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On Saturday 20 May 2017 a group of interested people met at St Ethelwold’s House to discuss the formation of an Abingdon Theological Society. There was unanimous support for the idea and so a new project is born.


The purpose of the Society will be to discuss theological issues of common interest: biblical, systematic, liturgical, pastoral, ethics, apologet- ics, inculturation and the like. The Society will be open to lay and ordained women and men of all Christian denominations and the discussion and encounter will be ecumenical, it would not be the purpose of the Society to engage in the politics of ecumenism. The Society will not be a pressure group.


The Society aims to meet once a quarter – proba- bly perhaps in the winter half (October, January, April and July) with a set topic for each occasion, which will be introduced by an invited outside speaker or by a member of the Society.


We hope to arrange for St Ethelwold’s House to become our regular venue. It is central and acces- sible, and while it does not have car parking fa-


Thy Kingdom Come Eluned Hallas


Thy Kingdom Come (25 May – 4 June) invited Christians around the world to pray for more peo- ple to come to know Jesus Christ (see The Window, May, p. 5). In Abingdon the challenge was ac- cepted by both Church of Eng- land parishes, Trinity Church (URC/Methodist), Ock Street Baptist Church, Peachcroft Christian Centre (ecumenical), Abingdon Community Church and some schools. It was good to hear of related activities through- out the town and across the days.


Special events at Trinity, St Mi- chael’s and St Nicolas’ were ecumenical and open to all. It was a joy to join members of the various churches in meeting, praying, talking and sharing together over a prayer walk, a craft ses-


sion, in contemplative or active prayer, or just being silent in the stillness of God.


Fr Paul had crafted a book of daily readings, reflections and prayer for the time between Ascension and Pentecost, which guided personal prayer in addition to the many oppor- tunities offered for times of shared prayer and fellowship. Although the event was on a smaller scale than initially en- visaged, we give thanks for all that was achieved together. With special thanks to Deacon


Selina (Trinity), Sue Sheppy (St Michael’s), Elu- ned Hallas (St Nicolas) and all who helped throughout the period.


Looking forward to next year!


July/August 2017


Abingdon Theological Society Paul Sheppy


cilities drivers will be able to leave their vehicles in the car park of West St Helen’s Street.


A small planning group (Beryl Clements, David Duce, Charles Miller and Paul Sheppy) will be meeting to arrange the first season, which will start in October 2017, and to agree some of the inevitable administration questions that arise with the establishment of any group like this. One sug- gestion is that membership of the Society would require an annual subscription of about £10 and that guests would be asked to pay £3 to attend a single meeting.


If you would like to join us, please contact Paul Sheppy at abtheolsoc@gmail.com for further in- formation. We will then add your name to our list of interested people.


We hope to be able to send out full details at the beginning of September and we look forward to fruitful and challenging discussion and a growing fellowship of enquiry and discovery together.


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