Dear friends,As we travel deeper into the Easter mystery in these last weeks of the Eastertide, we are offered the images that Jesus gives us for himself, and our relationship with him – helping us to recognise that the resurrection is not just an historic event we say we believe, but the power of new life given to us so we can flourish and be fruitful now in the confidence that his life is stronger than death.Today’s image is that of Jesus the true vine, and us as branches bearing fruit which the Father prunes to bring greater abundance. As I will explore in my sermon, this image invites us to notice how we are kept in life by God and in relationship with Jesus: all is gift, we do not keep ourselves in being, and to notice that we are the glory of God when we bear fruit in our lives, and God is a pruning vinegrower for this purpose: sometimes there is a calling to let go of things in order for our energy to be carefully directed at what is essential for fruit. In this spirit, the virtues that shape the vision for the Church of England in the coming decade are that we become a: simpler, humbler, bolder church.As we turn towards the celebration of Pentecost, later this month, it is a good time to reflect on what each of us needs to let go of now, to make space for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, helping us to bear God’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God blessSamantha
<div>Dear friends,April 25<sup>th</sup> is Vocations Sunday, which encourages each of us to think about how our lives are a response to being known and called by God. As Christians we are all being called to focus our lives on the knowledge that we are created by God: for a relationship with God which is rooted in prayer and worship; for a relationship with others which shares that love, and the truth that all creation is made and held in being by God and our fullest flourishing can be experienced when we are conscious of that relationship; and to express that love in the service of other people and our planet. What that calling means for each one of us will be different – as each of us has our own role in the body of Christ – and as we mature and life changes, the way we express that calling may change too.As we begin to return to more outward activity in our churches it is a good time to review the activity and organisation of church life to enable us to be sustainable and to be fully focused on our reason for coming together: to worship God, draw others into our life together as Jesus’ disciples and to serve our communities. At a personal level it is also a good time to review your own contribution to the life of the Christian community which you enjoy. It is a time for each of us to listen for Jesus’ guidance about where we are called to give our time, talents, energy, money and prayer in the ways we are gifted now, presently, without anxiety that it might be different from the past. We need to pool our current talents, and vocations to be the churches of the Lyn Valley Jesus is calling us to be today. You might like to listen to a brief introduction to the courses to support varied church roles that the diocese now provides to give some ideas of the kind of things that are vocational tasks, and how you can be supported in pursuing them, or to come up with creative ideas of your own:https://exeter.anglican.org/ministry/lay-ministry/lay-learning/Because we have to complete our APCMs before it will be possible to gather in person in numbers, the APCM’s will be held online with only essential business, adjourning much to a date later in the summer when we can all meet in person (God willing). These later meetings will be a good opportunity to explore together how we shape our church life according to what each of us is called to share, so I really encourage everyone to spend some time wondering about how life in the church enables you to flourish as the person God made you to be, and how you in turn can encourage others to flourish in a church which values everyone’s gifts.God blessSamantha</div>
This week's recorded sermon for the Exeter Diocese is given by Reverend Samantha Stayte. Watch and listen here
<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>
