Reports for September

On Sunday 29 September, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Wingrave

Dear All

John shares his thoughts on responding to the challenge of the Gospel and living a life of faith and service. Do remember this Sunday all those in your church who have offered guidance and hospitality quietly in the background and yet made such an amazing difference.


Pete


John writes:

During the Covid lock-down Richard Atkinson commenced weekly Bible study sessions on Zoom, one on Tuesday evenings the other on Thursday afternoons. These proved popular and four years later they are both still going strong.
I opted to join the Tuesday evening sessions and have valued them immensely. They have given me opportunity to study Bible passages in depth with members of other Circuit churches, some of whom I hardly knew when we started. Friendships have developed, we enjoy each others' company and feel able to share insights and personal challenges. I think that is exactly the fellowship which Paul had in mind when writing to members of the church at Thessalonica: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5 v 11).
Before our short Summer break, the Tuesday evening group was studying 1 Peter. Chapter 4 provides guidance on the way in which, as members of the Christian family, we should live our lives. It includes these words from Peter: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms". (1 Peter 4 v 10). Surely John Wesley will have had those instructions in mind when he wrote:
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
What a challenge that seems to be! Yet I am sure that, like me, you can think of Methodist folk you have known over the years whose lives have exemplified those words.
I think of Mrs Gee, a member of Gawcott Methodist Church which my family attended when I was growing up. When I knew her Mrs Gee was elderly and had limited mobility, yet she took every opportunity to put her faith into action. That included being a stalwart of the church and regularly providing Sunday tea in her small cottage near the church for those children who had attended afternoon Sunday School and whose parents would be joining them for the evening service. Seventy years later, Mrs Gee's witness stays in my memory – just as does the horsehair sofa on which we boys sat barelegged to eat our sandwiches and cake!

I know that our Circuit contains numerous Mrs Gees; people who, without fuss, quietly get on with doing exactly what St Peter and John Wesley encouraged them to do.

By the way, if you would be interested in trying out the weekly Bible Studies via Zoom, just drop Richard Atkinson an email (revrja@outlook.com).

John Cotton

On Sunday 22 September, it was the turn of Whitchurch to be the focus of our Circuit Prayers

Dear All,

This week Karen shares her story with us, a story involving a complete change of direction as God nudged her into a different career entirely. God's call to us can come from any direction, at any time and in any form, as Karen shows us below. Please pray for all those people who are struggling to understand where God is leading them, and give them the understanding and the grace to listen to Him and hear and respond to that call.

Pete

Karen writes:

My Grandma had a little saying she passed on to my Mum. A saying I heard and went on to use many times.

"God works in mysterious ways, shutting doors to open others."

When I was choosing my career I didn't have to put a lot of thought into it, as all I ever remember wanting to do was illustrate and write children's books. So I put all my efforts at school into achieving the relevant qualifications to go to art school.

That door was wide open for me to go through, my dreams were being fulfilled.

Or were they?

Something else happened,,,,,I was literally passing Stoke Mandeville Hospital on my way to visit a friend, and I had this overpowering sense to walk in and talk to someone about nursing.

(This is the girl who didn't like illness and fainted at the sight of blood, who had little if no confidence talking to strangers.)

Brilliant! What on earth was I thinking?

I started nurse training 8 weeks later!

The door I had dreamed of going through had been shut (but not locked). And a very challenging and frightening door had been opened, and I had walked through.

But I do believe God knew exactly what he was doing and really did walk beside me in my new career.

With his help I went on to do further training, eventually becoming a nurse specialist in the treatment, and palliative and terminal care of children and their families suffering from cancer.

God never let me down, on a daily basis he would give me the help I needed and the courage to say and do the best I could for the child and family in front of me. I didn't just love the job, I felt truly blessed to be a very small part during the journey these families were travelling.

But I do know, I could have never achieved any of that without his help, guidance and love.

Just one other thing I want to mention.

God closed the door that was mine to go through, but didn't shut it completely.

During the job He wanted me to do, He left it ajar for me to nip in and out of, those little trips became my stress releases, enabling me to continue loving the job He chose for me.

As Grandma said....

"He works in mysterious ways. Shutting one door but opening another."

And sometimes only on reflection can we truly see the plan He has for us.

Karen

ON Sunday, 15 September, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Weedon.

Dear All

Sarah shares her response to the challenge to discover and use the gifts that God has given her for sharing the love of Christ with those around her. Some of our gifts are not immediately obvious and it did take Sarah a while to find out what hers were. We may need to spend time searching for our gifts, but be assured God has blessed each one of us and He has us lined up for mighty things!

Pete

Sarah writes:

I didn't have a relationship with God when I was growing up. Coming from a non-religious family, it was never on the agenda to go to church – even on high days and holidays – and the nearest I got was at an annual pantomime performed in the local church hall. I guess when you're young, it is natural just to push on – if you have the opportunities – and try to make a life for yourself that involves a level of self-sufficiency whilst being supported by family and friends. Certainly when you are very young, everything revolves around you and your emotions and there is a sense of Immediacy about how and when things happen. And so my young adult life was all about making friends, travelling and pursuing a career in law. I was happy living it up at events: my boyfriend's army dinners; my university balls; Law Society presentations and City law firm away-days. Those times now seem long ago, but I think back then it was all about the here and now – I was also a good talker and not much of a listener.

God has given me one precious gift, one that I make use of every single day – and that is to listen. Hearing what others have to say is, to me, one of the most important qualities. You might argue that this is just the wisdom that comes with experience and age, but for me this is what God wants me to do. I like to listen to someone's point of view. It doesn't matter whether I agree with it or not, each one of us is entitled to express themselves and their feelings, but to understand that point of view is important. It is God's wish that I can empathise with many different folk from many different walks of life. Being able to see things from another person's perspective is something that gives me so much joy – it is enlightening, eye-opening and mind-bending at times, and boring at others, which can be challenging but always thought provoking. I truly believe that through this ability God has given me to listen to others I can be a better person and hopefully be of help to some along the way, and I pray that God's calling me in this manner is not just for the here and now, but something that will endure for the rest of my life.

For peace of mind, eavesdropping is not included – my hearing is not quite good enough!

Blessings to you all.

Sarah

ON Sunday, 8 September

Dear All,

Change of tack this week!

A challenge!

We have often been told that God has a job for each one of us; a job for which only we are equipped by the Holy Spirit; a job that only we can do.

The difficulty is discovering or working out what that job is, and how to go about it.

Remember, that even the best sermon ever preached cannot reach the places that we can!

So, this week's challenge is to think, and pray, about what specific task God has given you – ask yourself 'What is God calling me to do?'

The task may be something completely different to the one we imagine ourselves called to do, or the thing that we think we are good at.

It could be as simple as a conversation over a cup of tea, a wave of recognition in the street or church, or (where appropriate) a hug.

So many people in our society are isolated and suffering in solitude and silence.

So many people in our midst just want to be recognised and accepted as part of our family.

Do give it some thought and prayer time this week, and see if you can hear where God is calling you, and what He is asking you to do.

Be assured, that whatever it is, He will equip you for it and stand by your side or while you do it

Pete.

ON Sunday, 1 September, the focus of our Circuit Prayers Was on Christchurch Thame.

Dear All

Mary shares how her faith and ministry have grown over the years and how she has benefitted from the prayers of the faithful. We do not all have the Damascus Road experience; for most of us our journey of faith is one of a gradual realisation of the influence of the Spirit in our lives. Please pray for those known to you who are growing slowly but surely in faith, and facing difficult times, whether it is sickness or the stress of living in a society of rising expectations We pray that the Spirit may intervene and hold them fast, leading them rejoicing into wholeness with Jesus.

Pete

Mary writes:.

I was born into a Christian family and have an elder brother. My parents met at a Youth Rally in Bristol in the late 1920's and were both members of the Congregational Church – my father in Redland and my mother in Brislington. Every Sunday we went to Knowle Park Congregational Church both morning and evening.

Unfortunately, I contacted Mastoid Meningitis when 5 yrs old and was taken to Bristol General Hospital where the drugs were not successful in treating it. So I had the operation to move the Mastoid bone but the chances of success were very slim. The Church offered many prayers on my behalf. Afterwards the surgeon said technically I should not have survived and it was more than his skill that pulled me through. I went on to make a full recovery and went to Grammar School and worked at the Westminster Bank.

As a child I collected Ship Halfpennies which were sent to the John Williams Missionary Ship. I became a Sunday School Teacher and later was welcomed into the Church and am proud to still have the Certificate of Membership signed by my Father who was Church Secretary at that time.

I met my husband through Guiding and Scouting, he was a member of the Plymouth Brethren. We married in 1961 and had three children. We moved to Southampton where one of them went to the Congregational Church Sunday School. Later we moved back to Bristol, and by then we had three children who went to Sunday School at the Plymouth Brethren.

We moved to France in 1984 and stayed there for five years until my husband and I split up. Then I returned to the UK and bought a house in Keighley. After a couple of years I moved to Thame where I have lived for 30 yrs. I joined Christchurch, where I was made very welcome.

The move was not only a physical one but also a spiritual move. I soon became absorbed in the Church and offered my services in the Sunday School. Later I became Church Secretary. I joined the Worship Group, and eventually became the Convenor of the group and then leader when Thame in Prayer was formed. A retired Minister joined the Church, and he was a great help to me with Thame in Prayer, and also with my spiritual life, encouraging me to give one or two talks. I have had two major operations recently and I am sure that the prayers of the Church have sustained me during those times, and I look forward to being able to do more at Christchurch as my body heals.

Mary Higgs

On Sunday, 25 August, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Swanbourne

Dear All

Chris shares his story with us from singing in the choir in Great Missenden to half-way around the world and back again. Chris encountered life as it is lived from one extreme to the other – a real glimpse of the life that many in this world see as 'normal'. My Mother taught me that though we may approach Him from many directions there is only One God and ultimately we worship Him. Please pray for our brothers and sisters across the world, across different faiths, across different cultures and enjoying or enduring widely differing standards of living, that all may find God and live a life to the full, blessed with His love.

Pete

Chris writes:

I spent my early childhood in Great Missenden. I was baptised into the Church of England and attended Sunday School and sang in the choir.

We moved to Aylesbury when I was 11 years old. We were not as integrated into the community there and my religious and spiritual life was with daily school assemblies and an R.E. teacher who was a member of the Christadelphian Church. He encouraged us to discuss our thoughts and beliefs and to think critically about these. He had a big influence on me, and as my family encouraged me to develop my political thinking, these things have become enmeshed in who I am.

My teens and twenties took me away from any religious influences in my life. In 1969, I spent some time in the Trucial States of South Arabia (now the United Arab Emirates) which was a British Protectorate at the time. Oil had just been discovered. I was astonished by the extreme poverty and squalor in which many people lived, and also astonished at the hospitality with which we were received.

In 1974, I went to live in Israel on a kibbutz for a while. I spent my Saturdays off exploring Jerusalem and at the end of my stay, I visited the North around the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth, the Negev Desert and Israeli Occupied Egypt along the Gulf of Aqaba coast.

Again, I was amazed at the persistence of poverty among the Palestinian populace, the low standard of living of the Israeli population and the higher standard of living on the kibbutz, albeit at the cost of some independence. The kibbutzim children were brought up in a children's home and the committee that ran the kibbutz had more input into their upbringing and beliefs than their parents did.

Over my life, I have attended all kinds of churches, Spiritualist to Quaker meetings but I have always been an outsider. In my late sixties, I was invited to attend Swanbourne Methodist Church and I found a congregation that positively welcomed me.

Chris

On Sunday, 18 August, the focus of our Circuit Prayers was on Stone,

Dear All

Richard shares his story with us. Many of us will be able to relate to Richard's story as he gradually began to make sense of life and discovered the difference Jesus could make in his life.

Please pray for all who struggle to find sense and meaning in life, and pray that we may have the gifts to nudge them in the right direction, and show them the love that comes from Jesus.

