Trinity High Wycombe and Cores End United Reformed Churches - Sermons 1 year ago. #AllAreWelcome

Easter Address: ‘He is going ahead of you’  What an amazing ending to the Gospel reading in Mark - "They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid"  We puzzle over that  They run trembling and bewildered  Scholars have argued about this for centuries  The oldest manuscripts end this way  Was Mark interrupted, was the final page torn away?  Maybe it was Mark...

Introduction: ‘complete the puzzle, find the missing peace’  We are a small, scattered gathering at church but we have to remember there are people watching at home  We have missed people for a year  Good to be able to meet people in small groups outside again  We miss those who we can see no longer but through the mystery of Faith we are connected  Women going to the tomb...

Reading - Luke 23 v44-49 - Richard Goldstraw  The prayer of St Richard of Chichester Prayers for the world around us  Hymn - When I survey the wondrous cross  Blessing

Welcome and call to worship - Terry Hinks - Isiah 53 v3-5  Hymn - How deep the Father's love for us - Union Baptist  Opening prayer - Richard Goldstraw  Reading - Luke 23 v20-31 - Georgina Bondzi  Song - Were you there when they crucified my Lord? - Wesley Methodist Church Reading - Luke 23 v32-43 - Georgina Bondzi Song - Jesus remember me  Short reflection - Malcolm Hazel...

Reading - Mark 11. v1-11 Reflection on reading - 'Needs must'  What do we need today, who do we need today  The story of the first Palm Sunday involves people and things needed to make it happen; the disciples, the colt, Jesus and the crowd  Reflecting on 3 key participants;  The Disciples, those who travelled with Jesus, and those in Jerusalem who had contact with them  "...

Reading - Mark 14. 1-11  Reflection on reading - 'Sacrifice or schemes?'  We all know the name Judas  His name has entered the language as a betrayer  There is also the story of the woman anointing Jesus in all 4 gospels  The disciples were outraged by the extravagance of the act  They are blind to the moment of huge need on Jesus's part "What she has done will also b...

Opening prayer based on Psalm 118  Introduction - Entering Jerusalem and making the cross  Entering this church building nowadays involves new procedures - ticking our name off, sanitising hands, taking care when moving around   For most of the past year many of us have not been in one another's homes  Entering church today involves care  Centuries ago Jesus entered Jerusa...

Reading: John 3:14-21 NIVUK John 3:16 has been named by many as the most famous verse in the Bible  Used on posters, t-shirts, videos across the world "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"  It speaks of the 3 great truths: God's Love, The invitation to believe in Jesus and the promise of eternal...

Opening Prayers    Introduction: flowers and thorns  Mother’s Day / Mothering Sunday greetings  We are not all mothers on this Mothering Sunday but we are all children  As Christians we are all part of a family, brothers and sisters to each other  "I am content and at peace"  That sense of God's love encompassing us  Flowers traditional on Mothering Sunday&n...

Introducing the reading   Reading: John 2. 13-22 NIVUK  Short Address: Reflecting for a short time on the passage from John's gospel  John places the story very early on in his account of Jesus  Hold onto 5 words all beginning with P: Puzzle, pillars, protest, power, and prayer

Reading: Psalm 19. 12-13 Let us seek God’s guidance and help here and now Introduction: Pillars or protest?  A special place Pillars in the temple  The abbey in Iona  The hills of Galilee  "A house of prayer for all nations - turned into a den of robbers"  What would you protest against today?

Reasing: Mark 8. 31-39 Good News Translation   Short Address: Today's gospel reading is not for the faint hearted, it's tough talking  on Jesus' part and his disciples don't like what they are hearing about  suffering and service.  Suffering, rejection and death is not the message that Peter wants to  hear, it's not what he thinks the Messiah is about  Peter rebukes J...

Fairtrade Fortnight What choices will you make this week?  We can all make better choices - what we buy, what we spend time on  Fairtrade Fortnight challenges us to think about the type of world we want to live in and the choices we make  Fairtrade Fortnight reminds us that those who produce the things we enjoy also need our support   Introducing the reading  Reading: Psal...

Introducing the second reading  : Psalm 25. 1 – 10  Short Address/reflection   Jesus' time of testing in the wilderness  Our car park is currently partially cordoned off by Test and Trace in the battle against COVID  Jesus is testing what God wants of him and tracing his roots, he is God's beloved Son.   Psalms were immensely important to Jesus  According to Luke...

Prayer of adoration and confession   Introduction: ‘into the wilderness’   The 40 days of Lent have begun  Remember Sundays don't count  Why 40 days?  40 occurs several times in the bible In the new Testament, Jesus spends 40 days and nights in the wilderness resisting temptation  Mark describes all of this in two short verses Reading: Mark 1. 9 -15 The Message ...

Reading Genesis 9 v 8-17  Confession - https://writtentospeak.com  Reading - Mark 9 v 2-9 Talk - Eddi Boon - Transfigured  Looking at the transfiguration of Jesus  How are things for your discipleship every day?  It might be hard if you are having to take each day as it comes.  We can still have hope in Christ  It has been exhausting to move recently in the middl...

Introducing Eddie Boon, Thames North Synod Discipleship Leader  Where were you before moving to this area?  What do you do?  What is a synod discipleship enabler?  What can we pray for Eddie at the current time?

Talk - Being told what to do and what not to do What rules to follow "Stop that", "be careful" - we all hear that at times  It can feel at times that all you are told is what to do and what not to do.  It can feel like that in the bible as well - what rules to follow - the commandments, the parables, being grateful  Today we want to focus on you - you are a gift  God so loved t...

Reading: Mark 1.29-39 Address - "M" words  Focussing on the first 10 verses from the reading  The key words begin with "M"  First - Movement - Mark moving at a rapid pace from home to synagogue to country to city  Following Jesus is to join a movement  Challenges for URC to move beyond decline and closing churches  How might God be moving you today?  Second: "Men...

Prayer of adoration and confession  Introduction - "on wings like eagles"  Thanks for the photos being sent in over the past months, almost a year  now, helping us get through what has been a challenging year  Lots of photos of birds  Birds are fascinating, easy to just watch and photograph on a bird-table  What must it be like to just flap your wings and take to the...

Reading John 1 25-28  Address I remember listening to a debate on Radio 4 on gambling Reducing the limit on fixed odds betting terminals It was interesting how young the people were when they started gambling  We don't exist alone, that brings benefits and responsibilities  Christ showing his love by driving out an evil spirit  Having the humility to ask for help when we slip b...

Reading: 1 Corinthians  Should we eat meat sacrificed up to idols?  Thoughts on the reading:   Jesus is telling us not to do something to cause someone else to break their rules  Influencers - can you guess their names?

Short Address: ‘All change here’    Can I invite you to take a deep breath and say to yourselves "it's going to be OK" - that's what the Psalm is telling us.  "God is my rock and salvation" - Hold on to those truths  This last week has been an emotional one.  A new president and vice president in America There is no magic wand though - those who promise something for nothi...

Opening Prayers   Introduction: United ‘be strong and courageous’ talk by Jo Thompson, part of the Week of prayer for Christian Unity.   Together we seek to be more effective servants of our One Lord "Be strong and courageous" - we need that at the moment   Introduction to the readings  Reading: Psalm 62. 5-12  Reading: Mark 1.14-20 NIVUK

Address, "Come, see, hear"  Devotees of Postman Pat may remember the episode when Pat goes to visit  Mrs Goggins who is hard of hearing and keeps saying "Speak up Pat"  It's not just hearing but also about listening, that involves using our  hearts and minds as well  Is there too much going on in our lives today to hear what we need, how  to quieten our lives to come...