At Morning Worship last Sunday (2 March) we celebrated our 109th Church Anniversary with the help of our friend Professor John Sawkins. John had chosen hymns broadly on the theme of our journey as Christians, four of which had associations with previous significant moments in the church’s story. His all-age address was on “Baggage”, with a packed suitcase illustrating both essentials and unnecessary extras best left behind, and his sermon continued the theme: “What are the essential pieces of baggage that we, as people who follow Christ, need?”

In bringing to life his text from 2 Corinthians 5:19 – “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” – John offered two answers to the question he had posed (the Bible, and faith in Jesus Christ) and concluded his sermon with these challenging words:

“Throughout its history, this church congregation, wherever it has met, had offered not just rooms to let and a place to meet.

“This church congregation has offered good news that opens up the possibility of new beginnings for everyone, whoever they are, whatever their circumstances are, whatever age or stage of life they are at.

“So as you, as we, step into a new year as a church congregation, let us resolve to live out in mission and service the good news of Jesus Christ,

– in the way in which we welcome people,

– the way in which we treat people,

– the way in which we respect people,

– the way in which we build people up,

– the way in which we forgive people,

– and perhaps most of all, the ways in which we tell people that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.”

“Thanks be to God for his great love in Christ. Amen.”

You’ll want to read the whole sermon, which you’ll find at this link,

Photo by Mantas Hesthaven on Unsplash