Trinity 6 Morning Worship at St Laurence

Hymn – For the beauty of the earth

For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us liesRefrain: Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

For the beauty of the hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Sun and moon and stars of lightRefrain: Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

For the joy of human love
Brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on earth and friends above
For all gentle thoughts and mild
For all gentle thoughts and mildRefrain: Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

Preparation

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All: And also with you.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We have come together in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may give ourselves to the service of God.

All: We say Sorry

Jesus says, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’

So let us turn away from our sins and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

All: Lord God, we have sinned against you;

We have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent.

Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

Renew a right spirit within us and restore to us the joy of your salvation;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in His image to the praise and glory of His name through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Blessed is the Lord,

All: For He has heard the voice of our prayer;

Therefore shall our hearts dance for joy

All: And in our song will we praise our God.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, creator and redeemer of all;

to you be glory and praise for ever.

From the waters of chaos you drew forth the world, and in your great love fashioned us in your image. Now, through the deep waters of death, you have brought your people to new birth by raising your Son to life in triumph.

May Christ your light ever dawn in our hearts as we offer you our sacrifice of thanks and praise.

Blessed be God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

All: Blessed be God for ever.

Hymn – Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long. (by Fanny Crosby)

Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Trinity

Merciful God,

you have prepared for those who love you

such good things as pass our understanding:

pour into our hearts such love toward you

that we, loving you in all things and above all things,

may obtain your promises,

which exceed all that we can desire;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

All: Amen

Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.

All: And Christ shall give you light.

You have died and your life is hid with Christ in God.

All: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.

Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on the earth.

All: And Christ shall give you light.

When Christ our life appears

you will appear with him in glory.

All: Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

Hymn – How lovely on the mountains (Our God Reigns)

Our First Reading is taken from Romans Chap: 8

There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death.

What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

God did this so that the righteous demands of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature.

Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants.

To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.

And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God’s law, and in fact they cannot obey it.

Those who obey their human nature cannot please God.

But you do not live as your human nature tells you to; instead, you live as the Spirit tells you to – if, in fact, God’s Spirit lives in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

But if Christ lives in you, the Spirit is life for you because you have been put right with God, even though your bodies are going to die because of sin.

If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you.

This is the Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God

Benedicitus

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,

All: who has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,

All: born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old

All: to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,

To show mercy to our ancestors,

All: and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:

All: to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship him without fear,

All: holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,

All: for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

To give his people knowledge of salvation

All: by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

All: the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

All: and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

All: Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever.

Amen.

Hear the Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew Chap:13

That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lakeside, where he sat down to teach.

The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore.

He used parables to tell them many things. “Once there was a man who went out to sow grain.

As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep.

But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up.

Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants.

But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty.”

And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!”

“Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means.

Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them.

The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it.

But it does not sink deep into them, and they don’t last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once.

The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don’t bear fruit.

And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty.”

This is the word of Christ

All: Thank be to God

Sermon – Sixth Sunday of Trinity– 12^th July 2026

Romans Chap: 8 Ver’s: 1 to 11

Our first reading, from Paul’s letter to the Romans, starts with

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

and the chapter ends in verses thirty eight and thirty nine with

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What power God has given us in these verses here. God wants to make sure that we know that through our faith in Christ, we will never have to suffer the consequences of sin. Christ has paid for it and God guarantees it. And there is nothing, nothing that can separate us from that guarantee.

Why?

Because God loves you and me, and Christ loves us because of our faith, faith that makes us children of God.

Charles G. Trumbull said this:

The eighth of Romans has become precious to me, beginning with “no condemnation,” ending with “no separation,” and in between, “no defeat.” This wondrous chapter sets forth the gospel and plan of salvation; the life of freedom and victory; the hopelessness of the natural man and the righteousness of the born again; the indwelling of Christ and the Holy Spirit; the resurrection of the body and blessed hope of Christ’s return; the working together of all things for our good; every tense of the Christian life, past, present, and future; and the glorious, climactic song of triumph, no separation in time or eternity “from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So let’s look again at the first verses of our reading:

Romans Chap: 8 Ver’s: to 4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This one verse not only sets the theme of this entire chapter, but it is also the theme of the entire Word of God. It is the gospel message for all Christians to proclaim. That through faith in Christ we are assured a place in heaven. It is the gospels very heart.

In the first chapter of this letter, Paul told us that he was not ashamed of the gospel because he said “it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”.

He also said in Chap: 3 “now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known”.

We cannot appreciate or even understand what Paul is saying unless we recognize that we are sinners and that we have been saved only by the grace of God.

What we need to understand at this point is that, there is no condemnation for us because of what God has done for us. It is God that has saved us from the fate that we were heading towards by our own sinful desires. And it was God that saved us by giving His only Son for us, to die on the cross for our sins. But do we really believe that?

Or do we still think that somehow, in some way, that we have contributed somehow to our salvation.

We can break down the entire human race in to two classes of people.

