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

Introduction: ‘Buildings and Birthdays’  It's good to be in this building where worship has been offered for 171 years  Buildings are special, become special to us  We haven't been able to meet together over the past 18 months  Rethinking how we offer worship  What's the future of this building - we are thinking and praying about that   What makes a good building? Fou...

Introduction to reading: Why do we like to reminisce about things from our younger days  40 years ago we used to have a chanted Psalm every week at Trinity  The history of the psalms  Some bible texts requiring rewriting during the reformation  Erasmus wrote he would have certain passages from Paul translated so  that "not only Scots and Irish could understand them but Tur...

Talk: The power of the Psalms   Getting back to singing in Church has been great  Psalms are the great hymn-book of the bible, prayers and poetry for believers  150 hymns or prayers  Huge variety from lament to joy Jesus sang psalms with his his disciples and then references Psalm 22 when on the cross, finally commending himself into his father's hands  using psalm 31&nbsp...

Introducing two songs: the power of song   Songs can really move us, two songs recorded during lockdown  Bless the Lord oh my soul Due to copyright restrictions, the second song can not be broadcast here :-(

Reading: 2 Corinthians 8.1 – 9 Short Address - Readings that speak for themselves  Joseph responding to a situation of huge need as Ant and the Christian Aid film have challenged us to do  Reflecting on 3 themes, dreams, plans, and grace  More vivid dreams during lockdown  The difference between shelves in supermarkets in Britain and Africa  "I have a dream" speech by Mart...

Introduction: ‘Food for all’  A mixed harvest this year, what have you managed to grow?  Potatoes, tomatoes, squash, beans, courgettes  The raised bed at Cores End which the nursery has been helping with  No sprouts due to the caterpillars  Farmers in Britain and the difficulties getting produce onto the shelves   One Can Update by Ant Barnes   Reading: Genesis 4...

Reading: Mark 8 vv 27 – 38   Address: The first announcement of the passion makes it clear that Jesus doesn't want his disciples to come under false pretences  He never asked them to come on a picnic  Suffering, the cross and death were in plain view  Unless we see that clearly, we miss the glory of the gospel Jesus spoke plainly of the cost of discipleship  Many times we...

Reading: James 3 vv1 – 12 Talk for all ages  Being a disciple and being obedient  Playing "Simon says" In life we are often told or asked to do things that aren't easy  Obedience to God is more important than to anyone else

Reading: Luke 15.11 – 31    Prayer  Short Address: Food is so basic to our lives and yet so much more than just a bunch of calories  It's part of our culture and history, it affects our health and mood and can be a source of joy, blessing, anxiety and injustice  High Wycombe as a hotspot of food insecurity in 2021  We will focus on the work of our local food bank in o...

Did you have a good breakfast this morning?  A traditional fry up or something more healthy  Did you have more time to cook during lockdown?  We've been sharing our magazine with lockdown recipes over the past months  Who tried the lockdown crumble or the nettle and wild garlic soup?  At this time in the calendar we think about our relationship with the planet and our care...

Reading: James 5.7 – 20 NIVUK    Address - There's a taste of autumn in the air, it will soon be the Last Night of the Proms and children will be back at school next week Looking back over August, what has stood out for you?  What has struck a chord in the News?  The continued pandemic, the horrors in Afghanistan? The heatwaves, fires and flooding around the world.  We've...

Introduction: ribbons of prayer  During August we've been focusing on the letter of James  I've found huge challenge and encouragement within it, one of James's big themes is prayer "God is full of compassion and mercy"  During lockdown we've been encouraging passers-by to tie a ribbon on the front gate  The TryPraying initiative  James reminds us that prayer has to be lin...

Who is wise and understanding among you?  Would you like to put your hand up?  Was it James's joke as he asks the question, was it rhetorical? He waits for us to stand up or put our heads down  It reminds me of an episode of Dad's Army where Mannering is speaking to Sergeant Wilson -  "...you know Wilson, over the years I've come to know the members of the platoon; I've grown q...

Wise up and face reality?  There is something cynical about the wisdom of the world  James asks "are you wise" looking for a special kind of wisdom from God  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak of wisdom being a gift from God  We need the right kind of wisdom  Proverbs is a great collection of sayings   Reading: Proverbs 8 NIVUK    Hymn - Spirit of the Living Go...

Prayer  Short Address: What amazing words we've heard today  Words from a world so different to ours but still relevant  How we treat people based on appearance, wealth, background remains as prevalent as ever in the media and attitudes around us  There is still huge need in famine and disaster around the world but closer to home, a recent study by Sheffield University identifi...

Introduction: ‘Best seat in the house’  Are you sitting comfortably?  Imagine the best seat in the house - just passed your test - maybe the driving seat?  What would be the best seat for you?  At the theatre? At the Olympics? Or perhaps in a beautiful park.  As we share in worship today, I want you to be in the best seat. In that seat, we feel totally at ease, able to be...

Reading: James 1. 17 – 27 NIVUK   Martin Luther had a low opinion of the letter of James and would have happily torn it from the bible  He thought James was relying on actions at the expense of faith  "Every good and perfect gift comes from above"  Perhaps God's greatest gift is God - unchangeable, faithful, dependable, always present.  So much is changing in our world and...

Saying Rabbits on the first day of the month  We will focus on the letter from James throughout August  James is a popular name today and was in the 1st Century as well  This is not a normal letter in the traditional sense such as the ones Paul wrote  There is a short greeting and then a collection of sermons, sayings, and teaching  It is addressed to the 12 tribes, scatte...

Opening Prayer of adoration and confession   Giving thanks for Lighthouse

Introduction to the reading  Reading: Galatians 5.13-16, 22-25 NIVUK    Short Address: Freedom - can you say freedom without thinking of Mel Gibson in Braveheart? What does it mean to you?  It's deeply embedded in the DNA of western civilisation  The vaccine programme that has helped play a part in lessening the severity of the pandemic  We need to be cautious and mov...

Memory verse (Isaiah 40.31) - But those who have hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run without needing rest, they will walk without becoming tired.   Lighthouse Song: Hope  Introduction to the readings   Reading: Psalm 77:11-20 NIVUK 

Reading: Philippians 1.3-11 NIVUK  24:32 - A short prayer  Short Address : Tomorrow was the day we had been waiting for for many months - the end of legal restrictions in the UK  The restrictions may be going but the concern for one another and how the virus will play out continue  How can we best care for each other in the months ahead It's clear that we need to continue to lo...

Repair shop – ‘Making the church work today’  There is something very satisfying about repairing something  Something precious that you have mended  The repair job is not just of objects but there is a sense of families being restored as their treasured possessions are returned to them made new In a sense, Church is about repairing souls, being renewed.  We have been through ch...

Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 (NIVUK)     How do we make peace with the planet as God's followers?  2. What can we do? Small actions/ changes  – Video by Junior Church leaders.   What can we do to challenge the Government to play its part?  3. What can we do? Petition government – Video on the effects of climate change globally   Please consider signing the Re...

Introduction: Climate Sunday – time to worship, commit and speak up  Climate Sunday marked in different ways before September before the big Nation's service in Glasgow in September before the Glasgow COP26 conference  Thanks to Junior Church Leaders for their help with the service this morning  How are we going to better care for our planet, better play our part within the incredib...