Weekly News from the Benefice April 26th, 2026
Dear friends Today is All Souls Day; or more properly - The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. It always falls on the 2nd November, being the day following All Saints on the 1st. These two days remind us that whilst we may be separated temporally from those who we love but see no longer, and those whose faith inspires our own, it is a divide that is not permanent and we remain part of the same Kingdom. Indeed, the great hymn writer Charles Wesley writes these words in 'Let Saints on earth in concert sing': Let saints on earth in concert sing with those whose work is done; for all the servants of our King in heaven and earth are one. One family, we dwell in him, one church, above, beneath; though now divided by the stream, the narrow stream of death. One army of the living God, to his command we bow: part of the host have crossed the flood, and part are crossing now. E'en now to their eternal home there pass some spirits blest; while others to the margin come, waiting their call to rest. Jesu, be thou our constant guide; then, when the word is given, bid Jordan's narrow stream divide, and bring us safe to heaven. This evening we have a special service at St Stephen's, Winsham, (6:30pm - All Welcome), for All Souls. It is a Taize style service - a quiet contemplative service using Taize music - during which names of those whom we love but see no longer will be read out in prayer. That list will include all people for whom we have held funerals in the past 12 months and all who have been included on lists for reading out in our churches. Further names can also be added as people arrive for the service. SERVICES COMING UP Tonight - 6:30pm; St Stephen's, Winsham. A Taize Service for All Souls. All Welcome. Sunday 5th November 8am - Holy Communion; Forde Abbey 10am - Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham 1030am - Emmaus; St John's, Tatworth. We will be celebrating All Saints. Gathering for refreshments and fellowship from 1030; worship from 11am. Tuesday 7th November - 9:30am Morning Celtic Prayer; St John's Tatworth Sunday 12th November - Services for Remembrance Sunday 10am - St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe. Service moves to the War Memorial in the village for the Act of Remembrance from 1050am. 10.30am - St Mary's, Thorncombe, including Act of Remembrance at the Memorial 10.30am - St John's, Tatworth, including Act of Remembrance at the Memorial 3pm - St Stephen's, Winsham, concluding at the War Memorial in the village. PRAYERS In Celebration: We celebrate with Sophie and Ryan as they get married in St John's, Tatworth, this weekend. We give thanks for their love and bless them in their new life together. Congratulations! Also, we celebrate with Oakley as he is Baptised in St John's this Sunday! Pastoral: Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for: Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Peter Harper; Ron Bone We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Eileen Bray, Margaret Shields, and Peter Harper, and hold all those in mourning in our prayers. A Prayer for All Souls: Everlasting God, our maker and redeemer, grant us, with all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection, that, in the last day, when you gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen Blessings all Philip The Reverend Philip Butcher Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie) The Vicarage 3 Home Farm Tatworth Chard TA20 2SH 01460 221286 PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: twoshiresrector@gmail.com HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday) For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses. Mornings are best times for phone contact!
Dear friends Yesterday afternoon I visited one of our church schools, St Mary's Thorncombe, to be 'interviewed' by the Key Stage 2 children (7-11 year olds). It was a great experience, and I was absolutely blown away by the depth of the questions! Jesus challenged the disciples (and us) with the words, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Children often have a unique ability to ask questions that adults either really want to ask, but don't, or have just lost the openness of mind to dare to explore such things. Having been asked a great many questions by children over the years, I knew that I had my work cut out and would likely be challenged far more exactingly than I might on a typical Sunday morning! All of the questions were prepared by the children themselves, written in their RE books, and they took it turns to ask them. Here are a selection of them for you to try! Why did God come to earth as a human being? (in the context that he could have been any other part of creation) If Jesus is God, how could he exist before he was