Dear Friends,

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light
Those who dwell in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined
(Isaiah 9:2)

I am writing this at the end of November, looking forward to Advent, school Nativity plays, plenty of carol services, concerts and, hopefully a happy, peaceful and safe Christmas Day singing our favourite.carols, with great joy.

Last year Advent was muted, we all missed out on so much, but, especially the children. So, this year, it is a real privilege for me to be able to go into the local schools and lead our children in worship and helping them to ‘Open the Book.’

Many of you will know that I live in Mary Tavy, so it has been a great joy to spend time planning a Christingle service for the children of Mary Tavy and Brentor School. It will take place at Christ Church during Advent. Before the service, we will be preparing the oranges in school during the morning. I know the children will be very excited. It will be a delight to see all their faces shining in the candlelight as they sing: ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’

So much was missing last year and most of this year too. Finally our ministry team and others were invited back into school, to lead worship in time for harvest festivals. What a delight to welcome the children back into church! Some had not set foot in church for nearly two years.

The harvest festivals were very special occasions and this year the children will be able to enjoy our Christmas Tree Festival, and their Christingle and carol services in church.

It is always lovely to see Tavistock full of excited children anticipating the arrival of Santa, but, my prayer is that, this year in particular, they will also begin to understand the true meaning of Christmas:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
And the government shall be upon his shoulder,
And his name shall be called
Wonderful counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

By the time the children open the first door on their Advent Calendars on December 1st, we will have already entered the penitential season of Advent; a time of reflection and preparation as we wait expectantly for the coming of Christ. At Christmas we celebrate his birth but we also look forward to his second coming, when all “will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’, with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27).

Last year we were in lockdown and Rosie and I produced 5 online weekly reflections. We began with a reflection on Jesus calming the storm, relating it to the ‘Coronavirus storm’ and then Peter walking on the stormy sea to Jesus. We then looked at the wonderful, timeless Nativity stories from St Luke’s Gospel. We are not producing new reflections this Advent but, the beauty of online recordings is that they are still available to be viewed again. Rosie and I again invite you to journey with us through the storm which, sadly, isn’t over yet..

This is the link to the online reflections:

Online Advent Reflections | Saint Eustachius – Tavistock Parish Church

Finally, may I wish you all a joyful, safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Blessings,

Hazel

December 2021

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” ~ Hebrews 12:1

Well, we’re into November already, and have survived (relatively unscathed) the first few weeks of the vacancy! Thank you to all those of you who came to Chris’ final service and lunch, and contributed to his and Sarah’s leaving gift. As I write, towards the end of October, there is a definite hint of autumn in the air. The leaves are beginning to turn and fall, and there is a squirrel busily burying acorns in my flowerbeds.

November begins with the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. All Saints celebrates those saints in whom the whole church “has seen the grace of God powerfully at work”. These are your ‘famous’ saints, like Peter, Paul, Theresa, Anselm, Mary, Hildegard, Cuthbert, Hilda – the ones that have their own celebration in the church’s calendar, who wrote theology or had their lives of faith, prayer, witness and mission recorded for a wider audience. By contrast, All Souls “celebrates the saints in a more local and intimate key. It allows us to remember with thanksgiving before God those whom we have known more directly: those who gave us life, or who nurtured us in faith”. These are the saints that maybe no one else knows about – like Auntie Jean (not my real Auntie), who brought snack packs of malteasers and other treats for all the kids in the church that I grew up in – who made us know that we were loved and valued. Like my Grandma and Grandad, who said often, ‘we can’t do much physically – but we can pray’. And they did. Like my college tutor who nursed me through essay crises and angst about whether God was really calling me to the priesthood with tea and biscuits, hugs and pep talks.

So I wonder, who are the saints who have shaped your life and your faith, have cheered you on the way of this Christian life, the capital ‘S’ Saints, or the little ‘s’ saints, the ones the church recognises and celebrates, and the ones that are known just to you and God? And how can we be those saints to each other? Not in the stereotypical sense of being perfect, performing 17 miracles before breakfast, but in the everyday loving and praying, serving and encouraging, that we would all be able to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us”.

One of the route markers for many people in their race of faith is Confirmation, which is an opportunity to affirm the promises that were made at your baptism, whether by yourself or by your parents and godparents, and commit yourself again to walking in the way of Christ. In the service the Bishop will pray for you, asking that the Holy Spirit would rest upon you, and that you would know that God calls you by name and has made you his own. One of the highlights of this month will be our Deanery Confirmation Service on Monday 29 November at Stowford church. We already have five candidates from the Benefice; but there is still time if you would like to be confirmed. Speak to me, or one of the other members of the ministry team if you’d like to find out more.

