Good evening lovely people,

Just a brief letter this week with two key things – first to remind you that I’m away from Sunday until Friday – on retreat. I take you all with me in my prayers and leave you in capable hands. If you need to be in touch with someone next week and aren’t sure who to contact, then seek out Will in the first instance – 

He will point you in the right direction! 

Second, over the next couple of weeks you may find yourself bombarded with emails and information about the Annual Vestry Meeting. I make no apology for this – it is our most important meeting of the year, fulfilling the requirements of the church and the charity commission in one fell swoop!

We will be achieving the business of the meeting in a service, so that the various agenda items will be interspersed with singing, readings, and prayers. We will follow up with a free lunch, and I urge you to come. More than that I encourage you to bring someone with you, perhaps someone on the electoral roll who doesn’t come to church very often, so they can find out what we are up to. I’ve attached the information about the service. In churches you will be able to pick up a double invitation – one to keep and one to tear off and give to someone. Keep your eyes peeled for them.

In addition to the invitations which will be in in churches over the next two Sundays, to take away and give away, you will also be receiving emails from Gemma about the nomination process to the MAC and the agenda. Happy bedtime reading 🙂

And with that I am finishing for the day – I’m off to Cardiff with Catherine this evening, and then a good night’s sleep. It’s been a long day 🙂

With my love,

Sally xxxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening my friends,

How is your week going? It’s been tremendously busy from my point of view with a number of big pieces of ministry area work taking steps forward. 

Local wardens have received information about changes to our Ministry Area Council which mean that all our churches now have an opportunity to have someone on the MAC and as part of our management or mission committees. All the churches will have conversations in the next couple of weeks, in anticipation of the AVM on 29^th June. Exciting times! Come back to me if you want more details. I’ve attached a visual aid for the new structure – I hope it helps!

Next week, on Thursday we are interviewing for the team vicar role, and I would be grateful for your prayers as we discern whether the person is right for us. We are very lucky to have Stephen, Helen, and Bill holding key positions alongside Will and myself. As a result we are ticking over pretty well, which makes the appointment important, but only for the right person! 

My final nudge this week is to remind you about the stewardship workshops which Stephen has organised. These are being run by Zoe from the diocesan office and are aimed at every single one of us, so that we can think more carefully about our resources and making the best of them. There is sometimes a feeling that stewardship is the work of the church committee or the treasurers but it is actually the responsibility of all of us.

They are all in Raglan Church 6pm-8.30pm, 4th June, 18th June, and 9th July. It doesn’t have to be scary and the sessions are  certainly not going to be about beating us up – they will be positive and encouraging! 

I’ll finish now, I’m out this evening with Will and looking forward to that very much.

With my love and prayers,

Sally xx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening friends,

I trust this email finds you well? 

As I sit here with a cup of tea in hand, wondering what I need to share with you this week, I’m reminded about how important the little things are – a good cup of tea in the right mug, a purring cat, time with treasured people, planting up a veg patch, sitting and enjoying the breeze and the sunshine. Add your own, they all have the potential to bring joy and peace don’t they? (Although I must confess I’ve never planted a veg patch, I’m just told that one is good!!)

There is a lot of big stuff going on for me at the moment and I am aware that this is true for many of you too. Sometimes the big stuff is too big, or perhaps too hard to find the pleasure in it? Which is why we need to look at the small stuff and make sure we make the most of it. So have a think, and find the small things in your life for which you can give thanks to God. Here is one of my favourite bible passages – 

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And with that little ramble, it’s time for me to grab my stuff and head off to the service this evening that celebrates all those in nursing. 

Please let me know if you’re expecting to hear from me about something and I’ve not got back to you – I’m still ploughing through a backlog of emails. I’m getting there slowly!

And never be afraid to ask if I will pray – it’s a privilege to be able to, whatever the need.

With love as always,

Sally xxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening friends,

What a day! VE commemorations across the region, and a new Pope in Rome. It makes me think about peace and the world’s need for it. So much to think about. And act upon perhaps?

That said I don’t have much to chat with you about this week. I am ploughing my way through lots of paperwork and tomorrow sees the closing date for our team vicar advert. Please pray that we have the right person amongst the applicants.

While I think about it, please note that I am going to be going on retreat soon – I will be away from Sunday afternoon on 1^st June and will be back the following Friday. I’m giving you plenty of notice about this in case you are planning on having a big conversation with me and don’t know when to do it! Retreats are an essential part of ministry life. Have you ever been on one? They almost always follow the same pattern for me – days 1-3 I settle in and gently enjoy the time to pray, read and rest. Day 4 I usually get frustrated and want to come home, and then day 5 I decide I never want to come home and want to stay just where I am forever! It is my intention to be silent for the duration, and I’ve found a beautiful five day retreat book which will lead me through some creative sessions and prayers. I hope to come back refreshed and re-energised. Let’s see what God’s plan is for the time I’m preparing to offer to him.

