April / May 2014 Price 40p WHAT DOES EASTER MEAN TO YOU ? long weekend off work? A chance Easter means that death has Easter means that Jesus is alive. Ato spend time with family and been defeated. friends? An excuse to eat too much Jesus Christ only died once. After his chocolate? A time to finish off that By his resurrection from the dead, resurrection, he did not die again. He DIY project which you started last Jesus Christ has conquered death is alive today at God’s right hand. Easter? itself. Jesus has overcome our Jesus lives forever as our greatest enemy and made safe our representative and advocate before For followers of Jesus Christ, Easter greatest fear. For those who trust in God. Jesus lives forever as our means so much more than this. It is Jesus, death is not an end, but a Saviour and Redeemer. Jesus lives the greatest celebration of the beginning. It is not a dark doorway to forever as our Lord and King. One Christian year and it focuses our an unknown future, but the pathway day, we will all stand before the risen minds on the heart of the Christian to our heavenly home. Lord Jesus as our judge. For those faith. who love and follow him, that will be Easter means that our sins can Even in the valley of the shadow of a wonderful day, but for those who reject and ignore him, it will be a be forgiven. death, believers will fear no evil, because Jesus is with us and he has dreadful day. The Bible says: “God power over death. has set a day when he will judge When the Son of God died on the cross, the world with justice by the man he was dying in our place and paying he has appointed. He has given for our sin. He suffered what we proof of this to everyone by deserve to suffer. He paid the price raising him from the dead” (Acts that we owe. He received in his body 17v31). the punishment for our wrongdoing and our rejection of God. God’s Son In our services of Holy Communion, was treated like a sinner, so that we often proclaim the simple sinners can be treated like God’s sons. summary of the Christian faith which And because Jesus has died for us, says: “Christ has died; Christ is risen; there is no price left for us to pay. Christ will come again”. Easter Forgiveness of sin is offered as a free teaches us these foundational truths gift to all who turn to Jesus in and Easter also reminds us that we repentance and faith. The Bible says: The Bible says: “We believe that are called to be active and devoted “God made him who had no sin to Jesus died and rose again, and so followers of the one who died for our be sin for us, so that in him we we believe that God will bring sins and then rose from the dead. might become the righteousness with Jesus those who have fallen of God” asleep in him” (2 Corinthians 5v21). (1 Thessalonians 4v14). Steve Copy Deadline for the June / July issue - Monday 12 May TODAY April / May 2014 THE EXE VALLEY EDITORIAL MISSION COMMUNITY erek McManus (Advertising Co-ordinator) Dand I have been working hard since the last Calverleigh, Cruwys Morchard, issue, to standardise the advertisements and Loxbeare, Oakford, Rackenford, bring them back to the pre-set regulation sizes. Stoodleigh, Templeton, Washfield We would like to thank everyone we have and Withleigh contacted for their co-operation. We had received several enquiries from new advertisers www.exevalleychurches.org but we found ourselves short of space. Over time, when space had not been at such a premium, RECTOR some of the old adverts had “grown” and several Rev’d Steve Goodbody were taking one and a half “slots” and this was The Rectory, Withleigh, effectively stopping us accepting new adverts Tiverton, EX16 8JQ. bringing in a potential of £85 p.a. for each large Tel: (01884) 251132 box. [email protected] f There were also some adverts where the text was Day off = Fridays very small and difficult to read but, where Enquiries regarding Baptisms, This box is reserved for the contact possible ( to save asking for new jpgs ), I have Weddings, Funerals, details of all the Exe Valley Central added text overlays using a larger font. Some Memorials in the churchyard, Churchwardens but I could not obtain the people have moved from small to large boxes please contact the Rector “Go-ahead” and Information before my deadline and we have also started a new size box, which ~ so here is a poem written by David Axtell, is effectively two small boxes side by side. There CURATE who is a North Devon Poet and Author is a new price for this size. Rev’d Robert Brewis The Vicarage, 3 Court Gardens, Stoodleigh, Tiverton, EX16 9PL. Dawn Chorus Jenny Tel: (01398) 351552 As the warmth returns