Welcome
We are the Church of England parish of St Mary’s Shaw cum Donnington – just to the north and east of Newbury.
Our purpose and focus is Knowing Jesus, Sharing God’s Love, Caring for People.
You can read more about it here.
We meet every Sunday at 10am, as well as at other times during the week.
Everyone is welcome to join us.
Word for the Week
- An Undo button for life?
I was always a little unsure about JFKs 1963 speech on world peace: “Our problems are manmade–therefore, they can be solved by man.” When it comes to world peace, he may have a point. Warmongers could just stop fighting (us too!) And it’s not just swords and guns that have to be stilled – wars are just as fraught when fought with lawyers or trade or books.
But it’s also true that some man-made problems cannot be solved. We try: if you buy something you decide you don’t want, send it back; if you break a leg, it heals. But if you cut a tree down, you can’t un-cut it; if you say something unkind, you can say you’re sorry but you can’t unsay what you said.
Actions have consequences. We like to think of penance like an ‘undo’ button – pay the fine and everything is fine. But forgiveness isn’t forgottenness – forgiveness is more – it takes away the offence and restores the relationship without undoing the fact – or what may follow because of the fact.
“The LORD has taken away your sin” the Prophet Nathan said to King David (2Kings12:13), leading David into a different future, not back to the past.
Raymond