Whitestaunton Church Community Carol Service 

19 December 2021 6.30pm at Whitestaunton Church

Come and join us and our new choir for a joyful celebration of Christmas with our favourite Carols, readings and poems.

All Warmly Welcome

Please wear a mask

                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                               
 

  Whitestaunton Church Christmas Day Crib Service 9.15am

An informal Service for all ages with readings, carols and activities based around the Crib 

Please wear a mask

Sunday Letter

 

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas,

Wambrook and Whitestaunton

 

Trinity Eight 25^th July 2021

 

Hi everyone,

 

Rev Ann and myself worked out yesterday that we have written between us 68 weekly letters since we went into lockdown, we trust they have been in some small measure a fruitful resource, they have certainly seen us through some interesting times.

 

I am about to go on my Sabbatical which will last from 1^st August until 1^st Nov so this seemed a good moment to move from weekly to monthly letters, plus more of you will hopefully feel able to return slowly but surely to Church.

 

A Sabbatical, is part of the church’s provision for ongoing learning and theological reflection. It is not an extended holiday but rather a period of time away from the parishes, thereby creating a space in which the aim is to achieve a balance of rest, travel, study and reflection, it is an opportunity to discover fresh vision, to be surprised, I hope and to come back refreshed and sustained. I am going to spend time exploring Celtic spirituality in more depth and visiting some of our Celtic heritage islands to connect physically and spiritually with our forefathers in Christ, plus there will be spinning, and knitting involved too. I will continue to think and pray for you while I am away and look forward to sharing some of my experience with you on my return.

 

This Sunday we are hoping weather permitting to hold our Prayer and Praise Picnic in the field up at Ham, kindly given for the event by Mark Edwards.

When we organised it for this Sunday the reading from John wasn’t a factor in the date, so there is a certain parallel or symbolism in coming together, in sitting on the side of a hill, sharing bread and food together, hearing God’s word and praising him. We will not find ourselves short of food, for that we should be thankful, I hope that some of the earnestness that brought people to sit and hear Jesus will be with us, but each of us will bring that in our own unique way of journeying with Christ.

The Gospel talks about the feeding of the five thousand men plus all the women and children as well, this is a truly magnificent occurrence in the lives of those present and a miracle we have spent much time pondering upon down through the ages. The crowd were following Jesus looking for more outpourings of the many healings they had seen and received. They have begun to focus on proclaiming him a prophet, Jesus needs after the meal to go away, to be aside so they cannot achieve the short-sighted gain of making him a king on earth. He spends the time away alone, and returns after dark to the disciples walking across the water to the boat. It is such an awesome story of one day in the life of Jesus, it must have been such a privilege to travel with him whilst being the most scary and tiring experience too.

And yet we do travel with him, he is present amongst us, he will be there on the hillside, he will be present as we break bread, and eat, and talk, as we sustain each other in prayer, and comfort, and hope. Not just on the hillside but each day of our lives, when we meet in Church or over the gate, at the shops, on a walk. The bread of life sustaining and keeping us expectant of God’s love to be amongst us all, Jesus leaving the Lord’s prayer enabling and inviting us to look for the needs of the day, not tomorrow and only enough for the day, something we often forget to focus on.

 

When we see the way that Jesus treated people, one thing is clear. He liked them. He had compassion on them and cared for them. There were some people he had problems with, but only because they were religious hypocrites and thought better of themselves than everybody else, Jesus gave people time and effort and energy.

 

I love the beginning of our reading from Ephesians and leave it here as a prayer offering for us all.

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.    Be Blessed Rev Georgina

 

Each morning and each evening

let the peace of the Father, be ours.

Each day and each night

let the peace of the Son be ours.

Each dawn and each dusk

let the peace of the Spirit be ours.

Let the blessing of the three in one be ours;

both now and for ever. Amen. Carmina Gadelica

Wilder Churches at Whitestaunton

 

At Whitestaunton Church we are taking part in an exciting initiative run by Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is providing free online training and support to help communities take action for wildlife in their churchyard (or other church land or burial ground).

We are starting by getting to know what wildlife the churchyard already supports by doing a survey of the wildlife in the churchyard.  So plants can grow and attract wildlife to the churchyard, we are leaving a small plot of grass on the bank at the back of the churchyard unmown between May and August.   The rest of the churchyard will continue to be mown as usual by our voluntary mowing team (to whom we are very grateful).

We will give you updates on our progress and please do let Jane (details below) know if you spot any interesting wildlife when you are visiting the churchyard.

So far in the grassy bank we have spotted:  ribwort plantain, common ragwort, dandelion, lords and ladies, lesser celandine, hogweed, common cleavers and germander speedwell.  

We have also spotted honeybees and red-tailed mason bees near the path.

Please do get in touch if you have questions or queries by contacting Whitestaunton’s Wilder Churches Champion: Jane Harris at janeharris334@gmail.com

Find out more about Wilder Churches at www.somersetwildlife.org/wilder-churches where you can also watch recordings of the online events held so far and sign up to events.

