Good evening!

And just like that, June is finished and we are halfway through the year!

Quite a lot to tell you so I’ll get straight on with it.

I am going to be away next week, leaving early Sunday morning in fact. I will be putting an out of office on my emails because the working day on the course I am attending is so long, I would prefer not to deal with anything that can wait a few days. If you need to be in touch with urgency then please leave a message on my answerphone and I will get back as soon as I can. Obviously I won’t be able to rush to you and so Canon Stephen James has very kindly offered to be available in the event of any pastoral emergencies (Kevin is away on holiday next week). Stephen can be reached on his email –  and his phone number is 01873840229. Thank you so much to Stephen for offering this, I am very grateful.

Because I am away there will be no Just Five Minutes next week and no LIFT next Thursday. Normal service will be resumed on Monday 11th July for those things, and I will be in church on Sunday 10th, including a Pet Service in Llangybi at 3pm that day, which you are very welcome to come to, with or without your pet!

If you’re not sure where to go to church this Sunday – 3rd July, can I suggest you consider St. Mary’s in Usk at 10.30am. Rev’d Helen Rees will be presiding and she will be very ably accompanied at the altar by Sarah Rosser, our new curate. This will be Sarah’s first service with us so it would be lovely to offer her a warm welcome. I understand there will be cake after the service, which I will be very sorry to miss!!

Finally, can I ask for your prayers please? You’re such faithful praying people and I know it gives great comfort to those who are prayed for – I would specifically ask that you pray for all those involved at a local level with the Ukrainian people who are living in the area. There are many events happening, and hosts continue to collect new people from airports. The number of Ukrainians in our midst is growing, including in our schools, and I am aware that the need for support is high, and the work is emotionally stretching. That said, there is some amazing stuff going on and local efforts are really making a difference to the wellbeing and stability of people who need our help. Thank you to you all, whatever you are doing.

And that I think is that. My second daughter secured a place in university this week so we are going to celebrate!

With love to you all,

Sally xxxx
— 

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Vicar, Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area
Monmouth Diocese
07813 264429

Good Evening lovely people,

Wow! I must confess to being glad it is a little cooler this evening! Not least because of the smell of spilt milk that has become evident in my car this week. It’s a long story which I’ve told elsewhere!

What news do I have? Well, on Saturday there will be ordinations at the cathedral, including the ordination to the ministry of Deacon for Sarah Rosser who will be joining us as a curate immediately afterwards. The service is at 11am and I believe that there are spare seats should you wish to come. It’s a very special service, and marks a profound change in the calling of those who have offered themselves, not least when the bishop invokes the power of the Holy Spirit. Today marks the fourth anniversary of my own ordination and I can still remember with great emotion the extraordinary and deeply rich service that this will be for Sarah. If you are not able to be there please do keep her and all who are to be ordained in your prayers – it’s a huge step and a very exciting time.

On Sunday July 10th Kay Spencer is kindly opening her garden for us to have a BBQ to welcome Sarah and her husband Glyn. The details are as follows – 

Sunday July 10 th 12.30 p.m.
BBQ at Parclands House, Raglan
Welcome to our new curate Sarah
All are welcome from the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area
Price £5.00 each Bring your own Booze!
Please let Kay Spencer know if you are coming before Wednesday July 6 th
 or 01291-690324

It would be lovely to see as many people as possible there, but as you can see, Kay needs to know by the Wednesday before.

From time to time I ask you for prayer, and I’m going to do it again now, please. I am aware of lots of people with very private struggles, and some a little more public. What I do know is that we are surrounded by people coping with challenges we have no idea about and I ask you to hold all those people in your prayers. Knowing that others are praying brings great comfort and I trust that God hears us. Thank you.

Finally, I am very excited about tomorrow – Debbie and a band of others are hosting a large number of Ukrainian guests for a morning of coffee, conversation, and then lunch, in the Memorial Hall in Usk. This is the first of a monthly plan to offer those who are displaced from their homes in Ukraine time to get together from the surrounding villages. There will be an opportunity to search through some good quality clothing too, which I am sure will be appreciated. Please pray for this gathering and if you would like to help I know Debbie would be pleased to hear from you. I can put you in touch if needs be.

And that, I think, is quite enough for today!!

Keep in touch, and thank you for being such amazing people of prayer and generosity. You are wonderful.

With love,

Sally xxxx

— 

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Vicar, Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area
Monmouth Diocese

Good evening my friends,

Hasn’t it been warm? I must confess to wilting rather for part of this week! I’m not complaining though, just wish I coped better with any and all our weather!

It’s been a strange week, none of it has gone as I might have expected or planned. I suspect we all have weeks like that, when we have to just throw our arms up and say “ok, we’ll do all that then instead!”

Having said it’s been strange, I’m not entirely sure that I much to tell you, there have been no extraordinary events, no moments of enlightenment, and no opportunities to shout loudly about something worth sharing. But some weeks go like that don’t they? I wonder whether they are God’s way of just reminding us that bread and butter, no jam, ordinary but busy days are essential and not to be underestimated. After all, I’d soon be moaning if I was overwhelmed and run ragged! Plodding through, and getting to the end are perfectly reasonable attributes aren’t they?

