Hazelwell Weekly Contact 25th January 2026
22 Jan 2026 • Weekly Notices
3rd Sunday of Epiphany
Hazelwell Holy Communion service
Led by Rev. Andy Harris, Celebrant Rev. Matt Churchouse
Preacher Val Harris
Please remember in your prayers those who lost their lives and those who were injured in the Spanish rail crashes also please pray for:-
- Residents of Edwin Road and Millhaven Avenue
- Please pray for Andy and Matt as they prepare for the service this week.
- All who work in shops and supermarkets in our locality and the wider Birmingham area
Do you know anyone seeking to know more about Christianity
A Reflection on Acts 9:20–22: The Conversion of St Paul
Saul’s first act after encountering Christ is striking in its simplicity and boldness: “Immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues.” The man who had travelled to Damascus to silence the followers of Jesus now speaks His name openly. Conversion here is not a quiet change of opinion but a complete reorientation of life. Saul does not wait until everything is settled or safe; obedience flows directly from encounter.
The amazement of those who hear him reveals how deeply they know Saul’s former identity. Their question — “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem?” — reminds us that God’s grace does not erase our past but transforms it. Saul’s history becomes part of his witness. The very credibility of his proclamation rests on how radically different he now is.
Luke tells us that Saul “grew more and more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.” This growth is not merely intellectual skill or rhetorical force. It is the strength that comes from aligning one’s life with God’s truth. Saul’s certainty is rooted in Scripture, but it is energised by experience: he has met the risen Christ.
Acts 9:20–22 invites us to consider the immediacy and courage of true discipleship. When Christ calls, the response is not delayed perfection but faithful witness. Like Saul, we are sent to speak not because we are flawless, but because we have been changed.