WHO OR WHAT ARE WE? AND WHAT DOES GOOD NEWS FROM THE | January 2019 GOD WANT US TO BE? FROM EXETER WINNERS OF FIRST TO BAHRAIN ‘DEVON’S BEST CHURCHYARD’ ARE AND ABU The Venerable Christopher Futcher of Exeter ANNOUNCED DHABI DIOCESAN TRAINING COURSE TO EXPAND was recently asked to write something brief and I helped at a competitive youth event towards the chatty to introduce myself – one of those requests end of last year. I assisted in a very unskilled way at ITS CAPACITY DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND that instantly made me feel very formal and likely the circus skills area. I successfully pulled away the A ‘central plank’ of the Diocese of support from to resort to a sort of factual Who’s Who entry – tablecloth, leaving the plates, bowls and cutlery in Exeter’s provision of lay training the incumbents born, educated, partner, children, current and past place, I had one instance of success at plate spinning, is to expand next year because and exercises Iappointments, interests. and failed completely at juggling three balls. its popularity has led to it being such as writing At a presentation, I heard the speaker So, I am adding aspirant plate-spinner oversubscribed. for a parish introduce herself by using six phrases and juggler to my self-description in The Foundations in Christian publication. about herself – all interesting, none 2019! Ministry course, delivered by the The Revd merely factual. But she did omit It matters how we describe and South West Ministry Training Course David mentioning her husband who was esteem ourselves to each other, though (SWMTC), takes place on seven Carrington, sitting in the room. That seemed most important is our identity in God’s Saturdays through the year, and Director of Lay strange, but perhaps because he was presence. includes worship and learning for a Training, said: there she did not need to! I value these words: God meets us in diverse community of people from “This course At interviews we sometimes ask the absence of things – of all sorts of across the Diocese. has proved – what three adjectives would your things. And this is good news. The only The places available on this year’s hugely popular Course Tutors Revd Paul Seaton-Burn, Penny Doe and Revd Chris Martin friends use to describe you? I remember qualification is to have no qualifications; course increased from 25 to 30, but and we have one person being so negative at this the only admission ticket is that we in this way. it was still over-subscribed. There will been overstretched trying to point that I had to remind him we were don’t have one; we lost it years ago and “The hunger for learning is palpable be capacity for 50 students next year, accommodate the numbers. It is very asking how his friends would describe we’ve been desperately looking for it in those on the course. Alongside and the team of tutors will grow as a exciting to know that we can take on him! ever since. Just say to God: “I haven’t locally-based lay training, the result. more students next year. I am interested in how we identify got anything to show you; I can’t prove Foundations in Christian Ministry Students meet for “We have had or describe ourselves. What would be a thing; I can’t tell you who I am. I’m an course will continue to help meet this inspirational and wonderful feedback your six phrases about yourself? unqualified, unskilled, inexperienced hunger.” interactive teaching from past students and I think it often depends on our non-entity.” Say that and what God will Vocational exploration threads on the Bible, theology, this speaks volumes. comfort in a situation and how we feel say is: “Come, my dear. You are the very through the course. All students spirituality and pastoral People have said many we will be most likely to be understood person we’ve been looking for”. take what they have gained back to care, and the tutors encouraging things, and appreciated. How do I get these their parishes. Many also go on to Holman Hunt, ‘The Light of the support each person’s from the course having people to like me? World’ further lay training, including courses discipleship and vocation. affirmed their calling in evangelism and pastoral care. The learning is linked to students finding Foundations in Christian Ministry back to parish ministry each study day ‘totally forms the foundational year for EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG by means of involvement inspiring’. It is amazing training as a Reader. in a local study group, Revd David Carrington to touch people’s lives @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon WINNERS OF FIRST ‘DEVON’S BEST From Exeter to Bahrain and Abu CHURCHYARD’ ARE ANNOUNCED The parish church of South Tawton, on the northern churchyard. Prizes were presented by the Archdeacon Dhabi: Katherine’s visit a ‘very edge of Dartmoor, has taken the prize as Devon’s Best of Totnes, the Venerable . Churchyard of 2018 in a competition organised by The judges visited every churchyard that entered the Devon branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural and were impressed by the variety and individuality England. Kenn and East Budleigh were joint runners- of the entrants. South Tawton was named winner significant way’ of expressing link up; Throwleigh, Ilfracombe, and Spreyton were all because it met all the main criteria of the entry highly commended. recommendations and exceeded some of them. The The results were announced on Saturday 10th judges’ verdict: “An amazing and revealing place, a between dioceses November at a ceremony in the historic Church House lot of evidence of management for wildlife, yet it was at South Tawton, beside the now award-winning still an area that gave off an atmosphere of tranquility and contemplation.” he Diocese of Exeter’s Collecting the award on behalf of Children’s Ministry South Tawton, churchwarden John Adviser has spent a Candler said, “We’re absolutely fortnight visiting the link delighted to have won, over the Diocese of Cyprus and moon. It’s a lot of hard work, theT Gulf, which has provided her but well worth it and it’s a lovely with invaluable experience for her place to work. Looking after our role. churchyard is a real team effort.” Katherine Lyddon spent six The winners were presented with days in Bahrain and seven days in a cheque for £200, a congratulatory Abu Dhabi in September, leading plaque in sustainable oak made by workshops to inspire, encourage Devon company Inspirwood, and and resource the churches’ growing corporate membership of CPRE Friday Club team of volunteers. Devon for one year. Sessions included subjects such as children and young people as key members of the church CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS MARKET RETURNS ‘BIGGER AND community, child development, different learning styles, providing Katherine with volunteers from the Friday Club at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Bahrain BETTER’ a safe environment and exploring varieties of ways in which faith Christians, Muslims and strangers ’s 2018 Christmas Market grows. “I feel so blessed to alike. The conversations, the retreat has been the best yet, with a record 90 She also modelled the Godly elements and the training have stalls giving hundreds of thousands of have been given this Play method of telling Bible stories equipped me to serve the mission visitors maximum opportunity to enjoy the amongst children from both Friday opportunity. It will help communities within the Diocese of festivities. clubs, led retreat time for adult Exeter more effectively and I can’t As soon as the lights went out on 2017’s me to understand my leaders and ran a session with wait to share what I’ve learned.” market, work started on planning 2018’s Christian mothers on growing a role here better.” Christopher Butt, Dean of St event, which opened on November 15 and family in faith. Christopher’s Cathedral, said: “It was runs until December 16. Katherine took the opportunity to explore a little of wonderful having Katherine with us and an inspiration to Exeter Cathedral choristers sang carols The Gulf’s rich culture with visits to the Bahrain Fort, local our Friday Club leaders. We are grateful to the Diocese of on the opening night, starting with Once in craft centre and the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Exeter for releasing her for these two weeks, both here Royal David’s City, and the , She said: “I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity. in Bahrain and moving on for a week in Abu Dhabi, and the Very Revd , said: “Not I discovered so much about church, culture, people believe such purposeful visits are a very significant way of only does the market look better than two bars, everything you could want for the perfect and faith. I experienced extraordinary hospitality from expressing the partnership between our dioceses.” before, it is better. There are more stalls, more variety, run up to Christmas.”

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon