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.
Dear Friends,We have reached "good shepherd" Sunday - the Sunday in Easter-tide when we hear Jesus explain that he is the good shepherd who the sheep follow because they know his voice. A memory from when I came for interview here is a conversation with the then Rural Dean who had come to North Devon from the urban Midlands. He said for him one of the great blessings of being here was the way that the gospel came alive in this rural context. The imagery of sheep and shepherd is vivid here, it is woven into our normal lives. Now I can echo that - I will never forget conversations with the children at Parrcombe school when they explained to me skills needed of a shepherd, while I was majoring on the love of the shepherd for the sheep they were very quick to highlight the need to be "strong and firm because sometimes sheep are stubborn"; and their admiration for the shepherds of the Christmas story who looked after sheep without the aid of quad bikes. So when we listen to Jesus choosing the character of a shepherd to show what he is like maybe it is also a Sunday to give thanks for the culture in which we live here, shaped by living close to the land and the skills of tending to the daily needs of the creatures we depend on. Let's hold in our prayers all those who have been through and maybe are still in the long days and nights of lambing. As we think about this week's gospel may those around us deepen our insight into the God who calls us all into safe pastures.God blessSamantha
Dear Friends,Happy Easter-tide.This Sunday we are given the lovely story of two despondent disciples walking away from Jerusalem on Easter evening, only to be joined by a curious stranger who helps them talk through their disappointment and then helps them see God's mysterious presence in it all. Enthused by his company, they invite him to stay with them, only to discover in the breaking of bread together, that he is Jesus. He was with them in their sadness and their great joy. May retelling this story help us find his presence with us in all that we experience too.Many thanks for all the messages and kindnesses I have received in the last few weeks, both in response to the news of my new appointment, and of my spectacularly badly timed Covid 19 infection. I finally had a negative test result on Thursday so will be able to take services this week 9am Brendon11am LyntonI am, though, still very much in recovery so having to take things rather more gently than I like!A huge thank you also to everyone who enabled most of the Easter services to take part as planned, which I know were well attended and much appreciated. God blessSamantha