Sunday Letter

 Trinity Seven. 18th July 2021 

Dear Friends

 It seems we are now enjoying some lovely summer weather and we are looking forward to Monday and the new freedoms it will bring us, even although they may be cautious ones. One great joy will be singing in church again. We have been living through a long winter, both physically and in our hearts and will we know what to do with this summer season? Summer usually brings vitality, connectedness, rest. The opposite of winter—where God and friends feel distant and death and darkness close at hand—in the summer of the heart, God and others draw intimately near, light and life surround us. The heart in summer is a taste of the kingdom of God, a savoury morsel of heaven, sweet and brief, where God, fully present, shines light day and night, and that light affects and blesses all those it touches. The prophet Zechariah describes the summer of the heart as a city, Jerusalem. He was writing to a people who are returning and rebuilding their lives after decades in exile, prisoners of war, and so we too are rebuilding our lives after what seems like an exile, and long also for a new summer of the heart. As I said, summer is a foretaste of the feast to come, a kingdom that is now but not yet. That’s summer. What are we to do, when we are blessed to find ourselves in it? 1 1. Do enjoy: play, rest, enjoy God and others, without reserve and without apology. Many of us carry a residue of Protestant angst, that makes us feel guilty when we really enjoy ourselves, yet, we have a Saviour whose first miracle was to turn water into wine for no greater reason than that the party might go on. 2. Don’t rush: Kingdom living is not hurried. Some of us may feel the pressure to rush around now arranging reunions and weddings and parties and holidays. This summer once we have been released from our long winter that may be a temptation too. To fit it all in. To say yes to everything we are asked of, whether we are called to it or not. But, in this summer of your heart, don’t be tempted to fill up your calendar, remember some of the slower pace of life which we became accustomed to because of the circumstances of the past 16 months and continue to find that peace in which the presence of God is vivid and real. 3. Delight in abundance: in the summertime of the heart, God’s blessings are clear and many and can fill you with joy. Delight in and continue to treasure the gifts of summer, in our gardens, parks and countryside. For consumerism—the sin always around the corner in our culture—will try to convince you, even in summer, to chase what you lack instead of enjoy what you have. But we are called to a form of living in summer that instead of craving and complaining, is about giving and thanksgiving. Delight. Give thanks in summer. 4. Finally, continue to hydrate: resting and playing are good in summer. But one thing any coach will tell you—it applies to sports as well as spiritual life - drink enough water! That is, nourish your life of prayer and the Word. As the psalmist says, ‘our souls thirst for the living God, and ask’ (even in summer) ‘when can we meet with God’ in prayer and worship, service and praise. Summer is a foretaste of the feast to come. The kingdom of God near, for a season. 2 And the beauty is when the hearts summer comes to you, recognise it, enjoy it, slow down, soak it up, delight in the abundance, continue to connect to God’s word. Give thanks for this season and the opportunity it gives us to praise God, enjoy his creation and open up our winter souls to the light. We need this more than ever. 

Every blessing Ann 

NB: Next week’s letter and sheet will be the last weekly delivery. We have been keeping these going every week for fifteen months now and feel it is time to reduce the regularity. We will continue to produce something each month which will be delivered in the same way and, hopefully, will include other things to keep you connected with your church family.

Sunday Letter

 Trinity Six    11^th July 2021

 

Hi everyone,

 

What a mixture of weather we have been having this week, we continue to remember in our prayers those who have lost home and possessions because of last Monday’s floods. The plus for us is the sudden growth spurt in the garden and trying to keep up with the fruit as it ripens.

 

The story this week from Mark brought to mind my childhood, do you remember when you did something that maybe you shouldn’t of and somehow your mum, or significant other in life, knew exactly what you had been up to! I never could quite work out how did she find out what I had said or done; it was a complete mystery. When I became a mother myself I discovered the secret.

 

There is also a saying isn’t there “be sure your sins will find you out” and I am sure that Herod had that quite prominently in his mind when he heard about the way Jesus was gaining a following. The stories of his disciples going out and proclaiming the good news and bringing healing to some of the afflicted. He was sure John the Baptist had come back, wonder if he was scared or just worried about what was to come?

 

The great historian Josephus recorded at the time, that the local population were quite indignant with Herod Antipas for killing John, whom they regarded as an honourable and true prophet of repentance. Then three years later, the father of Antipas’s first divorced wife, King Aretas of Nabataea, invaded Antipas’s western territory and massacred his army. The populace saw in this defeat God’s revenge on Herod for his crime. Everyone recognised that John died merely because he had spoken the truth: “it is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife”. But this was the truth that the powerful did not want to hear”.

The people had held the story of Herod’s actions and would have seen this as his comeuppance.

Prophets can condemn kings and rulers, as well as those who cheat on their wives. They are concerned about the life of nations, they will also condemn those who steal from the poor, or those who do not practice decent morals.  There is no point threatening a prophet and hoping they will go away quietly, God has empowered and compelled them to speak and all human power is redundant.

This is not Herod the Great who indifferently slaughtered his wives, his offspring, and Bethlehem’s babies, but his son Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee — Herod "the fox", according to Jesus (Luke 13.32).
His sin was to have married someone too closely related to him, a woman who was both his sister-in-law and his niece. The old Book of Common Prayer has a page on which is recorded 'A table of kindred and affinity, wherein whosoever are related are forbidden by the church of England to marry together.'

A man may not marry his

mother, daughter, father's mother, mother's mother, son's daughter, daughters daughter, sister, father's daughter, mother's daughter, wife's mother, wife's daughter, father's wife, son's wife, father's father's wife, mother's father's wife, wife's father's mother, wife's mother's mother, wife's son's daughter, wife's daughter's daughter, son's son's wife, daughter's son's wife, father's sister, mother's sister, brother's daughter, sister's daughter.    No chance for Herod and Herodias .
John the Baptist would not be silenced, he had his conviction and he was steadfast in proclaiming the need for everybody to be ready to meet with God.

God working his purpose out through those who would listen and hear and action in their lives.

 

Be Blessed Rev Georgina 

 

Be Blessed Rev Georgina 

Sunday Letter

 

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton

 

Fourth Sunday after Trinity.

 

Hi everyone,

 

On Sunday we shall, some of us, be taking our Rogation walk and praying for good weather!

It will be good to share in prayer and worship whilst walking and talking with plenty to catch up on, giving us a sense of returning to some of the things we enjoy in our life together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being in a meeting, for supporting the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland, with Hedley Abernethy who is the Head of Programmes working in community in NI. He is gathering and working with people’s stories around the legacy of conflict, and I was particularly struck by his approach as he talked about how they are exploring what people know about life outside of the walls of their community. The project is working with three areas in Belfast City, on the Causeway Coast and the Glens, asking the questions, what do you know about this place, the heritage and the history? Our place, our past, and our perspectives, what makes a place a place? Hedley then went on to talk about how the people are discovering hidden story, lost story and people’s perceptions of the story.

It is the same in any place isn’t it really. It reminded me that the Museum is trying to collect stories from those who have lived here all their lives, to keep alive the story that makes us the people of Chard and the surrounding villages, how we are shaped by that story and history, how hard it is for Chard to shake off some of the old story that still clings. If you have moved in to this area you may have been told as I was, that no one goes out in the evening, or that no one does anything on Saturday afternoons, well that isn’t quite true but the levels of through flow do drop at these times giving the feeling that it is an accurate reflection, and so perpetuating the story.

But some stories are completely set down, to be explored and discussed but not to be changed, like our Gospel reading stories of the woman with the bleeding and Jairus’s daughter they can be interpreted and prayed with to find the meaning for our lives but they stay the same, or do they? When we delve deeper into the what and why of Jesus’s actions and the words and actions of those involved, we find a new discovery of just who we are in relation to the story, where it resonates in our being and interlinks with the events that have unfounded and made each of us who we are. Why does the Gospel writer Mark pick these two moments from what were undoubtably more actions of prayer and healing on that day. They both talk of faith, the woman maybe frightened that she will be rejected approaches silently and touches Jesus knowing that is all that is needed, and she was right, but she is also discovered and on being asked to approach Jesus comes near in fear, but instead of what she believes will happen, she receives love in action. And Jairus a leader of the Synagogue cares more for his daughter than his position in the synagogue and asks for help, he believes his daughter will be healed. It takes the greatest strength of belief on his part especially once he hears she has died, but he goes with Jesus to the house and the is restored. A twelve year old girl and a woman healed, women didn’t have any position in the culture of the time as a rule, but Jesus goes against the grain of culture and action to change the story, that all are able to receive the love of God.

 

Our reading coming from 2 Corinthians 8.1-15, is such a wealth of self-examining and richness. As I read it the words of that beautiful Christmas hymn came into my mind. Thou who wast rich beyond all measure yet for love’s sake becamest poor.   And the second thing that came to mind was balance, the last verse reads: “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little”. At the end I have added the beautiful hymn and the story behind why Frank Houghton wrote it.

 

Be Blessed in all you do this week. Rev Georgina.

 

 

 

You can find out more of John and Betty’s story on the internet.

“Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour”

This beautiful hymn was written to honour and esteem missionaries John and Betty Stam. In China, 1934, they were taken prisoner by Communist soldiers, along with their three-month-old baby, Helen. John and Betty were marched to their deaths, but miraculously, baby Helen, hidden in a sleeping bag, survived and was discovered five days later. She was still alive.

The deaths of John and Betty Stam electrified the Christian world. Upon hearing of the deaths of John and Betty Stam, Frank Houghton wrote this hymn, which was inspired by 2 Corinthians 8:9: “… that though He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.”

John and Betty Stam were compelled to give their lives for the truth that would eventually be printed on John’s tombstone: “That Christ may be glorified whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:20-21).

 

 

 

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor.
 
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising,
Heavenward by Thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.
 
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.

– Words: Frank Houghton; Music: French Carol Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agreable © 1934

Holy Communion

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton First Sunday after Trinity and the first in Ordinary time. Hi everyone, Today I am going to cut my front lawn, no big deal you may say quite rightly, but every year I leave it until about now when the cowslips, primroses, and violets have finished flowering in the lawn, also the dandelions have gone to seed as well. Every year I feel a bit guilty as daily I drive past the immaculate lawns around us, but I just can’t bear to hover over the beautiful flowers, and yes, I do love daisies too, our cowslips are gradually spreading as the seed is scattered by the mower. So, you can imagine how delighted I was to hear on the news that May had been “No Mow May” I had unintentionally taken part in it not hearing till the very end of the month that it had taken place. Joy and relief took over from guilt, I felt a tiny bit proud that I had taken part as well. Hearing the news on the radio changed the way I was feeling about the lawn, yes, it is in some ways an insignificant thing and hardly worth a mention and yet once I started to think about it, I wondered about how many times we hear or see something that changes our perception of life, possibly just a little and for some quite a bit. Affirmation allows us to feel wanted and cared about in lots of different contexts, it can come from neighbours, friends, family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and through the media of life. This week’s reading from the Gospel challenges our thinking about family. Mary and Jesus’s brothers are worried about him and go to try and take him home for a while, this would seem perfectly reasonable Mark says “the crowd came about so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat” they are concerned about his well being and from the sounds of it his mental health in that moment. But we know from John ch 7:5 that his brothers did not believe in him, his mother would as a woman be powerless even though she did believe in him. He is early on in his ministry and going about preaching and healing many including those possessed by demons. He is noticed there is a growing following for him and his words of life. He clearly shows he has greater authority than the scribes, who here have come from Jerusalem to question him, they are being called to answer for their accusations against him. Jesus tells them that the one who is filled with the Holy Spirit cannot be called Satan, and that they utter blasphemy. The followers of Jesus have given up everything to come with him and there is an encouragement to them as Jesus identifies with them that we are all bothers and sisters and mothers in doing the will of God. Families can be places of strife and conflict, as well as places of love and nurture, Jesus is pointing us towards being part of the eternal family of God and enabling us to be blessed in all things eternally, regardless of our experience of human family. Be Blessed this week Rev Georgina

