Questions About Faith
What is the Most Important Commandment? 
To love God and your neighbour (everyone) as yourself; to treat everyone with respect and dignity just as you would like to be treated by others.
Jesus told us to love one another as there is no greater commandment than this: it embraces the Ten Commandments so succinctly. As it is increasingly difficult to obey, we use the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ to aid us in the task.
We agree with the supreme importance of the first commandment. Without this the Christian faith is merely lip-service. We try to demonstrate this through our actions in daily life, which for many of us as Christians should be an expression of loving God and our neighbours.
As it is written: “God so loved the world that he gave his son, that who so believe in Him (with love) should not perish but have everlasting life. “
In summary, what Jesus told us is the best answer: to love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
What is the Highlight in a Year at Our Church?
The story of Jesus is explained in the gospels as the calendar of the church year unfolds, and the celebration of each festival – with Easter being the fulfilment of God’s plan for mankind and His expression of His love for us.
Many of us have our own ‘firm favourites’ throughout the year including the Christmas Lunch Club, for those who would otherwise be alone. We provide for the opportunity to receive Holy Communion in the place where people live – when it is difficult or impossible to attend worship at Church. Our confirmation services are always a warm and welcoming occasion, enabling all of us to share in personal commitments of faith. In addition to this we have school and group services (such as Carol Service) as a means of sowing seeds within the community.
Bourne Abbey serves its community not just in its regular and occasional services, but pastorally. We welcome families to church for Holy Baptism, preferring the personal approach whereby the Vicar will spend time with you and your family. As the church family, we feel a commitment to supporting you in your child’s Christian development; our family services are geared to all ages but particularly focused towards children and young people and provide a link with the Baptism of your child.
The Christingle service is a moving experience that appeals to children big and small. Epiphany for many is a season of joy in the church because it enables us to experience the story of the Magi and their response when they see Jesus for the very first time.
There are some of our congregation who get a great deal of satisfaction from our monthly Choral Evensong, not only for musical reasons but because it brings together a number of our musical friends and provides a further dimension to the church’s liturgy.
Celebrations that are outside of the normal ‘service’ schedule help us to feel part of something so much greater, often during services in the evenings which make the Abbey feel a safe, warm haven especially when the congregation have made a special effort to be there. The stained glass ‘pops’ in the evenings as it retracts in the colder weather and the Abbey gives the ‘feel good factor’.
It’s clear from all of this that each group has its own different highlights throughout the year most services hold a special meaning for many within our congregation. This is not to forget or belittle the wonderful range of regular activities that happen within and around the church. All of these things help unite and make everyone welcome. Amen.
Why do Members of Bourne Abbey go to Church?
Attending church is an important aspect of practicing your faith. Through church we are able to demonstrate and set an example to our children and other family members. Through the teachings we receive in church we allow or give ourselves the freedom to decide what we will get out of it and make our choices. Going to church puts life into perspective and provides an environment where we can clear our heads, taking time out from the trials and tribulations in life to think of and pray for others. The congregation and the church family in general provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere in which we can all enjoy our faith.
After the rigours of the working week, going into church brings peace and spirituality as well as recharging our batteries for the coming week. Many of us feel a need to attend church to receive Holy Communion in a public and positive demonstration of our faith. We enjoy fellowship with other Christians, being together and sharing the good times and the bad. We enjoy being stimulated by music, singing and the preaching of the word of God.
Going to church provides very much a social need, companionship and friendship which can aids to comfort after sorrow, bereavement and illness. Church for many of us is an uplifting experience which helps us meet life’s challenges; to say ‘thank you’ to God for being with us in our daily lives.
There are many, many diverse reasons why members of Bourne Abbey go to church: from simple fellowship to exploration and strengthen of their faith, to live as Christians in the community and live by that faith as an example to others.
I Haven’t Been to Church in Years and am Feeling Guilty – How Can I Find Help?
