December 2018
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December 2018 - January 2019 Price 50p HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT … ? By the time you read this, the And it’s easy to laugh, Christmas season will nearly be especially when things seem upon us and however much I tell far-fetched and incredible, and myself in November NOT to buy you’re not quite sure what’s the usual tat, by mid- December right. Take the Angel Gabriel I will probably have given in! for example. The Bible tells us Solomon, one of David’s sons that the Angel Gabriel came No doubt you will find me had 300 wives and 700 down from heaven – not to give stocking up on inflatable porcupines. Mary a massage, but a reindeer antlers, elfin ears and message. Gabriel said that cheap crackers. even though Mary was a virgin, she would conceive and give Well – Christmas wouldn’t be birth to a child, who would be Christmas without a silly hat, God’s own son and saviour of plastic moustache and a funny the world. joke. Really? Mistake? Fanciful Which reminds me! I came fiction? A joke worthy of any across a piece of paper, full of Christmas cracker? Or…or ‘howlers’ written by school ?? could it be the truth? children (allegedly!), but worthy of the tackiest Christmas What do you think? Come and cracker. So – put on your silly find out a bit more, at any or all hat and moustache and have a of our Churches in the Mission giggle. I think I’d better stop. Of course, Community. Everyone welcome. if I’m honest most of the above Here goes – the spelling and the contain pretty understandable Wishing you and your family punctuation are as written - and mistakes, a slip of a word, or a peace and plenty of joy this the Editors have not slipped up gap in understanding. on their proof-reading !! Christmas and New Year. Hopefully, for those of us who have completed the first half of Steph the Bible Course, we know a bit more, and wouldn’t fall into the trap of making such gaffs. The Please read additional Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt second part of the Course information from Steph on during the day, but a ball of fire starts in January. Do come Pages 3, 5 & 9 during the night. along and join us. Copy Deadline for February / March 2019 issue Monday 15 January 2019 TODAY December 2018 / January 2019 THE EXE VALLEY CHURCHWARDEN CHILDREN’S MISSION COMMUNITY CONTACT DETAILS GROUPS Calverleigh, Cruwys EXE VALLEY TODDLERS Morchard, Loxbeare, Calverleigh Aubrey Goldsworthy 01884 255248 (For under 5ives) Oakford, Rackenford, [email protected] Friday mornings during Term-time Stoodleigh, Templeton, Jackie Herniman 01884 255814 at Calverleigh Village Hall [email protected] Washfield and Withleigh 10 am - 12 noon Cruwys Morchard Toys, snacks, songs and more !! Diana Vincent 01363 860227 For more information contact [email protected] Liz Heywood on 01884 881583 RECTOR Sarah Cruwys 01884 860287 [email protected] You can also find us on Facebook The Rectory, Withleigh, Loxbeare EDITORIAL HAPPY Tiverton, EX16 8JQ Ron Tidball 01884 881362 CHRISTMAS [email protected] We hope you like your “one-off” new look Tel: 01884 250417 Jean Heard 01884 881400 Magazine. Just for Christmas, there is a [email protected] Email : Steph@ centre-fold pull-out “Christmas Card”, exevalleymissioncommunity.org Oakford which Steph hopes you can keep handy, Wendy Boynton 01398 351383 to easily check all the Services on offer. [email protected] You will find all the usual boxes on the PERSONAL ASSISTANT Dawn Williams 01398 324035 Middle Pages and on the Christmas Tree [email protected] cover, in colour, are details of where and Stephen Hirst when you can find Steph over the C/O The Rectory Rackenford Christmas period. Please read her “box” Mary Cann 01884 881696 on the Page 3 for more details. Tel: 01884 250417 [email protected] The back cover, also in colour, shows Email: office@ some photos of your Remembrance exevalleymissioncommunity.org Stoodleigh Poppies and Bell-ringers. There may be Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252 more to go in the next issue – along with NON STIPENDIARY MINISTER [email protected] a photo of 63 avid Quizzers in Calverleigh Peter Broadbent 01398 351374 Hall, assembled for The Big Quiz. [email protected] Nationally 24,117 people took part. £540 East Sidborough, Loxbeare, was was raised in Calverleigh so the Templeton National total should be fantastic. It was Tiverton EX16 8DA. William Withers 01884 253030 a great night and the Quiz-master, Steph, Tel: 01884 256302 [email protected] kept us all in order. [email protected] Washfield Thank you for all your kind words of Jeanne Jones 01884 254306 encouragement over the last five years. READER [email