May 2016 Tester 58
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
April - May 2016 Price 40p JESUS AND RUGBY Is The Gospel like a Contact Sport ? Having noted the recent earth constituted a huge risk - The Apostle Paul writes suggestion that tackling be and He knew it! Indeed we can “There is now no removed from school Rugby, I even say that it was not so condemnation for those who was about to start writing my much a risk as a certainty - are in Christ Jesus, …… for I “Front Cover” on the subject of from the foundation of His am convinced that neither “Jesus and Rugby”, when I world, God knew that His Son death nor life, neither angels came across an article written would be rejected by His own nor demons, neither the by Richard Powney – and he creation. present nor the future, nor any makes the point better than I powers, neither height nor ever could ! It needs to be depth, nor anything else in all read in its entirety and, as it is creation, will be able to too long for the Cover, you can separate us from the love of find it inside this magazine. God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Richard refers to the resurrection of Jesus “which enabled the disciples to Let us thank our Heavenly become bold and courageous Father that He is not a “risk in their witness to Jesus”. averse” God! It is indeed the resurrection But the crucifixion, followed Richard’s article can be found that we have celebrated this by the resurrection, on Page 3. Easter, for it is the uniquely demonstrates that we do not Christian festival of death have a “risk averse” God, but being defeated by the power a loving heavenly Father who John Roberts of God. Of course, there is a is prepared to take the risk of risk in the Rugby tackle, as crucifixion for the sake of there is a risk every time we saving His people and giving take a car on the road or cross us the wonderful eternal hope it as a pedestrian. God’s of resurrection, as the provision in sending His Son Christian shares with Christ to live amongst us on this the assurance of eternal life. Copy Deadline for June / July issue Monday 9 May 2016 TODAY April / May 2016 THE EXE VALLEY CHILDREN’S EDITORIAL MISSION COMMUNITY GROUPS wo important reminders in this issue. Calverleigh, Cruwys Morchard, EXE VALLEY TODDLERS T Loxbeare, Oakford, Rackenford, You will have noticed the first one - which Stoodleigh, Templeton, (For under 5ives) is the annual delivery of the brown Washfield and Withleigh Friday mornings during Term-time voluntary Subscription envelopes. You are at Calverleigh Village Hall under no obligation to make a donation www.exevalleychurches.org 10 am - 12 noon but anything you can offer, will be much appreciated. The details of how to pay, Toys, snacks, songs and more !! are on the envelopes. Thank you. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION For more information contact Paul and Elizabeth Iliff Liz Heywood on 01884 881583 The second thing to say, is a huge “Thank 6 Southfield Way you” to all our Advertisers. It is time for Tiverton EX16 5AJ. You can also find us on Facebook f their Annual Renewal and we do hope that Tel: (01884) 253473 they will all be staying with us again. We CHURCHWARDEN CONTACT DETAILS are in the fortunate position of having [email protected] Calverleigh some new Advertisers on a waiting list. NOT FRIDAYS PLEASE !! Aubrey Goldsworthy 01884 255248 We don’t like turning people away, so we Jackie Herniman 01884 255814 may have to try to squeeze a few more in [email protected] next time. We would be interested to NON STIPENDIARY MINISTER Cruwys Morchard know your thoughts on the ratio of space Rev’d John Roberts Diana Vincent 01363 860227 allocated to advertising. E-mail your Loxbeare comments please. Thank you, again. East Sidborough, Loxbeare, Ron Tidball 01884 881362 Tiverton EX16 8DA. [email protected] Tel: (01884) 256302 Oakford Jenny and Geoff Mike and Wendy Boynton 01398 351383 [email protected] [email protected] Rackenford READER Herbert Smith 01884 881375 MOVING ON PART 7 Mrs Anna Hansford Mary Cann 01884 881696 [email protected] second round of adverts in Church The Paddock, Stoodleigh ATimes has come and gone, and it came 2 Kensington Court, Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252 as no great surprise that, once again, [email protected] Washfield,Tiverton,EX16 9QU there were no applicants. Clearly, our new John Fewings 01398 351328 Rector has not yet responded, or has not [email protected] Tel: (01884) 253463 yet seen the advertisement! At the time of [email protected] Templeton writing (8 March) our situation is being Jan Heptinstall 01884 255399 discussed at the Bishop’s Staff Meeting, Jan.Heptinstall@BTOpenworld com MAGAZINE EDITORS and a subsequent meeting arranged (on Washfield 11 March) between Bishop Sarah, Jenny & Geoff Parnell Jeanne Jones 01884 254306 [email protected] Archdeacon Christopher and our Keepers Cottage, churchwardens to consider the way Withleigh Lower Washfield, Brenda Tucker 01884 252431 forward. Hopefully there will be more to report next time, but do please continue Tiverton, EX16 9PF e-mail: [email protected] Paul Iliff 01884 253473 to pray for all involved. One consolation is Tel: (01884) 254402 [email protected] that the appointment of our new Rector is [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS Backache Wendy Cook Painful joints Oil Fired Heating Technician Churchside, Loxbeare, Sports injury Installation, Servicing & Maintenance Mobility problems Tiverton, EX16 9RH of Oil Fired Boiler, Cookers Headaches Stiff neck Tel: (01884) 881774 Agas and Rayburns … or simply 07866511799 SERVICINGServicing fromFROM £55 £55 out of sorts ? Qualified OFTEC Registered Technician [email protected] Bowen LocalLocal Family Family RunRun Business Business All AreasAll Areas Covered could help Call Clare The views expressed in this Telephone 01884 242011 Highly effective 01398 351745 publication are not necessarily Mobile 07849 759263 or 07725 222133 Pain free Soft tissue Home visits available those of its readers Meadow View Farm ~ Templeton ~ Tiverton remedial therapy Member Bowen Association UK Insured and CRB checked 2 TODAY April / May 2016 two months closer than it was two Of course Jesus’ message was not months ago, even if we do not yet know Was it always safe? Probably not. only about counting the cost. The who he or she is! Did I get hurt? Regularly. reason we can take the risk and make Was it worth it? Definitely. that step of faith into the unknown is Mention was made last time of the because of the security that Jesus ‘Wings for Worship’ course which was This week I read an article suggesting brings. He promises to always be with being considered to help and that us by his Spirit. He continually speaks encourage our current and prospective . I was shocked: take tackling out of how our kind and loving Father in lay leaders. It currently looks likely that of rugby and you cease to have the heaven will always provide for all our this will take place on Wednesday same sport. To me this epitomises our needs. evenings during June (venue yet to be culture’ desire to sanitise life. Would it arranged). If you feel called to join our not make more sense to train kids to The unshakeable foundation of happy band, then please have a word tackle properly? This got me thinking steadfast love revealed through Jesus’ with Anna, or with your about our culture in general – we have death and resurrection enabled the churchwarden(s). become, to put it mildly, quite risk disciples to become bold and averse. And there is a danger that this courageous in their witness to Jesus. Our Ascension Day Service, this year, culture of risk aversion is infiltrating our Yet this still presents some challenging will take place at Rackenford on portrayal of the message of Jesus. questions to us all: what risk is Jesus Thursday 5 May at 7.30pm. Do try to asking us to take? What area of our life join us on what, in the UK, has become At times when reading the gospels I has become completely sanitised? the poor relation of feast days. In many find Jesus an uncomfortable character. These days my involvement with rugby other countries it is a very much more I think having dinner with Jesus may is full of risk aversion – I watch from a prominent festival. well have been full of little glances comfy sofa in a warm flat. The main across the table expressing the danger is a pillow thrown at me from Our April Group Service will be at thought: "I can’ believe he just said my wife when Scotland lose to England, Calverleigh on Sunday 24, and in May that!" Yet this highlights an important again. will be at Cruwys Morchard on Sunday point – Jesus’ message was full of 22, both Services starting at 10.30am. challenge and contained quite a bit of My prayer is that my life following Jesus risk. would become less about risk aversion and more focused on loving and Paul Iliff In Luke 14:25-34 we find Jesus laying obedient trust. out his own version of a disclaimer form. He wants the disciples to know Submitted by John Roberts Article by Richard Powney: that following him will come with a cost: “whoever does not bear his own as detailed on Front Cover. cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” Jesus is asking the disciples TIVERTON STREET PASTORS love playing sport. – are you willing to take the risk? I ruce & Kathy Govett have been part A particular favourite sport of mine I wonder, have we allowed some of our Bof the Street Pastors’ team in growing up was rugby.