In this week's video, Bishop Richard considers how we can find hope in this season of Advent when 'there is much in the news that could make us depressed.' He reminds us that 'Jesus never promised his followers an easy life. In fact, he said, “in this world you will have trouble.”' So where does our hope lie, and what actually is Christian hope?Reflecting on recent readings from the book of Revelation, Bishop Richard suggests that 'the goal of this writing is to expose a deeper reality lying beneath the one we see. This is not about changing reality, so much as imbuing events with a deeper significance. It is placing their contemporary history into an eternal perspective.''Advent hope lies in our confidence that God is at work moving history to a good conclusion, even when at times it doesn’t feel or even look like it.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #225There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard encourages those of us working hard in our local parishes to receive some words of encouragement.'From the reading for Advent Sunday last week, we read of the apostle Paul’s affection for the Thessalonian church. "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" (1 Thessalonians 3:9).' Bishop Richard suggests that perhaps 'the word we all need to hear amid the preparations for Christmas and general busy-ness of the season are those from Paul to the Thessalonians again ... – to hear those words from the Lord as spoken to us.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #224There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
What a strange time of year this is. Darker, colder, harder. And brimming with mystery and weird hope. Advent serves as a kind of long dawn, leading us towards the disarming light of a vulnerable, sweet, refugee baby who is God with us, kingdom come, Emmanuel. Little Jesus: glorious, outrageous disrupter.In the sometimes troubling and overwhelming personal circumstances of our days and nights, in the pervasively unbalanced state of our world, the magic of this time of year invites us for a moment to suspend business as usual. We raise our heads from normal life and see something beyond the soulless powers and systems we all must operate within. God is here with us. Hope becomes a peaceful, resolute protest.Enjoy the twinkly lights and sparkles in all their loveliness: they symbolise that stubborn, determined Christmas hope, shining out joy in the murky darkness, representing a love that knows no bounds, encompassing us all. The little baby Jesus from your nativity scene is offering every one of us a peace that runs deeper.Peace be with you this Christmas time.With love and prayers,Rev Angie x
In this week's video, Bishop Richard uses backdrop of Hereford Cathedral's corona – a symbolic representation of Jesus' crown of thorns – to explore the paradox of Jesus' character and ministry, and Jesus' favoured description of himself as the 'Son of Man'. He is both 'Christ the King, but at the same time remarkably human.''If Jesus is this extraordinary ‘both and’ character, it is no surprise that his Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. The origin of Jesus' Kingdom 'is not in the will of human beings with their desires for power and control. It is an expression of God’s justice and righteousness which will never end.''The marks of the Kingdom Jesus talks about in the Sermon on the Mount are about character, behaviour and ethics, and perceptive insight into where happiness is really to be found. It paints a picture of a transformed earth of kindness, love, mutual support and contentment. But these things don’t appear in isolation, but when we submit to Christ as King.'Now may you find in Christ, riches and restMay you be blessed in him, and he in youIn Heaven, where to grant you your requestIs always blessing, for your heart is true:True to yourself and true to Christ your King.Breathe through this coronation psalm and viewThe glory of his golden crown, then singThe exaltation, goodness, life and power,The blessing and salvation Christ will bring.But first he wears a darker crown. The hourIs coming and has come. Our Lord comes downInto the heart of all our hurts to wearWith us the sharp corona spina, crownOf thorns, and to descend with us to deathBefore he shares with us the golden crown.Poem by Malcolm GuiteBishop Richard's weekly video #223There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard shares his concerns about the recently published UK bill to allow assisted suicide to those who are terminally ill. It is right that we should want anyone close to the end of their life to 'die well and as comfortbaly as possible'.However, Bishop Richard says that 'the huge danger -- and it has been shown in every jurisdiction that starts down this road -- is that the commendable desire to relieve suffering quickly morphs into vulnerable people feeling they ought to end their lives so as not to be a burden.'He concludes: '... such a move runs huge risks in diminishing our respect for one another and threatening the vulnerable. The offer of choice for some may in the end for many prove to be no choice at all.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #222There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from our villages. Do have a look at all the Advent and Christmas events happening in our parishes, plus the usual wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the link below to view or download the December edition of the Parish News in PDF format.Thank you for all your support this year!
