Christina last week spoke from the Epistle of James, as I am today. We had both chosen to speak on that book so God wants us to hear in a practical way in St Peter`s what he expects of his people. Christina spoke on what James had written on what we believe should be seen in how we behave. She asked a question at the end of her sermon: `If you were arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?` I want us to look at James` thoughts on what we believe is seen in how we speak, how we use our tongues. The James mentioned is likely to have been the brother of Jesus, and the Epistle of James is generally commended as a practical one, tackling problems of everyday life. James speaks of what it means to be a Christian and meets us where we are. He writes `We all stumble in many ways`. That phrase should perhaps be inscribed over every church door. We fail time and again but we celebrate God`s forgiveness.In our Epistle reading, James speaks of the importance of being aware of a small part of our bodies – our tongue – and the ways in which the tongue affects our life as Christians – and the life of our church.He urges us to keep control of our tongue and speaks of different ways in which the tongue is the key to our work and witness. He uses different pictures to help us to understand. He likens the work of the tongue to the mouth of a horse which has tremendous power but can be guided by the smallest piece of metal – the bit. He points also to the tiny rudder within a boat which is able to move many tons of metal. He thinks of a candle flame and the way that small flame can unleash terrible forest fires. He urges us to be masters of our tongues. James speaks in very negative terms of what the tongue can do:` it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one`s life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell.` Such strong words remind us of the harm the tongue can do. Something we have said has hurt someone and changed their lives. Maybe we have stretched the truth and reflected lies. Sometimes we have been quick to join in gossip, ruining people`s good names.. Sometimes we have helped others to believe the lies in innuendo. When we have used our tongues in the wrong way, we need to bring our lives to God in repentance and begin again. We live in a broken world. News headlines reflect a world and a nation so often at war. We see broken relationships in our community and in our world. Communication in that world is hostile to God and the work of the tongue leaves its bitter taste everywhere. It is easy to join in with the world`s values.But we live in the light of the Resurrection and new beginnings at Pentecost. We are here to reflect a new order. We are here to show what God is like in our relationships, our friendships, our marriages, our life and death. We begin with the respect God and his church should have for each person made in the image of God, part of his family. So often the people in our headlines deny that we are made in the image of God, temptation comes, and they go astray. We are to show what God`s love is like not just in our deeds but in our thoughts and words also. That means making a clear effort to uphold truth and to stand against evil. Is our tongue rightly used or does it apply to us that `we all stumble in many ways`? Maybe today is a day to begin again. We remember also that the tongue brings to us words of condemnation in our own lives. When we feel accused and deceived by the voices within, we hear the voice of evil who would seek to spoil our walk with God. We need to take hold afresh of the name of Jesus and use it in the spiritual battle we face daily, to use as our prayer the words of one of our hymns: Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that holy things have taken; let ears that now have heard thy songs to clamour never waken.Lord, may the tongues which `Holy` sang keep free from all deceiving; the eyes which saw thy love be bright, thy blessed hope perceiving.The feet that tread thy holy courts from light do thou not banish; the bodies by thy Body fed with thy new life replenish. The Revd Pat Hopkins
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.’ (Psalm 116:5-7)Hymn: Take my life, and let it be...Isaiah 50: 4-9a; James 3: 1-12‘God is love, and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.’ 1 John 4:16 Let us pray: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders, that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Mark 8: 27-38Please see the message from the minister.Let us join in prayer and ask for God’s empowering love to impact: the Church, that all may know and serve the Lord, to give our all in his good service; the world, that peace will reign and that all people will care and share; our neighbours, families and friends, that relationships will thrive; people who are sick or suffering, for the healing power of the Holy Spirit to be known; those who have been bereaved, that all who mourn will be comforted.Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all for evermore. Amen.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
Press Release: Special Concert by The Sheringham Shantymen at St Peter's ChurchDate: Saturday, 21st September 2024Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM, Concert begins at 7:30 PMLocation: St Peter's Church, SheringhamEntry: Free (Retiring collection at the end)Sheringham is in for a musical treat this September as The Sheringham Shantymen return for a special concert at St Peter's Church on Saturday, 21st September 2024. As part of the town’s popular 1940s weekend, this lively event will showcase a captivating mix of traditional sea shanties and folk songs—some dating as far back as the 1740s!Doors open at 7:00 PM, with the concert beginning at 7:30 PM. Entry is free, but a retiring collection will be taken at the end of the evening. The proceeds will be split between St Peter's Church and The Sheringham Shantymen’s fundraising efforts.Attendees can expect not just great music, but plenty of banter and good-natured fun between songs, making it an interactive and enjoyable night for all. Audience participation is highly encouraged, so bring your voices and join in the maritime merriment!In keeping with the theme of the weekend, attendees are warmly invited to dress in their best 1940s attire, making the night even more special. Whether in costume or not, all are welcome to come and enjoy this unique celebration of Sheringham’s rich musical heritage.Come along for a spirited evening of song, history, and community!
Faith and ActionThis Sunday is the first in September and, therefore, the first Sunday since most children have gone back to school and the summer holidays are deemed to be over. The theme for this Sunday certainly presents us with a challenge and demands rigorous engagement. It feels like back to school for us as well! Even the beautiful images of healing and renewal in the passage from Isaiah begin with a rousing call from the prophet: ‘Be strong and don’t be afraid!’ We are being called to action, to prepare ourselves for what God will be doing in our midst.Taking the reading from the Epistle of James, we are given an unambiguous warning against showing favouritism, against being prejudiced against anyone just because they may be less well off or less well dressed than others. It’s a sharply relevant passage in the week of the publication of the report of the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, which found callous disregard for the inhabitants of Grenfell Tower and shocking lack of respect also for the survivors of the fire – a fire which we discovered, could have and should have been prevented. A spokesperson for the residents said they had been treated like ‘second class citizens’. One certainly cannot imagine a block of luxury flats being constructed or maintained in the way Grenfell Tower had been, nor the residents being treated the way Grenfell’s residents had been treated. James is explaining that behaving like this is not an option for a Christian and asks his readers outright, ‘what good is it for people to say they have faith if their actions do not show it?’ What good is it saying, ‘God bless you. Keep warm and well,’ if you don’t give them the necessities of life? He goes on to say that faith without action is dead. The wonderful conviction that it is by faith alone that we are saved, must be put side by side with the understanding that action will accompany our faith if we are true believers.In the passage in Mark, we see Jesus in a strange mood. In his encounter with the Gentile Syro-Phoenician woman, Jesus is downright rude. He responds to her desperate plea for him to heal her daughter by implying that she and her daughter are ‘dogs’ – a term used by the Jews for Gentiles. What’s the matter with Jesus? Is he exhausted and just can’t face another healing? Or is he pushing the woman in order to test her faith in his ability to heal? Her courageous reply results in Jesus telling her that when she returns home, she will find that her daughter is well.We then have a story of Jesus healing a deaf man who also could hardly speak. It is a very physical, down to earth healing, with Jesus putting his fingers in the man’s ears and spitting on his hands before touching the man’s tongue. This man was brought to Jesus by his friends and Jesus always commended the faith of the people who came to him for healing and he responded with powerful, healing action. We need to realise that whatever we believe should be seen in how we behave.Christina Rees
