Our people

Everyone in Burghfield Common Methodist Church is welcome to contribute whatever gifts they have in the life of the church. We believe in the “Priesthood of all believers”, and we know that God gives everyone gifts and skills to help others. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, put it this way when he wrote to the early Church : “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”(1 Peter 2:9)

We are blessed with many different gifts, after all as Paul put it, “If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without.” (1 Corinthians 12:17-22)

We all try to play our part. Ian prays with our preacher each Sunday morning. Tim leads our musical worship. Mike manages our property. Barbara, Sam and Simon keep things running smoothly. Brenda runs a monthly healing service. Laura organises our Sunday School. We bring our gifts and hope that we are led by the Spirit.

Our minister, Chris Evans, preaches most Sundays. He was ordained in the Methodist Church in 2012 and has worked as prison chaplain and school chaplain. About once a month when he’s not with us we are led by John Brown, who is chaplain to the the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, or we have the blessing of a visiting preacher from another local Methodist Church according to the ‘Circuit Plan‘. On occasional Sundays we have a local arrangement where members of the church lead the service and John preaches.

Our life together

As a small fellowship, our whole church family contributes to the life of worship and service that we share together. We’ve grown a lot over the last few years, and find great joy in seeing the goodness of God at work in one another.

Our most important time together is on Sundays, when we worship, pray, think, share and spend time together. We really enjoy family meals together, typically feeding more than fifty in December, April and September. Like many churches we’re rarely all in the same place at the same time, but occasionally it happens. Some of our services at Christmas and Easter are so jam packed there’s no chairs left.

Through the week we have a range of activities which deepen our fellowship and faith, and we are committed to caring for one another and for those around us in need. We mean it when we say if there is anything we can do for you, we’d love to help.