If you would like the weekly "Stay Connected" emailed
to you, please contact the Benefice Office Contact
and we will put you on the mailing list. This is a replacement
for the weekly pew sheet and contains many useful things so
that you don't feel so isolated.
This
week I have acted on two things that I have been meaning to
do for ages. One was to change my email address, which was
long overdue and the other was to purchase a new laptop. My
old one was 8 years old and kept crashing on zoom calls, which
was rather embarrassing. I resisted the need to act on both
of these things because I knew it would mean a lot of change
and sorting out. I was right and I've had 2 days of stress
and hard work getting everything I need to keep transferred,
as well as learning new ways of doing things. I started the
change on my old laptop on Sunday but yesterday knew it was
time to change over for good. I actually shed some tears as
my lovely old red laptop had seen me through some tough times
and certainly could tell a story or two. Today is day 2 of
life with my new laptop and I'm being won over. It is quiet
and I'm learning how to use it and enjoying it too. What's
more I am also enjoying having a good clearout on my old e-mail
account and unsubscribing to companies etc that I no longer
want to hear from. I've got a nice clear desktop too. My son
Tom said that if my old desktop was a house it would have
been on one of those de-cluttering for hoarders programmes
- cheeky!
How all this has made me feel has surprised me and made me
think about change and new beginnings. Change can be a very
scary thing - whether it is chosen or forced upon us. For
me I felt out of my depth and not in control because I wasn't
really sure what I was doing. I guess since last March we
have been experiencing change at such a fast rate and we haven't
felt at all in control. Change also inevitably means loss,
which nobody wants or likes. For me the loss has been a good
thing as I'm clearing out all the old stuff that I don't need
anymore. I do hope and pray that the pandemic will enable
us to have a good throw out of things we don't need anymore
and which don't work - apply this to your own life, church,
everything. Change also means loss in heart - breaking ways.
Life is always about change and that inevitably means the
end of life. During the last two weeks in our churches we
have lost Doreen, Joy, Tony and Brian - all much loved members
of the church family. Death is something that is totally out
of our control yet as Christians we can hold onto the promise
that the Lord is in control. ‘For I know the plans
I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future. Jeremiah 29: 11. We hold onto the promise of
eternal life also.
Change can also herald new beginnings - a new baby, a new
job, a new home, a new calling, a new lease of life. Even
when life gets back to some form of normality many changes
will have occurred that will have meant new beginnings for
many people. I really pray that as we face constant change
at the moment we will embrace the good things that can come
out of change. As we encounter losses in so many ways, may
we know the Lord is in control and is with us. As we look
to a time of life as we used to know it, may we see the potential
and look for the new beginnings that God has in store for
us.
Take care, stay safe and may God richly bless you
Every blessing

See the links below
This
weeks Stay Connected Sheet pdf
Daily
Prayer Calendar January pdf Compassion
Prayer Calendar January pdf
If you need help in these difficult times
if you live in Hutton call the parish office on 01934 813871
(Office hours – Weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or Anne Wilkins
on 823556 or Terry Porter on 813399. If you live in Locking
call Anne Wilkins on 823556.
Sad news
It is with great sadness that we heard that Tony Coles went
to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning this week. He was at
home surrounded by his family. Tony was a much loved member
of Locking Church and served the Lord in so many ways. Please
pray for Ann and for their children Louise and Stephen and
their partners Paul and Renata and grandchildren Philip, Ben
and Oliver. May they know the Lord's peace and comfort at
this difficult time.
On Thursday we heard the sad news that Brian Carter was suddenly
taken ill and died in hospital. May the Lord be with Maggie
and all their family in their shock and as they come to terms
with their loss. Like Tony, Brian knew and loved the Lord
and is with Him in glory - yet he will miss him greatly. May
the Lord give both churches His peace and comfort at this
time of great sadness. May He walk with us in this dark valley.
