Talk: Rhythms and rituals episode 5 - The festival of Trumpets - Owen Lynch

What if God grabbed your attention every so often? Owen Lynch looks at a festival set in Israel's historic calendar to engage them in the middle of a long, hot season where work might have become difficult and attention may have drifted. Could we use reminders from time to time about what we're in the middle of, and why? And could find that God is already present in us when we need a wake-up call?

How much do we rely on God? David Jennings looks at the way he tends to trust God naturally when needing special or miraculous intervention, but had to learn to trust him for other things too. This includes growing the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace and patience can seem like things we should just try harder to be good at, but Jesus told followers to rely on connection with him to grow them. Are our everyday expectations for what God can do with us too small? What would happen if we fully relied on God and his love for us?

How can we draw close to God as we cross into new seasons of life? Claire Lynch reflects on her recent experiences, what they have meant to her and how reflecting with Jesus has given her fresh perspectives on what she has been relying on, what she wants to move into, and how Jesus is helping to power her journey. The talk ends with an opportunity to try reflecting like this, starting with a simple centering thought and prayer followed by a few minutes of other questions. What has happened in your recent past season, and what do you want to thank God for? What mix of emotions comes up as you reflect? Could God draw your attention to a single standout thing from your past season? And when you look to a season ahead with hope, trust and expectation, can you offer every part of it to God?

How does the way we look at the Bible change what we think it means, and how we live as a result? Stephen Welbourne takes inspiration from Zach Lambert’s “Better Ways to Read the Bible” and Danielle Strickland’s “Right Side Up” podcast (from April 27th 2026), and looks at what happened when Jesus met a woman accused of adultery. This story has been seen in lots of ways. If it can help us to see Jesus’ approach, it can also help us to treat people and brokenness effectively and avoid weaponising religion. What stands out to you from this story?

What does it mean to think of God as father? Kyle Henderson-Begg brings his experience of mixed feelings about this and considers the importance of relationship to us and, according to the Bible, to God. Can a fresh look at how and why God is described as a father, together with our experience of God today, help to heal any hurt that arises when we think of a father God?

How can we bring hope where we live? David Jennings shares his experience of life in Bristol meeting people in difficult situations and trying to share God's love with them. It can sometimes feel like our faith life is purely personal, and it's good to remember how much God love us. But is this comfort only part of the life God wants for us? Can we believe that it's possible to share in suffering and bring hope and life too?

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?

When life looks dark, what happens when light surprises us? Marie-Anne Joiner shares experiences of finding joy in difficulty and mystery, and how this can fuel creativity we all have. Everyone has stories worth sharing, but how do we find them? Can we learn to make space and silence to notice the fullness of God’s presence, like stars in the darkness?

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?

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?