Dear Friends,I have moved the celebration of Ascension from Thursday to Sunday to give this feast its full significance. Forty days after Easter Jesus blesses his disciples, commissions them to take his love to the ends of the earth, and carries our humanity into the immedieate life of the Godhead. The disciples response is joy and worship as they await the gift of the Spirit he promises. In recent years, we have been encouraged to renew our response to this feast with what is now a worldwide wave of prayer inspired by Jesus' prayer: "Thy kingdom come" https://www.thykingdomcome.global/https://exeter.anglican.org/christian-faith/thy-kingdom-come-2022/https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/thy-kingdom-comeThis year I have not organised anything formal for our keeping of this time - but I encourage you to take some time to reflecton how you might give some time to praying for the triumph of God's love in our world, and in the lives those you know. This is now an annual event and it woudl be great to have a small group of people from across he Mission Community who might be willing to co-ordinate our response nest year - do let me know if this is something you'd be interested in.Thank you to all who joined in and helped organise the Rogation Day walk last week - we were blessed by beautiful weather as in turn we prayed for blessing on our land, our farming community, and all who live or visit our parishes.This weekend Parracombe are holding a festival of flowers - if you have a chance, do pop in to see the decorated church and the examples of local craft. Next weekend Platinum Jubilee celebrations there include a Sunday "Royal Bells and Platinum Puddings, and at Martinhoe there will also be a flower festival over the weekend.We are also entering the season of weddings - please pray for all who are preparing to be married this summer. This weekend we also welcome a family for the baptism of their child - we give thanks for the newest member of the church in our midst on Sunday!God blessSamantha
Dear All,This weekend, the gospel asks of us that we recognise the peace that is not from the world, but is Jesus' gift: not something we work to create or earn in ourselves, but something that we open ourselves to receive, even something that we can ask for. Asking is also the theme of this Rogation weekend - traditionally a time to ask for good harvests and the fertility of the land. As we are seeing currently there are deep connections between peace and a steady food supply: what those in other war torn and famine struck regions have known before, now even our continent is experiencing - the disruption of food networks by violence.There is a lot around us to trouble our hearts and raise our anxiety but today's gospel offers us Jesus' gentle guidance: "do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid".Let's take him seriously - and take our asking seriously this Rogation-tide too: for good harvests and the peace that makes them possible; that swords may indeed be turned to plowshares and that we will learn to live harmoniously both with our fellow humans, and with all living things with whom we share this earth.Weather permitting there is a chance to take our prayers outdoors at 2pm on Sunday 22nd with our Rogation Sunday walk from Countisbury Church (park at Barna Barrow car park) up the hill. If the rain comes in we will relocate into church - but please dress for Exmoor!God bless,Samantha
Dear Friends,This week we hear Jesus' most simple and profound commandment to those who follow him: as I have loved you, love one another. Its a reminder that noticing God's love for us, and letting it flow through us in our love for others is at the heart of life as a Christian.This week is Christian Aid week with the theme :Turning hunger into hope. I have included the prayer sheet from Christian Aid as part of this mail out, and encourage you to learn more from their website about their work, and how you can give directly to them. Many of our churches will also have envelopes available for donations too:https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-weekParticipation in Christian Aid's mission is an a clear way of extending God's love to those who are most vulnerable and suffer most from the inequities of human failure to oragnise our world with love.Next Sunday is Rogation Day and we have our Rogation Walk leaving from Countisbury church at 2pm (please park as Barna Barrow car park). This is an opportunity to recognise God's love in the beauty of creation and pray for our parishes, our land and a good harvest.God blessSamantha
Dear Friends,This week the church invites us to celebrate the fact that God has created each one of us with a unique combination of gifts, strengths and weaknesses and called us into the community of the church, where together, as members of the body of Christ, offering our own gifts and weaknesses we can become a sign of God's love in the world. We are invited to celebrate that everyone has a "vocation", a calling from God to be the hands, feet, heart, eyes, ear or mouth of Christ in this time and place.In my work with those exploring whether they have a calling to ordained ministry what also becomes evident, is that as we become more attuned to our vocation , the way God is shaping us into the people we are created to be, we also find deeper contentment, fulfillment and calm - we flourish. When we live out that vocation fully in the world, we bring that life to others too. That is true of all vocations, not just those given particular names.Vocations Sunday, then, offers us another insight into the new life, the renewal of Easter - if each of us is attuned to God's calling in our lives, what a surge of life both personal, and communal is available!A reminder that Christain Aid week begins on 15th May - if you wish to give directly to the charity there are details here: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week Rogation Sunday Walk 2pm 22nd May beginning and Barna Barrow car park and Countisbury Church: this is an opportunity to gather and pray for the whole Mission Community, our land and homes, with a walk in the beauty of this area up to the top of Countisbury Hill echoing the tradition of beating the bounds on Rogation Day. If any one could help with the refreshments at the end please contact Sam White on the office email.Thank you for your continued understanding that I am not yet back to full capacity after Covid, slow and steady is the way forward!God blessSamantha
