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2008
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Letters from our Clergy
A letter from Alastair
Dear Friends,
In the last few weeks, how many times have you broken the law?
It’s strange how we look on some laws as being flexible while we wouldn’t be at all comfortable breaking others.
I would guess that all of us at times drive above the speed limit. And I guess that all of us would be horrified to be accused of stealing.
Most of us recognise the authority of law. We understand the need to regulate our behaviour by it.
If we break the law, we have to accept the fact that we may end up in court. The law has authority over all of us, whether we choose to accept it or not.
This month the church focuses on a different kind of authority.
Ascension Day falls on May 1. It’s a rather neglected festival these days, but its message is hugely important.
The symbolic picture of Jesus ‘going up to heaven’ is not to be taken literally as
if he were a bell-
As the New Testament puts it – ‘God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…’
Christians believe that everybody is subject to his authority, and that each of us will be accountable to him for the way we have lived, because he is the judge of the living and the dead.
The question for all of us is how we respond to the authority of Jesus in our own lives.
Yours sincerely,
Alastair Wallace
A Letter from Andrew
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank all those whose term of office has recently come to an end for all that they have done on our behalf in the parish – and beyond. In particular, I want to thank the Churchwardens, some of whom have retired after very many years devoted service, for all that they have done for our church and community families – and also for being so helpful to both me and my predecessors as your Vicar.
When one person retires, of course, another steps up to take on a new role. This can be a bit daunting, but I hope we can all take heart from the seasonal message of Pentecost. The disciples must have felt more than a little daunted, but the fact that we are Christians today – two thousand years later – is a testimony of the way in which, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, they were able to overcome their entirely understandable fears.
The most important part of the message, however, is not just that this happened two thousand years ago, but it happens today, and to many people. Indeed I am sure that not only I, but many of you, have felt the strength of the support that the Holy Spirit can and does give – often when we least expect it.
It should also be noticed that the disciples had spent some time preparing and training
for their role. This also remains possible. Some opportunities are mentioned below,
and there are other job-
With all blessings,
Andrew & Margaret
From Geoff
Amidst all the regular Sunday services there is a whole raft of other activities that St Michael’s engages in: here are a few examples.
Weekday services are held on Tuesdays at 9.30am and Fridays at 8.15am. These are
short Communion services lasting 30 minutes; they are simple and uncomplicated forms
of worship designed put people in the right frame of mind at the start of the day.
Tuesday is usually light-
Buttle Close: we are very lucky on Shepton to have the facilities offered in Buttle Close. Vicky is a wonderful Warden and the people who live in the Close are an example of caring community spirit. Once a month, Joan Kennedy leads an act of worship, prayer and song (especially song! Anne plays the keyboard) mainly for the residents, but lots of others from the village also attend. Next Services in Buttle Close Common Room: 1st May& 5th June at 11.30
Schools and Playgroups: a great school and playgroup; what more could we want for
our children? On Friday mornings at 9.15am, the top class from school go to church
for Assembly, where we explore what Christianity has meant through the ages and what
it means, in Shepton, in the 21st Century. Parents are welcome to attend. At the
same time Joan leads a similar exploration for the younger children in the school
itself. On Wednesdays I visit the Playgroup and read a story which is usually about
how we inter-
Special Service: 11th May Whit Sunday – Celtic Prayers 5.00
A service of quiet prayers and music in the Celtic tradition.
Special Service: 22nd May – Corpus Christi 7.00pm
Corpus Christi is translated as “the Body of Christ”, his sacrifice for us commemorated in the Last Supper, shared with his closest friends. This became the Communion service where we celebrate his sacrifice for us and his continued presence among us.
