Good evening friends,

And just like that it’s June! A late letter this week after a lovely day. For weeks I have had today in my diary – a day that Will and I had set aside to spend time in some of our churches praying and resting in our sacred spaces. It’s all too easy for us to get caught up in the doing, and not spend a little bit of time being. I quite often try to set aside time to do this but things always seem to get in the way. Today they did not! We managed to spend time in six of our churches, each of them was a joy and offered some very special time. So today we prayed for people, for communities, for hopes, and for concerns. You were prayed for and God’s presence was felt in every space and every prayer. 

As we went around the churches I was reminded of how hard so many of you work to ensure our churches and churchyards are well kept. Thank you. 

The next week or so is the Churches Unlocked Festival. The website is here – https://www.churchesunlocked.org/

There are dozens of churches across South Wales taking part, in our diocese and the Diocese of Llandaff. I hope you will be able to take the chance to visit and join in with some of the activities that are going on. So much time and effort has gone into this festival, hoping to bring together churches and their communities. Almost every moment of the planning has been in the care of people like yourselves, unpaid folk who love their church. It’s really rather special!

I’ll finish this evening with a blessing suitable for any time but especially suitable as we approach Trinity Sunday – 

May the eyes of the Father watch over us, keeping us and ours ever in his gaze.

May the arms of Christ hold us close and surround us each moment of our lives with his care.

May the wings of the Spirit shelter each of us and enfold all our days and our nights with God’s peace. 

Amen.

With love, (you know where I am)

Sally xxxx

— 
–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.

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

Dear friends,

I do hope you are enjoying this glorious weather? I’m thinking of sorting out my summer wardrobe, so please do blame me if it begins to rain any day now and we enter a new ice age – it will be my fault as I sit in my shorts and t-shirt!!

What news do I have for you this week? Well, it is just one week until the Churches Unlocked festival begins. The website is here – https://www.churchesunlocked.org/

Many churches are included, along with four of the churches in our Ministry Area – Mamhilad, Bettws Newydd, Llanover, and Llangybi. There will be a more general leaflet coming out about all the events but I have included the leaflet for Llangybi as an attachment here. It’s going to be a lovely festival and everyone is welcome to anything or all events. (Hard copies of this leaflet will be in the church and other local places next week).

We had our first Ministry Area Council meeting for the new committee this week. It was a good meeting with a healthy balance of stuff about processes and administration, and planning things that are missional and celebrating the life of our churches. Please can I ask you to pray for all those who take on roles that are beyond their own church community, providing essential insight and gifts to the bigger picture. Thank you 🙂

Finally, let us all remember to pray for all those young people currently sitting exams – GCSEs and A Levels. I don’t know about you but I remember sitting these (or their equivalent) and thinking that they were the most important thing in the world! At the time they possibly were, but maturity has taught me that there are plenty of other things that are also important! My prayers are that they can study well, and demonstrate their brilliance, whilst keeping well.

And so to close – tomorrow I will finish my assignment, closing my year of study, and then on Sunday I shall look forward to seeing some of you in church. Monday is a Bank Holiday – woohoo! What ever happened to Whitsun? 

Love and prayers for you all,

Sally xxxxx

— 
–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.

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

Dear friends, faithful people,

Another week rolls by, full of time with you, services, visits, meetings, and chance encounters. There has also been the endless stream of emails and some service preparation, but I’m really not complaining, I feel very blessed and privileged to be able to do all of this with you.

It is Ascension Day today – forty days after Easter, during which time Christ has been making appearances to his disciples and others, trying to help them understand the story, the truth, and now, today, having demonstrated the resurrection, he ascends to heaven to be with God. A tradition has developed over recent decades, encouraging us to make the time from now, until Pentecost (two Sundays time) a period of concentrated prayer, asking for the Holy Spirit to come and give us growth in the church. A quick Google search will tell you more, but I invite you to join me in praying over the next 11 days, that we will see our friends and family grow in faith, and our churches become better havens for those who are in need of spiritual care, and those who are lonely and searching for comfort. 

My prayers for you over the coming season are for a growth in your relationship with God, for your faith to grow and blossom, and for you to understand better the plan that God has for you. I love it that our faith continues to grow with us throughout our lives, just as our fingernails and hair do. We can always learn something new about God, and ourselves. 

That said, I wonder whether there is anything that you’re wondering about, or questions you have that I can be part of? I’m always excited to talk with people who are wondering 🙂

I’ll finish this week with another round of thank yous. Such an important word and possibly one that we don’t use often enough. So – thank you to all those of you who use your gifts and skills in our churches and communities but don’t think anyone notices. I hope that I do see your efforts and your contribution. I notice linen, churchyards, clean paths, tidy spaces, I know who is caring for our money, and who is visiting people. I see that pat testing happens, that flowers are refreshed, that gift aid is collected and that our buildings look welcoming. None of those things happen without you, so thank you. 

If you have a burning desire to try your hand at something that you see might enhance our church life in any way, including all those things that we do with each other, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

And now it’s time to close the computer and get ready for a day of resting and recharging (for which read – studying and writing, I have an essay due in!)

With love to you all, Sally xx– 
–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.

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

Good evening lovely folk, 

What a crazy few days – this is the first time today that I have sat at my desk! 

I was really concerned by the weather earlier this week and know that some of you have been affected by water coming into your properties. I’m so sorry. Please get in touch if there is anything that you need. I can certainly email and ask for stuff if there is anything you need, and you are of course assured of my prayers.

While it was hailing and raining in biblical proportions I was in London, at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. What an honour to be invited. You may be shocked to know that I went in formal attire – black cassock and cincture (sash belt) and really looked the part for you all! The food was lovely, the atmosphere was very special and I even got to meet a few amazing people that I either haven’t seen for ages or have only ever seen from a distance! A very memorable day. I came back down to earth though when I opened my emails – over thirty all needing a reply, I’m sorry if you are waiting.

Today I ran the first prayer bead session in St. Peter’s Goytre. It was a lovely afternoon and I do hope some of you will be able to make it to the ones in either Usk (Monday 10am) or Raglan (Tuesday 10am). No need to let me know if you are coming but I hope you can make it!

Right. Apart from a prayer request I’m going to leave it there – I still don’t have a sermon for Sunday and I need to get on with that! 

The prayer request – I’m aware that there are several people coping with transitions at the moment – either as parents, working people, students, or those with health issues. Please can we pray for smooth paths, gentle change, and peace for all that is happening? 

If you need prayers, please let me know, it is my pleasure to do that for you all.

Much love as always,

Sally xxxx

— 
–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.

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

Good evening friends,

May! How did that happen?! And it is the Coronation weekend, with plenty of activities going on in our communities, with an extra Bank Holiday. I hope you are going to find something lovely to do over the next few days. I’m off to London for a couple of days on Monday so have swapped my day off next week to make best use of the time. I hope that doesn’t inconvenience anyone too much?

What else do I want to share with you? I’m struggling to think of anything to be honest – things seem to be ticking over quite well at the moment, which is probably a silly thing to say! 

The Churches Unlocked Festival plans are progressing well – Llanover, Bettws Newydd, and Llangybi Churches are involved from our Ministry Area. It promises to be a very special time and you can find out more here – https://www.churchesunlocked.org/st-cybis

And don’t forget our special time of prayer from Ascension through to Pentecost, as part of the Thy Kingdom Come project. We have three sessions you are welcome to attend to make a set of prayer beads ready to pray – Thursday 11th May 2.30-4.30 in St. Peter’s Goytre, and Monday 15th May, 10-noon St. Mary’s Usk, and Tuesday 16th May, 12-noon, St. Cadoc’s, Raglan. You are welcome to attend any that work for you.

Before I sign off, I’d just like to assure you that I am aware of the many many regular activities that tick over week by week and month by month, that just seem to happen. I know that this isn’t actually the case and that many of you are quietly getting on with all sorts of big and small things that ensure a regular pattern to church life, that stretches well beyond Sundays. Thank you so much for all that you do. Good stewardship requires us to make use of all our gifts – time, talents, gifts, resources, and money. I am so glad for all that you do, and I pray for you all, and all that you do. If you have a hankering to explore something that you don’t think we are doing well enough, or that is new, please don’t hold back – there’s always room for a conversation!

And now it’s time for a little gin and tonic to start my rest day tomorrow.

With love and prayer for you all,

Sally xxxx
— 
–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.

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

Good evening friends,

I trust you are all having a good week? I’ve had so many good conversations this week, people doing their best to follow God’s plans for them, people being faithful, compassionate, and kind. Thank you to every one of you who is listening, praying, working, and living their best life for God. You lovely bunch!

As well as all the usual stuff that goes on, I’ve been busy creating a prayer plan for us that will begin on the day of Ascension and finish on the day of Pentecost. I’ve attached a little flyer that is pretty self explanatory, and hope as many of you as possible will be part of this season. It is always good to try new things, and I will happily chat with anyone who wants to enquire further.

THe other thing we have been planning is how to celebrate Sarah Rosser’s ordination to the priesthood, and Bill Savage’s ordination to the diaconate, and Sue Davies-Fletcher’s arrival with us. We will of course be celebrating with food!! Churches do this best of any organisation I have seen.

On Sunday 25th June we will have a service in Raglan, and then a lunch. Raglan area people will be providing the savoury course and drinks for everyone across the whole MA. Usk area people, that’s us, have been asked to provide 15 cakes that can be sliced into 8, or cupcakes/traybakes etc. to the equivalent. Please could 15 people who are thinking of celebrating this occasion with Sarah and Bill let me know they are able to bake please?

Then on Sunday 2nd July we are having a service of installation and welcome for Sue in Goytre. We will be having a lunch after this for which the Goytre area people will provide all the savoury food and drinks, and we are again asked to provide 15 sweet options, as above. So please could I ask again, that 15 people offer their baking skills for this event? Please don’t feel you need to offer for both lunches.

I’ll keep a list of offers and thank you in advance to those who are able to bake 🙂

Is that enough for this week? I think it probably is. I continue to pray for you all, it is my pleasure and my privilege.

Love to you all,

Sally xxxx

— 
–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.

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

Good afternoon lovely people, 

Doesn’t a little bit of sunshine make all the difference?!

Thank you for honouring my time off last week – it was a good break and we thoroughly enjoyed the change of scenery although it rained more in Dublin than it did here! I’m not a fan of Guinness but do agree that it is a very different drink in Ireland, rather lovely in fact. We also ate rather too many doughnuts but made up for it with a good amount of walking.

A couple of things to tell you about, or rather remind you about – we have the Ministry Area Annual Vestry Meeting after the group service on 30th April in Raglan (10.30am). Please think about coming along so that you can hear about the progress made in our first year of the new structures. If you are on the electoral roll you will also be eligible to vote as two of the roles on the council next year are being contested – we have two people willing to be people’s warden (they are your representative on the council) and two willing to become the lead of all things to do with property. If getting to Raglan is a problem please let me know as I’m sure I can arrange lifts for those who need them.

The second thing to alert you to is the Churches Unlocked Festival that is on during the first week of June. Several local churches are taking part including St. Cybi’s, Llangybi. There is a fantastic programme being developed under the care of Peter Foden and others, and it promises to be a wonderful celebration of every facet of churchlife. You don’t need to live in Llangybi to join in with all that is going on, and in fact, if you have a skill or talent that you would like to share please let me know, and we can see if you could be part of the events planned. I know that musicians willing to use the space during the week for rehearsals (as sort of background music) would be particularly welcome. We are also looking for willing people to just sit and be, and to welcome as the church will be open throughout the week (as usual) but we would like to ensure the welcome is especially warm. Please drop me a line if you are interested. To find out more about the festival look at this link, you’ll need to scroll down to St. Cybi’s.        

https://www.churchesunlocked.org/

Finally can I remind you that as your vicar I take very seriously my responsibility to pray for you. I pray for specific things and people every single day and would be willing to pray for you and any particular need that you have. Be certain that I pray for you all and consider it a privilege to do so. Thank you. I really do love being your vicar 🙂

With love to you all,

Sally xxxx
— 
–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.

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

Good afternoon lovely people,

An early letter today from me as I try to clear my admin ready for the next three days of business and great privilege, leading worship for us as we approach Good Friday and then move on towards Easter Sunday. This evening we will be having a service in Usk Church for Maundy Thursday at 6pm – Holy Eucharist, with washing of feet and stripping the altar. It’s a powerful service and you are all very welcome to come along. There is no obligation to have your feet washed, but equally, it’s a very humbling thing to be part of, should you choose to.

This week has included several services of Compline in various churches around the ministry area and it was lovely to see some of you at these. I love Compline, and it was a good way to mark Holy Week. If you made an effort, thank you! It’s not too late to do something extraordinary this Easter – as well as the services in a number of our churches, we are also meeting at the Foxhunter Car Park on Easter morning at 6am, to celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter as the sun rises – an atmospheric and inspiring service, if the weather is kind to us!!

It is traditional after the intensity of Holy Week for clergy to take a rest, in fact the bishop is quite insistent. So I will be away from Sunday afternoon until Saturday 15th April on a post Easter break. Will and I are going to go to Dublin, a place new to us both, and we are very much looking forward to it. I won’t have access to emails or voicemail that week but will get back to you as soon as I can during the following week. Thank you for the way you so consistently honour my rest time – not everyone is so respectful, and I really am very very grateful. I look forward to returning refreshed and ready to pick up and continue all the exciting projects and work that we are doing.

If I don’t see you over the next few days I wish you a very blessed Easter and would like to remind you that even in Dublin I will continue to pray for you all.

With love,

Sally xxxx

— 
–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.

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