Pete

Richard writes:

My first Bible

I was brought up with little contact with Christians or any church involvement. I was raised on a diet of secularism and evolution theory. Yet whenever Jesus was mentioned there was a stirring in my soul. I was moved, interested yet knew nothing nor how to find out more. I grew up in a fairly mechanical way going though school and finding a job with no real ideas who I am nor where I could go in life.

I remember the Gideons coming to school and taking an assembly in the late 70's. This was the first time I had been told about Jesus and the Bible. I was fascinated and wanted to know more. I analysed all this and could not find a downside. I am a critical thinker who will examine everything from first principles up to see if it is true and will work. They gave us a New Testament and Psalms, I knew I had something of value yet the text was small and it was the King James version, the old English was a struggle. I read things so different to what I was used to. I was intrigued yet could not deal well with the size and language.

The 70's turned into the 80's and my search for meaning beyond the physical carried on. In the mid 80's I heard of something called New Age, it offered easy access to the spiritual and people into this were keen to share it with me. I tried meditations, crystals, tree hugging, self help books, spiritualities and other things. Yet none of it satisfied, I likened New Age to meals of candy floss, attractive to look at and lacking in substance eventually getting nauseous and unsatisfied on consuming too much. I recalled the Gideon New Testament I was given and lost years ago, it was different and held the promise of something ultimately truthful and life giving within.

Skip forward to spring 1989, I wanted to know more and read a Bible properly, I had a hunger to learn. Nervously I walked into WH Smith in the High Street to look for a Bible. I was daunted, I did not know how to access the Bible, it contained writing so different to what I was used to which was mostly car magazines and technical manuals. I am a nerd and I love anything technical to do with cars, motorbikes, bicycles and photography.

On the shelf I saw a blue Bible and on the spine I read "with introductory helps". I bought that one. I took it home and began with the introductory helps and the introduction "About the Bible". Soon I had a framework to begin reading. I put down my manuals and magazines and got to work on the Bible. For the first time it was making sense, I perceived a narrative from beginning to end. I asked questions of the Bible, I tested what I read, as far as I could go I could not break the logic. I was used to New Age writing and found the inconsistencies quickly realising there was no truth there, the premises within could all be broken under examination. I went further into the Bible and nothing came apart. I learned of history, prophecy, prophecy fulfilment, people who are types and shadows of Jesus. I saw patterns, God is a God of order not of disorder, the Bible has a tight structure and doctrine only a supreme intelligence could put together over millennia. All human history is there predicted and fulfilled. Most importantly the advent and person of Jesus. I read Isaiah 53 and it describes Jesus, his suffering and victory on the cross hundreds of years before this all happened. I read the Gospels giving a rounded account of Jesus' ministry and victory over sin and death. For the first time in my life I knew who I was and where I am going in life in Jesus. I read I could be a new creation, my mind could be renewed and I could have eternal life in Jesus. Everything I was looking for was there in the Bible and most of all in Jesus.

I read that Bible lots, eventually the cover began breaking. I put it away and bought another Bible. I will not throw the Word of God away and put this Bible somewhere and left it. It is easy to read and handle, I did not forget it. About five years ago I bought some book covering film, remembering what I used to do at school with books. I did a fairly crinkly re-covering job and this Bible is back in use. I used it for services, it is easy to read and well handled so I can find texts by visual/tactile navigation. Today it is next to my desk and in regular use, the introductory helps and quick text look ups are as useful as ever.

Kind Regards

Richard Maguire

Sunday, 11 August, Stewkley was the focus of our Circuit Prayers.

Dear All

Lynda reminds us of those within our midst who do not make a lot of noise, but are there, very present in the background, quietly working out their faith, unnoticed by many of those around them, but doing such important work. Every church and fellowship possesses people who fall into this category, and sadly, their work is often never fully appreciated until they stop. Please remember all those vital people in our churches who routinely carry out these tasks without the recognition they so richly deserve, give thanks for them in prayer, and take the opportunity to say thank you to them!

Pete

Lynda writes:

It is said that things go in threes and so it seemed a couple of weeks ago. I received a number of phone calls, three in fact to tell me of three of our members who were in hospital. We sent our prayers and love to them all. Chris and Paul have both made it home. However Peter was called to higher service.

