‘No one told me.’ A phrase which often can be heard after some event or other.  It’s puzzling because the event in question has been announced, details carried on posters, flyers, notice sheets, even personal invitations.

This is not me saying this, but a reflection from a fictional church which, with much humour, looks at the many different duties and aspects of life in a Parish church. Explanations of the work of a PCC and duties of Churchwardens, vergers and flower ladies.  Well worth a visit for some insightful light relief. Look for, St Faithful’s Havenot - Facebook

What has that got to do with anything - well here’s the telling, ‘listen carefully I’ll say zis only once’, as someone said.

ST MARY'S UFFCULME Unfortunately, the church boiler is not working, so there's no heating in church on Sunday. There are a few blankets available in church, but we suggest you wrap up warmly!

Culm Valley Mission Community News and Events

The Good News of Jesus

Jesus and his Brothers

John 7: 1-10

Services

Sunday 8^th February

9.45am Willand      All age – Willand Church Hall

10.30am Kentisbeare        Holy Communion

11.15am Uffculme All Age

6.30pm Bradfield    Evening Prayer

Wednesday 11^th February

9.30am Uffculme    Holy Communion

Sunday 15^th February

9.45am Willand      Holy Communion

10.30am Kentisbeare        Morning Worship

11.15am Uffculme Holy Communion

Events before Sunday

Friday 6^th

10am Chill & Chat Kentisbeare Village Hall

2pm Music Group, Willand Church Hall

Saturday 7th

7pm Willand Film Night (Paddington in Peru) Willand Church Hall

Saturday 7th at St Peter’s Church, Tiverton.

CHAT is hosting an uplifting gospel concert with

Soul of the City Gospel Choir

Doors open 7pm | Concert starts 7.45pm
Tickets £15 per person
Book here: www.bit.ly/soulofthecityconcert

Events in week commencing 8^th February:

Monday 9th:

9.15am Rockers Toddlers, Willand Church Hall

10am Coffee & Chat, Square Corner Uffculme

12noon Prayers for … Square Corner Uffculme

Tuesday10th:                                            

**9.15am Baby & Toddler Group, St Mary's Uffculme

9.30am-12noon CHAT Advice Drop-in, Square Corner Uffculme

Wednesday11th:

Thursday12th:                                   

10.30am Coffee Morning, St Stephen’s Ashill

10am Coffee & Chat, Square Corner Uffculme

Friday13th:                                

10.30am Coffee & Chat, Willand Church Hall 

12 noon Thanksgiving service – David Tucker – St Mary’s Uffculme      

2pm Music Group, Willand Church Hall

** A problem with the church boiler means the Toddler Group may be meeting elsewhere – look out for local notices.

David Tucker - There will be a Thanksgiving service for David at St Mary’s Uffculme on 13 February at 12 noon, followed by refreshments at the Village Hall.  Please wear something bright.

Mission Community Home Groups 

Monday 7.30pm Uffculme Square corner - contact Claire (07419 740742)

Tuesday 7.30pm Uffculme Book Group - contact Sue (01884 841674)

Wednesday 10.30am Willand - contact Alan (07749 837523)

Wednesday 7.30pm Uffculme - contact Dave (01884 841098)

Friday 11.30am Willand Church Hall (for whole Mission Community) - contact Lynda Barley (839354), or come along following Willand Coffee & Chat (2nd & 4th Fridays each month)

REACH events in the Mission Community

REACH (Connecting with Children, Families and Youth through Mission)

Activities with children

Monday 9.15-11am Rockers, Willand Church Hall

Tuesday 9.15-11am Baby and Toddlers, St Mary's Uffculme

Thursday 1pm Bible storytime, Kentisbeare CoE Reception Class and Preschool

Friday 12 noon Bible storyclub in Uffculme Primary School

Friday 1.15pm Whole school assembly Kentisbeare CoE Primary, St Mary's Kentisbeare

REACH Extra events

Monday 9th Open The Book Kentisbeare 3pm Justice: Ten rules for a good life

While coming up later…

Ladies of Willand meet for a meal and a social time together at a local hostelry, on Friday 13^th February, at 6.30pm.  If you would like to join them, just email Chris Dodds at doddsy4203@gmail.com, so you can be sent the menu. All ladies welcome, from wherever, Church members or not.

Then, Celebrate Pancake Day @ St Mary’s Willand Church Hall on Monday 16^th February between 9.30am and 11am. Includes Bible stories and songs. No charge but donations welcome.  Children to be accompanied by an adult.

Not happening this month… is Uffculme Film Club. This month it would clash with the pantomime – that’s Robin Hood – the Panto - which is on at Uffculme Village Hall on Friday 20^th and Saturday 21^st  at 2.30 and 7.30pm. Tickets from Square Corner.

And looking further ahead...

Karen Action Group – Charity Concert 2026

7pm Saturday March 7^th St Mary’s Church Uffculme

Featuring: The Wyndham Singers, Frayer Partridge, and Barnstable Ladies Choir

Tickets £10 each available from tickets@karenactiongroup.org.uk or 07702 965 833

And another thing …

A Spring concert in May. – Church Hall Willand.  Paul and Pennie are looking for your party pieces - songs, poems, recitations tap dances etc. The second half of the concert will take the form of a short play, so Pennie is looking for people of all ages to take part. You don't need to be Judy Dench or David Tennant - just someone who enjoys joining in. Please see either Paul or Pennie if you are interested.

Contact details

Details of whom to contact in different circumstances follow - please let me know if anything here needs changing (landline phone numbers are all 01884)

Rector

Revd Ben Maynard (07777 177112, ben.culmvalleychurches@outlook.com 

- day off normally Thursday)

Team Parson for Kentisbeare

Revd Nigel Fry (07854 810588, enfrys@gmail.com)

Funerals

Kentisbeare - Liz Hoar (33164, elizabeth.hoar@mypostoffice.co.uk)

Uffculme - Rachel Tucker (07815 646149, davidrachel.tucker@gmail.com)

Willand - Rod Sparkes (829152, rod@sparkey.org.uk)

Weddings

Mission Community - Revd Ben Maynard (07777 177112, ben.culmvalleychurches@outlook.com)

Baptisms

Kentisbeare - Sarah Leyman (266425, 07887 598528, sarah@leyman.co.uk)

Uffculme - Rachel Tucker (07815 646149, davidrachel.tucker@gmail.com)

Willand - Lesley Smith (839436, 07944 295002, lesley.smith757@gmail.com)

REACH

Claire Nichols (07419 740742, claire.culmvalleychurches@gmail.com)

Churchwardens

Blackborough - Richard Persey (07764 929970, jill.persey@btopenworld.com)

Kentisbeare - Liz Hoar (33164, elizabeth.hoar@mypostoffice.co.uk) or Gerry Leyman (266425, gerry@leyman.co.uk)

Uffculme - Richard Rutty (839241, rrutty15@aol.com) or Alison Milne (841778, gordonandalison@aol.com)

Willand - Lesley Smith (839436, 07944 295002, lesley.smith757@gmail.com) or Paul Johnson (839800, 07518 908057, paul427johnson@btinternet.com)

In addition, Revd Lynda Barley (839354, revlbarley@aol.com) has offered to be the contact for any Bradfield matters

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Please send details of events you wish to be included in the Newsletter to: Rod Sparkes rod@sparkey.org.uk or phone 07871 387 263.  Thank you.