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Mayl 2022 May 2022
2. For the benefit of the volunteers. BISHOP’S LETTER

Being part of the community, having the opportunity to do something for others,
having a reason to get up – all the reasons people give for why they volunteer. By The Rt Revd Karen Gorham,
3. For the benefit of the wider community. Acting Bishop of Salisbury

The shop has few fixed costs which we need to cover which enables us to set our How many of us like to be kept waiting? I must
prices as low as possible. We do then have the opportunity to support parish admit that my feet start tapping when I end up in
activity with any profit made. Ideas are always welcome. the longest queue in the supermarket, or sighs
start when the traffic lights all seem to change to
2022 brings the 20 anniversary of the shop opening and we will certainly be red when I arrive at them. We are so used to
th
looking forward to celebrating with the whole parish the success of the shop to getting everything now almost instantly that any
date and looking forward to the future. kind of delay makes us frustrated.
Ali Chorley, Chair May 2022 will be a month of waiting. Firstly we
The Friends of Briantspuddle Post Office and Village Shop Association Ltd wait for our new Bishop to be enthroned; having
been elected and consecrated, Bishop Stephen
will join us fully in June. And secondly, following
THANK YOU ERICA the Easter season in our lectionary readings, we
join the disciples as they wait for the coming of God’s Spirit at Pentecost. So, it is
good for us to reflect a bit this month on how in God’s rhythms (and not ours),
Erica Moriarty has decided to take a break from her monthly task of delivering waiting and prayer are used for preparation.
your monthly parish magazine after a great many years. We thank her for her Whilst I have enjoyed my time as acting diocesan Bishop, it has been hard work
unstinting dedication and provision of a great service in all weathers. juggling two roles (or wearing two hats!), and I look forward to handing over the
Welcome to Erica’s successor - Christine Coates. We are very grateful to have diocesan reins.
you continuing support. Pentecost will be a timely reminder that we do everything in the Lord’s strength,
and without God’s resources, we can do very little. The disciples were called to
prepare, to wait together, patiently, expectantly and prayerfully. Please join me
this month in praying for our new life together as a diocese, so that we may be
open to God’s Spirit in the same way as the disciples were.
Did you Know?
A favourite prayer of mine from the Iona Community goes like this: You keep us
You can have your parish magazine delivered to your door each month if waiting. ‘You, the God of all time, want us to wait for the right time in which to
you live within the parishes. discover who we are, where we must go, who will be with us and what we must
do. So thank you…for the waiting time.’
We have a fantastic team of volunteer distributors who undertake the Bishop Karen
delivery of this magazine, and for just £8 a year (which is £1 less than you
would pay at the retail price and no charge for delivery), you could be
included on one of these rounds.

Contact the Editor, for more information: Alison Debenham
alison@culverdell.co.uk or 01929 471780

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