Shepton Mallet Benefice and the Coronavirus (covid-19)
20th
January
2021
24th January
2021
January
6th
2021
January2021
A letter from Jonathan
Our next service for Sunday 24th January will be live-streamed at 11.00. You can watch the service on our YouTube channel or by clicking in the player below.
Dear Church Family
When people talk about being a Christian, conversations often focus on Church. When people talk about Church, they typically focus on services. When people talk about services the one area that tends to become the focus is worship. This is perhaps understandable, since ‘worship services’ are a natural focus of our lives as Christians. However, is this understanding of being a Christian, Church and worship what we find in the Bible?
Following on from last week [Church Family News 13/01/21], the events of 2020 have presented us with a rare, if not unique, opportunity to reflect on our assumptions about Church and worship. The suspension of services in our church buildings offers us an unusual vantage point from which to reflect and pray with our Bibles open that the Lord would illuminate and expand our understanding of what it means to be a Church family in Shepton, Doulting or Cranmore. As He does so, we will be inspired and enthused as we seek the way forward in the year ahead.
Once again, I find myself returning to the inspiring and exciting supernatural ’new-born’ Church of Pentecost.
'42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.' Acts 2:42-47.
I was talking with a friend about these very verses only the other day and said, ‘We should all memorise them!’ I really think we should! They present us with a vibrant vision which we will move towards as we keep them before us in prayer. These verses highlight for us how the Church is the Church all the time not just on Sundays. Similarly, they remind us that, for Christians, all of life is an act of worship as all is done to the praise and glory fo God. They show us how living as Christians in all of life is the most powerful witness there is in the world to the transforming power of Christ. And it is deeply attractive.
My challenge to you is simple: memorise Acts 2:42-47, think about this description of Church, pray and be encouraged by the promise of last week. If we are willing be ‘trained' by the Lord, He will produce ‘. . . a harvest of righteousness and peace.’
Love and blessings
Jonathan
Services online
Sunday services at St Peter and St Paul’s
Covid Pandemic update: As of Wednesday 6th January, England returned to lockdown conditions. Following much prayerful consideration, the Rector, churchwardens and PCC have decided to suspend attended services for the time being. Our pre-recorded online services will continue as before - see here for full details.
However, the church building will be open for private prayer on Sundays from 10.00 until 12.00. The church will be unattended. Strict covid regulations will still be in place for anyone visiting the church building at this time. The protocols below refer to the former attended services but largely still apply to anyone visiting the church after 6th January for Sunday private prayer.
While we have put in place recommended hygiene and distancing practices, it is very important that you make an informed decision about when to return to services, taking into account any health issues and risk factors which apply to you or your family. For any who can’t attend, we’ll continue to stream services online so there is no pressure to return before you feel ready to do so.
Arriving
During the service
Departing
If you or any of your household:
Benefice Updates
Supporting our fellowship
We are keeping a list of those who are self-isolating, along with any particular pastoral or practical needs so that we can arrange appropriate help. Morag Brown is co-ordinating this. Please let her know of any needs or changes to need as they arise.
Keeping us praying
Praying together as a family is vital. We will be sending out a weekly list of prayer needs for the whole church family and our community. Do try to set aside a time each day to pray - many of us are pausing at 8 in the mornings and evenings to do this, and knowing that others are too at the times is encouraging.