For details of this week's services please see the Worship page.
Older items of news can be found here.
At BMC on Thursday March 11th 8pm
Each meeting begins with a brief opportunity for people to mention those things that they would like to be included in the prayers.
Tuesday March 16th 1.45 for 2pm - 20 Questions (Bible orientated) - All welcome
Our architects have now completed their feasibility study.
Saturday September 12th 6pm - Open meeting for all. The leadership team presented the architect's findings.
Saturday October 3rd - a prayer day for all was held to reflect on the proposals.
More information can be found on our Vision page.
Sunday 14th March. Menu Bangers and Mash or Vegetable Curry
Cost £3.50 adults
Please sign the notice in the vestibule.
A scene in the Hall
This years Holiday Club was called 'Showstoppers.' The church hall was transformed into Theatre for a week of singing, games, stories, craft and a variety of performing art workshops. Over 60 children aged 7-11 from 3 Local schools attended, which ran from 9.15am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday during February half term.
Each day we invited a performing artist to run workshops, these included urban street dancing, Circus, drums, puppets and mime. To link in with the theme we ran a craft sessions and a story telling room run by Bracknell Library. It was a fantastic time, with everyone involved having an exciting and action packed week of fun!
During the week we invited the children to respond to what they had seen by raising money for the Bethany Orphanage in Uganda. To make it fun we set them a task which culminated in "Malcolm Muddle" (A.k. Rev Robin Selmes) performing in front of the parents on the Friday wearing an unusual costume.. At the last count the children raised about £140.
"The mission of Bethany Orphanage is to serve the needs of poor orphaned children and to equip them with the skills, knowledge, opportunity and self assertiveness required for them to live independently in society. The essential needs include nutrition, education, parental love, security, religious guidance, and opportunity for a brighter future."
Throughout their time at the club the children had been working with Ali from Pop Connection learning a variety of spiritual and gospel pop songs. They worked extremely hard throughout the week and the culmination of their effort was played out in a pop concert in front of a packed hall of 100 adults.
A big thank you goes out to all the helpers and organisers because without saying the club wouldn't be possible without the dedicated work of those huge team of volunteers.
Many more photos giving a taste of the week can be seen in our photo album and more information can be found on our Holiday Club page.
In the week leading up to Christmas, on an extremely cold evening, a group of people from Bracknell Methodist church and St Andrews COE gathered together outside Morrison's to serenade the people using the supermarket. For two hours we sung carols in aid of Action for Children (formerly NCH), in total we raised about £147. Thank you to those who supported this event by time and donations.
A view of the hall
Bracknell Methodist Church held their annual Christmas Fair on Saturday November 28th. It was an opportunity to buy Christmas presents from a variety of craft stalls, a cake stall, Tombola, and toys. Traditional and modern games were also part of the fair which included a tin-can-alley, lollipop hoopla and various "Wii" games. Great fun was had by all, with all the proceeds going towards the community groups which took part.
David and Sarah after the Service
On Saturday 21st November, the church was delighted to play host to the wedding of two members of our congregation, Sarah Roworth and David Morgan. Both the service and the reception were held at the church, with some 40 family and friends attending the reception and more attending the service. The bride and groom entered the church to the majestic sound of "Zadok the Priest". As the service started the bride looked stunning, the groom looked calm, the bridesmaid looked elegant, the minister looked in control, and the best man looked in his pocket for the hundredth time to check that he still hadn't lost the rings. The service went beautifully, and seemed especially blessed when, despite being an overcast November day, the sun came out and streamed through the windows.
At the Reception
Cutting the Cake
After the service and a coffee break, the guests adjourned to the reception. A buffet meal appeared to be enjoyed by all in a relaxed atmosphere, in the hall which had been spectacularly decked out with balloons and decorations. After the reception the happy couple left for their honeymoon in the vehicle of their choice...which in their case was a camper van! Thanks must go to a number of church members and other friends of the bride and groom who generously gave their time both before and on the day to make the whole happy event possible.
At the Barn Dance
The Harvest Season has once again come upon us, and there were opportunities to be together and be a part of number of events. The Harvest Festival supper took place this year on Saturday, September 26th in our church hall. Like in previous years this was a combined celebration with St Andrews Anglican church and much enjoyed by all. This was followed on the Sunday with a traditional Harvest festival service, with the theme for this year being a "A Harvest of Gifts". We explored the theme through four windows firstly, the giving of produce, then the gathering of people and our talents, thirdly, our stewardship of the Harvest and finally we gave thanks for gift of Christ. All the produce given was distributed to the Homeless centre in Reading. To round off our harvest celebrations we had a Barn dance. We had a live band, and a plentiful spread of Food. Loads of music, loads of dancing and a fantastic time was held by all. All the profit for this event went towards our charity of the year Traidcraft Exchange.
On Saturday 18th July the church held a fund raising event at the tea house cafe in the middle of Bracknell town centre. As well as serving refreshments we also had a cake stall and a tombola. All the profit went to our charity of the year Traidcraft Exchange, who help poor producers to engage in trade and build a better future for themselves and their families.
At the beginning of August the Cub Scouts went off to Phisels woods for their annual camp. Seven days of fun and exciting activities. On the Thursday our minister joined them for two nights under canvas. He not only came to see what they were up to he was also invited to participate in some of the activities abseiling, zip wire and the rolling rock, although he did decline the pot holing! Although it was wet and very muddy great fun was had by all. More photos on their website.
Robin and friends after the service
On July 5th our minister, Robin Selmes, was ordained in Worcester Cathedral and accepted as a fully qualified minister in the Methodist Church. Quite a few of us travelled up to Worcester for the occasion and found it a very moving experience. Read more on our Minister page, where Robin and others share their experiences of this very special day.
Barbecue - view in Hall
June 21st 2009 marked the 53rd anniversary of Bracknell Methodist Church. The "church" (meaning building) was completed in 1959 while the "church" as a Christian community had formed in 1956. The church was built to serve the growing community of Priestwood and Garth. To mark the event the congregation planned an entire weekend of celebrations. On the Saturday we held a strawberry tea at the Manse, this was an open invitation to all the circuit. This raised £110 towards our charity of the year which is Traidcraft Exchange.
Revd. Richard Bielby talking to members
On the Sunday the church invited the Rev Richard Bielby, who was in pastoral charge of the church between 1986 and 1993. Richard preached on 1 Peter 2: 1-5 with the theme being mission. He also shared with the congregations details of his current church in Yarm, which is the oldest Octagonal Church in current use in Methodism. The weekend was concluded with a faith barbecue in the church grounds.
Claire and Robin before the service
The Testimony Service for the Revd Claire Hargreaves and our minister Revd Robin Selmes was held on Sunday 17th May 2009 at Knaphill Methodist Church. The preacher was the Revd John Hellyer, Chairman of the South East District of the Methodist Church. Music was led by a worship group which included several members of Claire's family. During the service Claire and Robin shared their Testimony, we heard two very different stories delivered in different styles This was a memorable occasion for both circuits as it gave them an opportunity to celebrate with their ordinand and to send them on their way with God's blessing. They now travel to the annual conference in Wolverhampton on July 5th to be ordained.
