St Catherine's, Swell

A light which shines in the darkness

(November CR News)

The custodial sentences imposed on many of those involved in the recent riots in communities across our country have highlighted, yet again, the issue of criminal justice and the pressures and strains within the prison system. The seemingly ever-increasing size of the prison population; the appalling conditions within many of our older prisons, especially those in our inner cities; the almost total lack of provision for education and rehabilitation and an apparent unwillingness by those elected to Parliament to consider whether the whole of our justice system needs a radical overhaul have all resulted in much media comment.

But one part of the prison system which has not been mentioned is the invaluable role played by those who serve as Chaplains. Prison and restorative justice have been a constant thread almost throughout the whole of my life, beginning with my first visit while still in my teens to what was then called a Borstal. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with chaplaincy teams across the whole of the prison estate.

I’ve witnessed at first hand the extraordinary work done those teams, lay and ordained, of all faiths, working together to witness to God’s love in Christ and caring for all those in the prison system, both staff and prisoners. I’ve often said to those on the outside, if you want to know what true collaborative ministry looks like in practice, look no further than a chaplaincy team. While each member remains true to his or her particular faith, the barriers which often divide people of faith have no part in that shared work of witness and service.

Sadly, all too often, the work of Chaplaincies not just in prison but in all aspects of our human life, in education, hospital, mental health, care homes and many other places, is barely known – that is, until we need their care. But Chaplaincies are the yeast which leaven our society. The light which shines in the darkness. Society, as we long and pray for it to be, would be the poorer without them.

Bishop Trevor Willmott

Assistant Bishop for the Diocese of Bath and Wells

Using Rest to Pray (October CR News)

Tony Horsfall, a retreat leader and author, recommends a different type of prayer.

Most of us think of prayer as a very demanding activity, but did you know it can be extremely restful?

One of the great verses in the Bible says this: ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). It suggests we experience God most fully when we are still. When we cease rushing around, pausing for a moment of thought and recollection, we are becoming prayerful, and God is very near. Even a break for a morning coffee can be a moment for prayer, if we slow ourselves down and allow our thoughts to turn towards God.

An essential part of resting is to breathe slowly. Christian tradition has always made a connection between prayer and breathing. You can learn to pray to the rhythm of your breathing, using chosen prayer words to focus. As you breathe in, you might say ‘Abba’, and then, as you breathe out, add the word ‘Father’. Or when breathing in, say ‘Lord, I breathe in your peace’ and as you breathe out, say ‘Lord, I breathe out my anxiety’. Choose words which are meaningful to you, deliberately slowing your breathing so you become relaxed and peaceful.

Perhaps you have a favourite chair where you are able to unwind easily. For a few moments sit and do nothing. Simply become aware of the present moment, reminding yourself you are in the presence of God. As you feel yourself relax, bask in the knowledge of God’s love and acceptance of you. Sense his smile of approval upon you. You don’t have to do anything, just ’be’ for a moment. This too is prayer.

Sometimes we are forced to rest by circumstances ..... illness, disability, growing older and so on slow us down and we can’t rush around like we used to do. Don’t fight against your circumstances. Enter into the place of rest that God is giving you. He loves you for who you are, not for what you do. Turn your thoughts into prayer and offer them to God. You don’t need to advise God as to what He should do; simply hold people before Him, leaving the outcome to Him.

Prayer should be a natural expression of our relationship wit God. Sometimes we have words, sometimes silence is enough. We don’t need to impress God with our fervour. We can relax and be rested, even as we pray.

From the Parish Pump

The Lord is my Shepherd

By Liz Richardson (September CR News)

Harvest takes place throughout the year. We plant the seed and tend it but it is God who makes it grow. Seeds of the gospel are planted at Messy Church for instance, where people of all ages meet informally and with various activities, crafts and songs based around a Christian message, concluding with a meal provides an enjoyable time for all.

Recently Messy Church visited a farm where we were able to touch lambs in the field- very exciting. The shepherd told us many interesting facts, including comparing his job of caring for his sheep, to our Lord Jesus who loves and cares for each one of us.

The Bible reference being Psalm 23 which will be familiar to many.

The Lord is my shepherd:

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows

He leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honour to his name.

Even when I walk

Through the dark valley of death,

I will not be afraid,

For you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

Protect and comfort me

You prepare a feast for me

In the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest,

Anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

All the days of my life,

And I will live in the house of the Lord for ever

This Psalm was written by David out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the good shepherd { John 10-11], the great shepherd { Hebrew 13-20], and the head shepherd [ 1 Peter 5-4 }, As the Lord is the good shepherd so we are his sheep ---- not frightened, passive animals , but obedient followers, wise enough to follow one who will lead us in right places and in right ways, This Psalm does not focus on the animal like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow.

