David
LiFT 16th November
Good evening lovely people,
How are you on this cold wet evening? I’ve had a good week – lots of good conversations and I’ve begun my Christmas preparations, which feels a bit soon but of course it isn’t – the first services begin in a couple of weeks and then they come thick and fast. I will try to put as many as possible onto our social media, and there will be a Christmas card coming your way very soon with all the ministry Area activities on it. It’s going to be a bumper year!
I’ve been reflecting this week on relationships and how they seem to ebb and flow, and have seasons. I’ve been listening to one of the children in our family navigate the demise of a previously treasured friendship, whilst I have had a miraculous reigniting of a close family relationship long severed. And I don’t use the word miraculous lightly. I’m reminded that God’s time is not ours, and that what we think is a sprint might be a marathon, and what we think might be done with, might have only just begun. How difficult it is for us to keep our hearts and spirit open to things we do not know or cannot understand. I don’t want to get heavy, or sentimental, but I do want to urge you to do your very best to listen to God and the plans he has for you – we may not hear what we are expecting!
You are in my prayers and I will be upping my prayer time during Advent as we prepare for Christmas – God asks us to be ready for him, and I want to do my very best to be ready – will you join me?
Please let me pray for you, let me know how to specifically.
Loving God,
we believe, but help our unbelief.
In the midst of the tempests of our lives,
silence in us every voice but your own
and remind us of the unconditional love
with which you surround us. Amen.
With love,
Sally xxx
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–Please note I will not usually reply to emails received on Fridays as this is my rest day. If you need me urgently please send me a voicemail on my mobile number. Thank you for your understanding.
07813 264429
LiFT 9th November
Good evening all,
Thank you for not bombarding my email inbox this week while I was away, I came back full of energy and excited about all that I had learnt, and didn’t get lost in a pile of admin today – wonderful!
The conference was about a programme called Leading Your Church into Growth, which has been around for about 25 years. Using a number of small, simple ideas and steps it helps churches see what they are already good at, and encourages them to be even better. It was all very positive. There is evidence that the churches which talk about declining then decline, and, yep, you’ve got it, those that talk about growth and increase, grow! It’s not rocket science, it’s all about attitude. I am hoping that next year we might look in more detail at what the programme can offer us, but for now, there is something very important for us to do.
Everything starts with prayer, and I would be very grateful if you would join me, for the foreseeable future, in adding the prayer below to our regular prayer patterns. I would love this prayer to be prayed at every service we have, at meetings, and in our private devotions, as a way of preparing us for what God has in store for our future. Please will you?
God of Mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.-
Imagine how powerful it could be to have hundreds of us all praying the same prayer?
One other prayer request please – Sarh Rosser, and Bill and Lynne Savage are leaving for the Highveld tomorrow as part of the diocese trip to our link churches. Please pray for their safe travels and that they will come back refreshed and uplifted. Let us also pray for mutual learning and new friendships. Thank you.
Perhaps that is enough for this week? It’s been a good one.
Much love to you, and you know how to be in touch if you think I can help with anything.
Sally xxx–Please note I will not usually reply to emails received on Fridays as this is my rest day. If you need me urgently please send me a voicemail on my mobile number. Thank you for your understanding.
LiFT 2nd November
Good evening all,
How are you, this blustery and weatherbeaten Thursday? I’ve not heard of any problems with our buildings, our homes, or our communities. I hope that means that all is well and everyone is safe?
Safety is something that is on a scale isn’t it? We are relatively safe from most of the truly catastrophic things that we witness in the news. It is so so hard to see what is happening in the Middle East at the moment. Whatever the politics, the humanitarian crisis cannot be ignored and I am so glad that organisations like the Red Cross and UNHCR are not afraid to be close to the front line in these circumstances. Please look here if you would like to see the Church in Wales position and suggestions for prayer and action –
https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-events/bishops-call-for-peace-in-israel-and-gaza/
What do I need to tell you about the upcoming calendar?
Well, I am away with a small team from the Ministry Area from Monday until Wednesday next week – we are going to the Leading Your Church into Growth conference, which promises to be both encouraging and challenging. It is perfectly timed as my prayers lead me to think about mission and people in a more structured way, and it follows on from the vision work we have begun with the archdeacons. I will keep you posted. I will find it difficult to answer the phone over those days but will of course respond to emails, and will return calls as soon as I can.
A couple of dates for your diary –
11th November at 5pm there is a choral evensong in St. Cybi’s Church, Llangybi. The singing promises to be very special and you are all welcome to come along to this wonderful worship opportunity.
Also, another reminder that this Sunday will be a Ministry Area service in Raglan when we will be celebrating lay ministry and commissioning our lay worship leaders.
Finally, as we are now in a season of remembrance, please be assured of my prayers for all of you, and especially for those of you who are learning to live with the loss of a family member or friend. As I said in my sermon tonight – grief is a strange beast and perhaps we do well to greet it like an old friend, not least because we grieve precisely because we love and miss someone. If you need to talk or are finding this a strange time, don’t hesitate to be in touch. You’re not alone, and you are in my prayers.
With love,
Sally xxx
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–Please note I will not usually reply to emails received on Fridays as this is my rest day. If you need me urgently please send me a voicemail on my mobile number. Thank you for your understanding.
LiFT 26th October
Dear Friends,
Where can I start this week? Probably with expressing my disbelief that we are almost in November! Time to start my planning and thinking about Christmas. I know that might sound premature to you, but with so many special services and with them, opportunities to meet people on the fringes of our church communities, I am always keen that we pull out all the stops and make what we do welcoming and hopeful. Is there anything you think I can do to help what you are planning? Now is the time to ask!!
In asking about Christmas, I am minded not to jump too far ahead as we enter the season of remembrance, such an important part of our church calendar. There are three services on All Souls’ Day In St. Cadoc’s, Raglan (6pm), St. Mary’s Usk (6.30pm), and St. Peter’s, Goytre (7pm). All these services will give a chance to reflect and remember those who have died, recently or in previous years. You are welcome at any of these services and you can ask for names to be read as part of the service. Please be in touch if you need more information 🙂
Other things to alert you to are that there is a Ministry Area service in St. Peter’s Goytre this week, as it is a fifth Sunday. We also have a MA service next week (5th Nov) too. This time in Raglan when we will be commissioning all those people who have responded to God’s call to lead our worship or offer pastoral care as part of our lay teams. These roles offer a richness and variety to all that we offer in the Ministry Area, and it is wonderful to celebrate new or refreshed ministries amongst us. Please do come along!
Finally, a prayer request please – there seem to be lots of people fragile and needing to go gently at the moment. Please pray that we all remember to take an extra breath, keep our eyes on God, and are patient and gentle with those around us. Thank you.
And that is where I will leave it today. Flu and Covid jabs for me tomorrow, I hope you’ve had yours, if you are able.
Much love, and stay in touch,
Love Sally xxxx
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–Please note I will not usually reply to emails received on Fridays as this is my rest day. If you need me urgently please send me a voicemail on my mobile number. Thank you for your understanding.
