http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/ 2026-04-20T18:31:16+00:00 http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/ http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/lib/tpl/dokuwiki/images/favicon.ico text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2007mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2007 Web on the Web * December 2007 - Christmas Story * November 2007 - Loved and Lost * October 2007 - Sense of humour * September 2007 - Passion Flowers text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2008mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2008 Web on the Web * December 2008 Thank you * November 2008 Remembrance Day * October 2008 BBC Thought for the Day by Claire Cambell Smith * September 2008 The Blind Man and the Elephant * August 2008 Lambeth Conference * July 2008 Perfection or Human * June 2008 - News & Views * May 2008 - Joyful Times - Sad Times * April 2008 - Sometimes we just need to be reminded * March 2008 - The Joy of Easter * February 2008 - Times they are a'changing * January 2008 - The Little Match Sel… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2009mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2009 Web on the Web * December 2009 Teach the Children * November 2009 Loved and Lost * October 2009 Fun in Church - revisited * September 2009 Fun in Church * August 2009 Thought Provoking * July 2009 The Wonder of ourselves * June 2009 Our Schools become Primaries * May 2009 Very Pleased to Report * April 2009 Day of Prayer * March 2009 What is Love (Rev'd Peter Knott) * February 2009 Two Sides to Any Argument * January 2009 A Different way of Looking at God text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2010mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2010 Web on the Web * December 2010 A Different Christmas Story * November 2010 Loved & Lost * October 2010 Three Points to Raise * September 2010 Thought for the Day * August 2010 Winsmoor Benefice * July 2010 Questions & Answers * June 2010 Companions of Jesus * May 2010 Forgive us, as we Forgive others * April 2010 I'm Banging on about our village schools again * March 2010 The Good News and The Not so Good News * February 2010 Meaningful Mobile Phone * January 2010 Some th… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2011mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff Web Magazine Extracts 2011 * January 2011 What better way to start the New Year... * February 2011 There is always hope ... * March 2011 Miracles do happen .... * April 2011 The Cross ..... * May 2011 ................. * June 2011 Best place to start * July 2011 Archbishop Oscar Romero wrote * August 2011 ........ * September 2011 Fund Raising * October 2011 Deanery Conference * November 2011 Loved & Lost * December 2011 ..... text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2012mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2012 Web Magazine *January 2012 Coping with distress ... *February 2012 Training ... *March 2012 A letter from Mrs Chloe Kingdon ... *April 2012 Buildings and People *May 2012 The Rector's page *June 2012 Welcoming our new Curate *July 2012 In the Book of Genesis *August 2012 Sin ...... *Saptember 2012 Glory to God. Amen Biscuit.. *October 2012 Just a Thought .... *November 2012 A Farmers Advice *December 2012 Chloe writes ... text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2013mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2013 Web Magazine Extracts *January 2013 The Little Match Seller ... *February 2013 Winter Months ..... *March 2013 What's with the fork? *June 2013 ...... *July 2013 Fr. Peter Scott writes *August 2013 If it rains on St. Swithun's day *September 2013 What are we doing and why are we doing it *October 2013 Harvest *November 2013 Remembrance *December 2013 Christmas text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:2014mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff 2014 Extracts from Web Magazine *February 2014 *April 20104 *July 2014 *August 2014 text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:apr2010mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff I'm banging on about our village schools again Fr. Geoff - and I make no apology for it! We are greatly blessed in our communities by having some very good schools, lead by a brilliant Headteacher, employing inspirational staff and administered by dedicated (volunteer) Governors. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:apr2011mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff Bold Text The Cross Whilst looking for something to write for Easter I came across this short piece by Max Lucado..... The Cross. Can you turn any direction without seeing one? Perched a top a church. Carved into a graveyard headstone. Engraved in a ring or suspended on a chain. The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. An odd choice, don’t you think? Strange that a tool of torture would come to embody a movement of hope. The symbols of other faiths are more upbeat: the six-pointed s… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:apr2012mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff Buildings and People I met a stonemason who was looking at the outside of a cottage in one of the villages and asked him what he was looking at. He replied that he was looking at the different types of material that had been used to build the house. There were very large, regular sized and well cut hamstone blocks; off to one side there were rougher odd shaped pieces; round one window there was brick as was the chimney from ground level to the top; in another place there were well cut but di… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:april2008&rev=1667290226&do=diff April 2008 Sometimes we just need to be reminded! (sent in to the Vicar) A well-known speaker started off by holding up a £20 note. In the room of 200, he asked, 'Who would like this £20 note?' Hands started going up so he said, 'I am going to give this £20s to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the £20 note. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:april2009mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff Day of Prayer (by the Vicar) On 6th March Christians throughout the world joined together to pray, and many of us locally met at Cudworth Church for the annual Women’s World Day of Prayer. This year the service was written by women from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and featured prayer, music, and facts from their nation and home. PNG lies in the Pacific Ocean close to the northern most point of Queensland, Australia, comprises many islands and has a land border with Indonesia: population 6.25 … text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:april2014mag&rev=1667290226&do=diff Headline “IF YOU can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you......” Rudyard Kipling's famous poem provides a key to understanding the story of Noah and the Ark as much as any scriptural commentary. Like other bible stories this is not to be taken literally. It’s a story of the human heart, a story which is true in that it happens again and again in ourselves, and Ronald Rolheiser recasts the story this way: Every so often there comes a time in history wh… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:aug2009mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Thought Provoking The Vicar writes: I am grateful to Rev Peter Knott for this very thought provoking homily. FOR many people, there are times in life when we feel we’re on a treadmill. Nothing dramatic has happened; we haven’t lost our job, we haven’t had a row with colleagues at work, or with friends or family. But each day seems to be just dull routine, and our day to day tasks have become a bit of a chore. Life has lost its sparkle. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:aug2010mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Winsmoor Benefice I am very pleased to be able to report that with effect from the 1st August the new united Benefice of Winsmoor will be created out of the Eight Parishes which currently form “our part” of the Ilminster Team. The Team was set up more than fifteen years ago to bring together sixteen rural parishes under the leadership of the Minster. Whilst this has always served it's purpose, in recent years the idea of “Team” (a formal and legally binding organisation) has been replaced b… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:aug2011mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff August 2011 - Doubting Thomas Doubting Thomas – the term “doubting Thomas” is still current in our vocabulary two thousand years after it was first used to describe the actions of Saint Thomas – Apostle – who doubted that Jesus had been raised from the dead, after the Resurrection appearance of Our Lord to the other Disciples. Thomas needed firm proof, the words of others was not enough, for him, “seeing is believing”. There is little known of Thomas' life beyond this well known event, howe… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:aug2012mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Sin - falling short In the church we seem to be a bit hung-up on guilt and SIN, breaking the rules. In the original Greek translation of the Bible, the word for sin is “hamartia” which means missing the point or not hitting the target. Repentance is “metanoia” meaning a change of perspective or point of view. In medieval England, archers said that their arrows had “fallen short” if they didn't reach the target. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:aug2013mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff If it rains on St Swithun’s Day I did a school assembly the other week; it was the middle of the heat wave. I talked about the custom of St Swithun, wherein if it rained on his feast day then it would rain for forty days afterwards. I felt fairly confident, with temperatures in the very high 20’s that it wouldn’t rain – and actually it didn’t (though some years ago I prayed for rain and we had very wet summers for three years!!!). The children were fascinated by the story behind the legen… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:august2008&rev=1667290227&do=diff Lambeth Conference by Fr Geoff I’m really glad I’m not the Archbishop of Canterbury! As I write this article (on 8th July), the conference of the world wide Anglican Communion has just got under way amid a lot of publicity on the TV and in the newspapers. As a country parson I appreciate that all the issues facing the conference have to be met and dealt with, but I have been dismayed by the attitude of many factions of our church. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:august2014mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff God's Quiet Presence Fr Peter Knott SJ ONE OF THE reasons why we struggle with faith at times is that God’s presence in us and in our world is rarely dramatic and something impossible to ignore. God doesn’t work like that. Rather God’s presence, much to our frustration and impatience at times, is something quiet and seemingly helpless inside us, rarely making waves. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:dec2009mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Dec 2009 - Teach the Children from Fr Geoff I had just finished for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise: I opened the sitting room door and there was Father Christmas behind the Christmas tree. “What are you doing?” text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:dec2010mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff A Different Christmas Story Fr. Geoff's Page: A Different Christmas Story: One We Can All Learn From: Ian came home from work late in the week before Christmas, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the front door. 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?' said Jack. 'Yes sure, what it is?' replied Ian rather brusquely. 'Daddy, how much do you earn in an hour?' 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' Ian responded angrily. 'I just nee… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:dec2011mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Snowflakes softly falling Snowflakes softly falling, on your window when they play, your blankets slung around you, into sleep you drift away. I bend to gently kiss you, when I see you on the floor, there's a letter dearly written - I wonder who it's for. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:dec2012mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff December 2012 Rev’d Chloe Kingdon, our Curate writes: It is upon us again, like an ever increasing drum roll, which starts in the shops and TV’s just after Harvest and finishes on the day before it truly begins.I must confess I buy in to the commercial side of Christmas a little bit having finished my Christmas shopping and got it all wrapped up. I let my children put up the decorations early in December, put the presents under the tree and then Advent for us is truly a time of waiting. We so… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:dec2013mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Christmas Rev’d Chloe Kingdon writes…… It seems to be the lot of a vicar – to anticipate the changing seasons and prepare for the next one before the current one has begun - and so I find myself writing this Christmas message on the same day my sermon for All Saints is securing itself in my brain. I know there is no choice, Advent must be swallowed up a little by Christmas, otherwise schools, and colleges would not get the chance to celebrate, Christmas TV programmes would not be recorded, and… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:december_2007&rev=1667290227&do=diff December 2007 The Christmas Story The Christmas Story Rev'd Geoff Wade Year after year we celebrate Christmas; we sing carols; we listen to the Christmas Story; we give and receive presents. But how often do we really think about the first Christmas and what it means? Here are three pointers to help you think. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:december2008&rev=1667290227&do=diff December 2008 THANK YOU – from the Vicar As the year draws to a close, I would like to thank all those people who help me run the Church Services in the Eight Parishes. We have a wonderful network of people who quietly get on with the work of opening and closing churches, turning the heating on early, putting out books (and tidying up afterwards!), musicians, cleaners, flower arrangers, etc, etc. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:feb2010mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Meaningful Mobile Phone - Feb 2010 Fr. Geoff I used to have a mobile 'phone: I used it very little - it was really just for emergency use – and I refused to “text” with it, it seemed so difficult, awkward and time-consuming, it never seemed to me t be worth the effort. All my family and lots of their friends texted each other several times a day, they used “text speak” where lots of the words are abbreviated and there's no punctuation; they are good and quick at it, and even seemed to enjoy… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:feb2011mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff There is always hope .... The Rector’s Page As the rain lashed against my office window, I found this little poem by E E Cummings (1894-1962) and then noticed a snowdrop, blooming through the mud ….There is always hope... i am a little church(no great cathedral) text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:feb2012mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Training People who have been selected because they have the potential to be “Vicars”, undergo a two part training which begins with some years studying through a distance learning course run by the C of E, or on a residential course at an established Theological College. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:feb2013mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Winter Months From Rev’d Chloe Kingdon - Curate The winter months are often seen as a rather gloomy, miserable time of year. There is nothing much to look forward to, we all feel fat after eating too many Christmas goodies, the house looks rather bare, and warm spring days seem a long way off. But a lot of you are getting to know me by now, and will be expecting me to find a cheery alternative, so I won’t disappoint… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:feb2014mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Fr. Geoff Writes On 5th March we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent, a time when we are encouraged to think about our relationship with God and how we might strengthen and foster it, remembering that a big part of our connection with God is determined by how we associate with those around us. To illustrate this have a look at St Mark’s Gospel, chapter 6, verses 34-44. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:february2008&rev=1667290227&do=diff Times they are a'changing By Rev’d Geoff Wade Many of you will be aware that Barrington and Ilton School have been trying to recruit a Head Teacher for two years; Shepton Beauchamp for one year. This is not a reflection on the schools; it mirrors the national lack of Head Teachers leaving something like forty schools in Somerset alone being without a proper Head. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:february2009&rev=1667290227&do=diff Two Sides to Any Argument Fr Geoff I think everyone will agree that the recent violence in the Gaza Strip has been quite appalling; I think it also true to say that the overwhelming force used by Israel has resulted in horrendous casualties amongst innocent people. However I think it also true to say that Hamas must carry a large proportion of the blame for this, though clearly the Israeli’s are not totally blameless; it does appear that they have used phosphorus weapons; they do seem to hav… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:home&rev=1667290227&do=diff Extracts from the Web Magazine * 2014 * 2013 * 2012 * 2011 * 2010 * 2009 * 2008 * 2007 text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jan2010mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff Some thoughts as we step into a New Year The Vicar’s page is, I hope are of some help – perhaps even inspiration – as we step into a new year. A Year of Time by Steven B Cloud: Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad idea, especially at the beginning of a new year. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jan2011mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff What better way to start the New Year What better way to start the new year than with some good news, and this time it's our children showing us how to behave! In November Barrington and Ilton village school had an OFSTED Inspection and, despite the fact that OFSTED have become ever more exacting with their marking system the School raised it's mark over the inspection three years ago and achieved an overall “Good” assessment with several “Outstanding” marks. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jan2012mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff COPING WITH DISTRESS What can we do in the face of a disastrous situation we cannot alter? When someone has to bear this, there is a period of time when we find ourselves feeling helpless. The pain is not easy to reach into and heal. Poets and novelists may offer some insight but no one can do much to take away the pain. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jan2013mag&rev=1667290227&do=diff The Little Match Seller – An old year’s story by Hans Christian Anderson It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had los… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:january2008&rev=1667290228&do=diff January 2008 - The Little Match Seller An old year’s story; Hans Christian Anderson It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:january2009&rev=1667290228&do=diff Different Way of Looking at God by Fr Geoff I was in a shop recently when a friend of mine from the Christian Fellowship gave me a book and suggested I read it, but he cautioned me to stick with it as the opening two or three chapters were a bit difficult. I took the book, persevered and really loved it. It is called “The Shack” by Wm Paul Young and is about a father who looses his daughter and his relationship with God …… I know, it sounds awful doesn’t it!!! But once the story gets int… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jul2010mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff July 2010 Questions & Answers By Fr. Geoff Below are some thoughts from an American boy – Danny - who was asked to explain God. It got me wondering how I would answer that …. I think his answers are better than some of mine! It reminded me that I probably have more questions about God than answers and that Danny has a more honest or uncompromised view than I do. Have a look at what Danny has written, as well as being amusing, they are very true. I'll be including some more in the month… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jul2011mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Archbishop Oscar Romero wrote It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view..... This is what we are about: we plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development; we provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jul2012mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff In the Book of Genesis In the Book of Genesis we read how God created the world – along lines very similar to Darwin's theory of creation – and in its centre he created the Garden of Eden; in it he placed Man and Woman made in his own image. Adam and Eve had charge over all Creation and every living thing lived in harmony; animals, plants, insects, human beings lived together, side by side, AND in the cool of the evening God walked in the garden, at one with his creation. Imagine that, Go… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jul2013mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff The Rectors Page In his novel 'The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne', Brian Moore tells of Judith Hearne a gifted woman, healthy, attractive, competent, comfortable financially, in good relationships with her family and friends. She is loved and respected but there is one problem. She is approaching midlife, is unmarried and without children. She is conscious that her biological clock is running down and everything in her life, health, job, family, friends begin to count for nothing when what… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:july2008&rev=1667290228&do=diff Perfection or Human - Jesus Family Tree Rev’d Peter Knott SJ Jesus’ family tree and bloodline were far from perfect, his family were human and we need to keep this in mind whenever we are tempted to believe in Jesus but to reject the Church because of its faults and failings. There is much in Jesus’ origins, that is just as disturbing as any contemporary church scandal. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:july2009mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff The wonder of ourselves By the Vicar St Augustine said: “People travel to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.” In my ministry – inside and outside of our parishes - I often here the same sentiment; so many people look at churches they visit and see the great things that they do, and come home and completely miss th… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:july2014mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff TO SUMMER BY WILLIAM BLAKE ‘O thou who passest thro' our valleys in Thy strength, curb thy fierce steeds, allay the heat That flames from their large nostrils! thou, O Summer, Oft pitched'st here thy goldent tent, and oft Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair’ text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jun2010mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Companions of Jesus At the recent Visitation in Merriott Church, the Archdeacon (the Venerable John Reed) made some comments in his address which I found very helpful; I reproduce an extract here for you ….. Around the parish churches of England it is possible that we are still wanting to live as if the 1960s never happened. We easily underestimate how forty years of resistance to the presentation and availability of Christian teaching outside of church has changed the world around us. We ar… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jun2011mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Best place to start Have you ever thought about your relationship with God? What do you want from him and, just as importantly, what does he want from you? I think that most us go through life without ever really thinking – properly – about this text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jun2012mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Welcoming our new Curate On Sunday 1st July, our new Curate will be ordained Deacon at Wells Cathedral at 10.00am – this is a moving service where Chloe takes her first steps as a minister in the Church of England by making vows before God, that she will serve his people for the rest of her life text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:jun2013mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Ascension Day: We recently celebrated Ascension Day so I thought I’d say a few words about the meaning of this rather strange Christian Festival. Acts chapter 1 tells us that, after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared many times to his followers before joining them on a hillside overlooking the Lake of Galilee, where he was physically taken up into Heaven in/on a cloud. Having spent forty days visiting his friends, why should he then leave them, why not continue to support and encourage them as… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:june2008&rev=1667290228&do=diff News & Views June 2008 NEW RECTORY After nearly three and a half years, and an agonizing wait these last four months, we hope to be able to move into the New Rectory on the 19th and 20th June – fingers crossed and lots of prayers being said!! The new address is: text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:june2009mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff June 2009 Our Schools become Primaries As many of you will know, Shepton Beauchamp and St Mary and St Peters are “First Schools” which serve the villages of Shepton, Barrington and Ilton. They take children up to the age of nine years. They are small but happy centres of learning who serve their children brilliantly, with dedicated staff. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:mar2010mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff March 2010 The Good News and The Not So Good News By Fr. Geoff The Good News: as you know, I feel very lucky and grateful to live and work in these villages of ours; they are, simply, great communities. David Watson and Julia Danaher have contributed to that sense of community with their editorship of the Web magazine for the past nine years. Under their gentle leadership the “church” magazine has become much more of a villages magazine, reporting on and serving our little communities, and… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:mar2011mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Miracles do happen .. Miracles do happen: when Jesus fed the five thousand, he saw only that his people were tired, hungry and a long way from home; he saw their need and wanted to do something about it. The Disciples on the other hand, saw all these people, loads of them and saw only the difficulty of feeding them all; their attitude was “too difficult, let someone else sort it out”. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:mar2012mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff A letter from Mrs Chloe Kingdon Mrs Chloe Kingdon, Curate designate to our parishes: Chloe will be joining us in the middle of July this year and will be ordained at Wells Cathedral on 1st July – this service will be open to everyone. “I grew up on Exmoor and from a young age was involved with my local church playing the flute and from the age of fifteen the organ, for services. I ran a youth church when I was in sixth form and was fairly sure that ministry was for me, although I was not co… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:mar2013mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff "What's with the fork?" Fr. Geoff There was a lady who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her Vicar and asked had him come to her house to discuss her final wishes. She told him which hymns she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Vicar was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembe… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:march2008&rev=1667290228&do=diff The Joy of Easter It really doesn’t seem that long since Christmas! I’m told that the earliest possible day for Easter is 22nd March – so it is really early this year. One advantage that this brings is that we can feel the continuance of the story that began at Christmas, instead of treating it as a series of stories. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:march2009&rev=1667290228&do=diff What is love? (By Rev’d Peter Knott) Now that Valentines Day is safely behind us for another year, here are the thoughts of Peter Knott on the subject of “Love”: Thomas Aquinas, the great medieval philosopher, wrote that 'the poverty of our language forces us to overload the word text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:may2008&rev=1667290228&do=diff Joyful Times - Sad Times By Fr. Geoff In the churches and parishes we have had a really good time this past month or so. Mothering and Palm Sundays, and Easter day were really joyful occasions, with busy services full of life and fun. The school holidays were separate from Easter, so for the first time we were able to do much more with the children about Holy Week and the events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection; at Shepton Beauchamp, the children re-enacted the events each … text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:may2009mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Very Pleased to Report I’m very pleased to say that the annual round of church AGM’s is over – not because they’re over, of course (!), but because I can now report that all our little churches are in fine form. In the past twelve months fundraising has gone well: church members and supporters have worked very hard and everyone in the parishes has been very generous. For the first time in many years all churches have raised just enough money to cover ongoing maintenance and bills: there … text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:may2010mag&rev=1667290228&do=diff Forgive us as we Forgive others While I was on holiday recently, I went to a local church for Communion and heard a very good sermon by a fairly junior priest: she talked about “sins forgiven” in a clear and thoughtful manner, pitched just right for my (limited!) level of understanding. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:may2011mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Rogation Day Walk Sunday 29th May For many centuries it was the custom of the Lords' of the Manor to ride around the boundaries of their lands, “beating the bounds”. In many areas it became the custom for villagers to walk around the boundaries of their parishes, starting with prayers and finishing with a service and picnic at church. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:may2012mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff The Rector's Page I regularly receive writings by the Reverend Peter Knott, which are usually thought provoking and good for reflection. Here is a recent piece by him: “THERE are times when we want to be something better than we are. We may have certain character traits that trouble us which we would like to be rid of. We may see qualities in other people that we admire and we would like to possess those qualities ourselves. If only we could get rid of our nasty temper and replace it with … text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:nov2009mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Nov 2009 - Loved and Lost Loved and Lost Loved and Lost – a personal service of remembrance: Each year we hold a service for all the parishes, hosted by Shepton Beauchamp, where we remember those whom we have loved and lost; our loved ones separated from us by the curtain of death. It is a quiet service with prayer, readings and times of silence, to remember the love we have been given, to “keep the faith” with those who have gone before us, to keep the light of their love burning strongl… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:nov2010mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Loved and Lost 14th November - Remembrance Sunday - reminds us of the victims of war and violence, in a ceremony that originates in the 1920's after the horrendous bloodshed of the Great War, but has found renewed meaning to many people as casualties continue (military and civilian) in war-torn lands. It has become the custom of our Eight Parishes to commemorate these victims in the morning services and then, in the evening, we gather at Shepton Church to remember our own dead – those whom we… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:nov2011mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Headline Loved and Lost Children learn about death quite early in life, usually initially when a pet dies or perhaps when a grandparent “passes on”; sometimes they may lose a parent. As a society we tend to keep death at a distance; the vast majority of people now die in hospitals, care homes or hospices (when the family may not be present); undertakers “take care” of the deceased’s body; solicitors take care of the Will; etc. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:nov2012mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff A farmers Advice As you read this we will just have completed the annual round of thirteen Harvest Festival services in each of our churches and schools. Attendance has been very high and the style of service has meant that a much larger number of people have been involved, which has added to the sense of “Harvest” being a “community” celebration. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:nov2013mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Remembrance Sunday This month of November brings with it Remembrance Sunday and many of us are be caught between different feelings: some may wear a red poppy to honour those who fought – especially those who didn’t return. Others may wear a white poppy to pledge themselves to peace. Some may want to look back and thank God that ‘our boys’ won and that this country remained free. Others may want the freedom to be proud of ‘our boys and girls’ who are fighting today without facing the accusatio… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:november_2007&rev=1667290229&do=diff November 2007 - Loved and Lost Loved and Lost Rev’d Geoff Wade Children learn about death quite early in life, usually initially when a pet dies or perhaps when a grandparent “passes on”; sometimes they may lose a parent. As a society we tend to keep death at a distance; the vast majority of people now die in hospitals, care homes or hospices (when the family may not be present); undertakers “take care” of the deceased’s body; solicitors take care of the Will; etc. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:november2008&rev=1667290229&do=diff Remembrance Day Rev’d Geoff Wade For nearly a year now, I have been Chaplain to the Somerset Branch of SSAFA, an organization which very quietly goes about its business without any fuss or fanfare …. This year I am very pleased to say that the Remembrance Service collections from many of our parishes will be donated to them. What is SSAFA? The following is from one of their press releases. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:oct2009mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Fun in Church - revisited! By Fr. Goeff Last month I wrote about how some of our time in church is about enjoying ourselves and this month I want to follow on from that – somewhat! At Weddings and Baptisms (Christenings) there can be no doubt that families and friends all come together to enjoy themselves and to celebrate. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:oct2010mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Three points I want to raise this month First, the Pope's visit to Scotland and England. The media gave the clear impression that this was going to be a shambles of protest with little support;, but they were very wrong. Reading the papers this morning – half way through the visit – I have been struck by the huge numbers turning out to attend the Masses, line the routes, etc; peacefully and respectfully. I have also read some of the speeches wherein His Holiness speaks clearly and succi… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:oct2011mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff CREWKERNE & ILMINSTER DEANERY CONFERENCE Barrington Village Hall - Saturday 17th September 2011 During the pat six months, the parishes have discussed the topic ‘Faith, hope and love – shaping, strengthening and sharing our Christian life to 2020 and beyond’. The Conference came into being because of the concern about the declining availability of stipendiary clergy over the coming years and the necessity of enabling the churches to survive and grow within this environment. Each parish was ask… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:oct2012mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Just a Thought I have in my hands two boxes, which God gave me to hold. He said, “Put all your sorrows in the black box, and all your joys in the gold.” I heeded His words, and in the two boxes, both my joys and sorrows I stored, but though the gold became heavier each day, text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:oct2013mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Harvest Festival Harvest Festival Services At Harvest Festival services it had long been the tradition that we should bring some offering of produce from our gardens to give during the service. Sadly this idea has generally died out, for the simple reason that it is very difficult to find somewhere that will take the produce after the services (the dreaded Health and Safety). However, a fairly new idea is catching on locally. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:october_2007&rev=1667290229&do=diff October 2007 - Sense of humour Did Jesus have a sense of humour? Rev’d Geoff Wade When we study the Gospels we can often read between the lines and find moments of real emotion in Jesus life and ministry. When he drove the money-changers from the Temple he sat down first and plaited a whip and then drove them out: premeditated and real anger. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus his friend; real grief and heart-ache. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:october2008&rev=1667290229&do=diff BBC Thought for the Day by Claire Campbell Smith 17 September is the feast day of a truly remarkable woman. Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th century abbess who produced major volumes of theological and visionary writings at a time when there were few women authors. She wrote treatises on natural history and the medicinal uses of plants, trees, animals, even stones. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:sep2010mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff The Rector's Page - Thought for the day One of BBC Radio's “Thought for the day”, by Rev'd Derek Boden, and went along the lines of, “Maybe, even while I’m speaking, your mind has turned to people and times when something that someone has said or done has had an influence on you. Probably, we think first of people who have had a good influence on us. Maybe because of some lesson learned or example shown. If we’ve been fortunate, parents - I imagine - figure largely in any such list and th… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:sep2011mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Fund Raising There can be no doubt that the current economic climate is making life very difficult in a number of areas, not least in the lives of our little village churches where running and maintenance costs are rising steadily year on year. YET I continue to be amazed at the amount of hard-work, effort and ingenuity that goes into fund-raising, topped only by the generosity of people who give their time and money. So far this year each community has held its ground in regard to the mon… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:sep2012mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Glory to God, Amen, Biscuit. By Rev'd Chloe Kingdon, Curate My three year old son treated me to a re-enactment one morning as I was preparing breakfast. He hurtled into the kitchen on his ride-on and announced ‘I am going to church’. He took a hymn book from the piano and sat himself at the kitchen table. After opening the hymn book, there was a rather raucous rendition of ‘Glory, glory, glory to God’. He then slammed the hymn book shut with a triumphant ‘Amen’. After such exertion, he le… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:sep2013mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff All Parish Conference “What are we doing & why are we doing it?” A Church Warden wrote to me recently and said, “It seems to me that if the main function of the church is to endlessly raise funds to keep going, it rather misses the point of having a church community. It would be such a pity if we lost sight of the spiritual side of church life in our anxiety to make money to pay the bills. At the service last Sunday the church was full and there was a lively welcoming atmosphere - surely th… text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:sept2009mag&rev=1667290229&do=diff Fun in Church By Fr Geoff From time to time in all of our little churches we have a type of service which is different from the run of the mill worship; these are usually titled “Songs of Praise”; the idea is to do something a little less formal, not quite so rigid, and bringing together some of the things we like most about “church”. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:september_2007&rev=1667290229&do=diff September 2007 - Passion Flowers Rev’d Geoff Wade. Recently I was talking with a lovely lady and the topic got around to gardening (as it often does with me!), when I mentioned to her the story of my passion-flower; she thought this would make a good sermon – so here goes. text/html 2022-11-01T08:10:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.sheptonbeauchamp.org.uk/doku.php?id=church:vicars_letters:september2008&rev=1667290229&do=diff The Blind Man and the Elephant American poet John G Saxe (1816-87), based this poem on a fable that was told in India many years ago. It is a good warning about how we can be misled into thinking that we have the right and proper answers (and everyone else is wrong ?!) The reality may be that we only hold a small part of a huge puzzle and we need to see everyone else’s pieces before we can see the “big picture”. Remember, the six men are blind and have never seen an elephant: