Wye Brooks Group LECTIONARY READINGS 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 Update for 11th July Psalm 24 Ephesians 1:3-14 Trinity 6—GREEN Mark 6:14-29

appearance may One worry is that if we do not be there at all. encourage new style churches, that will lead to a sidelining of older, Unsurprisingly more traditional believers, but the 10000 New there are a lot of truth is that more traditional murmurings—that it churches are likely to get fewer and is just an attempt to fewer anyway because they don’t dismantle the attract anyone. The hard thing for us parish system, or a to accept is not just that most Churches? cost cutting people don’t like tradition and exercise. And formality, but that they can’t grow where on earth are A year or so ago we were told that as Christians when it’s imposed on we doing to get all those new the Church of is making them. Think about David fighting leaders with sufficient education and radical plans to establish up to Goliath (1 Samuel 17). He was training to be able to lead the new 10000 new churches and offered the traditional armour, but churches? communities in this country within found it impossible to wear and be the next ten years. The proposals In the background is the Fresh effective. will be debated at General Synod, Expressions movement and also the But other people really can’t imagine which is this weekend. The initiative, new churches: New Wine and so on, a church without traditional called Myriad, is described in a Many traditional believers find the language, or without a fully report to Synod called Simpler, new churches threatening. Their sacramental life and dignified liturgy Humbler, Bolder, and the aim is "a demonstrative, emotional non-rigid - things that are in essence cultural revitalised parish system within worship and demanding sermons features. To those people, a church which new and inherited are not what we are used to. without historical liturgical worshipping communities flourish credentials isn’t church at all. The together. intention may I suppose be to care It's all about arresting decline. The for these churches until they shrink , once the to nothing. mainstay of the nation, has been I think we must consider what are contracting for the best part of 100 the essentials. For me it’s the years, and In the ten years to 2019 Christian gospel—offer of salvation it shrank by another 15-20%. and abundant life in Christ and then Thinking about our own churches, But their informal style and the encouragement to holy Christ the average age of members is emphasis on whole life discipleship centred worship and behaviour. To about 70 and getting higher, and are a good recipe for attracting me, if we are not culturally crucially, there is no-one younger children, young people and families, accessible, gospel centred and coming in. encouraging a much more active, evangelical we might as well close. committed, mission minded faith, So it’s exciting news that we are and they are better placed to We have yet to see the detail, of trying to do something about it. But communicate with a our more course and the truth may be much just hang on a minute. There is informal, technology and media better or much worse than we hope already a shortage of clergy and driven society. Moreover, because or fear. But surely in a nation which 10000 new churches seems an they are likely to emphasise is forgetting its Christian heritage, impossible dream. conversion and a new, abundant and moving further from Christian The answer is that these new Christ centred life there is a very faith every day, we must go for it. communities may not have vicars. clear distinction between faith and We have to take every opportunity They may be lay led under the not-faith, which is easier to work to include Christian practice the supervision of a vicar. And they may with. It is these churches which majority can access from within not meet in religious buildings but in have a much greater chance of their own culture. homes or halls. Worship, it is said, survival and growth, in my opinion. will still be fundamentally Imitating them may be a good sacramental, but that solid CofE move. poor and vulnerable people to whom the church folk were ministering in their spare time.

And yet she had never been invited to speak in church about her work, even though she probably spent more time with the poor and vulnerable than anyone else in the congregation.

This church did actually have provision for invited people to speak in small groups, but this drew attention to an issue of who speaks. If it’s only church HOW TO GROW YOUR CHURCH leaders then the temptation in the Remember that for several weeks I’ll be bringing congregation is to see only that which you snippets from Neil Hudson’s book Imagining is done by its officials or leaders as authentic ministry. The valuable roles Church. The clear message is that growth is a that all active Christians end up SPIRITUAL ISSUE which can only be solved getting ignored. spiritually. He writes... The church leaders took up the challenge and soon there was a much A story from a Manchester Church wider range of people being asked to They are an average sized church with speak. a consistent, active, generous and fruitful ministry. They give away Ben writes plenty of money each year to agencies In the evangelical world certainly, and others, there working with the poor, and they is something of a tradition of congregations being minister to the poor themselves too. able to look at how God is working in people’s lives At a gathering of leaders I was asking through personal testimony, people telling their about the heroes of the church and own story. Our lives and faith can be enriched by about who was most likely to be listening to others describe how their Christian faith invited to share what God was going. works out in practice. Those leaders thought that for them it was those who were working with the poor. It would be good, perhaps, to find some space for personal testimony in the services regularly, so that At the meeting was a doctor, there we gradually learn how God is at work among us as only because she was married to one of a Christian community. What do you think? By all the church leaders. Her job brought her into contact with some of the same means feed back.