Joy Schofield went to be with the Lord on 4th January. Please
pray for Dan - Joy's husband and for their family also. Joy’s
funeral will take place on Tuesday 19th Jan, 10.30am at Weston
Crematorium, Ebdon Road, Worle. The service will be webcast
for those who wish to view it. Please contact Anne if you
would like the link. We give thanks for Joy who was a much
loved member of the church family in Hutton and who is now
with their Lord. May her family know the real peace and comfort
that comes from Him.
Good news
Val and Alan Haynes write: Our 3rd great grandchild was born
on 8th January. She called Ariella weighing 7lbs 5ozs. Our
congratulations go to Ariella's mum and dad, as well as to
Val and Alan. Got some good news? - then why not share it
here so we can all celebrate. A special anniversary, a new
baby, an engagement, an achievement. It can be something big
or very small - if it's good news then let us all know.
Words of Hope
We have been contacted by someone in Locking who wants to
fill the village with words of hope. She has seen this idea
elsewhere whereby words of hope are left in bags around the
parish and people take them to be encouraged. She also thinks
that we could put words in envelopes too. If you would like
to be involved in making special envelopes and/or distributing
them then please contact Jayne Butler on 07828417349. This
will all be done safely and without meeting in person.
Crosslinks Magazine
The Advent and Christmas edition of our Crosslinks
Magazine can be viewed here
Hutton Dabaso Twinning Association Fund Raising Quiz
- Online.
Can we surpass our first online quiz in September? Thank you
so much to Richard & Gemma Sills for organising it on
our behalf and thank you for agreeing to do another one on:
Friday 22nd January 2021 8pm. Wassailing theme
Tickets £5 per person (+ £0.98 booking fee) from
Eventbrite. Search Eventbrite for Hutton Dabaso Quiz. Each
team will need: a lead person who will book and pay for the
number of tickets required, provide their contact email &
ensure that there is a device available with a reliable online
connection. Teams can be up to 6 named people and will need
a team name. Tickets are available until noon on Friday 22nd
January 2021. If you can afford more than £5, can’t
join us for the Quiz, or would just like to donate we would
welcome that via Givey (www.givey.com/huttontwinningassociation).
Both Eric and I have Dabaso soap for sale (1 bar in a Kenyan
bag £2.50, 2 bars in a Kenyan bag £4) if you know
of any interest do let us know. Kind Regards Margaret Sills,
Hon Sec, Hutton Dabaso Twinning Association.
Prayer Chain
If you need prayer for yourself or another then there is a
team of people ready to pray. For Locking, please contact
Anne Wilkins – phone 823556. For Hutton Kay Cole phone
811424 and they will send out the prayer request.
Prayer requests - please feel free to send
prayer requests to Chris in the office, if you would like
them to be included on this sheet, or call Anne on 823556.
If you would like someone to pray with you please call Anne
and she will pray on the phone.
Foodbank
Any Foodbank donations can be left on the doorstep of John
and Margaret Bailey, 31 Willow Drive, Hutton or Chris and
Anne Wilkins, The Vicarage, The Green, Locking (next to the
Church Centre) where they will be collected and taken to the
foodbank.
They write (10th Jan): The items on the list are our most
needed at the moment. On Friday alone we provided food parcels
for over 100 people and nearly a ton of food went out. Donation
bins are available in Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose,
Morrison’s and Coop Severn Rd and Worle. Donations can
be dropped off at our warehouse in Haywood Village (please
contact us 01934 708906 http://westonsupermare.foodbank.org.uk/
to check times and address) or in North Street during opening
hours and at our outposts across town (including Banwell).
Thank you
Mustard Seed FairTrade Coffee Shop
We wish everyone a very Happy New Year and a healthy one too.
We start 2021 with many challenges ahead - socialising and
meeting together will be very difficult. But sometimes, to
be thrown off course and given unexpected circumstances, (not
of our choosing) we find paths will open for us which we had
never envisaged, inviting us to think differently or choose
new ways of seeing, behaving and doing. It's good to have
more time to be quiet and reflect on how much we have to be
grateful for, to see the world from a different perspective,
and allow a new sense of being humbled to flow through us.
So it's not all bad - we can be positive as we look forward
to a time when we can forget social distancing and just be
together and enjoy a good old-fashioned hug.
