Raunds Methodist Church
Welcome to our community at Raunds - a diverse mixture of folk
some of whom have lived here all their lives and are truly 'locals' and others who have now settled here from various places in the British Isles and from around the world making a community working together to love the Lord and getting to know Him better as we work study and pray together
Whether you are well advanced in your walk with the Lord or have only recently begun or are seeking we welcome you to join us so that we may journey and grow in our faith together
DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH MEMBERS THROUGH OUR PASTORAL NETWORK - WHILST WE ARE IN TIER 4 THE CHAPEL IS NOT OPEN FOR SERVICES ON SUNDAYS.
On the Pages under 'Coronavirus' (the Page which opens if you 'click' on the tab at the top far right of this page) you will find any relevant Notices and a short act of Worship for personal use, as we are not all able to meet as a fellowship in the Chapel - 'click' on the Service for next Sunday on the page which opens under 'Coronavirus' - this will be replaced each week by a new Worship Act for your use. There will be Services on 'Zoom' each Sunday (Again details on the Coronavirus Page)
Please see our NEWS PAGE for details of our Christmas Appeal for Whitechapel Mission and we thank all who contributed so that over 130 gifts were sent.
February has arrived, and for many people it is a month of measurement. For lovers of numbers, it is the only month that neatly divides into 4 equal weeks (except on a pesky leap year) and at its midway point it also celebrates a festival of love and in terms of quantifying that love, the rule of thumb was that an engagement ring should cost at least one month’s salary, the wedding budget to be set at around 6 months’ salary and the honeymoon to be 5% of that cost. The cost to the rest of your life? Priceless.
Within the church calendar we too have a festival of feasting, that of Shrove Tuesday which leads us into Ash Wednesday as we begin us to measure the cost of lent, whether that be fasting from habits or taking up a new spiritual practice. Quantitative measurements are those of facts and figures – sometimes referred to as ‘hard data.’ Think of those intentional decisions you have made within the church. Have I joined a study group? How long do I spend in prayer? Do I hold a day for fasting etc? Hard data will also look to what our level of giving is, and whilst the church doesn’t often talk about money finances are part of the quantitative world, not only in what you and I give to the church, but also how the church then uses it resources. Kingdom shaped decisions made outside the church may include:
Do I talk about my faith in my work life?
Am I engaged in my community with foodbanks, environmental issues, or other local concerns?
Qualitative measurements are all the intangible feelings – or ‘soft data.’ Think of John Wesley’s heart being ‘strangely warmed.’ How has my perception changed, or been challenged through the study of scripture? How deeply am I engaging with worship? What ‘fruits’ am I currently cultivating etc? Again, these discipleship endeavours should reach beyond our church walls. On any given day it is good to ponder these two questions:
Who is no longer a stranger to me?
Where have I experienced ‘heaven in the ordinary’?
Both quantitative and qualitative measures are valid and are needed as we make our individual and collective response to “love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and to love our neighbour as ourselves.” So, I end my Minister’s Monthly Musing with this reflective poem: How Much Do I Love?....
How much do I love God?
Do I delight in worship, a delight that is bigger than style or place?
Do I wish to please God more than anyone else? Even myself
What would I be prepared to give up or do for God?
Am I happy to share my love for God with other people?
Do I accept, truly, that God is desperately in Love with me?
How much do I love my neighbour?
Do I take trouble to be kind and helpful to the people I meet?
Do I rejoice in the right, or to my shame find satisfaction in other peoples faults?
Am I prepared to be put out for people not for the sake of reward, but out of love?
How much do I love my enemy?
Do I know who my enemies are?
Why are they my enemies? Is it through unhappy experience, fear, anger, misunderstanding?
If they have made me feel horrid – how have I made them feel?
Can I forgive them?
Do I understand why they have hurt me?
Do I wish only the best for them, even if I actually dislike them as people?
How much do I love myself?
Do I love myself with the same Love that God has for me? Patient, understanding, caring, hopeful Love?
Or do I despair quickly and put a down on myself?
Does my love know when to challenge and correct – or is it the poorer love that is self indulgent?
Do I love myself enough to take risks in faith and so follow Jesus more?
HOW MUCH AM I IN GODS LOVE?
Blessings Kim Shorley