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.
It has become necessary to cancel the Celtic Prayer due to take place at Bratton Fleming on 4 April, and at Shirwell on 11 April.
We apologise to those who regularly attend.
To view photographs of The Easter Experience held at Arlington Court on Palm Sunday, please click here.
The Mission Community
Services during
March and April 2018
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 |
|
March 4
Lent 3
Purple |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell East Down Loxhore |
09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15
|
Holy Communion Morning Worship Holy Communion Holy Communion BCP
|
|
March 11
Lent 4 Mothering Sunday
Purple |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Stoke Rivers Challacombe |
09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15
|
All Age Worship Holy Communion Morning Worship Holy Communion |
|
March 18
Lent 5
Purple |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Kentisbury East Down Loxhore Bratton Fleming |
09.30 09.30 09.30 11.15 15.00 15.45 |
Holy Communion All Praise (Celtic Liturgy) Holy Communion All Praise (Celtic Liturgy) Evening Prayer Messy Café |
|
March 25
Palm Sunday
Red |
Arlington Court
|
14.30 |
Joint Service for all ages |
|
March 29 Maundy Thursday White |
Bratton Fleming
|
19.00 |
Agape Service (A meal in church which includes Communion |
|
March 30
Good Friday
|
Bratton Fleming
Challacombe
Shirwell
Arlington East Down Kentisbury Loxhore Stoke Rivers |
14.00
14.00
14.00 |
Led Good Friday reflections Led Good Friday reflections Led Good Friday reflections
Churches open and reflections on Good Friday available |
|
April 1
Easter Sunday
White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Kentisbury Challacombe East Down Stoke Rivers Loxhore |
09.30 09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15 11.15 11.15 |
Family Communion Family Communion Family Communion Family Communion Family Communion Easter Service (not communion) Family Communion |
|
April 8
2nd Sunday of Easter
White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Stoke Rivers Challacombe |
09.30 09.30 11.15 11.15 |
All Age Worship Holy Communion No Service No Service |
|
April 15
3rd Sunday of Easter
White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Kentisbury East Down Loxhore |
09.30 09.30 09.30 11.15 15.00 |
Holy Communion All Praise (Celtic Liturgy) Holy Communion All Praise (Celtic Liturgy) Evening Prayer |
|
April 22
4th Sunday of Easter
White |
Bratton Fleming Shirwell Stoke Rivers Bratton Fleming Challacombe |
09.30 09.30 11.15 15.45 18.30 |
All Praise (Celtic Liturgy) Holy Communion No Service Messy Church Evening Prayer BCP |
|
April 29
5th Sunday of Easter
White |
Stoke Rivers |
11.15 |
Team Service |
Events
Area and parishes of the Mission Community
The Curate's Ramblings
Renewal.
Everywhere new flowers are bursting through hedgerows, birds are gathering for new families, daylight is pushing back the dusk as the days grow longer. Our recent snow has melted away and nature is accelerating wherever we look. Trees that have long stood barren are now turning green. Grass is beginning to grow and the sun feels just that bit warmer, when it breaks through the clouds!
There is a certain bracing for change at this time of year too. Those who work the land were not idle in the winter and business is not beginning, but changing, stepping up a gear as the peak lambing season arrives. The new workload for gardeners pales by comparison!
Into the middle of this busy season of renewal and change comes the festival of Easter. Wade through the pallets of chocolate eggs that have been on sale in the past month and there is a message of renewal that has been known to change lives not just for a season but for good. The Christian message of Easter is one that I have found changes and renews everything else.
Nature around us relentlessly follows cycles of renewal and decay and the lives we lead can become a series of days where routines of work and caring go round and round the same patterns. At some point, in some place, we reach a point of exhaustion and yet each day is followed by another and so it ever goes on. Or does it?
The Bible does not tell us of a world that has been set to repeat its patterns for ever, to renew and then fade and renew again. The Bible tells us that while God has set the seasons in their places, the patterns of our lives are there to give us cause to seek and reach out for God. God has not left us alone but has reached for us by making himself known in Jesus. Jesus died a brutal death and came back to life, breaking every pattern and changing every understanding of the renewal of life.
Jesus’ resurrection was the sign of a future day that will never end, a future spring that will never fade away, a new life without an end. It is an offer of true renewal, a way to new life and new hope.
Martyn