We send our love and best wishes to everyone - keep well and
stay safe.
Gill & Eric Holdaway xx
PS “Mustard Seed” deliveries will continue every
Wednesday, so don't forget to call 813716 if you need anything
from the Fair Trade cupboard (or any cupboard!!)
Nature Notes

I hope you all enjoyed last week’s quiz and were able
to answer a good number correctly. (And, no, I didn’t
know how many legs a millipede has, or how many species of
spiders there are without looking it up!) The Christmas and
New Year period has been a fairly quiet one on the nature
front, but there have been a few highlights: Walking over
Windmill Hill on Christmas Eve I found the first violets open
– a real treat. I can now look forward to enjoying their
delicate scent each time I pass. The same walk produced a
total of eight different plants in flower. The other flower
I start to look out for now is the celandine (photo left),
and today I found the first one along Church Lane, very sad
and battered, unsurprisingly, given the weather! In the garden
the snowdrops are just beginning to poke through, along with
the yellow crocus, and the winter honeysuckle bush provided
some welcome pollen for a queen bumble bee who braved a temperature
of 2 degrees centigrade last Friday in order to feed. The
resilience of nature is inspiring and gives us hope even on
the darkest days. Gillian
NATURE QUIZ
1. What is the fastest bird in the world?
2. The reed beds of the Avalon Marshes host the winter roost
of which bird?
3. Name the smallest bat in the UK
4. What poisonous snake lives on the Mendips?
5. Which mouse is smaller: Dormouse or Harvest Mouse?
6. Approx. How many legs does a millipede have: 50? 150? 500?
7. What colour is the seaweed called ‘Sea lettuce’?
8. Name three common trees that have catkins in Spring
9. What is the Latin name for the oak?
10. What is an alternative name for the Lapwing?
11. Name the rare cousin of a common garden flower that grows
on the cliffs of Cheddar Gorge
12. How many legs do insects have?
13. True or false: the Herring Gull is a protected species?
14. What is the largest shark to visit Britain’s coastal
waters?
15. A few years ago beavers were introduced to which Devon
river?
16. In the last year a further successful re-introduction
has taken place on which National Trust estate?
17. Which species of owl ‘hoots’?
18. How many species of British spiders are there: 410? 280?
650?
19. Do badgers hibernate? Yes/No
20. Name two authors who wrote classic books about otters
Answers
1: Peregrine 2: Starling 3: Pipistrelle 4: Adder 5: Harvest
mouse 6: 150 7: Green 8: Hazel, Alder, Birch 9: Quercus 10:
Peewit 11: Cheddar Pink 12: 6 13: True 14: Basking shark 15:
Otter 16: Holnicote 17: Tawny owl 18: 650 19: No 20: Henry
Williamson, Gavin Maxwell
Collect for The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform
the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and
in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Readings for the coming weeks
Why not read the readings through slowly twice and before
you do ask God to speak to you today.
This week we are reading through the gospel of John and Mark
Sunday 17th January John 1 : 43 - end
Monday 18th January Mark 2: 18 - 22
Tuesday 19th January Mark 2: 23 - end
Wednesday 20th January Mark 3: 1 - 6
Thursday 21st January Mark 3: 7 - 12
Friday 22nd January Mark 3: 13 - 19
Saturday 23rd January Mark 3: 20 - 21
Reading for Sunday 17th January
John 1: 43 - end (NIV UK) Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.
Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found
the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets
also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’
‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’
Nathanael asked.
‘Come and see,’ said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here
truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’
‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under
the fig-tree before Philip called you.’
Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of
God; you are the king of Israel.’
Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you
under the fig-tree. You will see greater things than that.’
He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see
“heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
on” the Son of Man.’
Reflections on John 1: 43 - end
Well, the Christmas decorations are packed away, the Wise
Men have been to visit baby Jesus and gone home, and our readings
now turn to Jesus starting his ministry. Last week Geoff wrote
about Jesus’ own empowering at his Baptism ……..
but immediately Jesus makes clear that, like all good Rabbis,
this is not going to be a one-man band, this will be a team
effort.
