Parish Magazine Dunsford Doddiscombsleigh March Dunchideock 2021 CHURCH OFFICERS Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Churches Tel no: 01647 Priest-in-Charge Rev’d Ruth Frampton, The Rectory, Dry Lane, Christow EX6 7PE [email protected] 253164 Reader Brian Inwood, Teign Cottage, Teign Terrace, Christow EX6 7PN 252519 Administrator Steve Cook, Webberton Meadows, Dunchideock, EX2 9TX [email protected] 01392 832332 ST MARY, DUNSFORD Church Warden Mrs Susie Ursell, Windout Farm, Tedburn St Mary 270061 Secretary Mr Keith Bishop, Hillcroft, Tedburn St Mary 270077 Treasurer Mrs Janet Beech, Townsend Farmhouse, Dunsford 252924 Electoral Roll Mrs Ros Tripp, Upperton Farm, Dunsford 24311 ST MICHAEL, DODDISCOMBSLEIGH Church Warden Mr Hugo Tillotson, Town Barton, Doddiscombsleigh 253165 Secretary Mrs Tricia Mitchell, Perry Barton, Doddiscombsleigh 252252 Treasurer Mr Victor Brook, Middle Hills, Doddiscombsleigh 252311 Electoral Roll Mrs Rosy Haywood, 10 New Buildings, Doddiscombsleigh 253677 Organist Mrs Liz Hogg, Prestercot, Butts Lane, Christow 252595 ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, DUNCHIDEOCK Church Wardens Secretary Mr Steve Cook, Webberton Meadows, Dunchideock 01392 832332 Treasurer Mr Robin Caley, 42 Fairfield Road, Alphington, Exeter 01392 430844 LETTER FROM REVD TIM COLLINS A Glimpse of Rural Ministry Over the last month or so I have had the great pleasure of walking alongside the Revd Ruth Frampton as she undertakes her ministry across the Teign Valley and Haldon Hill Mission Community. When I say ‘walk alongside’ of course I mean that metaphorically! Because of the challenges of Covid-19 I have not left my own ministry area of Dawlish, where I am in my third year as curate. So my time in the Teign Valley has been very much virtual - making great use of technology and telephone to take part in a wonderful smorgasbord of services, coffee mornings and zoom sessions and allowing me to meet up with a number of very welcoming church members from across the benefice. This has been a chance for me to gain a glimpse of rural ministry and to meet with people who bring all their skills and commitment, their hopes and fears and love of their communities, to focus on maintaining a presence of Christ in the heart of rural Devon. It has been a chance for me, too, to explore whether rural ministry is the direction that I am being called to as I look ahead to my life in the church. As I look back over the last month, this brief moment in the Teign Valley has given me the beginning of an understanding of the important and necessary role the church plays across villages and communities: The ancient church buildings themselves clearly provide a tangible, long-lasting focal point for their communities, providing a symbol of hope, of prayer and marking the passing of the seasons: Plough Sunday, Lammas, Rogation, Harvest, Easter, Christmas, etc. They mark, too, the significant rites of passages for individuals and for communities through Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. And they offer a place of quietness and solace. It is, though, the people of the church who are the spiritual heart of communities, involved in local groups and councils; in community events and coffee mornings; in food banks and Messy Church. And all the while developing deep relationships within the communities. Being there, walking alongside people through all their hopes and fears, through the good times and the sad; celebrating their joys and holding them in their sorrows. Offering the love of God in all they say and do. - 1 - Whatever path my ministry takes in the future, I will hold my month spent in the Teign Valley in a very special place. It has given me a real understanding that whatever I do, wherever I may end up, the most important aspect of my ministry must be on developing deep, faithful relationships across a community – and not only with those who cross the threshold of the church each week. Maintaining the church buildings is important, of course, but walking alongside the people is even more important! Thank you for all that you have given me during this last month. All blessings, Revd Tim Collins Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Mission Community The Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Mission Community includes the parishes of Ashton, Bridford, Christow, Doddiscombsleigh, Dunchideock and Dunsford. Rev’d Ruth Frampton (Priest-in-Charge) can be contacted on 01647 253164 or [email protected]. Pastoral Care If you would like, or know someone who would be glad of, a call or ‘virtual’ visit from Rev’d Ruth Frampton, or another member of the church community, please contact the rectory (contact details above), or the Churches’ Administrator (see Getting in touch