St Matthias, Brighton - Talks

This Sunday we had an opportunity to look forward as we focused on our vision for the next six months, and how everyone can play a part in it. Join Tom as he invites us to consider praying, joining a team and giving financially. But what should motivate our giving, and as we focus on the gift of Jesus, His death and resurrection, how are we transformed when we give by how God gives back to us?

Join our panel for real conversations about the challenges of supporting kids and teens. How do we hold the many tensions so we can collaberate with them instead of just ending up in conflict with them? Are adults over-reacting to the concerns and anxieties raised by the media? What's it really like to be a teen navigating not just this complex world, but the reactions and responses of your pa...

Talks from this month's LiveWell community conversation thinking about how we support kids and teens in the online world. With contributions from psychologist Kate Middleton, plus local experts Mandy Marshall-Taylor and Erik Selby the evening looked at the pros and cons of the online world. What's the evidence for how the online world is impacting different generations - especially Gen alp...

Vision Sunday is an opportunity to tell stories of all that God has done over the last 6 months, and hear some exciting plans for the next 6 months. Hear from Tom as he shares his sense of God's vision for St Matthias - and also two of our youth talking about how coming to know God has changed their lives.

In this talk, we explore how fasting is less about getting God to respond and more about helping us to hear, see, and desire God more clearly. Drawing on personal experience, theology, and Scripture, Clark Buys unpacks how fasting disrupts distraction, breaks through numbness, and reawakens our longing for God’s presence. Through the lens of Joel 2:12, we reflect on how fasting is a way of rending...

Fasting has been an instinctive human practice across centuries and religious traditions. But in our modern day culture it has become so complex, muddled as it is with other reasons to fast that are far from spiritual. So what is the spiritual purpose of fasting and how does that sit along the cultural motivations we might hear or see modelled around us? Kate explores how Paul inspires us to bring...

In this talk, we explore the ancient practice of fasting and its power to reorder our desires. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and church history, we consider why fasting isn’t just about self-discipline but about training our hearts to hunger for God. We reflect on Paul’s struggle with desire in Romans 7, Jesus’ own practice of fasting, and the wisdom of Christian thinkers like John Mark Comer,...

As we head towards lent we're preparing ourselves for a month of focus on the Lord. But why does Jesus sometimes call us to step back and retreat into prayer and his presence? Hear Tom share three purposes for those periods of retreat, stepping back, and ultimately of preparation.

This is the final part of our series considering how to read and understand Scripture. But if we're honest many of us find reading the Bible really challenging. And recent debates, disputes and disagreements have also affected people's confidence as they consider the inspiration and wisdom in these ancient texts. Join Kate as she considers what underlies our fears and frustrations and asks - how t...

Join Kate and her panel of local people sharing their personal and professional perspective on the challenges of managing anxiety alongside the demands of everyday 21st century life.

Join Kate as she hosts and introduces our evening thinking about anxiety. What is the point of anxiety? How is it designed to work in the healthy functioning human mind and when and why does it sometimes become so dysfunctional - or even make us ill?

We know the Bible is a significant source of wisdom and direction - but how do we read and apply its teaching wisely? As we see examples of people debating and disagreeing over interpretation, what does it look like for us as ordinary people, not academics or professional theologians, to read and understand the Bible.?This week Helen Garratt, Associate Vicar at St Peters, Brighton, shares her thou...

Join Tom as he explores how we read the bible, and talks through some meditative approaches including Lectio Divina and Ignatian Imaginative Reading.

In the second part of our Formation Focus: Scripture series, we explore how the Bible tells one unified story—a grand narrative that invites us to find our place within it. Discover how understanding the bigger picture of Scripture can transform the way we read, live, and are shaped by its message. Join us as we delve into the “meta-narrative” of the Bible and see how this incredible story becomes...

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of Scripture and what it means to truly meditate on God’s Word. Drawing from Psalm 1, we unpack the Hebrew word  hāgâ —a rich, active concept often translated as “meditate,” but also meaning “growl” or “chew.” Through this, we discover how Scripture can reshape the stories we live by, challenge our mental maps, and draw us closer to Jesus. Wheth...

Join Tom as he reflects on this new year and asks: where do we find wisdom for 2025?

On the final Sunday of Advent, Tom Stonehouse reflects on the passionate love of God, the true meaning of the 'Zeal of the Lord God almighty' in that famous passage from Isaiah 9 - and he tells us a story about some shepherds on the way to Bethlehem who made a surprising discovery - but its probably not the story you are expecting ...

This week we're thinking about the joy of Christmas! But looking back to the nativity story, we know Mary wasn't filled with joy when she first found out the part she was going to play in bringing Jesus into the world. Join Abby as she shares how and why Mary's fear turned to joy - and how she broke out in a song of celebration! *In this clip Abby refers to two videos that were played during the s...

We understand a lot of life through story, surrounding our most important truths in the beauty of myth and mystery. How might this help us understand the significance of what is probably the most memorable and important story in all of history? This recording combines the spoken word monologues shared at our service with the talk Kate gave afterwards - so you'll first hear our opening spoken word,...

This December we're taking time to consider some of the traditional themes for the Advent Sundays, through the lens of some beautiful songs and writing inspired by the promise of the coming of Jesus. On this first Sunday of Advent, Tom thinks about hope, and the song of Zechariah in Luke 1. Zechariah experienced the unexpected birth of hope long after he had given up hoping - and he sang prophetic...

The conclusion of Ruth’s story shows the impact of grace and kindness when it breaks down barriers and changes the way we think about ourselves and one another, realising how God sees us and reflecting divine love and generosity to one another. Join Tom as he explores how our understanding of identity and possibility can be stretched by grace in action, bringing change and hope to the world. 

Join Kate and her panel members in the conversation originally recorded live as part of our Live Well evening thinking about burnout.

Burnout is an increasingly common issue discussed in our busy buzzing 21st century world. But is it something we just have to accept as part of adult life, or as necessary should we want to be succesful? Is it possible to be fulfilled, to achieve the things we dream of, to carry all life's responsibilities and NOT burn out? Join Kate as she introduces our evening talking about Burnout.

Naomi and Ruth have been through a season of terrible trauma and tough times. Chapters 3 and 4 mark a change however: the moment when they look up and begin to dare to hope again. But how do we seek breakthrough when we have no power and all we can see is our own vulnerability? What do you do if you know something needs to change but you feel like the wrong person to challenge the way things have...

Belonging is such a powerful human driver, influencing both other people’s perceptions of us but also our own concept of identity and who we are. But how can a story break through walls and divisions that limit us and make people vulnerable or unable to flourish? What does it look like to be the first person to step over a boundary and create the possibility of a better story - and how can Ruth's...