The start of the journey is an encounter between a human being and God, between the created and the Creator, between time and eternity.
Abraham heard the call: “Go to the land I will show you”. Like Abraham we are called to leave that which is familiar and go to the place that God has prepared in the depths of our hearts. Along the way, we become more and more ourselves, the people God has wanted us to be from the beginning. And by following the call that is addressed to us, we become a blessing for our loved ones, our neighbours, and the world.
The love of God seeks us. God became human in Jesus, in whom we encounter the gaze of God. In our lives, as in the Gospel of John, God’s call is heard in different ways. Touched by his love, we set out. In this encounter, we walk a path of transformation – the bright beginning of a relationship of love that is always started anew.
“One day you understood that, without your being aware of it, a yes had already been inscribed in your innermost depths. And so you chose to go forward in the footsteps of Christ….
In silence in the presence of Christ, you heard him say, ‘Come, follow me; I will give you a place to rest your heart.’”
[The Sources of Taizé (2000) p. 52]
prayer
Jesus Christ, you seek us, you wish to offer us your friendship and lead us to a life that is ever more complete.
Grant us the confidence to answer your call so that we may be transformed and become witnesses of your tenderness for the world.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January – the octave (=8!) of St. Peter and St. Paul.
On the eve of the week, (Sunday 17th 6:30pm) we shall meet together (online – see below) and each day share a short reflection. Stay tuned!
For 2021, prayer, worship and reflection materials have been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family.
The service, hosted by St Michael’s Sandhurst, will have the theme of the unity of the person, of the church, and of all creation, based on Churches Together in England (CTE) material. It will start at 6.30 pm and last about 45 minutes.
You can access the service via the public Facebook page, www.facebook.com/StMichaelsSandhurst/live . It is not necessary to log in to Facebook or sign up for an account in order to watch. Those with Facebook accounts will be able to participate by leaving comments during the service.
Following the service, there will be an opportunity to chat via Zoom, please contact your church or churchestogetherincrowthorne@gmail.com for details.
Revd Sharon Gardner, Minister of Bagshot, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Yateley Methodist Churches provides a short reflection on the reading – the real meaning of Christmas is that the baby grew up…
The churches in Crowthorne wish you a very happy Christmas!
We were overwhelmed by the positive response to our debut video in September. So with updated footage and photography, we offer a Blessing for Christmas…
All is calm….All is BRIGHT…in Crowthorne High Street – our tribute and MASSIVE thanks to Caroline Silvester (Newman’s Shoes) and Nick Abbott (Abbott’s Health Food) for their 40 year legacy to Crowthorne (we promise to look after it…).
…just meeting differently! You would be welcome to join in worship with us, online or in church (or both!)
Online and/or ‘in church’ Sunday Services – other churches “meet” during the week too. check the website!
Pre-recorded service on the websiteLivestreamed service 10:30am on the website. Services in Church restarted Easter Sunday (April 4th 2021)Services have restarted in church. Details of mass times on the websiteServices restarted on Easter Sunday (Apr 4th 2021). Live streaming at 9:30am and 11am via Facebook or YoutubeServices in church restarted Easter Sunday (April 4th 2021)Pre-recorded 10am service via the website. Services in church restarted Easter Sunday (April 4th 2021) Pre-recorded 10:45am (including Kids Church) on the website
On behalf of all the Churches in Crowthorne, Methodist
Minister the Revd Sharon Gardner shares the story of how Jesus
calmed the storm and how this has many parallels with our current situation.
That day
when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other
side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the
boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the
waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the
stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher,
don’t you care if we drown?’
He got up,
rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ’Quiet! Be still!’ then the wind died
down and it was completely calm.
He said to
his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’
They were
terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this that even the wind and waves obey
him?!’ Mark 4: 35 – 41
Right now we’re in a storm of anxiety and fear in this country and spreading over the whole world and I wonder – how do we react in the storms of life? The disciples were experienced fishermen and would have been well-acquainted with the squalls that appear suddenly over the Sea of Galilee. I can imagine that, to begin with, they laughed at their companions’ unease, sure that if they sat tight and kept their heads down the storm would pass quickly. But then, it got fiercer – ‘a furious squall’ it says – and the waves grew so high they threatened to swamp the boat and sink it. Now all of them were full of fear.
I’m sure
you can see parallels with our present situation. To begin with, we were
generally not too fazed. This storm was brewing in other countries, but then
Covid19 came to the UK and the storm has been mounting ever since. Many are
afraid – scared of what it might mean if they should catch the virus and
anxious about the changes in our lives as we try to slow down its spread.
Who do we
turn to when the storms of life hit? Do we look to our own abilities only to
find they are insufficient? Do we rail at God and shout at Him because life is now
hard? Or do we simply say, ‘Lord, we’re afraid, we need you.’
Jesus was in the boat with them, that’s what I find so comforting in this passage. Their mettle was tested but Jesus was there the whole time. Now we’re going through that testing time: we can choose how we react. Will we join in with the panic and look out only for ourselves and our families or will we be stirred to acts of altruism as many are?. Are we prepared to set aside our own needs, to share what we have – resources, time, reassurance, prayer? We will discover in times of crisis what kind of people we really are.
In the
passage once Jesus calms the storm, He asks the disciples where was their
faith? Where is ours? This is a time when our faith in a God who is so much
bigger than any storm or crisis can carry us through. How can we share that
faith with others? That is our challenge – to find new ways to be Church, new
ways to pray together, new ways to speak a message of hope to our nation and
our neighbourhood, new ways to reach out and help and heal.
As the
disciples knew and as we shall discover, through the storm Jesus is there in
the boat with us and through Him and His words, we, like the disciples, shall
once again find peace.
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
Rev Sharon Gardner, Minister, Crowthorne Methodist church on behalf of the Churches in Crowthorne.
