Dear Friends,

It was a great joy for me to be able to celebrate the Eucharist for the first time after so long last week – a joy to see many people again in church and a joy to be able to hold the whole community in prayer in the midst of this sacrament. My sermon this week is perhaps a reflection on this experience – and the link between what we do in church and the challenges of our everyday life. Our church community gathered in church and dispersed at home makes that link well.

Today seems a good time to pass on some good news to you all, (news already given to Lynton and Barbrook PCC). Bishop Jackie has given Revd Laurence Hillel “Permission to Officiate”(often known as PtO) so that he is formally authorised to offer priestly ministry, primarily in Lynton. Lynton residents may know Laurence well, but if you don’t know yet know him and are in church on Sunday, he is the person who is going to read and lead our intercessions. I asked Laurence for some words of introduction:

“I trained for ministry in my late 30s. I became a School Chaplain in a large Church of England Secondary School for ten years, as well as serving as an Assistant priest in three London Parishes. I also developed an expertise in inter religious dialogue with other world faiths, and in that capacity worked at a Christian centre for inter religious engagement finishing up as Co-Director for five years before retirement.”

I am delighted that Laurence is willing to join with Revd Jean and me in priestly ministry here – especially at a time when we are moving step by step in response to the new patterns of life we share.

Please keep us in your prayers, and be assured of ours,

God bless, Samantha

PS I have written an artice to be published on Sunday evening on the Exmoor Magazine Facebook page - if you are on Facebook you may want to take a look!