Newsletters
The benefice newsletter is intended to be a means of sharing information about events and news of particular interest and relevance to members of our churches across the benefice. We are blessed by having excellent parish magazines already, which publish articles of more general interest - we are not trying to cover the same ground as these magazines.
To view our Newsletters:
You can view (or download and print) the current and past issues of our newsletters by clicking on the links below. For instructions on how to subscribe, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
|
|
May 2023 |
|
|
The Rector recently attended a meeting of Diocesan clergy at which there was an opportunity to comment or ask questions about the recent decisions of General Synod in relation to marriage and relationships. You may be aware that General Synod recently considered proposals from the House of Bishops regarding the possible future issuing of approved prayers of blessing for couples in same-sex relationships, the decision not to permit the celebration of same-sex marriages in church and the proposed revision of the current guidance... |
|
|
So do not fear, for I am with you;
|
|
|
Bishop Michael (who, you may remember, worked as an epidemiologist before becoming a bishop) has recently reviewed the risk of COVID transmission associated with sharing the common cup during Holy Communion. Based on recent scientific studies, his conclusion is that the risk of COVID being transmitted through sharing the common cup is minimal. |
|
|
Our Christian faith is something that informs and underpins the whole of our lives, not just certain times in the day or week or year. When we think about what ‘church’ is and what ‘church’ is for, we naturally tend to think of Sunday services, festivals and baptisms, weddings and funerals. |
|
|
As we enter Advent, the season when we consider the 4 ‘Last Things’ and ponder that which is ultimate, we have some serious thinking and serious praying to do about the future of the Church in this place. As noted further below in the report about the recent meeting of Diocesan Synod... |
|
|
The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev’d Steven Croft, has become the first Diocesan Bishop of the Church of England to call openly for reform of the Church’s law and practice regarding gay marriage. More bishops have now joined his call for change, to enable gay couples both to marry in church and to have their civil partnerships or marriages blessed in church. If this change were made, it is likely that solemnising or blessing a same-sex marriage would be a matter of discretion for individual clergy... |
|
|
|
|
|
The potential for fuel bills to increase very dramatically this Winter is alarming. It remains to be seen what the Government’s response to this situation will be. Given the already stretched state of the public finances, it seems probable that any help that is provided from central funds will not fully meet the increased costs. |
|
|
Readers of this Newsletter probably do not need to be told that all our parishes struggle to raise sufficient funds to meet their costs. The major elements of our parish expenditure are a contribution towards the paid ministry we receive (i.e. the Rector), a contribution to the cost of central Diocesan support services, the maintenance of our church buildings and our insurance and utility bills.
|
|
|
'Shared Local Ministry' is the term being used by the Diocese to describe a model of ministry which, it is hoped, will enable us to continue our witness and service in these parishes. |
|
|
Alleluia, Christ is risen! |
To subscribe:
We are distributing the newsletter primarily by email in order to save paper and postage costs. To subscribe to the newsletter (this will add you to an email distribution list and you will then receive an email attaching the newsletter) please use this link:
https://teams.stmarysbruton.org/mailman/listinfo/news
This will open a page on your web browser.
In the section headed 'subscribing to news', please enter your email address and your name where indicated.
You then have the option to enter a password of your choice. If you elect not to do this, a randomly generated password will be sent to you.
Please then click 'submit'
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
To suggest content:
If you have news, events, short articles, poems, photos etc that you would like to see included in a future newsletter, please email your suggested content to the Benefice office at benefice@stmarysbruton.org and we will consider it for inclusion.
Please note that if you wish to include a request for prayer, or notice of someone's death, we will need to have written consent from the person / next of kin before we can publish that information.
To pass on a copy to someone else:
If you know of someone who might like to read the newsletter, you can either direct them to this website, or you could print a copy and give it to them - please do consider whether you know people who do not have access to the internet but might like to receive a paper copy.
