Welcome to Wokingham Methodist Church

We are now part of the Blackwater Valley Methodist Circuit, formed by the merger of our previous circuit, the Berkshire Surrey Borders Circuit, with the circuit to the south of us, the Hants-Surrey Border Circuit, effective from 1 September 2025.

Our previous minister, Revd Catherine Bowstead, has retired.  We welcome her replacement Rev Wes Hampton, from 1 September 2025.

Starting on Sunday 21^st September, evening service (with Holy Communion) will resume on the third Sunday of each month at the new time of 6.15 pm (new time chosen so you can park in the Rose Street car park without having to pay both an afternoon fee and an evening fee).

Future worship and recorded services are on this page.

10.30am Morning Worship - Mrs Kim Tame

Company and Fun  2pm-4pm  more details here

from Rev Wes Hampton

Dear Friends,

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but we do not know what the future holds. There are some things that we can be confident about, of course – the sun rose yesterday, and the day before, and for so many days previously that we have no doubt that it shall rise again tomorrow. Other things, however, are much less certain. As I write, at Wimbledon we have British success in the men’s singles, and the England football team is still competing in the World Cup, but I cannot know whether either of those will be true by the time you read this.

Rudyard Kipling’s poem If famously refers to Triumph and Disaster as two imposters. One of the implications might be that we can be ready for the unknown future by accepting that success in a venture, being neither impossible nor guaranteed, is not always as important as it seems to those of us involved in it. The emotional reactions of our sporting champions when they win or lose – and of their supporters – may give the impression that their achievements or failures eclipse all others, but time will give a different perspective.

As I drove home recently, a warning light was illuminated on the dashboard. Did this tell me that a disaster was about to happen? No, but it did mean that there was a problem that needed to be fixed as soon as possible. A moderate reaction was called for, not a panic-driven cry of despair. So we know that the ‘Triumphs and Disasters’ do not just belong to others. The Unknown lurks around every corner, tempting us to fear every opportunity as a potential catastrophe. Such situations, however, though unknowable to us, to God are fully known. As the psalmist put it: “If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.” (Psalm 139:8 NRSV.) Whatever we face, we do so with God.

Wes

from Malcolm Ray-Smith

Dear friends,

"Water"    

During the recent hot weather we were all advised to drink more water.

The plants I want to grow in my garden, so that I can enjoy their flowers, fruits and vegetables, have needed extra water too, but on the very hottest days my energy levels were reduced to a point when I had to choose what mattered most.  My first priority had to be to drink enough to remain healthy myself and only then think hard about my decisions in the garden.

The bible has many references to the importance of water including the psalm that suggests that the good shepherd took his flock to places where cool water would refresh them.  John’s gospel refers to eternal water. Jesus claimed that whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become to them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  With the forecast promising the return of hot days again we need the water that Jesus promised.

The Tree of Life is a theme often referred to in the scriptures, beginning in Genesis 2 v9 where it was planted in the Garden of Eden alongside the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  It was intended as a source of eternal life for Adam and Eve, but after their disobedience this was denied them. In Proverbs the Tree of Life is used metaphorically to describe spiritual and moral values.

In view of that weather forecast I will encourage us all to make sure we drink plenty of water but our spiritual thirst will only be met as we continue to drink the spiritual water that Jesus promised to those who ask him for it.  This is why we need the discipline of setting aside time every day to read God’s Word and to say our prayers as we listen and watch to the news.

Malcolm Ray-Smith

Some previous Pastoral Letters are available here.