SERVING GOOD NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF EXETER | OCTOBER 2019 WITH JOY The Rector of SERVICE WITH A Crediton tells Devon SMILE... Magazine what makes him tick Nine women and five men begin their ministries after being ordained in the Diocese of Exeter CHRISTIANS SET UP DEVON CLIMATE ACTION GROUP Devon Christian fellow citizens to act.” who is desperate to Liz, who is studying for the protect ‘our God- Exeter Diocese Foundations in created planet’ and Christian Ministry course, added: take urgent action “We feel called to take action to Aon climate chaos has spoken protect our God-created planet out about why she and other and to love our neighbours who local campaigners have formed are already suffering. Some people a Devon branch of the Christian focus on CCA in their prayer life, Climate Action (CCA) group. some do lots of organising and Liz Dunbar, who worships all green organisations and Earth logistics, some do talks in churches at Exeter Cathedral, joined protectors to come together and around the country, some offer Extinction Rebellion (XR) and be a joint force to be reckoned liturgy and creativity for on-the- CCA last year to urge the with. The actions of all the street protests, and others are Government, organisations governments alone in the world willing to be arrested to get their and fellow citizens to act upon are not enough.” message across. We believe that the climate emergency that She says she felt moved to join there is a biblical basis for this but the planet faces. Scientific XR and CCA after hearing the recognise that not everyone is consensus is that the climate is Russian pop group Pussy Riot in a position to risk arrest or the changing at an unprecedented speak at the Greenbelt festival. accompanying consequences.” rate because of human activity, “CCA is a broad and ecumenical For more information, visit www. and this poses an imminent community of Christians christianclimateaction.org or email threat to the future of humanity supporting each other in acts christianclimateactiondevon@ and other species. of non-violent direct action protonmail.com or email chris.keppie@ Liz told Devon Magazine: “I think and public witness, to highlight exeter.anglican.org we have completely run out of the climate crisis and urge time for other methods. We need government, organisations and EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon JAMES APPOINTED ‘ELATED AND EXCITED’ TO MISSION ROLE The Rev’d James Grier has been appointed as the new diocese Mission Enabler and says he wants to help Devon’s Christians have confidence in sharing their faith. James currently leads Unlimited Church in Exeter and is diocese Youth Mission Enabler. He was previously Team Vicar in Clyst Mission Community. A former mental health nurse, a above shows new minister Susan teacher, a business manager and a Davies-Fletcher as the deacons puppeteer were among 9 women processed out of the cathedral. and 5 men ordained deacon at a They were greeted outside by packed service in Exeter Cathedral hundreds of friends and family on 14 September. The photograph members. CHURCHES GO WILD Around 45 Christians from across Devon interested in different WILL THERE BE HARVEST forms of outdoor worship gathered at Wildside Experience IN THUNGURURU? near Honiton to learn about the Forest Church movement. “Rain only fell for two weeks in April, The day was organised by the the crops failed and everyone now Diocese of Exeter’s Mission and goes hungry, relying on food aid, Ministry team. hoping next season will be better. “ Existing regular outdoor church gatherings in Devon include Rob and Jane Inwood head up the Moor Church on Dartmoor, Wild diocese link with Thika diocese in Church at Dartington and Wild Kenya. They are passionate about Church at Wildside Experience. highlighting the problems people face battling the changing climate and For more information go to: lack of rainfall. They say the Farming God’s Way project in Thungururu, https://exeter.anglican.org/ is helping farmers to feed their families. Farmers are trained to use resources/worship/ conservation farming techniques, like the sack garden shown here, which uses waste kitchen water to grow vegetables all year round. They are appealing to churches and church members in Devon to help raise £13,000 to train 200 more farmers, keep the project going and employ the project officer for the next 18 months. If you would like to make a donation, adopt the project as a church or learn how to make a sack garden, please email [email protected] or go to https://exeter.anglican.org/who-we-are/companion-links/ EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG Serving with joy… REVD MATTHEW TREGENZA This month, we chat to the Revd Matthew Tregenza, who has been the Rector of the Crediton Benefice Mission Community since March, about what makes him tick... Was your Christian faith kindled from birth by What do you enjoy most about your ministry in church-going parents or was it more of a Damascus Crediton? road experience? The people! Crediton is a wonderful town of My paternal grandmother was very instrumental considerable diversity and I meet some interesting in kindling my faith and I used to attend the local people both in the town itself and in the villages of Methodist chapel with her. After the Methodist the Mission Community. chapel closed, I attended my local parish church. For me, faith has grown and developed since those Who inspires you? early years and has been an exciting journey! People who have the gift of true humility and are authentically themselves. When did you first feel called to ordination? In my late teens. I was attending an ordination What do you think is the most important aspect of service in Truro Cathedral, at which a family being a priest? friend was being ordained. During the service, I To bring people closer to God, by trying to make experienced a sense of realisation that this was the prospect of a living relationship with Christ a something God was calling me to, although at the reality for them. Scripture, the sacraments, and the time I tried to ignore it. A decade later, during my loving fellowship of the local church are vital. teaching career, various people suggested that I should explore this nagging sense of vocation to What do you think are the biggest challenges for ordained ministry, which I did, and here I am today. the Church of England in the 21st century? To try and make God relevant in 21st century life. What sustains you in your ministry? This involves re-imagining how we do things and trying First and foremost, prayer. Secondly, it’s allowing to cast out the fear which accompanies change. myself to be constantly surprised by God. I never cease to be amazed at what God is doing in our What do you do to relax? parishes and in and through the people I meet. I love Devon’s lovely countryside. I also enjoy tinkering with my 1954 Little Grey Fergie tractor. @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon “AM I A GOD NEARBY, SAYS THE LORD, AND NOT A GOD RIDEN HUW REVD PHOTOS: FAR OFF? DO I NOT FILL HEAVEN AND EARTH?” The Right Revd Jackie Searle Bishop of Crediton The labyrinth at the Church of St Thomas à Becket eremiah the prophet spoke these words In our own times of public political uncertainty we (23:23,24) in ancient times to a people in the too can lift our eyes to the free and sovereign God of middle of public political uncertainty. heaven and earth, to the transcendent God who is not There were many ‘prophets’ who spoke constrained in any way by our national boundaries, soothing words, and the people struggled to who is ‘free to roam’, who does not have a bias when it Jdiscern truth from fiction. comes to love and mercy and justice. Jeremiah’s life however was committed to I offer below a circling prayer which reflects God’s speaking God’s word – whatever God told him immanence and transcendence. We may use it – an extremely costly calling. He was beaten, to pray for ourselves, our nation, and our world, imprisoned, mocked, thrown down the sewer and encircled by God whose centre is everywhere and abandoned, but he kept going because he believed circumference is nowhere: Circle us O Lord –whose centre is everywhere and In our own times of public political circumference is nowhere- uncertainty, we too can lift our eyes to Circle us … Keep the free and sovereign God of heaven Trust within anxiety without and earth. Grace within greed without Hope within fear without the word of the Lord, and spoke the truth. Good within evil without ‘Am I a God nearby, says the Lord and not a God far Humility within pride without off? Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ The people needed Love within control without reminding that God was not only close to them, but Wisdom within folly without also the sovereign God of earth and heaven, vast and Life within death without glorious and utterly free. Healing within dis-ease without The theological words we use are ‘immanence’ Peace within strife without – God is closer than we think - and ‘transcendence’ - God is greater than we can possibly imagine. Amen. EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon.