St Mary the Virgin Church

January: we turn over the page of our life story to a new chapter. What was 2019’s story for you? Who entered your story for the first time – new friends? a family baby? a close relationship? What were the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, the moments you’ll treasure – and those you’d rather forget? And so to 2020… A short while ago I penned twelve creative stories about people’s lives. They’re written from the perspective of characters in the Old Testament: What was Noah’s experience of the flood like, when he lost his community, his country and […]

8th & 22nd January BBC 2 5-6pm at Danescroft BBC 1 6-7pm at Danescroft 15th January BBC Social – Film Night – more details to follow   Homegroup 6th & 20th January 8pm at Tuck Mill           yPOD (Year 9 & 10) 15th & 29th January  7.30pm at Summerdale       Emmaus group 10th & 24th January 9.15am at Summerdale

An early very happy Christmas! Some years ago we had the opportunity as a family to spend Christmas with friends living in Peru. Christmas in Tropical temperatures – a wonderful prospect! But would we miss the seasonal darkness with its twinkling Christmas lights, the cosy fug of a living-room with curtains drawn, the chink of glasses fending off the winter gloom? Funnily enough, no! We soaked up the heat and savoured wearing sandals and T-shirts. We loved the Spanish-style Christmas Night celebrations which only got into full swing after midnight, needing to slip away in the early hours to carry […]

Does God have a Brexit mast that he nails his colours to? While you ponder this, I will nail mine. By the time the Referendum came I reckoned I was 70% Remain and 30% Leave. Only one vote though… I share this not to argue a position, more the opposite. Where we were living at the time of the Referendum turned out to be part of the experience for me. Coastal North Devon is ‘purple’ on the political map – solid UKIP territory (back then), and a large Leave majority. My instincts are pro-European. (If of interest, mainly because of […]

‘You can’t please all the people all of the time,’ sighed God, as the sports results came in on another Saturday afternoon. Not everyone’s prayers for victory could be answered. Not that so many prayers are uttered these days – though desperate times bring desperate measures. A sporting theme this month, only slightly apologetically. For it’s the time of year again when those who devotedly follow a football team, or of other sport, can have their hopes of a title or a promotion teetering on fulfilment, or they may be staring into the jaws of relegation. As Bill Shankly, one-time […]

Once upon a time there were three lovely parishes called Escot, Feniton and Payhembury. They nestled cosily together in the equally lovely valley of the River Otter. One day the new Vicar said, ‘We need a strapline.’ ‘What’s one of those?’ came a sensible enquiry. ‘Keep up!’ piped another up cheekily, ‘it’s one of those trendy phrases people feel they have to have these days.’ So the parishes talked amongst themselves and said, ‘How about Love, Hope and Faith? What things could be better? – and three to match the three parishes.’ ‘Excellent!’ cried one, ‘Bingo!’ cried another. ‘But we […]

Just under 30 years ago I met Margaret Thatcher. Well almost – I was in the same room. Whatever you may think of her, she was a scientist, and thankfully understood at a pivotal stage that we humans may be changing our climate. She was therefore a strong advocate for new government funding of research, and the creation of a centre to do this: the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research at the Met Office. In 1990 she formally cut the ribbon. My first Met Office job was in the Hadley Centre. Roll on nearly 30 years. Two Anglican […]

Jesus’s ‘Beatitudes’ carry familiar phrases – ‘Blessed are the meek/Blessed are the poor in Spirit/etc’. A recent Facebook post offered a wonderful modern-day ‘Beatitude’: ‘Blessed are we who laugh at ourselves, for we shall always be entertained.’ It was accompanied by a photo of three monkeys in fits of laughter. Wise, as well as witty, words. (With thanks to the ‘Clergy Coaching Network’ Facebook group for this ‘Beatitude’.) February is not renowned as a fun month. Winter’s cold and gloom have their welcome, even if the days lengthen. As a child of the ’60s, my domestic  soundtrack included Flanders and Swann’s songs. ‘February’s […]