born? Does Jesus look like God? What does God look like? In which ways was Jesus 'God on Earth'? In which ways was Jesus an ordinary person? If God made everything, who made God? Is Jesus alive now? How does it feel to sense God's spirit is with you, or inside you? How do your beliefs make a difference to your life and to the life of your church? How did Jesus heal people, and what examples can you give? Questions are wonderful things; no matter who we are we should always ask questions. It is that sense of curiosity that brings out what is true and what is not, what is actually valuable and what is not. As my old school chaplain once said to me, "if you really want to strengthen your faith, you need to take it out of its box and give it a good spin once in a while". What questions might you ask about your own faith or beliefs? And what questions might you have for God? SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS: Sunday 15th October 10.00am: Family Service; St Stephen's, Winsham. The theme for this service this month is 'Health'. All Welcome. 10.30am: Holy Communion with Sunday School; St John's, Tatworth. All Welcome. Sunday School meets in the church rooms from 10.15am; led by Rev'd Michelle and Caroline. Tuesday 17th October 9:30am: Celtic Morning Prayer. St John's, Tatworth Wednesday 18th October - St Luke's Day. See details for Healing Service below. 9:30am: Holy Communion; St Mary's Thorncombe; followed by coffee morning. 7pm: Benefice Healing Service - St John's Tatworth. This is a quiet service with an opportunity to receive prayers for healing. All Welcome. Sunday 22nd October 8.00am: Morning Prayer; St John's, Tatworth 10.00am: Holy Communion; St Mary's, Thorncombe. 6.30pm: Evening Prayer (BCP); St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe 6:30pm: Service of Light; St Stephen's, Winsham. Sunday 29th October 1030am: BENEFICE SERVICE - St Mary's, Thorncombe. A special service in commemoration of the dearly departed from the periods of Covid Lockdown during the height of the pandemic. CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES Olive Mitchell in Thorncombe, and Rev'd Michelle in Tatworth, are coordinating the annual appeal for Christmas Shoe Boxes to go to those in need in Eastern Europe. The organising charity are Blythswood Care, who will distribute shoe boxes filled with required items. You will find information on this appeal in S Mary's Thorncombe and St John's Tatworth. There are links here too with further information: Shoe Box Appeal | Blythswood Care https://blythswood.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ShoeBox_leaflet_2023.pdf Completed shoe boxes need to be dropped off in Tatworth for Rev'd Michelle by 18 October or in Thorncombe for Olive by the 24 October please! They can also be dropped off at the Welcome Bap in Chard. PRAYERS Israel / Gaza There can be no reasonable person who is not greatly concerned and grieved by the violence we have seen erupt in Israel and Gaza over the last few days. Please do hold those living in fear and caught up in that violence in your prayers. Here is a prayer from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland that you may like to use: O God of all Of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael: Our hearts are broken in pieces at the suffering and murder of your people. Our voices cry for peace and for justice. Comfort those who grieve, Console and heal the injured, Be close to those in fear, Restrain with your mighty hand those who perpetrate violence. Send us your wisdom in all that we say and do, That our voice may always seek justice, peace and security for all. Amen. In Celebration: We celebrate with Ricky and Chloe as they get married in St Mary's Thorncombe this weekend. We give thanks for their love and bless them in their new life together. Congratulations! Pastoral: Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for: Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Peter Harper; Ron Bone We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Margaret Golesworthy, Eileen Bray, and Susan Jerrett, and hold all those in mourning in our prayers. The Collect for the 19th Sunday after Trinity: Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases and whose mercies never come to an end: grant us the grace to trust you and to receive the gifts of your love, new every morning, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessings Philip The Reverend Philip Butcher Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie) The Vicarage 3 Home Farm Tatworth Chard TA20 2SH 01460 221286 PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: twoshiresrector@gmail.com HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday) For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses. Mornings are best times for phone contact!