So today we will be remembering Peter Roff and his faith. Stewkley has a number of farmers in our congregation, Peter being one of them. Peter was a long time member of Stewkley chapel.

His faith was strong and an example to us. He was not one who talked about this very much, but one who DID.

From the time he was in Sunday School, to sitting in the gallery at the evening services, to helping look after the chapel as a property steward and one of our faithful door stewards, his quiet faith shone through.

Life was hard on the dairy farm but milk was always provided for chapel teas, until rules and regulations changed things. Peter listened and encouraged us all in his quiet way. He smiled and welcomed you, showing God's love for you. It would not always have been easy to get to services with the pressures of farm life but it was rare that Peter was not there until recent months when his health stopped him.

He had been married to Audrey for 66 years and would drive her to visit many of our members when she was a chapel steward, especially if they were in hospital. He found time to help people where it was needed and supported his chapel and community where he could.

I am sure many of you do the same, but we sometimes forget how important this support is. Peter always thanked you for things that you did and you felt warmed by his care. Family were important to him, his own and those in the wider community. As a husband, a father, a Grandfather and a Great Grandfather, as a brother and uncle he looked after them all.

Finding God our Father and becoming a Christian can be a life time's search but I believe Peter knew God and followed his path. Thank you Peter for all your care and love to us. May we follow your example and share God's love with those we meet.

With love from us all

Lynda

On Sunday, 4 August, Princes Risborough was the focus of our Circuit Prayers

Dear All

Neville shares his story with us from passive attendee through to fully engaged participant. Let us keep in mind all those whose journey echoes Neville's and pray that they may find the same support and guidance offered to them to enable them to mature in the faith and enjoy the wonders of the love of God.

Pete

Neville writes

We arrived in Princes Risborough in 2007 after 4 years in Brussels and the arrival of our children so we are relative newcomers compared to others that have previously contributed to this series. We were immediately welcomed into the fellowship, so when I was asked to write a short piece, the theme of participation rose to the top of my mind. As a family we have always subscribed to the idea that the more you put into an activity the more you get out. It can leave you dangerously over committed to clubs and societies, but how much more so does the maxim hold true in church life.

I think that I can chart the more buoyant parts of my journey of faith through the steps that I have taken to be more involved in the activities of a church and deeper engagement in the lives of those attending. Having passively attended Sunday School, it was only through involvement at the University Methodist and URC society that I moved towards an active faith, nurtured by interaction and discussion with those around me, including my first retreat. I even found myself involved in a minor way in the preaching team around some of the villages of the East Riding. Moving to Reading and membership of Park URC for some 12 years meant closer relationships with other Christians over a longer period, with weekly Bible explorations together and eventually serving as an Elder. This meant also taking up the challenge of a formal pastoral role for the first time with the associated ups and downs of the lives of those on my "list" who were often much older and more experienced than I.

Another century and another church, but only for 3 years at Rivercourt in Hammersmith, where the defining development was participation in the West London Homeless Mission during the winter months, where both Kathryn and I were well out of our comfort zones helping to host upwards of 30 people on a Sunday night. Our relationship with one guest in particular had much to teach me about generosity and humility, and forced me to consider more deeply the injustices of society and the assumptions that we all make. Finally St Andrew's Church of Scotland in Brussels saw experience of another way of church organisation and worship which could be familiar but also unsettling. The challenges and joys of a constantly shifting congregation from an extraordinarily diverse set of backgrounds, were intensified by the knowledge we only had four years there at most.

Reflecting on this "pilgrims progress", at each change and staging post it is clear that involvement and the active giving of time and emotional energy to individuals and to the wider church has been key. Key also, though, has been a willingness to make time, to push myself beyond the tried and tested and to attempt things that I felt ill equipped to take on – leading worship, Eldership, practical outreach, opening up and being vulnerable in Bible studies. Our preacher last Sunday urged us to operate on the edge of our competence and to experience for ourselves the way we would be supported, helped and equipped by God as a result. I can't pretend that I often do, but at times where I have gone further than is initially comfortable and become more deeply involved, the rewards have been commensurately greater and I feel that participating and taking the risk has enabled me to continue to make some progress in my faith journey.

NevilleAdd some text...