Dear Friends, As we have received the Queen’s announcement of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, let us pray that he may rest in peace and rise in glory. We give thanks for his long life of service and his legacy in so many areas of national and international life. We pray especially for our Queen at this time, and for the Royal Family. If you would like to offer your condolences, the Church of England has opened a “virtual” Book of Condolences which you can find here: https://www.churchofengland.org/ and the Archbishop of Canterbury has paid tribute to the Duke: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/statement-archbishop-canterbury-death-hrh-duke-edinburgh Bishop Robert has also recorded a message which you can find on the diocesan website: https://exeter.anglican.org/ There will be details, still to be published, of streamed Memorial Services, both local and national, in the time to come. Today, you may like to use these prayers: God of our lives, we give thanks for the life of Prince Philip, for his love of our country, and for his devotion to duty. We entrust him now to your love and mercy, through our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen. Merciful God, be close to all who mourn, especially The Queen and all members of the Royal Family. May they know the comfort of your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless, Samantha The Reverend Samantha Stayte The Lyn Valley Mission Community
Dear Friends,St Augustine said “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!” so while we may not be able to sing communally in church this year, I pray that as Easter Day dawns whether as you celebrate the vigil or early in the morning at Countisbury with Revd Jean, in church at Parracombe or Lynton, through the morning or at home, wherever across the world you are this Easter (God bless those of you in the US and Thailand) your heart will sing with alleluias.If you are coming to the Easter services in Lynton or Parracombe, I have a favour to ask. Traditionally we sing the Gloria on Easter Sunday after long weeks of Lent without it and there is also a tradition at Easter of ringing bells, or making a noise with ringing instruments during the Gloria too. As we can’t sing, I wondered if people would be willing to bring any bells/tambourines/ things you can make a noise with…to accompany us as we say the words of this ancient song of praise to God! Maybe if you are using this video at home you could join in with such music/joyful noise making too!My prayers for you all are that this Easter opens you to a deeper awareness of the love in which God holds you, the fullness of life God wills for you and the peace of heart God offers you.God blessAlleluia Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed, AlleluiaSamantha
<div>Dear Friends,This is the second of the emails I promised today. It’s a practical email just setting out a few things to expect if you are joining in with worship in church this week. My aim is that you can feel familiarity and reassurance about coming to church, especially if you haven’t been into church for quite some months. All this is in place to help us show love for our neighbour as we show our love for God in worship.In each church we are required to maintain physical distancing and seating has been organised or marked, or will be stewarded to insure this.We ask everyone attending any of these services to wear face coverings. Hand sanitiser is available but you may wish to bring your own so you can use it at will.There will still be no communal singing.When Communion is offered it will always be in one kind (the bread/host).Please avoid congregating after the service – hard though that is!At St Mary’s cleaning will take place between the services. MAUNDY THURSDAY: 1st April7pm St Mary’s Lynton Holy Communion followed by the Gethsemane watch There will be a sung interlude with a single voice (allowed by current rules) taking the place of the traditional washing of feet which cannot take place.There will be an invitation to private prayer (for up to an hour) in the Lady Chapel after the service. If you plan to stay it would be helpful if you could let me know so we can make sure appropriate seating is planned. GOOD FRIDAY: 2nd April2pm St Mary’s Lynton Liturgy of the Cross There will be a sung call and response by single voices.The adoration of the cross will not include any touching of the cross this year. HOLY SATURDAY: 3rd April8pm St Mary’s Lynton Easter VigilA single voice will sing parts of the Vigil LiturgyWe will light candles together with care to remain physically distanced. EASTER DAY: 4th April6am Countisbury, Dawn Service for Easter (Outdoors)This year this service will be entirely outside so it will be weather dependent.Please take care to retain physical distance between households as you arrive at the churchyard and as you spread out for the service in the churchyard.Candles will be lit together with care to remain physically distanced. 9.00am Parracombe Holy Communion The notes at the top apply here. 11.00 Lynton Holy Communion Again, see the notes at the top. It is good to add to this list the addition of a service at Martinhoe next Sunday:11th April 11.00 am Martinhoe Holy CommunionThe notes at the top apply. God bless you, as you plan your route through this Holy WeekSamantha The Reverend Samantha Stayte The Lyn Valley Mission Community
Dear Friends, Yesterday I received the first of my Covid 19 vaccinations. I found it an unexpectedly moving and profound experience. As I received it I had an awareness of the connective web of endeavour that we are all a part, and found myself praying and giving thanks for the sacrificial determination of the scientists who have developed the vaccine (knowing only too well from friends what long hours and demand lab work calls for), giving thanks for the cheerful volunteers who around me whose warmth and kindness really mattered, praying for the people I will never meet, but for whom access to vaccines is not as easy as this is for us, in countries where life is much harder too, and above all opening myself to the recognition that we are all one in this corporate effort to make our communities safer from disease by developing immunity ourselves. Six hours later it was clear that I was going to be one of those who experience the possible feverish side effects of the vaccine quite fully! Today then, I am still recovering so it seems wise to get the prayers and liturgy for Palm Sunday out to you all without trying to record a video. I am sorry to disappoint those for whom this has become an important part of worship at home, and if, over the weeknd I am able to, I will try to send a recording out later. As Holy Week unfolds I will be sending short reflections out too God bless Samantha The Reverend Samantha Stayte The Lyn Valley Mission Community
