MEET OUR NEW MISSION

GOOD NEWS FROM THE | april 2020 ADVISER FOR AGES 5-11

HOME SERVICE A HIT AS MORE THAN 80 DIAL IN FOR TELEPHONE CHURCH Like many church leaders the often with underlying health Those taking part were not Reverend Ruth Frampton has concerns. charged for the telephone call had to quickly work out how to “We are here as Mother Church and Ruth said she hoped to ‘do church’ differently after public to try to spread God’s love and continue weekly worship in this worship was suspended by the support people’s spiritual needs. way for as long as public worship in a bid to “The coming weeks and is suspended. tackle the spread of coronavirus. months will be difficult for those “The Home Support that we While some churches have who have to self-isolate. have set up in partnership with been using social media and “Whilst many will tune in to other local organisations in each live-streaming technology to the national church services of the parishes will help supply reach their congregations, Ruth, streamed on TV or radio there is a physical needs. who is Priest-in-Charge of the sense of loss that we cannot join Teign Valley and Haldon Mission together as a local community. “We are here as Community, decided the humble “Corporate worship is a Mother Church to try telephone was a better fit for her challenge since the only “modern parishioners. technology” common to all is the to spread God’s love On Mothering Sunday she led landline telephone.” and support people’s a simple service of ‘telephone On Mothering Sunday Ruth led worship’ using a conference call a simple service of ‘telephone spiritual need.” facility with more than 80 people worship’ using a conference call taking part from as far afield as facility with more than 80 people Gloucestershire. taking part from as far afield as Ruth said: “The demographic Gloucestershire. here means that many in our The service took the form of congregations do not have prayer and thanksgiving, with an access to streaming facilities order of service available online and the majority fall into the for those who had internet vulnerable category: over-70 and access.

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon J0Y 2020 IN SOUTH WEST NORTH DEVON MINISTRY NEW Bishop Robert, Bishop Jackie and visits to 2 lifeboat stations, 6 TRAINING COURSE Bishop Nick were in North Devon schools and 3 markets, plus the gift for the JOY 2020 weekend from 6th- of years workshops! South West Ministry, who are the 9th March. The , local providers for ministry training, The activities included – Mark Butchers, said “It has really have introduced New Encounters hundreds of people from choirs worked, beyond our wildest in Theology. This new course is and community singing groups dreams...We now pass the baton open to everyone and starts in joining in the Big Sing at the Big onto Exeter!”. September. Sheep, hundreds at RHS Rosemoor for the celebration service, dozens The JOY 2020 weekends that It aims to cultivate adventurous of volunteers for the beach clean, had been scheduled for Exeter, faith, missional hope and grounded going out with street pastors, Totnes and Plymouth have been love. For more information please Bishop Nick trying out his hand at postponed due to the coronavirus see: www.swmtc.org.uk/study/new- being an auctioneer in Holsworthy, outbreak. encounters-in-theology/

RESOURCES WHILST CHURCH SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED

Coronavirus Update We know that this is a challenging time for everyone across the country, including churches.

The Church of England’s There are some brilliant resources guidance on coronavirus is available including information on: being updated frequently. • watching services online • prayers to say each day at Please check here for the home latest: www.exeter.anglican. • worship resources org/resources/coronavirus- • how to help people in your guidance/ area

Bishop Robert has called To access these resources go to: for us to be united in helping www.exeter.anglican.org/ those who are in isolation. Speaking to BBC Spotlight he said, “Isolation is resources/coronavirus-guidance/ the biggest cause of people being mentally ill. We’ve got to look out for coronavirus-resources/ people... we’ve got to come together.”

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG HELEN WILLIAMS Serving with joy… This summer Helen will be starting her new role as our Missions Adviser for children aged 5 to 11. She tells us how she came to faith and why she has decided that now is the right time to return to her Devon roots. Tell us a bit about yourself and where life has What are you most excited about in your new taken you so far role? I grew up on the family farm outside Supporting people with a desire to meet Hemyock, in East Devon. I began Teacher and engage with children and families in their training, but decided it was not for me. I then locality and share about their faith, in a variety worked at a local timber yard and left there to of ways. Helping those who are feeling weary, go to Rwanda with Tearfund for two months. offering encouragement and sharing of ideas. After working with the Baptist Church and I am thinking there will be a lot of listening, helping with their children’s ministry, I went praying and talking! on to work with six rural parishes as their children’s worker. During this time I completed How do you spend your spare time? a degree in Theology and after three years in Being outside; gardening, walking, being with the Sampford Peverell Team, I applied for a role family on the farm – especially with my niece entirely outside of my ‘comfort zone’ in ‘the City’. and nephew. I enjoy Almost four years on and my time ministering running (mostly so I to children & families in three churches in can eat cake – another Richmond has been both good to me and for passion!), rowing on the me. I feel hugely thankful, but the time is right Thames, photography, to return to be closer to my family and I’m long distance treks and excited about the opportunities ahead. a bit of beekeeping.

How did you come to faith? Do you have a tip for a great Easter all age I grew up with Christian values and went to activity for churches? church intermittently. In my early 20’s I got I have really valued being part of a ‘Passover engaged and wanted to do an Alpha course Supper’. All ages have a role and importance, before I married. Sadly my fiancé was killed in a we are not fragmenting family or ignoring road accident. After James’ death I had a whole sections of our community but rather inviting heap more questions for God and about God! all to come and experience and connect with That Autumn I had the opportunity to ask them, God’s story. Sharing food was an integral part when I attended an Alpha course. As a result I of Jesus’ ministry and I think coming together started attending my local church in Clayhidon. over food is a great privilege and joy. In this Though we were small in number I was cared instance I think it also helps us to engage with for and given opportunities to get involved and Jesus in those final few hours, the what, why, to grow in my faith. This was the beginning of where and when. It sets the scene and helps us an active walk with God, with so many people to enter into the story. playing a part on the way.

@CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon POINTING TO THE CROSS

The Right Reverend ,

ears ago I went to hear the The young man got up and walked to Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, Jean- the front. Standing in front of the altar and Marie Lustiger. He was a notable looking up at the crucifix, he shouted, ‘You preacher and finished his sermon did all this for me, and I don’t give a damn.’ with a story about two teenagers, He did it a second time. He did it a third Ygrowing up in the suburbs of Paris at the time, except this time, as he began to end of the war. speak, he found himself weeping. Falling to his knees he said, ‘You did all this for Going into their local church, they me, and I give you my all.’ saw the old parish priest sitting in the confession box, waiting for customers. The cardinal paused, looked up and said, Egging one another on, one of them ‘That is a true story because you see that knelt down and began to rehearse a young man was me.’ litany of sins, confessing more and more outlandish things. Eventually he ground There will be many who come into to a halt and waited to see what would our churches this Holy Week who come happen, expecting an outburst of fury out of genuine devotion. Some will from the old priest. Instead silence. come in curiosity and perhaps others in anger. There may even be the occasional After a bit, the priest said, ‘At the front teenager wanting to poke fun. Whoever of the church there is a large crucifix. comes, our task is to point them to the For your penance, go and stand before cross and to direct their gaze to Christ it and shout three times: “You did all this crucified because when we look at Jesus for me, and I don’t care a damn.” And he Christ we discover God looking back at us. pronounced the absolution. And the world changes.

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon