January 2026
One of the highlights of our Christmas season was the Blue Christmas service. A service for those for whom the season is not a joyful one. We, as a church really welcomed this candle-lit service, as we were mourning one of our dear Stewards, Toyin Akinwale, and also another dear friend of the church. There was not a dry eye, as we hung our blue baubles in remembrance.
Our New Year began with, "After the Rush" a Ladies Retreat day, which was held at Downley Methodist Church. It coincided with Epiphany (the Christian church's celebration of the wise men visiting Jesus). The retreat day was attended by women from Rev. Rachael Prince's four churches, and was led by Rachael. We started with a time of worship, followed by poems, meditation, music, free time, art and craft, solitude, and a beautiful lunch all prepared for us. We asked God to bless us on our journey into the New Year and for rest during that day to 'put down' all that we carry in the way of burdens, concerns and worries.
Our Coffee Mornings continue on the second Saturday of the month at 10.30 a.m. All are welcome! Do come along, we have many ladies and the occasional gentleman from the village who come to enjoy a chat over coffee, and cake. We have demonstrations, travel talks, board games and many more activities planned. We are planning a Lent Lunch for the meeting on 14" March, which will on that occasion start at 12.00 noon. There will be no specific charge for the lunch but a box will be put out for donations.
Easter Services: Easter Sunday 5" April, service starts at 10.30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday, 2 April, a supper starting at 7p.m., followed by a meditative service at the table, to include Holy Communion.
We are planning a new website, which is long overdue.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.
©Geraldine Nelson, Senior Steward
November - December 2025
Our harvest thanksgiving service
As I write, the Autumn is in full and glorious colour.
The sky is blue and the silver
birch tree in our garden has a golden glow.
We are so lucky to have such diversity of the seasons, each bringing its own special features.
We give thanks to our creator God!
We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our Church members. Dear Oluwatoyin Akinwale (Toyin) passed away on 6 October, after a long illness, bravely borne with resilience and a calm spirit. She is survived by her husband Dr. William (Akin) Akinwale, her four grown up children and two granddaughters.
Toyin was a church steward, a member of the Prayer Group. Her life was marked by faith, service and love. We will miss her so much.
May she rest in peace.
At the end of September, we held our Harvest thanksgiving service. The Church was decorated traditionally, with autumn colours, fruits and vegetables. The congregation made offerings of money, which we forwarded to the Wycombe Homeless Connection, to help with the wonderful work they do for the homeless, and those less fortunate than ourselves.
In October we held a Charity Lunch and bric-a-brac sale, in aid of Action for Children (once known as National Childrens' Homes).
This was well supported by Church Members and some of the local community.
'Messy Church' will not be resuming, but we will consider it again in the Spring.
Coffee Mornings continue on the second Saturday of the month, from 10:30am until 12noon. On Saturday 13 December our coffee morning will serve mince pies, and we will be singing carols.
Happy Christmas to you all.
©Geraldine Nelson, Senior Steward
August / September 2025
As I write, Autumn is approaching and the Methodist Church's new year begins. We are encouraged by God's word in the Bible, to look forward and not to look back. We think of the well-known hymn/chorus, "One more step along the world I go; from the old things to the new, keep me travelling along with you." We pause to think of the children starting a new year at school, and the students off to college and University, and ask for God's blessing on them all.
Early in August, we held an Afternoon Tea, for anyone in the community who wished to attend. The hall was 'buzzing' with over forty people enjoying fellowship and friendship. Towards the end of the afternoon, Rev. Rachael Prince took a teacup and spoke for two or three minutes about it being either half full or half empty. She asked us what sort of feelings were stirred up, (excuse the pun) and reminded us that God is always ready to listen to us if we share our concerns and worries with Him.
We have donated funds to the British Heart Foundation, for a defibrillator to be attached to the front of our church in Coppice Farm Road.
By the time this edition of Village Voice goes to print, it will be up and running in the case of any cardiac emergency. The church has decided to do this as part of our service to the local community. It will be situated on the left- hand side of the front doors.
Our Harvest Thanksgiving service will be held on 5 October, with monetary offerings going to the Wycombe Homeless Connection.
Our monthly Messy Church will not go ahead during September and October, but may resume in November. Please see the noticeboard outside the church. Sunday services Start at 10.30am, with coffee served afterwards.
©Geraldine Nelson, Senior Steward
March - April 2025
During Lent, the weeks preceding Easter, our Minister's four churches engaged in a weekly Lent course via Zoom. We studied and discussed Hannah Steel's book, "Living His Story Together" which unpacks what it means to be a 'gospel-centred, spirit filled, prayer-soaked body of believers'. We can at least try!
On Saturday, 17 May, following the success of last year, we held a Circuit Vision Day, during which each of the seven churches in our circuit met at the URC in High Wycombe; shared lunch and had an afternoon of discussion and entertainment. Each church wrote a Psalm based on their year since the last Vision Day.
These Psalms were presented, read or performed one by one. The idea was that we have all
moved forward in some way, as scripture suggests we must, and not look back at what has been, but to what is to come.
One 18 May, our Minister Rev.
Rachael Prince gave her Testimony at Kidlington Methodist Church in Oxfordshire, preceding her Ordination, which is due to take place on Sunday 29 June at Shrewsbury Abbey. The service will be streamed to church during the afternoon. We ask God's blessing on Rachael as she takes this step of faith.
©Geraldine Nelson, Senior Steward
February - March 2025
The old year has ended and a new year has begun. Time to start afresh; what are our wishes for ourselves; our country and our world? What do we need to let go of, or indeed, what do we need to take up?
At TGMC we all received an email from our Superintendent Minister Rev. Kate Strange who is the leading Minister of the High Wycombe Circuit of Methodist churches. Kate points out that when she was appointed we had a staff team of four, full time but by next September we will have one full time and one 75% time.
The Circuit are planning a 'Vision Day', which will hopefully bring together the whole circuit, with a chance for everyone to talk together in the light of these changes. A chance for each church to share what is happening in their own church, to ask questions about property and finance, to help everyone understand more or less how Methodism works and how we are connected together and how we can find a way forward.
On the Thursday before Christmas, our Minister Rev Rachel Prince, led an evening
'Blue Christmas' service. This was primarily for those for whom Christmas is a struggle for whatever reason. It was so beautifully, and sensitively led with low lighting and candles.
This service will definitely be repeated in 2025
Messy Church is held on the second Sunday of the month at 2p.m. However, in March, because Mothering Sunday is on 10th, Messy Church will be held on 3rd March at 2.p.m.
The children attend with their parents) and have a fun hour with arts and crafts. During November they made paper angels for the Christmas tree which was entered for the Festival at Holy Trinity, Penn. On the second Sunday in December the Children took part in a Christingle service led by our Minister Rachael.
An enjoyable occasion for all. Happy New Year to you all from TGMC.
©Geraldine Nelson, Senior Steward