A gentle reminder.

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Psalm 65:8 New International Version

I'd had enough on Sunday - another cold, empty church left me searching for some sort of faith. Yes - I had lost it and I was wondering why we were here. The rural idyll had lost its charm and I was wanting a 'get out of jail' card. I see very little of the Rector@6 on a Sunday and when he suggested that we spent Sunday evening at another church, my thoughts were very unbecoming for a Rector's wife. He had in mind to travel out of parish, some fifteen miles to a small town. Here, he wanted to become an anonymous worshipper at an evening service, at a church that was attracting some of our parishioners. I, being the dutiful rector's wife (oh yes!), agreed to go with him. I reckoned that I would, at least, get some time to talk with him in the car.

It is very strange to go to a different church now. We parked up outside and watched the people go in - teenagers (with their parents!) and old and young alike, went through the glass doors into a modern, brightly lit foyer. Nothing like our churches we said to each other. We decided to venture in and we found that we were ignored by the crowd gathered round the tea and coffee counter. We made it into the main church unaccosted. There we were surprised to find that it was a traditional church that had had a face lift. It was warm, carpeted and had chairs and not pews. Yet the structure was a traditional church. As we took it all in, the welcome commitee realised we had broken through and we were welcomed and given a  leaflet which included a sermon outline - 'transformed to be sure'.

The whole evening was centred on assurance. Were we struggling with it? ..well I was. Did I have an inconsistent Christian life? - oh yes! Was I failing to appreciate the indwelling of the Spirit?... Actually it felt more like a kick up the **** for me. It was the wake up call I needed to carry on for a bit longer.

The Rector's Christmas Present

The rector's Christmas present always causes me such a headache - but this year I think there is an obvious choice - long johns! I probably shouldn't be discussing the Rector@6's undergarments but I imagine keeping warm is a common problem for rural rectors and vicars. After three services in three churches yesterday, where the heating hardly functioned or wasn't functioning;- the Rector@6 was feeling the cold quite severely. Sometimes it can feel like the church services are being sabotaged because the heating has not been turned on ...but it is usually a genuine mistake or mal function (or so we are led to believe).

The ultimate Vicar's onesie

How can we expect to fill these beautiful churches, if it is a test of endurance to make it to the end of the service without suffering from hyperthermia or frostbite? The cost of keeping the building warm is too much for small churches that are struggling to pay their share. Should we move out and leave the building to the Historic Churches Trust? Should we just shut the doors and leave it to decay? Often there is not another public space in the village. Many of the churches are located in the centre of the village. What a statement to make - if the doors are locked and the building left empty. What a burden for the small congregations to keep them open.

So the Rector@6 struggles on and I will consider purchasing him a set of thermal long johns. Or should I modernise him and follow the fashion trend of a onesie. If you are not sure what a onesie is - it is the adult version of a babygrow - an all in one stretchy suit and they are fashionable amongst the youngsters at the moment. They come in all sorts of designs. Perhaps I could market a 'vicar's onesie'. Throw a surplice over the top and you are ready to go! Do you think they would catch on?

Strategies for coping in the new benefice

Hurrah! - The scaffolding around the Rectory has gone! The builders are coming back - but at the moment we are a builder free zone. It's been eleven weeks since we moved from Tavistock and I can honestly say we (and I say WE) have never been so busy. The Rector@6 has survived the Easter services and he has managed to attend 4 of 6 annual general meetings. We have had a host of invitations and, where possible, we try to attend as we want to meet as many people as we can. There are times that we have to say no - and Sunday lunch has proved to be one of those times. I would love to share a Sunday roast but The Rector@6 needs to stop after two services  - and to stop talking - especially if he has a service in the evening.

I have found a lady who needed help with her heavy horses - so I am riding regularly again - and on a shire cross and a Clydesdale. When I left Dartmoor I thought that was the end of riding Clydesdales. Leaving Major, the Clydesdale, was very hard. When I arrived in Dorset, I answered an advert, not knowing what sort of horses I would be helpng with. God certainly moves in mysterious ways! This riding is outside any of the parishes and I find that I am really able to relax because of this. I have yet to commit to activities in the parish.

The Rector@6 is getting to grips with six diverse churches and is attempting to draw them together but, understandably, they want to keep their identity. The question is - how does the Rector@6 reduce his work load? He has a small ministry team - so he is not alone but they can only be stretched so far - however enthusiastic they are. Drawing the churches together has to be a priority and when we have had a joint service, there is a definite sense of optimism.

It's not all rosy - while many are keen to support and help the Rector@6, there have been others who have been waiting for the new rector so that they can address issues that are troubling them. He has had to learn to handle these unexpected telephone calls and not to take some comments personally, as these issues have often been brewing for some months before the Rector@6 arrived. He has found this a difficult side to the work and I have seen him chew over such issues for longer than he should. And then the sermon preparation gets squeezed - and if the sermons are not sorted - the day off is not a day off, as the Rector@6 tends to be preoccupied and not much fun!

Walking is our great escape and, with the better weather, we are finally discovering where we are. We have bought a personalised map which is centred on our village and includes all the parishes. The map is displayed on the loo wall so that we can learn the landscape and contemplate our next walk. The sunshine and clear skies mean that we have been exploring our surroundings and finding those places that are 'awesome'! (We have followed up on useful suggestions from fellow bloggers) We have spotted the first bluebells in the ancient woods that fill the landscape and we will soon be surrounded by seas of bluebells. We see deer regularly and yesterday  I saw a tiny fawn in the undergrowth while I was out riding. The deer tend to stay still when I ride rather than run off as they do when I am walking. We are learning to look and see the beauty of the diverse countryside that surrounds us. There are ancient woodlands and sandy pathed forests. There are vast flint ladened fields and acres of pastures. There are miles of well signposted footpaths and bridleways to explore. I missed the sea when we first moved to Dartmoor - now I miss the moor but through the camera lens, I am learning to look with fresh eyes and the landscapes are opening up their splendour.

A Very Busy Easter

Never have a baptism on Easter Sunday The Rector@6 was told by colleagues when he was in training. (Despite being biblical, it is usually too busy with services.) So first Easter after training - what does he do - he has an infant baptism on Easter Sunday. And what a joy it was! The sun shone and the little village church was absolutely packed - not only with the Easter congregation, the baptism party but also visitors from far and wide who were staying in holiday rentals or with relatives. In fact the whole weekend has been a joy!

Good Friday and Easter Saturday followed the pattern of previous years with excellent Easter garden construction by the children in two of the villages. There had been activites from stone painting to chocolate nest making and egg hunts arranged by members of the clergy and lay team. It was lovely to see so many children confidently busying themselves around the churchyard and having fun. There was also a reflective hour at the cross for adults with music and readings which The Rector@6 and I could attend together.

Easter day started with a Book of Common prayer communion service in the church that was just a mile up the road. With the clocks changing, it was an early start for us but not as early as the last year's sunrise service in Devon. The drive along the country lane was full of spring promise - the hard overnight frost was beginning to thaw but still added a sparkle to fence posts and gates as they were caught by the sun. An early egret was disturbed from the stream that runs along the lane and lazily rose up into the air in a brillant white streak. The car was full of primroses for the congregation to take home after the service. The church only has three tolling bells - but they were expertly rung by the sidesman, in a series of patterns that were lively and inviting. Sixteen hardy soles made it to this service and it was good to see them.

I drove The Rector@6 (still in cassock and surplice) back to the village church. It is such a shame that he cannot stay and talk to new faces when there are other churches waiting for his services. He arrived in time to talk to the baptism party and for extra hymn books (borrowed from the other church) to be given out. The newly created children's area was already in use and the overflow chairs full! The baby behaved, The children who helped with the sermon - cooperated willingly (and were not just chocolate egg bribed!) and people sang enthusiastically. The organist scooped up her student daughter on the way back from communion and they sang beautifully (all unplanned) during communion as there was rather a long queue of people. After the service there was a primrose for each family to take with them as a reminder of the Easter message. The holiday visitors were thrilled and amazed that our small village church could be so vibrant and alive in sleepy rural Dorset and tell us that they will be returning next year. A few villagers who don't normally come to church but had just come to see the new vicar - have also said they will be back. But what will they find next time? The reality is trying to keep these small village churches in the centre of the rural community and alive.