Sermon is worthy of good book

From the archive, first published Friday 19th Jan 2001.

An Oxford vicar has had one of his sermon's published in The Times Book of Sermons after being nominated by members of his congregation.

The Rev James Cocke, a vicar at All Saints' Highfield Church, Headington, for 44 years, has had his sermon on 'The Glory of God' published in the 2001 edition.

Mr Cocke said: "I received a letter from The Times newspaper saying my name had been put forward and asking me to submit a sermon."

The winning sermon was written for Christian Aid Week last year and speaks of how Christians could show their affiliation with God by taking part in street collections to help the world's poor. It was among 40 picked to be published this year from about 500 entrants nationwide.

The sermon tells how a pebble thrown at a church window smashed a hole through some words, changing the sentence 'Glory to God in the Highest' to 'Glory to God in the High st'.

Mr Cocke said: "It proved to be an inspired throw.

"We recognise the truth of the High Street image or picture, it stands for all that is involved in a living community.

"The secret of a good sermon is image. It has to have a very clear image and the image in this sermon was the High Street."

He added: "They have printed my sermon under the heading social improvement, but it was about the glory of God.

"Part of the Christian faith is about the gospel, trying to help people where they are.

"I wrote about how Christian Aid week was given to us for our sake too, so we can identify ourselves more closely with God's glory."

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