Thank you for the Festival
What a colourful festival! The Holy Cross Flower Festival this year excelled in the magnificent arrangements and in the enjoyable theme of ‘Quirks and Customs’. Once again I heard many comments about the high standard of the exhibition in church and of the catering and art exhibition in the Boniface Centre. The short evening concerts were also greatly enjoyed and in the one presented by the Junior Choir the choristers not only sang some beautiful music but also showed their talents in vocal and instrumental solos. My sincere thank to those who coordinated the festival and ran the publicity, to the flower arrangers, stewards, caterers, musicians, to those who set up and then cleared up, and to everyone who worked so very hard.
Benefice Barbeque
On Sunday 6 July the Benefice Barbeque will be held at 12.30pm in the Rectory Gardens to which members of all benefice churches are invited. Please buy a ticket in advance to facilitate catering. This is a great opportunity to meet other members of our churches I do hope you will consider coming along.
New appointments in the Music Department
I am pleased to report that Kate Macpherson, who has done an exceptional job as Organ Scholar over the past year, has been appointed Assistant Organist at Holy Cross as from this month. Kate has provided a very useful thread of continuity in the music department throughout the changes of the past year and I would like to thank her for all her help and wish her well in her new role. As you may remember from her biography as organ scholar Kate is a law student at Exeter University.
I am delighted that it has also been possible to appoint Tom Salmon as Organ Scholar in Kate’s place. Tom works in the department of music and liturgy at Exeter Cathedral so he already has an excellent working knowledge of worship and church music. He knows the organ at Holy Cross well as he took his organ diploma exam here last year. We warmly welcome Tom to our music department.
Children’s Activity Week
This year the Activity Week will run from 9.30 –11.30am from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. This year the theme will be ‘Moses Mega-Mix’ celebrating the amazing story of Moses. Further details and application forms are available from Church. If you would like to help, please have a word with Tina Guthrie. Please note that places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. On Sunday 3 August at 9.30am there will be an Activity Week Family Communion Service in the Boniface Centre where those of all ages can find out what’s been going on in the week.
Prayer for Healing
There will be a further opportunity to learn about this subject in the Autumn in a short course which will be both practical and spiritual. The previous course, which was headed up by Kathy Roberts, led to the setting up of the prayer for healing team at Holy Cross which has been much appreciated by those who have come for prayer during the administration of communion over the past year or two. I hope that this ministry might be extended, both at Holy Cross and at other benefice churches. If you would be interested in the course please have a word with myself or The Reverend Sue Martin. Further details will be published over the summer. Those of you with internet access might like to know that my recent sermon on the subject is now posted on the Holy Cross website.
Archbishop to Visit Crediton in Festival Year
Plans for the 2009 Town Festival celebrating the foundation of the cathedral here in 909 are taking shape and looking increasingly exciting. At church we are hoping to begin the year with an Epiphany Pageant on Sunday 11 January at 6pm. Please let Jo Ward or myself know if you would like to take part.
The Festival proper will begin with a large scale Viking re-enactment and family fun days on May 24th and 25th. It has recently been announced that Archbishop Rowan Williams will be visiting Exeter Diocese to mark the anniversary year with a day of celebrations in Exeter on Saturday 27 June. I am delighted that he will be visiting Crediton on his way there on Friday 26 June at 3pm for a short service of celebration and we look forward to welcoming him.
Forthcoming Events
I would like to finish by mentioning some of the varied events which are coming up in July. I’m sure you will find further details about many of them elsewhere in the magazine:
On Thursday 3 July 7.30 for 8pm I will be giving an illustrated talk on my Pilgrimage to Santiago. Drinks will be available and, although there will be no charge for the evening, there will be a collection in aid of the Mothers’ Union overseas work.
On Sunday 13 July at Holy Cross the morning service will celebrate Sea Sunday and there will be a retiring collection for Missions to Seafarers, a Christian charity which does a huge amount of work supporting those who work at sea in practical, social and financial ways. In the evening the choir will lead choral evensong at 6pm.
ALSO On Sunday 13July, at 6.30pm there will be a St. Swithun’s Day Festival Evensong at Shobrooke Church with the choir of Sandford Church leading the singing. Members of all benefice churches are welcome to attend.
On Sunday 20 July Tina and I are offering drinks and cake after the 9.30am service at Holy Cross in celebration of our Silver Wedding. Our anniversary actually falls on 1 August but by then quite a few people may be away so we are celebrating on the weekend of 19 –20 July. Do join us if you can.
And on Sunday 27 July there will be a Songs of Praise service at Yeoford Church at 5pm to which members of all churches are invited.
With every good wish and blessing
Nigel Guthrie
Page last updated 28/06/08