February - March 2020 Price 50p A CONFESSION have to confess that over the One of the things that occurs to due to a willingness to change, Ipast couple of months, we me, is just how much the despite personal preferences have become a tiny bit addicted. institution of the monarchy has and opinions. The essence of Only a tiny bit, but nevertheless changed in my lifetime, little by monarchy remains the same, a very small obsession has little, step by tiny step. But but the expression of it has emerged. You see, at the end of change it has, responding to changed and is changing. the day, whenever we’ve our culture and society, seeking finished work, forever hopeful to be relevant and engaged. I believe the same is true for that we might, just might get a another institution - the Church. full night’s sleep and not be The essence of the Church as wide awake at 4.17am, we sit the body of Christ remains the down to watch something. same as it did when the first Something that will be believers met together in the entertaining. Something Temple or in their homes to amusing. Something not too worship God. But the stimulating. Nine times out of expression of it has shifted and ten there isn’t much on. changed over the years. And it But...but now we’ve discovered needs to continually change ‘The Crown’ on Netflix – and we The episode focussing on Lord and adapt for its survival, so love it. Altrincham (of whom I had that the message of God’s never heard) was fascinating. unconditional love for us is Now I know that we are very Whether he met the Queen or seen to be relevant and behind the times, and you have not is a question for debate, but engaging now, and for future probably watched every single from what I have read, his generations. episode, but it’s compulsive influence was enough for the viewing. I’ve even managed to Queen (and her advisors) to suppress my feeling of stop certain things and to start disloyalty to HM for watching it. others. Although I think she comes out of it rather well. I have Who would have thought that a absolutely no idea how much of televised Christmas message it is fact, or how much of it is or a garden party for people like Steph fiction. But we are thoroughly you and me could be so radical enjoying it and have even and contentious?! I cannot help Please read additional justified watching two episodes but think that the survival of the information from Steph on in one sitting! monarchy has been partially Page 3, 4, 5 and 10 Copy Deadline for April / May 2020 issue Wednesday 6 March 2020 TODAY February / March 2020 THE EXE VALLEY CHURCHWARDEN CHILDREN’S MISSION COMMUNITY CONTACT DETAILS GROUPS Calverleigh, Cruwys CALVERLEIGH EXE VALLEY TODDLERS Morchard, Loxbeare, Aubrey Goldsworthy 01884 255248 (For under 5ives) [email protected] Friday mornings during Term-time Jackie Herniman 01884 255814 Oakford, Rackenford, at Calverleigh Village Hall [email protected] Stoodleigh, Templeton, 10 am - 12 noon CRUWYS MORCHARD Washfield and Withleigh Toys, snacks, songs and more !! Diana Vincent 01363 860227 For more information contact [email protected] Sophie Webber on 07792259081 Sarah Cruwys 01884 860287 [email protected] [email protected] You can also find us on Facebook RECTOR LOXBEARE Ron Tidball 01884 881362 EDITORIAL The Rectory, Withleigh, [email protected] Jean Heard 01884 881400 We are delighted to be able to tell you Tiverton, EX16 8JQ [email protected] that an “Angel of Mercy” has appeared Tel: 01884 250417 OAKFORD to take over the Magazine and we Email : Steph@ Wendy Boynton 01398 351383 thank her most gratefully. exevalleymissioncommunity.org [email protected] Dawn Williams, who is a Churchwarden Dawn Williams 01398 324035 in Oakford, has produced this issue [email protected] (with a little help from her friends) and PERSONAL ASSISTANT RACKENFORD she has done exceptionally well. We Please contact Personal Assistant have had great fun during “Training” Stephen Hirst Steven Hirst and Geoff and I are so happy and C/O The Rectory Details in first column relieved that the “TODAY” Magazine is going to be in such good hands. Tel: 01884 250417 STOODLEIGH Email: office@ Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252 Dawn is also planning to tackle the exevalleymissioncommunity.org [email protected] Advertising so, in addition to the other Peter Broadbent 01398 351374 work she does for the Mission READER [email protected] Community, she will be extremely busy. TEMPLETON Please treat her gently !! William Withers 01884 253030 Keepers Cottage is now “Sold Subject The Paddock, [email protected] to Contract” with exchange expected 2 Kensington Court, Reg Coffin 01884 860246 soon and we expect to move before the Washfield,Tiverton,EX16 9QU [email protected] end of March. We have reserved a “New Build” house in Lydney, Tel: 01884 253463 WASHFIELD Jeanne Jones 01884 254306 Gloucestershire, which will not be [email protected] [email protected] ready until the Summer, so we are planning to go into a rented property - MAGAZINE EDITOR WITHLEIGH and have a rest !! Brenda Tucker 01884 252431 [email protected] Saying “Good-bye” is sad, Paul Iliff 01884 253473 so we’ll leave it unsaid. [email protected] Jenny and Geoff [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS As above - using email address [email protected] Advertisements are accepted and included in good faith - but the Exe Valley Mission Community accepts no responsibility for the performance or non-performance of the Advertisers 2 TODAY February / March 2020 FROM Steph … … Prayer Breakfasts Come and meet to pray over a Croissant and Coffee on 29 February and 28 March 9am in The Rectory, Withleigh Everyone is welcome ! You are invited to attend The times they are a-changing! From February 2020, our A MARRIAGE PREPARATION DAY Morning Service pattern is changing. A day of preparation for your All Services throughout the Mission Community will take place at either married life together, at 9.00am or 10.45am. Cruwys Morchard Village Hall on Saturday 1 February 2020 10.30am - 2.30pm Tea, Coffee, Lunch provided - please inform us of any special dietary requirements This is to allow Steph enough time to get from one Service to another, RSVP:- [email protected] for organists to play at more than one Service, and for everyone to have Andy Humm ~ Robert Gordon ~ Steph Gordon-Jeffs an earlier lunch! SOUTH MOLTON 01769 573941 TIVERTON 01884 243430 24 HOUR BREAKDOWN SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH WEST 07736271866 FITTING ON-SITE FARM OR AGRICULTURAL ROADSIDE & COMMERCIAL TYRES AVAILABLE . 3 TODAY February / March 2020 FROM Steph … … Exeter Cathedral Saturday 22 February 2020 10am - 4.30pm A festival of thought and action to join up faith and the environment Panel discussion + Workshops including: Biodiversity, Climate Science and Adaptation Creative Responses, Direct Action, Energy and Travel Engaging MPs, Food, International Perspectives Theology, Worship. Keynote Speaker - Rt Rev’d Nick Holtam Lead Bishop for the Environment £8 to cover Speaker Costs. Under 16s free Please book in Eventbrite - more details via https://exeter.anglican.org/events/the-bid-green-event/ G P Stuckey General Builder Ashley Park Farm, Extensions, Roofing, Plastering, Painting, Seven Crosses, Tiverton, Patios and Drives, Devon, EX16 5NW Plumbing, Stone Walls, Tel: 01884 258481 Listed Building Works, Mobile : 07933 796954 Lime Plaster Cob 4 TODAY February / March 2020 FROM Steph … … The Blessings Course Sing Praise! Roy Godwin’s story of how God worked in an unexpected way in his rural community of Ffald-y-Brenin in Wales, is quite extraordinary. Come and join us for You can read his account of what happened ‘Sing Praise!’ in his book, ‘The Grace Outpouring’. for the first time in 2020 It is the kind of book that challenges you. It’s the kind of book that changes you. Thursday 20 February ‘The Blessings Course’ 7.00pm at Withleigh explores what God does, and can do, when our focus is on blessing – blessing our families, our friends and our communities and allowing our Churches to become ‘God’s conduit for blessing to those around us’. Come and find out what it’s all about during Lent, 7pm at The Rectory, Withleigh. 4 March The God who blesses 11 March Being blessed EXE VALLEY WEBSITE 18 March Have you visited our website recently? Called to bless www.exevalleychurches.org 25 March If you haven’t, do take a look. Blessing the Person in front of me It’s the best place to go for updates 1 April about what’s on and what we do. A new Life and a New Community 8 April A recent addition to the website is a monthly Blessing the land Prayer Diary with a topic to pray for, each day of the month. DEEPALLER FARM B&B Exe Valley Osteopathy LOXBEARE, TIVERTON, EX16 8BX Sam Mildren & Lauren Mildren Conveniently located in Tiverton & Dulverton 07902831602 www.exevalleyosteopathy.co.uk Very accessible and yet private B&B - only 10 mins from Tiverton. En-suite & private bathrooms. See our website for details and reviews. e-mail: [email protected] www.deepallerfarmbandb.com Mike & Sheila Watson 01884 881410 5 TODAY February / March 2020 weather and flu prevented any meetings FROM THE ARCHIVES during January. NATURE NOTES ‘TODAY’ 50 years ago Fun and games at Rackenford’s Sunday here was once a farmer who bought February / March, 1970 School party in January had seen two Ta derelict farm and transformed it blindfolded mothers trying to feed each into a great success.