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Appeal to raise £13,000 for project to help Thika farmers battling climate change
“Rain only fell for two weeks in April, the crops failed and everyone now goes hungry, relying on food aid, hoping next season will be better.” Brian and Jane Inwood, from Christow, are part of the Diocese of Exeter link team with Thika Diocese in Kenya. They are passionate about highlighting the problems people in the province of Thungururu face battling the changing climate and lack of rainfall. They say the Farming God’s Way project…
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Call for church buildings to be places of ‘radical hospitality’ 7 days a week
Church buildings should be places of “radical hospitality” where people feel welcome as soon as they walk in, seven days a week, that’s according to the new Archdeacon of Exeter, the Venerable Andrew Beane. He used his sermon at the service to welcome him into his new role (officially known as a Collation service) to call for church members in Devon to make their buildings as welcoming as possible. The service took place at St Mary’s Church,…
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Churchyards praised for encouraging wildlife and biodiversity
The judges of Devon’s Best Churchyard competition have praised the number of churchyard groups who are trying to encourage wildlife and biodiversity with a range of initiatives including bug hotels, vegetable and herb gardens and wildflower meadows. This year’s award was presented by the Bishop of Exeter in a ceremony at Exeter Cathedral on 25 September. The winners, Penny and Paul Kurowski, who manage the volunteer churchyard team at All Saints, East Budleigh, said they…
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Youthwork gets a boost with new SWYM partnership
The Church of England in Devon is increasing its investment in youth work in the county after signing-up to a new three year partnership with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). The organisation places trainee children and youth workers with churches, local ministries and school projects throughout the region. It also resources local churches with training events, residential trips and provides leadership development opportunities for young people. SWYM, alongside Urban Saints, also runs the Spree weekend…
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Devon’s new Mission Enabler says churches have lost confidence in sharing faith
The new Mission Enabler for the Church of England in Devon says he feels some churches and Christians have lost confidence in sharing the good news story of their faith at a time when confidence should be at its highest. Rev’d James Grier, who currently leads Unlimited Church in Exeter as well as being the Youth Mission Enabler, said he was excited about his new role: “I am convinced that for us to change the…
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Campaigners form Christian Climate Action group for Devon
A Devon Christian who is desperate to protect ‘our God-created planet’ and take urgent action on climate chaos has spoken out about why she and other local campaigners have formed a Devon branch of the Christian Climate Action (CCA) group. Liz Dunbar, who worships at Exeter Cathedral, joined Extinction Rebellion (XR) and CCA last year to urge the Government, organisations and fellow citizens to act upon the climate emergency that the planet faces. Scientific consensus…
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