from Revd Catherine Bowstead

Dear Friends,

Mike and I went to a fabulous gig earlier this week.  It was a performance by a band called Big Big Train (you can look them up on YouTube).  It’s always a pleasure to experience live music but this was a concert that was full of joy.  The 7 musicians in the band were so thrilled to be making music that they had created and crafted together and so generously delighted in sharing it with us.  Some of the band members are more naturally extrovert and enjoy performing whilst others are content to take a less obvious role.  But what was very clear was the respect and appreciation that they had for each other.  Of course there were others involved too – on sound, light and logistics - a big team who together created a very joyous occasion.

Such a team is a good metaphor the church.  As we too are a group of people with differing personalities and gifts working together to offer joy and “life in all its fullness” to the people who live in our local community.

One of our team is leaving this week.  You may have heard that Tina Randall is leaving us after 8 years as our café and centre manager.  We are hugely grateful to Tina for the way that she has led our café team and initiated many helpful changes.  She has helped to make our café a very welcoming place and has shown love and care to our regular customers.  We thank you Tina and wish you well in your new ventures.  Tina’s last day with us will be on Friday 27^th September, so you may wish to visit the café sometime this week to say your farewells.

There will, inevitably, be some changes to the café moving forwards.  The first of these will be a change in opening hours, from Tues 1^st October, Café Mosaic will be open each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 am – 1pm.  Look out for the new menu too.

I hope that you have a good week,

With every blessing

Catherine

A Reflection from Malcolm Ray-Smith

Our grandson Harry left school at sixteen and continued his education at a college in Cirencester where he met Abi, and they soon became a twosome.  He came from Swindon, she from Cheltenham.  After college Harry trained as an instructor in outdoor pursuits but the arrival of Covid brought a halt to schools sending groups to activity centres, so he soon found himself out of work and had various short-term jobs until he joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper and stationed near Barnstaple.  Abi began work in a solicitor’s office before going to University in Plymouth to train as a speech therapist and is due to finish her course by the end of July this year.

Harry and Abi’s friendship flourished, and they engaged and the family celebrated their wedding on 8^th August 2024, so our daughters suggested a shopping day to include their mother to buy outfits and they chose to go to Windsor.  When they returned, I was treated to a display of their acquisitions and told about a Menswear shop in Windsor with a colourful display of Jackets.

Anne and I went to Marks and Spencer’s at Camberley, and they had extensive ranges of Jackets but none that appealed to me.  Subsequently on a hot day we went to Bracknell and in the first shop found one that both of us liked but they did not have my size, so a very helpful lady checked if what I wanted was in their warehouse - but none were left.  So we visited other shops but saw nothing as nice as the one that had sold out!  On a visit to Windsor, we went to the shop that my daughters had recommended – and at last I found what I was looking for.

I was reminded of the encouragement of Jesus to persevere in seeking!

Malcolm Ray-Smith

from Revd Catherine Bowstead

Dear Friends,

Do you detect a change in the air as Autumn begins?  The relaxed days of summer are over, the new school term has begun, and regular routines begin once more.  It’s good that our regular activities resume after their summer break.  People often see September has a good time to make a positive change to learn a new skill or take up a beneficial habit.  Perhaps you’ve decided to use the Methodist Prayer Handbook to bring some structure to your prayer life or to visit www.methodist.org.uk/a-word-in-time for a daily Bible reading and reflection.  Don’t forget that we have a weekly prayer group each Tuesday morning and a fortnightly Bible Study Group – further details are in the Notices.

Have you thought some more about your “home” and “growth” stations in A Methodist Way of Life?  I would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who has “flourish” or “tell” as their home station and who would be willing to share their enthusiasm with others.  This might help our church community become more eco aware and more proactive in our evangelism.

The Sunday Lectionary over the next few weeks takes us through the letter of James which is full of practical and challenging wisdom.  This week’s reading (James 2: 1-17) offers challenges about showing favouritism and following the Royal Law.  In our evening Communion Service, we will be looking in more detail at the Gospel reading (Mark 7: 24-30).  This is the account of Jesus’ encounter with a woman of Syrophoenician origin and raises some interesting questions for us.

I hope that you have a good week,

With every blessing

Catherine

A Reflection from Chris Rooke-Matthews

Have you enjoyed watching the recent coverage of the Olympics?  Hearing about the preparation, struggles, and elation when a performance went well?  Some of the stories of the difficulties that athletes have faced are incredible.  However, I’m looking forward to the Paralympics.  Watching athletes who have faced major challenges and setbacks in their lives, that would cause many of us to despair and say ‘I can’t do that,’ challenge our perception of disability.

I worked in education settings for many years, but following health issues felt a need for a change of direction.  In the last 13 of these, before retiring, I had the opportunity to support children and adults with a variety of health problems and learning disabilities, in school or college.  They taught me so much!  I learned the importance of turning ‘I can’t do it’ to ‘I can’t do that - yet’, celebrating achievements and each small goal reached.  Their determination, courage, trust, patience, perseverance, strength of character and sense of humour, and the support given to me by colleagues as I settled into this new environment, made working a pleasure.

Now, in retirement, I find many of these same skills are relevant in the new situations I face.  There are new opportunities to meet people, activities to get involved with, and surprising lessons to learn along the way.  In some ways I’m busier than ever!

So, I will watch and learn from the achievements, set-backs, and inspirational stories of the Paralympians.  It’s reassuring to know that whatever the future holds, God is with me on every step of the way.

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise: you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

From Psalm 139 (NIV)

Chris Rooke-Matthews