Welcome
The Shirwell Mission Community comprises eight Churches in seven rural parishes in North Devon:
Bratton Fleming; Challacombe; East Down & Arlington; Kentisbury; Loxhore; Shirwell and Stoke Rivers.
The Mission Community
Services during January 2019
The Mission Community lies within the Shirwell Deanery and covers an area of just under 50 square miles with a population of approximately 2600.
The parishes extend north east of Barnstaple to the Exmoor National Park and the Somerset border.
The Rector is Revd Rosie Austin, who lookes after the seven parishes. She is assisted by a curate Revd Martyn Tyrrell, two retired clergymen, Rev Chris Tull from Challacombe and Rev Mike Miller from South Molton.
Rosie lives in Bratton Fleming, the largest of the parishes and placed centrally within the Mission Community.
Martyn lives in Shirwell, the second largest parish.
All enquiries for weddings, funerals and baptisms should be made to Rev Rosie Austin:
Telephone 01598 711962
Email: rosieaustin@live.co.uk
|
Date |
Place |
Time |
Service type |
|
January 6 Epiphany
Gold/White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell East Down Loxhore |
09.30 09.30 11.15 15.00 |
Holy Communion Morning Worship Holy Communion Evening Prayer BCP |
|
January 13
Epiphany 2 White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Stoke Rivers Challacombe |
09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15 |
All Age Worship + Plough Holy Communion Morning Worship Holy Communion |
|
January 20 Epiphany 3
White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Kentisbury East Down Loxhorel |
09.30 09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15 |
Holy Communion M All Praise holy Communion All Praise Holy Communion BCP |
|
January 27
Candlemas
Gold/White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Stoke Rivers Bratton Fleming Challacombe |
09.30 09.30 11.15 15.45 18.30 |
All Praise Holy Communion Holy Communion Messy Outdoors Evening Prayer BCP + Plough |
Rector's Ramblings - January 2019
I wonder how you are feeling about the new year? Optimistic or pessimistic? Full of energy? Already exhausted? Glad to be alone at last now the family have headed home? Or fearful of what the future holds?
One of my favourite passages in the Bible is from the letter to the Philippians (chapter 4:4-7):
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There’s lots in this short passage, but three great pieces of advice emerge:
Rejoice!This (according to my dictionary) means feeling or showing joy. But perhaps it also means searching out the things in life which bring us joy. Taking the time to consider all there is which gives us real joy and valuing it as well as reveling in it.
Be gentle. Yes, even with people who are different from us, or who go about life differently, or who have different political views. And even with those who are not gentle with us. That is the Jesus way which is a hard path to follow.
Share anxieties.It might feel a bit too optimistic to say never be anxious. Anxiety is a huge issue for many people in today’s world. I am no mental health expert, but my experience shows that there is value in sharing with others – knowing that it often takes courage to be open and honest about our feelings. I believe in praying too. We all need people who hear us and listen to us – and I believe that God is there for us too. Whether we are on our own or talking with others, he listens to us.
My prayer for you all this new year is for peace. May God grant peace to us all, peace in our world, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.
Blessings,
Rosie