LiFT 7th November

Good evening all,

How is your week unfolding? Mine has been a mix between the simple and the extraordinarily complicated! All good stuff, but I feel like I’ve lurched from things I can do with my eyes shut, to others that have required me to learn fast and think hard. Ministry is so wonderfully diverse and thoroughly rewarding. If it’s not too corny, I give thanks in my prayers every day that I’m in the right place – where I think I’m meant to be. God has been very good to me.

A couple of things I need to share with you this week – 

I’ve been alerted to a request from a Ukrainian family for sponsorship to come to the Wales for their safety. The family consist of a mum and her two small children. If you know of anyone who might be interested or willing, please can you let me know. It’s sometimes too easy to forget that families are still living in immense danger in Ukraine, but I am aware that there are many Ukrainian people living locally and who have made reasonably happy lives for themselves here. I am also under no illusion that they would prefer to be back in their own homes in a safe and peaceful country. My prayers continue for all those trapped or displaced by all the war situations in our world. How terrible that is.

My other notice for you is at the other end of the spectrum – I would like to remind you of the special service  we are havin on Sunday 24th November. It is at 11am and will be the only service in the Ministry Area that day.

This service is to celebrate the Leading Your Church Into Growth events that we have been running, and is intended to round off those events, and share with everyone what is coming next. It really doesn’t matter if you didn’t make the events, we would love to have everyone at the service – it will be lively, positive, inclusive, and enriching. Something for everyone!

The service will be in the school hall of Usk Primary School and you are invited to bring a contribution to the bring and share lunch, and then stay for a shared lunch together. Please please come along. If it’s not your thing, I’m not sure how you know that – we’ve never done this before. Come along – you might be pleasantly surprised and excited by what goes on. (Parking in the school car park is limited so please park elsewhere and leave those spaces for people with restricted mobility if possible.)

And gosh, just like that I can see that the length of this email is quite enough! 

I hope I’ll see you at the Big Breakfast in the Memorial Hall in Usk on Saturday – 8am-11am, 

and/or the patronal festival and remembrance evensong in Llangybi on Saturday afternoon 5pm. 

Both events are a perfect way to spend a cold November Saturday.

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.

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LiFT 31st October

Good evening my friends,

How has your week been so far? Half term creates a different atmosphere, even if we don’t have children, don’t you find? 

I have spent a small part of this week planning for Christmas! I know! But when I look at everything we have to look forward to, it becomes extremely important to get ahead as early as possible. Previous experience is clear – it it’s not all on the spreadsheet and at least planned in draft by Advent then I’m in trouble! The real challenge is how to plan for Christmas whilst in our season of Remembrance, without getting distracted and honouring that season correctly as it unfolds. There’s a sermon in there about being present and in the moment, rather than always looking ahead! I’ll let you write it 🙂 So I feel like I’ve done well this week, to begin the big Christmas plan, but I suspect that it’ll be all that is done for a while now!

In a complete change of subject, or maybe not, let me tell you about something I saw this week – I saw several deer! Different sizes and colours, several with the most beautiful antlers. What surprised me about them was that they weren’t darting across the road startled, or retreating with speed due to fear. They were sat or stood, just behind their fence, watching me as I watched them, and they were stunning! I know they cause all sorts of damage to young trees, and I suspect they do other things that need to be carefully monitored in the countryside, but just at that moment, as they looked at me, and I looked at them, neither of us quite sure what to do next, I had one of those moments where time seemed to simply stop. It was only brief, but it held me for what felt so much longer, as I enjoyed a connection with nature, and with God’s creation, that distracted me form the day’s work and gave me unfettered joy. 

I wonder. What brings you joy? When do you have moments of distraction that fill you with delight?

Time to finish I think. But take this verse away with you – 

Psalm 37:4 

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

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.

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LiFT 24th October

Good evening my friends,

I’m cold! I think I’ve mentioned to you before that I don’t know how the heating works in this house. I knew how to not be quite warm enough in Newport – that house was so hard to heat – but this house should be easier. I’ve yet to master this house though and I’m feeling sorry for myself. it’s a really silly problem to have – we have heat and light and can afford to use them. I really should just get on with it!

