Good evening friends,

Another day draws to a close, and it has been a mixed one – we have been celebrating the bittersweet news that Eli, the youngest offspring has secured a place at university in Edinburgh and will be leaving us shortly. We are of course delighted for him, but another person leaving the nest, albeit for term time only, feels hard. It’s a little reminder to me that we should make sure we enjoy our loved ones and make the most of them at every opportunity!

Just one piece of information for you this week, and that is to say that Will and I are off on our holidays on Monday, really early and will be away for just over two weeks. I will be back in circulation on Thursday 4^th September but won’t get to my emails and the like until the following Monday probably – there is a wedding, service prep, baptisms, the usual Sunday services, plus a couple of meetings to squeeze in as I get over the jetlag! While I’m gone Hannah will be your first point of contact but Helen and Stephen are also around so please do contact any of them if you need something.

As I’m travelling with Will I don’t expect my usual disastrous stories, let’s hope it all goes smoothly as we have quite a trip planned! We have a few days in New York, on route to Will’s mum in Georgia. We will then be helping her travel to Texas for a few days to see family. I hope to get a couple of days at the beach as well, we shall see.

I shall look forward to seeing you when I return, before you know it we will be in the season of Harvest, and you know what comes hot on those heels? Shhhhh!

I’ve attached a prayer for you below, and I send you my love,

Sally xxx

Heavenly Father, I come before you today with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for your countless blessings and your unwaivering love. Thank you for the gift of life, for the air I breathe, and for the strength you give me each day. Your grace and mercy sustain me, and I am deeply grateful for your presence in my life.

Thank you for my family, friends, and the community you have surrounded me with. Thank you for providing for my needs and for guiding me with your wisdom. Even in times of trial, I thank you for the lessons and the growth that come from trusting in you.

Lord, may I never take your blessings for granted. Help me to remain mindful of your goodness and to share your love and kindness with others. I praise your name and give thanks for all that you are and all that you do.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. 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.

All the information from Saturdays very successful and informative History Day is now available. Just click on the History Tab above.

Good evening everyone, 

I trust you are well and this week is proving to be productive and without nasty surprises?

My highlight is that briefly yesterday I got my email inbox down to 115, which felt like an achievement – I have low sights on what an achievement is hahaha!

I went to see an old friend this week, it was good to catch up and I was surprised to receive flowers, even though I was the one visiting. I had bought a small bunch to say thank you for lunch, but received a stunning and colourful bouquet in return. Those flowers are now cheering up my study, and keep catching my eye. Such a lovely gift. Then yesterday a couple of people popped over with more food and drink as gifts than I provided for them. People are so so generous. 

These generous acts have reminded me of the random acts of kindness movement that seems to have gone quiet- you know the one – where people would leave flowers on park benches, or buy the coffee that the person behind them in the queue had ordered. The joy of giving really is a thing, but we are not very good at receiving gifts are we? 

I am endeavouring to be a better receiver, and to make more effort to be a random giver of kindness. Does any of this chime with you? My observation is that many of you are exceptionally good at generous giving, but how gracious are you at receiving from others? Food for thought I suspect. 

Luke 6:38 
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

You know where to find me if you need anything, otherwise, be assured of my prayers, as always,

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 friends,

Tomorrow is August! How did that happen? One day at a time, but sometimes they seem to go so fast, all these days! August is traditionally a quiet month in church life, but I don’t seem to notice that – weddings and baptisms are more popular when the sun shines and I also feel bogged down with all the things I’ve waited for a quiet moment to do! Will and I do have a trip to the States planned for the end of the month, so suddenly the pressure is on to get everything done! Haha! Most of the pressure is self induced, so no sympathy please 🙂

How are you at the moment? Are you getting a healthy life balance? How is your spiritual life? It’s always worth checking in with ourselves to make sure that we are remembering to pray, to listen to the still small voice of God (or the clanging gong, depending on how he chooses), and to ensure that we are giving the right things priority in our lives. It’s easy to get things out of kilter isn’t it? So many questions!

When I need to check in and make sure my life is balanced I start by tidying my desk! I think that might be a distraction. And then I turn to a really simple book of prayer, the simplicity is important. We can make our prayers and our encounters with God far too complicated. So simple prayers, simple reflections, and simple listening. It really does work. 

That sounds like a sensible point to stop for this letter. I’m off to Solihull tomorrow to see my parents; just a day trip, it’s been a few weeks since I saw them.

I’ll finish with a prayer – it’s a simple one, and you probably know it!

God,

grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen

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.

Follow the link below to read all about our ECO Gold achievements

Diocesan Midweek Mailing

Good evening lovely people,

Is it me or is it a bit muggy? It’s not that hot, but the air isn’t moving enough for me, and I would rather love it if we could have a good storm, some proper rain, and a reset of the atmosphere! Will has spent the day looking after a very large brisket that he has been smoking, it’s a Texas thing, so he’s rather happy my desire hasn’t happened today!

This week has been a real mix – some moments of great joy, some deeply sad times, plenty of meetings, plenty of people, a slice or two of cake, and all sorts of glimpses into God’s work amongst us. Sometimes we see him in the big things, but most often it’s in the personal and the detail, don’t you think?

I’ve been thinking about our LYCIG work that we did last year, and what we need to make sure we are following up. I am noticing new people in some of our churches, and also that more of our congregations are getting involved. We still have some churches being held together by tiny numbers of hard-working people, and I just wonder how on earth we reconcile all that. August can be a little quieter than the rest of the year, and I have two weeks holiday at the end, but I will be specifically praying for some clarity over the next few weeks, so that I can try to see how we might pick back up after the summer, and continue God’s work amongst us specifically thinking about growth. How does that sound?

In terms of the diary, please don’t forget the Big Breakfast on Saturday – this is a Ministry Area event, giving us all an opportunity to have a locally sourced breakfast with friends. 8am-11am in the Memorial Hall in Usk. Do come along, and bring friends –  it is a wonderful occasion.

Time to finish – two meetings this evening and then tomorrow I am resting. It is my intention to do almost nothing, except drink tea and coffee and knit! 

Let me know if I can pray for you – it’s an honour to be asked.

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 lovely people,

A really brief LIFT this evening for reasons that will become clear, just three things to share – 

1. Many Congratulations to the team at St. Mary’s Usk as they become the first gold EcoChurch in the diocese and the first grade 1 listed church in Wales. What an achievement, everyone should be immensely proud of the effort and hard work that has gone into getting this far!

2. I am cancelling the NOW service in St. Mary’s this Sunday. I’m really sorry, but the time and care needed to prepare and lead this service has escaped me this week because……….

3. We have the inquest into Isaac’s death tomorrow. The preparation for this has been emotionally costly and difficult and we are not looking forward to tomorrow or the processing and recovery that will inevitably follow. I know it is my role to care for you all, but please can I ask for your prayers for us over the coming days, as well as your patience, while I work out what I haven’t done but should have this week. 

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if I can pray for you in any way. Prayer is our bedrock and God is immensely good and generous to us all.

With my love, and gratitude for all the love you so freely give us,

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 my friends,

This evening’s LIFT is more of a MELT if I’m honest! I got back from Windsor this evening after a less than ideal train journey home, I’ve flung open all the windows, and eaten a large number of ice lollies! 

I will keep it brief this week, with a reminder that on Sunday evening we will be welcoming Rev’d Hannah Robinson to the Ministry Area as team vicar. The service is in St. Peter’s Church Nantyderry (Goytre) at 7.30pm and you are all very welcome. It’s wonderful that our team will be at full strength, and Hannah is going to be a great fit for our communities. I hope to see you there. Her husband is called Peter and her rather gorgeous dog is called Benson, but I don’t think he will be in church on Sunday 🙂 

The morning services are as normal on Sunday.

I hope you’re keeping cool and let me know if I can pray for you.

I will be working tomorrow (Friday) as I have a funeral to conduct and a million emails to try to reduce! 

With my love,

Sally xxxxx

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.