Good evening all,

How are things for you? This week has had some wonderful variety, a good reminder to me that ministry comes in all shapes and sizes! 

A couple of things to remind you of – 

On Sunday the Ministry Area will providing teas, coffee, and cake (of course0 to the visitors at Clytha House Open Gardens. All proceeds will go towards the Ministry Are and we would really value your support, either in coming along for a cuppa and delicious cake, or perhaps you would like to bake a cake and bring it along? The more the better when it comes to cake! Not least because the more we have, the more we can sell, and then the more money we will raise!

My second thing is a little bit of warning that I will be taking a holiday very soon (with Will of course). We leave for America to stay with Will’s mum on 3^rd August until 19^th August. There will be combinations of the children staying at the house to look after the cats, and the MA will be in the care of Hannah, supported by Helen, Stephen, and Bill. You will be in good hands, of course, and I’m very grateful to the team for enabling Will and me to holiday together. Anything that requires my personal attention will be picked up upon my return. I’m giving you ten days lead time on this in case you were thinking about being in touch with something 🙂

I do hope you are able to enjoy this summer and that you are doing some things that bring you joy? I learnt a lovely lesson from someone earlier to day about remembering to give to God what we cannot change, and it reminded me of the Serenity Prayer. I’ve copied it below in case you are not familiar.

With my love and prayers for you. Don’t hesitate to be in touch if you need to be.

Sally xxxxx

Good evening all,

Just a quick email this evening. It’s been a long hot day in Cardiff for the family, as one of our children graduated from university. Quite a day – memorable and emotional. Young people have such a lot to contend with (every generation does actually, but each generation has something different), and to see so many choosing to apply themselves and follow vocational pathways in secular life – teaching, social work, and the like, is quite humbling.

I hope you are all coping in the heat. You know where I am if I can help in any way. Please know that I’m praying for you all, always.

With love, Sally xxxx

Good evening friends,

It has been another hot one and I still haven’t managed to find the time to dig out my summer wardrobe!

I’m sending this a day early because I am off tomorrow. You may remember that last year the church authorities agreed that once a month clergy could have two days off in a week instead of just one. So this week I am off tomorrow and Friday (apart from a meeting on Friday that was unavoidable!!). I need to be careful because there is a danger that I just work longer hours on fewer days, just to get everything done!

Today I have written and received around 40 emails, made six phone calls, made a visit to a parishioner, and been present for a burial in one of our churchyards. I’ve been to a school governors meeting and had another evening meeting after that. I had hoped to get my sermon sorted out today, but that hasn’t happened!! I write this not to grumble or seek sympathy; I love what I do and today has been fairly typical – it’s all good stuff. But it is extraordinarily busy, so please don’t hesitate to tell me if there is something I’ve missed that you would like me to attend to -sometimes I drop a ball or five hahaha!

Just one reminder for you this week – Saturday is The Big Breakfast. Please do come along and bring a friend – it really is a great event. At Usk Memorial Hall, 8-11am.

And so, enough. Time to switch off the computer, forget about what hasn’t been done, and rest and recharge, (for that read – catch up with the washing, find my summer wardrobe, and clean the bathrooms!) before getting back to it with you all on Saturday. You know where I am if you need me.

With love and my prayers, Sally xxx

—

Please note that emails are not monitored after 6pm and Friday is usually my rest day.

Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening all,

It came to my attention this week that there are still people who do not know I write this little letter every week! I’ve been doing it for 5 1/2 years and still people don’t know about it – I find that extraordinary. I would be very glad to add anyone and everyone to the list of recipients, so please feel free to remind your church friends, that the rector sends a chatty little rambling email once a week and they are very welcome to receive it too. 

I’ve got updates about the Autumn confirmation – Hannah (with input from others too) will be leading the preparation on this and I’ve attached a poster with the information. Please share widely with anyone who might be interested. Equally, if you are not sure what confirmation is, and want to know more, then please chat to a member of the clergy team. As adults, it is a wonderful way of affirming our faith – confirming it, with the blessing of the archbishop, and I heartily recommend it if you haven’t already been confirmed.

My only other thought this week is to remind you that we are approaching another Big Breakfast – it’s on Saturday 11^th July and we would love to see you there. Why not bring a friend?

With my usual love, and always with my prayers,

Sally xx

Good evening friends,

What can I talk about this week? Apart from the obvious!! I hope you are managing to reduce your commitments and the speed at which you move about? I’ve discovered that the hydration thing really matters and helps!

I think we have mentioned previously that we will be having a confirmation service later in the year – 4^th October to be precise. In preparation Hannah will be running  a series of evenings to explore what it means to be confirmed. These  will be on Wednesdays starting 26^th August, 7pm – 8.30pm, in the meeting room in Usk. Attached is a poster to advertise the service and invite people to be in touch if interested. Please will you share this widely. There is no upper age limit on confirmation, and people in their early teens are welcome to join us. 

I’m not sure I have much else to tell you this week – You know about the special services happening at the weekend for the various clergy who have reached ministry milestones, and the only other thing I can see that is going on is the coffee morning in Bryngwyn on Saturday 10am-noon. Churches and cake really do go together, so why not pop along? Sadly I cannot be there – it is ordination weekend – I will be in the cathedral for the ordinations of Monmouth people. It is such a special occasion each year, and it is invariably quite a hot and sticky affair. This year promises to be no exception on either count. Dressing carefully will be essential!

As always, I’m here to pray, so please let me, if you know anything that needs a little extra. Otherwise, I hope you can stay cool enough to sleep well. Please let me know if there is anything that you think our churches can be doing? Perhaps we should advertise them as the coolest places in the int county?

With my love to you all,

Sally xxxx

Good evening you lovely lot!

How is your week unfolding? I’ve had a very very full week doing all the things that are most important in ministry. Busy but full of God, people, and promise. It’s been one of those weeks when I’ve known that I am in exactly the place that God wants me, and that feels good.

This week saw the start of our new midweek service – it’s on Tuesdays and is a short service of Holy Communion, led by Hannah. 12.30pm St. Peter’s Church, Goetre. It was wonderfully well attended, and I encourage you to seek it out in the coming weeks if you are looking for a quiet encounter with God, part way through your week.

Can I also alert you to a lovely walk that is happening on Saturday? It’s one of the series of ministry area walks that Branwen has been co-ordinating. This week, on Saturday 20^th June we are invited to meet at the church in Wolvesnewton at 10.30am, to go on a short orchid walk. The weather is going to be perfect, so why not come along?

And would you mind if I left it there for this week? It’s past dinner time, and I really should go and help Will find some food and settle in front of some rubbish telly for an hour before I crash.

Please do ask me to pray if there is something on your mind. And I am very grateful for everything you all do – it really is teamwork and I’ve been very aware of that this week.

With love,

Sally xxxxx

Good evening friends,

How are you all? I’m trying to not be grumpy about the weather. I don’t mind what it does, just wish it would make its mind up – I’ve gone from short sleeves to digging out my vest again!

While I remember, thank you to everyone who came along to the Annual Vestry Service – it was such a good attendance and felt really hopeful and uplifting. Did you like the format of breakfast first, or would you have preferred lunch afterwards? That’s all supposing I can find a way to fund food next year of course 🙂

Let me tell you about two new services that are now regular slots on the rota and which you are warmly invited to. 

This Sunday sees the second of a new, regular monthly Evensong, which is happening in St. Peter’s Church, Goetre. The service is at 6pm and is a perfect way to draw the weekend to a close. Why not give it a try?

The second new service is also at St. Peter’s, Goetre and is led by Rev’d Hannah. It is a new weekly service happening on Tuesdays at 12.30pm. So the first one is Tuesday 16th June 12.30pm. The service is called “In the Quiet of the Day” – A New Midweek Communion Service

Hannah says it is a gentle 30 minute reflective service offering a place to pause, be still and have a moment of calmness in the busyness of the day. It sounds like bliss to me! Please do go along, it doesn’t matter whether St. Peter’s is your usual church – midweek worship is often very different to a Sunday service – quieter, gentler, and with more space for us to encounter God and feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the week. 

