Details of this week’s service(s) can be found here > on our Services page.
For the May 2022 edition of Chudleigh News please > Click here
To read about our Churches’ weekend away at Lee Abbey > Click here
Guidelines for coming into church
updated 28th January
Updates are in RED
Covid-19 continues to affect all our lives and is a source of concern and anxiety for many. In order to protect others and help as many people as possible to feel comfortable to attend our services, we would ask that everyone observes the following guidelines:
Masks
Masks are not mandatory but recommended in “enclosed or crowded places.”
Masks are now a personal choice for the individual, and we will not be requiring anyone to wear one to attend our services.
Arrival
Hand sanitising stations are provided near the church doors for you to use if you wish, on entry and exit.
Social Distancing
This has now been lifted. However some may feel anxious about sitting too close to people. We will be providing cards, saying ‘Please leave this space free’ for people to use and put in the seat next to them if they want space. In addition, the South Aisle (right hand side as you look at the front) will now have every other row closed off, so that people who wish to be assured of social distancing can sit in these pews.
Offerings
An offering will not be taken during the service, put if you would like to give towards the work of the parish church in Chudleigh, a plate is provided for cash donations at the back, as well as a contactless card machine. If you are a regular giver to the work we do, you might like to consider setting up a standing order instead; please contact us for details of how to do this.
Singing
There are no restrictions around singing any longer.
Following the Service
We are not using hymn books or printed orders of service. Everything you need to join in with the service will be projected onto the screen. If you would have difficulty reading a distant screen and would like to discuss alternative arrangements, please contact us.
Refreshments
Refreshments will continue to be served after our services, and we would encourage everyone to make use of the space of the church building and grounds to socialise after the service over a cup of tea or coffee.
The church building will be open on weekdays for private prayer from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Church contact details can be found here if you would like to get in touch with us.
Details of this week’s service(s) can be found on the Services page.
Chudleigh News
To find out more about our latest information regarding Church Services, news, events and diary
Chudleigh News May 2022
Follow the links below to see prevous online versions of Chudleigh News.
Chudleigh News April 2022
Chudleigh News March 2022
Chudleigh News February 2022
Chudleigh News January 2022
Chudleigh News December 2021
Chudleigh News November 2021
Chudleigh News October 2021
Chudleigh News September 2021
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The Churches’ Weekend Away reports
Around 100 of us travelled to Lee Abbey in north Devon for the Church Weekend Away. We joined friends from Chudleigh Parish Church, Chudleigh Baptist Church and Chudleigh Knighton and Trusham Churches for a refreshing weekend together.
Our group included more than 15 children who enjoyed their own programme of activities over the weekend led by staff from Lee Abbey. Our children had a great weekend. They enjoyed getting to know friends better as well as the endless games of hide and seek. A highlight for them was the Saturday afternoon session where church members young and old joined together to have fun whilst learning archery.
We didnt let the poor weather dampen our enthusiasm for exploring, and enjoyed walks in the beautiful grounds at Lee Abbey, as well as a brief trip to the beach where four brave souls even managed a quick dip in the sea. It was a great weekend with plenty of opportunities to chat with new and old friends and think about the speakers message.
Simon Holland, the Warden of Lee Abbey, gave talks based on the Gospel of John Chapter 15. In this chapter Jesus said I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15 v5 (ESV)
Simon used the analogy that as Christians we can be grafted onto the vine. The term grafting is an agricultural term that means that a new cutting can be grown from existing vine root structure. In this way, however and wherever we worship and serve we are the branches with Jesus at the centre of our faith. Jesus invites us to abide in Him and He in us. Simon unpacked this metaphor a little more for us. Abiding simply means that we live our life with God. Our sense of identity, sustenance and significance is based in our relationship with Him. Through His grace we are accepted and from this inner fulfilment we are equipped to serve others and take joy into the world.
This contrasts with the reverse situation where our identity is based on our achievements or perhaps what we perceive others think of us. We end up working backwards and when our plans dont work out this leaves us feeling frustrated. We were invited, therefore, to consider the question What sustains us in life?.
Finally we were encouraged to become fruitful not by trying with our own strength but through our life and relationship with God. Sometimes this might lead us to places that we might not have expected!
No write-up would be complete without mention of the food which was home-cooked, plentiful and served by the fantastic team of volunteers who work tirelessly to deliver a fantastic retreat for guests. It was a humbling experience to be so well looked after by the team at Lee Abbey, and one which we are very thankful for.