One is those who are in Christ and are saved. And the other is those who are not in Christ. I bet that you thought life was more complicated than that?

God made it very simple for us didn’t He?

So the question is: If you are not in Christ how do you, get in Christ?

Is it something we do?

Do we earn it somehow?

Well, fortunately, it is not by any work of ours, but only because of the work of God by joining us to Christ.

We simply cannot earn enough points to go to Heaven by helping little old ladies across the road, cutting the neighbours lawn, or even going to help the effort in Venezuela.

Later In the chapter, states that “we wait eagerly for our adoption.”

Now, if you are adopted, is it you that picks your father and mother or is it the father and mother who pick you?

It is the father and mother! God is telling us here that we are His adopted children and it is He who picks us, not us who picks Him.

There is no condemnation for those who have been joined to Jesus by God the Father through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit.

Ah, here is the Trinity at work. As our reading says:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

It was God who sent His Sin, it was His Son who went to the cross and it was the Holy Spirit who gave us a new heart.

How can we lose?

When God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are all at work in our lives, there can be no defeat. There is no power greater than any one of them, so there is no way that any force can come against all three, let alone any one.

Let’s look for a moment at how the Trinity works for us:

God the father

(1) God sent Jesus in the likeness of sinful man (meaning He was human in every way except he didn’t sin) to be a sin offering. Someone had to pay the price for our sin,s so God sent His Son to pay that price for us.

(2) By this means, God condemned sin in sinful man so that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in those who are joined to Christ. Christ lived the perfect sinless life that we couldn’t.

God the Son

(1) He was the sin offering for us. There are many today that do not acknowledge that God has any angry side to Him at all, only that He is love. But as we know Gods wrath is just as important as His grace and love. Without understanding His wrath, we cannot really understand His grace and love for us. We need to hold close the reality of Christ’s suffering for us on the cross. For without Gods wrath on Christ, we would be still be convicted of our wrongdoing.

(2) Jesus did a work of redemption for us. Jesus redeemed us from the fate of our sinfulness, He purchased us so that we would not have to endure the wrath ourselves. He purchased us with His life so that we could be with Him in heaven.

God the Holy Spirit

(1) The Holy Spirit has joined us to Christ. He joined us to Christ so that we become beneficiaries of all that Christ has done.

(2) The Holy Spirit also gives us a new heart. He does this so that we can live a changed life so that we can be a testament to the power and grace of God and so that we will have a true desire to do the work God has called us to.

In the last census, 46% identified themselves as Christian, 37% had no belief, 7% others such as Hindhu, Sikh, Jewish or Buddhist. But of that 46%, only about 5% regularly attend church services.

So what does that suggest?

It suggests that many who would consider themselves religious, even Christian, are really not. It takes more than just saying that you’re a Christian to be a Christian.

Saying you’re a Christian without the Holy Spirit who changes and renews your life and your heart is a dead religion and a dead faith.

Christians, as we see them in the Bible, are men and woman who live their lives in a way that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is evident in their lives. It is obvious to those who know them that they are Christians. They are warriors for Christ and have a desire to be more like Him, and they are driven to do His work and build His kingdom.

Is that you?

I know I wonder at times if this is me. I have said before that if you were in a court of law accused of being a Christian, would you be convicted?

Would the testament of God’s power working through us be recorded?

Would our story be told of the ways in which we helped in building Christ’s kingdom?

God can do great things through each and every one of us.

We need to expect it to happen, and ensure that we take advantage of the opportunities that God lays before us.

We are saved through grace because of the works of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, let’s go out and show this to the parish, and to the world around us.

Amen.

Collect

Heavenly Father, we come to You once again to draw on Your sufficient grace which You have promised to all Your children, and we pray that You would give us Your perfect peace.

Throughout our lives, we have come to You for help, and You have never let us down. Thank You, we know that the length and breadth and height and depth of Your grace is beyond our understanding, and that Your perfect peace is beyond our comprehension, and yet You provide both grace and peace to all whose mind is stayed on You.

We pray that in our weakness, we would know Your strength, in our sadness I would know Your joy,

in our pain we would know Your healing touch,

and in these hard and difficult times, we pray that we would know Your amazing grace and Your perfect peace deep within my soul.

This we ask in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Hymn – Amazing Grace

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine. (by John Newton, 1779)

Time of Silence ….

We Say Together:

The Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

All: Amen.

Prayers and Intercessions

Prayers for King Charles

Through this tritium of prayer we ask God’s continuing blessing on our new King Charles

Prayer

O God, to whom every human power is subject,
grant to your servant our sovereign Charles
success in the exercise of his high office,
so that, always revering you and striving to please you,
he may constantly secure and preserve
for the people entrusted to his care
the freedom that comes from civil peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen

Prayer for the Royal

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,

we humbly beseech thee to bless

Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the

Royal Family:

Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly

grace; prosper them with all happiness;

and bring them to thine everlasting

kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

Generous God,

we thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.

We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.

Lord, come to bless us