Our First Covid Confirmation
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Price £1 when sold OUR FIRST COVID CONFIRMATION How strange it was to have a much reduced congregation PARTNERSHIP WITH WITHYCOMBE with hymns and parts of the service sung by the choir RALEIGH MISSION COMMUNITY with the participants wearing masks. However it was a great joy to welcome the Diocesan Bishop, Robert Following an invitation from the Bishop of Crediton and Atwell to Holy Trinity recently to celebrate the entry of the Archdeacon of Exeter, leaders in our Mission our candidates into full membership of the Church. Community have been undertaking preliminary discussions with the leaders of Withycombe Raleigh Those confirmed were Lucy Netherton, Caylin-Ora Mission Community with a view to exploring an Williams, James Halse, Chris Hawkins, and Katie amalgamation of our six church congregations into one Baughan-Martin Anglican family. The diocesan view is that doing mission and ministry together, as one team, will allow us to offer more ministry choices to the people of the Exmouth area. THE RECTOR HAS WRITTEN TO US ALL It will also allow us to make the most efficient use of our resources and will likely increase the impact of the Steves letter to our congregations can be found available clergy that we have in the town. On the 24 on page 19. Please do read it as it gives full details August the PCCs of Lympstone, Littleham-cum-Exmouth of the way our Church life will be shaped as we and Withycombe Raleigh will meet at Holy Trinity move out of the Covid restrictions. Especially as Church to further explore what coming together might Covid has not gone away (nor is it likely to do) mean for us all. and we do need to keep up to date with any Please be in prayer for this meeting future changes Steve Jones Team Rector MISSION COMMUNITY INFORMATION CHURCH SERVICES Sunday services in church will continue as below until further notice. Lympstone @ 9.30 am Littleham @ 10.30 am Holy Trinity @ 11.30 am Please remember you are asked to wear a mask when entering the church and when going to receive communion If you are reluctant to be in church without a mask a special area will be designated for those who feel more vulnerable. A sides-person will direct you to this . Please sanitise your hands when entering church to protect the vulnerable CLERGY— READERS—STAFF Clergy Day Off The Revd Steven Jones Team Rector 263681 Office 01395 266442 Friday The Revd Benedict Cambridge Team Vicar 263681 hours 07535480077 Thursday Licensed Readers Readers and Clergy who also play an active role in the Mrs Elizabeth Burren 264010 Mission Community Mrs Demelza Henderson 272243 Readers: Pauline Mortimer , Di West Clergy: Revds. Preb. Margaret Cameron, The Ven. Youth and Family Workers Canon Dr Trevor Jones , Tony Mortimer, Peter Nickols Rawle, Canon John Philpott, & Canon Ian Pusey Mrs Brooke Haycock, 263681 (Sat. & Wed - Days off) all of whom can be contacted via the Mrs Fionna Upchurch 263681 ( Works Fri, & 1 Sun) Mission Community Office Office email address: [email protected]: http://exmouthcoastalchurches.org.uk 2 As we travelled around the West Penwith area, The Rector writes…. noticing all of the open churches, it struck me that each one might be there today, simply because of the faithfulness of those who, long ago, worshipped at St. Helen’s chapel. It may be that St. Helen’s was the first church in the area, which then birthed many daughter and granddaughter churches. Those who worshipped there stood fast and God honoured their Denise and I have just come back from our holiday in devotion with spiritual growth. In Hebrews 10:23 we West Penwith, down in the very tip of Cornwall, read, ‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we close to Lands End. While there, at nearby Cape profess, for he who promised is faithful.’ Cornwall, we came across the ruins of the very In addition to issues of personal salvation, in this ancient St. Helen’s Oratory. As you can see from the photograph, the chapel is verse God is promising us that if we hold fast to our close to the sea, in an area of rough and jagged cliffs, profession and practice of our faith, despite the and wild seas. This place of worship is believed to th th storms around us, God will be faithful and will date from the 5 or 6 century, and some of the ensure we see the next generation of disciples of stones used to build it seem to come from the era of Jesus Christ. Roman occupation of our country. As we travelled around West Penwith the presence of deep Christian In this season of our common