One of the joys of the approach to Christmas is the number of nativity plays in schools, playgroups and Churches.  They are always well attended and those who see children and young people taking part see something which is very special and precious.  I am sure many of you will have attended such occasions and seen the story of the birth of Christ retold with familiar words and actions.

In the Bible, both St Matthew and St Luke tell the Nativity story, although they do so from different perspectives.  In both, angels play a significant part. St Matthew tells the story from Joseph’s view point.  Joseph has a dream in which an angel tells him to take Mary as his wife.  It is an angel who appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take his wife and child to Egypt because of Herod’s attempts to kill the child.  St Luke tells the story from Mary’s perspective and begins with the birth of John the Baptist.  Luke’s account also tells of the involvement of angels.  An angel speaks to Zechariah the priest, Elizabeth’s husband, and then to Mary with the good news that she is to bear a child.  Angels also appear to the shepherds on the hillsides of Bethlehem who then go to see the baby.  While, in Matthew, it is the wise men who make a long journey to find the Christ child.

In the Nativity plays we will see over the coming weeks, the accounts of Jesus’s birth, as recorded by both St Matthew and St Luke, are combined to give the story we know so well.  All the plays we shall see also contain “added extras” – the Innkeeper (at least one, sometimes many more – often with a speaking part), the ox, the ass, and three kings rather than wise men.  We make additions all the time and we interpret the story in different ways because there is a timelessness to it.  It invites us to use our imaginations, to think, to wonder, and to become part of the story ourselves.  What is most beautiful is that at the heart of the Nativity story is a God who comes to us.  God takes on our humanity and makes himself known to us.  God chooses to enter into a new relationship with human beings, with shepherds and wise men, and with you and me.

St John, who does not have an account of the birth of Christ in his gospel, says: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God …. And the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us”.  As Christmas approaches, we are all invited, once again, to celebrate God who makes himself known to us.  He comes to us to show us how to live and how to love.  All human life is part of this story, it is a story of care and concern, and of involvement with the world in which we live.  Jesus comes into all the complexities of human living to show us through his birth, life, death, and resurrection, that things can be different, things can be changed.  As Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men play their part in the story of pointing to Jesus and the new life he offers, so too we are invited to become part of this story once again this Christmas.

May the joy, peace and love of the Christmas season be yours.

Chris Hardwick

Thank you …

This is the first opportunity I have had since Sue Tucker’s Ordination to the Diaconate and Steve Martin’s Ordination to the Priesthood to thank everyone from our churches for the tremendous amount of hard work that went in to making these such moving and wonderful occasions. I know that everyone helped in so many different ways to make these the very special services and occasions of welcome that they were. September was indeed a very busy month for individuals and groups of people within our Benefice and I thank each and every one for making these unique and special occasions so memorable.  Thank you one and all.

My thanks also to everyone from our churches for the Harvest celebrations which were held last month.  It has been good to see so many come together for Harvest suppers, the auction of produce, talks, and times of fun and fellowship, all centring around our thanksgiving for Harvest.

A new Discipleship course …

On Monday, 7^th November, at 7pm, Judith Blowey will be leading a new course for those wishing to explore Christianity and Discipleship called “A Course for a Christian Journey”.  This will be held at Higher Woodley Farm and aims to help unpack the Christian message and teaching of the faith.  Everyone is welcome. For more details, please contact Judith on 01822 832374.

Preparation for Advent …

Please see full details of our Benefice Away-day to be held on Tuesday, 13^th December, under the section ‘From the Parish’. Everyone is welcome. Please sign up.