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton The Feast of Pentecost – 23rd May Dear Friends In my former employment I used to interview teachers who wanted to become Heads of Department. Every one of them had a CV as long as your arm - captain of inter-house needlepoint, president of a local drama society, in their holidays they had taught English in Sao Luis. To be impressive, it seems, you must have achievements. So, it is odd, that there is one, strangely anonymous, member of the Trinity: God the Father, we know, Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. God the Son, similarly, has history (it is, indeed, exactly what he has) born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried… The Spirit, however, can sound like the poor relation of the Trinity, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints… In the Roman Catholic Catechism it suggests that the Spirit never speaks of itself. It is very unusual never to speak of yourself, but it is what the Spirit does. Like a thief in the night you cannot see the Spirit, but you can see where (s)he has been. Which is why Jesus said: This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. John 14:17 I might suggest that the Holy Spirit is not for those who like their lives, and everyone else’s to be tidy, and want everything to be labelled and boxed in. We tidy at our peril, because much of the work of the Spirit is done through the messiness of life. When the thief in the night passes through (s)he leaves behind one thing - disorder. Where the Spirit has been what you get is abundance and variety. Read Genesis and you will find that the Spirit gives abundance. Genesis starts with a formless deep and the Spirit which brings out of the deep this, which is different from that, and then something else. It is the same Spirit that has the apostles speaking in all those different tongues at Pentecost. The point about life in the Spirit is that it is rich and abundant, and we should learn to enjoy that. More importantly we should learn to trust it. Because, in the Spirit everything holds together and does not fall apart. The great challenge is not that we should all end up the same, the challenge is that we should be different and enjoy it. The day of Pentecost is the day that we celebrate the fact that God gives us variety. Gives us the gifts, the imagination and the language to love both. In the Spirit we can forgive, explain, argue and be reconciled, we can co-operate, sympathise and love. The day of Pentecost is the day of variety and the opportunity to see that this is where the Spirit has been. As we come further out of lockdown let us look back and see where the Spirit has been working in the past year and we may be surprised. (S)he has not been idle but has been working in all of the most difficult and trying circumstances we have experienced. So let us not waste that work by trying to forget or ignore what the last year has taught us about resilience, hope, community spirit, mutual care and care for the natural world. Let us pray that the Spirit will guide us as we come back together and look to the future. Every blessing Ann

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Seventh Sunday of Easter – The Sunday after Ascension 13th May Hi everyone, As I sit in my study at varied times one of my neighbours takes his dog out, I say takes his dog out advisedly. She wears a body harness and is a fairly stocky girl, if the weather is good she trails along behind just a little, if it is raining it gives more of an impression of being dragged along, not cruelly I hasten to add, she is a dog who unlike the “normal” picture of man and dog, gives the distinct impression she would rather not bother and stay at home! Some of you will appreciate that thought. If we as neighbours happen to meet outside, she almost drags him over so she can have a stroke and a chat. So there is something for her about the beginning and ending of a walk, I can’t say about the middle never having meet her out and about. In our readings this week we are focusing on joy. Jesus says: “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves….So that they may have the full measure of my joy within them”. Joy is a balance in our lives it is part of the whole, underpinning our faith and way of being. Our faith, Christianity is about good news, that is what the word Gospel literally means. Some may think that Christians are against life being good and want to stop the fun, but actually quite the opposite is true. Jesus told his followers that he came so that we could have life and have it abundantly. The Christian story is one of how we can all get more out life. As Christians we are all called by God to let others know that the path to fulfilment and real purpose in life, is found in Jesus. Jesus was accused of being too joyful at times, when he went to peoples homes and ate, and laughed with them, those who had nothing to lose and recognised God’s love for them in their The good news is that the future city of God will be a place of Joy. When we sing hymns and songs which speak of Joy, often the words are taken from Scripture. Think of 'You shall go out with Joy and be led forth in peace and the mountains the hills shall break forth before you.' These words are taken from Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Oh, how we long to sing it again. Jesus encouraged us to think of the future as a time of Joy, so that it sustains us now when times are difficult. When we can be overcome with sadness and pain. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, the forecast is filled with rain, there are many who will be rejoicing this week, not the dog though. I have just realised that the good intention of putting a bug house on the side of the garage has not quite had the outcome I imagined. It is situated not too far away from a nesting box where the Blue Tit mum and dad are busy feeding as much as they can to hungry babies. I have just seen one of them go to the bug house and take a poor bug out then take it to the nest. Probably plenty of joy for the birds, poor old bugs. Be Blessed Rev Georgina Meditation Joy may be expressed in laughter, yet it draws from a deep spring that keeps flowing long after transient laughter has died. Joy survives the fleeting happiness of this world, and overcomes the tears of our too short lives, because it trusts in the promise of the world to come. Joy enables us to be cheerful even when the world has become tired and grey with grief and worry.

Sunday Letter May 9

Sixth Sunday of Easter – 9th May Dear Friends “Love each other, as I have loved you”. This is Jesus’ command to his disciples in our reading from John’s gospel today. Jesus then repeats, “This is my command: love each other”. This is such a straightforward command, and yet, we as humans and as a church have so often complicated it by setting conditions on our love. Who then are we meant to love? Our family, our friends, the other members of our church community? Well, yes, of course, but is there anyone else? That is for us to decide for ourselves, but perhaps I can set some things out. Every time we have a communion service, the celebrant will say these words: “Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” First of all, Jesus states that all laws and prophecies must now be based on these two commandments to love God and to love our neighbour. Secondly, when asked in Luke’s gospel, “who is my neighbour?”, Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable it is the despised Samaritan who is the only one to show mercy to the injured traveller, a Jew, who the Samaritan would normally have been meant to despise in return. Those who passed the injured man by, were representatives of the church, men who should have been examples of mercy and grace. In last week’s reading from Acts we read of the encounter between the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip. This encounter is God given and the Ethiopian is converted to Christianity. However, as a black man and with dubious sexuality, he would have been a very problematical figure for Philip, but Philip did not hesitate when he was commanded to speak with him and explain the good news of Jesus Christ. In both of these examples, the parable of the Good Samaritan and Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, we see people who would be considered ‘beyond the pale’, both demonstrating and receiving a loving response to need. Who then is our neighbour who are we commanded to love? I leave that with you. Then, how do we love? Well, let us return to our reading from John’s gospel for today: “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” So Jesus is telling us that if we keep his commands to love God and our neighbour as ourselves, we will remain in his love and in God’s love, and we will be following his example. We love by following the example of Jesus. In his life, again and again, Jesus loves those considered unlovable by others, and yet loved by God. Do we take him as our example, or do we keep within our safe and unchallenging boundaries? This reading from John’s gospel is often used on Remembrance Sunday. We are not going to be asked to show our love by dying for others, but we are being asked to show our love for others by putting aside our own self-interest, prejudices and assumptions, just like the Good Samaritan and Philip. Like them, we do not always get to choose who we are being asked to love. Only God does that. Again, it is up to you how you respond. Every blessing Ann

Whitestaunton Services for June 2021

6pm June 13 Evensong in Church led by Charles Sparey 9.15 June 20 Communion in Church led by Revd Ann Kember 7pm Annual Vestry Meeting followed by APCM Rogation: 1.15 June 27 Prayers and Lunch at Whitestaunton

Whitestaunton Services for May 2021

9.15 May 9 Communion in Church led by Ruth Rodgers 7pm May 12 Annual Vestry Meeting followed by APCM at 7.30pm 7pm Thursday 13 Communion on Zoom

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Fifth Sunday of Easter – 2nd May Hi everyone, We are well and truly coming to the point of returning to Church for worship and looking forward to being able to sing, to sit near our friends and stay to chat over coffee afterwards as well. Might be a way down the line yet, but for me at least it feels like we are moving in the right direction. If you would like someone to accompany you the first time you return to Church please let us know. Anyone who has a grapevine in the garden will know the hardness of pruning it. Once the fruit cluster has formed you need to cut the branch off three leaves ahead of the cluster, this stops the vine from continuing to waster energy on producing leaf, of which it does quite madly, and concentrate the sugars into developing the grapes to the very best. It seems a bit drastic but, to produce something worth having it needs to happen. Our grapes are luscious and when my French friends came last, two years ago, I had to show them the vine to prove they had grown in my garden! In our reading today Jesus is describing how each part of the plant is vital none of it can function or produce fruit without the other parts, he is redefining to his listeners the traditional symbolism, in this passage Jesus is the vine not Israel, he is the middle ground between God the gardener and the community of the branches us. God is the source and power for all Jesus’ work, therefore, Jesus is the true vine because he comes from God. If we live in God and God is in us, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength for daily living and sharing, that the fruit of the community will be stronger and sweeter and more powerful. We are a community and we all need each other, to build ourselves up, to encourage and challenge each other, to worship together and be inspired. That has been one of the hardest things this past year, sitting (or standing) and singing on our own, saying the words of our liturgy on our own, no familiar faces around us, being isolated in our homes as we worship. There is of course the time and need to pray and read Scripture on our own, but there is that other quality that comes from raising our voices together, being witnesses together, sharing our story together that binds us together in the vine. I thought I would share with you these thought and a meditation from Revd Dr Joan Crossley: The encounter between the Ethiopian traveller and Philip recounted in the reading from Acts, is a wonderful example of the collision of two cultures. Philip, a follower of the Lord Jesus from a Jewish background, met up with a high ranking financial advisor to the queen of the Ethiopians. Philip was just embarking upon what would be an exciting life of evangelism and travel, and this meeting, apparently a chance, one would kick-start him on his life’s work. In fact the life-changing meeting was ordained by God, as we are told that an angel decided the direction that Philip’s journey would take. We have always tended to read the meeting from the perspective of what the Ethiopian learnt from Philip. Of course, it was profoundly valuable for the Ethiopian, since it converted him to Christianity. But we can see that Philip too was changed by the stranger. Philip was challenged by the directness of the questions fired at him, and was forced to address deep questions about the faith. He might also have been thrown by the spontaneity and enthusiasm of the Ethiopian “here is water, why shouldn’t I be baptised here and now?” The encounter reminds us of the experiences of the wonderful Missionary women and men who have gone out across the world to spread the name of Jesus. When they get home, they are frequently scathing of the legalistic and solemn approach to faith here. What matters is the love and faith of Jesus’ followers, not their ability to stick to traditions and formulas. As the Ethiopian challenged Philip, we must allow ourselves to be challenged by the people we encounter, perhaps children or those without faith, those who make us reassess the way that we conduct our mission and worship. Sometimes we must ask “why do we do this”, does this really advance the Kingdom or is it a rut that we have fallen into! Thought provoking, isn’t it? Meditation As followers of Jesus, we live in a relationship of love which we seek to share with others. This sharing of love is God's mission - our calling is to work in partnerships, based on trust and respect, offering mutual support. The nineteenth century idea that we should encourage people from other cultures to be just like us, the British, have now gone. The paternalistic model of mission abroad and at home has been replaced by one more mindful of the traditions of other societies and respectful of what is valuable within them. We now recognise that in giving to and interacting with mission partners, we are also fortunate recipients. St. Paul wrote to the Church in Rome: "I long to see you that I may impart some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." (Romans 1:11-12). So it is with the worldwide Church today - we have much to learn from each other and then to share with others. Every blessing Rev Georgina It was St George’s Day last Friday, and in more usual circumstances we would have had a Service last Sunday afternoon to commemorate St George. Of course, this didn’t happen, but I thought I could share this poem with you instead. To celebrate St. George's Day, English Heritage commissioned a poem from Brian Patten to remind the English of what they are meant to be celebrating, this was written back in 2008. At the same time, In the spirit of fairness, they also commissioned Scottish poet Elvis McGonagall to write a poem marking the day from the other side of the border, you will need to look this one up! The True Dragon by Brian Patten St George was out walking He met a dragon on a hill, It was wise and wonderful Too glorious to kill It slept amongst the wild thyme Where the oxlips and violets grow Its skin was a luminous fire That made the English landscape glow Its tears were England’s crystal rivers Its breath the mist on England’s moors Its larder was England’s orchards, Its house was without doors St George was in awe of it It was a thing apart He hid the sleeping dragon Inside every English heart So on this day let’s celebrate England’s valleys full of light, The green fire of the landscape Lakes shivering with delight Let’s celebrate St George’s Day, The dragon in repose; The brilliant lark ascending, The yew, the oak, the rose