I think it’s probably time to stop – I need to get some dinner and then get ready to go to the final part of the VE evening in Usk – it’s always a privilege to be involved in civic and community events.

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you need anything – chats and prayers are my usuals 🙂

With love,

Sally xxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening all,

What a glorious day, I daren’t look to see what the weather will be like tomorrow – I have heaps of washing to catch up on and wouldn’t mind a moment of just sitting and relaxing in the spring warmth. We shall see! 

For those of you not aware, Will is off to America on Monday to visit his mum. She is 92 years old, widowed, and as you might imagine finding that this year has got off to a pretty grim start. He will be gone a full week and I’m sure your prayers go with him, that he can be a comfort to Pat, and can take the opportunity to be a loving son and a help to her. All Will’s usual activities are being covered so nothing to worry about in terms of the rota and the diary. Thank you to those who have stepped up to help 🙂

My final paragraphs this evening is to let you know that there will be some exciting things coming up very soon – 

Stephen has arranged with Zoe from the diocesan office to run three really helpful sessions on stewardship for us. These will be aimed at every one of us, to help us understand how to make best use of all the gifts that God has given us. The dates are 4th and 18th June and 9th July, each running from 6pm to 8.30pm. The sessions will be held in St. Cadoc’s Church. Look out for the posters and publicity and invite anyone who you think might be interested.

Sarah Rosser is being licensed as team vicar in Netherwent on Tuesday 13^th May, Magor Church 7pm. You are all invited! 

Save the date – Sunday 29^th  June we will be having a celebration service in Usk Primary School, 10am. This will be a service like you’ve never been to before because woven into the morning we will cover all the business of the Annual Vestry Meeting, prayerfully, joyfully, and hopefully! You are encouraged to invite friends and family who might be on the electoral roll but who might not be regular attenders. Let them come and see what the church is doing, how much we have to celebrate, and how grateful we are to all those who work so hard. (We will also be publishing our Annual Report, which promises to be worthy of reading! Or I’ll eat my hat!!) We will follow the service with a free lunch – just come and bring people with you!

Is that enough for this week? Sometimes I write these and think you must wonder what I’m going on about. Thank you to all those who trust that I’m working for us all, and thank you to those who are praying for the ministry area and for me. 

With my love and prayers for you,

Sally xxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening friends,

It’s been a full and encouraging Holy Week this year – all our services and activities throughout Lent have been very special actually. Thank you to everyone who ensured that these things happened, it really has been a team effort in the very widest sense.

We now have Good Friday to endure – such a tough day, and then the peace of Holy Saturday before the celebrations on Sunday. (I should add that for those of you who care for our church buildings, I know that the Saturday can be incredibly busy, cleaning, preparing flowers, and getting ready for Easter Day – thank you!)

I wonder how many of you will make it up to the Blorenge (Foxhunter car park) at 5.30am on Sunday? It’s a treat if you can cope with rising early!

I won’t make this letter any longer than it needs to be, so just one more thing – there are no mid week services next week, as our clergy all take a much deserved few days of quiet. If you have an urgent pastoral need please be in touch though and we will do our best to respond. I hope your Easter is a joyous one, and that you are spending it with people whom you love.

With my love and prayers to you,

Sally xxxx

Dear God, thank you for all you do for me. 

You are full of goodness and grace towards me, 

I’m so grateful for your deep love for me. 

This Easter, may I also demonstrate your love by helping others. 

Direct me to be a blessing to all those around me, 

spreading the good news of Christ’s resurrection through my actions. Amen

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening all,

I’m a day early this week because Will and I are taking our extra day off tomorrow – the church in Wales recently changed the day off rules for clergy, so that we have one day a week routinely, but once a month can take two days as a 48 hour extended rest period. So we are doing that tomorrow and Friday. It is our intention to go to St. Fagan’s museum tomorrow, provided this glorious weather continues, and then have a good meal out in Cardiff, before doing some shopping on Friday. We have discovered that we don’t need to go far to feel like we are having a little break – it’s all about attitude! The timing is excellent as we are both feeling rather tired, (I suspect that is a grief weariness) and we want to be at our best for the important week ahead. Holy Week is a very special time and I hope you will feel able to join us in the various things that are going on. I’ve attached a couple of posters with the information.

