June / July 2015 Price 40p fter the first space flight executed, they had seen the very presence of God is open for Aon 12th April 1961 Nikita empty tomb and then they had all human beings. Each one of Khrushchev made a speech to had 40 days of teaching with us can have direct access to the Soviet Communist Party in Him. Yet still they expected an God through Jesus Christ - we which he claimed that the earthly Kingdom - still they need no other mediator, no astronaut Yuri Gagarin “flew into thought that He was to be King priest, no ritual to give us this space, but didn't see any god in Jerusalem “Lord, are you at access. there." This was surely meant to this time going to restore the King Jesus, we are assured indicate that God was a fantasy - kingdom to Israel?” they asked. “ever lives to make intercession apparently we all knew He lived But at least they recognised that for us!” Yes, Jesus is continually up in the sky! Jesus was a King - they could hardly believe less of a man who praying for each of His people - We have just passed Ascension had overcome death and was ordinary people who trust Him. Day when we celebrate Jesus now talking, living and eating The message of the Ascension passing from this earth to His with them! of King Jesus is that there is Father in heaven. But what does nothing on earth or in the that mean? If Jesus is with God spiritual realm that can keep us the Father what is he doing from Him. Think of your greatest there? What are we to make of fear, your most terrible memory, Luke’s account at the start of the your saddest moment, then book of Acts in the Bible. It is think of the happiest moments worth reading, Acts 1. v1 - 11. of your life, each one can be Luke is a very careful historian; brought before King Jesus - He he records that Jesus’ earthly understands, He has died for ministry consisted of what he Christians know that Jesus is you and He assures you of His to do, the clear indeed a king. We have a love and forgiveness if you trust implication being that Jesus’ children’s chorus, Him. work continues in the Book of Now that is some Saviour. Acts and then into the future, as The Bible is the Gospel spreads around the clear that Jesus’ kingship is not world. Jesus is the King - Ruler over of this world. He has ascended everything! Even at this time the disciples to the Glory of God the Father were completely at a loss to and there presented His self understand what Jesus’ mission sacrifice made once for all upon John Roberts was all about. They had seen him the cross. That means that the Copy Deadline for the August / September issue - Monday 13 July 2015 TODAY June / July 2015 THE EXE VALLEY CHILDREN’S EDITORIAL MISSION COMMUNITY GROUPS You will notice that we now have four Calverleigh, Cruwys Morchard, EXE VALLEY TODDLERS extra pages. It is such a relief to be able Loxbeare, Oakford, Rackenford, to spread things out and not turn away Stoodleigh, Templeton, (For under 5ives) items that you would like us to include. Washfield and Withleigh Friday mornings during Term-time Also, the June/July issue is always busy - at Calverleigh Village Hall with all your APCMs, Summer Fetes and www.exevalleychurches.org 10 am - 12 noon Shows. I have made a page for Parish Notices inside the back cover - for quick Toys, snacks, songs and more !! reference - so that you can see some of GENERAL ADMINISTRATION For more information contact what’s going on, at a glance. Paul and Elizabeth Iliff Liz Heywood on 01884 881583 6 Southfield Way We also have more space for new You can also find us on Facebook f Advertisers and we already have some on Tiverton EX16 5AJ. our waiting list. If you’ve been thinking of Tel: (01884) 253473 upgrading the size of your existing advert, CHURCHWARDEN CONTACT DETAILS [email protected] now would be a good time to do it. Calverleigh NOT FRIDAYS PLEASE !! Aubrey Goldsworthy 01884 255248 Some adverts from the old Page 15 have Jackie Herniman 01884 255814 moved to the bottom of the new pages. [email protected] NON STIPENDIARY MINISTER Cruwys Morchard PDF copies of the Today magazine, dating Rev’d John Roberts Diana Vincent 01363 860227 back several years, can be read on the East Sidborough, Loxbeare, Loxbeare Exe Valley Churches web-site run by Dave Ron Tidball 01884 881362 Tiverton EX16 8DA. Burton. You can now tell any of your [email protected] friends and family, at home and abroad, Tel: (01884) 256302 Oakford that they can read them all on-line. [email protected] Mike Boynton 01398 351383 [email protected] Rackenford Jenny and Geoff READER Herbert Smith 01884 881375 Mary Cann 01884 881696 Mrs Anna Hansford [email protected] The Paddock, Stoodleigh 2 Kensington Court, Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252 MOVING ON PART 2 [email protected] Washfield,Tiverton,EX16 9QU John Fewings 01398 351328 Tel: (01884) 253463 [email protected] wo months have now passed since the previous update and, although [email protected] Templeton T Jan Heptinstall 01884 255399 progress has been made regarding the Jan.Heptinstall@BTOpenworld com paperwork, it has been slower than hoped. The nine parish representatives MAGAZINE EDITORS Washfield Jeanne Jones 01884 254306 have met on two occasions and general Jenny & Geoff Parnell agreement has been reached on some Withleigh Keepers Cottage, Brenda Tucker 01884 252431 aspects. There are, however, issues Lower Washfield, e-mail: [email protected] which, at the time of writing, have yet to Tiverton, EX16 9PF Paul Iliff 01884 253473 be resolved. By the time you read this, a [email protected] further meeting will have taken place with Tel: (01884) 254402 [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS Oil Fired Heating Technician Derek McManus Meadow Gate, Loxbeare, Tiverton, EX16 9RH Tel: (01884) 881492 Servicing from £55 [email protected] Local Family Run Business All Areas Covered The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its readers Meadow View Farm ~ Templeton ~ Tiverton 2 TODAY June / July 2015 the Archdeacon of Exeter in attendance. expectations of our new incumbent. It is a mistake to imagine that all Please pray that the documentation Nobody can be in nine parishes at once, manifestations of religion are which is finally produced, will attract nor can they fulfil the role of a parish essentially similar or always benign. the right candidates. priest of the past. But, rather than But the challenge to politicians is to looking for what cannot be done, let us understand how faith can shape On a slightly more positive note, a consider what we would like to see communities, nations and provisional date has been set by the happening in our parishes, then asking individuals for the good. The Diocese for interviews to take place in ourselves the question, “What can I answer to ‘furious religion’ (that is, contribute to making this happen?” If October, but this is subject to all of the the religious impulse turned in on we ourselves are willing to rise to the paperwork being completed in good itself or used to justify oppression time. Before too much excitement challenge, then those who are not yet and conflict) is not to marginalise develops, please don’t get any ideas part of our congregations may be able religion in general or see religious that we might have a new Rector by the to see the gospel being lived out in our end of the year. Even if an offer was to communities, and that is far more faith as some kind of problem. It is be made immediately following the powerful than preaching it. Our rector to acknowledge that religious interviews, there is still the question of may then have the time to do those commitment is extraordinarily the three months notice which the things which it would be inappropriate widespread and that people of faith prospective incumbent would have to for the rest of us to be doing. Let us within all the historic traditions give to their current benefice, plus the also pray that the Lord will show us have much to offer to a vision of a time allowed for moving and settling in. what HE wants for HIS Church in our good society and a peaceful world. Such would effectively take us to late mission community. February / early March, and bear in and also … mind that this is the earliest we can expect. Paul Iliff The House of Bishops’ Pastoral At the recent Churchwardens’ Council Letter’s comments on meeting, it was agreed that we should NEIGHBOURS try having a monthly Group Service HAVE YOU READ ? … which would take place in our churches, e have become much more of a in rotation, and that there would be no The House of Bishops’ Pastoral Society of Strangers through Exe Valley Central on those Sundays. It W Letter’s comments on FAITH recent decades. That is one has been decided, initially, that this will consequence of greatly increased be on the fourth Sunday of each month, physical mobility and the advance beginning in June. It also seemed hristianity is an incarnational of communication technologies logical to go around our churches in faith – Jesus Christ lived as one alphabetical order, that way we would C which allow … transactions without of us, shared the joys and people meeting face to face.