This comes with my thanks for all the glimpses of God’s grace at work that I have seen in all of you over the last sixteen months; and my prayers that we would continue to be a sign of that grace in our churches and our wider community.

Rosie

November 2021

From the Vicarage

Early into 2020 the Covid19 pandemic took hold and as a country we were asked to stay at home. The broadcast of Church services, Bible and study groups on-line, and video reflections and messages, became the new ‘norm”. “ZOOM” and “TEAMS” meetings replaced face-to-face gatherings. During the pandemic we have found new ways of worshiping and being together. With robust risk assessments in place, we have worked hard to worship and pray together and to care for one another in our community.  As the restrictions are gradually easing, I am pleased to see our full pattern of worship, prayer, and outreach to our schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and the wider community, returning across the Benefice.

Now, after nearly seven years as vicar of our four churches, I am to retire. My last service will be in in Tavistock Parish Church on Sunday, 17^th October 2021 at 9.45 am. I extend an invitation to everyone to this service and hope it will be possible for you to come, and for me to say farewell to you in person. It has been a real privilege to be your vicar and to be part of the church in Tavistock, Gulworthy and Brent Tor. There are too many of you to name in person, but you know the invaluable part you take in making our Benefice the very special place it is, and how much I appreciate all that you do day-by-day. I have been fortunate to get to know faithful Christians in our parishes and to work with excellent colleagues, both ordained and lay. Together we have built a large and active ministry team across our four churches. I thank you all, each and every one of you, for your support, and I pray for discernment and wisdom as the process to select the next Vicar begins.

With my love, prayers, and God’s Blessing

Christopher Hardwick, Vicar

October 2021

From the Vicarage

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 Hazel Butland and Rosie Illingworth are 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. I hope and pray that we can all consider our own sense of call and vacation. The real fruit of Hazel and Rosie’s ministry will be them enabling and encouraging others to blossom and flourish in their discipleship.

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,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. Amen.

Please pray for Hazel and Rosie and for all being ordained this September.

The Galley and Toilets Project at St. Eustachius’

Plans for the refurbishment of “Dora’s Cupboard” are now well advanced and have been displayed in Church. Alongside the design and faculty application process, we have been looking at funding options for the project. The likely cost will be in the region of £150,000. Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of St.Eustachius’, and the PCC, we have funding in place of approximately £75,000 and we are now submitting grant applications hoping to secure up to a further £50,000. We do not know whether these applications will be successful or not. The worst-case scenario is that no application is successful, and we will need to find £75,000 from other sources, or, we are successful, in which case we will need to find £25,000. Alongside this process, local weekly fund-raising initiatives continue in the parish. We are now looking to appoint a fund-raiser with a specific and focussed brief to approach local businesses to support the Galley and Toilets project. We have a strong team in place, and office support available if needed, but we do need someone to take-on/head-up this specific part of the project. If you are interested or would like to know please do speak to me.

Diocese of Exeter
Next Steps

The Diocese has developed a “Next Steps” plan to help mission communities move forward from the pandemic in a way that is both creative and sustainable.

Bishop Robert says:

“The pandemic has changed every aspect of life over the last 18 months and the life of our churches is no exception. We have been challenged in all sorts of ways and I have been moved by the way people have stepped up and stepped out in faith. I give thanks for deeper engagement with local communities, proclaiming the joy of a God who yearns that people everywhere experience life in all its fullness. Most of our parishes and Mission Communities have revealed their resilience, but some are feeling fragile and apprehensive about the future.

As a Diocese, it is time to take stock so that we emerge from this extraordinary period with a clear sense of direction and a realistic plan for how to get there. We need to move forward in a way that is both creative and sustainable.

Now is the time to renew our trust in the leading of God. ‘Next Steps’ represents the crystallisation of our collective learning to date. It draws on the Listening in Deaneries consultation, ‘For Such A Time As This’, carried out in 2020 and the work of the Theological Reflections Group, a group of clergy and laity from across the Diocese who met during lockdown. It incorporates feedback from the Diocesan Synod held in May 2021 on the Church of England’s Emerging Vision for the 2020s and what I learnt at first-hand during my online visits to every deanery chapter.

With so many rural parishes, we have also drawn upon the wisdom garnered in the excellent ‘Lightening the Load’ toolkit and have consulted our Growing the Rural Church team. All these tributaries have fed into our thinking. It is my hope that, as we move forward, we can build a culture that is mutually supportive, working together to make bold decisions, always willing to listen and to adapt.

I hope the document will stimulate imaginative and realistic conversations about how our Mission Communities can develop over the next three years. That development will help inform how our stipendiary clergy can best be deployed. Recognising that some significant challenges still lie ahead of us, we need to enable our Mission Communities to flourish in ways that are fruitful and sustainable, with thriving congregations that make a difference. May God bless our endeavours as together we seek to grow in prayer, to make new disciples and serve the people of Devon with joy.”

