News:

Another Easter in lockdown, who would have thought it this time last year that Coronavirus would still be restricting life as we used to know it.  Thankfully a large majority of all our parishioners will now have been offered the vaccine and be well on their way to receiving their second dose.

Even though we were unable to meet in the same way Rev'ds Steph and Robert (St. Peters'), through Zoom delivered a thought provoking Lent course through artwork, some modern pieces and some more traditional.  It has been lovely to share worship with fellow Christians from other local churches and further afield.  Holy week also used some of the same artwork that received positive comments and interest.  Thank you Steph and Robert for all your hard work in arranging this and for the spiritual, faith filled 'goody bags' that were circulated.

The porch at Calverleigh church was decorated as part of the Mission Community Easter Flower Trail running from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday, which depicted the 'Open Tomb'.  The area was beautifully decorated, with flowers around the door, along with vases of flowers on each of the seats either side of the porch.  The tomb was erected using stones collected from the churchyard within which were the folded grave clothes and a jar of spices.  Thank you to all who contributed to the display and for all the positive comments that were received for it and the other displays around the nine churches.  A very good idea so that we could all interact with the last days of Jesus even though we could not meet together at this important time in the Christian calendar.

Thank you to all who took part in the Quiz competition that was arranged by Rita and Dave.  In total there were 137 questions to answer that were put into six different categories, covering logo brands, celebrity, dog varieties to name but a few.  What a tricky quiz it turned out to be!  From the 19 sets of entries that were returned we are pleased to announce that there were joint winners. In joint first place were Lorna & Geoffrey and Maureen & Paul who gained 131 points.  Our congratulations go to them.  Both couples are to receive a voucher for an Afternoon Tea at Elsie May's.  Runners up were Steph & Robert and Rachael & Charlie (129), Mary (Rose and Crown stables) with 124 and Ken & Valerie and Nikki, Dave, Shirley & Mandy (113).  A total of over £200 has been raised to date for our general church funds.  Thank you also to those who didn't return entries but chose to send a donation anyway. We are very grateful at this time of being unable to fundraise in the same way as usual.

It is hoped that we will be able to hold a fundraising event on Saturday 26 June at the village hall when all the current restrictions on gatherings should have been eased.  More details/posters will follow closer to the time when we definitely know what is allowed to happen.

Produce Show August 28 - It is also hoped that this can take place in some way or another at the end of August.  Again more information will be available at a later date.

We send our congratulations to all who have celebrated a birthday/anniversary or birth over the last two months.  It is good to know that weddings are able to take place once again in our churches and our best wishes go to all who arranging a life event in the coming months.  

Condolences go to those of you who have been bereaved recently.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult of times.

We send our good wishes to Lucy, Dan, Bella and Sydney, as Dan's career has taken the family from Lurley to Scotland.

Welcome to any new residents to the parish.  We hope that you are settling in well to your new surroundings and we look forward to when social events are able to resume and you are able to meet and get to know your neighbours/fellow villagers.  We welcome the return to Tiverton of Jess, James and Chester who have moved back to Devon from London.

At the time of going to press we should have been able to open the church doors for services once again and although they will still be taking place with social distancing, masks etc we give thanks that we can join together inside our buildings for fellowship.   Unfortunately we are still not allowed to sing indoors as yet.  The Zoom and conference calls continue in the usual manner and we are so grateful to Steph and Robert that we have been able to join together online or on the phone for a time of prayer and fellowship with others around the Mission Community, town churches, from further afield and even abroad.

When the warmer weather arrives we can look into having an open air service where we will be allowed to sing hymns/songs as long as we are in the churchyard.

Our monthly time of prayer continues on the first Saturday of every month from 9 - 11am.  Details of which are available on the Exe Valley Mission Community website, under Calverleigh.

Do you have any good photos of the village? From past events, or from lockdown that you'd like to share on the website or in a forthcoming magazine? Please send your photos, news, birthday messages, anniversary congratulations (or anything else) to Dave Burton by calling 01884 561499 or by email: calverleigh@exevalleychurches.org.

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