to Spring [email protected] And the days grow long In the early morning light NON STIPENDIARY MINISTER Birds fill the air with song. DEANERY SYNOD Rev’d John Roberts 27 February, 2014 East Sidborough, Loxbeare, To join the Great Tit’s rocking sound he meeting was opened by Simon Friend from Tiverton EX16 8DA. The Robin and the Wren TCullompton, who introduced himself as the Tel: (01884) 256302 The Song Thrush sits on the highest branch new Lay Chair of the Tiverton and Cullompton [email protected] And sings each phrase again. Deanery, with a brief background of himself. Before the opening prayer, he referred us to READER Green and Chaffinch join the throng Psalm 16 verse 5, “Lord, you have assigned me Mrs Anna Hansford Blackbird and Dunnock too my portion and my cup; you have made my lot The Paddock, For right to forage and a mate secure”. 2 Kensington Court, Washfield, Their boldest notes renew. A questionnaire had been circulated to members Tiverton, EX16 9QU. asking them, about what they felt that Deanery Tel: (01884) 253463 The collared dove, which has its mate Synod should be. The main points arising from [email protected] Croons with a gentler tone the feedback received were: MAGAZINE EDITORS Warbler and Chiffchaff may be heard * Deanery Synod should be the voice of the Geoff & Jenny Parnell But the Thrush retains the throne. local churches. Keepers Cottage Lower Washfield Tiverton EX16 9PF Tel: (01884) 254402 [email protected] Oil Fired Heating Technician ADVERTISEMENTS Derek McManus Meadow Gate, Loxbeare, Tiverton, EX16 9RH Tel: (01884) 881492 Servicing from £55 E-mail : [email protected] Local Family Run Business All Areas Covered The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its readers Meadow View Farm ~ Templeton ~ Tiverton 2 TODAY April / May 2014 * It should be about – learning together, Our “Giver of Hope” scheme is a way to give old folk lore names of birds and here are a few. growing together, going together – in other monthly, helping to ensure the sustainability of There are birds named because of their colour, words, working together. our vital work. We know that CHAT started as a like the Blue Tit / Blue Bonnet or Blue Spick; ‘heart’ movement – being moved by local need Robin / Redbreast or Reddock and the * The main aim should be mission, and there is into action - and we believe in God’s faithfuless Goldcrest / Marigold Finch. Then there are a need to identify priorities and resources. and his heart for the disadvantaged. We want names connected with where they live, like the There then followed a presentation on ‘The to expand, not contract, as needs grow ever Whitethroat / Nettle Creeper; Linnet / Gorse Marriage Course’, a DVD based course aimed, bigger and the safety net grows smaller. Please Bird and the Meadow Pipit / Moss Cheeper. not just at those considering or embarking on consider prayerfully whether giving a small marriage, but also on those already married amount monthly is something that you could Birds are also named after their call, like the (and may have been for many years!) and those commit to. Thank you. Find out more from Yellow Hammer / Little-bit-of-bread-and-no- living together. [email protected] 01884 255606. cheese and the Stonechat / Stoneclick. Others The key to the course is hospitality, and is about, Good news stories are named after their nest, the Blackcap / amongst other things, building strong Not only do we see God providing for our Haybird or Jack Straw and Long-tailed Tit / Jack foundations, the art of communication, organisation, importantly we see ways being in a Bottle. Others are called after the pattern resolving conflict, the power of forgiveness, the made in the wilderness for those we help. ‘G’ on their eggs, like The Yellow Hammer / impact of family and love in action. came to CHAT last summer following a long Scribbling Lark. Others by their behaviour, like spell of homelessness in his home town. He the Mistle Thrush / Storm Cock, as it sings from Courses have already been run in both the continued to be homeless and was sleeping the tops of trees in stormy weather or the little Tiverton and Cullompton areas, and further are rough. CHAT provided him with a tent, bedding Grebe / Divvy Duck. Others have affectionate planned for the near future. Copies of flyers and food. We supported him in his search for nicknames like the Jenny Wren. from a previous course, detailing what it is all affordable accommodation and made the about, are available in our churches for those appropriate referrals to other helpful agencies Now it is all change in the bird world and the interested.