News & Views | Saint Eustachius - Tavistock Parish Church

Martha’s Page for July

29th June 2017 By Mandy Betts

Hello everyone,

I hope you have all been enjoying the glorious weather we have had recently. As a result of going to Messy Church we are thrilled to welcome Sammy, Dave and Beth into our Church. Sammy has now become a member of the Vestry Group and I hope he will enjoy the Sunday morning sessions as we learn lots about the Bible but also have fun! I will be taking the Vestry Group until we break up for the summer holidays and have lots of exciting things planned.

On Sunday 4^th June TACT held the annual ‘Party in the Park’ for Pentecost. Several Church members were involved in lots of different things, including the Vestry Group who helped a team with the face painting.

The Church Fête that was held on Saturday 10^th June was a huge success, despite the weather. The Vestry Group undertook the face painting. Did anyone recognise Mike Loader after he had been to the face painting stall? Lily and I took the opportunity to go up the Church tower. I had been up there before with the Guides but I was much younger! Although it was a wet day the view was spectacular.

On Saturday 17^th June, the Tamar Valley Male Voice Choir with The Military Wives Choir gave a concert in Church. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed the singing throughout the evening.

‘An Afternoon at the Races’ was held in the Church Centre on Saturday 24^th June. It was lovely to see so many people making an effort to dress up for the occasion.

I hope you all have a lovely July and I will write to you again next month.

With love, Martha x

The Very Reverend Dr Christopher Hardwick writes …

29th June 2017 By Mandy Betts

“Neighbours from Hell”

“Neighbours from Hell” is the title of a popular television programme which reports on disputes between neighbours, some of which have been going on for many years, and all of which are the source of anger and resentment between the parties involved, and the cause of much pain and distress – why is such a programme so popular?

An important theme in the teachings of Jesus is that of forgiveness and mercy. These are basic attitudes that every Christian must put into practice. Apart from the command to love one another there is no greater obligation placed on a Christian. But, in some of the circumstances of everyday living, forgiveness is more often talked about than put into practice. It is difficult to forgive. It is demanding, and it can take a great deal out of us. Within families and among neighbours incidents can get blown up out of all proportion; we can become so embittered by injuries and wrong-doings that we may find it impossible to forgive … by our own strength alone.

Jesus teaches us to put all our human affairs into a proper perspective and to put our trust in him. In the light of eternity and the shortness of our life span, harbouring anger and resentment is pointless. What comes over clearly in the Gospel is that our ability to forgive others is a measure of the depth of our Christianity. The forgiveness that we offer makes it possible for us to receive God’s forgiveness and to pray in a meaningful way “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

In the actual circumstances of daily living we are rarely put to the test of forgiveness in matters that are truly painful or emotionally crippling. But, aware of the loving forgiveness of God and his generous mercy shown to all who turn to him, when those times do occur we must be ready to place the situations we face into God’s hands in trust, for, if we are to be true channels of God’s love, then Jesus’s teaching and example must be the standard by which we measure our lives and shape our own conduct.

Heavenly Father,

look with compassion on our failings,

deliver us from hardness of heart

and grant that we may always be ready to forgive injuries

and heal divisions

in the strength of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

With my love and prayers

Chris Hardwick

Prayer of the Month

29th June 2017 By Mandy Betts

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

From Sally Pancheri – Licensed Reader

29th June 2017 By Mandy Betts

Dear Friends,

As I’m waiting to welcome our next guests, I reflect on their need for refreshment and wonder if I will be able to meet (or even exceed!) all their expectations whilst they are staying with us. Often I don’t know their back story, the reason why they have chosen to stay in a particular place or at a particular time, but I do know that the welcome they receive when they arrive at their destination will set the tone for the rest of their holiday.

Visitors often arrive exhausted and sometimes frustrated from a delayed journey, so a cream tea is often the best gift I can offer to satisfy the immediate need for a sugar boost! However, the Oxford dictionary definition makes it clear that, apart from satisfying our physical needs of food and drink, refreshment is also a giving of fresh strength and energy. Other words associated with refreshment include restoration, rejuvenation and spiritual refreshment. Tavistock and its surrounding villages offer all of us the opportunity for refreshment in its widest sense. We are so fortunate to have been placed in this area to live and work. Sometimes it is through the eyes and revelations of visitors that we are reminded of God’s glory. Living as we do with the beauty and majesty of the landscape constantly around us, we can become complacent and forget momentarily how awesome it is to be part of West Devon and Dartmoor.

We all need to set aside time for refreshment even when we live here! I imagined that by the time I got to be of a certain age I would be fully in control of my time. I hoped to be able to manage it so that I would never feel exhausted, weary and left reeling round and round. Instead I often expect my body to work as it did when I was only 35! But isn’t it encouraging to know that even when we have nothing more to give to others physically and emotionally, God never tires of us, and He gives me the strength when I need that last push. I can turn to my Bible and find the following to lift my spirits:

Psalm 62:1: For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Psalm 73:26: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Jeremiah 31:25: I will satisfy the weary and all who are faint I will replenish.

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

As we encounter visitors this summer, we might do well to let something of their passion for our town and villages remind us of our love for where God has placed us to work in His Kingdom, and may we bring encouragement to all those seeking refreshment in this special place.

Love and Blessings,

Reader Sally

Parish Magazine – July 2017

29th June 2017 By Mandy Betts

We are pleased to announce the release of the parish magazine for the month of July 2017. Some featured articles include:

The Exon Singers Festival
Technical Upgrades in Brentor

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Martha’s Page for July

The Very Reverend Dr Christopher Hardwick writes …

Prayer of the Month

From Sally Pancheri – Licensed Reader

Parish Magazine – July 2017

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