The Holy Communion service in Christ Church on Sunday, 4th June will be the last to be conducted here by Rev'd Samantha. Samantha will be leaving the Lyn Mission soon to take over her new role as Priest in Charge for the Cockington and Chelston Parish in Torbay. Samantha has been vicar here since 2017 and additionally has since been appointed as Dean of Women in Ministry for the Diocese of Exeter and as an honorary Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral.Parishioners send best wishes for her new ministry as well as thanks for her work here in the past years, especially during a difficult time of Covid and lockdown. You can read her full announcement here.
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
