ALL SOULS SERVICE. This service, which has taken place annually at St. Andrew's in Curry Rivel for many years, will this year be on Sunday 1st November at 6.00pm, led by Revd. Scott. We would like to invite anyone from across our new benefice to join us for this often moving service. The service will be a combination of an Evening Prayer service (as usual on 1st Sunday of a month), with elements of the All Souls service incorporated / interwoven. There won't be the reading out of all the names that have been submitted for remembrance, but those names received will be placed, together, on the Communion table. Placing a lit candle there will also be offered. From Sunday 11th October there will be a box on the desk by the main door of St. Andrew's CR, in which a slip of paper can be deposited with the name(s) of those you wish to be remembered at this service. Alternatively, you can send Rev Scott an email with the name(s) to: scottr.patterson@btinternet.com PLEASE SUBMIT NAMES BY THURSDAY 29th (NOT 27th!) OCTOBER.
In 2026, a new benefice of seven parishes will be formed out of our Benefice, the Benefice of Huish Episcopi et al and the parish of Drayton. We are praying for a new Rector to lead us in worship and carry the church out into our communities.The seven parishes have been working harmoniously together for the past two years. You will have an associate priest and two readers to assist you in your mission. There is a comfortable modern rectory in Curry Rivel.We pray that you will answer God's callFull details of the vacancy are on the Diocesan websiteThe Benefice profile can be downloaded here.
(October 2026 Curry Rivel News)Do the Bible and Science contradict each other?By Dr Ruth M Bancewicz, who is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. She writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith. For the Christian, the Bible is God’s Word to us; it tells us about His character and creative purposes, how He has related to people in the past, and His promises for the future. Science is a specific way of studying the world, exploring the physical properties of things – a wonderful way to explore God’s creation. So, the question to ask if the Bible and Science seem to be contradicting each other is, have we made a mistake in interpreting one or the other? Science is very good at answering certain types of questions: ‘What size is it?’, ‘How fast does it travel?’, ‘What is it made of?’, and so on. Questions like ‘What’s it for?’, ‘What should I do with it?’, and ‘What’s it worth?’ can’t be answered using scientific methods. Some of the misunderstanding in discussions of science and religion come from not recognising the limits of science. It’s also important to recognise what the Bible is, and what sorts of questions it can answer. The Bible was written well before people began to investigate the world in ways we would recognise as scientific. Of course, people in the Ancient Near East were studying the world around them, observing the movements of the stars, the processes of life and death that happened all around them, the seasons, the behaviour of physical objects, and so on. But they did not study the mechanisms underlying these things systematically using the tools of science, and they did not see or describe the world in scientific terms – not because they weren’t intelligent, but because science as we know it wasn’t happening at that time. Instead, the biblical writers used words that were commonly used in their own cultures to record events, share truth and wisdom, and tell stories that convey deep truth about God’s character. If we want to understand God’s intention in inspiring these words, we need to do some careful work to connect with those ancient writers and find out what they meant, before we can discover what those words mean to us today. These principles can help us have far more fruitful conversations about science and Christian faith. If we allow any apparent conflict between Science and the Bible to fuel our search for understanding, not only will we learn as individuals, but we will be able to draw others into a conversation that is relevant to wider society today. From: The Parish Pump (August 2026 Curry Rivel News)The Transfiguration of Jesus It’s an unusual story. One day, Jesus is with three disciples on a high mountain in Galilee, when His appearance dramatically changes. Also, Moses and Elijah suddenly appear, and from a cloud comes the voice of God - ‘What is this all about?’ This event was witnessed by James, Peter, and John, who were close friends of Jesus. In the future, they were to become prominent leaders in the Early Church. They needed to see something special that would help them remember Jesus in the difficult years ahead. They had a glimpse of Christ in His divine glory. His face shone like the sun and His clothes turned white as light. While this was an extraordinary sight for the disciples, it served to encourage Jesus who once had glory and majesty in Heaven. One day He would have it again. But firstly, He had to fulfil His mission: to suffer on the cross and die. Why were Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus? Moses was the giver of the Law and Elijah represented all the prophets. They had pointed people to the promised Messiah. Jesus was about to complete God’s plan of salvation. God’s voice was heard to remind Peter there was no need to build shelters. They were not going to stay on the mountain. God spoke to get the disciples to fix their attention of Jesus. The wonder of the Transfiguration was a short interlude before Jesus had to return to His work and subsequent death on the cross. This story is a reminder that our times of spiritual blessing have to be followed by down-to-earth commitments and responsibilities. In the same way that Jesus gave His friends a glimpse of His awesome glory, to help them face challenging and traumatic times ahead, our special times in His presence are provided to encourage us and equip us for the trials we may have to face. Our journey through life may sometimes rise to the peaks but we can’t stay on a ‘high’ all the time – no matter how much we want it! We have to descend to face everyday challenges if we are to fulfil our calling in Christ. From our mountain-top experiences we all need to find a balance between times alone with God and serving Him in the company of others From: The Parish Pump (June 2026 Curry Rivel News)Jacob, the man who encountered the holiness of GodLester Amann considers the man who is our ‘spiritual father’… Have you ever had a dramatic turning point in your life? Was there an incident, a meeting or something you saw or read which profoundly changed you? The Old Testament character Jacob had a dream, which changed his life. One night, in the region of Luz, a Canaanite city, Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder, on which were angels, linking earth with heaven. The dream revealed to him that God is continually connected with this world. When Jacob woke up, he knew he was in a special place. He became a changed man and changed the place name from Luz to Bethel, which means House of God. Many years later Jacob changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Bethel became a holy place. How might we define a holy place? We could say it’s a place where God has touched earth with something of heaven e.g. with a miracle or a vision. Venues such as Lourdes (France), Lindisfarne (England), St Peter’s in Rome or Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre are considered Holy Places. The Garden of Gethsemane was a special place for Jesus.Jacob certainly wasn’t faultless or impeccable. His encounter with God didn’t completely change the way he behaved, but it gave him a fresh perspective on life and where he fitted into God’s plans. Like Jacob we too may encounter God at a particular time and grow slowly with God and His plans for us. God doesn’t wait until we are perfect before He can use us. Sometimes we too may need a Holy Place to make or to return to, to help us remember we are in God’s hands. Dear God, in my busy life, find for me a place where I can be still; a place to meet with You. I am weak and need your strength for each situation. Give me a holy place where I know your arms are embracing me, always safe and secure. Amen. From: The Parish Pump