When we allow God to guide us, we have contentment. When we choose to sin and go our own way, however, we cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our shepherd knows the “green meadows” and “peaceful streams” that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd’s leading is actually rebelling against our own best interest. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than the shepherd’s way.

Death casts a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We can struggle with other enemies --- pain, suffering, disease, injury --- but strength and courage cannot overcome death. Only one person can walk with us through Death’s dark valley and bring us safely to the other side --- the God of life, our shepherd. Because life is uncertain, we should follow this shepherd who offers us eternal comfort. Jesus promises to guide and protect us throughout our life and to bring us into his house for ever. We must worship God, trust and obey his commands.

When you recognise the good shepherd follow him!

Scott’s Spot – August 2024 - Change

This was Rev Scott's last 'Spot'.

How do you cope with change? What ‘roots you’ when everything around seems uncertain or in turmoil?

As I write the General Election has just taken place and Sir Keir Starmer is now our prime minister. Change has come to our nation. We have a new PM, new government, many new MPs and a new approach to leadership. Regardless of your political affiliation, if you pray, will you do so for Sir Keir, his team and our MPs? As is always the case post-election our expectations are sky-high and their challenges, daunting. So as the Apostle Paul teaches, shall we honour his call that: ‘prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions…’ (1 Tim 2:1)? Their job is demanding, relentless, often thankless, and in our increasingly aggressive culture, one that needs much courage. They need wisdom, good council, stamina, and protection for themselves and their families – perhaps pause for a moment to pray for our new leaders right now.

Removal lorries will not only be visiting Downing Street. By the time this edition arrives, my family and I will have left the Rectory and private tenants moved in. Personal change, and change for our parishes, is also here. After eleven years as your Rector I shall be moving to Long Sutton to take up the part-time roll of Associate Minister for a new seven-parish Benefice that includes Curry Rivel, Fivehead and Swell. This new enlarged Benefice will also include the parishes of Langport/Huish, Drayton, Aller and High Ham, and together we shall be seeking to appoint a new Rector. So a change of role, change of home, change of Benefice, and further change to come as we work to appoint a new leader. And as I prepare to leave, I’d like to take the opportunity to express my thanks to those I’ve served alongside – those who have given so much in maintaining and developing our local Anglican churches both spiritually and architecturally. It has been a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated and sacrificial people, and to see some amazing personal growth. I look forward to continuing this partnership albeit with a different hat.

So in the ‘sea of change’ that I, my family, and our church families find ourselves, how can we face this with hope? Alongside the painful back-drop of international events that unsettle so many, how can Christians face down those potential visitors ‘despair’ and ‘fear’? Well I end this last ‘Scott’s Spot’ pointing to the same figure that I have tried to point to throughout. The figure who stands at the heart of every service I’ve taken; the figure who has sustained me through the challenges of Christian leadership amongst our increasingly secular society; the figure whose promise to “be with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) I have known personally;

and the figure who, in the face of change is wonderfully (Hebrews 13:8) ‘the same yesterday, today and forever’ – Jesus Christ.

In the beautiful hymn ‘Abide with me’ the writer puts it like this: ‘Change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not, abide with me’ . My final prayer as your Rector therefore is that amongst this world of endless change, you may find enduring hope in the perfect love and unchanging promises of Christ.

Rev’d Scott.

Scott’s Spot – July 2024 - The leaders we choose

As I write, General Election campaigning is in full swing and as this issue of the CRN arrives polling day will be imminent. We’re not alone. Today the news is full of a snap election in France, and in recent days Europe has been voting for a new European Parliament. Change is in the air.

I heard from a friend recently that they were criticised for bringing a narrative from the bible into a modern-day debate. But as one who holds both to the relevance of the bible to speak into any situation, and that politics and faith should mix, I bring you an example. In a 3,000 year old event that you can read about in 1 Samuel chapter 8, the Israelites (God’s Old Testament people) have decided they want a king. This was a particularly sad moment in their history because this demand was effectively about replacing God with a mere human king. In loving grace however God does grant this and Saul is appointed king, but God clearly warns that to choose this path will mean consequences. Their new king will cost them. We read of sons called as charioteers, daughters to be perfumers, cooks and bakers, and the best of the land’s produce taken in taxes and distributed to the king’s officers and courters. The warning is simple – beware the kings you appoint, for the power you give them will have repercussions.

