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November 2020 A note from the Vicarage All of our churches are blessed with beautiful churchyards, places where the characters and people who shaped our villages are laid to rest. They are places will speak of family, of times and events in history and of faith. I often look at the headstones and wonder who those people were, how old they were and what their story was. A headstone often tells us so little - name, date of birth and date of death. At a recent funeral a poem called ‘The dash’ was read out and I found it rather striking. It talks about the meaning of the dash between the date of birth and the date of death. It is not the dates which tell the story of someone but the dash, which represents their life. November is a time for remembering, a time to remember the story behind those ‘dashes’ of people’s lives. The stories of the lives of the saints, those women and men whose lives show us the grace of God, powerfully at work. Those whose example inspires us in our lives as followers of Christ. We remember too people close to us, for whom our lives played a part in theirs. People whose stories cross over with ours because they gave us life, loved us, offered friendship or who helped nurture our faith. On Remembrance Sunday we reflect on those whose ‘dashes’ were often tragically short due to the violence of war and conflict. We remember those whose stories allow our stories to be as they are today, remembering all whose lives are still changed as a result of war and conflict at the present time. The poem goes on to encourage us to reflect on our own ‘dashes’, to ask ‘what will our story be?’ This time of remembering also prompts us to ask the same question as we reflect on the lives of those who have gone before us. What do their lives and example show us? How do we live our lives in the light and hope of the resurrection and as Christ’s followers?

The WinkleighMission Community

For all of us there are people who have and will shape our lives and we shape the lives of others. May we allow God’s story to be a central part of our story and our own ‘dash’, as the saints and faithful ones of today. Blessings Helen A prayer for November Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Pray during November for….

v The Emergency services.

v Council workers.

v The armed forces and their families.

v All who work to tackle climate change.

v Our friends and family.

Sheep Please can I have any knitted sheep back ASAP please. The flock need to be sorted, named and assigned their temporary home before the start of Advent so the sheep trail can commence! If you have a spare window in any of our villages which can easily be seen from outside and would like a temporary well-behaved woolly guest, please let me know.

The Dash by Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged. To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash? November church opening and services Every Tuesday 6pm - Evening Prayer on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86377365482 8th November - Remembrance Sunday 10:50am - Wreath laying at Ashreigney war memorial 2:00pm - Wreath laying at Winkleigh war memorial 4:00pm - Act of Remembrance on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87070668737 11th November - Armistice Day 11:00am - Two minutes silence - All Saints, Winkleigh The church bell will toll to mark start and end of the silence. 13th November - 7:30pm Friday Social https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86915515501

15th November - 9:30am Sunday Worship on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86937754666 22nd November - 9:30am Sunday Worship on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86937754666 27th November - 7:30pm Friday Social https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86915515501 29th November - 9:30am Advent Carols on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86937754666 Weekly Services are available from both The Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org and Diocese of Exeter https://exeter.anglican.org Radio 4 - Sunday Worship - 8:10am Sunday Radio 3 - Choral Evensong - Wednesday 3:30pm & Sunday 3:00pm (repeated) BBC 1 - Songs of Praise - 1:15pm Sunday Daily Hope - Free Phone Line of Hymns, Reflections and Prayers The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up by the Church of England particularly with those unable to join online church services in mind. Foodbank Non-perishable donations to Okehampton Foodbank can left either in the box at the end of the Vicarage drive or in the porch if it is wet. A box is also situated in the porch of All Saints, Winkleigh. There is also a Foodbank box in Ashreigney village square in the bus shelter for the North Devon Foodbank.

Finance If you are a member of the congregation of All Hallows Broadwoodkelly or All Saints, Winkleigh giving an extra donation on top of your regular giving couldn’t be easier as both churches have set up giving online! Either follow the link or scan the QR code with your mobile phone. All Hallows, Broadwoodkelly https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9116/page/60210/view/

All Saints, Winkleigh https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9118/ General Operations Building Fund

If you’d like to discuss setting up regular giving, please contact the relevant Treasurer. All Saints, Winkleigh - Collin Gibson lamcrg@aol.com / 01837 680172 All Hallows, Broadwoodkelly - Alex Penny alex@croyde.co.uk / 01837 851586 St James, Ashreigney - Andrew Cracknell abrewers@btinternet.com / 01769 520750 St Mary the Virgin, Brushford - Nigel Nightingale nandjngale@hotmail.co.uk / 01837 83288

Advent Quiet Morning We will be holding an Advent Quiet Morning on Zoom, on Saturday 5th December 10:00am - 12 noon. Further details will follow shortly.

Reflections for the season Litany of remembrance In the rising of the sun and its going down, we remember them. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them. In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them. In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them. When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them. When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them. So long as we live, they too shall live, for we remember them.

St Paul’s Cathedral, Los Angeles Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of tears: For tears of grief, redeeming our mourning from despair; For tears of anger, awakening our thirst for justice; For tears of laughter, celebrating our joy in living. May the light of Christ shining through our tears Become the rainbow of your promise, Shedding colours of your love’s bright presence In your grieving, struggling, laughing world.

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In Flanders fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

Contacts Priest-in-Charge The Revd Helen Blaine The Vicarage, Torrington Road, Winkleigh, EX19 8HR 01837 83710 revhelenblaine@outlook.com Normal day off - Saturday Follow us on Facebook for updates, news and pictures - ‘Winkleigh Mission Community’ Church wardens Winkleigh Marjorie Bowers 01837 83585 Sylvia Smith 01837 83132 Ashreigney James Lewis 01769 520647 Broadwoodkelly Position vacant Brushford Nigel Nightingale 01837 83288