QUIZ—SO YOU THINK YOU QUIZ Things you might find in a church. KNOW YOUR CHURCH BUILDING Things you might find in a church. A. The upper slab of an altar Match the item below to the description opposite. B. A small alcove on the north side of the altar where the reserved sacrament is kept. 1. PISCINA C. A small linen square covering the chalice 2. QUARREL D. Small stone basin set in a church wall near 3. MENSA the altar 4. PALL E. One of the points projecting from the 5. CUSP underside of a trefoil arch. 6. AUMBRY F. A diamond shaped piece of glass fitted by Answers given next week. lead into a window NEWS THIS WEEK COMING UP FACE MASKS AND SINGING 11 July Marstow 10.00 So, very soon the wearing of masks will be voluntary, 18 July Llangrove 10.00 (poss HC) and the strong expectation is that congregational hymn 25 July Goodrich 10.00 (lay led) singing will be allowed. It hasn’t been spelt out yet, but 1 Aug Welsh Newton 10.00 expect some new in the next few days. 8 Aug Llangarron 10.00 The current plan is for more services from CATHEDRAL - NEW DEAN Sept, and including one Holy Communion per It was announced this week that the new Dean of week, but it depends on the Covid situation. Hereford Cathedral is Reverend Canon Sarah Brown. She is the first woman to hold the post in the SUNDAY 18th AT LLANGROVE Cathedral’s history. Currently Canon Missioner at

Peterborough Cathedral, she came to faith in a rural church and for her, this post ticks all the right boxes. If Benefice service at 10am you want to get to know her a bit, have a look at this With optional act of Holy Communion YouTube conversation between her and Bishop Richard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO4IzTZqIA

GENERAL SYNOD RULES FOR CHURCH EVENTS

The General Synod is meeting this weekend (Friday to Services (including baptisms) Tuesday). If you want to take a peek at what they are doing, just Google Church of England General Synod July Inside. 2021 • Numbers limited only by social distancing guidelines - go alone or in a group of up to six. SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE METHODIST • Masks to be worn. CHURCH • Singing is illegal (at least for another week) Within the last couple of weeks the Methodist Church • Refreshments CAN be served afterwards, inside or outside. See https://www.churchofengland.org/ has voted to allow same sex marriage, and by a big sites/default/files/2021-06/COVID%2019% majority. It’s the largest UK Christian denomination to 20advice%20on%20conducting%20public% do that. But it is allowing its ministers to exercise 20worship%20v3.5_0.pdf freedom of conscience and refuse to conduct same sex weddings. The Church of England is of course debating Outside the whole area of sex and sexuality and that will • Should we choose to have worship outside, we undoubtedly mean a General Synod vote on it within a can sing. year or so. Funerals and Weddings

PARLIAMENT AND ABORTION Permitted:. There has been some fairly intense debating, and this • Maximum 30 people week we have seen the withdrawal of two • Social distancing required. parliamentary amendments, one of which would have • Rules above apply allowed abortion on demand right up to birth, and another which would have made it illegal to offer We are expecting updates very soon from the women support outside abortion clinics. Church of England and Government.

And a group of bishops is supporting attempts to PRAYER AFTER SERVICES challenge that abortion up to birth is permitted for At the request of the Wardens and Reps’ meeting, disabilities, including Downs Syndrome. there will be time for prayer (for healing etc) at the end of each benefice service.

CHRISTIAN QUOTES - CHURCH The condition of the Church may be very accurately gauged by its prayer meetings. So is the prayer A church can be unified in one of two ways. meeting a grace-ometer, and from it we may judge of You can freeze together, the amount of divine working among a people. If God as the Church of the Frozen Chosen; be near a church, it must pray. And if He be not or you can melt together there, one of the first signs of His absence will be with the fire of the Holy Spirit. slothfulness in prayer. John Hagee (American pastor) CH Spurgeon (great Baptist leader) MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR YOUR DIARY WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

The New Testament Greek word is ekklesia, which means called out and it refers to those who have been called out of unbelief to belief in Christ, called out from living ‘in the flesh’ to living ‘in the Spirit’, called out from worldly thinking to Christian thinking, called out from non-Christian morality to Christian morality. Centenary Celebration th Two Aspects of the Church Sunday 12 September at 3:30pm. 1. The Universal Church. This refers to all believers: County Royal British Legion and the • Christ will build His church (Matt. 16:18). Battle of Britain Committee are celebrating the • Christ loved and gave Himself for her (Eph. Centenary of the formation of the Royal British 5:25). Legion at Hereford Cathedral during the evensong th • Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23). service on Sunday 12 September at 3:30pm. • Believers are part of one body (Eph. 4:4; Heb. Everyone is welcome to attend this very special 12:23). commemoration service.

2. The Local Church. This refers to believers in a The service commemorates those who have given specific area. Examples include their lives in service, those who continue to serve and those who have supported our armed services • the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), during the last 100 years. • Ephesus (Acts 20:17) • Corinth (I Cor. 1:2). The British Legion was formed in May 1921 to help returning WW1 soldiers and their families. Ekklesia is never used of a building. New Testament Today through the Poppy Appeal and many donations, members and volunteers strive to raise Christians would never have said,“ I am going to money in support of all veterans including those church today” meaning to a building. from the Merchant naval service, present day serving armed forces personnel and their families. The New Testament uses images to describe the Barbara Leeson Church, its unity in Christ and its relationship with Herefordshire County Chairman. Christ. • Body of Christ – Christ is the head and each member is an important part of the body (I Cor. 12:12-27; Rom. 12:3-8; Eph. 1:22-23).

• Bride of Christ – Pictures the union and love a bride and groom have for each other (II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-33; Rev. 19:7-9). Eph 5:25 says that Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her.

• A Family – All members are united as a family (Eph. 3:14-15; I Tim. 5:1-2; II Cor. 6:18).

• Fellowship – The members care for each other and help each other (Acts 2:42; Gal. 2:9).

CHRISTIAN QUOTES - CHURCH The condition of the church may be very accurately gauged by its prayer meetings. So is the prayer A church can be unified in one of two ways. meeting a grace-ometer, and from it we may judge of You can freeze together, the amount of divine working among a people. If God as the Church of the Frozen Chosen; be near a church, it must pray. And if He be not or you can melt together there, one of the first signs of His absence will be with the fire of the Holy Spirit. slothfulness in prayer. John Hagee (American pastor) CH Spurgeon (great Baptist leader) My favourite: 9.30, 11.30 and 5.30 All Souls TODAY’S WORSHIP & LEARNING Langham Place on https://allsouls.org/ Local Groups/337797/Watch/Watch.aspx Our own ‘Light Bite’ on the Lord’s prayer, St Andrew the Great in Cambridge (stag.org) specifically on Thy will be done on earth as it is in Holy Trinity Combe Down (htcd.church) heaven. Go to https://youtu.be/U1HCL3PQEM0 Traditional Our Diocese A choice of over 80 traditional services https:// The Bishop’s message. Should I wear a mask? This www.pbs.org.uk/churches-and-services/-1 is a very strong message and needs to be played more than once. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=LTLc5YlaUcg The National Church of England - at 9am. https://www.churchofengland.org/ Around the Country—Lively. more/media-centre/church-online 10.30 or 6.30 St Nick’s Bristol on https:// www.stnicholasbristol.org/online Songs of Praise, is from Cheddar Gorge. It’s on BBC2 at 1.15

A BOOK OF THE BIBLE JOEL BACK TO CHURCH? It’s worth reading through the book of Joel, the With the lockdown easing, it may be time second of the minor prophets in the Old Testament. to think about coming back to church. We It’s only three chapters. have missed one another and it would be good to get together again. I have suggested before that you look at history to find out what’s going on, but you can’t with Joel See page 1 of this magazine because it’s not clear when it is written—the 9th, 6th or 4th century BC. We know nothing about Joel apart for where and when. from the name of his father, Pethuel and that he was from the southern Kingdom, Judah. Wear a mask Deep your distance There is extensive reference to a plague of locusts, which is then also used to refer to invasion. Turn from See you there. your sins and God will restore you, is the prophetic message. The big theme of the book is The Day of the Lord. A WORTHY WEBSITE Joel 3, on the outpouring of God’s Spirit, is always https://www.eden.co.uk/ read on Pentecost, alongside Acts 2, and Joel seems This is an online Christian book and gift shop. familiar, it’s likely because of that. I buy from it quite regularly

THIS WEEK IN THE BENEFICE MEDITATION GROUP HOUSE GROUP PRAYER GROUP 2ND HOUSE GROUP Led by Wendy or Sue Led by Ben Led by Sue Led by Sue Monday 2.00pm Tuesday 10am Tuesday 7.30pm SUNDAY 8.30am Zoom invitation issued with Zoom invitation issued with Zoom invitation issued with St Mary’s this Update’s accompanying this Update’s accompanying this Update’s accompanying Welsh Newton email. email. email. LIGHT BITE THEMES 4 July Seven weeks with the Lord’s Prayer (4) 11 July Seven weeks with the Lord’s Prayer (5) Wye Brooks Benefice 18 July Seven weeks with the Lord’s Prayer (6) https://wyebrooksbenefice.wixsite.com/my-site 25 July Seven weeks with the Lord’s Prayer (7) There are links to all the individual church 1 Aug TBA websites, as below. 8 Aug TBA

For individual Churches go to: St Giles Church, Goodrich DIOCESEAN SHARED PRIORITIES https://www.goodrichchurchherefordshire.org.uk/ Here is what we the Church are aiming for in this part of God’s kingdom. St Matthew’s Church, Marstow 1. Spiritual and numerical growth https://www.marstowchurch.org/ 2. Engaging in transforming communities St Deinst’s Church, Llangarron 3. Reimagining ministry https://www.llangarron.info/church Have a bit of a think about what these might Christ Church, Llangrove mean. Our churches do not exist for their own llangrove.org.uk (village website) sake. St Mary’s the Virgin Church, Welsh Newton https://www.ourcountrychurch.co.uk/ NOTES FROM THE PERSECUTED CHURCH MYANMAR You can also visit A Church Near You for Three Baptist pastors are information about each church and an indication of facing jail for holding meetings what is happening in it. to pray for peace in Myanmar, after the Rawang Literature and Culture Committee (RLCC) These days, in order to survive, all filed a lawsuit against them for organisations need a presence online and/or “causing fear and spreading on social media, and this has been a work in fake news”. According to local progress for our churches for more than media, the chairman of the RLCC is a member of the three years. military regime linked to the Myanmar government. reported by International Christian Concern (ICC). Hearty thanks to all those who have been involved in the setting up and the NIGERIA maintenance of our Church websites, and KIDNAPPING IN KADUNA Scores of students were kidnapped now our Benefice Website and our presence when gunmen stormed a Christian on A Church Near You. boarding school on Monday this week in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Our digital presence will continue to develop Police have not revealed the exact number of students as we attempt to respond to the rapidly abducted in the early hours from Bethel Baptist High School, changing society of which we are a part. but a contact told Barnabas that the figure could be as high as 140. At least 26 students and a female teacher were later rescued by police.

JUST A THOUGHT See barnabasfund.org for more details WHY NOT… leave a gift to your church in your will? It’s easy enough to do and will help to ensure your church’s future.

THE ROUTE TO REALITY PRAYER FOR OTHERS The UK We are trying to find a route back to normality, but • HM the Queen and the Royal Family, the kind of normality which does not mean • HM Government decline. Here’s what we have so far. This may • The kickstarting of the economy. change depending on the Covid situation. Coronavirus. • Probably from September we aim to more than • Rising infection rates and the easing of restrictions double the amount of services in the benefice, • Those who continue to suffer from the Virus and from including a weekly Holy Communion long Covid • The Holy Communion might be a full service, or a • Those who have lost loved ones or watched them suffer. ‘bolt on’ act of communion at the end of a • Those who continue to be isolated

Service of the Word. This latter option has World proved popular. • The perceived threats from both Russia and China • There will be a simple midweek communion • Famine in Ethopia service, with refreshments and discussion added. • The migrant issue across Europe and here • The UK/Europe tension over trade, travel and vaccines. • More services will be lay led by our seven person • Violent persecution of Christians in the Muslim world lay team. The aim, with the Archdeacon’s • Climate change and ecology permission, is significantly to develop its ministry. • Canada - its heatwave and wildfires

• There may be evening services, possibly Our churches and clergy streamed, online, from elsewhere in the country. • General Synod this weekend. • Clergy—for energy, wisdom, faithfulness, courage. • There will be a variety of service types including • Churches—role in the community, finances, adaptability, traditional ones. digital presence. • The future. What kind of normal (this is really important) THE (ALTERNATIVE) COLLECT FOR • The weekly services, Light Bites, the Updates, the lay-led services, the Zoom Prayer Meeting, House Groups, TRINITY 6 Meditation Group, the Worship Group, the Tech working party and the work to give us a proper digital presence; Creator God, the possibility of starting a benefice choir. • The Church as it debates Living in Love and Faith, which you made us all in your image: is about our approach to issues in human sexuality. may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do; Our villages • Our pubs through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen • Our parish councils, local businesses and schools

