The United Reformed Church Chesham

Dear Friends

We have moved to our temporary home and we are grateful to our friends at Trinity Baptist Church for providing us with a regular place to worship. We are now the “Upper Room Church” meeting in the upstairs hall!

Worship is not about a set style or set rituals or furniture or a fixed day or time. It is primarily about finding space and time to meet with God to give him praise and service. There are many ways to worship from loud praise to silence; from formal words to free flowing prayer; standing, sitting, kneeling, moving… There is no right or wrong way, but we should be caught up in the way of the Spirit drawing us to the wonder of God.

I have just returned from a 24 hour residential where the main subject of discussion was pioneer ministry and new forms of church. It was emphasised that we still need to support and encourage the traditional church worship, but alongside we need to find other ways and times to speak of God’s love and worship him. As we reflect on the ways we wish to let our redeveloped buildings speak of the wonder of God, we need to remember that any moment of every day is a possible time of worship.

"So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." 1Corinthians 10:31

It is said that the opposite of faith is not doubt but certainty. As we try to follow Jesus’ example, each step of the way we learn more about God and his wonder is revealed. Not everything we do will bring lasting results, but unless we try new things how do we know if they will work?

If you watch young children learning through play you can clearly see the delight on their faces as they discover yet another new thing. See things as through the eyes of a child. Can we as adults still show our delight and wonder? Worship is about letting our delight at being part of God’s family show. However or whenever we worship God let’s delight in doing so.

A prayer: Loving God as we sense your presence in the world around us and in our worship, help us to delight in your presence with us. Keep us open to the new ways you can touch our lives. So may we know your peace surrounding us. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.