Sermons and services
“Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence as in speech, here in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.”
(Singing the Faith, Hymn 25 v2)
An Introduction by Dave Dickinson
Sermons on church websites can become vanity projects. Nevertheless I am persuaded to publish some occasional sermons on our website. This is not because I think they are good. Nor is it because anyone else has judged them as worthy of commendation. That would not be appropriate. They are here to give you an idea of what to expect at Trinity Church.
Some words of introduction and explanation. Websites are not the best place for sermons: they are meant to be heard, not read. When sermons are read they lose some important aspects. Some of the rhetoric is lost, as well as their location in an act of worship. Please remember that these sermons have been ripped from the context of a worshipping community. They are but one component of our Sunday service and are best heard with the echoes of the service’s hymns, readings and prayers still reverberating within your being.
The peculiar typesetting of these sermons is one of my quirks. It helps me when preaching and is intended to give me some sense of the rhythm and tempo of the sermon. Occasionally the sentence structure differs from what you would expect in a written text because they are first and foremost spoken texts. Please allow for this as you read.
Most of the sample sermons are accompanied by an audio version, recorded live. These sermons are here as part of our warm invitation to come along to a service at some time in the future. We look forward to greeting you.
If you have been unable to get to church for any reason you may wish to listen to a complete recording of our service. Please contact us to request a copy.
Click on the Adobe pdf symbol to read the sermon, or on the play button to hear a recording.
How to read apocalyptic literature
17 November 2019
A sermon based on Malachi 4: 1-2a and Luke 21: 5-19
The gospel delivers us from evil
23 June 2019
A sermon preached on Luke 8: 26-39
The Beasts Within
10 March 2019
A sermon preached on Luke 4: 1-13.
Free Lunch!
30 September 2018
A sermon preached on Luke 14: 12-24.
Seach Diligently
14 January 2018
A sermon preached on Matthew 2 v 8
We will see face-to-face
15 October 2017
A sermon preached on 1 Corinthians 13 v 12
The fall of a sparrow and Hagar and Ishmael banished
25 June 2017
A sermon preached on Genesis 21: 1-21 and Matthew 10: 29-31.
Worship Lifting Up the Senses
21 May 2017
A sermon based on Acts Chapter 17.
Choosing Life
12 February 2017
A sermon based on readings from Deuteronomy 30: 15-20 and Matthew 5: 21-37 on the occasion of Flora and Harry's baptisms.
The Sign of the Cross
11 September 2016
A sermon preached at a baptism and the celebration of a Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
Good work for a Sunday
21 August 2016
A sermon based on Luke 13 v16
The Dream of Undistinguishing Regard
24 April 2016
A sermon based on Acts 11 : 1-18
The Dark is Light Enough
12 April 2016
A sermon based on Acts 9 : 1-20
Slouching towards Bethlehem
29 November 2015
A sermon on Advent Sunday - Luke 21: 25-36)
The Fool on the Hill
8 March 2015
A sermon preached following a reading of 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 : 18-25 and preceding an Annual Church Meeting.
The Overlooked
14 December 2014
Waiting
30 November 2014
Advent Sunday
A Beautiful Person
27 July 2014
A sermon on the occasion of the baptism of Leah Grace Wright
Easter sermon
20 April 2014 - Easter Sunday
Our launch of our new "Singing the Faith" hymnbooks
A Christmas sermon
15 December 2013
All are equal within the church's gate
29 September 2013
Avoiding cracked cisterns
1 September 2013
Dave's first sermon at Trinity