Dear friends We are in the midst of harvest season - a wonderful few weeks of celebrating the gifts of the harvest - the food and produce that the land gives us and which we share with those around us. We have two more harvest festivals this weekend, in Tatworth and Winsham, so please see the details of those services below. As I thought about what to write about in this e-letter I was reminded of the passage towards the end of C S Lewis's wonderful 'Narnia' book; The Magician's Nephew. If you haven't read it then I highly recommend it for child or adult! Digory (one of the central child characters in the book) has been sent by Aslan (the lion) to fetch an apple from a distant garden. Overcoming the perilous journey to find it, and the temptation not to eat it, and not to mention a run-in with a witch along the way; Digory completes the quest and brings the apple back to Aslan: "Well done, son of Adam," said the Lion again. "For this fruit you have hungered and thirsted and wept. No hand but yours shall sow the seed of the Tree that is to be the protection of Narnia. Throw the apple towards the river bank where the ground is soft." Digory did as he was told. Everyone had grown so quiet that you could hear the soft thump where it fell into the mud. "It is well thrown," said Aslan. There then follows the Coronation of the King and Queen of Narnia. Whilst everyone celebrates this moment of great joy Aslan interrupts the revelry: "Look!" Everyone in that crowd turned its head, and then everyone drew a long breath of wonder and delight. A little way off, towering over their heads, they saw a tree which had certainly not been there before. It must have grown up silently, yet swiftly as a flag rises when you pull it up on a flagstaff, while they were all busied about the coronation. Its spreading branches seemed to cast a light rather than a shade, and silver apples peeped out like stars from under every leaf. But it was the smell which came from it, even more than the sight, that had made everyone draw in their breath. For a moment one could hardly think about anything else. "Son of Adam," said Aslan, "you have sown well. And you, Narnians, let it be your first care to guard this Tree, for it is your Shield. The Witch of whom I told you has fled far away into the North of the world; she will live on there, growing stronger in dark Magic. But while that Tree flourishes she will never come down into Narnia. She dare not come within a hundred miles of the Tree, for its smell, which is joy and life and health to you, is death and horror and despair to her." The joy of harvest is in the celebration of gifts received; but it is also (and more so) about gifts given too. It is about letting go of what is dear. Digory has risked life and limb, and overcome massive temptation, to obtain the apple. And now Aslan tells him to throw it away! What is so cherished is now left vulnerable on the river bank and forgotten as the crowds turn their attention to another matter. But unbeknownst to them, that apple - now exposed - takes root and gives rise to something even greater; new life; new future; protection and joy. As we celebrate harvest this autumn; take time to celebrate what you receive in life and give thanks for. What is it that you strive for and cherish? Are you prepared to set that free and let it flourish and bring unknown joys to those around you? SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS: Harvest Meals Harvest Supper in Jubilee Hall, Winsham; Saturday 30 September at 7pm. Harvest Lunch in Chaffcombe; Sunday 8 October at 12 for 12.30pm. Sunday 1 October 8.00am: BCP Holy Communion, Forde Abbey 10.00am: Harvest Festival (Family Communion) St Stephen's, Winsham; Rev'd Philip 10.30am: Harvest Festival, St John's Tatworth. This is the monthly Emmaus gathering! All welcome from 1030 for cafe style morning refreshments. Worship starts at around 11am. Rev'd Michelle Tuesday 3 & 10 October 9:30am: Celtic Morning Prayer. St John's, Tatworth Saturday 7 October WILD CHURCH - Harvest. 3pm outside St John's, Tatworth. All Welcome for a Harvest themed Wild Church! Sunday 8th October 8.00am: BCP Holy Communion, St Stephen's, Winsham 10.00am: Morning Worship, St Mary's, Thorncombe 10.30am: Harvest Festival (Family Communion); St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe Wednesday 11 October 11am: Holy Communion, St John's, Tatworth. CHRISTMAS SHOE BOXES Olive Mitchell in Thorncombe, and Rev'd Michelle in Tatworth, are coordinating the annual appeal for Christmas Shoe Boxes to go to those in need in Eastern Europe. The organising charity are Blythswood Care, who will distribute shoe boxes filled with required items. You will find information on this appeal in S Mary's Thorncombe and St John's Tatworth. There are links here too with further information: Shoe Box Appeal | Blythswood Care https://blythswood.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ShoeBox_leaflet_2023.pdf Completed shoe boxes need to be dropped off in Tatworth for Rev'd Michelle by 18 October or in Thorncombe for Olive by the 24 October please! They can also be dropped off at the Welcome Bap in Chard. INTERCESSIONS FORUM - 10am Tuesday 3rd October; Thorncombe I will be in St Mary's, Thorncombe, on Tuesday 3rd October at 10 am to go through preparing and leading prayers of intercession in church. About an hour-long session particularly aimed at those who lead intercessions in church, or who would like to! I will be providing guidance on how to structure prayers for those writing them themselves, and signposting resources for 'off the shelf' options. PRAYERS Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for: Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Peter Harper; Ron Bone We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Margaret Golesworthy, and hold all those in mourning in our prayers. A Harvest Collect prayer: Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Blessings Philip The Reverend Philip Butcher Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie) The Vicarage 3 Home Farm Tatworth Chard TA20 2SH 01460 221286 PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: twoshiresrector@gmail.com HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday) For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses. Mornings are best times for phone contact!
