Jazz Community Church
We gather weekly on Sundays 4pm in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
What can I expect?
Live music, some reflections on faith and life, refreshments and some interesting people to chat with!
Is there any provision for Children?
We are just getting started so we soon hope to have a full children's programme in place. For the time being there will be an area and some bits and bobs to keep the little ones occupied.
How can I get more Involved?
Come along on a Sunday afternoon and have a chat with us about joining a team, there is plenty to be done. Alternatively drop us an email and we can take it from there.
“Jazz Community Church challenges us to live by a different tune, one with a contemporary theme and eternal rhythm.
— Rev. Dr. Neil Johnson, Member of the Birmingham Methodist Circuit Superintendents’ team and Methodist presbyter of The Church at Carrs Lane
The Divine Symphony
The Spirit is present in all things, directing the universe towards new creation and union with God through the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is the good news for the world. This is the drama in which we are invited to improvise.
1st Movement: Creation, Relationship at the heart of the cosmos
The self-giving divine dance of the trinitarian God is the heartbeat of creation (Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1). God does not create out of need (Acts 17:24-25), but out of the gracious overflow of relational love that cannot be contained (Genesis 1:26). Creation emanates from the self-emptying love that flows endlessly between the persons of the trinity (Jeremiah 31:3). As the ground of being, everything that exists is held in this communion of love– the divine life penetrates every atom of creation (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3).
2nd Movement: Incarnation, Spiritual beings on a human journey
God comes to us in the full humanity of Christ (John 1:1-15), right into the heart of the human condition (Hebrews 4:15) - with all its joy and suffering. Revealing God's blueprint for true humanity in all its fullness (1 Peter 2:21, 1 Corinthians 11:1-2), Jesus demonstrated unconditional love for the outsider (Luke 15:1-2) – ultimately giving up his life (John 10:18) in the most extravagant act of self-sacrificial love the world has ever seen (Romans 5:8, Philippians 2:6-8). Becoming fully alive (John 10:10) and deeply human means participating with Christ in the self-emptying pattern of death and resurrection (Galatians 2:20 , Romans 6:5, Philippians 3:10). Only by leaning into our own struggles are we able to authentically journey with others through their suffering (Matthew 5:10, Luke 9:22-24).
3rd Movement: Re-Creation, Union with God and the renewal of all things
Scripture envisions new creation as the marriage of heaven and earth (Revelation 21:2), in which all things are renewed and creation is liberated from suffering, death and disharmony (Isaiah 65:17-19, Revelation 21:4). The good news of the gospel is that this radical work of reconciliation has already begun in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), – the firstfruits of re-creation (1 Corinthians 15:20-21). The Spirit incorporates us into mystical union with Christ (Ephesians 4:4), enabling us to participate in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This union with God is the ultimate purpose for which we were created (John 17:20-26, Ephesians 2). The Spirit is constantly drawing us towards union (1 Corinthians 6:17), grounding us in present-moment awareness of the living God who can only be encountered here and now (2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Matthew 6:33-34).