protected] It’s rewarding to know that our efforts are appreciated. Withleigh The Paddock, Brenda Tucker 01884 252431 Thank you too, to Steph, for still smiling after being here for two amazing years 2 Kensington Court, [email protected] Paul Iliff 01884 253473 well, actually Steph, just thank you for Washfield,Tiverton,EX16 9QU [email protected] still being here !! Tel: 01884 253463 Jenny and Geoff [email protected] MAGAZINE EDITORS Keepers Cottage, Lower Washfield, Tiverton, EX16 9PF Tel: 01884 254402 [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS As above - using email address [email protected] 2 TODAY December 2018 / January 2019 from steph You are invited to attend The Marriage Day Tweaking the cluster ! Throughout last year, we met in our ‘Clusters’ to share A day of preparation for your Holy Communion together, at different times on the married life together, at same day - and in order to be fair, we have varied the Cruwys Morchard Village Hall location and time of the Services. on Saturday 2 February 2019 However, to make it easier for everyone to know when their Holy Communion is taking place, starting in 10.30am - 2.30pm February, one Cluster Service will be held regularly on Tea, Coffee, Lunch provided - please inform us the 1st Sunday, another on the 2nd Sunday and the of any special dietary requirements third on the 3rd Sunday of every month, all at 11.15am. (with a couple of exceptions). RSVP:- [email protected] Andy Humm ~ Robert Gordon ~ Steph Gordon-Jeffs HOSPISCARE SERVICE ST PETER’S CHURCH, TIVERTON 7pm FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER “For those who have lost a loved one” The Bible Course is an 8-session course helping you to Christmas services With Steph explore the world's bestseller. Accessible and interactive, it will enhance and inform your on-going Bible study, whether you are new to the Bible or want to go deeper. Using a unique storyline, the course shows how the key events, books and characters all fit together. You’ll get to see the BIG picture and discover how the Bible applies to your life. Come and find out what it’s all about! To sign up please contact the Church Office. Withleigh Great Bradley Farm 8pm (Telephone Paul Iliff 01884 253473) Mondays 7 and 21 January All Mondays 4 and 18 February Welcome Washfield Village Hall 7.30pm 6.30pm for Supper. Please book 01884 256302. Wednesdays 16 / 23 / 30 January Wednesday 6 February SOUTH MOLTON 01769 573941 TIVERTON 01884 243430 24 HOUR BREAKDOWN SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH WEST 07736271866 FITTING ON-SITE 01884 861048 FARM OR AGRICULTURAL 07971538742 ROADSIDE & COMMERCIAL TYRES AVAILABLE . 3 TODAY December 2018 / January 2019 stunted by the wind, and make for easy FROM THE ARCHIVES NATURE NOTES picking. Please do not use damsons instead as it is not foraging and such ‘TODAY’ 50 years ago here is one war in which a truce is fruit is too good to end its life soaked in October and November, 1968 Tnever called and that is between many gin. [no obvious comments please] friends of ours and grey squirrels. The he December lead article focussed on appearance of a squirrel, changes their Thomas More Tthe subject of the cost of Christmas otherwise mild manner and only Cards and a recent increase on postal politeness prevents them from renewing rates. It was also suggested that we hostilities there and then. I do not think it PARISH ROUND-UP ‘overdo’ the number of cards we send, is revenge on behalf of the red squirrels especially when we include people we or even to protect the bird food, it is just see regularly. that squirrels are so shameless, and it is hard to fight the feeling of wanting to CALVERLEIGH Children’s Christmas parties were to take wring their necks without hurting them. place at Oakford, Washfield and Withleigh. However, you cannot help but be amused as they hurry away with yet another acorn ongratulations to everyone who has New Year’s parties were to be held at for their Winter store. This is when they Ccelebrated a big birthday or Calverleigh. look their most furtive and guilty, worried anniversary recently. We pray that you that it might be stolen, and presumably had a good time. Loxbeare’s yew tree, which was causing anxious that you do not follow them to problems to the tower, was to be felled in their hiding place. Like front door keys, it On 30 September, we had one of our January. will predictably be the most convenient Informal Get-togethers where over 25 plant pot and the buried bulbs which will people came together to enjoy coffee, Rackenford football club members were be sacrificed in next year’s frantic search. cake and conversation for a couple of holding a dance to raise money for new hours.