Sermon Series – ‘The Building Bricks of a Worship Service’
This Sermon Series was preached by Rev Simon, Rev Louise and Rev Olivia in the Summer of 2026.
Gathering – Rev Olivia
Bible Readings: Hebrews 10:19-25 and Luke 4:14-21
Every Sunday morning in this Benefice, and across the country, church bells ring out calling people to gather. People arrive in church from different places, and different events have taken place in their week. There are different emotions and expectations, that we do not leave behind at the door. The opening words of the service are crafted to allow us to bring to God all that is going on in the rest of our lives as we come to worship. As voices join together in the opening words, we proclaim that we are no longer a collection of individuals but a body of people worshipping God together. The jubilant calling of the bells serves as a reminder of God’s delight when his people gather to praise, worship and encourage one another.
Confession – Rev Simon
Bible Readings: 1 John 1:5-10 and Luke 18:9-14
In the second of our series about Holy Communion we consider the place and importance of confession in our personal and church worship.
Perhaps the hardest words in the English language are ‘I’m sorry’. When we consider how many times over the years we’ve said these words and how many times we should have said them. We have to come to realise that at times we are at fault in our words, thoughts and actions in life. Fellow humanity is not always forgiving, but God is, if we come to him in honesty and repentance. The vast majority of our worship services have an act of confession so we can be right with God, others and ourselves.
May confession be part of our lives, but also the knowledge of the gracious gift of God’s forgiveness, Jesus’ death was to set us free, let us live in this amazing truth. A while ago we looked at the role of forgiveness in a short sermon series. Please take the time to listen again to this immensely important subject which you will find here.
The Creed – Rev Louise
Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Matthew 16:13-17
In a 1999 song ‘Affirmation’ by Savage Garden some of the lyrics were a statement of faith.
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument.
I believe you can’t appreciate real love till you’ve been burned.
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side.
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye.
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul.
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold.
I believe in love surviving death into eternity.
When it comes to what we believe there will be differences of opinion. How can we have a collective sense on what is true and what is simply opinion, spin or ‘fake news’. The BBC has its own verification team now in the face of so much that can’t be taken as accurate. Faith is not immune from this predicament and since the time of Jesus there have been a myriad of cults and sects who have distorted the truth and encouraged people to believe in a human fabrication of it.
Today we consider what we believe as Christians as we look at the Creed. The word comes from the Latin ‘credo’ meaning I believe or I trust. When all is said, and many a late night debate centres around what we based our life’s values on, we come back to the central figure in history and the universe, Jesus. In what he said and did, can we see the face of God, I believe resoundingly, yes!
May you be encouraged in the truth of Jesus and grow in faith, and to paraphrase that last lyric line, may we believe that God’s love defeated sin, ended death and promises eternity.
Intercessions – Rev Simon
Bible Readings: 1 Timothy 2:1-6 and John 17:1-11
Over the years and far too often in Christian circles I’ve heard people end the conversation with ‘I’ll pray for you’. This usually is a result of someone sharing a challenge or difficulty in their lives or for others. It seems to me that we need to do that very thing, pray, there and then! It may be the case that there is no time then, but the moment there is, pray!
We talk about prayer more than we do it. Prayer meetings are not meant to be the 10 o’clock News, but bringing our world into the presence of God and recognising our need for help and guidance. Prayer is too often complicated, there is no right or wrong way if we are talking to our heavenly Father. As we consider the role of prayer (or more specifically intercessions, prayers made to God on behalf of others) we pray that more would explore the joy, wonder and privilege of prayer.
Communion – Rev Philip Davies
Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 and Luke 24.13-35
In our Gospel reading at the end of a long journey, after walking and talking for many hours, two friends invite Jesus to be their guest. It is after this invitation that Jesus revealed his risen self to them: he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them. The two friends recognise and encounter the living Christ in this act of generosity, gratitude, understanding, and compassion. At the Last Supper Jesus takes the ordinary, staple food, and tells his friends that every time they eat it, they are to remember him. At Holy Communion we acknowledge our unity and connectedness as followers of Jesus but every table and every shared meal contains the possibility of an encounter with the holy one. In communion we meet tangibly with the sacrifice and love of God in Jesus.
We do not have a recording of the sermon about Communion – it was preached by Rev Philip Davies, the father of our curate Rev Olivia Davies on the day she presided for the first time at Communion. However, he kindly forwarded a copy of his notes for the sermon and you can read these here.
Peace – Rev Simon
Bible Readings: Ephesians 2:13-18 and John 20:19-21
Possibly the most repeated prayer in the world is for peace. We are as a planet in a constant state of flux when it comes to conflict. This is tragic at whatever level it occurs, globally, nationally, locally or personally. We can almost begin to believe that this is the normal default setting for humanity. ‘The world is worse than ever’ or something similar is an oft repeated phrase that we all too often hear. In the midst of such turmoil how do we respond as followers of Jesus?
Our communion services have as an integral part, the Peace. An opportunity to set ourselves right with each other, after confession and before sharing bread and wine. It’s a practical outworking of what we desire for others and ourselves. Signs and symbols are one thing, a life that personified them is another. We will stumble and fail as peace makers, God knows this, but he doesn’t stop inviting us to begin again. Jesus came to give us a peace that conquers anything that threatens it. That starts with us, our fears, suspicions, anger and loathing. Let us allow the Prince of Peace to come into our lives.
Peace be with you.
Blessing – Rev Louise
Bible Readings: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 and Luke 24:50-53
When was the last time you were blessed? I suppose a lot depends on how we define the word and possibly the circumstances that led to it. It may well have been when you sneezed. It used to be thought that when this happened we were more open to the effects of evil. In the sixth century Pope Gregory 1 introduced ‘God Bless You’ as a quick prayer against the bubonic plague, possibly carried by the sneezer!
In the Christian tradition we use it to convey God, favour protection and grace towards an individual. I have been at a school where a new toilet block was blessed so it’s certainly extends beyond earlier narrow confines. Only recently the new bell ropes at Silsoe were blessed as an indication of them being given to worship God over the forthcoming millions of rings.
As we end our sermon series on the component parts of our worship services, may you know God’s love, peace and hope as you are blessed by his presence and reminded of his promises to you, always.