This week has been very full so far, and I must confess that one of the highlights was the termly school Eucharist. To have so many children singing, reading, praying, and then receiving Communion or God’s blessing, is such a joy. The children really do understand what it means to be Christian, and I know that if you were to come to the service in school you would recognise it as almost identical to what goes on in our church buildings on a Sunday. I also had the most wonderful visit to a family in which all the children (who are school age) have expressed a desire to be baptised. Their questions and insistence that they choose the readings and the hymns was both delightful and encouraging. They even want to write the prayers for the service! It occurred to me that unless these stories and activities are shared with you, we might all be left thinking that young people are not engaging with faith, or wanting to be part of church. The truth is that they are and do, it just doesn’t look the same as it did a few decades ago.

My last task this evening is to try to sort out the To Do list for next week – ensuring that I can get a balance of keeping everything on track whilst also making space to be confident that I can prepare for Easter, through Holy Week, alongside you, prayerfully and sincerely. Wish me luck with that!

I’ll be back at it on Saturday, until then, be assured of my prayers,

With love,

Sally xxxx

Ooo, I should mention – the advert to recruit our new team vicar is out this week. It is being advertised nationally. Please pray for the right person to hear God’s call. We have such a lot to offer and such a hopeful time ahead of us.

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening friends, 

I’m exhausted! I probably shouldn’t start an email to you like that, but you know me – I tell it how it is! How are you? 

I preached recently about the British strangeness that we ask that question – how are you? – but there is only one acceptable answer. Yep, you know it – “Fine thank you”. And then we move on to talking about the weather, or what to have on the menu don’t we?! I wonder what would happen if we were honest with each other about how we really are? This would of course require honesty on both sides – we shouldn’t ask the question if we are not willing or able to listen to the answer and offer an appropriate response. It’s food for thought isn’t it?

What do I have to tell you this week? Just one thing I think – and that is that it’s not too late to think about coming to the Lent Quiet Morning that is happening on Saturday. It is in the meeting room in Usk Church from 10am to 1pm. Rev’d Helen is leading the time, and we will be reflecting on the Psalms, as part of our Lenten journey. There is no charge for the morning and there will be refreshments to sustain us. If you’ve never tried a Quiet Day before, then this is an ideal introduction – it is shorter and you will be with familiar people, I heartily recommend it. Just come along, no need to book a place.

Time to finish I think. I have an evening meeting left to do today, and then a gentle start tomorrow, I will worry about all those emails another day!

Please let me know how I can pray for you. And thank you for your prayers for us.

With love,

Sally xxxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening all,

How are you? The brighter weather and longer daylight hours help with mood don’t you think?

What do I need to tell you this week? Kay, myself, and the diocesan office have been pulling together the advert ready to recruit the new team vicar who will live in Nantyderry. We are hoping to create something that is eye catching and a little more modern and attractive than the usual church adverts. It’s time we moved into the 21st century with such things! As well as being colourful and eye-catching in print, it will also have an informal, fly on the wall type video, to try to capture some of our energy, our joy, and our hope. We would be grateful for your prayers as this is finalised and then goes public – we need someone who is as dynamic and engaging as the other team members.

A couple of things that are in the pipeline for you to know about – 

We have received several requests to run a bible study and the team have chatted about the best way to do this – days, times, and venues are so difficult to get right for everyone. We’ve done some research and we are going to begin by running a Bible Society course called “The Bible Course” and you can find out more about it here – https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/the-bible-course

There is a new version about to be published, and that combined with other commitments, means we are going to wait until September to run this. I’m telling you now so you know we are planning, we are responding, and so that you can think about your own commitments in the autumn, should you want to make time for this. We anticipate running it online and in person (hybrid) and hope this won’t exclude people who don’t use the internet, as they have plenty of time to buddy up with someone and share a screen and a cuppa, doing the sessions together. We have secured some funding from the diocese to cover the costs. How does that sound?

The second thing to tell you is that we are going to run something specifically geared at young people who are interested in exploring questions around faith – a Youth Alpha course. This has had some success elsewhere and we already know of three young people who are keen. The eight sessions will run from the vicarage in Usk, and will involve pizza and doughnuts, as we discuss, debate, and challenge ourselves and the young people, about faith matters, and what it might mean to be Christian. The first session is on 7^th May at 4pm, and if you know anyone or are parents of young people aged between 11-16, who might be interested, please drop me a line. We will be using the new material which looks excellent!

Lots to take in there, and time for me to stop. Thank you for your prayers and support, please know that I continue to pray for you. Let me know if I can help in any way.

With love always,

Sally xxxx

Please note that Friday is usually my rest day. Emails received on Friday may not be responded to until after the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.