Pray for people • Brenda, on a course of chemo, and Graham • Doris, living with dementia, in a nursing home COMPANION WORK NEEDED • Rosie, with various problems, putting on a brave face • Anita, between two surgeries • Margaret, still recovering after operations One of our parishioners would like to find • Ron, improving in hospital, and Diana, his wife. • James, a young man with long term illness paid work as a companion to someone— • The family of Sue Maud of St Deinst’s Church Llangarron, who died this weekend. cooking, housekeeping, shopping etc. • Carol, in a persistent vegetative state, and husband Ray, unable to visit her because of Covid. If you or someone you know might be able • Ivor, battling on • Lisa, still suffering from vertigo to offer this kind of work, please ring me • Jim, recovering after surgery • The family of Joan Preddy, of Welsh Newton Common, (01989 770454) whose funeral is on Friday • An anonymous young man who needs a sense of direction.

REGULARS THESE ITEMS DON’T CHANGE FROM WEEK TO WEEK THE DAILY HOPE LINE ALL AGE CHURCH

0800 804 8044 Sue Evans’ All Age If you haven’t done already, this is information to material is attached to be passed on to those who don’t have access to the email accompanying the Internet. It’s a freephone number to a Church this Update. of England initiative, where there are recorded hymns, messages and prayers. The Llangrove Milk PARISH GIVING SCHEME Shed at the Village We are pushing the Parish Giving Scheme because Hall, For farm fresh it is the best way of giving to your Church, not just milk and a few because of how little hassle it is to you, but also other things like because of how safe and tax efficient it is, how butter, cheese and easy it is for treasurers to administer and how it cake. usually does actually drive the income of churches up. And GOOD NEWS—you don’t even have to fill in a form. You can set it up by phone. By all means ring your church treasurer for details and fill in a form, or call the number below.

PARISH GIVING SCHEME Our local eateries are important, and without our patronage Tel 0333 002 1271 they risk not being able to survive, especially in this climate. Llangrove - The Royal Arms Church Parish Ref Church Parish Ref Phone 01989 770267 Goodrich 180618231 Marstow 180618241 Llangarron 180618239 Llangrove 180618240 Goodrich - The Hostelrie Welsh Newton 180618256 Phone 01600 890241

THE BORDER NEWS Goodrich - The Cross Keys Phone 01600 890692 Not currently available as a hard copy. To get the online Border News: Goodrich - Hen and Dot Café a) Go to wyereaches.org Flanesford Priory, Open Fri to Sun 10am - 4pm b) Click the What’s On tab. Phone 01600 890506 CONTACT Revd Ben 01989 770454. CLERGY DAY OFF Revd Philip ‘Ben’ Bentham My DAY OFF is Monday. I may be around on Mondays, Tel 01989 770454 but can’t guarantee it. Email [email protected] If you have suggestions for improving this Update, CLERGY HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR please do let me know. 13-14 July To unsubscribe, simply drop me a line. 30 Aug– 12 Sept 28-31 Dec FAMILY DOG SHOW AND BBQ

Sun 8 August, 1pm Swallows End Llangarron, HR9 6PF Tel 01989 770117

When: 3rd, 4th and 5th August Times 9am-4pm Entry £5.00 (under 12s £3.00) Where: Llangrove Village Hall (outside which includes a burger or hot dog. where possible) Cash Bar What: Experiments, Amazing facts, Games, Activities, Crafts, Drama and the Dog show classes (from 1pm) unexpected! 1. Dog or bitch with the waggiest tail 2. Dog or bitch with the most appealing eyes £10 a child per day, or 3 days for the 3. Best puppy (under 12 months old) price of 2! 4. Prettiest bitch 5. Most handsome dog 6. Best junior handler (under 10 years old) All welcome. 7. Best veteran (the dog! 10 years and over) Helpers to include Wendy Price, Francesca 8. Dog or bitch most like the handler Cinderey, Fay Visser, Jenny Bibby, Pavla 9. Best pack (2+ dogs from the same household) 10. The dog the judge would most like to take home. Bloor, Nick Penny, Jenny Fox Entry: £1 per class. If your child wants to join the fun, contact Rosettes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Wendy Price on 01989 770450