Thought for the Week by Rev’d Vicci
Friends
We are heading towards an exciting year in the autumn with Burnham Methodist Church celebrating its 130th anniversary and Windsor its 150th. Burnham and Windsor have always had a connection – albeit a slightly dubious one – since the earliest days of Methodism and I wanted to share the story with you today as it shows how much God is able to work through even the apparently bad things.
On Tuesday, September the 28th, 1742, John Wesley wrote the following in his diary: “A little before twelve I came to Windsor. I was soon informed that a large number of the rabble had combined together, and declared again and again, there should be no preaching there that day. In order to make all sure, they had provided gunpowder enough and other things some days before. But Burnham fair coming between, they agreed to go thither first, and have a little diversion there. Accordingly they went, and bestowed a few of their crackers upon their brother mob at Burnham. But these, not being Methodists, did not take it well, turned upon them, and gave chase. They took shelter in an house. But that would not serve; for those without soon forced a way in, and seized on as many as they could find, who, upon information made, were sent to jail. The rest ran away, so that when I came, none hindered or interrupted.”
It seems then that there has always been something of a relationship between Burnham and Windsor, and I hope that Cookham Rise will forgive my focusingon them today. The message remains for all of us, that God can and does work through all things for good for them that are called according to his purpose. Celebrations are in order for the coming year and there will be a “Big Sing” at Burnham Park Hall at 2pm on 30th August to celebrate 333 years of various organisations in Burnham, and the Town Crier will initiate the Windsor celebrations on the 5th September at noon at the statue of Queen Victoria. Both events will be followed by picnics!
May the mob continue to pass us by, whilst those who seek an answer to the spiritual needs of their lives find us through the work of the coming year.
God bless, Vicci