Dear Friends,This weekend falls in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is an annual time of focusing our prayers with Jesus that his followers may be one, as he and the Father are one. Division and disunity are forces that hold our world captive in many different ways, as we struggle to live well with difference. In the gospel for this weekend Jesus takes Isaiah's beautiful words, reflecting on the great hope of freedom from oppression felt by the Babylonia people of God during the Babylonian, that God brings freedom and release from all that holds us captive. Jesus goes one step further as he says that freedom is found in him; so often his church has failed to embody the loving generosity that is the sign of God's favour, even in its internal relationships. Let's pray for the grace of renewal in all our own relationships so that we can be heralds with Jesus of the good news that God calls us all to unity of of spirit in love and peace.The resources for this week of prayer have, this year, been developed by churches in the Middle East with an Epiphany inspiration: "We saw his star in the East". Within the resources there are ideas for personal prayer and action to which Christian Aid have contributed. To find out more go to: https://ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022/God blessSamanthaSunday 23rd January9am Brendon Holy Communion (BCP)11am Lynton Holy Communion11am Martinhoe Morning Worship (self-led)
Dear Friends,It seems that whatever caused the technical difficulties with last week’s recording has been resolved, so there is a video to send out today as well as the text of prayers and a my sermon.As many of you will know I am an Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands, which is a role in which I meet with those who are offering themselves for ordination to priesthood and help them prepare for the national discernment process which is the way in which as a church we discover who God’s is calling to this ministry or what other calling God might have for them. This week I am involved in training to be one of those who interviews on the national discernment panels. (Its some long days of training on Zoom, so if you need to contact me this week, it would be helpful if you could email rather than phone if its possible for you!) The discernment process has recently changed from one in which candidates have to “meet criteria” to one in which they show that they “inhabit qualities” of character which a priest needs. I think this is a very important change: it highlights that our lives of faith are a journey in which we grow and develop as people, shaped by the Holy Spirit, who are listening for the calling of God at every stage of our lives and that vocation – whether to priesthood, or to whatever God is calling each of us to – is not about a certain set of achievements, but about how God is calling us to be the person he makes us to be. In our church life together, we are called to create the environment in which we can all grow in the qualities of character which Jesus shows us: love for God, love for people, wisdom, fruitfulness, to name a few. In our church life together we are called to create the kind of environment we see in today’s gospel – where those closest to Jesus and those on the edges all share in the joy of the miraculous gift of water turned to wine.This is a good opportunity to add that I am always to delighted to have conversations about listening for what God is calling people to in any stage of life – so do get in touch if there is something you are wondering about.God blessSamanthaSunday 16th January9am Holy Communion Lynmouth9am Family Worship Parracombe (self-led)11am Holy Communion Lynton
Thank you to all who attended our Christmas services in Christ Church. It was so good to see so many people in the Church after another difficult year. The Archdeacon of Barnstaple, Venerable Verena Breed and Revd. Samantha officiated at Plough Sunday. The young farmers carried the plough into the Church for the blessing of the plough and also participated in the service. The offertory was in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
Dear Friends,This Sunday we are celebrating Epiphany in the morning and Plough Sunday in the afternoon! The celebration of the arrival of the wise ones to find Jesus reminds us that Jesus' birth helps all of us discover that God is with us, here in our daily lives: in our homes and neighbourhoods, God is present all the time. Our own lives, with all their different experiences can be the journey we take to come ever closer to realising that presence is with us. That maybe one of the reasons why there is a tradition of chalking a blessing above the door of our homes at Epiphany - and I've attached the traditional form of letters and numbers and there are some blessing prayers at the end of the sermon attached.Apparently, in the past, the Monday after Epiphany was the day when ploughing began so the Sunday after Epiphany was known as Plough Sunday when the plough was brought to church for blessing, a blessing on the daily work of all those who farm. Maintaining that tradition with the annual service at Parracombe gives us a chance to show our gratitude for the dependence we have on the dedication of our farmers and a reminder that the land we treasure is God's gift, which also powerfully leads us to find God's presence with us. This year, Archdeacon Verena, who arrived to be Archdeacon of Barnstaple in September, is joining us to lead the service and preach. This morning I have recorded the prayers and sermon I wanted to send out, but as once before the technology has thrown up a glitch and it plays back silently and in slow motion. My intention for this New Year is to value silence and slowing down - but I am not sure that I meant it quite so literally! I'm attaching the prayers and sermon, with the house blessing as promised. If I can do a better recording I'll send it later!God bless,SamanthaServices 9th January:9am Martinhoe Holy Communion (BCP)11am Lynton Holy Communion3pm Parracombe Blessing of the PloughFace Coverings must be worn throughout our services (unless medically exempt). Please observe physical distancing. Sadly, for the time being we have suspended the serving of refreshments.