Many people have had a bad experience of attending church in the past and really need a positive and warm welcome to encourage their return. We are a loving church family which is responsive to the needs of others and has a warm and open atmosphere which encourages new members to feel at home.
It’s often best, if you haven’t been for a while, to visit the church outside of worship times. Take a look around and see what is on offer. Sit and stay a while in the beautiful space that is Bourne Abbey; make yourself familiar with the building or offer to accompany the person – go with them and show them around, introduce them... listen to them.
At Bourne Abbey we invite people to feel as though they can take their time to get a feel for how ‘things’ work within the church. People who come back to the church after an absence or indeed for the first time should always be given the space to unobtrusively slip in and out without feeling singled out. The role that the Churchwardens play is critical in spotting and guiding newcomers discretely.
Jesus is our teacher and was born as a man to be the messenger of God on earth. Jesus is our light, our saviour and our friend who delivered the word of God in a positive way. Making it personal and more accessible to the people. Jesus is the main character in the New Testament making the bible story come alive through the spiritual teachings.
Jesus was born with human strength and weakness and could therefore relate to us, forgive us our sins, and ultimately die for us as well. Jesus is God in human form, the basis of our belief and religion.
We believe he lived about 2,000 years ago and was God in human form with all their frailties but showed us how to conduct our lives in the present day. He provides us with a route back to God.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, who we should try to follow, even though it may be difficult. He is our saviour and our friend; He was sent by God to be an example to us and through his Resurrection demonstrated everlasting life.
What Makes Bourne Abbey Distinctive?
Bourne Abbey has been a place of worship for nearly a thousand years and because its monks were of the Augustinian Rule has served the community as a parish church as well as an Abbey from the outset. It serves as the focus of the town for all residents. It has a reputation for its quality of music. The beautiful building is enhanced by a celebration of traditional Anglican liturgy together with a great variety of services.
Some members of the congregation come to church because of the wonderful musical tradition, which combined with the ritual helps people to meet with God. God’s word is brought to life in a thoughtful, relevant and inspiring way of preaching, giving us spiritual nourishment for the week ahead.
Father Chris, our Vicar, doesn’t make anybody feel judged and is welcoming to all who come through our doors. Children especially are encouraged and accepted, rather than just tolerated. This often makes attendance easier for their parents.
A clergyman to most people, at least the stereotype, is an old man who is out of date with modern living with no sense of humour. However, Father Chris is the complete opposite to this: he is friendly and approachable to all ages. It’s not just Father Chris’ long hair that makes him stand out of the crowd, but the way he makes everyone feel so welcome into the church.
Bourne Abbey is also a historical Grade 1 listed building in the centre of a rural community. The ambience, combined with beautiful stained glass, wondrous organ music and beautiful vestments all combine to offer wonderful experience to all who enter our doors.
Compared to most Anglican churches in the area, the ‘ceremonial’ aspects of our worship amplifies the parts of the service that we, as Christians in this place, focus our hearts and minds: the Gospel reading and ultimately the Eucharist, where God offers His love to us and we offer our thanksgiving in return to Him.
Children's Responses: What is Good about Bourne Abbey Church?
During a recent workshop, children from Bourne Abbey church were all ask the same question: what is good about Bourne Abbey Church? Their responses can be found below. These were unprompted and the results are entirley their own.
- You get to pray, thanking God for supporting you and your family and friends and those you do not know
- To be with your family, sharing the experience
- I like the pet service
- I like the food after the service (tea and biscuits)
- Singing the songs I sing at school
- When Father Chris does something funny
- I like it because it is about God and Jesus
- In God’s home you feel special and privileged
- The atmosphere, historic and traditional
- The community feel, everyone is friendly
- You get to hear stories from the bible
- Stained glass windows
- Organ music
- The piano
- The choir
- The big bell
- The quiet in the morning
- The big cross that Jesus died on to sacrifice himself for others
- Father Chris
E-mail: info@bourneabbey.org.uk