Following the recent publication of the Makin report into the 'horrendous abuse perpetrated by John Smyth', Bishop Richard reminds us all to be vigilant, and then urges us 'to pray or all victims and survivors of the failings of our Church, pray for good safeguarding practice and culture to be embedded in our parishes, and for people to be listened to if they tell us their stories, and those stories acted upon in the proper way.'He concludes by saying, 'Lord have mercy on your Church, make us holy, make us kind, make us caring, make us safe, that the love of Christ will still shine through our frailty and brokenness.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #221There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
“Not yesterday I learned to knowThe love of bare November days”(from ‘My November Guest’ by Robert Frost)Darling November is for me the most reflective of months, a time for remembering and pondering, before the exuberant jolly jamboree of December. The winter unknown lies ahead, the year of memories stretches out behind. An eventide season characterised by a sweet, gentle melancholy. Our culture embraces November with various remembrances. All Souls church services afford us the opportunity to remember, in calm candlelit stillness, our loved ones who are now out of eye’s sight and hand’s holding. Hot on its heels comes Bonfire Night, with its whizzes and bangs, commemorating something I’m never quite comfortable with. And then the national call goes up to remember with silent dignity those whose lives are lost in the military’s quest for peace.Moments of quiet stillness, intentional points of contemplation, prayer and meditation, are a blessing in my life that I all too often forgo in the hubbub and busyness. Words and sounds are everywhere, all the time. If I steal such a moment in my solitude, I often sense that God draws nearer, and I am not alone. In a quite different way, there is something heavenly about being together with others in calm reflective quietness. I love Taizé worship and group mindfulness meditations for that reason. It is my hope to start introducing more intentional silence into some of our church services (and not just the kind of silence that comes when I momentarily forget what I’m meant to be doing).In Garway church in December we will have a Blue Christmas gathering especially for those who find that time of year particularly sad – more on that in next month’s edition.I hope that November will afford you some gentle, still moments to reflect and ponder, either companionably or in quiet solitude. I pray that if you are remembering a lost loved one, the silence is kind and not harsh.With love and blessing,Rev Angie xP.S. Our Benefice All Souls service is on 3 November. You will be given a warm welcome.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the link below to view or download the November edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
It’s that time of year when I find myself inexplicably craving period costume dramas on the tele – all those awkward stilted conversations and heaving bosoms – and big bowls of hearty soup. We all go conkers bonkers and start to dig out our cosy knits. All, we hope and pray, is safely gathered in. Another month, another tender love letter from the natural world around us, generously abundant in beauty and enchantment as the seasons roll on.Generosity has been on my mind of late. I recently attended the funeral of a very dear friend, Sheila. With her wife Sue, Sheila lived her whole life generously. She quietly and gloriously enriched the lives of her friends and her community, and wherever she went she made new and treasured friendships, all over the world. She was ridiculously intelligent, but she wore it humbly and without show, all the while changing the world for the better. Since I’ve known her, Sheila has been a significant inspiration to me. It breaks my heart that she is gone. Her legacy, however, will continue, because she lived so generously.I wonder if the greatest enemy of generosity is fear. When we live fearfully, we may cling on tightly to what we’ve got, pull up our drawbridges, bolster our defences. But what, then, of all the others who get left out in the cold? Fear and struggle are inevitable in life, none of us escape them. While fear can be useful in helping us to make good and wise choices, at its worst fear can also stunt our compassion. But if we can hold our fear alongside hope, gratitude, and love, it need not define us; we find ourselves with the freedom to live generously.Maya Angelou said that when we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed, and I am minded to agree. What might living generously look like for you today? What ways might you be a blessing? Maybe with your time, your patience, your financial resources, your hospitality, your talents, your prayers, your smile? If we know what it is to struggle or to be afraid, perhaps that understanding will encourage us to recognise and respond generously to struggle and fear in others, both friends and strangers.Now, I’m going to cuddle up in a big cardigan, enjoy some Mr Darcy, and raise a glass to my wonderful friend Sheila.God bless you my friends.Rev Angie x
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the link below to view or download the October edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
