Dear Friends,Last week a small group of us went to a hill outside our villages ready to look out over our parishes and pray for our little part of God's creation. We ascended through the heavy sea mist, hoping that at the top it would clear, but no, we had to hold in our minds' eyes all for which we prayed. We prayed for all we know because we live here.This Sunday we are celebrating the feast of the Ascension, that mystery which carries us from Easter day to Pentecost as Jesus is received into God's heavenly presence: carrying the fullness of his human life in the eternity of God's being. Much of later reflection on this mystery talks of Jesus interceding for us at God's right hand and perhaps that is something about bringing what he knows as a human because he has lived here to the eternal knowing of God? God's compassion has a human face.And we are called to be that human face of compassion now in our prayers, in our actions, in all that we are.That compassion can be shown this weekend by giving to Christian Aid as the annual week comes to an end.There is also an invitation on the evening of 25th May to join a small ecumenical group to watch a live-stream of a Christian Leadership conference organised by Alpha International to which sr Mary Magdalen was contributed. If you are interested let me know and I can pass on contact details.We are also now in the midst of the "Thy Kingdom Come" days of prayer. For a national perspective on this there is a link at the bottom.God blessSamanthahttps://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/thy-kingdom-come-2023
Dear Friends,May 14th is the beginning of Christian Aid week. This year they are featuring Malawi - where there is a deep need for better seeds to enable better harvests in a changing climate. May 14th is also Rogation Sunday, the first of days this week traditionally set aside to pray for our land: for its fertility and good harvest to come. There is perhaps an invitation to begin to be an answer to our own prayers and those of our counterparts in Malawi by even a small gift this week. To pray for our parishes, farmers and local land we will be meeting at Countisbury at 2pm on Sunday for a reflective walk to the top of the hill where we have a good view to pray for all our parishes -if you want to join the walk please wear good shoes and dress according to the weather!May 14th is also the first Bell Sunday - when we give thanks for the joyful contribution made by our bell ringers through our church seasons. Thank you to all who ring in our churches - we know that you make such a difference to those marking milestones in their lives in church - and visitors often comment that it was the sound of the bells that brought them to church.This coming week something new is starting: Laurence is offering a time to gather for prayer at 9.30 at St Mary's Lynton on a Thursday morning, beginning 18th May. All welcome.God blessSamanthahttps://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week?gclid=CjwKCAjw6vyiBhB_EiwAQJRopvUKIhIavzTfhpZKNAAUtoSQ0Z28W2Su4Jmlz5TAAV7o69cuwACktBoCQm4QAvD_BwE
Dear Friends,Like many of you, I have spent much of the morning watching the crowning of King CHarles III. In an age of mass communication, the desire for instant images and the consequent intrusion on privacy and erosion of mystery, I was deeply moved by the most spiritual action of the ceremony being removed from view: the anointing of the King for his service was a moment between just him and his God. The moment at which he was shown most clearly that nothing he is or does is in his own strength alone was a moment that was for him alone, even in the midst of a full congregation, and a worldwide audience.Just as the Archbishop encouraged us to see that the call to serve, the call to love in action, is a call to all of us; so too perhaps this moment set aside reminds us to focus on how all that we can be and do as those who serve, as those who put love into action, is in a strength that is given to us, that comes from beyond us, is a gift from God. I invite you, sometime over this coronation weekend to take some quiet, personal time, as if screened from the demands of daily life, to ask for, or to reflect on the strength God gives to help you live out the calling God has given you.God blessSamanthaReminder: Christian Aid week is approaching: at a time of so many international areas of need, it is a good time to put our love into action via a proven charity which works well on the ground in such areas. At St Mary's Lynton on 14th/21st there will be a retiring colection for Christian Aid.