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Fourth Sunday of Easter – 25th April Dear Friends In today’s reading from Acts we see Peter as a completely changed man. The disciple who so often seemed to misunderstand Jesus and who denied him three times and who had been hiding with the other disciples after Jesus’ death, is now transformed by the Holy Spirit. He has become a witness to the saving power of the risen Christ, a true Apostle. After celebrating the resurrection at Easter, we now look forward to Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit. Perhaps this mirrors where we are in the lives of our churches. We returned to church on Easter Sunday to proclaim the resurrection, and after a two week break, we return to weekly services this Sunday. It feels as if we too have been holding our breath, waiting for the joy of Easter, and now waiting for the Spirit to fill us again with the joy of fellowship in being together in person. However, as we return to church, we must be mindful that there are those who will not be coming back so soon, or perhaps not at all. We will continue to provide these letters and sheets for them as well as live-streaming services from Chard and Combe. We also need to look to the future. We will have decisions to make about the sustainability of our churches, both the congregations and the buildings. We need to find a way of both honouring our current traditions and all that sustains us now and also making the changes that are needed for the future. I am convinced that one way this will happen is us, as the body of Christ, reaching out to our communities and working for them and alongside them. We can’t really afford to do nothing. Just as Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit and became a great witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, so we must pray for that same Spirit to fill us and lead us into the future, as fellow witnesses. Below is my Rector’s Report presented for St Mary’s APCM this Sunday. It follows the same theme: “When I wrote my last report in September last year, we did not know that we would soon be back in lockdown for November, and then again from January. We had no idea that our next APCM would be held under lockdown conditions, again. However, here we are and the last year has been difficult, challenging, but also remarkable at the same time. Usually a Rector’s report for the APCM would be looking back over the past year, but things are not ‘usual’ and we need to look to the future as well as back at the past. During the past year both Georgina and I have travelled a steep learning curve in developing our technical skills(!), many of us have become Zoom regulars and we have kept in touch by phone and email. Thanks go to all of you who have kept in touch with others by phone or email and also provided practical help through shopping, collecting prescriptions and other forms of support. We have also, kept in touch with some of you through paper deliveries to your door. I calculated that in the past year we have put 1756 envelopes through your doors. Many thanks go to those who have week by week, delivered these. Ken, John Rollings, Chris and Robin Williams, Sue Milne, Ruth, Georgina and Penny Croucher, thank you. However, happily we are now coming out of lockdown and able to be together to worship. It is wonderful to be in fellowship with you again and we hope to be back to a full rota of services by the end of June. Last year saw the cancellation of all our weddings all of which have now been re- booked for later this year or next year. We conducted only one adult and one child baptism over the past year, and we pray that as we come out of lockdown we will begin to hold others. We have held a number of funerals, with restricted numbers. It has been a difficult time for bereaved families, who have been dealing with their grief as well as organising funerals under Covid restrictions. Some families were unable to be with their loved one at the time of death and this was a cause of further grief. Many of you will be pleased to return to ‘normal’ and to be back in the familiar surroundings of our lovely buildings and our services. But things will have changed, one thing that lockdown has reminded us of is the importance of fellowship and community, but what kind of community or fellowship will that be? We want to be back together, but we must now also be mindful of the future and how we are going to maintain our current communities of faith while looking at how we can make them sustainable for the next five, ten, fifteen years and beyond. We have now installed a live-streaming camera in the church at St Mary’s and we have the capacity to livestream from Combe as well, via our phones. We realised that over last year, the number of people watching our online services grew and often surpassed 100. There are those who have faith, or who are seekers after faith, who will not come to church, but are happy to connect online. It is really important, therefore, that we continue to provide something for them. Over the Christmas period, although physical attendance at our services was down, the number of people watching our livestreams grew and was often over 50. Let us rejoice that we now have the means to reach out to people in this way even though they won’t or can’t be with us in church. Lockdown has also made us more aware of how we need connection and fellowship, and we hope to meet up as soon as we can to share and enjoy one another’s company. We propose to have more Benefice services in the future and also have a Benefice social event on fifth Sundays. Our church buildings have changed and changed again over the centuries as they have been made fit for purpose for each age. What we need to do now, is look at ways we can do that now. As with churches up and down the country, we are at a crucial point. We can choose to do nothing, change nothing, and decline financially and in numbers, or we can be bold and have faith that God has a plan for our future, and take some risks. Our calling as Christians is to be the light of Christ in our community. We need, therefore, to care for one another and also to care for others. We need to recognise that if we are to keep that light shining for the future, that some change is required. Standing still is not an option. Let us trust in our calling and move forward with confidence and hope.” Reminder of our services: At St Mary’s, Chard we will be back in church for a service this Sunday, followed by our APCM. From then on we will be holding a weekly 10.00 am service in church. At Combe St Nicholas, weekly 10.30 am services will also commence again this Sunday. The APCM will follow the service on Sunday 16th May. Services at St Mary’s, Wambrook will recommence with 9.15 am BCP Holy Communion on Sunday 2nd May. Services at St Andrew’s, Whitestaunton will recommence with 6.00 pm Evensong on Sunday 9th May. The APCM will be held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 12th May. Every blessing Ann

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Letter for this week 18 th April 2021 Fourth Sunday after Easter In the midst of a year that will stand out in history we have also had a week that will stand out in history too. Regardless of what we may feel personally about HRH Prince Philip, there is no doubt that he has achieved and given so much in his life that has helped in the cause to save our planet and creation, and to give young people opportunities in life that they would never have had without the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. He was the longest serving consort in history, alongside the longest serving Monarch in our history, and had achieved an amazing seventy-three years married to Elizabeth our Queen. Often quietly devoted, sometimes putting his foot in it, being a gentle support and above all a person of laughter, well done good and faithful servant. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Queen in this sad time. We are all able to go out now, as before if anyone is finding the prospect of leaving your home daunting, please say and we will come out with you. When we have these larger moments of change it isn’t always easy to make the move. We went to the beach last week for the first time since November, it did feel very strange, but so lovely to hear and see the waves. Plus we are living in history and story this week as we hear in the account of Jesus appearing to the disciples as they eat together with friends their astonishment and fear at seeing him. Acts 3 12-19 –“and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know”. What a wonderful way of speaking “the author of life” the one who came to rewrite the story, to change the story and to make it readable (for the most part) for everyone, to create a narrative that is not dead but alive. We have our Bible to direct and guide us as we read its life-giving story, Jesus is the one through whom it has come to life and the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to understand it. I don’t think I will ever stop being amazed at the way scripture seems to change and new words and phrases jump out at me almost it seems from nowhere. This experience which I am sure you all have had too, allows us to identify with the account from Luke here: “Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, Suddenly they saw, suddenly the last piece of the jigsaw fitted into place in their minds”, What a privilege it is to be allowed to be part of the story the author of life has given us. Luke 24: 36-48 “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence”. You see I am not sure I had not noticed before that the disciples also disbelieved, it wasn’t just Thomas, Thomas voiced his disbelief, Jesus could see it in the faces without the words, and he takes a piece of fish to eat. Then they are relieved, then they can hear and receive as he shares with them the way forward in the story. Spring is here, new life is rising, the blossoms are creating fluffy trees, and the birds are gathering nesting materials. As we pray let’s remember those who have worked tirelessly and continue to do so, in finding new ways to combat this virus, testing old drugs and new to save lives, to bring us hope of returning to the new normal soon. Be expectant that God is travelling with you in the difficult and the joyous moments when you can’t see or feel his presence yourself or in others, and when you sense he is holding you close. Be Blessed Rev Georgina