And so, let’s leave it there, with a simple reminder that Morning Prayer will be on Zoom at 9am on Monday. The link is below.

Compline is taking a pause and will not be part of our pattern of worship on Sundays for a little while. It was beginning to feel strange to say the prayers for the night when it was still warm and bright outside. I think too that we are all keeping going longer into the evening on these summer nights. I suggest we reconvene in September when the nights are drawing in again. I hope you understand.

You know where I am if you need anything and I’m always willing to chat. 

with love,

Sally xxxxxx

Morning Prayer Monday 9am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

—

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Vicar, Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area
Monmouth Diocese
07813 264429

Good evening lovely people,

Wasn’t last weekend incredible? So many celebrations both locally and nationally, too many to do in fact. I hope you were able to find a good balance in the way that you celebrated and also supported all our communities to mark the Queen’s longevity and faithful service.

I’ve been writing a sermon today ready for the Civic service in Usk, and it’s all about service and what it means to work for others. Our churches are full of people serving in so many ways, seen and unseen, and I am aware that there is a lot of care, devotion, and love, given with a great deal of attention to detail, by so many. Many of you give sacrificially and I suspect that I’m only aware of a fraction of the time and effort that is really given.

Thank you so much for all that you do for God, for our churches, and for the wider community. We really should have a  jubilee celebration for everyone don’t you think?

The new Ministry Area structure is beginning to take shape and there will soon be information seeking nominations for the vacancies  on the new Council. We are seeking the following –

Secretary

Communications Lead

Safeguarding Lead

People’s Warden.

Please pray about this and see whether you or someone you know might have the gifts and skills to ensure these roles are undertaken by people who will flourish in them and make them a ministry in every sense of the word.

Last but not least, you know the drill – below are the links for Compline and Morning Prayer, both on Zoom.

Please keep in touch if there’s anything you would like to chat through, any questions you have, or if you just want to be in touch!!

With love,

Sally xxxx

Morning Prayer Monday 9am

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

Compline Sunday 8pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89998911774?pwd=ekF1Uk4rYUsrQklkcGpFbHRXM25uUT09

Meeting ID: 899 9891 1774

Passcode: COMPLINE

— 

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Vicar, Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area
Monmouth Diocese
07813 264429

Good evening friends,

Well, it has happened – we are now the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area, and what a lovely service it was with Bishop Cherry. I hope those of you who came agree. There should be some lovely photos too, the photographer was there to take pictures for the website etc. so we might be about to be famous!!! I was truly delighted with how many of you came, and I know some of you were unable to be there for very good reason. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement.

I was reminded during the service, as a sort of continuation of all sorts of extraordinary happenings this week, that we must take time to step back a little and see where God is at work and what he is doing. He really does have it all in his sights and I think sometimes when we get bogged down it’s hard to see and even harder to believe. Let us take heart from that – knowing that we just have to be faithful and prayerful, God will show us how to act.

This afternoon I had the pleasure of presiding at my first whole school Eucharist in Usk Church in Wales primary school. The children were completely mesmerised by the whole service, really soaking up the story, the drama, the very spirit of what was happening. I need to make more effort to see through the eyes of a child. Perhaps you do too?

In other news, can I just give you fair warning that there won’t be a letter next week, and there won’t be Compline on Sunday 5th June, although the Zoom room will be open if anyone wants to pop in and say it with others who turn up? 

Finally, you know what is coming – The links for Compline of Sunday and Morning Prayer on Monday.

Oh except, finally, finally, I hope to see as many of you as possible at the MA service in Usk on Sunday at 10.30am. There will be cake!!

With love, as always,

Sally xxx

 Morning Prayer Monday 9am

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

Compline Sunday 8pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89998911774?pwd=ekF1Uk4rYUsrQklkcGpFbHRXM25uUT09

Meeting ID: 899 9891 1774

Passcode: COMPLINE

Good evening all,

A late one today, with good reason! Libby and I decided to take advantage of the tide times and we popped to Rest Bay for a little sea swim this evening. However, our plans were thwarted by a sea breeze far bigger than we anticipated, making the waves just a little too large to be safe. A bit of a shame but we still breathed salt air and enjoyed the wonderful sound of the waves crashing onto the beach. Sometimes it’s the simple things isn’t it?

What can I tell you this week?Well, on Thursday we have our special service to create the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area, which promises to be rather lovely (7pm, Raglan Church, if you didn’t already know from the million other times I’ve mentioned it!!). Do please try to make it so that the bishop can see how devoted we are to our rural communities. There will be light refreshments after the service. If you need a lift please let me know.

Also next Thursday we have our first whole school Eucharist in over two years. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate with the children, than Ascension. Please do keep them in your prayers as they experience first hand this special service which they have spent half a term preparing for and learning about. I am so often amazed and overwhelmed by the way the children encounter God and are able to express their faith, Their generation is being given some wonderful opportunities to develop their spirituality and to encounter God.

