Dear Friends,This month the pattern of services across the Mission Community is slightly different because of evening Harvest Festival services in a numberof our churches. Harvest will be celebrated:on Sunday 3rd October 6pm at Parracombe (followed by auction and Harvest Supper) on Sunday 10th October 11am at Lynton (followed by refreshments and a parish meeting) on Sunday 24th October 6pm at Martinhoe.(followed by auction and Harvest Supper) This week there are also Holy Communion Services at 11am at both Lynton and also Martinhoe (where we have the joy of a christening within the service). Creationtide comes to an end with the celebration of the feast of St Francis on 4th October - so I have taken this as my theme for the liturgy and reflection I am sending out today. Please continue to pray for all the preparations for the COP26 summit as well us using this month to pray and give thanks for the dedication of all those aroound us who farm.God blessSamantha
Dear Friends,The first event of my return from leave was the happy task of welcoming Archdeacon Verena to Lynton where she met the deanery clergy. During our worship together she introduced herself and preached from the story of Jesus sending out his disciples. She focused on her real sense of God's presence through the tough times of this pandemic when so much fo our church life has been stripped away and encouraged us to take time over the coming months to reflect on what is part of our renewal and what we need to leave behind. Over coffee she asked each of the clergy to talk about "what makes your heart sing" and as people spoke I had a sense that it was a bit like an act of harvesting the fruit of the last months.Our Harvest Festivals begin this weekend - with Countisbury Harvest festival at 3pm on Sunday 26th Spetember. Here we know how important it is to give thanks to God for all that we receieve from land and sea, and to give thanks to God for all those whose work we depend on. Let's keep our farming neighbours at the centre of our prayers in the coming month. This is alos a good time for us each to reflect on the last year - to see how we can find God at work even through our dificult days: what is the harvest of your year that you can give thanks for now?I am very grateful to the clergy, churchwardens and administrator who helped me have a peaceful break. Could I remind you to let Sam White know that you are happy for us to hold and use your contact details - an email to the lynvalleymissionoffice@gmail.com is sufficient, or the full form is attached below. Sam's work with us is helping me get back to concentrating more fully on my role as your priest, so your permission for us both to hold and use your details is a way of supporting better and wider communication across the Mission Community in the coming months.God blessSamantha
Devon Churches Rural Forum have produced their annual update on the state of the farming world at harvest time.
The next self-led Morning Worship service would have been Sunday 19th September. There is no-one available to lead this service so this is cancelled for that Sunday.At a service of Ordination in Exeter Cathedral, Marilyn Sanders will be one of those ordained as Deacon. More information here and you can watch the service on Facebook.