Okay, so hands up if you can’t believe it’s September already … how are we here already?! September is a month laden with anticipation, hope and nervous expectation for many of us. New school shoes and slightly too-big new uniform perhaps; the thrill of going up a year or the worry of starting big school. Maybe starting out on a much more focused pathway at college or leaving home for the first time to start university. For you farmers, busy as bees and praying for good weather, so that all may be safely gathered in. When I was a girl, September always meant looking forward to the fair arriving in town, with its lights and music, wonderful smells and frisson of danger.For the longest time, autumn was my favourite season, with each year refusing to grow old quietly and demurely, but instead, like an outrageous great aunt or magnificent drag act, parading itself with flair and drama and sass. Just as the farmers are heaving on their muddy wellies, and the school kids are proudly sporting their new togs, so in September the autumn is strapping on its thigh high boots and getting ready to party. Glorious!As the season changes around us, the world is changing around us too, endlessly throwing up new things to wonder at and new things to fear. Likewise, we are all steadily changing (the inevitability of change is one thing that forever stays the same). For Christians, in the swirls and twirls of life, God is our constant and yet always full of surprises. If God has never surprised you, it’s possible you might not have been paying enough attention!Whatever it is that sassy September will bring you, whatever fairground ride life resembles for you now (dodgems, rollercoaster, big wheel, teacups, merry-go-round, ghost train?), I pray that you will know some measure of the peace of God’s constant love for you, and some thrilling surprise at the joys this beautiful season can hold. For all school kids, students, teachers and school staff, all those busy working our farms and orchards, to all fairground workers, drag acts and outrageous great aunts, I pray God’s blessing over you, with love.Rev Angie xImage by Frank from Pixabay
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
My friends,As I write it is a rather damp, blustery, grey summer’s day, but off in the distance I spy a little patch of beautiful blue sky and the sun peeking around the clouds. I don’t know about you but I find it difficult to know what to wear while the weather is so higgledy-piggledy, big warm coat or shorts and t-shirt.The climate puts me in mind of the story Aesop told of the Sun and the North Wind who were having an argument about who was most powerful. They noticed a man walking along in his big winter coat, and the North Wind started to boast, saying “I will show you how strong I am because I will blow so hard that I’ll blow that man’s coat right off”. Of course, the more the cold North Wind blew, the more the man pulled the coat tight around him. “Okay,” said the Sun popping out from behind the clouds, “now it's my turn.” The Sun shone warmly down on the man and very soon he had taken his coat off, enjoying the warmth on his skin.And what’s the moral of this ancient tale? That gentle kindness and warmth can often achieve better results than force and bluster. Or, as one C20th Indian writer put it, the powerful are not the ones who trouble others, but the ones who show mercy to others.What do you respond to best: warmth and kindness or aggression and manipulation? To put it another way, Albus Dumbledore or Miss Trunchbull?As the Son of God, Jesus had the power to be an almighty bully had he chosen to, all cruel force and angry bluster like the chilling North Wind. It’s true that he was powerful, breaking down barriers, smashing cruel bullying systems, but he treated people with warmth, dignity and compassion. His love was and is his superpower.Earlier this year I had four letters tattooed on my arm: GGGC. They are there to remind me of the values, a kind of Rule for Life, I try to live by every day, which are Grace, Gratitude, Generosity and Curiosity, things I see when I look at Jesus. I have them tattooed on my arm because I am prone to forget – when I’m feeling particularly meanspirited those letters are there to encourage me to be better.I wonder what the values are that you try to live by every day, and who or what inspired them? My prayer for you is that, whatever weather this summer brings us, in your hearts you will know the true power of sunshine warmth and blue sky hope.God bless you.Rev Angie xPhoto by Klein He on Unsplash
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
In his last video before a summer break, Bishop Richard explores different ideas of rest and what might be the key to happiness.Bishop Richard's weekly video #210You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard encourages us to think about we say to each other, and why. He reminds us of the apostle James' counsel of restraint in our everyday lives: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” [James 1:19]. How do we engage with others on social media or in our conversations?Bishop Richard continues: 'Our words to one another reveal the secrets of our heart more than we realise.' Do we seek to be kind and loving in our interactions with all people? Bishop Richard suggests: 'If we are to raise the spiritual temperature of our common life we need to find ways of turning outwards: developing a sort of transcendent curiosity to what God is doing in the lives of others.... James' advice to listen is an encouragement to all of us to be quicker to seek the good of others than our own.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #208You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard reflects on the ordination last weekend of five deacons and five priests in Hereford Cathedral.He says: 'A deacon is called to remind the whole people of God about the priority of service.... Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that the primary task of ministry is not to do everything ourselves but to encourage the whole people of God to own their responsibilities as baptised Christians to live for Christ and make him known to others.''Ordained ministry exists to facilitate that effective ministry by everyone else.'Bishop Richard's weekly video message #207You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
In his last video recorded a few weeks ago in Bahrain, Bishop Richard talks about camels -- and the pervasive influence of materialism in our culture.He says 'consumerism fuels insecurity and unhappiness.' ... So how might we model generosity? 'Don't spend more; give more away!' He concludes: 'Our Father is a generous God. May He help us to be the same.'Bishop Richard's weekly video message #205You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
