Welcome to Weobley & Staunton Joint Benefice
incorporating the Churches and Parishes of Weobley, Staunton On Wye, Norton Canon, Monnington, Sarnesfield, Byford and Letton in Herefordshire
Inclusive Church
As a Benefice, we believe in Inclusive Church – church which does not discriminate, on any level, on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, ethnicity, race, marital status or sexuality. We believe in Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which chooses to interpret scripture inclusively; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.
Free Bereavement Support Group
The Bereavement Journey
We know that in life, loss is all around us. Often the death of a loved one can be almost too much to bear. If you have lost the person that you love, either recently, or many years ago, grief may stay with you as you navigate your day-to-day life. Weobley parish church (St Peter and St Pauls) is running 7 weekly sessions, starting Wednesday 2nd October at Weobley Village Hall to support you through the process of bereavement. We will be following a series of films and discussions (The Bereavement Journey) that gently guide people through the most common aspects of grief and bereavement, enabling them to process the implications for themselves and discern next steps.
Loneliness and isolation are often felt by the person left behind. By walking with others who have taken the same path, we aim to help you find ways to manage your grief and loss. The format will be an informal, relaxed meeting with refreshments, where you will join others who have experienced similar losses.
Please contact Lesley-Anne Ryder to reserve your place:
Lesley@LesleyRyder.co.uk Phone: 07720 448000
h.Art Herefordshire Art Week
Art Exhibtion
7-15 September
Byford Wonders are a group of 12 artists living in and around Byford. Painters, Print makers, ceramist, sculptors, wood, leather and glass makers
St John the Baptist Church, Byford
Tuesday 10th September
10.30am - 12.00pm
*Tea *Coffee *Cakes *Biscuits & Friendly Chat
Weobley Parish Church
Group Benefice Service
Sunday 29th September
10.30am
*Worship *Commit *Speak Up
St Nicholas Church Norton Canon HR4 7BQ
A Year of Faith
Hereford Diocese has branded 2024 the ‘Year of Faith’. The apostle Paul says that ‘faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). Bishop Richard says: "Jesus shows us that self-giving love is who God is, and his fingerprints are all over us. He shows us that a relationship with him provides the personal security: psychological, material and eternal to risk living differently. I hope our year of faith will increase our confidence in that reality and thus our confidence to live in the light of it" (Weekly eNews from Hereford Diocese 4.1.2024). Upon the solid rock of faith, we can build a vision for positive change.
For Year of Faith ideas and resources please click on the button below.
Weekly Reflection
thoughts and reflections from the Rev'd Philip Harvey
1st, 8th & 15th September The Abundance Mindset
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
We are currently being bombarded with stories on the media about an imminent rise in taxes, inflation rates, the changing of the energy cap and gloomy economic statistics. All this combined can easily lead people to a place of anxiety about their own finances and to a lack of generosity when it comes to giving to the church or charities.
Jesus encourages his followers not to be anxious about money:
‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?... Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”… Indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6)
As we see a good harvest being collected in the fields around us, and as we compare our situation in the UK to that of millions around the world who go hungry every day, we may come to realise that we do have wealth in abundance. The challenging question is whether we are prepared to generously use our abundance to support the continued ministry of our churches and those in need.
Rev’d Philip
11th, 18th & 25th August ‘Run the race to obtain the prize’: 1 Corinthians 9, 24-25
At the Paris Olympics we have witnessed new records and outstanding feats of athleticism. It’s always telling to hear from athletes who miss out on receiving a medal, such as the runner Daryll Neita, whose time of 10.96 seconds in the women’s 100 metre sprint was only .04 behind her American competitor, putting Daryll in 4th place. After the race she spoke of her frustration at this placing, but then said she would be switching off her phone and social media so that she could “really stay focused” on her next event.
Paul uses the analogy of disciplined athletes who run with single minded determination, to remind the faltering Corinthian Christians that must choose to run toward the prize that Christ has already won for them. Often in our faith journey we lose sight of our end goal. We vainly imagine a ‘better offer’ in worldly pursuits, or our vision becomes clouded with disappointment, doubt or emotional desolation. The 1924 Olympic runner Eric Liddell said that when he ran, he could sense ‘God’s pleasure’. May we also seek, and find, this higher pleasure as we run the race that Christ has set for us, right through to the finish line.
Rev’d Philip