Beckenham Methodist Church

30/07/2026

We See YOU!

We see you, even though
Sometimes we hide
Not wanting to get involved
Choosing to watch from inside

We see you, even though
We avoid looking into your eyes
Choosing to walk away
When we hear your cries

We see you, even though
We walk quickly away
No time to listen
To what you have to say

We see you, even though
We see your energy drain
We know you are hurting
But can’t help with your pain

We see you, even though
You are sleeping on the street
We know you will be cold
But don’t offer a blanket for your feet

We see you, even when
Your stomach is sore
You need some money
To buy food from the store
We see you, even when
You get dressed up white collar sleave
Struggling to get to your job
Hurriedly packing up your bed to leave

We see you, even when
We chose to walk on past
Leaving you cold in the corner
To our warm home in a hurry fast

We see you, even when
We know we should stop and care
But we to busy with our lives
No time with you to share

We see you, even when
We know we shouldn’t judge
That guilty feeling we get
Doesn’t take time to budge

We see you, even when
Your mind is murky with thought
Unsure of what to do for you
But know help to you needs brought

We see you, even when
Your sitting drinking sprits alone
When you have drunk so much
You just sway and groan

We see you, we know you are there
We judge without hearing your need
We think that guys dangerous
He’s probably strung out on w**d

We see and we are sorry
That it’s us that’s really weak
We are just too scared
To stop and hear you speak

We see you and plan
Next time we will Stop
But alas a bus came along
So, on it we quickly hopped.

We see you and hope we will make
An effort to help in some way
And make time to hear you and
What it is you want to say.

Thinking about Homeless people and how most just stroll on by , even though most homeless people were us at one point in there lives, and thinking about how quickly peoples lives can change, especially when they are struggling with an addiction.

19/07/2026

A life of addiction

Lord, we pray for the people
Who don’t have some where to live
That they may find shelter
To them kindness someone will give

I pray for those trapped in a life of violence
Off this situation help them get out
Be free of their misery
Let them be happy when they scream and shout

Lord, I pray for those suffering
From addiction may they find a Christian path
So, they can once again be joyful
When they stop for a heartfelt laugh

Lord, we pray for those who
No longer know what to do
That addiction has taken hold
No longer knowing the good from the bad or the true

Lord, we pray for the people that think
Living on the street is their only choice
Give them new opportunity’s
Let people around hear the cries from their voice

Lord, we accept that we a quick to judge
Those who choose to live on the street
It can’t be a pleasant life
Just a few belongs, like cloths and the shoes on their feet

Lord, we ask for some guidance
Of how we can help these people
As we sit in our warm church
With its roof walls, doors and steeple

Lord we are happy to give them
Food and clothing that’s nice
But how can we help their bodies
Be rid of sickness or head lice

Lord, we could give them the skills
Seeds planted in the right place
And help resow life ideas
When they have fallen down in disgrace

Lord, I think of the saying you can lead a horse to water
But you can’t make it drink
Through your guidance we can
Get them help to change the way they think

Lord, it’s not always practical
To open our doors let them come live
Or to offer so much
That these always an expectation that to them you will give

Lord, we pray for those people
Who need to hear lessons from you
To have patients and watch their seeds grow
And spend time working their troubles through

Lord, we pray to you
And know that you will hear
Lord, bring, these words to life
Please action our prayer

Lord; there are so many
Who are struggling to get by
Trying to do their best
But ending their days with a worried cry

Lord, we ask to give them strength
To get up when they fall short
Remind them these a reason to live
So, they have happy times to report

So, lord we thank you
For giving us time to pray
Give us the guidance so we can. make a difference
To someone needing faith today

Written by Mark Stephens 16-7-2026
After thing about homelessness and addiction

08/07/2026

02/07/2026

JOIN us tomorrow - stop in for a cuppa & stay for a chat!