Dear all, As you will expect our weekly letter and readings were set before the announcement . Following the announcement of the death of HRH Prince Philip our thoughts and prayers are particularly with the Queen at this time. Here is a link for the online Condolences book should you wish to sign it, there is also a link on the same page to light a candle too. https://www.churchofengland.org/ Rev George aand Rev Ann

Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Second Sunday of Easter – 11th April Dear Friends After last week’s joyful acclamation of ‘He is Risen!’ we come to the events following Jesus’s death and his first resurrection appearances. In today’s passage from John’s gospel we see the risen Christ returning to give his disciples the message of peace. We find the disciples behind locked doors, fearful of what might happen to them at the hands of those who killed Jesus. And then - the risen Christ steps into the room, into the midst of their fears with the first of a three-fold "Peace be with you." ! This first peace is the peace that perhaps comes when our worst fears are not realised; the relief that against all odds, death has not won; the realisation that out of the blood, the nails, the thorns, the beating, and the cross has come new life. Something we need to pay particular attention to as we move out of lockdown into something which will be life, but, we hope it will be life changed and renewed. When Christ shows them his hands and side, the disciples rejoice with the adrenaline rush that follows the miraculous - the crucified one is the risen one. Jesus then speaks a second "Peace be with you", maybe this time it is a "not so fast" kind of peace, a kind of peace that lasts beyond the initial rush, that abides even when we remember the cost and the challenges that still lie ahead. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." These are sobering words, even when the disciples see the living Christ, as they have also just been shown his wounds. Christ's victory will be theirs as well, but in order to get there, they will need the kind of peace that lasts even when - in the midst of their own blood, thorns, and cross - victory seems a dim and distant possibility. So we too need this second kind of peace when things seem to be hard, when we do not 2 know how we are going to get through a certain situation or how our current circumstances will ever come to an end. The third "Peace be with you" follows a famous exchange with the disciples and Thomas, who was absent during the previous appearance of the risen Christ. As many have noted, although he is famous as "Doubting" Thomas, he asks for no more than what the rest of them, including Mary Magdalene, have already received, and Thomas' words do not seem particularly troubling to Jesus. But perhaps the other disciples are exasperated with him. After all, Thomas has in so many words called them liars to their face. "I won't believe you until I see for myself." However, when we meet the disciples again a week later, they are still all together. Jesus again appears among them, and before anyone says anything, says again, "Peace be with you,". Perhaps this time it is the peace of reconciliation -"peace be among you," the peace that follows when we forgive one another. This task of forgiveness was given to the disciples at Jesus' previous appearance, verse It is John’s gospel that most emphasises oneness and unity among the disciples, a oneness that shows the world that this message of life is true. So, this third peace, within the community, might be the most significant of all. For life in all its fullness cannot be lived unless we live as a community. Jesus does not scold Thomas and, in fact, invites him to satisfy his doubt by seeing for himself. Even if he were to be considered a doubter (as the traditional interpretation understands him), he is welcomed into the peace of Christ before he can either apologise or defend himself. Congregations and communities of faith often do not do well with people who, like Thomas, challenge them with doubt and difficult questions. Christ calls them and us to live in his peace as a way of reaching our own peace with each other. He seems less concerned than we often are about sticking to one interpretation of his life and resurrection. He sends Thomas, doubters, and all of us to continue his work. After all, in the end, it is Thomas ‘The Doubter’ whose response stands as the highest proclamation of Christ by any person in the gospel, "My Lord and my God!". Can we truly do the same? Blessings Ann

Easter Sunday Letter

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton Easter Sunday 2021 Friends On Sunday we come together for worship at St Mary’s and in Combe. It will be good to be together for the most important and precious Sunday of the Christian year. There is much we need to let go of, and much we need to celebrate. Most of all we will gather together knowing that we are children of God’s unfathomable and never-ending love, borne through death on the cross and triumphant in resurrection. After what we have been through in the past year, this seems particularly meaningful. Whatever you are doing on Sunday, may you take some time to focus on the forgiveness and hope that is now ours, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians we must carry this hope for others and seek out those places and circumstances where we can offer hope instead of despair, encouragement where there is doubt and light where there is darkness. We can do this because of what happened on Easter day. Jesus bears all our wilful wrongdoing and by his sacrifice and selfless act of forgiveness offers us the chance to begin afresh, not just once, but time and time again. This is not just good news – but the best ever! He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. If you are coming to our service at St Mary’s at 10.00 please bring a flower/flowers to place on the cross outside the church. Ann

Sunday Letter March 28

 

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton

 

Letter for this week 28^th March 2021 Palm Sunday.

We hope that you will be able to join us at some point during Holy Week on the Zoom or in Person on Good Friday for the Stations or to celebrate on Easter Day.

There will be Palm Crosses for you in Church if you would like them, please remember to gel hands before and after taking one.

I remember when Stephen and I visited the Holy Land in 2010 the awesomeness of coming up to the top of the hill on the coach, sadly not walking, and seeing, stretched before us the site of Jerusalem and the glorious colours of the stone and the golden top of the Dome shinning in the sunlight. It all bears little in resemblance to the moment Jesus and his disciples walked over the summit as most of the buildings were not there, however, the second temple would have greeted them over the walls of the city, alongside the olive trees at the mount of Olives. But we caught enough of the sight to be able to identify with what they would have seen.