below). Private Prayer - Days and Times of Opening: With the exception of Ashton, all our churches remain open for private prayer, as follows: Private Prayer - Days and Times of Opening: Monday Dunsford 10am - 12 noon Tuesday Bridford 12 noon - 2pm by appointment* Wednesday Christow 12 noon - 3pm Thursday Dunsford 2pm - 5pm Friday Dunchideock 10am - 12 noon Saturday Bridford 10am - 12 noon by appointment* Sunday Christow 12 noon - 3pm Doddiscombsleigh 12 noon - 6pm * for Bridford ring 01647 252180 / 252515 / 253239 for appointment Coronavirus As a result of the current lockdown, services of worship are only being held at St Mary’s, Dunsford, and other churches are closed. The situation is, however, constantly changing - please check the ‘A Church Near You’ website for your parish for updates. - 2 - Please do not come if you are suffering any symptoms of coronavirus, but contact NHS 111 Please ensure that you clean your hands on entering and leaving the church building Please observe social distancing and follow all the safety guidance inside the church Sunday Services The 9am telephone service continues (see details below for how to join). Wednesday Evening Prayer There is a regular, short service of evening prayer each Wednesday at 6pm by telephone. For telephone services, you do not need internet access, but simply a landline or mobile telephone. Between 5 and 10 minutes before the service begins, please dial 0333 011 0616 and enter the code 334 7721, followed by the # key, when asked. You will also be asked to give your name. The cost of the call is the standard cost for any 01, 02 or 03 number, but will vary according to your telephone contract. It may well be covered by your ‘inclusive’ minutes, or by free evening or weekend calls, but you are advised to check. Lent Course 2021: These Are Our Stories This year’s five-week Lent course is based on the pandemic stories of five people from across Devon, and will encourage each of us to tell our own stories and reflect on where our faith fits into the experience of the past 12 months. It has been written by Dr Jon Curtis, Diocese of Exeter Lay Discipleship Advisor. The five sessions, based around videos, discussion and reflection, will be held by Zoom at 10.30am-12 noon on each of the following Thursdays: 25 February, 4, 11, 18 and 25 March. Ruth will be sending out details of how to join, etc, to everyone on her current mailing list for Sunday and Wednesday services. If you would like to join this list, please email her - [email protected]. Additional material is available online: https://exeter.anglican.org/ministry/lent-course-2021/ and details of other national resources are available at: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/livelent-2021-church- resources-gods-story-our-story - 3 - World Day of Prayer Service Friday 5 March at 2.30pm by telephone The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service we can learn how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can join in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression. This year the women of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean have prepared a service that highlights the need for safe buildings. Cyclone Pam caused great devastation in 2015 and the islands were just beginning to recover when Cyclone Harold struck in April 2020. You can access this telephone service in the usual way - dial 0333 011 0616 and enter the code 334 7721, followed by the # key, when asked. A promotional video can be found at https://youtu.be/XImJaiClunw A full length video service from Canada will be available from 15 February on wicc.org Easter Services At the time of writing there is no clarity about what will be possible in terms of Easter services. Information will be posted on the ‘A Church Near You’ website for each parish as soon as it is available, and then in the April magazines. Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs) Each year every parish in the Church of England holds an Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) to elect members to the Parish Church Council and review the past year. APCMs in the Mission Community which, due to COVID restrictions, will all be held by Zoom, will be as follows: Dunsford Tuesday 16 March at 4pm Dunchideock Friday 19 March at 7pm Doddiscombsleigh Wednesday 24 March at 7pm Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings, although only those on the church electoral roll are eligible to vote. Please contact the Churches’ Administrator (email [email protected] or telephone 01392 832332) for details of how to join. - 4 - Giving It is now possible to make a donation towards the general mission and running costs of each of our six churches by online giving on your church’s page of ‘A Church Near You’ website.