My final thing to share is that at the moment there are two priests visiting the diocese from the Highveldt, South Africa, from our link diocese. Rev’d Mla is staying with bill and Lyn Savage and you may see him in Sunday services or other places during the week. Please do say hello and make him feel welcome – I suspect our church culture is very different to his own context, but Christian hospitality can also feel the same the world over. 

And that is that I think. Time to step away from the key board and the to do list. It’s been a very busy week since I came back from retreat, and a quiet day with Will is beckoning.

Please let me pray for you, if there is anything specific – I’m always happy to hear your prayer needs.

For now, with love,

Sally xxx

Good evening friends,

This week is flying by! Perhaps it is because I have lots of bits and bobs I want to get finished? It was my aim to completely empty my inbox today and I’ve nearly managed it. It won’t last long though!

Just a few bits of information and news for you this week – first a reminder that you are all invited to breakfast at 10am and then our special service at 11am in Usk Primary School. All the service planning is done and the food is ordered. All that is left to do is get the room set up, and welcome you all. It promises to be lively, informative, positive and friendly. I do hope you can make it?

Second, don’t forget that I am away on retreat next week – five days of settling into God and trying to tune into his plans, his desires, and his love for us all. Whilst it is me going, part of the purpose is for us all – I trust that God will help me to understand a little better what he is doing in my life, and therefore what he is doing for us all. So be assured of my prayers next week – they will be concentrated and hopefully inspiring. If you need anything while I’m gone, please don’t hesitate to contact another member of the clergy team.

Finally, some dates, well one date, and many reasons!

The season of Petertide (at the end of June) is when ordinations traditionally happen, so it’s not surprising that during Petertide is when clergy might celebrate anniversaries. This year we are celebrating three noteworthy anniversaries.

8am 28th June Usk – Rev’d John Dale will celebrate at the Eucharist service, 50 years since his ordination

11am 28^th June Goetre – Ven. Peter Woodman will celebrate 60 years since his ordination to the priesthood

5pm 28^th June Usk – Rev’d Bill Savage will celebrate the end of his curacy with a choral Evensong

The eagle-eyed amongst you will realise that you could theoretically go to all three services! Haha! The normal rota will also be in place, so please do not hesitate to break with your usual pattern and go to one of the services above if you would like to celebrate with a particular priest. 

And with that, I think I’ll finish. I hope to see you on Sunday!

With my love and prayers,

Sally xxxx

Good evening friends,

These Thursdays come round very quickly don’t they? How are you? 

I’ve been praying my way round all our churches this week, and what a joy that is. Every space feels different, and we have made sure that we have prayed for the communities of our buildings each time, as well as remembering the wider picture. I’ve been delighted that people have joined me for these prayer times, and having company has added a richness to the words and the times of quiet. There are six more mornings to go! I’m wondering whether there might be something to do more routinely when this is over? Or has its appeal been because it has an end date?

On Saturday we are having cake and a glass of bubbly in the vicarage garden, between 2-4pm. I hope you feel welcome to come along if you are free? 

Also, can I remind you of the AVM – we are gathering as a Ministry Area on Sunday 31^st May, in Usk School at 10am. The bacon has been bought, (veggie options are available), the coffee will be good, and we will begin our worship and business (combined) at 11am. Please come along. Bring a friend, and let’s celebrate all that is good and hopeful in our church life. 

Immediately after the AVM service I will be packing my bag and some spiritually nourishing materials, and heading off on retreat for six days. I’ll put an out of office on my email and phone, but please don’t hesitate to contact another member of the clergy team if you need to. 

Do I have anything else to tell you? I don’t think so, but I do want to remind you that the most important thing I do from day to day is pray for the needs of the world, and that includes your needs. If there is anything at all that you would like prayer for, please don’t hesitate to ask – it is a privilege and honour to be able to care for you in this way.

Right, time to think about baking, so that there is some cake for Saturday! 

With love,

Sally xxx