How are you this week? Have you been busy or is life quiet? Ministry is a funny old thing – sometimes my diary is so full it scares me. On those occasions I pray and just keep my mind on the next thing, and it always works out. Then there are weeks like this one – much quieter at first glance, a chance to crack on with some of the “to do list”. And then things crop up – important, often pastoral things, that cannot wait, and I have space to be able to give good time to them without compromise. Everything always works out. I’ve often said that I give my diary to God and I really mean it – what I have just described to you is how I know I am doing it and that it works. It’s pretty awesome isn’t it? 

What do you give to God to make life work? I think we should be giving him everything of course, but it’s rather nice to reflect for a moment and recognise where God is working, and what we are actually doing. 

And that leads very nicely to a prayer request! Please can you add to your prayers, some for all those who are approaching the winter with dread or fear. I am aware that the colder and shorter days mean that some people are not so sociable, and that simple tasks can seem harder. Fuel poverty is felt by some in our communities and bereavement and illness seem to be harder to reconcile in the winter. I don’t mean any of this to be gloomy, but I know that if I pray about something that ensures I am aware of it. When I am more aware of things then I am better placed to act or be generous and mindful. It’s that simple. I think it’s amazing that week by week hundreds of us are praying with real intention about various things. Thank you so much.

And with that I’m going to close – I am off out for dinner with Will and then have a quiet day planned for tomorrow – recharging.

With my love and prayers,

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.

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LiFT 17th October

Good evening all,

So today is Eli’s birthday. He is the youngest of our six children and he turned 18 today – we no longer have any minors in the family. I feel very old all of a sudden – if they are all grown up then perhaps I am too? Sometimes I feel very creaky and old, and other times I feel 25 inside and wonder why I don’t look it! I’m sure you have those moments too?

Today Rev’d Sue has finalised the plans for our Advent course which we are offering in three locations, times and days. Please have a look at the attached poster and consider coming along. It promises to be enriching and encouraging. I know it seems a long way off but if you put the dates in your diary now, then you will stand a better chance of making the time, and it is a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas, alongside the other busy things that we all do.

What else can I share with you? Um. Busy as the week has been I don’t think there is anything else new so I won’t take any more of your time.

Don’t forget, my first and most important thing to do is to pray faithfully, and I am always willing to pray for specific things that you might ask. Let me know how I can pray for you this week?

With my 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.

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LiFT 10th October

Good evening all,

So it’s been a really busy week, loads has happened, and yet I find myself wondering what to write to you about!

Every week in ministry is full and different, always with something delightful, something taxing, something sad, and something hopeful! One of the things I enjoyed this week was that for the first time in a very long time the full licensed clergy team was able to meet together. It was incredibly fast moving and busy with lots of really productive conversations and collegiate support. We moved forward with our plans for the Advent course – more about that to follow soon. We discussed running some training on how to offer a good welcome in our churches in the new year – there’s always more to learn. We hope to offer a short session on writing intercessions, perfect for anyone who might like to learn or needs a refresh, and we began considering our confirmation preparation. Would you like to be confirmed or Christened? The bishop is coming on 2nd February and this would be the perfect opportunity!

So you can see, there is a lot to look forward to. This all in addition to the exciting developments we anticipate will come from our LYCIG work. As ever, no one can possibly do everything, and we are offering so many things so that there is something for everyone we hope. So please have a think about what might interest you but do not under any circumstances feel pressured or obliged to sign up for everything, that’s really not expected! I’m very grateful to my colleagues for their enthusiasm and willingness to be so creative and excited about our opportunities and possibilities.

Perhaps that is enough for this week. Let me leave you with a psalm of praise, which I hope will lift your sights to God, allowing you to join me in thanking him for all that he has given us.

With my love and prayers,

Sally xxxx

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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.

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LiFT 3rd October

Good evening lovely folk,

How are you all this week? It’s been another busy one, both professionally and personally. I’m delighted to welcome Will home – I don’t mind telling you I have missed him terribly. Professionally, we ran the final Leading Your Church Into Growth evening, and there has been the usual run of pastoral visits, school activity, meetings, and emails (Yay!)

Our harvest celebrations are midflow at the moment, and it is a delight to see our churches so beautifully decorated and welcoming. Next we pause briefly before Remembrance and then Advent and Christmas. Hot off the press I can tell you that Rev’d Sue is leading the organisation of an Advent course called O Come All Ye Faithful. It is designed by the Church in Wales and we hope to run it in several venues on different days and at different times. So keep your eyes peeled and be ready to sign up – it’s always good news when we can grow our faith and be part of something that is positive and fun, with others.

One of the things I have been wondering over this week, is how best we can use prayer to support our activities, our mission, and our pastoral needs. I get many requests week by week, asking for prayer for specific needs, and I pray faithfully. However, I rarely hear how things are progressing, and I’m not sure we are praying in a way that is making the best of our faithful people and our obvious connections. Now, it’s important to note, I don’t think this is a problem for God – he will work with everything we give him, but is there a way we can do things differently or better, that would make our prayer life an easier and a more intuitive part of our faith life? I would be interested to know if you have any sensible or not so sensible suggestions!

And may be that’s enough for this week?

Time to disconnect, so that I can eat with the family and unwind, ready for a quiet day in my pjs, knitting and trying to restore order to the practical chaos of our home!

Please be in touch if you need or would like.

With my love and prayers,

Sally xx

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.

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LiFT 26th September

Good evening friends,

How are you this evening?

The first thing I must write, without any hesitation, is a huge and sincere thank you to all those involved in the bishop’s visit to the ministry area this week. She got a wonderful flavour of the diversity of our communities and was very pleased to spend meaningful time with some of you. There was a good balance of busy and reflective time in the day, and we closed the day with a wonderful celebration in St. Cybi’s Church. Those of you who came will know about the fantastic choir, and that we were lucky enough to witness the licensing of Rev’d Helen Rees as a priest to our area. Helen will be working voluntarily, and part time, and is going to be a wonderful addition to our team and work.

My thanks extend to those who worked behind the scenes, heavy lifting (sometimes literally), preparing, making changes to their personal plans, and doing all sorts of unseen, important, detailed tasks. I was a church warden for a number of years and find it hard to put down those duties sometimes, but it does mean I am fairly aware of all that you might be doing, quietly, efficiently, and often with little thanks. This is true not just yesterday but every day. So thank you. We are all essential in this plan!

When I was letting the bishop know of the plan for the day, I shared the following passage with her, and I think it might be helpful for us all to remember sometimes – 

‘Amidst the vast scene of the world’s problems and tragedies you may feel that your own ministry seems so small, so insignificant, so concerned with the trivial. What a tiny difference it can make to the world that you should run a youth club, or preach to a few people in a church, or visit families with seemingly small result. But consider: the glory of Christianity is its claim that small things really matter and that the small company, the very few, the one man, the one woman, the one child are of infinite worth to God. Consider our Lord himself. Amidst a vast world with its vast empires and vast events and tragedies, our Lord devoted himself to individual men and women, often giving hours and time to the very few or to the one man or woman.’ 

[Archbishop Michael Ramsay] 

A few dates and reminders for you – 

Saturday we have a Ministry Area walk at Cefn Ila, beginning at 10.30. Poster attached, and all welcome.

Sunday we are in Glascoed Church at 11am, with Delyth from EcoChurch coming to speak to us. We will have a picnic afterwards, so bring food and something to sit on.

I’m really worried now that I’ve forgotten something that I’m supposed to be including. If that is true, please can you let me know and I’ll send out a separate email early next week.

Finally, please can I ask you to keep in your prayers all those who are struggling with change. There’s a lot of it about and it can be stressful and include a sense of loss or bereavement. Please know that if this is true for you, you are in my prayers.

With my love,

Sally xx

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.

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