Announcement

I am pleased to announce that the Church Commissioners have approved the Scheme for us to become a Single United Benefice. This will take effect from 14th June 2016 when our existing 2 benefices will merge. The reason for the slight pause is to conclude new licences for Gary with the Diocesan Registry and for Gary & I to see the Bishop of Plymouth so Gary can be re-licensed. This will happen on 14 June.

We have been on this journey since August 2008 when I took up the position of Priest-in-Charge of what was then the Yelverton Team Ministry. In the last 8 years we have expanded to take in part of the old parish of Princetown, reconstituted our ecumenical arrangements, and journeyed together as 2 Benefices, to arrive at this point in our journey. In one sense 8 years seems a long time to get to this point, but it is a remarkable achievement and bears witness to our life in Christ that, with goodwill on everyone’s part, we have been able to work together so well as parishes, PCCs, and individuals – even if there have been bumps along the way. So thank you for all who have journeyed thus far. Some words from T S Eliot’s Four Quartets have been on my mind:

What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning…. 

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

Please pray for our life in Christ that as we make this end and new beginning we may journey on together excited by the new possibilities that await us:

A Prayer

Almighty God, you call us to be your pilgrim people in this Benefice:

Keep us travelling light with you,

Responsive to your love in our worship,

Generous in our love of others,

And kind to ourselves and one another.

We ask this in the name of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,

In the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Nick

Rector.