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Marlow Methodist Church wholeheartedly support CTM's principle objective "to work together, so that the name of Jesus may be honoured and his Kingdom advanced in our local community".
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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN MARLOW
NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 47 AUTUMN 2025
LIGHTHOUSE MARLOW
In August, Lighthouse in Marlow celebrated 20 years since its inception by Anne Morse, followed by Pat Reading and Sarah Jones. Each year, this Christian-based celebration has been filled with joy, laughter, friendship and unforgettable moments. This year, there were 222 volunteers and 260 children registered. Here are two examples of the lovely feedback received from parents:
“xxx, xxx and xxx are having the best time with you this week doing crafts and coming back to tell me of the Bible stories they have been learning. I am hoping xxx would like to make her Holy Communion this year, so seeing her eagerly engaging outside of mass and home warms me. Thank-you to everyone in the Lighthouse family for taking your time to run such a wonderful week for the children.”
“Oh lovely! She’s never done Lighthouse before and didn’t want to go at all on Monday – was sobbing and had to be prised off me. She was only booked-in until Thursday and she came out yesterday almost sobbing again, because she wouldn’t be going today, so I managed to get her squeezed-in! It’s been such an amazing experience for her. Bet you’ve had a great week doing it. Thank you for volunteering. I know that it wouldn’t happen if people like you didn’t volunteer.”
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Read the annual report of Marlow Lighthouse here:
| lighthouse_annual_report_2025.pdf |
Harvest Supper
Report by Paddy Gallaugher
Report by Paddy Gallaugher
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This year’s CTM Harvest Supper, hosted by Marlow Methodist Church, broke with tradition and used the professional services available at the Ark Café. This meant that individual churches were not required to provide the food – instead, each person who came to the supper was asked to pay £10 for their ticket which was used to cover all food and staff expenses. Liz Riches and Suzanne worked hard in the kitchen to prepare the meal, and members of the church helped with all the other tasks.
If evidence was needed to show that the change was successful, it was clear from the outset that it enjoyed popular support. Not only was there a very good turnout with 57 diners attending, but it was encouraging to see broad support from across the churches. For this, our thanks must surely go to our respective CTM representatives for energetically promoting the occasion. If feedback about the meal is anything to go by, their assurances that our taste buds would be very satisfied were not misplaced!
Finally, I am pleased to say that, thanks to careful management by the chefs, extra portions were available for all who needed them! Moreover, after all expenses were met, a surplus of £150 remained. This amount has been donated to the One Can Trust. By the way, the competition of “Guess the Number of Conkers” was won by Mary Freeman. Well done to all concerned!
If evidence was needed to show that the change was successful, it was clear from the outset that it enjoyed popular support. Not only was there a very good turnout with 57 diners attending, but it was encouraging to see broad support from across the churches. For this, our thanks must surely go to our respective CTM representatives for energetically promoting the occasion. If feedback about the meal is anything to go by, their assurances that our taste buds would be very satisfied were not misplaced!
Finally, I am pleased to say that, thanks to careful management by the chefs, extra portions were available for all who needed them! Moreover, after all expenses were met, a surplus of £150 remained. This amount has been donated to the One Can Trust. By the way, the competition of “Guess the Number of Conkers” was won by Mary Freeman. Well done to all concerned!
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WHAT IS THIS NEW THING “PROJECT SHINE” IN MARLOW BOTTOM?
Project Shine is the plan to knock down the old Church in Marlow Bottom and build a brand new one! It will provide Marlow Bottom with a new, modern meeting space for the Church and local community. It will take what has served the community for sixty years but is now getting tired, and transform it into a modern, flexible, accessible and special building for Marlow Bottom. This new space will bring young and old together. It will help serve the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Marlow Bottom. It will offer community to the lonely, comfort to the hurting and hope to the lost. It will build on what is already there, and allow the brand-new growth of things yet unseen.
The new Church and Community building will be:
A Greenhouse: Where people of all ages can grow in faith & spirituality. At the heart of the building is the worship of Jesus Christ. This will be a building where people of all ages, at all stages of faith and in all sizes of groups, can come together to grow in faith through worshiping Jesus in all styles and traditions. But the new building is not just for the convinced but also for the sceptic. Our hope is that those who don’t worship Jesus will find a place where they are welcome to come and explore. To explore life in all its fulness and meaning. The new building will offer time and space to seekers after truth.
A Lighthouse: Jesus calls his church to be a ‘light’ in the community in which it stands. Where people feel in ‘darkness’ this building will be a place where the light of Christ will offer hope through the ministries that take place there. It will also shine a light into the houses of those who need practical support.
A Meeting House: The building will provide hospitality to a variety of groups and businesses that serve the needs of people in Marlow Bottom. Primary provision will be given to the local Baden-Powell Groups. The new building’s size will allow a wide variety of groups to meet there and build community. It will also be a place where the people of Marlow Bottom can celebrate, mourn, plan and create together.
For more detail do have a look at our website www.4u-team.org/project-shine
We would love your help please? Could you PRAY for us, for God’s guiding hand to lead us and provide for us. Could you PLEDGE to give financially to the project? You can do this through our website. Could you POINT others who may be interested in our direction or POINT us in their direction?
Rev Graham Watts [email protected]
WHAT IS THIS NEW THING “PROJECT SHINE” IN MARLOW BOTTOM?
Project Shine is the plan to knock down the old Church in Marlow Bottom and build a brand new one! It will provide Marlow Bottom with a new, modern meeting space for the Church and local community. It will take what has served the community for sixty years but is now getting tired, and transform it into a modern, flexible, accessible and special building for Marlow Bottom. This new space will bring young and old together. It will help serve the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Marlow Bottom. It will offer community to the lonely, comfort to the hurting and hope to the lost. It will build on what is already there, and allow the brand-new growth of things yet unseen.
The new Church and Community building will be:
A Greenhouse: Where people of all ages can grow in faith & spirituality. At the heart of the building is the worship of Jesus Christ. This will be a building where people of all ages, at all stages of faith and in all sizes of groups, can come together to grow in faith through worshiping Jesus in all styles and traditions. But the new building is not just for the convinced but also for the sceptic. Our hope is that those who don’t worship Jesus will find a place where they are welcome to come and explore. To explore life in all its fulness and meaning. The new building will offer time and space to seekers after truth.
A Lighthouse: Jesus calls his church to be a ‘light’ in the community in which it stands. Where people feel in ‘darkness’ this building will be a place where the light of Christ will offer hope through the ministries that take place there. It will also shine a light into the houses of those who need practical support.
A Meeting House: The building will provide hospitality to a variety of groups and businesses that serve the needs of people in Marlow Bottom. Primary provision will be given to the local Baden-Powell Groups. The new building’s size will allow a wide variety of groups to meet there and build community. It will also be a place where the people of Marlow Bottom can celebrate, mourn, plan and create together.
For more detail do have a look at our website www.4u-team.org/project-shine
We would love your help please? Could you PRAY for us, for God’s guiding hand to lead us and provide for us. Could you PLEDGE to give financially to the project? You can do this through our website. Could you POINT others who may be interested in our direction or POINT us in their direction?
Rev Graham Watts [email protected]