The Right Reverend Robert Atwell, Bishop of Exeter

The “Next Steps” document can be read in full on the Exeter Diocesan Website:

https://exeter.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Next-Steps-MC-vision-document-1-7-21.pdf

The “Next Steps’ video “God’s Vineyard” can be viewed on Vimeo:

NEXT STEP CONVERSATIONS

The Archdeacon of Plymouth, Ven. Nick Shutt invites you to a conversation on the “Next Steps” plan on:

Thursday, 9th September, at Tavistock Parish Centre, Tavistock, at 7.00 pm
Sunday, 12th September, at St Pancras Church, Plymouth, at 2.30 pm
Thursday, 23rd September at St.Mark’s Church, Ford, Plymouth, at 2.30 pm

Please do take part if you are able to do so.

With my love and prayers.

Chris Hardwick

September 2021

From the Vicarage

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope and pray that everyone remains safe and well.

COVID Guidelines

As you will know, with the move to step 4 of the Government’s ‘road-map’, churches now have the freedom to agree guidance appropriate for their own buildings and practice. As a Benefice we have done so, and I write to update you about this.

The approach taken by the Government is to promote guidance that emphasises the personal and corporate responsibility of individuals and organisations to protect others and themselves. For some people and in some parts of Devon, the Government’s restrictions have seemed unnecessary or overly prescriptive. For others, the easing of restrictions has been met with considerable anxiety because it seems to bring additional risk to themselves or to others vulnerable to the virus. Whatever our view of the wisdom of the approach being adopted by the Government, what is clear is that this virus is not going away. Sadly, cases of Covid are, once again, rising. Thankfully, and largely due to the success of the vaccination programme, hospitalisations and deaths are much lower. As a country we are embarking upon the slow journey of learning to co-exist with this virus and how best to manage risk.

The legal limits on the numbers of people allowed to meet indoors and outdoors have been removed. Whilst it is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, the government has stated that it “expects and recommends” that people wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed settings. To protect yourself and others our guidance is:

·      If you have symptoms, please do not enter the Church.
·      Please wear a face covering or mask in our churches.
·      Use the sanitizer provided to clean hands at entrances and at key points within the building, and before receiving Communion.
·      Use the socially distanced zoned seating for the time being.
·      Use NHS Test and Trace (or QR code scanning).

Communion will continue “in one kind” until further guidance is received from the House of Bishop’s COVID Recovery Group. Congregational singing is now permitted. When and where possible we hope to continue with our online worship provision, in addition to “in person” services. These can be followed on our Facebook pages and websites. For those without internet access the Church of England’s free national phone line continues to offer music, prayers and reflections, as well as full worship services, each day. The phone line, which is available 24 hours a day, is: 0800 804 8044.

The lifting of legislation means that the restrictions placed on the numbers permitted at baptisms, weddings and funerals have been removed. However, there is an expectation by Government that people act responsibly in indoor spaces, particularly where large numbers of people are involved and, therefore, it may be necessary to limit numbers for the safety of all those attending. The numbers permitted to attend will be determined by the usual health and safety and fire safety capacity of our buildings, and our COVID risk assessment.

We wish to retain these measures until the impact of the current wave of the pandemic can be fully assessed.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On Sunday, 15th August, the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption sets before us the final act of Mary, the young Jewish girl from Nazareth, who gave Jesus to the world, and was spared death. A messenger from the Lord announced that she was to be the bearer of the Son of God to the world, and her response was: “Let it be according to your word.” We are inclined to forget that Mary had little idea of what faced her when she responded to God’s call. It was with faith and trust, but with little knowledge, that she kept going, seeking to discover the hand of God in what was happening around her. Mary’s natural obedience to God and reverence for his word showed her worthy to be the bearer of “the word made flesh.” As a woman with a human heart and human personality, she experienced all aspects of everyday life – its joys and its pains. We know of Mary’s journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was expecting a baby, and we know of her presence at the Cross. From Jesus’s birth to his death, Mary is present.  In Mary we see the fullness of response we are asked to make to God in our lives. She recognized the greatness of God working through her: “The Almighty has done great things for me…” Her Assumption into heaven should inspire us to see the worth of making every effort to live life as fully as we can in obedience to God’s word, for Mary is a living symbol of what God calls us to be. As we journey on our own pilgrimage, Mary’s ministry of “presence” has much to teach us, as she points us forward to where we hope to be.

Almighty God, who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal Kingdom:
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
 in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

With God’s blessing
Christopher Hardwick

August 2021