<div>Dear Friends,In preparation for watching the reflection for today I would encourage you to reflect on all that has been life-giving this week for you. If it has been a hard week, where has the strength come to get through it; if it has felt like a good week, what are you particular sources of joy? Let’s pray for the grace to be open to receiving life from God in the daily circumstances of our lives.This week I have started conversations with Church Wardens about returning to worship across the Mission Community. From Palm Sunday onwards the 11am Eucharist at St Mary’s Lynton is continuing and we are developing a new pattern of initially one Sunday service a month in other parishes who feel ready to host services again. Juggling the hopes and practicalities of six parishes takes time, but we will keep you informed as the new service pattern takes shape.Similarly, arrangements for virtual APCMs (which by law have to be completed before physical distancing restrictions are lifted) will be forthcoming shortly.It is also important that you know of new arrangements for reporting any Safeguarding concerns should they arise within the Mission Community. They should now be reported in the first instance directly to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team: Name: Diocesan Safeguarding TeamContact: 01392 345909 or 01392 294975And I have attached the full list of agency numbers to this email but these details will also be accessible via the website and Church noticeboards.Those of you who have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Marilyn, who has been on placement with us through this unusual year, have, I know really been valuing her Bible Study and more recently her Coffee Morning on Zoom. Marilyn will need to prepare to move to her curacy so we have decided to make Pentecost Sunday (23<sup>rd</sup> May) her final Sunday with us, and we will send her out with prayer and blessing at the 11 am Eucharist at St Mary’s – so put that in your diary and come and support her if you can.Finally, I need a bit of replenishment to renew my openness to God’s liFe in the midst of daily life too (it is always good to practice what you preach!), so I am going to take a few days of Annual Leave in the coming week. If you need to contact me about anything urgent, please could you do so over this weekend, or wait until next weekend when I will return to emails and the phone!God bless,Samantha</div>
Dear Friends,Following the style in which the Royal Family has guided us to mark the death of HRH Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in ways that respect the guidelines on gatherings, and restrictions that so many families have experienced in the mourning of loved ones, instead of offering any service in church I have recorded the words of the Special Commemorative Service which has been prepared for use in the days before the Duke's funeral. The text is also attached so that you can join with it if you wish. You may like to use it some time on Friday, the day before the Duke's funeral.God blessSamanthaattachment Text and Prayers for service.</div>
The Reverend Canon Verena Breed is to be the next Archdeacon of Barnstaple, the Church of England’s most senior member of the clergy in North Devon.Canon Breed is currently Team Rector of Bicester in the Diocese of Oxford.She will begin her new role in September at a service led by the Bishop of Exeter.She said “I’m really excited to be joining a new diocese and moving to a new area at a time when we are starting to look forward, rethinking, reshaping and re-imagining ministry.“This pandemic has changed our mission and ministry, and this is a chance to really rethink and discern what God is calling us to do.”The Barnstaple Archdeaconry has 149 churches across North Devon.Read more here
Dear Friends,The thoughts of many in our nation will be with our Queen and her family this weekend following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. We pray for the repose of his soul and for the comforting of those who mourn. In tributes paid by church leaders, his deep faith was mentioned repeatedly, as something he shared with our Queen. We pray that at this Eastertide, the gospel of resurrection will be her solace. Our Gospel this week reminds us that Jesus offers us peace even when we feel shut away, afraid, or that we have missed something important. I pray that we may know this peace across our communities during this time of the next step on the “roadmap” to things opening: peace in the hearts of those opening anew, in the hearts of those choosing to travel and holiday in self-catering facilities and peace in the hearts of all who find all this makes them anxious.God bless,SamanthaI know that many who have lived here longer than me will have memories of the Duke's visit to Lynmouth to mark the 50th anniversary of the Flood, following up from his first vist here to express concern in its aftermath. If you would like to offer your condolences on the death of HRH Duke of Edinburgh, the Church of England has opened a “virtual” Book of Condolences which you can find here:https://www.churchofengland.org/Bishop Robert has also recorded a message which you can find on the diocesan website. There will be civic commemorative services at Exeter Cathedral, St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth and Paignton Parish Church led by the Bishop of Exeter, Bishop of Plymouth and Bishop of Crediton respectively. The date of these services has not yet been confirmed but the latest updates on these arrangements will be published here:https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/commemorating-the-death-of-the-duke-of-edinburgh/https://exeter.anglican.org/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.
