Cheddington Methodist Church

Minister: Rev. Donna Broadbent-Kelly - Tel: 01525 240589

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Dear Friends,

Courtesy of a visit to one of the charity shops in Aylesbury I am listening, as I type, to a new CD. There is, for me, something really exciting about encountering new pieces of music. I confess I have made some unwise choices over the years but, these are outweighed by the discoveries that might not have occurred if I had not risked a speculative purchase or listened and reaped the benefits. Music, to my mind, is one of life’s great treasures, it has capacity to grant us transcendence when a song or a piece lifts us to somewhere else, takes us away from normality. To use a technical term it allows a numinous moment where we sense something other.

Now, for some this might be experienced up a mountain or in a workshop, it might be looking into the face of a baby and when we become engrossed in a novel. Times when we sense there is something beyond, which for those who believe is an indication of the presence of God, a place of positive intrusion where the Divine comes and takes our breath away. Where for a moment we are transported. This we would argue is one of the ways in which humanity can become conscious of the God who brought us to be and who loves us.

Now I cannot tell which view or piece will grant you the blessing of numinous but I would want to encourage you to give yourself the opportunity to discover the hints of God in the midst of the realities of life. Time to listen, to breathe in, to ponder, to become lost so that we are lifted up.

And I suppose the next time you find yourself in a place of numinous to ponder in the magnificence of the moment what eloquence you are being invited to encounter, how it points to that which is beyond us, to the God who brought us to be.

For the church, in the midst of services and fellowship, we long for those numinous moments, where we know ourselves lifted up in “wonder, love and praise.” They do not occur every week but that sense of God and his presence is a glorious thing and it demands we allow ourselves the possibility as we seek to leave aside the demands of the world and focus on where God is trying to communicate with us; all in the hope that numinous will be our experience.  That it will come and transform us.

And in case you are interested track 1 was stunning, track 2 not the same calibre

I hope numinous moments grace your lives

Blessings
Richard
(Superintendent Minister – Aylesbury Vale Methodist Circuit)

SERVICES FOR  2021

At the present moment the Church is set up to observe social distancing with hygiene and safety precautions in place and all who attend will need to wear a mask but this may change as the rules are relaxed.  The services will be at the usual time of 10.30am. If for any reason the service cannot be held a notice will be put on the door of the Church.

"THE TOAST” – FOR PARENTS, CARERS and LITTLE ONES
For all parents/carers of per-school children and babies, join us in the Chapel schoolroom on Monday mornings 9.15 – 11.00 during term time for a gentle start to the week. There are toys, activities and refreshments (including toast!) and a warm welcome.   Tel Nicola 662010 or Janet 660205 for more information.

OPEN DOORS – Friday morning 10.30 a.m – noon at the Methodist Chapel.
This is an opportunity for village people to meet/socialise each Friday morning and have a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit/cake. Contact Jeanne 662876 for more information.

LOOP SYSTEM
For those people with hearing aids, we have an induction loop system installed and working in the chapel.

Schoolroom Bookings: For all enquiries, please contact Janet Banham,  Tel. 660205 or email .