On the Spot
September 2026: Harvest
We are approaching Harvest Festival time again with Shipham’s Harvest Festival on 20 Sep, followed by Rowberrow on 11 Oct and Axbridge on 18 Oct. Before any of these services, Shipham village celebrates Harvest Home on 5 September.
Even following such a dry Summer, our gardens, hedgerows, and even the supermarket shelves have still been bursting with fruit. It’s that wonderful season when everything feels alive and abundant — and let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like a homemade apple and blackberry crumble!
That image of fruit is exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the early Christians in Galatia. In Galatians 5, he describes the fruit of the Spirit—not apples or blackberries, but qualities that grow in us when we stay connected to God’s love and Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just like the strawberries and tomatoes, these fruits flourish when the conditions are right. But, despite the long heatwave, life isn’t always sunny. There are times when we feel more like a winter greenhouse than a summer orchard. Yet Paul reminds us that these fruits of the Spirit can still grow, even ‘out of season’. Sometimes, kindness looks like a quiet word to someone who’s struggling. Joy might be found in the smallest moment—a smile, a shared cup of tea, or simply noticing the beauty around us, even on a grey day. Peace may feel elusive, but God promises it’s still available when we lean on Him.
For all of us, especially at the moment as we prepare for the next stage in our life together as a new benefice with a new Vicar, this season invites reflection. What fruits are we seeing in our own lives right now? Perhaps love, joy, and peace are in full bloom. Or perhaps patience and self-control are still a little green on the vine. That’s OK. The Holy Spirit isn’t done with us yet. And as we look to the months ahead — the harvest festivals, new beginnings, and the ongoing life of our parishes — let’s encourage one another to nurture those fruits, to share them generously, and to celebrate the new things God is growing in us, in every season.
From Sue Hoskins, Associate Priest
August 2026: Friendship
One of my all-time favourite songs is by Carole King: “You’ve got a friend”. The lyrics speak reassuringly and movingly of a friend who will always be there when you have been let down by others. “Just call out my name and …I’ll come running to see you again”. We’d all like to have a friend like that and to be one, too. Having Facebook friends is certainly not the same! But we all need those on whom we can completely rely and who are willing to walk with us whatever happens. How grateful I’ve been these past few months for old and new friends who have been so kind whilst I’ve been ill.
The apostle, Paul, in the Bible had a close friend called Timothy, whom he called his dear son. Paul says that he had no one else like him. Everyone looked after their own interests, but not Timothy. He could be relied upon as a man of faith and someone who genuinely cared.
There’s an old hymn that begins What a friend we have in Jesus, reminding us that Jesus himself called his disciples “friends”. They weren’t just to be followers or servants but close friends with whom He could share everything that God had shared with Him. There was to be a mutual love and understanding between them. What a privilege to know that Jesus still wants to be our friend today! This encourages us to want to have a personal relationship with Him, not out of duty, but because we know He loves us. Yet we should never take this friendship for granted nor ever be casual about it, because Jesus trusts us to be faithful to Him and to walk in His ways.
Let’s thank God for His friendship with us and for the blessing of good friends. There’s a wonderful verse in Proverbs that says: “a real friend sticks closer than a brother”. May we, too, always be loyal in love and support for our friends.
From Pam Williams, Lay Reader
July 2026: All Change!
A wonderful, combined Benefice-to-be service of Holy Communion was held on 31 May in St Gregory’s, Weare. It was a joyous occasion with 60 people from the parishes of Rowberrow, Shipham, Crook Peak and Axbridge coming together in worship. 35 parishioners stayed on for a delicious bring-and-share lunch in Weare Church room, during which we heard about a symbol and a Bible text which represents each parish. We then heard about two important and distinct projects:
1. the formation of the new Benefice
2. the appointment of a new Vicar for our community
The first began as a vision of the late Reverend Alistair Forster, to join Axbridge, Rowberrow and Shipham with Crook Peak, to form a new Benefice. We have now started to look at how to make this work.
The second project is to appoint a new Vicar for the new Benefice. We have recently formed a Parish Profile Team. Their job is to produce a document (a profile) describing our churches and communities and our hopes for a new Vicar.
