Dear Friends,

We have completed our latest Pilgrim Course which took us through the Creeds. We are now taking a short break from the Pilgrim Course and for the following weeks leading up to Christmas we will be looking at a booklet titled ‘God With Us: Your Christmas Journey’. This booklet is an initiative from the Church of England with an introduction from Archbishop Justin Welby in which he writes; ‘God with us: Your Christmas Journey seeks to help you explore what the Christmas story might mean in your life’.

Contained in the booklet is a series of weekly reflections.

We resume our Pilgrim journey on Monday January 8^th when we will be looking at The Eucharist and the superabundance of its meaning to us.

New members are always welcome to join us. Our courses are reflective and conversational and designed to help us unpack the Christian message and teaching of the Christian faith. It is, as The Archbishops of York and Canterbury write, ‘a journey to the heart of God and to a living, personal relationship with Jesus Christ within the household of his Church’.

We meet at Higher Woodley Farm from 7 pm. If anyone requires transport please contact me on 01822 832374.

God’s Blessings,

Judith

FRIDAY COFFEE MORNINGS

During the spring of 2016 the ladies of the Craft Group decided to try and help raise money for the fabric of the church by selling the items they made, and at the same time provide coffee and teas for the visitors who regularly visit the Parish Church.

This started as an experiment, working at the same time as the Holy Dusters on the first Friday of each month, and because of the success the venture continued on every Friday throughout July, August and the first 2 Fridays in September.

We found that we were having regular visitors many who would, probably, have never entered a church. On some sunny Fridays we extended the day into providing Cream Teas in the afternoons.

To create more interest, and to involve different people we were lucky to have the support of members of the congregation who manned stalls on different Fridays with plants, toys, books, and Fair Trade items. The Green Team also supported the idea of fund raising and service. We were very fortunate that the staff and residents of The Lawns manned the tea table on several occasions, and Mr Eric Cocking supported the venture selling the wood crafted pieces he had made.

In 2017 it was decided to continue with these ‘Friendly Fridays’ as they soon became known.

The success lay in the team approach. Various stalls provided interest and income, the tea table laid with a variety of sweet and savoury goodies for which we asked only a donation was a great part of the morning, and more importantly it became very evident that having members of the congregation, who supported us, just being at the tables and entering into conversation with the visitors, made all feel very welcome.

There has developed a regular group of ladies and gentlemen who join us each Friday, and it also has given visitors to the church a place of welcome. So many experiences and ideas have been exchanged during these mornings.

This year the coffee mornings have really taken shape and we are beginning to have a team of people who are willing to be on a rota to help run the project. Our thanks go to the ladies of the choir led by Mary Whalley, the ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Tavistock, the staff and residents of The Lawns; they have all provided the food and the help on certain Fridays. We are so fortunate that each Friday one of the residents from The Lawns comes to help man the tea table.

Our thanks go to everyone who has provided a stall, and helped us raise money for the fabric of the church. To date we have raised well over two thousand pounds, some of which has helped finance the Way Ahead evening in the Town Hall, and to pay the expenses for the Bazaar

A further development this year has been the introduction of poetry reading by Penny Wooley, supported by Sheila Wallace. Just for a short time our visitors enjoy a variety of poems, both famous, funny and those created by their reader. We are embarking on Limericks at present.

The mornings will finish at the end of November but start again in February next year.

We would suggest that this project is opening up the church to the wider public, helping to raise money for its fabric, and providing a welcoming place for many people, who live alone, to come and be part of a group. This we hope will be an ongoing and developing venture and we look forward to many others from the congregation joining us and supporting the work we have started.

Barbara Miller

NEWS FROM WEST DEVON SAFE HAVEN

I would like to thank Reverend Steve and the congregation of St Eustachius’ for the warm welcome and offers of support received when I came to speak to you.

The two families in West Devon are doing well. Our Tavistock family attend language lessons in Plymouth and receive follow up lessons in their own home from a band of dedicated local volunteers. The seven year old has settled well in St Rumon’s School, where she is being nurtured and loved.

We now have two more homes almost ready to offer a safe haven to other Syrian families. This has happened because of the generosity of local Tavistock families.

Do you remember the initial public meeting in February? Well watch this space! This November we are hosting a follow up meeting in Tavistock College. We would love you to come along and find out more. The date will be announced as soon as possible.

Best wishes

Gillian Mill

Café au-art” at St Eustachius’ Parish Church

An art exhibition stirred visitors who dropped in for coffee and cakes at St Eustachius’ Parish Church, Tavistock on Friday, August 25.

More than 60 pictures were displayed by artists from all over the area, with everything from watercolours and acrylics, to pastels, pen and ink. Subjects ranged from moorland views and seascapes, to local scenes, including St Eustachius’ Church ruins. Some items were for sale.

Artist Phyllis Hughes, from Plymouth, spent the morning painting a view of the Tavy River, which was raffled as first prize. The former Tavistock resident, who visits the church regularly’, said: ‘When I came up on the bus I was amazed to be asked to do it.  I used to sit and paint by the river.  I loved the nature, the butterflies and damselflies. I found it very inspiring for my art and you get very strong messages from God – that’s why I come back. It’s a wonderful place.’

Crapstone artist Tony Arnold exhibited six pieces of abstract art, which attracted many people for their colour and movement. ‘I call two of them “action paintings”, said Tony, whose style has evolved over 35 years of painting. 

Coffee mornings are being held in church every Friday morning until the end of November and will resume after Christmas.  They are organised by the Church Craft Group, each one having a different theme, including plants, wood carvings and crafts.

May our eyes be the eyes that see the poverty in our world.

May ours be the ears that hear the cries of your people.

May ours be the hands that work for transformation to bring about your kingdom on this earth.

Great God this is our prayer.

You have poured into our hearts full and free

Overflowing for all to drink and see

The lavish care of our Creator God

Designing flowers and trees, hills and streams, sun, moon and stars, creatures great and small and me

The loving God with arms outstretched to those who turn their backs and say “I need no-one”.

So he gives Himself to a cross to emphasise that love poured out.

So full, so free for you and me.

The love still flows so full and free:

The invitation stands each day to taste and see.

No rules, no bonds, no fee:

Just try, just taste and you will see.

chosen by Eileen Hooper