And that’s the first application of the passage as
we head through Lockdown3 – Christianity has at its
core not a set of rules to be followed as individual religious
practices in isolation, but a family relationship, firstly
between us as individuals and God who is himself “in
3 persons”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and then between
us and other believers as Gods family in every locality. WE
ARE NOT ALONE.
There are many important points in these verses, but I just
want to reflect on 2 which seem to me important “positives”
that we can take with us as we navigate what promises to be
another “interesting” year.
1. HE CALLS US BY NAME (v43). Jesus, as he was leaving for
Galilee, didn’t shout out a general invitation to accompany
him ……. He went and found Philip. Why Philip?
Why not? Philip was an example of Everyman – just like
you and me. But Jesus wanted him in on things from the start,
because Philip was in the right frame of spirit to respond,
and Jesus just knew that there would be things for Philip
to accomplish early on in the life of the Church (if you want,
look at Acts ch.8). And what does he say to Philip? Not “here’s
a pamphlet about my teachings; get on with it”. He says
“Follow me” i.e come with me, I’ll show
the way, and when its time, I’ll send you out on your
unique mission. AND PHILIP JUST GOES WITH HIM! His first followers
could have had NO idea what following Jesus would mean, where
they would go, what they would face …….. but they
just went. They knew he could be trusted……..and
they give us an example to follow. JESUS CAN BE TRUSTED INTO
THE UNKNOWN – WE ARE NOT ALONE!
2. HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT US (v47/48). Yes, blemishes and all,
whether we are just starting our Christian journey or whether
we’ve been a believer for 50 years or more. Jesus knew
the very depths of Nathaniel even before he met him! Just
as in v42, Jesus looks at Simon Peter and says, “You
shall be called Cephas/Rock”. It didn’t mean Jesus
thought they were perfect – He had some very blunt home
truths to say to Peter during their journeying together! And
he knew they would have some very big wobbles on their faith
journeys………but that didn’t disqualify
them from playing their part in the team! We may be feeling
we are having a “good” or a “bad”
Covid, faith-wise, but that’s not the way Jesus looks
at us. He looks at us, loves us, and says simply “Follow
me”. WE ARE NOT ALONE.
I’d like to finish this reflection, though, with another
Nathaniel statement, in v46. “Can anything good come
out of Nazareth?” Galileans generally – and Nazareth
in particular with its large Roman garrison – were looked
down on by other Jews in Jesus time. Hence the irony of the
Saviour of the World being called a Nazarene! But out of this
1st century prejudice, comes a 21st century challenge to us.
Are there people, or places, or situations where OUR natural
response is “Can anything good come out of……..”?
Can I challenge us to ask ourselves that question this January
Lockdown – we have plenty of time to reflect! And if
we find ourselves troubled by our reflections, chat to your
partner or pick up the phone. And lets deal with the elephant
in the room…. “Can anything good come out of ……..
this pandemic”? There’s a lot of sloganizing about
“building back better” and a “kinder post-Brexit
society”, but let me take us back to the Bible, to a
situation where the Jews were faced with a devastating catastrophe
– the loss of their land. In Ezekiel ch37 God gives
the prophet a vision – a valley of dry bones. In v2
God asks Ezekiel a question “Can these bones live?”
Ezekiel gives a simple reply “O Sovereign Lord, you
alone know.”
Can I suggest that the same spirit empowers our watching,
waiting, and – most of all – praying in the months
ahead. Let us hear and see what the Spirit is saying to the
Church and to the UK. Amen
Cliff Dumbell
Home study - take time to read the Bible passage
John 1: 4 and reflect on these questions:
1. Verse 43 When in your life have you felt Jesus
say 'Follow me.' What does it mean to you to follow Jesus?
2. Verse 45 Who told you about Jesus so that you could follow
Him? Have you ever told someone about Jesus? How do you feel
about doing this? What would you tell people about who Jesus
is?
3. Verse 46 Who could you say 'Come and See' to - pray about
these people and ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to
invite them when we can meet in person again.