life in the Church of roots is evident everywhere. A visit to the parish England, God calls us to stick with our commitment church of St. Just reveals the historically embedded to our faith, but also to the practice of our worship. I and hallowed presence of God in the community. know that some have not felt able to attend church for a long time due to COVID. As I stood in the ruins of St. Helen’s chapel, I tried to imagine where the altar had been, and how it must Now, as things are opening-up for us again in have felt to celebrate Holy Communion in that place worship, I would love to welcome the faithful back on a wild and stormy day. I thought about the prayers into God’s House, as we continue to pray for God to that had been offered up, the sins confessed, and the bring a new generation of Christians to join us in this praises of God that had been sung there. most holy faith. Steve Jones, Rector 3 Mission Community News FROM OUR NEW DEACON THE WHITE HOUSE (to be ordained soon) Thank God for Insurance! Dear church family, It was back in September 2019 that the Sexton's Hut (alias My family and I have been really blessed these past two 'The White House') was severely damaged by weeks by so many beautiful cards and lovely gifts. Thank fire. Unbelievably it has taken until now to finalise you so much for helping us to feel so welcome as we (almost) everything. The building was, fortunately, as settle in to our new home. We are very much looking you will read, covered by the PCC's Insurance Policy, as forward to getting to know you all and being a part of least as far as the contents were concerned, and such a wonderful loving church family. 'reinstatement' in the condition it was at that time. The building then consisted of a minute 'office', a pretty For a long time, one of the desires of our hearts has been ancient loo, and a 'workshop'. In the workshop, Shaun, to live out our faith within a loving church community – the sexton kept all his equipment - even though it is over in coming to serve you, God has granted our desire. We a quarter of a mile away from where new graves are being will be starting to attend the churches come August and dug. we can’t wait to meet you all. We also sense that part of our calling here is to learn and grow alongside you in Very quickly the Members of the Churchyard Committee reaching out to the wider community with the love and agreed that we must turn this apparent disaster into an testimony of Jesus. We have been involved in a fair opportunity. Our Insurers sent down a Loss Adjuster and degree of outreach over the course of our Christian she has been 100% supportive of our ideas. We journeys, but we still have much to learn and we are purchased, thanks to a Grant from the Church Institute grateful that we will be able to walk with you all in this. Trust, a former shipping container, siting it up at the very In particular, we have a growing interest in vocational and top of the Churchyard. So the old building has been repurposed, as a proper office/rest room for Shaun. 'All' relational witness, whether this be at the school gate, we have had to find is the difference between the costs of toddler group, office, or sports club. We believe that there reinstatement and repurposing - in round figures are exciting times ahead for us all. £13,000. Again, thanks to Grants, that has been covered. Our two girls Emily and Esther have settled in really well What has been staggering is to learn that Ecclesiatical, our Insurers, have paid out some £94,000! That covers not and are loving the new pattern of life here in Exmouth. only the contractors, the surveyors, a special asbestos The beach and Krispies have proven themselves survey, but also the machinery and tools which were particularly popular, and it is amazing that we are a destroyed by the fire - even the kettle, totally melted.... stone’s throw away from a community nature reserve. Elaine and I have been busy unpacking boxes and getting So its the end of an almost two year long saga. My Office things more settled in the house here - B&Q are currently shelves have yet two more lever arch files, bulging with getting much business from us! But things are coming papers. But as the heading says, thank God for Insurance. together and it is beginning to feel like home. Bob Soutter - Vice Chairman of the Churchyard Committee I, (Jonathan) am beginning to capture a glimpse of what ministry might look like and will continue to be faithful in MEN'S BREAKFAST prayer for you all, and looking for God’s coming Kingdom and His daily provision of manna.