Newsletter Sixth Sunday of Easter: 17 May 2020

Alleluia, Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, alleluia.

I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Sunday Readings: Acts 17.22-31; Psalm 66.7-18; 1 Peter 3.13-22; John 14.15-21

Three Minute Sermon: Just before the lockdown I met someone who embodied much of what St Peter is talking about in the passage 1 Peter 3.13-22. This person had exposed poor and unacceptable practices in their workplace. In modern organisational parlance this is called being a whistleblower and, in theory, this should be a confidential process. Anyway, the result of these revelations was that the Chief Executive plus a few others were forced to resign. It is sad to say that was little doubt that the allegations were anything but true.

Naturally, the whole affair came to the notice of the local press who duly reported the story and in doing so named the former Executive as well as the whistleblower - on account that the organisation had made counter allegations against them. The individual was then levered out of their job and as a result every prospective employer is able to google that person, read the press articles and draw their own conclusions. Inevitably, this makes people suspicious of this individual; justified no doubt by the crass phrase, ‘no smoke without fire’. When St Peter says, “now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed”, I can’t help but think of this person!

I was privileged to have a long and deep conversation with the individual and to be able to delve a little deeper into their motivations for their actions. After all, a less costly and easier course would have been to say nothing, to turn a blind eye. A significant part of that person’s motivation was their Christian faith, they could not stand by and condone or ignore flagrant behaviour that was so obviously wrong. It was clear to me that they had clearly and thoughtfully made the connection between their actions and their Christian faith. In St Peter’s words, “keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame”. (1 Peter 3.16)

Despite the fact that they had suffered a significant drop in income and status the person did not seem to harbour undue anger or bitterness. Their conduct echoed the thoughts of St Peter in being, “always ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence”. (1 Peter 3.15-16)

It is a tad over dramatic to call this person a modern martyr but they certainly suffered for their faith and made a significant personal sacrifice for doing what was right. I think that, when St Peter was writing this passage he was pondering what this all means in his life and its implications for the Churches he was corresponding with. Comfortable and pliant Christianity all too readily wants to skip over these issues. The trouble is we cant escape those words of Jesus who says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. (Matthew 16.24): advice that Jesus personifies and embodies in his passion and in his death on a cross. As St Peter puts it,

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit”. (1 Peter 3.18)

God bless & keep safe

Parish News & Events

The Archbishops have issued the following instruction to all Parish Priests, “our church buildings must now be closed not only for public worship, but for private prayer as well and this includes the priest or lay person offering prayer in church on their own”. The Church as a building maybe closed but The Church, as the People of God, is alive and well.

The Facebook Mass needs to be shared and so does our newsletter far more widely so press that SHARE button and give a copy to your neighbour. In my naivety I had hoped we would be getting back to normal by Pentecost Sunday (Sunday, 31 May)! We do need to mark that special day in Church and in our homes. For Church I would like you to paint a stone, pebble etc flame colours (red, orange & yellow) and place it on the steps of the outside cross. Maybe you think a stone or pebble is not for you. What about bringing in a jam jar some flowers cut from your garden. Basically, bring something to show we are alive and well and worshipping God the best we can. In addition, why not put a stone, some flowers and/or a candle in your window along with a poster (to be included in next weeks newsletter). This is especially important for those who shouldn’t or can’t venture out and for the rest of us to show our solidarity with them.

We are going to be doing this with our fellow Christians in St John’s, Torre and St Luke’s.

I have moved the Food Bank Donation bin to outside my house in the hope it will encourage more donations as the stocks at the Torquay Community Larder are running low.

This is how much was donated this week .... I am told it is making a real difference.

Fr Paul’s Contact Details

Telephone: 01803 323002Mobile: 07809 767458Email: liberty.hall@me.com

The Lockdown Experience Written by Elena Mercer a Pharmacist at the Hospital

These last few weeks on lock down have been a bit of a rollercoaster, or a coronacoaster as people are now saying! This is actually a good opportunity to look back on what's happened so far. This is isn't over, I'm sure....

I work in two different areas in the Trust's pharmacy; the pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Paignton and the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. Very early  on in the pandemic there was a focus on Intensive Care and ventilated patients. I needed to make sure we would have enough of the different types of medication used to keep these patients safe. I was worried we would have to use different combinations of medications, unfamiliar to nursing staff and medics as the usual stocks dried up. They would be looking to me for advice and information, so I had to gather information quickly on the possible alternative options open to us. Communication and sharing of information has been great between pharmacists across the country on this subject!

It was also a worry that a lot of staff would be off work, sick with corona virus, so the level of service would be limited. Intensive care is a specialist area so I had to provide training to other pharmacists so that they could cover for me. Thankfully my family and I have not been sick, so far.Over the last few weeks, I've had some highs as the manufacturing unit in Paignton has been able to produce alcohol hand rub and get it out to the NHS to use when usual supplies were exhausted. They are also producing in partnership with commercial drug companies, the medications we are running short on. There have also been a few wake up calls as I've been involved in preparations for the Exeter Nightingale hospital.

So much has happened and changed over such a short time! Please keep safe and keep in touch. I can't wait to be able to see you all back in church, celebrating and connecting together again. Peace be with you.

A Little Bit of Humour

Brain Teasers

Three Brain Teasers this week! Courtesy of Chris Tozer Answers next week.

Words within Words… an ongoing brain-teaser for the ‘duration’ of self-isolation. When all of this uncertainty in our lives is over no doubt there will be parties. How many words can you find (3 or more letters) from within the word “PARTIES”… there are well over 100 including four 7-letter ones)

The Numbers Game....  This 7 question quick fire round uses the number of the question to tell you how many answers

there are.  e.g. 1 answer for Q1, 2 answers for Q2, 3 answers for Q3 etc.  Good Luck 1.  One under par. 2.  Two fat ladies. 3.  Three tenors 4.  The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 5.  The Famous Five 6.  Friends. 7.  Deadly Sins

Turn these anagrams into well-known exotic desserts/cakes 1. A tint treat. 2. See ace heck. 3. A mack dearie   4. Elm lie flu lie. 5. Open at ten. 6. He tackle cocoa 7. Press outfit. 8. Is it a rum General Knowledge 1. What year was Kitkat Chunky released in the UK? 2. What is the largest cricket stadium in the world? 3. Who sang backing vocals on “You’re so Vain” by Carly Simon? 4. What type of weapon does Thor mainly use? 5. What is the name of the fault line that extends approximately 1200km through California? 6. What is the currency of Croatia? 7. What word, beginning with “V” describes the point where 2 sides of a triangle meet? 8. What is the hardest known material in the world? 9. Which sea is bordered by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia & Georgia? 10. What is the fastest growing plant in the world? 11. What is planet Earth’s ratio of water to land: a) 50:50 b) 60:40 c) 70:30? 12. What famous scientist wrote “A Brief History of Time”? 13. How is 2020 written in Roman Numerals? (My question…why do we still use

these??...answer...no idea!) 14. Which animal is nicknamed “unicorn of the sea”? 15. Which country is the largest producer of cider? Answers to newsletter 8 (08.05.20) quizzes Answers:   London Quiz 1.Peter Pan   2.London School of Economics 3.Portland Stone 4.Wembley Stadium 5.The Shard 6.A cable

car link across the River Thames 7.Three (2012, 1948, 1908) 8.The Gherkin 9.Elizabeth Tower 10.Fulham

FC (Craven Cottage) 11.Oxford Street 12.A40 ANSWERS to Language Language!

1. English 2. Arabic 3. Portugese 4. Spanish 5. Dutch 6.Afrikaans 7. German 8. Persian 9. Magyar (but

will accept Hungarian) 10. French ANSWERS to Airports 1.JFK 2.John Lennon     3.Ronald Reagan 4.George Best     5.Charles de Gaul 6.John Wayne 7.Marco Polo

8.Genghis Khan 9.Indira Ghandi 10.Louis Armstrong

Book Review

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Reviewed by Graham Ross Andrews

Dr Johnson said, ‘No one but a blockhead would write but for money.’ But when Fr. Paul asked for a book review, I decided I had to ignore the good doctor. But what book? Do I pick something erudite such as ‘War and Peace’ (actually, apart from a few chapters about Russian agriculture, it’s a real page turner) or ‘Ulysses’ (don’t bother). But ‘Don’t Panic’ perhaps ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (excellent, with a paranoid robot called Marvin) or a Discworld book (witches, wizards and dwarfs and very funny), but actually my Desert Island book would probably be Jane Austen’s, ‘Pride and Prejudice’. It does have the most famous first line in literature, ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ (Sorry Marcel, but, ‘For a long time I used to go to bed early.’ doesn’t really cut it). Of course, being Jane Austen and English, what she really means is the opposite. A single woman with no fortune was, in those less liberated time, desperately in need of a rich husband. Mr and Mrs Bennet have 5 daughters. They live comfortably, but the property is entailed and will pass to a male relative on Mr Bennet’s death; the oleaginous Mr Collins (an Anglican priest no less, probably the sort that becomes an Archdeacon later in life). Mr Bennett is a sympathetic character, charming, well read; his wife a gossipy busy-body. Again, Jane Austen wrong foots us; Mr Bennett doesn’t appreciate the reality of his daughters’ position and is weak and ineffective, it is Mrs Bennet who has a firmer grip on reality. Fortunately, after overcoming their pride and their prejudice against one another, the oldest daughter, Elizabeth, does marry Mr. Darcy, one of the richest men in England.

Bible Study Three

Task One: Read 1 Peter 4.1-11

Task Two: Think about the following Questions

Question 1 Choose a phrase from this passage that stands out for you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write it down. What strikes you about this verse? (This question comes from, ‘The Wiersbe Bible Study Guide Series: Romans).

Question 2 In your life what has it meant to, “no longer by human desires but by the will of God?” (1 Peter 4.2)

Question 3 What does it mean, “be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers”? (1 Peter 4.7)

Question 4 I love the notion that, “love covers a multitude of sins”. Are we that optimistic and forgiving in our lives? Do we live up to this notion?

Let’s pay attention to the list St Peter gives us of how to conduct ourselves: “Maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins” (verse 8)

“Be hospitable, to one another without complaining” (verse 9)

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received”. (Verse 10) & “whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies” (verse 11)

“Whoever speaks must do so as one who speaks the very words of God” (verse 11)

Why? “So that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ” (verse 11)

Quite a lot to live up to, really.

Your loving care

Lord Jesus, when you walked with us on Earth You spread your healing power. We place in your loving care all who are affected by coronavirus. Keep us strong in faith, hope and love. Bring relief to our sick, console our bereaved, protect those who care for us. We left a prayer to you Lord, and trust in your infinite mercy, As we wait for the day break. Amen.

A Prayer recommended by CAFOD

Children’s Colouring Page Based on John 14.15-21