TEAM WORK: PHOTOS: REVD HUW RIDEN HUW REVD PHOTOS: HOW SPORT GOOD NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF EXETER | JULY 2019 RUNNING JOHN BELL AT THE RACE HELPS US HOLY GROUND The Right Revd Nick LIVE OUT Iona musician to be special McKinnel reflects on guest at Cathedral service... the number of sport and he has planned the analogies in the New THE GOSPEL music for the Eucharist Testament The Right Revd Members of the re-established Nick McKinnel Exeter Diocesan Cricket Team Bishop of Plymouth That’s true not only for the obvious team sports. t is promising to be a great summer of sport: These days every professional golfer or cyclist has Wimbledon this month, an Ashes series in August, a team behind them. the Rugby World Cup in September hopefully As we know from church life, we are ‘better with a sprinkling of Chiefs’ players in the squad, together’, called into the body of Christ, to work for the prospect of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City Diocese joins the whole world to feel power of prayer the cause of God’s kingdom. Ibattling out in League Two later in the year. Even the Sport requires order, rules and parameters Diocesan cricket team revived its fortunes in a modest within which a game can be played. These might way! be white lines on a tennis court or long hallowed The glory of sport, whether we watch or play, is THY KINGDOM COME codes of conduct. pitting skill against skill, strength against strength. It is not acceptable that anything goes, that It tests character, brings glory, makes heroes and everyone’s view point is equally valid or that rules rayer has been centre offers hope – think of the English teams trailing can be made up as we go along. Sport like life is stage across Devon in the Champions League semi-finals or of Tiger ordered within a framework within which creativity thanks to dozens of Woods winning the Masters at Augusta. and endeavour can flourish. Thy Kingdom Come For the Apostle Paul, sport was a favourite picture As we sit in front of the telly eating strawberries events across the of following Christ. He writes of running, boxing, and watching Wimbledon, we might just consider Pcounty. The global prayer initiative Thy Kingdom rowing, competing in a race. He uses phrases what sport tells us about ourselves and society, so was launched by the Bishop of Come prayer such as ‘pressing on towards the goal’ or events spanned that we might better fight the good fight, finish the Crediton with outdoor prayers ‘winning the crown of righteousness’, of the the whole race and keep the faith. around a fire pit at Lee Abbey in Diocese discipline of the athlete, the glory of competing Credit: Love South West North Devon. and an honesty of life (‘no athlete is crowned The Diocese of Exeter clergy cricket team Other events included a without competing according to the rules’) in order celebrated its first win in FOUR YEARS when treasure hunt, prayer walks, to give apt illustrations for the well lived Christian it beat the Diocese of Oxford by 99 runs. community prayer benches, hill faith. Team member, the Rt Revd Mark Rylands climbs, creative prayer stations, Then there is the team dimension, working said: “Jesus is Good News and so is this!” Love SouthWest at Plymouth together with different gifts for a greater cause. Pavillions and a Pentecost celebration at Exeter Cathedral. Credit: Huw Riden EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG Visit www.facebook.com/CofEDevon @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon BISHOP FINDS D-DAY Serving with joy… EVENTS ‘VERY MOVING’ THE Bishop of Plymouth, The REVD Rt Revd Nick McKinnel, has described events to mark the ROSIE 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy as “immensely PILGRIMAGE FOR AUSTIN impressive” and “very moving”. ST BONIFACE The Bishop was in Normandy to take part in a Royal British An ecumenical pilgrimage and With Rural Mission Sunday Legion remembrance service at services took place in Crediton on July 14, we talk to the Revd Bayeux Cathedral, a wreath The Bishop said: “It was to celebrate Devon’s new patron laying at the British cemetery immensely impressive to see the saint, St Boniface. Rosie Austin, Team Rector to there and a peace symposium in veterans, all in their nineties, The Bishop of Crediton, the Shirwell Mission Community on Caen, which was almost laying their wreaths at the Rt Revd Jackie Searle, and the edge of Exmoor. Rosie, who destroyed during Operation cemetery; it was very moving.” the Roman Catholic Bishop of was ordained in 2011, is also Overlord in 1944. Plymouth, the Rt Revd Mark Rural Dean to Shirwell Deanery. The Diocese of Exeter is Bishop Nick is pictured with O’Toole, led the day which twinned with the Diocese of Vatican representative Cardinal included Sung Evensong, a Bayeux Lisieux. Ouellet. procession to the statue of St Was your Christian faith kindled from birth by unaffordable housing, low pay, and the struggle to Boniface, a procession to the church-going parents or was it more of a Damascus keep and maintain community facilities ... to name National Shrine of St Boniface road experience? just a few. IT’S GOODBYE TO BARRY, HELLO TO CLARE and ended with Solemn I was raised in a Christian family, attending a Often the church is the only community building Benediction. small Methodist church and then a large suburban left for miles around. Mission (for me) is about The Diocese of Exeter’s Mission Enabler has a pivotal new role as Anglican church where I found faith for myself. Faith living out God’s good news for all people and in Archdeacon Missioner in the Diocese of Coventry. for me continues to come in sudden bursts and his strength alone - and that’s the same wherever The Revd Barry Dugmore said he was really excited as he has a BISHOP MARTIN TO with gradual realisations. God has placed his people and whatever size of ‘real passion for releasing the gifts of the whole body of Christ.’ LEAD PILGRIMAGE congregation gathers. Meanwhile, Clare Cooke has just started work as Mission Advisor When did you first feel called to ordination? for Early Years (0-5). Clare, who was a teacher, will be helping There is still time to sign up I began my working life as a teacher, then felt God’s What / who sustains you in your ministry? churches to reach out to families with young children. for a pilgrimage to Sicily led by call to move with our growing family to St. George’s Joy and obedience (Psalm 51:12, ‘Restore to me Bishop Martin Shaw. House (Christian Outdoor Centre) in North Devon. the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing It will take place from After eight years, I became a community carer and spirit, to sustain me’). Joy in unexpected moments JOHN BELL TO BE ‘HOLY GROUND’ GUEST September 10 to 21st and will an NHS trainer, thinking God was calling me to of seeing God at work – and obedience, keeping include guided tours of Catania, midwifery. I spoke at a large memorial service for going when times are hard. The preacher, hymnwriter, composer, lecturer and broadcaster, John Siracusa, Palermo, Monreale and my mother in 2006, and someone said, “I think you Bell, is the special guest at July’s Holy Ground at Exeter Cathedral. Cefalu. There will also be a visit should consider your role in the church.” Simple What do you think is the most important aspect of An ordained minister of the Church of Scotland, John is part of the to Marsala vineyard for a tour words rang deep, confirmed with another vicar being a priest? Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community of women and and tasting. describing his role as a ‘spiritual midwife’. Standing back rather than stepping forward. This men who seek to live out the Gospel in a way that is radical, inclusive The cost is £1,699 with return is often tricky in church and community culture and relevant to life in the 21st century. flights from Bristol to Catania. What do you find are the biggest challenges of rural where a priest is seen as a figurehead/opener of He will invite the congregation to participate and ministry? village fetes. But if I have done my job well, then it sing songs that carry themes of justice, and he has For more information, It’s easy to be nostalgic about country life. Yes, we is by encouraging the church in our communities planned the music for the Eucharist. contact Pax Travel on live in a beautiful place, but there are some tough to be church in the places where God calls, with The service is on July 21 at 7pm in the cathedral. 0207 485 3003 or challenges being faced by people; uncertainty over confidence to articulate faith and courage to be [email protected] the future for farmers, isolation, poor transport, present in places of need. EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon.