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

Good evening all,

 I must confess I am very ready for my rest day tomorrow – I spent an amazing day in school as part of the interview panel for a new head teacher for Usk Church in Wales primary school. It was intense, and demanding, but also inspiring. The children were part of the interview process, and listening to children who are 9/10 years old talk about their faith and what they value about collective worship melted my heart. Announcement about the appointment to follow 🙂

How is your week going? I considered doing one of my emails where I give you a breakdown of my week to give you a flavour of my life, but must confess that it all fell apart because I started with emails – with over 130 received and another 130+ sent, I set the task aside! I will tell you that the Annual Vestry Service is taking shape very nicely, and the Annual Report is well on the way to be published. I’ve ordered the bacon and the pastries for our breakfast together and I really hope you will come along and bring a friend to our service in the hall of Usk School – 10am 31^st May. It’s going to be lively, hopeful, and a celebration. Not sure? Come and try it! 

I should also remind you that there is a special service with Archbishop Cherry in the Priory Church in Abergavenny on Saturday. The service begins at 11am, and there’s coffee beforehand. 

My final thing to mention is to thank everyone who has encouraged me during my Pray in May Morning Prayers. Loads of people are coming along and it’s feeling like we really are soaking the Ministry Area in prayer. There are still 12 to come along to if you haven’t made one yet, I’ve attached the dates, just in case. 

And now, it’s time to grab a bite to eat, tidy my study, and have an early night. Will is away and I’m already in my pjs!

I’m always happy to pray, I know you know that. Just let me know how.

With love, Sally xxxxx

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

Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening all,

I am delighted with the start we have had to the Pray in May initiative. You’re an awesome lot. Thank you so much to those of you who have come along and prayed with me – you’ve made it such a community effort and praying with others is a rich and hopeful experience. More to come, week by week, and I can tell you that after just four mornings, our churches have had nearly 40 people join their prayers in the Morning Office, and they are now soaked into the stones of those buildings, and heard by God of course. Doesn’t that feel wonderful?

Three things to alert you to – the first two are new services – Hannah is really pleased to be adding two new regular acts of worship to the rota – a monthly Evening Prayer which will be on the second Sunday of each month, 6pm, in St. Peter’s Church Goetre. Everyone is very welcome, and the first one is this Sunday – 10th May. She is also beginning a weekly service midweek in St. Peter’s Goetre, this will begin on Tuesday 16^th June and be at 12.30pm. Please pop those dates in your diary if you’ve been looking for a different service, or these ones suit your diary. I know you will be made very welcome.

The final thing of the three is an open invitation to you and anyone else who knows me – we are opening the vicarage garden on Saturday 24^th May from 2pm until 4pm. Please don’t come expecting beautiful shrubs and annuals in the flower beds, but you will be greeted with a glass of bubbly and a slice of cake to celebrate a couple of family birthdays that we would like to share with you. It’s just a drop in, and I’m really keen for people to come, so spread the word. (Do not buy presents – it’s not actually my birthday!!) We really do. Want to share the cake with you, and anyone else who knows us, I’ll look forward to seeing you!

And now – time for a cuppa and an unwind. It’s been a busy few days!

With my love and prayers, as always, 

Sally xx

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

Thank you for your understanding.

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Good evening friends, 

Do you think we can safely say spring is here? We’ve had a pair of mistle thrushes make their home in the vicarage garden, and the cat is having so much fun with the baby field mice and shrews. I must confess I get more delight from the thrushes than the constant arrival of the cat’s latest plaything!

You’ll see attached is a plea for some help with the Usk Show. Please can you have a think and a chat with friends to see what might be possible? It’s a once-a-year thing and on the day there are plenty of people willing to pitch in. What needs to be done to get ready for the show is all pretty straightforward, again, it’s been happening for so long it’s a well-oiled machine, thanks to Clare Bradly’s previous care and direction. But it does need someone to oversee and co-ordinate the preparation and the day. Thank you for Clare for her years of organising. Is it your turn to try now do you think?

My second thing to remember to tell you is that our Ascension day service this yar will be in Usk on Thursday 14^th May and 11am. It will be led by Rev’d Dr. Stephen James. Do come along if this a high day that is significant to your tradition, or if you would like to learn more about it.

