On Sunday a congregation of 50 people enjoyed the resumption of our Valley Worship services after a summer break at St Swithun’s in Martyr Worthy.   Nicky Barber led the service and Tim Clapp the worship.   We were privileged to have Rev Simon Butler of the More to Life network of churches in the North Hampshire Downs as our visiting speaker.    Alongside his ministry there, Simon is also plays a lead role in designing and implementing the Winchester Diocese’s strategy for rural parishes.  He spoke powerfully of his love for rural ministry and his desire to see it flourish when interviewed by Nicky as part of our ‘Every Day Lives’ series.   Alfie Walker led the prayers, which were beautifully aligned with Simon’s talk and its theme of tents and of God coming to pitch his tent amongst us in Jesus.

Meanwhile Verity Greig (supported by Sasha Muldoon and Nick Fuggle) led a typically lively session of the Ark across the lane in the Village Hall, attended by 10 children.  After fun activities the group watched most of the first session of the Youth Alpha series, which will be a feature of this term as a means of building stronger spiritual foundations.  In case any children (or adults!) would like to see this session, here is a link to it –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCVCRUgvmiQ.

Simon’s talk was based on three readings, which were read by Tania Haskell during the course of Simon’s talk at various points (a very effective means of delivering them that might be repeated in due course!), as follows:

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

 Exodus 40:34-38

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

 Jeremiah 29:4-7

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

 The recording of Simon’s talk can be accessed here: