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 Spring Newsletter 2024

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'Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God

Micah 6:8

 

Dear Friends,

May we wish you a joyful and wonder-full Easter. 

Rev Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference will be visiting Cornwall in April. She will lead a session on ‘Exploring Prayer’ at Degibna at 10.00am on Friday 26th April. Please make every effort to attend and encourage others.

Some of you will know that I (Andrew) suffered a detached retina in January. Following surgery, I am pleased to report that recovery is going well, driving can be resumed and, providing I don’t overdo things, life can return to normal. Your prayers and kind wishes have been greatly appreciated.

 

WORK at Degibna

This year I have set myself the challenge of raising money for a charity I have supported for some time, namely, W.O.R.K. (Widows and Orphans in Rural Kenya). Donations at our next Community & Friends Social on Saturday 22nd June will be for this charity.

The founder of W.O.R.K, Mary Jane Butler MBE, has been a friend of mine for many years. Mary Jane spends four to six months of the year in Kenya where, from 1996–2006, she lived and worked full time as a nurse, a Hospital Administrator, and a Medical Co-ordinator in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bungoma / Busia. It is an area in far western Kenya on the slopes of Mt Elgon bordering Uganda; a poor and forgotten region. There she became increasingly involved with the plight of women, girls, and orphans. As in so many parts of the world, the women and poor suffer most!

W.O.R.K is able to state that all donated funds get to Kenya – there are NO employees and Mary Jane’s family cover all the administration costs.

Currently the charity supports over 100 widows and educates over 100 orphans each year. There is a 55-bed Health Centre and a 2nd one helped by the charity.

For further info see: www.work-kenya.org

I do hope you can join with me in helping W.O.R.K this year. Thank you!     Rev Amanda

         

Sight and Vision

Following my detached retina I have, not surprisingly, been thinking about the precious gift of sight: how amazing it is, how we tend to take it for granted, and the dramatic change that loss of sight brings.

Similarly loss of vision, in the spiritual sense, can be hugely limiting and disabling for any church. For Degibna Prayer Chapel, vision has always been at the heart of what we are about. That is why we have a Vision & Management Team who, yes, manage the maintenance of the building etc., but also try to ensure that all we do aligns with our vision.

Also once a year we hold a special Vision Meeting, a time to come together, share ideas, reflect and pray about our vision. What is the Spirit saying to Degibna Prayer Chapel? Are there new ventures we should try? Are there changes we should make or things we need to let go?

This year that meeting is at 2.00pm on Thursday 2nd May and we hope many of you will come along or, if you cannot, do pray for the Vision Meeting. It is not about business, it is all about vision. It will be led by Rev Amanda, using passages from the book of Revelation to challenge and inspire.     Rev Andrew

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Degibna News

• Our snowdrops, planted a few years ago in front of the Chapel, are now well established and spreading. Despite a wet February, they put on a wonderful show. Spring is on the way!

• One of our armchairs has been repaired, our outside lamp has been replaced with an LED version, and we are arranging for our carpet  to have a special spring clean.

• Our ‘Try Praying’ banner will be displayed at the front of the Chapel after Easter, encouraging all to pray and promoting the free ‘Try Praying’ booklets available in the Chapel.

• After Easter we shall be arranging a Spring Garden Tidy. If you would like to join our regular team, just let me know. Many hands ...

• We shall be taking part in ‘No Mow May’ again this year – not mowing the grass to encourage biodiversity. Why not join in this national scheme by not mowing all or part of your own garden lawn during May?

• This year Churches Count on Nature takes place from June 8th to 16th. Each year we try to list all the species we can spot in the Prayer Garden; birds, butterflies, flowers, trees and more. Please get in touch if you would like to take part, or just email me, Andrew, with any species you see at Degibna during the week.

• We are delighted that Simon Dunkley, our new webmaster(!), has kindly agreed to join the Vision & Management Team.

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Events & Bookings

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• Photo is of Easter Sunrise 2023 from the Prayer Garden. Why not join us at 6.30am Easter morning to celebrate ‘Christ is risen’.

• Another successful ‘Muddy Church’ event was held in the recent half-term break. A good and muddy time was had by all, so we look forward to their next visit in May.

• Our March Community & Friends Social was as enjoyable as ever, though less well attended than usual. We seemed to clash with several other local events. Nevertheless in addition to regulars we did welcome 2 walkers and their dogs, who had never been inside the Chapel. We raised £80 for Transform Trade, so well worthwhile.

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Some Prayer Points

As Spring unfolds let us pray:

• with gratitude for signs of new life in church and creation

• for our leaders in both Church & Society in these troubled times

• for the peacemakers of our world, local and global

• for those we know struggling with poor health

• for the witness of Chapel & Garden to all who come to Degibna to walk, cycle etc.

• for one another as Friends of Degibna Prayer Chapel

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Every blessing, as we continue to support one another in prayer.

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Rev Andrew Hill (01326 569803) & Rev Amanda Stevens (01326 561792)

www.degibnaprayerchapel.org.uk

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