THE BENEFICE OF THE ISLE OF WEDMORE

ST MARY’S WEDMORE, CHRISTCHURCH THEALE, HOLY TRINITY BLACKFORD, ALLERTON CHURCH

Thursday 23rd April 2020

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today is St George’s Day. We don’t know a great deal about George apart from that he was venerated as a martyr from the fourth century and that he was probably a soldier in the Roman army in what is now Palestine who refused to give up his Christian faith. Although churches were dedicated to him before the Norman Conquest, it was returning crusaders who really reinforced his popularity on this island and with the building of St George’s Chapel in Windsor he supplanted Edward the Confessor as the patron saint of England. Normally church flags would be flying today and there would be other ways of marking the day but this year it seems appropriate rather to ask you to pray for those parts of England especially marked by the ravages of Covid 19, London and the great metropolitan areas of the Midlands and North West; for members of our own armed forces who have been contributing to the logistical and relief effort here; and for those who are still persecuted for their faith today. Do also have a read of Ephesians 6.10-20, one of the set bible readings for St George’s Day. It reminds us that the tools of our trade are not those of violence but are rather righteousness, faith, truth and the Holy Spirit. As we begin to reflect on what kind of society we might be after we emerge from the time of crisis, the virtues listed by St Paul just what we might need. So, let’s pray for those.

I have been reading Archbishop Justin’s book ‘Reimagining Britain’. It was written a couple of years ago, particularly as a response to all that has happened since the financial crash of 2008 but seems particularly pertinent now. As we reflect on the passage from Ephesians, a short passage from his book is, I hope, worth sharing: - ‘In this book although I speak mainly about values and practices, they are intextricably bound up with virtues. Values guide practices, and practices build virtues; virtues also reinforce practices, and guide our understanding of values. The whole process is circular, self-reinforcing for good or ill. We cannot create virtue out of nothing, but without it our practices will deteriorate.’ Therefore, I wonder what are the virtues that we would like to see characterize our society and therefore what are the values that will lead to them being achieved and how can we consciously practise those values?

And now to some more practical matters. I am sure we are looking forward to being able to welcome Sam Healey as our new curate. Sam is likely to be licensed initially as a lay minister from the end of June before his ordination on 27 September. (Ordinations across the country have been postponed this year until the season of Michaelmas). Sam has written a pen portrait which is at the end of this letter and has also recorded a video introduction which should be on the St Mary’s YouTube channel anytime soon. Sam is also looking forward to being married in September to Jo Barr who is the curate at Berrow and Brean. They will be living over there, but Sam will need a base in the benefice – somewhere to sleep if there is an event that finishes late here, somewhere to work during the day, somewhere to receive visitors like wedding couples. So, to that end is there anyone

The Revd. Richard Neill The Vicarage, Manor Lane, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EL 01934 713566 [email protected] who has a self-contained annexe or bedsit that they would be willing to let out over the next three years from the middle of June? Please do speak to me if so.

Our two Home Groups continue to meet via Zoom once a week. Karin Weigold hosts a group based in Blackford on Tuesday evening and I host a group based in Wedmore on Wednesday evening. If you are interested in being part of either of these then please do contact either Karin at [email protected] or [email protected].

The regular pattern of remote worship continues. To that end, Communion will be celebrated once more this weekend in the vicarage dining room and published on the St Mary’s Wedmore YouTube site.

I continue to lead a live Facebook Daily Prayer at 9.00 a.m. Monday-Saturday. If you can’t manage to join in live, it can be accessed quite soon afterwards on the St Mary’s Wedmore YouTube channel. This isn’t for everyone, so if you feel you want to be part of this at the same time without being on Facebook, then you can follow the Order in your home. The Order for Daily Prayer went out with last week’s letter.

Each week, we will publish the Psalm of the week and the daily readings.

Psalm for the Week – Psalm 96

Readings each day: - Monday 27 April – Luke 1.1-25 Tuesday 28 April – Luke 1.26-38 Wednesday 29 April – Luke 1.39-56 Thursday 30 April – Luke 1.57-end Friday 1 May St Philip and St James – James 1.1-12 Saturday 2 May – Luke 2.21-40

Thank you to all who have been continuing to donate food for the Cheddar Valley Foodbank. They were very touched by the sheer volume that was collected and taken over again last Saturday and their need continues. You can put donations in or next to the bin in the vicarage porch (right hand of the two front doors). Ian Scott of St Mary’s congregation is taking food over to them every Saturday while Gill Litherland is keeping at home. Particular requests this week were for tinned fruit, fruit juices, tinned meat, tinned custard, tea and toilet roll.

Paschal Candles from St Mary’s, Christchurch and Allerton continue to be ‘on tour’. Congregation members are holding their church’s candle in their own homes for two nights before nominating, phoning and taking it round to someone else. If you receive the paschal candle, do perhaps light it at meals or when you say your own prayers before phoning someone else and asking if they would like to receive it. If they have already done so, phone someone else. There is no rota. Please make sure that you keep your hands sanitised and that you keep your distance when handing it over. Please also feel that you can say ‘no’ if you would rather not receive it. And please don’t feel left out if it doesn’t make it round to you as there are only 40 days between Easter and Ascension!

With my love, prayers and best wishes to you all.

Your vicar Richard

The Revd. Richard Neill The Vicarage, Manor Lane, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EL 01934 713566 [email protected] Introducing Sam Healey

I spent much of my early life in a Charismatic/Evangelical church. So, finding myself as a member of the Church of England was, to say the least, a shock. However, looking back I can see that this was part of a process and a journey.

My work life has seen me do a variety of different jobs from producing radio programmes for the BBC to being the manager of a steam railway.

If there is such a thing as an introverted extrovert it is me. I love being with people, I get such an energy from them, but I also recognise that to be my best in public there has to be time to recharge my batteries too.

So, for someone who heralds from Yorkshire (God’s own county) it will come as no surprise to you that I like to recharge my batteries by walking the fells with friends. There is something about the air and scenery amongst the Dales that is a great restorative for the soul.

Reading is something I am always doing and I am very keen to read about people who, like me, have been touched by the Yorkshire landscape and its many characters. In particular, I love the work of W.R Mitchell, James Herriot, Roy Clarke and Gervase Phinn.

Not having enjoyed a classical education I have often felt somewhat deficient. So, over the last few years I have also taken a keen interest in art, the theatre and classical music too. To which end, I am always looking for a way to indulge this passion.

Although I don’t claim to be any good at it, I love being in the kitchen. Cooking is very therapeutic and love to organise a good dinner party. Consider yourself invited!

The Revd. Richard Neill The Vicarage, Manor Lane, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EL 01934 713566 [email protected]