22/06/2026

I see you
But I’m afraid
Not sure what to say

I see you
the way you struggle
not sure what I can do

I see you
With a sadness sharing a tear
Not sure how to show you kindness

I see you
I can tell your body hurts
Not sure how I can help you heal

I see you
I can tell you struggle to hear
Not sure I can help you learn to listen

I see you
Really wanting to lend a hand
Not sure how much strength you have

I see you
Holding back an upset tear
Not sure what nice things I can say

I see you
With dark thoughts running through your mind
Not sure how I can help

I see you
As your hope begins to fade
Not sure that I have the words you need to hear

I see you
And know you just want to leave
Not sure how we can though

I see you and I know you see me
Together wheelchair bound
Not sure if we will walk again

I see you and you see me
But I don’t have a voice
So, my thoughts I can’t share

I see you and will pray
I will pray that we get well enough
But not sure when we can leave

I see you I know you
Blame me for the accident
Not sure if you will ever forgive me

I see you I see the lord
I ask for forgiveness and health
Not for me, but for my friend

I see you I see forgiveness
I know you don’t know what you did
Not sure if your brain will ever heal

I see the world
And pray for healing
Not just for me but also my unknown friend

Written by Mark Stephens 21-6-2026
After thinking about Disability after a church service on disability and how some people become disabled after a car crash or other accident. How hard it must be for some people to communicate.

04/06/2026

Just a friendly reminder to join us tomorrow morning for “First Fridays”, 10:30! ❤️

28/05/2026

Beckenham Methodist Community Church reaches 100 Years

Welcome to our church
Everyone is welcome here
are you are again sitting
in your familiar chair

We have made it to one hundred!
so many eyes, for the walls to see
I’m sure you have counted the bricks
if so, you have something in common with me

With rooms at the back and on the sides
the church started in the hall
unfortunately, it had to be replaced
after an earthquake made parts of it fall

Many games were played
Panes of glass occasionally broken
The brigades taught leadership
While Christian values were spoken

For a while we joined with the Tongan Church
And they shared our space
I will always remember the courtyard Hungi
And the whole cooked pigs face!

We had groups that laid carpet in the hall
So, RC cars they could race
then they would put all the carpet and jumps away
and would leave without a trace

The indoor bowls was a hit
played gracefully in our hall
a time of competition
on how close, you can get a ball

The grassy carpark out the back
got concreted and marked
then the gardens were dug
planted and barked

A wall was demolished
A new youth room was made
A freshly painted I beam
Across the roof was laid

We fund raised for funds
Through auctions and a yearly fair
I’m not sure about you
But I always took home my share!

We had a white elephant stall
Books clothing and stamps
Jewelry, baking and plants
And equipment to take on camps

We held many different services
A café style is hard to beat
We thank all our ministers
And the people who listened from a seat

The first I can remember was Dereck Laws
He married my Mum and Dad
Then came Max and Margret
Whom were garden mad

Followed by Rob and Dawn Ferguson
They had kids how neat
Rob Confirmed a lot of us
And gave us church keys what a treat

Alan and Glenis Webster to our church
Soon came along
They brought a lot of theater plays
Where the youth preformed with song

Along came Mele
she had her own Samoan style
She would always greet you
With a lovely big smile

When we sing about the sun shine
We remember, Janet our friend
Many walks around Canterbury
Walking times she did lend

Today we have Robin and Paul
Moanna and Ruby, they bring along
They are really great at teaching
New actions to a new song

I would also like to thank
All those who lay preach
Many a thing over the years
To us you did teach

We had a service run from
Sitting high up in a rafter
People lightly sprayed with water
Came a little bit after

We have a group who
On a Thursday meet
They spend time doing yoga
Moving their hand and feet

Theirs, people in the church
Who meet on a Friday for a walk
As they go about the loop
They pray share and talk

We had a group
That made friendships strong
Called the friendship club
From our community, they were allowed came along

Anti-natle I’m not sure
What that’s all about, do you know?
but they meet in our building
and for some reason the women continue to grow?

We have had weddings
And some baptisms with a splash
Witnessed the first kiss
Although some were more like a pash

There is also a group
Who famously sing in the loop
Who play games with the children
And show them how to use a hula hoop

We have a new kitchen
Where our food is prepared
Often like today food we have
With visitors shared

We often celebrate with food
Like our Midwinter xmas meal
I enjoy organizing them
But others find it an ordeal

Often, we can be heard
Having an after-meeting carpark chat
One leaning against a car
That inside the other is sat

After the earthquakes
We moved the pews to Colombo Street
Alan ran a outdoor service
With scones and a cuppa it was neat

We often have a Christmas service
That runs till about midnight
A special message is given
Full of grace and insight

At least once a year we have a prayer vigil
We sit for an hour prayer on the mind
We come alone with prayers on our heart
Kind thoughts are not hard to find

What about the fun days
Mobility scooters and bouncy castle
Outdoor games live music
Food and a mystery parcel

Our church has also celebrated people’s lives
As unfortunately they passed away
Its very interesting listening to
What their friends and family have to say.