It is in the writing of the profile that we would like your help, so below are three questions for you to consider. Whether or not you attend church, we invite you to contribute to this process:
1. What do you want from your new Vicar?
2. In what way does having a church in your community matter?
3. What do you value about your community
Answer in just a line or two if possible. We hope to give a truthful and honest picture, so that any candidate understands who we are and what we are expecting of them. All replies will be treated in confidence. To respond, please contact Laura Wall, our fully impartial Administrator: axbridgebeneficeoffice@gmail.com OR crookpeakparish@hotmail.co.uk or telephone her on 07486 401252. Alternatively, fill in a form online here: New Vicar Questionnaire: your chance to share your thoughts and hopes – Fill out form. Anonymous replies can also be made by completing a printed form in your Church.
You also have your chance to respond in person and to ask about this process at an Open Meeting on Thu 9 July, 1845 for 1900, in Shipham Church (ends by 2100).
The Profile Team:
Shipham:- Peter Rutter & Pam Williams. Axbridge:- Sue Day & Wendy Storey. Rowberrow:- Katharine Leach. Crook Peak:- Ruth Orriss & David Parker.
June 2026: Living under the shadow of His wings
Ducks and hens are very popular on YouTube© videos – particularly the ones where a mother gathers her chicks underneath her wings, sheltering them from harm and protecting them from inquisitive dogs or predators. It’s definitely an “ah” moment seeing little heads poking out from under mum’s feathers! The idea of taking a person under one’s wing is familiar to us today. When an individual is alone, in a new position, or needing special guidance, another more experienced person may offer to take the person under their wing to care for, teach, and guide.
You can find the same expression of living under the protection or shadow of God’s wings often mentioned in the Bible, too – it’s a vivid picture of what God also wants for us. There are a number of prayers asking for safety in God’s presence as in Psalm 17: Hide me under the shadow of your wings. Even Jesus himself had that same longing, wishing he could gather under his wings, like a hen, the people who had rejected him.
Living under the safety and security of God’s wings is a lovely picture of how, having put our life in His hands and trusting in Him, we find we too have God’s fierce protection, warmth and comfort. We have that assurance that in His presence we will find security, guidance, and care. We’re not living at odds with God; rather we’re living with the assurance that He’s watching over us with love.
We all face challenges in life, whether in health, job insecurity, family life and relationships. And we need to keep reminding ourselves that we need not be alone: God wants to be there for us if we will let Him. His wings will always be beneath us and around us to give us shelter. Just like a mother hen!
From Pam Williams, Lay Reader
May 2026: Thy Kingdom Come: God with us
Dear Friends
As I write this article, we have just celebrated Easter, and our spirits are lifted as we see our gardens bursting into life and colour around us. We all need things in our lives which give us a boost, this year more than ever. After the long weeks of Lent, Easter gives us the spiritual boost that we need.
After Easter, the disciples of Jesus spent 40 days with him before he ascended to Heaven. During this time, there were constant reminders that he had destroyed the finality of death and had opened up heaven for people to hold the hope and promise of a home with God.
This year, Ascension Day falls on Thursday 14 May and we will once again be sharing another service with Crook Peak Parish, at Axbridge Church (see back page). Following this, we have the opportunity to meet at 1800 every evening between 15- 23 May to say Evening Prayer together; further details are on p.6.
For the last ten years, the Church of England has encouraged Christians everywhere to use the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost as a time to pray for the worldwide church and, more specifically, that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of five people.
Why not set aside the period between May 15-24 as a time to bring hope and light to others by praying specifically for five people known to you?
As we enter into this post-Easter season of renewal and new life, let’s take the opportunity to share our Easter joy with others.
With every blessing
Sue
From Sue Hoskins, Associate Priest
April 2026: Easter
As I write this, it is cold and misty after a couple of days of 'false Spring', so we are back to the British habit of complaining about the weather! However, local wildlife doesn't seem to share our gloom: daffodils are abundant, I have frogspawn in my garden pond and the birds are in fine voice as they claim territories and nest sites. AND the weeds are growing!
All are signs of new life, which is the main message of Easter. Hence the significance of fluffy chicks and eggs although not necessarily the chocolate variety. I fondly remember my mother giving us boiled eggs dyed in different colours on Easter day. Anyone know why? I don't.
The word Easter comes from the word Oestrae which is thought to be the name of an Anglo-Saxon deity of fertility, the early Christians using this pagan name to counter their festival. Since early times the Christian church's main message of Easter was the defeat of death and the gift of eternal life.
