Welcome to Wokingham Methodist Church

Many pages updated with material from the 2025 annual reports.

Café Mosaic - new opening hours
   Tuesday - Friday, 9.30am-1pm, from 1 October

Monday Evening House Group restarts 7 October
   1^st Monday each month, 7.30pm at a member's home

10.30am Morning Worship - Revd Catherine Bowstead

 6.00pm Circuit Farewell Service

for Revd Catherine Bowstead and Revd Soba Sinnathamby (Holy Communion)

- Revd Sharon Gardner and Revd Jackie Case

Future worship and recorded services are on this page.

Company and Fun  2pm-4pm  more details here

from Revd Catherine Bowstead

Dear Friends,

This will be the last time I write as your minister as I prepare to “sit down” and move to our new home in Winchester.

Mike and I have very much enjoyed our ten years living in Wokingham and I feel blessed to have been your minister for that time.  It had not been without its challenges – not least the experiences of the covid lockdowns.  It’s been an honour for me to walk alongside individuals during very significant times in their lives, often this has included funerals of precious individuals but there have also been joys and celebrations too.  Baptising Kongal last Sunday was a particular delight as he laid his head on my shoulder as we blessed him.

In our service on Sunday morning, we shall be looking at the story of Mary and Martha and I’ll be sharing some insights and personal reflections from my 31 years of Circuit Ministry.

Our service on Sunday evening will be a special one – it’s the Circuit Farewell service for my colleague Revd Soba Sinnathamby and me, but it’s also the final opportunity for the members of our Circuit to worship together.  From September, the Berkshire Surrey Borders Circuit will be part of a new, larger circuit – the Blackwater Valley Circuit.  My predecessor as Superintendent of BSB, Revd Jackie Case is helping to lead the service.  I hope that it will be a wonderful opportunity to thank God for all that he has enabled us to achieve as a Circuit in the last few years and to ask God’s blessing on us for the years ahead.

With every blessing

Catherine

A Reflection from Rosi MorganBarry

Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen and the Australian 'Seeyalater' all mean the same thing. It is what people in France, Germany and Down-under say to those who are leaving – and the meaning in them all is: 'We will see each other and meet again'.  But here in the UK we say 'Goodbye' – a shortened version of the phrase: 'God be with you'.

A more archaic form of saying goodbye would be 'Farewell' – which is what we wish those who are leaving us. To 'fare well', to 'go with God', to ask that 'God be with you' wherever you may go and whatever you may do.

There are some wonderful phrases in the Bible for parting company:

      'Shalom' – meaning 'peace be with you' is the traditional Jewish greeting and farewell.

      ‘The grace of our Lord be with you’, says St Paul at the end of several of his letters.

      'May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace', comes from the priestly blessing given by Moses.

In the Celtic tradition are some wonderful words of blessing and good-bye:

from the Scots Celtic:
      'Deep peace of the running wave to you,
      Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
      Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
      Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
      Deep peace of the gentle night to you,
      Moon and stars pour their healing light on you,
      Deep peace of Christ, the Light of the world, to you.'

And from the Irish:
      'May the road always rise to meet you,
      May the wind be always at your back,
      May the sun shine warm upon your face
      May the rains fall softly on your fields and until we meet again,
      May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.'

So - what do we wish Catherine and Mike as they leave us?

All of the above, with our deepest thanks for all they have achieved among us over the past ten years.

See you again.

God be with you – goodbye.

                                                Rosi MorganBarry

A Reflection from Kim Tame

Dear friends

In the heat of the day

There has been speculation that an increasing incidence of summer heat waves might lead us to a more continental shape for the working day; the early and late hours being for our more physical kinds of work or travelling, and midday left strictly for “mad dogs and Englishmen”.  This is an adjustment for those of us brought up with a Protestant work ethic!

The Bible, reflecting the realities of living in the Mediterranean climate, describes in many places how people would seek rest and shelter at midday; even tribes engaged in battle, as in 1 Samuel 11:11.

The natural opportunities for shade and water are deeply appreciated; for example, the castor oil plant that sprang up to shelter Jonah, and Proverbs 25:35 comparing good news to cool water for a thirsty soul.  John, in his gospel, promises “streams of living water” flowing from the one who believes and in our current heat I’m appreciating what a powerful metaphor that is!  Hospitality in that region included the offer of water and a shady place to rest; as in Genesis, where we find that three mysterious men, sent from God, appeared to Abraham while he was resting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.  The conversation that followed was of enormous importance, including the promise of a long-awaited son.

Resting need not equate to idleness; we might find opportunities for a different kind of activity, and there is plenty of evidence that the continental-style leisurely lunch, with healthy food and conversation is good for both body and soul.

Our morning worship this Sunday will be led by our minister, Rev. Catherine Bowstead, and will include the baptism of Nkongal Kazemb.  The music will be led by the music group.

Kim Tame

Some previous Pastoral Letters are available here.