4. Verse 49 - What was it about what Jesus had said to Nathanael
that made him say that Jesus was theSon of God?
5. Verse 50 What great things have you seen Jesus do in your
life and in the lives of others?
Listening Chapliancy Phone Line
Serving Bristol, Somerset and South Gloucestershire
We are a faith-based service offering chaplaincy support for
people of all faiths and none in times of emergency
Are you recently bereaved or concerned about end of life issues?
Are you a key worker overwhelmed by what you are facing or
dealing with at work? Are you worried about someone who is
seriously ill, especially if you can't visit them? Are you
anxious about the effect that the COVED 19 crisis is having
on your life? Maybe you would just like someone from the faith
communities to talk to.
If you live in the Bristol, Somerset or South Gloucestershire
area: Call 0330 229 1700 • 8am-11pm • 7 days a
week
CARING and CONFIDENTIAL
Local Help
If you are self-isolating and need shopping or supplies please
ring Anne 01934 823556 for Hutton and Locking villagers or
Steve Cope 01934 813871 for Hutton.
Any Foodbank donations can be left on the doorstep of John
and Margaret Bailey, 31 Willow Drive, Hutton or Chris and
Anne Wilkins, The Vicarage, The Green, Locking, where they
will be collected and taken to the foodbank. They are in need
of: Tinned potatoes, Instant mashed potatoes, Shampoo and
deodorant, Tinned meats, plus any other food items but please
no pasta!
The Red Cross has launched a help line for anyone that is
“feeling lonely or worried, finding it difficult to
access food or medication, or are concerned about someone
else who is”
Call free and confidential on 0808 196 3651 to chat to a Red
Cross volunteer.
Help is offered with:
- Help with practical information and advice.
- Emotional support.
- Connecting with local support.
- The phone line is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
“God Knows”
by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the
Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known
way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly
into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in
the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.
Prayers :
A prayer for times of isolation
‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come…
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39)
God of heaven and earth,
in these times of isolation,
apart from loved ones
distant from friends
away from neighbours
thank you that there is nothing
in all of creation,
not even coronavirus,
that is able to separate us from your love.
And may your love that never fails
continue to be shared
through the kindness of strangers
looking out for each other,
for neighbours near and far
all recognising our shared vulnerability,
each of us grateful for every breath,
and willing everyone to know the gift
of a full and healthy life.
Keep us all in your care.
Amen.
From: www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/churches/coronavirus-prayers
For those who are ill -
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are
ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms
are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For hospital staff and medical researchers
Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who
are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work
many will be restored to health;through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A prayer at bedtime -
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.
Tonight we pray especially for (names family or friends who
are affected by Coronavirus) and the people of (country or
place which is affected by Coronavirus).
Please give skill and wisdom to all who are caring for them.
O God of unconditional love,
you who show no partiality in respect to people or nations,
we have heard your good news of great joy for all the people.
We hear that good news, and in hearing, believe.
We know that your sanctuary is a house of worship for all
people,
with no regard for the colour of our skin.
As we worship you, knit us into a people,
a seamless garment of many colours.
May we celebrate our unity, made whole in our diversity.
Forgive us for our inability to let our “old selves”
die to the world. Amen.
Church of Scotland
Desiderata
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what
peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without
surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the
spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become
vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser
persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested
in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession
in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is
full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue
there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere
life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be
cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering
the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears
are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You
are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the
stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe
is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours
and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace
in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
By Max Ehrmann © 1927
The Journey Prayer – St Brendan
God, bless to me this day,
God bless to me this night;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace,
Each day and hour of my life;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace, Each day and hour of my
life.
God, bless the pathway on which I go;God, bless the earth
that is beneath my sole;Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love,O
God of gods, bless my rest and my repose;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love, And bless, O God of
gods, my repose.
Bible Q and A This is a very interesting site that answers
some of the tricky questions about the Bible and the Christian
faith. You can also submit questions too. Why not give it
a go?
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/bible-q-and-a/