The correct name is the Resurrection of Christ and this is what we celebrate; the raising to new life by Jesus three days after his very public death by crucifixion.
However, it is important not to take Easter in isolation, otherwise it becomes, as a former Bishop of Durham controversially said, 'conjuring tricks with bones' and loses the impact of being the gift of the greatest act of love for us ever. When taken with Jesus's ministry, his teaching, his healing and care of the marginalised, when we walk with him on his journey of passion, dying on the cross after forgiving his torturers and then being transformed into new life in the tomb, it all starts to make sense. In our churches we have services the week before (Holy Week) to aid us on that journey, in Roman Catholic churches there are the Stations of the Cross and many of us have used the forty days of Lent before Easter as a time of spiritual preparation.
All for what? A gift from God available to us all.
'For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.' from the gospel of John chapter 3 verse 16.
A promise from God, available and free. Simply believe. Better than any Easter egg!
From Peter Rutter, Lay Reader
Note: Please see our page on prayer for lots of resources
March 2026: Draw near this Lent
The Bishop's Letter
The Church of England’s theme for Lent 2026 is Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent. It’s a very different way of thinking about the season. Often, we identify Lent as a time for prayer and fasting when we ‘give things up’. More recently many have decided to adopt an opposite approach – of ‘taking something up for Lent’. ‘Draw near’ has a much wider remit. Each week, it invites us to explore a different aspect of Christian discipleship – worshipping together, praying, exploring the Bible, sharing communion, offering service and sharing the good news with others.
The ‘Draw Near’ approach fits well with how Lent began. During the Church’s earliest days, those wishing to become Christians were known as ‘catechumens’, people who were learning to live as disciples of Jesus. Preparation was intensive. It took place particularly in the 40 days before new Christians were baptised on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. Our season of Lent comes from this ancient practice.
When the Church began, it didn’t have the trappings we’re used to seeing around us such as buildings, hymn books, pews, or paid ministers. Church wasn’t an institution. It was known as ‘the Way’. Christians met in each other’s homes and sought to work out how to follow Jesus in their everyday lives. This wasn’t so much about head knowledge, believing a particular set of doctrines. It was about the habits and practices that Christians constantly cultivated to help them draw nearer to God who is with us, in us, around us and beside us every moment of every day. ‘Draw Near’ comes out of this heritage. It’s an invitation to make Lent a journey that brings us closer to God.
I invite you to make use of ‘Draw Near’ this Lent. It includes materials for adults, for families and for children, resources for schools and encouragement for churches. More information can be found at www.cofeio/DrawNear. As we approach Lent, let’s draw near and join each other on the journey to God that is the Way.
Michael Beasley,
Bishop of Bath and Wells
February 2026: Generations growing in faith together
The Bishop's Letter
Our extended family recently got together for a celebration. We were nine adults from 24-68, one toddler, and one dog, and it was glorious! The joy was simply in being together, whatever our age.
I sometimes wonder what would happen in the life of our churches if we could adopt the same outlook there? Each generation glad that the other is there. Each generation contributing something to the whole. Each generation looking to the interests of the others, making sure there was something that spoke to the others even if not to them.
The writer of the Chronicles records something you could miss if you weren’t looking for it. In 2 Chronicles 20, when Judah was facing attack from Ammon and Moab, King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and summoned the people. This is what it says in verse 13:
“All Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.”
At a time of great peril, when the king was seeking the LORD, all generations came together to pray. We often think of intergenerational meaning us older ones passing on wisdom to the younger ones, and that’s certainly part of it. But a truly intergenerational family, which the church is, means all generations welcoming one another, valuing one another, learning from one another, and praying with and for one another. It’s not a one-way thing.
Our younger generations are ambassadors from the future, with wisdom to give us about their culture, and how to share the timeless truths of the gospel with their peers. They are leaders and learners, just as we all are.
What might it look like across our diocese if we committed to making room for other generations? What might it look like if, like the people of God in ancient times, we came together in our year of especial focus on prayer - adults, young people, and little ones - and sought the power and wisdom of God together? I have a feeling we’d be surprised!