The application to us and our ‘king-appointing’ election seems obvious. Of course Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer won’t be calling-up our sons to drive their chariots or our daughters to bake bread (however much they might like that!) but the shape of their leadership and of the ‘courtiers’ (ministers and advisors) they appoint, will impact us all.

Now it is a rash vicar who publically airs their political affiliations, so you won’t find that here, but if you are a person of faith, then you may be interested in how I think we ought to approach our modern-day ‘king making’. In a General Election we choose others to exercise power over us, so this choice matters. As we decide where to put our cross, people of faith will need to make that decision not only based on manifesto promises or who have managed the least slip-ups whilst campaigning, but also to consider the morals and motives on display. So for the person of faith there is more to consider than debate ratings, costings, and the impact on our lives. We need also to consider which ‘king’ has a heart most closely aligned with God and His ways. Or to put it slightly more negatively, but perhaps realistically, to ask which ‘king’s’ policies are least far from God’s. The bible consistently holds out the God who has a special concern for the weak, the poor and the marginalised. So who will most readily speak up for justice, for those whose voices are not usually heard? Who will act with impartiality, wisdom and integrity? Who will be most prepared to stand up for what is right even when it is not popular? In short, which ‘king’ will have the most Christ-like care for people and creation?

All this means another layer of thought and effort taken to read between the (head) lines and dig deeper than the sound bites, but important things are rarely straight-forward.

With prayer for our nation and those who lead us, whichever ‘king’ and their courtiers we have elected.

Revd. Scott

Scott’s Spot – June 2024 - the Bible, full of lies?

Picture the scene. You are taking an assembly at a C of E primary school. You’re presenting an acted-out version of a Bible passage with a small team of volunteers. There’s been the usual, delightful, response from children volunteering for various roles, and enthusiasm from virtually everyone about joining in with sounds or actions. All is coming together when a hand goes up from near the back, an 11 year old. I ask whether their question might be helpful for this moment and they seem unsure, so I ask them to continue: “Is the bible full of lies?” I wasn’t expecting that.

Answering that question in that moment was a tough call. I explain gently that ‘Christians believe the Bible to be full of truth – God’s truth’ and we continue with the assembly. But that an eleven year old should ask a question like that is thought provoking. Maybe their question is representative of many. Maybe this is why so few choose to engage with the Christian faith. Or maybe many don’t really know themselves and are just repeating what other have said, who are just repeating what others have said, who are just…you get the idea. A convenient reason to dismiss the Bible passed from one to another without any first hand experience. Maybe.

“Is the bible full of lies?” Well there are lies in the Bible found on the lips of those out for themselves - liars. The Bible tells the truth about the brokenness of humankind and the sin that affects everything. In the Old Testament we could point to the Creation-shattering lie of Satan convincing our ancestors that God could not be trusted and that they knew better. How’s that working out for us? And in the New Testament we could point to the lies spoken by Herod to the ‘wise men’, and at Jesus’ trial 33 years later more lies from false witnesses. So lies in that sense, yes.

But in fairness I expect the lies referred to by our young friend won’t be like those, rather an accusation levelled at the bigger claims of the Bible. Lies suspected in the claims that God is real and active in this world; lies suspected in the message that He loves us and longs for relationship with us; lies suspected in the message that in Jesus God became a person, lived a human life, and then chose to die in our place; lies suspected in the death and resurrection of Jesus bringing forgiveness and a new peace-filled relationship with God for anyone, forever, through faith.

“Is the bible full of lies?” Well perhaps you think it is. But do you know this to be true yourself? Is this your conclusion, or from others you know or from your social media? Have you, as the Bible encourages, actually chosen to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ ? Without personal experience how can we really know?

I am unashamedly a ‘Bible man’ because my experience (and that of millions of Christians like me) is that rather than lies, I find truth. Not ‘a truth’ but ‘The Truth’. Truth that encourages, strengthens and challenges me. Truth that shapes me for the better and offers hope even amongst deeply uncertain times.

So thank you my young friend for your brave and thought-provoking question. Perhaps it’s time to find out the answer for yourself, to dust off your family Bible, turn to a Gospel account and start reading. Jesus offers you His Truth, in the face of the world’s many lies.

With every blessing, Rev’d Scott.

St Catherine's, Swell

Recent publications in the Curry Rivel News and 'Fivehead's 'Community Matters'.

Service pattern for end of November and December in the Benefice