Tavistock 700 – Building for the Future …

I am pleased, in this letter from the Vicarage, to be able to update you with plans to celebrate St Eustachius’ Church 700^th Anniversary in 2018.  Much has happened over the summer months as we have consulted widely on our proposals and worked closely with our Architect and other professional advisors to draw up plans.  An exciting project is now emerging and the Parochial Church Council hopes to submit our proposals for Diocesan approval next month. The project involves some internal re-ordering of Tavistock Church to improve disabled facilities and the movement of people within the building, a new galley, and the provision of a disabled toilet in the North Aisle. Works to re-open access to the church via the West End and Tower are also proposed by providing new wood and glass doors, hard landscaping and external lighting. Also proposed is the building of a Lych gate to welcome people from West Street into the Church. The proposals will include much needed improvements to the heating, lighting and sound systems of the church. Improvements to the children’s area (clothworkers’ aisle) and to St. George’s chapel are also planned. At the same time, it is also intended to undertake repairs to the vestry roof. These have already been identified in our quinquennial inspection and now require attention. Alongside this, it is hoped to provide a new, detached, organ console and to make improvements to the existing choir stalls to increase their stability and to ease their movement when large concerts and other gatherings take place in church. Following our consultations, it has been decided not to proceed with a West End Gallery for the time being, but, rather, wait to see how the proposed improvements influence the use of the church in the coming years.  A cost plan for all these works is presently being prepared. It should be possible to phase the proposed work in such a way that specific projects such as, for example, the lighting, sound, or North Tower improvements, can to be dealt with as discrete “stand alone” projects. I am delighted that a group has been formed to support the PCC and to oversee the project, and the group is presently exploring the options for fundraising, including the possible appointment of a professional fundraiser to help realise this exciting project. The Baroness Watkins of Tavistock has very kindly agreed to be the patron of the 700^th Anniversary Project and we are delighted to receive her support in this way. The overall cost of the project is likely to be in the region of £1m. Alongside all this, much work is also taking place to develop and extend the Church’s mission and outreach within the community, and a full calendar of events and new initiatives is being planned to celebrate the 700^th anniversary.  As these plans take shape, I will continue to share them with you. There is still a great deal to do and I am always happy to talk with anyone, or any group, about our plans, should you wish further details.  At the heart of what we are seeking to do is to extend our mission and ministry, and to ensure that Tavistock Parish Church continues to be the very best centre of worship, prayer, musical excellence, mission and outreach, which we can provide at the heart of our community.

With my love and prayers.

Chris Hardwick

Congratulations to Sue Tucker, ordained Deacon on the 11^th September at Exeter Cathedral and to Steve Martin, ordained Priest at Tavistock Parish Church on the 24^th September 2016. Two very uplifting services to mark new ministry in the Church of God.

Below is a letter of encouragement from Bishop Robert, Bishop of Exeter, to consider whether God might be calling you to be ordained. I will be very pleased to talk with anyone if you would like to discuss this further. Bishop Robert writes:

“One of the most positive developments in the life of our church in recent decades has been the discovery that everyone has their own unique ministry. From being a church in which a few ministered and the majority were ministered to, we have changed to be one which celebrates the diverse gifts of the whole body of Christ.

Amongst these many callings, the vocation to ordained ministry has remained a key part of what the Church of England has to offer in its service to the world around. Priests and deacons have a particular role in representing the church, of providing leadership and of being the focus of God’s people as we gather to celebrate the sacraments.

 In recent years the Diocese of Exeter has seen a big increase in the number of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and of a range of ages coming forward to be ordained. Some are now serving the church full time, many others are working as self-supporting ministers. Their offering of themselves in this way has been a huge encouragement and support to the whole church and has enabled the church to thrive in ways which would not otherwise have been possible. We pray that God will provide even more people to serve in this way.

This letter is a direct appeal to you to consider if God might be calling you to be ordained. It could be an idea you have entertained for some time and never spoken to anyone about; it might be something that strikes you for the first time as you hear or read this. There may be someone else that you think would make an ideal priest and this may prompt you to encourage them to explore it. Those thinking about ordination enter a process of discernment in which a number of guides explore with them whether this is indeed the call of God. There is no possibility you might be ordained by accident just because you asked about it!

Over the coming months Bishop Nick, Bishop Sarah and I are continuing a programme of visits to Deaneries under the banner Bishops in Mission. Ideally all those visits will have a ‘vocations event’ at which enquirers may informally explore ordination. The Revd Hannah Alderson, our new Vocations Officer, or other members of the Diocesan Vocations Team, hopes to be present at as many of those events as possible. They will provide the space where you‘ can talk through your thoughts and hopes, or just find out more.

If you would like to discuss this matter further do speak first to your parish priest, who will be pleased to talk with you and help you decide the right way forward. Whatever your particular ministry, we wish you God’s richest blessing as you seek to answer his call to serve him.

With my thanks for our partnership in the Gospel. 

 + Robert ”

Almighty and everlasting God,

by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:

Hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,

that in their vocation and ministry

they may serve you in holiness and truth

to the glory of your name;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

With my love and prayers.

Chris Hardwick

September will see a number of new priests and deacons being ordained in the diocese. It is always very exciting and humbling to be involved with ordinations when those who have been exploring, and sometimes struggling, with their sense of vocation for many years, take an important step on the journey of discipleship. It is also hugely encouraging to see new ministry immerge alongside the existing ministry and encouragement of others.

