与上帝一起在候诊室

等待从来都不是一件容易的事。在我们这个崇尚即时答复、次日送达和实时更新的文化中，等待几乎让人感到不自然。然而，圣经里充满了这样的人，他们发现自己身处神的等候室——在那些日子里，应许已许下，却尚未实现；祷告已蒙垂听，却尚未蒙应允；境况依然僵硬地停滞不前。

我发现，这些等待的时刻是最艰难的，但也是最能塑造人心的时刻。等待暴露了我们的不耐烦、控制欲和缺乏信靠。但它也为神创造了空间，让他加深我们的信心，磨炼我们的品格，使我们更完全地顺服祂的旨意。诗篇作者宣告：“你当默然在耶和华面前，耐性等候他”（诗篇 37:7）。请注意，这呼吁不仅仅是等待，而是要耐心等候。这不是用手指敲桌子的等待，而是信靠神即使在看不见的时候也在动工的等待。

亚伯拉罕等待了二十五年，才等到神应许赐他一个儿子的应许实现。约瑟经历了背叛、奴役和监禁，才被抬进法老的宫殿。以色列人在旷野等了四十年。就连门徒也被告知要在耶路撒冷等候，直到他们领受从上头来的能力（使徒行传1:4）。因此，等待并非浪费时间，而是预备的时间。

在神的等候室里，常常感觉信心与挫折交织。你相信神已经说话了，但情况似乎毫无进展。我们很容易冲动行事，自行其是。亚伯拉罕和撒拉在对待夏甲时就尝试过这种做法，其后果影响了一代又一代。然而，以赛亚提醒我们：“那等候耶和华的，必从新得力；他们必如鹰展翅上腾”（以赛亚书40:31）。请注意，更新是在等候中，而不是等候之后。雄鹰并非扇动翅膀更用力，而是借着看不见的热气流翱翔。同样，当我们与神一同等候时，祂的灵会引领我们。

等候并非被动。它呼召我们坚持不懈地祷告，就像路加福音18章中那位在不义法官面前的寡妇，被鼓励不断地将我们的祈求带到神面前。祷告使我们与神保持联系，提醒我们祂仍然是我们的泉源。它呼召我们忠心地服侍，就像约瑟在波提乏家中和监狱里所做的，以及大卫在扫罗的宫廷里等候登基时所做的。在小事上忠心，能预备我们承担更大的责任。等候也邀请我们专心聆听，就像以利亚所发现的，神的声音并非来自地震或烈火，而是来自温柔的低语（列王纪上19章）。当我们意识到沉默能磨砺我们属灵的耳朵时，它就成了一份礼物。等候总是引导我们深深地信靠，正如箴言3:5提醒我们的那样：“你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明。”放下我们的时间表和控制欲，正是这份信靠的核心。

回顾我自己的旅程，我明白，上帝的等候室常常是祂塑造我最深刻的地方。不耐烦被顺服所取代。疑问变成了与祂的对话。沉默变成了更深层次的邀请。等待的果实不仅仅是最终的答案，更是我们内心发生的转变。我们发现了一位不着急，却也从不迟到的上帝。我们认识到，祂的迟延并非拒绝，而常常是出于怜悯，使我们在适当的时刻得到祝福。正如哈巴谷书2:3提醒我们的那样：“因为默示有定期；虽然迟延，总要等候；因为必临到，不迟延。”

如果你今天发现自己在上帝的等候室，请鼓起勇气。你并非孤军奋战。几乎每个信心英雄都曾等待过。等待并非徒劳——它是一堂神圣的课堂，上帝会在这里塑造你的信心，培养你的毅力，并预备你迎接未来的一切。倾身向前，认真聆听，忠心地服侍，坚持不懈地祈祷，并相信时机成熟时，上帝会为你打开大门，引领你前行。你所等候的那一位是信实的。

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Planning your Visit

Welcome to Runnymede Christian Fellowship, an Egham Church

Runnymede Christian Fellowship is a church based in Egham but serving a much larger geographical area. Those who call us home come from Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Englefield Green, Egham Hythe, Pooley Green, Maidenhead, Heathrow, Slough, Ashford, Thorpe, Windsor, Woking and beyond.

Our church is a community of believers who regularly meet to share life and show God's love. We do this by encouraging and serving each other and the community. We believe in the power of prayer and are always happy to pray for you.

Church - What to expect

Our Sunday service is available to stream online at 11:00 a.m. You can join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or X (Twitter).

The Sunday Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane in Egham open to all, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so. If you have any questions, please call us on 01784 637010.

We run a physical Sunday School most weeks. If you would like your children to receive a weekly Sunday School teaching pack that you can do from home, please email us at admin@e-runnymede.co.uk so that we can send you the materials.

Church on Sunday at Strodes College, Egham

Our Sunday service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically lasts about 90 minutes.

We start each service with lively worship with songs from around the world, followed by inspired Bible-based teaching. All our sermons are recorded and are available as a podcast after the service.

We have a monthly cycle of Sunday services, with our Communion Service being on the first Sunday of each month and an All-Age All-Nation Service on the second Sunday of each month. Our other Sunday services include Spirit-focused and teaching services.

We have consciously adopted being a blended church, that is, both for those online and face-to-face. You are welcome to join us on Livestream or via Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube, or X (Twitter), or you can catch up and watch the recordings later.

Joining us in person

Visiting a new and unfamiliar church for the first time can be intimidating, but we want to ensure you feel welcome and enjoy your time with us. A friendly face will be waiting to meet you at the entrance and welcome you.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and prayer. Our Sunday Service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically runs for about 90 minutes, normally followed by tea and coffee.

Driving and Car Parking

Our Sunday Morning Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham, TW20 9DR, which has plenty of Parking. Click on the link for directions to RCF.

We have plenty of parking spaces right outside the building. Spaces are reserved near the entrance for anyone with mobility problems (for those with a blue badge). Please let us know if you need to use one of these spaces, have any special needs, or require any assistance.

The car parking area is a public area, so please ensure that your children are under your control and that, for their safety, they do not run around in the car park.

Visiting with children?

Everyone is welcome at RCF. We encourage everyone, young and old, to join the service. We have Sunday School, which starts after worship and runs during the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes for children aged 4 to 12. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a shorter All-Aged All Nations Service, where the children stay for the worship and the sermon.

After Church

We chat over coffee and biscuits after church on the first, third and fourth Sundays. If you want to get more acquainted, why not join us for a Sunday lunch with some of our members? The meal is on us! Please contact us and let us know. We would love to share a meal and get to know you better!

Fellowship Feast

Want to connect?

If you're interested in connecting with us, whether to join our online community or attend our Sunday gatherings, please use our connect card.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please review our FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to many common questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact us; we’d love to hear from you.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO RCF!!

To contact us or see a map, click here.

Our midweek Ministry base at Virginia Lodge, Egham
Virginia Lodge Ariel