Dear Friends, The gospel for this Sunday takes a few lines from the beginning of John’s Gospel, a few lines from the wonderful prologue that we hear at Christmas. The words for this week describe John the Baptist as the “witness to the light”. The growing number of candles in our Advent Wreath bring an ever-strengthening light as we draw closer to the mystery of Christmas, even as the daylight shortens towards the solstice. As we count down with our candles, it is good to remember that around the world the Jewish community is also celebrating the faithfulness of God by counting lights through their festival. The candlelight and its modern counterpart in Christmas lights, the light of a fire: at this time of year all these lights can evoke something deep in us that is joyful and resilient even at the end of a difficult year, and as things get chilly and dimpsy. This Sunday is traditionally called “Gaudete” Sunday (Rejoicing Sunday), a day for finding joy in God’s faithful promise to come to us and save his people. I hope that the lights around us at this time will be little signs of hope, that kindle in our hearts the light, life and love which is a cause for rejoicing. Tomorrow (Sunday 13th) I am going to send out details of where and when services and gatherings will take place to celebrate Christmas across our Mission Community. God bless Samantha
Dear Friends,It has been rather a full week! It is good to be able to resume our Eucharist at 11am at St Mary’s this week, and to hold a service at Barbrook (also 11am and with a Covid safe numbers limit of 15) to prepare to mark Jesus’ birth with readings and music, as we enter further into our journey through Advent. This week we light the candle for the prophets of God and the Old Testament reading from Isaiah say “Comfort my people”. Whether you are at home or in church may you know that the message of God’s comforting love is addressed to you.We are learning to adapt to the best laid plans changing, aren’t we? The briefing to guide our planning for Christmas was delayed from last week to this coming week, so I have not got news of what we can definitely do yet. There will be much communication in the coming week – and I hope I can give you more clarity next week.One simple way to be of help to our community: if you have any surplus “bag for life”-strength carrier bags, could you consider passing them on to the local community emergency hub at the Lynton Town Hall (the old tourist information office). If you can drop them in on a Saturday morning they would be gratefully received.God blessSamantha
Dear Friends, As you know, Marilyn Sanders is with us for the final year of her formation for ministry. I am delighted to be able to announce that she will serve her title at St Andrew's, Cullompton where they will also receive that news today. We keep Marilyn and her family in our prayers during this time of learning and preparation (grateful for all that she is sharing with us) and we pray for the clergy and people of St Andrews as they anticipate her arrival. God bless Samantha
Dear Friends,Blessings for the new Church year and a holy Advent!As I have been reflecting on anticipation of this very different December, I have become aware that the sense of waiting and uncertainty and the hopes arising for a better future which are part of our daily news connect with the deep themes of the Advent season. These deep themes run through Advent miusic and readings and traditions - especially that of lighting the candles of the Advent Wreath to remember the stories of our ancestors in faith as they longed for change in their own generations. Over the next weeks I hope to explore these connections, so we can bring all that we are feeling, with honesty, into our life of faith and prayer. You might like to creat your own Advent wreath, or gather five candles to count down the weeks to Christmas day (or even just have one candle that you light each Sunday). Traditionally we remember Abraham and Sarah (the patriarchs and matriarchs) on Advent 1, the prophets on Advent 2, John the Baptist on Advent 3 and the blessed virgin Mary on the last Sunday of Advent.In the last week the government has announced that communal worship will be allowed in churches, and we also know now that Devon is in Tier 2 with most of the rest of the country. The current response to this on the Church of England web site is as follows:The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, has welcomed the publication of the Government's Covid-19 Winter Plan, detailing that places of worship will be permitted to reopen for public worship from 2nd December.Bishop Sarah, who Chairs the Church of England's Recovery Group, said: "We are encouraged by the confirmation that places of worship will soon be able to reopen for public worship in all tiers and in all parts of the country."Churches and cathedrals can now approach Advent and Christmas with more certainty; a time when we know many people will look forward to attending services celebrating the birth of Jesus."We await more detailed guidance and will update our own advice once this is published." The plan in this diocese is that the Archdeacons will brief clergy on the updated advice on December 2nd and I will continue my conversations with Church Wardens and PCCs once I have recieved that full briefing. <div>In the meantime, I will be sending out the link for the Zoom Advent tea shortly, and will catch up with emails that have been awaiting me while I was on leave, as swiftly as is possible. Let's keep one another, our communities and all those who are suffering in our prayers.The Archbishops' prayer for the nation this week is:Loving God,your Son Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly;pour out your blessing upon our nation;where there is illness,bring your healing touch;where there is fear,strengthen us with the knowledge of your presence;where there is uncertainty,build us up in faith;where there is dishonesty,lead us into truth;where there is discord,may we know the harmony of your love;this we ask in Jesus’ name.Amen. God bless, Samantha
