Dearest friends,
Last week we celebrated the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers who both entered the service of Christ together.
Methodius was a monk and Cyril became a Bishop. Between them they are credited with many wonderful things (not least the invention of an entire alphabet) but at the heart of this celebration is the message of a joint purpose and calling.
The brothers were missionaries in the slavic countries and nothing could stop them bringing the message of Christ to those peoples – not even the lack of a language or alphabet to do so.
They joined forces to make Christ known in a place that was not especially open to the message…
Our mission at St. Luke’s and St. John’s is just the same. We join forces to make Jesus known in Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey and Heathfield.
Our estates and surrounds may not be the perfect soil into which to plant – but our mission is one sent by God and so we must look to Cyril and Methodius and be encouraged. Although, I do hope we don’t have to invent a whole new alphabet to do it! Perhaps there’s a specific Devonian lingo I’ve not quite yet picked up!
We have much to be excited about as we look to our two new church plants over the coming year, both at St. Catherine’s in Heathfield and in Buckland.
Fr. Matthew
Notices
+Paul visit
Our mass at St. John’s will be at 10am rather than the usual 9:15am. After mass you’re invited to stay for bacon rolls and drinks in Wickham Hall where you’ll have a chance to speak with +Paul.
At 4pm we’ll be treated to a beautiful service of Evening Prayer which will end with Adoration and Benediction given by +Paul. This promises to be an truly beautiful service and I encourage as many people as possible from both parishes to attend.
Explorers
Thank you very much to all of you who have emailed and messaged to say they are going to help with Explorers. I’d like to have an initial planning meeting on Thursday 27th at 6pm in Wickham Hall ahead of the Bible Course.
Explorers is a small seed that is going to grow into a new church to be planted into St. Catherine’s School in September. I’m looking for volunteers to help with children’s crafts, serving coffee & tea (and almost certainly donuts!) and welcoming people into church.
The Bible Course
Thursday evening, 7pm, WH
We’re back to the Bible Course on Thursday and delving deep into Judges & Kings. God raised up judges and kings to lead Israel. They were anointed with the Holy Spirit and foreshadowed the coming Messiah.
Prayer Focus
Pray for the new Men’s Group that is just starting to form around the Friday morning Mass. Pray for those new members from across the Newton Abbot Team and pray for the creation of a Women’s Group in the coming weeks.
Sunday 16th February
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
10am – Sung Mass, St. John’s with +Paul
11am – Sung Mass, St. Luke’s
4pm – Evening Prayer with Benediction (+Paul) [SJ]
Divine Office Psalter Week 2, C(I), Proper 2
February
- 16th – +Paul Visit to St. John’s, Mass at 10am, EP with Adoration and Benediction at 4pm
- 27th – Explorers Planning Meeting, 6pm,
Bible Course, 7pm [WH]
March
- 4th – Pancake Race, 4pm [SL]
- 5th – Ash Wednesday, 10am [SJ], 7pm [SL]
- 6th – The Bible Course, 7pm, WH
- 8th – Torfaen Male Voice Choir Concert 7pm [SL]
- 9th – St. Luke’s Parish Lunch
- 12th – St. Luke’s PCC, 7pm
- 13th – The Bible Course final session with +Mike, 7m WH
- 15th, 22nd, 29th – Stations of the Cross [4pm SL, 6pm SJ]
- 16th – St. John’s APCM 3pm
- Music & Meditation 4pm [SJ]
- 23rd – St. Luke’s APCM after Mass
- Messy Easter at St. Catherine’s, 3-5pm
- 30th – Mothering Sunday
April
- 2nd – St. Luke’s PCC, 7pm
- 10th – Oswestry Chrism Festival (Exeter Cathedral, 11am)
Palm Sunday (13th April)
- St. John’s – Process from Wickham Hall at 9am into Palm Sunday Mass at Church
- St. Luke’s – Process from the Calvary at 11am into Palm Sunday Mass at Church followed by Parish Lunch
St. John’s Table Top Sale – Every 3rd Saturday at Wickham Hall
[SJ] St. John’s | [SL] St. Luke’s | [WH] Wickham Hall