Bishop Richard has been in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the consecration of our former Rural Dean, Sean Semple, as the new Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf.From the perspective of Bahrain, Bishop Richard reflects on how the familiarity we have with our own culture has stopped us seeing how radically detached the UK has become from its Christian foundations. 'We live in a country now where we ... have largely rejected the King [Jesus].'We 'will need to be in a constant place of prayerful discernment as [we] seek to be faithful to the Lord ...'. 'Such prayerful dependence, the dependence [that Jesus'] disciples learned on their first mission, is something we need to cultivate even more.'Bishop Richard's weekly video message #202You can find a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
Well, hello!It’s high time I introduce myself. My name is Angie Kateley and I am looking forward to joining you as your new vicar very soon. During June I will be moving to the vicarage in St Weonards, and then on Monday 1st July I will be licensed by Bishop Richard and installed by Archdeacon Derek as Priest-in-Charge of the St Weonards Benefice. After that, our adventures together begin! I will be joined by my dog Benji, and my adult daughter, Phoebe, will be around on and off.I’m coming to you following a happy curacy with the team in the Abbeydore Deanery. It was there that I learnt to love the beautiful countryside and communities of these borderlands, with their hills, valleys and rivers, narrow winding lanes, every type of tractor and of course especially the wonderful people. My joy at being able to move just a little south and east to join you in your remarkably handsome benefice is resounding and abundant.This will be my first time as a priest-in-charge, and I will be doing some learning as I go. It is my nature to take a more informal and pondering approach to things, and I think there are few situations and conversations that can’t be vastly improved by throwing in a nice cup of tea. I will take my commitment to pray for you very seriously, in fact I’ve already begun. And being a vicar I’m likely to bang on about Jesus a bit too.There’s going to be plenty of time: I won’t so much hit the ground running as hit the ground at a gentle but enthusiastic potter. My big first priority will be getting to know you and your communities. In that spirit, to give you a head start in getting to know me, here is a randomly selected, fairly useless bunch of facts:1. If looking for me in a crowd, you often just need to follow the sound of my outrageously loud laugh.2. I am a scouser by birth.3. I once ever so slightly headbutted a former Archbishop of Canterbury.4. I was a secretary and portfolio PA before training for ordination.5. Despite best efforts to avoid it, I find myself at 48 looking very like my paternal grandmother (short and round with a crop of recalcitrant curls).So, good people of Garway, Hentland, Hoarwithy, Michaelchurch, Orcop, Pencoyd, St Weonards and Tretire, get that kettle on and I’ll be round soon.God bless you,Rev Angie x
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner.You can click the DOWNLOAD link to view the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner.Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner.Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner.Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
In his final weekly video of 2023, Bishop Richard asks how we respond to the Christmas story in the Bible? Just a fairy tale or a metaphor to explain deeper truths?Bishop Richard says: 'It is the story of Emmanuel, God with us. Confronted with this reality we cannot live as if it isn’t the turning point of history. St. James in his letter said, “faith without works is dead.” His is an abrupt challenge to us. Faith in Jesus Christ is always personal but never private. Faith in Jesus Christ changes our relationship with God, but it also changes our relationship with the world around us.''We live in a broken, violent world and we’re called to live our lives as salt and light in that world.... Current world events could lead us to despair but the cumulative effect of many Christian acts of obedience can change things. Our prayer, our giving, our life choices can all make a difference.'Visit the diocesan website for a transcript of the Bishop of Hereford's Message.
We are delighted to announce that Revd Angie Kateley has been appointed Priest in Charge for all our parishes and churches in Garway, Hentland & Hoarwithy, Orcop, Tretire & Pencoyd with Michaelchurch, and St. Weonards.Angie is currently a curate in Abbeydore Deanery, and finishes her three year training there in July, so she will be joining us in the summer.Angie asked if we could pass on a message from her: "I would like to give my huge thanks to everyone who helped make me so welcome and relaxed, both on my visit to the benefice and during my interview. I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be joining you in the summer. May God bless you over this Christmas season and into the New Year."Please join us in thanking God that Angie has been called to serve our group of parishes, and do pray for her as she completes her curacy and prepares to move to St Weonards in the summer. We look forward to welcoming her then.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of the many events in our parishes and at Hereford Cathedral as we approach Christmas, wildlife notes, book reviews, lots of small ads, and of course a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh (or groan!)Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!Click the DOWNLOAD link to access the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
As always, our Parish News is packed with stories from all our villages, a helpful listing of forthcoming events, lots of small ads, and even a Chuckle Corner to make you laugh!You can click the link below to download the current edition of the Parish News in PDF format.
