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February 2020 February 2020

DATES FOR BISHOP’S LETTER

YOUR DIARY God in Ordinary

The cathedral had a new Christmas nativity of photographs that looked like a
2020
huge painting. The people in it were from the local community. Christmas
celebrates God among us. Like the shepherds and the wise men we came to the
Key: FG-Floral Group, AL-Autumn Leaves, TA– Twinning, WI-Women’s crib to wonder and worship but when we went away to get on with the rest of our
Institute, PiP-Pop in Place, GC-Gardening Club lives, what happens next?
One answer is that the Church’s year continues to tell the Christian stories of God
18th Salt and Pepper Club in Jesus who teaches, challenges, heals and gives life to us. Christmas gives way
to Epiphany; on 2nd February we remember the Presentation of Christ in the
23rd Communibus - Ottery Nursery, Exeter Temple and his being recognised by the elderly Simeon and Anna; and this year
at the end of the month, on 26th February, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and
25th PiP Summer Show 6.00 our preparation for Easter.
Other answers are also needed in trying to find what it means for God to be
26th PiP Summer Show 7.00 among us. How do we respond in our daily lives? What difference does it make to
the way I understand myself and how we live together? We have often used Lent
27th PiP Summer Show 2.00 for those reflective questions.

This year, instead of Praying Together as we have done for the last three years, I
hope that as a diocese we will use the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book by
Ruth Valerio, ‘Saying Yes to Life’. “As people made in the image of God, we are
July entrusted to look after what he has created: to share in God’s joy and ingenuity in
making a difference for good.” Using the story of the days of creation in Genesis 1
7th Communibus - Portland Bill she, “relates light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath
rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social
7th FG: Irene Hickson: Chelsea Gold concern.” There are small, cheaper booklets for kids and adults to go alongside it,
‘A 40-Day Challenge to Live Lent and Care for God’s Creation’.
16th Salt and Pepper Club
Asking what it means in our ordinary lives that God is among us is a good way to
keep Lent. There is no single settled answer because we keep deepening our
22nd Communibus - New Forest Lavender response to God come among us. What do we pray for? Whom do we serve?
How will we grow? Living in response to those questions renews our hope.
+Nicholas Sarum

August

11th Communibus - Groves Nursery and West Bay

20th Salt and Pepper Club

25th Communibus - Sidmouth

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