Communion is shared with the elements
Of flesh and blood, given for you
We confess our sins and ask for forgiveness
As the week we start a new

We cater for many in our church
we have a family night service for everyone
Creche on Sunday mornings
Followed by morning tea in the sun

So, lord we pray for all those
Whom make time to visit this place
We hope they will take abord the message
And leave with a heartfelt of grace

Let the people be your voice in the community
As through voice and action we spread your word
Help us to support each other’s needs
As we pray, we know our prayer will be heard

Written by Mark Stephens 16-05-2026

28/05/2026

Thanks for the next 100 years

Today we remember the work
Of those who spread your word
And pray for the people

That have come to this church and heard

Lord, we pray for the those amongst us
That do the work often not thanked or seen

There are so much they do

When you know, you can see where they have been

Lord, we thank you for the so many
Different songs that we can sing
We pray for our musicians
For all the sounds to our ears they bring

We thank you for the morning tea
The cuppa and talk that we share
We pray for those in the kitchen
And thank them for being here

Lord, we thank all those stewards
Looking after the door, ready to greet
We thank them for their kindness
As we walk in from the street

Lord, inspire those people
That in our church preach
Guide them in the holy spirt
So, we can learn about what they teach

Lord, we pray for those that
Are sick feeling unwell
Let them get better

through faith, make them again well

Lord as we go about this week
Let us remember those that led
And the words of empowerment
That they once said

Let our people continue to be heard in the community
through voice and action, we have spread your word
Help us to support each other’s needs
As we pray, we know our prayer were heard

Lord, bless all those in our church’s community
We pray you give them a sign to follow you
Keep giving us the right teachings
So that they know what they hear is true

We pray for those people unwell

those that feel trapped and can’t ask for a helping hand
That they may find freedom through church
Know we will help and try to understand

Lord, we ask that you continue to guide our leaders
Encourage them in a faith so they can help grow

A new generation of people
With their own Christian seed to sow

We pray for the safety

Off all Christians around the world today
Give them the opportunity to learn
And safely make it through another day

Lord, we ask that you guide all those
For whom power has gone to their head

And they no longer know the consequence of what they do
We pray you give them an opportunity to be Christian lead

Lord, we ask that you guide us
To be good stewards in this place
We thank you for the children
Who will one day lead this space

We pray for the people of our church
That they can find joy and laughter here
While learning about each other
With Christian values they share

Thank you, lord that once again
We can come here and freely learn and pray
Gives us strength to talk about you
As we go about our day

Amen

By Mark Stephens 15/5/2026

28/05/2026

100 Years Of Faith
Welcome to our church
Everyone is welcome here
are you are again sitting
in your familiar chair

We have made it to one hundred!
so many eyes, for the walls to see
I’m sure you have counted the bricks
if so, you have something in common with me

lord we pray for all those
who have stood up the front and taught
a better understanding of the bible
to us this is what they have brought

lord. we thank you for our buildings
this church 100 years strong
We know church is not the buildings
So we thank you, for all those who come along

Lord, we thank you for being able
To celebrate the lives of those who passed away

It’s very interesting to hear

What their friends and family have to say

Lord as we gather today
In this church space
We thank you for our buildings
And the wardens who looked after this place

We remember the work
Of those who spread your word
And pray for the people

That have come to this church and heard

Lord, we thank you for the generations

Of people that this building has provided a Christian Walk

And the thousands of lives changed
When we make time to stop and to talk

Lord, we thank you for donations
Materials, money, time and thought
We thank all those before us
And the future thinking they brought

Lord, we pray for those people that
Have let their faith slip away
That we can encourage them to return
Shine a light to lighten up their way

Lord, we thank you for the heaters
That keep us cozy and warm
And the roof and walls that weather us

From any sort of storm

Lord, we thank you lord
For all your past insight

May the holy spirit keep leading us through dark times
So, we can see and travel, with a comforting light

Lord as we go about this week
Let us remember those that led
And the words of empowerment
That they once said

And we pray for the future
That whatever happens we will be alright
While we navigate the bible
Give us understanding and insight

Written By Mark Stephens 17 5 2026