What else do I need to tell you about? I’m not sure there is anything! I’m looking forward to catching up with all my personal jobs and urgent stuff tomorrow before a very busy weekend and then the Bank Holiday. I’ve just checked the weather for Monday and guess what? Yep – drizzle is forecast! And who am I kidding about tomorrow? I don’t want to do all my jobs; I want to sit and read a book and drink coffee! Hey ho! 

Please let me know if I can pray for you. Otherwise, be assured of my prayers for all that is happening and for all our communities. 

With my love,

Sally xxxx

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

Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening everyone,

It’s a proper spring day – I’ve caught the sun, the windows are open, and the heating is off! You watch, it’ll pour hard tomorrow and I’ll have to dig out my vest again!

I hope your week is unfolding in good ways? Alongside the usual work I’ve been doing a little bit of “mind and thinking” spring-cleaning. I’ve been pondering how to do a little bit of exercise and how to have a healthier balance in my life with the various things that need juggling. I suspect that the thinking is about as far as it will go, does that count? Hahaha!

Things are taking shape for our special Annual Vestry Service on Sunday 31^st May. The actual service begins at 11am, in the hall of Usk School, but we will be serving breakfast beforehand – good coffee and tea, Bacon Rolls, pastries, and fruit. How does that sound? Wouldn’t this be an awesome occasion to bring a friend to, someone who doesn’t often come to church? If you are veggie or vegan, have any food intolerances or allergies, it would be very helpful to know beforehand please. It’s really important to me that we are generous to everyone and it’s absolutely no problem to cater for any special needs or preferences, but knowing beforehand would really help. Thank you 🙂

Another thing to remind you about is our Ministry Area retreat day, planned for Saturday 18^th July. This promises to be one of those occasions when we can hope to encounter God, in a holy place, with friends. The food will be good, the plan for the day is varied, and you can adapt it to suit your needs in terms of quietness and activity; it really is worth booking a place and coming along! I’ve attached the poster with all the information for you, just to help.

Finally, another attachment, is the dates and places for my Pray in May plans. Come and join me if you like, as I pray my way around the Ministry Area ready for our Annual Vestry Meeting. You might like to come along to a church that is new to you, or enjoy your usual Sunday place of worship being used for a different service midweek. Either way, I will be pleased to see you.

And now I must finish. Will is cooking tonight, there is wine in the fridge, and I am looking forward to a lie in tomorrow!

Please don’t hesitate to reply with your prayer requests. As I always say – it is a privilege to pray with you and for you. 

With my love,

Sally xxxx

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

Thank you for your understanding.

Good evening friends,

Gosh, what a week – huge highs and some really tough moments. It often goes like that doesn’t it?

As well as a hefty amount of pastoral work (what I would really much prefer to spend all my time doing), I have also been working on a project for the summer, our Annual Vestry Service, and our Annual Report. The service on 31^st May 11am will be in Usk Primary School, with breakfast served beforehand, and promises to be a lively and joy-filled occasion. Please pop it in your diaries. The Annual Report will be published that day, and there will be some goodie bags for all the churches to take back. We will also share details about the project, which involves every church without anyone actually doing anything! How wonderful to have something new to look forward to that won’t require any more work or effort!! I’m very much looking forward to the whole event, and sharing all the news with you then. 

Before then, we do have Archbishop Cherry coming to the ministry area, and you might like to come along too. Over the last few years, St. Bartholomew’s Church in Llanover, with a very small team of intrepid helpers, has managed to pull off a really rather impressive hall refurbishment. I am in awe of them. The hall is open on Saturday 20^th April between noon and 4pm for people to come and have a look round, and Archbishop Cherry will be formally opening the hall at 3pm. She will be doing this with cake. Of course! It would be wonderful to see some of you there, to say well done to those who have worked so hard and of course, to welcome our bishop. Everyone is welcome from all and any church. I suggest you park at the church and then walk round the corner, on the little lane, as parking at the hall is limited. Postcode is NP7 8BU.

And with that I am going to close. I still have a visit to a funeral family this evening, and then a day of rest (who am I kidding?!) tomorrow. The house is a tip so there will be some tidying to do I think!

You know where I am if you need me.

With my love and prayers for you all,

Sally xxxx

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

Thank you for your understanding.

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