The coming from Galilee involved rising from the lowest city on earth Jericho 800 ft below sea level to the heights of Jerusalem 3000 ft above sea level in the space of not more than 14 miles. 

And they were coming to celebrate, can you remember the excitement of going to a festival or big event that everyone was heading for? Anticipation rising at what the day would bring? Picture yourself if you can then as the crowd accompanying Jesus, weary from that climb, but knowing they are entering the city with the King. The kingdom is arriving. Jesus instructs for a colt to be brought for him that he may enter the city on its back, not a stallion richly adorned, but a simple colt unridden before. Then the road is strewn with cloaks and palms and branches for him to ride the royal pathway. You don’t do this for just anyone, only an expected King, royalty, Hosanna they shout, blessed be the one who is come. Expectation is in the air, excitement, the King is entering the city.

Over the next few days as the Jews prepare for the Passover, festival time, the place is alive with people come to Jerusalem a festival not to be missed. Most of them will stay outside the city as Jesus did with the disciples in Bethany, probably with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

You may have noted the last sentence of the first Gospel Reading from Mark “Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the disciples”.  The next day scripture tells us Jesus went into the Temple and overturned the money tables.

Within the week there would be a fickle changing of minds for some to shouting Crucify him.

This is such a thought-provoking service on Palm Sunday, as we travel through the narrative. Our King arriving in Jerusalem, our King being misunderstood, our King turning the world upside down. We have joy and excitement as we sing the joyful songs of arrival at the city, yet within the hour we have heard the moving story of Jesus coming to the Cross which cannot but touch our hearts. Our Saviour throughout the narrative shows love and forgiveness for those who have left the path and pays the ultimate price on the Cross, for us, as for the peoples then, and we leave on a sombre note.

But for now, we have the joy and anticipation.

If you get a moment, follow the Art Project in Chard, either with a walking plan and/or on line, details are here: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hopecommunityartproject  which can be reached without being on Facebook, or the Easter Stations and Trail, plus the glorious knitted and crocheted flowers at Combe St Nicholas Church. 

Be Blessed Rev Georgina

Palm Sunday

Ride on

They’re waving at you.

Ride on.

Some wave to flag you down
like witnesses at a motorway pile-up.
They want to you to fix the injured and dying.
You can cure them.
You can bring the dead back to life.

Ride on.

Some are waving Hello.
They want you to come to their party.
They want to show you off to their friends.
They know some very open-minded Pharisees.
They are sure they will be reasonable about it all
once you explain.

Ride on.

Some wave the team colours.
They want you to stuff the opposition,
they think its time that our guys won.

Ride on.

Some wave business cards.
They want you to endorse their products.
You are hot property for chat shows.
Your position statements will be prepared for you.
You will be dressed by Armani and Calvin Klein
for your limitless media opportunities.

Ride on.

Some wave to warn you.
They want you to take care.
They’d like to re-direct your route
away from likely trouble spots.
They have your best interests at heart.

Ride on.

Some wave in desperation as if
you are their only hope.

Ride on.

Some wave their fists.
You were the wrong answer to their prayers
and their disappointments have blossomed into anger.
You could have sorted the whole bloody mess
and here you are out donkey-riding.

Ride on.

Ride on until
the temple looms in front of you.
Dismount.
Walk the last few steps
towards the tables
where religion is prepared.
Push them all over.
Leave no room for doubt.

Walk on into
the dark garden,
the false kiss,
the clever trap,
the rigged trial,
the beating,
the goading.

Walk on until
there is no more you can do except
hang on,
doing what it was
you came to do
for every one
of them and us.

---

Written in 1997 by Godfrey Rust, revised for Palm Sunday, March 2012.

 

Benefice of St Mary’s Chard, Combe St Nicholas, Wambrook and Whitestaunton

 

Sunday Letter for 5th Sunday after Lent 21st March 2021

Hello everyone,

Spring is definitely my favourite season of the year. A season of hope and new beginnings, the days are getting longer - evenings lighter.

As I walk the dogs these days I seem to have more time to take in my surroundings. At the moment I don’t have to rush to be anywhere by a certain time, unless it’s pouring with rain, of course. Around me I experience the smell of freshly cut grass; the blossom is beginning to come out on the trees in Snowdon Park; the daffodils have been, and still are, a spectacular display. Recently many saplings have been planted in Chard, different varieties tucked up in their tubes until they get stronger. I can see that the fields are changing from their muddy brown of Winter to the bright greens of Spring. In the distance I can just about see some lambs. The bird song early in the morning is wonderful, especially where there is little sound of traffic. I count my blessings that I live in such a wonderful area and try not to take the wildlife for granted.

Some of you may have seen in the local press an article about Wilder Churches. Somerset Wildlife and Diocese of Bath and Wells are aiming to support communities to encourage and to protect biodiversity in churchyards. We will be encouraged to create areas for wildlife if there aren’t any at present and to protect those that we have already. Watch this space!

Jesus compared himself to a grain of wheat planted in the ground. The seed doesn’t literally die when it lies in its wintry grave. But changes come over it, so that it’s no longer recognisable as a seed. Then, in Spring, it emerges in a new form altogether, as a green blade, and eventually an ear of wheat, to be harvested and provide food for the people, and the seed-corn to ensure a prosperous future.

But to do this the seed must die: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain,                                          Wheat that in dark earth, many days has lain;                                      Love lives again, that with the dead has been;                                                      Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

 

Enjoy this wonderful season and take care,

 

Ruth

 

 

The other sign of hope is that we are going to hold two services on Easter Sunday. At St Mary’s, Chard at 10.00 am and at Combe St Nicholas at 10.30 am.

Georgina and I felt strongly that, as we missed being together last Easter, that we want to give people the opportunity to be together on our most important Sunday of the year.  Both services will be a Holy Communion service.

One of the services will be livestreamed for those who feel they are not ready to return to church just yet.

We are slowly moving towards the light at the end of the tunnel, and we hope that we will see you all before long.

In the meantime, as Ruth says, Spring is here, and the promise of new life is all around us.  God be praised.

Ann