^{'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12 verses 1 and 2}

Dear Church Family

^{The name Francis Schaffer may be familiar to you. He was a renowned theologian, philosopher and advocate of Christianity. He was passionate about living the transformed life Jesus makes possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. To support this Schaffer founded L’Abri communities: "The L’Abri communities are study centers where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life. L’Abri believes that Christianity speaks to all aspects of life.”}

^{Just as the Apostle Paul 2000 years earlier, in these communities, as well as through his many books, teaching and preaching, Schaffer encouraged people to be ‘. . . renewed in their minds.’ Christians must think differently from the world! This is the opposite of being ‘. . . conformed to the pattern of this world.’ and a work of the Holy Spirit working through the eternal truth of His word.} 

^{Consider these points (based on David Guzik's commentary on Romans 12).}

^{Question: How do I worship God in the way that pleases Him?}

^{Answer: Offer offer yourself as a ‘living sacrifice.’} 

^{Question: What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?}

^{Answer: Not conforming to the way of the world but having your mind renewed: thinking rightly about God, yourself and how you live.} 

^{The world lives based on feelings and/or action.}

^{The life based on feeling says, “How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my wife? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?” This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.}

^{The life based on action says, “Don’t teach me, just tell me what to do. Give me the three points for this and the seven secrets for that.” This life of action will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.} 

^{It isn't that God is against feelings and action. He is the God of powerful and perfect feelings and He calls us to action. It is simply that the Christian life can’t be built on feelings or action but  on us being transformed in our thinking according to the truth of God’s word dwelling in us richly in the power of the Spirit.}  

^{So don’t try to build your discipleship by asking “How do I feel?” or “What should I do?” but by asking “What is true here? What does God’s Word say?”} 

^{Costly? Yes, a sacrifice is costly.} 

^{Worth it? Absolutely!} 

^{Building on the His truth}

^Jonathan

Our services are now live-streamed via our online radio station Shepton LifeStream and are available to listen live on Sunday mornings and at regular times throughout the week here

The audio recordings of the reading and sermon from these services are also available to hear again. Click on the play button in the players below.

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Parish Church, Church Lane, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BW (w3w: self.outs.think)

Parish Office, Peter Street Rooms, Peter Street BA4 5BL (w3w: growth.impulses.packages)

Peter Street Rooms are available for hire

Peter Street Rooms are the rooms normally used for Church activities but they are also available for hire. We have two large meeting rooms (one with ground floor and ramped access, the other on the first floor) and a smaller meeting room on the second floor. There is a kitchen, male, female and accessible toilets and a small courtyard.

If you would like to find out more details with a view to hiring the rooms, please contact our administrator, Helen Bennett on 01749 342163 or 01749 346320

Who we are

We are gathering again post covid. Learning from Jesus, that we may live for Jesus and love like Him. We believe that is what Jesus calls us to do. 

When and where

Our weekly service in Shepton Mallet is on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am in the Parish Church. To locate us precisely go here. Our village church services times are here

What to expect

We are a diverse Church family of all ages and backgrounds and who appreciate differing kinds of services. Being together is more important than having exactly what any one of us wants but we do strive to provide a breadth of styles to our services for all to engage in and enjoy. 

How long is our service?

The Sunday service in Shepton Mallet lasts for about 75 minutes. 

Service patterns

Currently we have Holy Communion twice each month on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. On the 4th Sunday, our children and young people return from their groups so that we are all present either to receive the bread and wine or to receive prayer. 

Prayer ministry

Prayer is offered each week during and after the service

What to wear!

Most members of our congregation are generally casual but some a little smarter and some less so. To be honest, we don’t mind how you dress or what you look like - we’d just love for you to come and meet us! 

Benefice Clergy, Readers and Staff

Shepton Mallet Standing Committee

Shepton Mallet PCC Members