优先考虑他的存在

为神而活和与神同在之间，存在着一种微妙而深刻的差别。许多信徒全心全意地信奉神，忠于教会生活，勤勉服事，真诚祷告，却仍然感到内心深处的躁动不安或属灵的疲惫。问题很少出在委身不足上，更多时候是优先事项的错位。我们已经学会了如何为神工作，但我们仍在学习如何与神保持同在。优先考虑与神同在并非少数人才能拥有的属灵高阶选择，而是建立健康基督徒生活的基石。

从圣经的开篇，神就显明祂渴望与人建立关系。《创世记》3章8节告诉我们，在凉爽的傍晚，耶和华神与亚当和夏娃在伊甸园中行走。在罪破坏了这种团契之前，神的同在是常态。神并非遥不可及或抽象，而是亲近且充满关系。这种渴望从未改变。在整本圣经中，神不断地吸引祂的子民回到祂身边，不仅仅是为了顺服或成就，更是为了与祂相交。

然而，神的同在却很容易被其他事物所取代。现代生活崇尚速度、效率和曝光度。甚至属灵生活也可能被任务驱动。我们读经是为了预备讲道，祷告是为了完成清单上的任务，服侍是为了满足某种需要。这些本身并没有错，但它们却会在不知不觉中用忙碌取代了专注。诗篇46篇10节直接指出了这种倾向，上帝说：“你们要静默，要知道我是上帝。” 静默并非被动，而是一种深思熟虑的信靠姿态，承认上帝的同在和充足。

耶稣以清晰而始终如一的方式树立了这种与神同在的榜样。福音书中反复记载他离开人群去祷告。马可福音1章35节记载，清晨天还黑的时候，耶稣就到僻静的地方去祷告。这并非逃避责任，而是为责任做准备。他的公开事工是由私下的交通所维系的。权柄源于与神的亲密关系，而非努力。

当我们忽略他的同在时，我们常常会变得被动反应，而非明辨是非。我们会仓促做决定，用忙碌取代顺服。我们衡量成果的标准不是忠诚，而是忙碌。在出埃及记33:14中，上帝用以下的话语安慰摩西：“我必亲自与你同去，使你得安息。”安息并非在于没有工作，而在于确信上帝与你同在。若没有祂的同在，即使是有意义的工作也会变得沉重。

路加福音10:38-42中马利亚和马大的著名故事，以牧者的温柔描绘了这种张力。马大忙于服侍，心神不宁，而马利亚则坐在耶稣脚前聆听祂的话语。耶稣肯定了马利亚的选择，并非因为服侍不重要，而是因为同在必须放在首位。先坐后服侍。如果我们颠倒了顺序，或许依然忙碌，却失去了专注。

优先考虑与祂同在需要我们刻意地重新安排时间。这意味着守护与神同在的时间，不是将其视为责任，而是将其视为喜乐。这意味着放慢速度阅读圣经，聆听神的声音，而不仅仅是为了获取信息。这种祷告既包含聆听，也包含表达。随着时间的推移，这种专注会重塑我们的内心世界。我们开始在一天之中，而不仅仅是在特定的时刻，感受到神的同在。

耶稣在马太福音11:28-29中的邀请意义深远：“凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。”安息在于来到祂面前，而不仅仅是停止一切活动。同样，耶稣在约翰福音15章的教导呼召我们住在祂里面。丰盛的果实源于持守，而非努力奋斗。祂说，离开祂，我们无法成就任何具有持久价值的事。

归根结底，优先考虑祂的同在是一种信靠的行为。它宣告神比我们的生产力更重要，与祂亲密才是最终目标，而不仅仅是让我们做得更多的动力。在一个充斥着匆忙和喧嚣的文化中，选择与祂同在，本身就是一种默默的反文化行为。然而，正是在这种静默和专注中，我们重新发现了与神同行的喜乐，既不急于前进，也不落后，而是每天住在祂赐予生命的同在中。

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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 gather regularly to share life and demonstrate 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 begin each service with lively worship, featuring songs from around the world, followed by inspiring, 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 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 ample 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 issues (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, regardless of age, to join the service. We offer Sunday School, which begins after worship and runs concurrently with the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes, serving 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, fourth and fifth Sundays. If you want to get more acquainted, why not join us for a Sunday lunch with some of our members? The first meal is on us (Voucher provided). 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