As I sometimes do, I’d like to ask for your prayers this week for all those struggling with their own health, or the health of a loved one. There are lots of people anxious and trying to put on a happy disposition at the moment, and I know that our prayers bring great comfort. If you know anyone who would like to be prayed for specifically please let me know. Likewise, if you are aware of anyone who might welcome a visit from myself or one of the pastoral team, just drop me a line.

And that, I think, is that for this week. Apart, of course, from the usual links for Compline on Sunday and Morning Prayer on Monday.
see you soon, I have no doubt,

with love Sally xxx

 Monday Morning Prayer 9am

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

Compline Sunday 8pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89998911774?pwd=ekF1Uk4rYUsrQklkcGpFbHRXM25uUT09

Meeting ID: 899 9891 1774

Passcode: COMPLINE

— 

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Usk Ministry Area Leader
Monmouth Diocese
07813 264429

How are you all?

It’s been another full and productive week and it’s been made much easier by the lovely weather the beginning of the week offered, although I am well aware that our gardens and fields are crying out for rain. Something I’ve always thought it important to bear in mind about praying is that God will always answer our prayers in the right way, which may not be the way we expect. I remember the first time I realised a very practical example of this as I was praying for sunshine one day for a wedding couple, while I suspected a farmer just down the road was praying for rain, and what is God to do with those conflicting prayers? Even the weather can teach us something about our faith!

Just a couple of things to draw your attention to – please can I give you yet another reminder about the service that Bishop Cherry will be leading, in Raglan Church, on Thursday 26th May at 7pm. It is the service to bring into being the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area. it promises to be a lovely service. Bishop Cherry is so warm and encouraging and I’m sure that she will want to meet as many people as she possibly can. She spends much of her day with clergy, so meeting parishioners, for whom she has ultimate shepherding responsibility, is something that she loves to do. Let’s try and show her that God is very much at work in our countryside communities.This service is swiftly followed by a MA service in Usk on Sunday 29th May at 10.30, when we will be worshipping all together with a joint choir, so the music will be fantastic! If you require transport for either of these services please let me know.

Apart from the usual invitation to Compline and Morning Prayer on Zoom, links and days below, there is just one other thing to share with you.Below there is also a link to  the Church in Wales latest information about safeguarding. If you have responsibility for being the safeguarding link in any of our churches, this letter is well worth reading. It’s quite short and offers helpful signposts to those who we should be in touch with.It is worth reminding ourselves that the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our churches is the responsibility of us all, and that duty of care applies to absolutely everyone, not just children. All of us require care and are vulnerable at times, so please do have a look and at the attached, and if you would like to know more, or would like to do any training, please let me know.

I am off to the theatre tonight with Libby, my first time in over two years, it should be fun. I hope you have something lovely planned for the weekend and look forward to hearing from you or seeing you soon.

With love,
Sally xx

Morning Prayer Monday 9am

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

Compline Sunday 8pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89998911774?pwd=ekF1Uk4rYUsrQklkcGpFbHRXM25uUT09

Meeting ID: 899 9891 1774

Passcode: COMPLINE

Good evening everyone,

What a sunny day it has been. Have you voted?

It’s been a strange week for me – lots of good things but very little routine. I had always thought I disliked routine but I now believe that a little of everything is probably what suits! Some routine, some surprises, some little tasks, and some huge ones. How about you? I am rambling I know!

What news do I have? I’m not sure there is any really. The weeks after Easter tend to be a bit strange, and for us at the moment we are looking towards our special service with Bishop Cherry to begin the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area on 26th May. As well as that I suspect that many of you are involved in local efforts to plan events for the Queen’s jubilee, there is certainly a lot going on towards the end of this month and the beginning of June.

I think it would be a good idea to hold each other in prayer over the coming weeks as life continues to be busy and the pace continues. Let’s keep our eyes and ears open to each others’ needs and remember that we can do all things in God’s strength, and that we don’t need to rely on our own energy alone. As I chat with people I am aware of some wonderfully supportive networks across our communities, which I find encouraging and reassuring. Thank you for looking after each other so well.

Perhaps that is a good place to finish. Not forgetting of course that we will have Compline on Sunday evening and Morning Prayer on Monday. Links are below, as always,

Have a super weekend and I hope the sun continues to shine,

With love,
Sally xxxx

Monday Morning Prayer 9am

https://zoom.us/j/97632474924?pwd=T00wZEt3aVNESEgvdVd1U3hXYTZiQT09

Meeting ID: 976 3247 4924

Passcode: Heart

Compline Sunday 8pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89998911774?pwd=ekF1Uk4rYUsrQklkcGpFbHRXM25uUT09

Meeting ID: 899 9891 1774

Passcode: COMPLINE

— 

	Rev’d Sally Ingle-Gillis
Usk Ministry Area Leader
Monmouth Diocese
07813 264429