Tim, Emily, George & Alice Farrell
Breakfast in the dining room
Paul, Eleanor and Maren enjoying some peace and quiet
Construction in the hallway
I had never been to Lee Abbey before and was not entirely sure what the experience would be like. The journey there was somewhat wet and misty but the welcome was warm as was the hot chocolate! The weekend was blessed with rather a lot of weather (!) and we could hear the wind howling around the building and watch the horizontal rain through the windows while we were tucked up warm inside. The building was impressive and I realised that wherever you looked there was something beautiful, whether it was a stained glass window, a vase, a carved fire surround or a view through the window: it was lovely.
The weekend gave us an opportunity to spend time together and to get to know one another better. Instead of dashing off after a quick hello we could have a chat over a coffee, catch up with an old friend or make a new one. Mealtimes also gave us opportunities to share fellowship as well as good food. We had some fun quizzes, stimulating discussion topics and various activities on Saturday afternoon led by the Community team from the Abbey. But more than anything the weekend gave us a chance to step out of our busy lives and spend some time in the Fathers presence, to seek His will or to just be.
Simon Holland, the Warden at Lee Abbey, was a gifted speaker, using poetry, humour and eloquence to share the message of how we are grafted into the Vine (Jesus) and that if we are in Him then we will bear good fruit. I was reminded that I didnt choose God but he chose me. Its all about Love.
I came away from the weekend feeling refreshed and excited about what God has planned for our community here in Chudleigh, not to be inward looking but to look out with a vision of sharing Gods love with those around us.
Hazel Hawley
Red Nose Day Quiz evening entertainment
Lee Abbey’s beautiful setting
Yes the sun did eventually come out
The Churches’ Weekend Away Talks March 2019
Speaker: Simon Holland
Click on the following links to hear Simon’s talks
Session 1: Grafted
Session 2: Abide
Session 3: Fruitfulness Part 1
Session 4: Fruitfulness Part 2
Chudleigh Parish Churches 2019 Summer Project
Helping individuals and churches answer God’s mission call
The Church Mission Society operates in the UK as well as overseas, and since the retirement of Francesca Elloway, our long-time link missionary in Congo, we have adopted as our CMS Mission Partner Ruth Sayers, who is based in Devonport, Plymouth. Ruth visited Chudleigh first back in April and returned on Sunday 14th July to tell us more about her work in Devonport. Devonport, an urban parish, is an area of need, nowadays with a lot of unemployment, and three churches are working together to try to make a difference. Ruth told us specifically about three current projects.
Feast for Fun -Half of all schoolchildren in Devonport qualify for free school meals, which is fine in term time, but what about the holidays? The churches are laying on Feast for Fun each Monday during the summer holiday, feeding families, rather than just the children. They have been interested to find not only that a roast (chicken with vegetables) is seen as a great treat, but that board games afterwards are also hugely popular as something new and different.
Craft Days -These are run in conjunction with the Devonport Library.
Work Club -This is a major work, ongoing on Wednesdays all year. Only the Wednesday between Christmas and New Year is missed. Computers are provided for the use of job seekers and for writing CVs. Advice is available on claiming benefits, and refreshments are provided.
Besides the funds that we have undertaken to raise through our Summer Project, Ruth told us she would value prayer for the work, especially the Work Club, and for herself.
Read more about Ruth and her work on our Mission Partners Page – click here
THE HILLCREST AIDS CENTRE TRUST – Providing support for young people and schools in South Africa affected by HIV/AIDS
Hillcrest is a suburb of Durban, South Africa. The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust:
Supports the education of Aids orphans in South Africa by paying their school fees and for their school uniforms and books. Supports the development of teachers skills in township schools.
Organises projects to South African rural township schools undertaken by 16-17 year-old South African students, painting and decorating and working with the pupils.
The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust was founded in 1990 by the Hillcrest Methodist Church in response to the pending HIV/AIDS pandemic. Supporting the work in South Africa, and making a point of ensuring that ALL funds raised go to that work, the UK-based HACT was established in 2002. Besides the ongoing work highlighted above, the Trust supports other projects undertaken by the Centre, such as a recent trip for pupils from four rural township primary schools to visit a leadership camp outside Durban; a reward for their academic effort and achievement.
To see more information about the Hilcrest Aids Centre Trust follow this link https://www.hillcrestaids.org.uk/