We are, of course, all disciples. I am always greatly encouraged by the number of those who offer themselves for ministry whatever form that takes. The exploration, discovery, and nurturing of new gifts and abilities to further God’s work is something which we should all celebrate and rejoice in.  As Sue Tucker is ordained deacon and Steve Martin is ordained priest to serve in our benefice we should all be encouraged to take this opportunity to consider what is our calling.  How do we remain faithful to our baptismal vocation? It is not always clear or obvious, sometimes for many years, how we can best exercise and enable our own ministry to be developed. However, it is the case that each of us has a ministry and each of us has a duty to try and respond to that calling from God. It is encouraging to see so many being ordained in our Cathedral and parish churches this year – as we welcome the newly ordained around the diocese, I hope and pray that we can all consider our own sense of call and vacation. The real fruit of their ministry will be them enabling and encouraging others to blossom and flourish in their discipleship.

Do you feel God might be calling you to a particular ministry? A sense that there is a path you need to explore, a door you need to push? Would you like an opportunity to reflect more on your vocation?

Our diocese has set aside a day for anyone who is interested in exploring vocation – whether you feel you may be called to a deeper ministry within the Benefice or our mission community – or if you are interested in exploring licensed lay or ordained ministries, or you just don’t know yet. The details are:

Title of Day:    Exploring Vocation

Date:                 Saturday, 15th October 2016

Time:               10am – 3.30pm

Location:        St Luke’s Chapel, Heavitree Road, Exeter

The day will be led by Revd Hannah Alderson, Vocations Development Officer for the Diocese. It will be an opportunity for personal reflection on our own life journey, and prayer, as we seek God’s call on our lives. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about ministries within the Church of England, including the process of selection for licensed and ordained ministry, and to make links with the vocations team for further conversation, if you feel you would like to explore questions of vocation further. I commend this day to you.

If you would like any more information about the day please contact Hannah on vocations@exeter.anglican.org, or 01392 724804 / 07546 397981.

Please pray for all being ordained this September, and from our own Benefice for Sue Tucker to be ordained Deacon in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday, 11^th September and Steve Martin to be ordained priest in Tavistock Parish Church on Saturday, 24^th September. Full details of these services and our own plans to celebrate these new ministries are contained within this magazine.

With my love and prayers.

Chris Hardwick

“Hail, Gladdening Light from his pure glory poured”

At the beginning of August (6^th August), the Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration. It is a hugely mysterious event recorded in the New Testament. Jesus took Peter, James and John to a mountain.  The Gospels do not say which mountain. Christian tradition has usually named Mount Tabor, although Mount Carmel and Mount Hermon have been mentioned as possibilities.

Matthew, Mark and Luke use slightly different phrases to tell the same story. In St Matthew’s account: “He was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light.” St Mark says: “his clothes became dazzling white”, while St Luke says: “his clothing became brilliant as lightning”. All three, in their slightly different ways, agree that Jesus was enveloped in a heavenly light as he was seen with Moses and Elijah.  Peter, James and John are witnesses to this light.  Peter assumes he should do something.  He rushes to build three tents and Luke comments: “He did not know what he was saying.” James and John – the John who was to write so movingly about Jesus as the “true light” – say and do nothing. Suddenly a cloud passes over the scene and from the shadow they hear the voice of the Father saying: “This is my Son, the Beloved.”

The images of light and darkness are so common to us that we often take them for granted: “I have seen the light” or “I was kept in the dark”, and yet they remain instantaneous and powerful images.

The Church Fathers frequently meditated on the themes of light and darkness, saying, “light is the beauty of God”, or speaking of light as “a ray of the Divinity”. In John Henry Newman’s poem “The Dream of Gerontius”, the soul of Gerontius is brought before God.  For a split second Gerontius sees God as he is.  The light shows up with dazzling clarity the things of which Gerontius is ashamed.  Another poet, John Donne, wrote of the light of heaven in these words:

“Into that gate they shall enter, and in that house they shall dwell,

where there shall be no darkness or dazzling, but one equal light;

no noise nor silence, but one equal music;

no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings,

but one equal eternity in the habitations of thy glory and dominion”

In the Transfiguration it is this truth, the new “glory of God”, “the one equal Light”, which is revealed to us.

With my love and prayers,

Chris Hardwick