Photo by John Stone
Join us for Sunday Service
10.30am every Sunday, followed by a chat over tea and coffee.
Next service:
7th. June Christine Embleton
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17 West End Road, Mortimer Common, RG7 3TB
Minister: Reverend John Banks
Mortimer Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
It does this through:
Worship The Church exists to increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love.
Learning and Caring The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care.
Service The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice.
Each one of us is God’s special work of art. Through us, God teaches and inspires those who view our lives. ———– Joni Eareckson Tada
Love comes out of heaven, unasked and unsought. Pearl S Buck
Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12 vs 23-24)
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June 2026
Message from Allan Meakin
Looking out at the world this Spring there is not much that is positive. No solution in sight to end the conflict in Ukraine or the Middle East and our own government is bruised and conflicted following their disastrous result in the local elections earlier in May. The small positives in the UK News are that the two youngest competitors won BBC’s Race Across the World (Jo and Kush) and the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing have finally been chosen (Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe) following months of speculation in the media. We just need to know who has become the new James Bond and I will be at peace.
In Spring we Christians celebrate one of the most positive events in history. The first widespread release of the Holy Spirit on believers and the subsequent birth of the Christian Church.
That it occurs towards the end of the season of Spring in our calendar means we celebrate Pentecost when our gardens and the natural world in the UK are looking “very good”. I write sitting amongst early clematis twining around pergola pillars, roses flowering brightly in subtle shades of pink and cream and the showy flowers of peonies with names like “Bowl of Beauty”. Our clay pots wait to be filled with summer flowering annuals that currently fill garden centre displays.
For the Jewish nation, Pentecost is known as the “Feast of Weeks”, when thanks are given for God’s provision by offering back to him some of the first fruits of the wheat harvest.
For us the Pentecost story begins just after the resurrection of Jesus 50 days before. John tells us…”on the evening of that first day…the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders”… Suddenly Jesus stands amongst the disciples and breathes on them a foretaste of the Holy Spirit. Then we come to the main event – Pentecost itself – when God the Holy Spirit is poured out generously on all the believers present.
Jesus had promised that the Spirit would enable the disciples to witness in power, and on this day Peter demonstrates the truth of that promise. Peter left to his own devices will hang around the fire in fear and deny Jesus, but Peter empowered by the Spirit can stand before a crowd of several thousand and proclaim him.
Talking to a Jewish audience, well-versed in the prophetic writings, Peter can afford to declare that the long-awaited day of the Lord, prophesied by Joel, has now come.
But Peter makes a significant change: Joel talks about the ‘dreadful’ day of the Lord, Peter of the ‘glorious’ day. Both terms are designed to capture a sense of awe, but Peter chooses the positive. A day once seen as vindication for one nation is now seen as acceptance for all nations.
A gospel which does not give people the hope of a new way of living on the basis of Jesus’ risen life and introduce them to the worship of the exalted King is not good news.
We can never go back to pre-Pentecostal Christianity. The Holy Spirit of God is vital to our experience of God and to our mission. We need His power today just as the believers did in New Testament times.
Pray: Spirit of Pentecost, You came like wind and fire, yet we have settled for lukewarm faith. Forgive us, Lord. Fan into flame the embers of our devotion. You gave boldness to the apostles, yet we have been timid in our witness. Forgive us, Lord. Fill us with courage to speak Your truth in love. You broke down barriers between nations and peoples, yet we have built walls of division. Forgive us, Lord. Make us one in Christ, that the world may believe. Amen. Allan Meakin
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Church Service 10.30am every Sunday. Junior Church.
Lectionary
Worship
Ladies Monday Morning Prayers. Ladies Monday evening Bible Study.
Men’s Thursday evening Bible Study. Pastoral care.
Learning and caring
Service to the community
Warm Welcome Faith and friends Who Let the Dads Out Safeguarding
Eco Church Bric-a-Brac
The Philippines Appeal
At the end of the service on 7th December, there was a collection for people in The Philippines who have suffered earthquakes and typhoons in 2025. The total raised was £855 and this was sent to 4Freedom Philippines (4freedomph.com), an organisation co-founded by Peter Clemison, the son of a member of this church family. Thanks so much to all for your generous donations
Citizens Advice Tadley & District
Citizens Advice Tadley & District will continue our presence in Mortimer as part of our Outreach program.
Whether you’re worried about debt and finances, benefits, housing, employment, or something else, our trained advisers can help you understand your options and find a way forward. We’re an independent charity, so everything is free, confidential, and completely impartial — no judgment, just practical support.
The sessions will be held at the Mortimer Methodist Church from 10:00 to 12:30 on every first and third Friday of the month.
To avoid delays, we can make appointments – just contact us using the details below. Alternatively, just pop in, have a chat, and see how we can help. Sometimes a bit of friendly advice can make all the difference. If you do drop in, please be aware that you may have to wait for an adviser to be available.
Contact us Phone: 0808 278 7987 (including a voicemail service)
Online: https://www.catadley.org/email
In person: at Mortimer Methodist Church, 17 W End Rd, Mortimer Common, Reading RG7 3TB.
New Warm Welcome – Bible Study Group
Come along. We meet on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Friday of each month to be held in the lounge area of the church commencing at 10.00am and finishing at 10.45am. Group leader – John Bale
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Warm Welcome report for 2025 to May 2026
We are a drop in from 9.30 to 12.30 every Friday morning meeting in Mortimer Methodist Church and Hall.
Most stay for the morning just enjoining each other’s company chatting to each other or joining in with the many activities that are on offer.
Our weekly meetings consist of the following.
We have various activities on the go every week. Two tables of up to 9/10 people both men and women playing cards mainly Whist. Two puzzles on the go with up to 8 people sitting around the two tables. Recently our Art and Craft tables have had as many as 12 people joining in with painting as well as the many other craft activities that are going on in that area.
We are lucky enough to have a retired Physiotherapist within our group and she takes up to 17 people out and into the Church where they sit in a circle and enjoy a fun hour of chair keep fit. Lots of laughter can be heard coming from that group as they do their exercises.
At least another 30/40 people just enjoy siting and chatting with each other or playing one of the board games that are always on the tables for them to play if they wish. There is always puzzle books, crossword and Sudoku books and adult colouring books that they can collect and take back to their table and sit quietly enjoying their own space. We always have Newbury Weekly News,
Reading Chronicle and a Daily paper are on the tables for our guests to read if they wish.
Tea/Coffee and Biscuits are on offer all morning. Some can drink up to 4 cups throughout the morning. Homemade cake is on offer from 10.30am.
We have a lovely lady and her petting dog pop in on the first Friday of the month. Our guests love petting her dog. On the 1st and 3rd Fridays each month Tadley Citizens Advice Bureau set up in the lounge where they offer advice to all of the villagers of Mortimer including those who visit our group. People can make appointments by phoning their Tadley office or just drop-in and wait for a free slot to speak to them about an issue that they need help with. While waiting people are very welcome to drop in on Warm Welcome for a Cuppa and slice of cake while they wait.
New this term for a trial period 45 min 10.00 to 10.45. Two of our regular helpers, one of which is a lay preacher, have been offering a Bible Study Group to any who wish to go out into the lounge for about 45 mins study and understanding the different stories in the Bible. This is held on the 2rd, 4th and 5th Fridays. This group is open to all and is not denominational. At the moment about 4 people
go out and enjoy learning together.
Last May we run a Coffee Morning with both cakes to eat and also for sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We advertised the morning to other villagers. Every space in the Church was used. While with us all visitors were invited to wonder around and join in with the Warm Welcome activities. This was very successful raising over £800 for Cancer research.
This May we will be holding a Coffee Morning with cakes to eat and for sale in aid of Dementia.
We knitted Rabbits and Chicks covering small cream eggs and donated them to the Alexander Devine Hospice where they were sold for £3 each. This year we knitted some 40 egg covers and filled them all with eggs.
We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Party everyone enjoying lovely food some games and best of all a professional singer/entertainer Mr Derry Pope sang to us for one hour
Just before Christmas Children from St Johns School came and sang to us then came into the hall and played games while chatting to our guests.
We entered Mortimer Scarecrow Trail some of our group enjoyed making Wallace and Gromit. We won second prize.
We are now preparing for World Bee Day in the month of May where we will decorate in and around the Methodist Church and grounds with knitted bees. All knitted by our ladies in the group.
Also new to us this year is the Mortimer and Burghfield Handy Bus. This has been invaluable for some of our group who wouldn’t be able to get out without this very valuable service. I think there is still one space left on the bus.
We have up to 58 people joining us every week with new people still dropping in most weeks.
If you are reading this and think that you might like to join us please just pop in on Friday mornings or know anyone who might enjoy time chatting to others. Or if you would like to help, we do still need helpers to help set up/pack up and also to help serve the tea, coffee cake etc.
Quotes from a few of our guests.
- I would rather come here than go to my therapist. It does me more good.
- This group saved my life after my husband died.
- I wish we could meet every day of the week.
- I have made so many friends here. I have got a life now.
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time 7 June
Matthew 9: 9-13,18-26
New International Version – UK
The calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 13 But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’ 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’
22 Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and the people playing pipes, 24 he said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Prayer of Commitment (inspired by Matthew 5: 14-16) and other prayers.
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Praying for peace between nations, peace in communities and peace in our hearts.
International Prayer of Peach
Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth; lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust; lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.
The source of this prayer is credited to both Hindu and Buddhist faiths and it was used by Mother Teresa in 1981 at St James Church, London. It is used by people of all faiths and none each day at noon to form a wave of prayer and hope rippling each day around the globe.
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Mortimer Methodist Church has installed a Bench, (made of recycled plastic) at our Cemetery in Drury Lane. So when waking, you may rest in the peace and tranquility of our wonderful village, and give thanks.
A welcome rest when walking in our beautiful countryside.
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Mortimer Methodist Church 