a walk together or a text message saying, “I was thinking about you.” These ordinary things can make a remarkable difference.
This is something we can see at its best within the life of the Church. You see Church is not simply about coming together for worship; it is about becoming a community where people know that they are welcomed, valued and cared for. Remember there may be someone sitting beside us on a Sunday who feels lonely. There may be someone who comes through our church doors quietly hoping that they might find somewhere to belong. There may be someone who pops into your home or who you meet on the street who needs to know that they are not alone. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply friendship – a smile, a conversation, an invitation to sit with us, or a cup of tea afterwards.

As we think about friendship this week, perhaps we can give thanks for the people God has placed in our lives. Think of those who have made you laugh, encouraged you, challenged you, supported you and stood beside you when you needed them most. And perhaps there is someone we haven't spoken to for a while. Why not pick up the phone or invite them for coffee? For friendship is not simply something we receive; it is something we give.

Jesus reminds us that love is at the heart of our relationships with one another. When we offer friendship, kindness and companionship, we reflect something of God's own love – a love that comes alongside us and walks with us. May we never take the gift of friendship for granted.

May we be grateful for our friends, faithful to those who need us, and always ready to make room at the table for someone who is looking for a place to belong.

“A friend loves at all times.” - Proverbs 17:17

With every blessing,

Rev Jade

05/09/2026

Café/Chatty Church – Tomorrow!

Ever felt a little lost? Wondered which way to turn? Or wished life came with a sat-nav?

Tomorrow we’re exploring Jesus’ words:

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Come along for a relaxed, friendly service with conversation, coffee, cake and space to think about where we are going – and who is walking with us.

Psalm 25 & John 14:1–14

Everyone is welcome – whether you know exactly where you’re going or you’re still trying to find the way!

Come and join us tomorrow. ❤️

03/09/2026

31/08/2026

Come along and join us for a Church BBQ & Games Afternoon — a chance to meet new people, catch up with friends, enjoy some delicious food and have a bit of fun together!

There’ll be games, laughter, good food and plenty of friendly faces — and you don’t need to be a regular churchgoer to come along. ❤️

Bring the family, bring a friend, or simply come along on your own.

Let’s enjoy a relaxed afternoon together as a community!

🌭🍔 BBQ • 🎲 GAMES • ☀️ FUN • ❤️ FRIENDSHIP

Everyone welcome — we’d love to see you there!