Fiona Gibson, who will become Bishop of Taunton on 8 February 2026
Note: Please see our page on prayer for lots of resources
January 2026: Time to learn to pray
The Bishop's Letter
'Lord, teach us to pray.' In Luke's gospel it's these words, spoken by the disciples, that causes Jesus to give them the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus says to his friends, 'When you pray say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.'
Many of us think that we should be able to pray automatically. And that if we can't, it's either because it's 'not our thing' or because we're failing. Yet in Luke's Gospel, the disciples still need to ask Jesus how to pray, even after they've been knocking around with him for ages. So maybe we should give ourselves a break and accept that working oug how to pray is not obvious and that all of us need to learn.
In 2026, I'm asking all of us across our diocese of Bath and Wells to make the year one of especial focus on prayer. I'm hoping we'll all be able to say the words, 'Lord teach us to pray' and that together we'll all grow in our experience, understanding, insight and practice.
How can we learn about prayer? We have to make a start. We need to make some mistakes. We need to learn from others. It doesn't happen in the abstract. Prayer is a 'learning by doing thing' where if we stick at it, we grow and change.
How might you learn to pray more this year? There isn't a master plan designed to get everyone on their knees. Most action will happen locally where we can identify what we need, work out who can help us, ans then get underway. Some simple resources designed to be helpful are being made available. More importantly, please do talk to your vicar or other church leaders about what might be possible where you are.
Together, let's say these words in the year that is to come: 'Lord, teach us to pray.'
A very happy New Year to us all.
Bishop Michael
October 2025: Harvest
We are blessed to have two thoughts this month!
I love Harvest time. It combines two very important things.
Firstly it is about community and coming together. The Harvest Home is big in this area and I remember going as a child to them. So you can imagine the delight of coming back here and celebrating all that is good with friends. I was greatly saddened at being in hospital when Shipham held theirs; I was so looking forward to it.
Secondly, it is the opportunity to thank God for his goodness to us. Anyone with fruit trees in their garden will know that this year has been an exceptional year, and early as well. Thatcher’s cider had picked all their ‘Katy’ variety before September – unheard of. At the Rectory we, too, have been blessed. So blessed, in fact, that two small boughs broke off under the weight of apples. Heather and I have taken so much pleasure in putting out our battered wheelbarrow full of apples and, within 24 hours, it is empty. Eaters are coming to an end but the cookers have come into their own. Please swing by and take some but remember to bring a bag!! Heather has the joy of taking apples to work and bringing home figs, courgettes and pears in return. There is something very special in sharing what we have. The writer of Proverbs says this: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” - Proverbs 11:25. It is at the heart of the Gospel and, as churches, we seek to demonstrate and share the love of Jesus in whatever way we can. Sharing what we have, be that produce, time, love or care, is what makes communities so strong. Grace and peace from the Lord be with you all this Harvest season.
It seems hardly possible, but already Summer is ebbing into Autumn – one of my favourite seasons. Autumn is a season of abundance. Not only have the crops been harvested, but the hedgerows and woods are bursting with fruits of all kinds. Creation is resplendent with colours, smells, and tastes – enough to fill all our senses with delight.
For Christians, Autumn is the time to give thanks to God for the beauty and generosity of His creation – for all that makes life possible and enjoyable. We have such a generous God, or as Paul writes in his second letter to the Corinthians, ’He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God ‘’
As the above passage implies, God gives to us so that we can share with others, that they might see something of him in our generous giving.
On September 6th our Harvest season started with Harvest Home in Shipham. As usual, it was a joy to start the village celebrations in Church with some enthusiastic singing, before the children brought up the harvest loaf to be blessed (complete with possibly the biggest harvest mouse I have ever seen!). The celebrations continued with a wonderful lunch in the marquee on the football field, and some enthusiastic dancing later on in the day! Once again, a good amount of money was raised not only to secure the future of Harvest Home but also to fund local good causes.
By the time this magazine goes to press we will also have celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving in St Leonards Church Shipham, and we still have services in Crook Peake (5 October), Rowberrow (12 October) and Axbridge (19 October) to look forward to.
I hope that wherever you live, you will be able to find an opportunity to enter into the spirit of Harvest this year by joining one of our Harvest Services and experiencing for yourself the generosity of our wonderful Creator and the joy of sharing with others.
With every blessing. Sue.
Last Updated by HJF 13 Sep 26