It was a great delight to welcome the Steel City Clerks to sing our Eucharist yesterday. Special thanks to them for allowing our own Youth Choir to sing with them during the Communion.
Steel City Choristers was established after Sheffield Cathedral unexpectedly closed the cathedral choir in July 2020, in order to maintain a high standard of cathedral-style choral music in the city and to make choral music more accessible and visible.
Steel City Choristers is an independent charity who raise their own funds, and they sing for a wide range of churches and different communities all around Sheffield, performing a diverse programme of church services and concerts. They are pioneering new ways of engaging with cathedral choral music and taking it out to hard-to-reach audiences, for example through innovative projects with food bank choirs.
If you love the choral tradition perhaps you might consider supporting Steel City Choristers. They rely on the generosity of supporters and funders across the country to cover the cost of their professional Director of Music and singing teachers and their annual budget is around £40,000. If you can help them in any way please look them up at steelcitychoristers.org.uk
Following on from the fantastic response to the parable of the talents during Lent 2023, we will be considering two of the most well known verses in the bible from St John’s Gospel this Lent.
How will we do this?
Everyone is invited to show hospitality to someone they don’t really know. It could be someone in the congregation or a neighbour in your street. This can take whatever form you wish. At its simplest level, it may be just talking to someone after church and making them feel welcome, or you may decide to invite someone new to your neighbourhood to morning coffee or afternoon tea with a few friends. You may find an offer to help out with a particular task would be appreciated or walking the dog together, inviting someone to join a group you are involved in or even having a supper party.
Whatever you decide to do, you will be showing love to your neighbour just as God shows his love to each of us.
As we welcome all to join us each week at St Mary’s and celebrate our vision as an inclusive church, we have this opportunity to get to know our neighbour. Invitation cards are available from the office if you wish to use them or you can download an ecard here.
We are greatly looking forward to a visit from the Steel City Clerks who will be singing our Sunday Eucharist in Ross this coming Sunday (18th February) at 9.30am. The Clerks are the altos, tenors and basses of the Steel City Choristers (Sheffield) who are spending the weekend in Herefordshire. Our own Youth Choir will be joining them for the Communion pieces.
The announcement of my recent appointment and pending move from the Ross Parishes will come as a great shock to many of you, particularly at a time when our parishes are flourishing, and for this I am truly sorry. My ministry in the Ross benefice has been a time of great fulfilment and happiness, and Jenny and I and our family have loved living here.
For these reasons we were certainly not looking to move but through a series of extraordinary events, I have been elected to Episocpal office in the Diocese I served in before coming to the Diocese of Hereford. For anyone who knows the Anglican Church, such happenings are vanishingly rare. And it is because of these unusual circumstances that I believe we can have hope. God is at work – God, whose wild and unpredictable Spirit disrupts and challenges and blesses – God is in this and is leading us forward.
What I have witnessed in my five years here is that when God’s people humble themselves and pray and seek his face; when they take the risk of being open to God and neighbour; when they begin to believe in themselves as God’s people, faith, hope, love and joy grow. It is your joy that first comes to mind when I think of you.
In the months I have left with you, I will relish our partnership in the Gospel and the the bonds forged through pandemic and change; and I ask for your prayers, as I hold you all in prayer and love.
In the wake of this afternoon’s announcement regarding the appointment of our Rector, The Revd. Sean Semple, as Bishop of Cyprus and The Gulf, we’d like to invite you to a short prayer service at 6pm tomorrow (Thursday 8th February) in St Mary’s, the service will be followed by the opportunity for a glass of wine and some nibbles. We hope that this will provide an opportunity to talk with Sean and Jenny.
If you are able to bring along a plate of nibbles that would be great, but please feel under no pressure to do so, particularly given the short notice.
The Rev’d Sean Semple announced as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Synod of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf are pleased to announce the election of the Revd Sean Semple to be the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf.
The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf is one of three dioceses in the Province of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East. It covers a large geographic area of around 10 countries including Cyprus, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirites, Oman, Yemen and Iraq.
Sean is currently the Rector of the Benefice of Ross with Walford and Brampton Abbotts in the Diocese of Hereford. He moved to Herefordshire in 2015 when he was appointed Rector of the Benefices of Weobley and Staunton. In 2019 he was collated into his current appointment, and served as acting Rural Dean and then Rural Dean of the Deanery of Ross and Archenfield from 2020 until 2023.
Before coming to the Diocese of Hereford, Sean served as a priest in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. He was ordained priest in the Diocese of Natal in 2011 following ordained ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
Sean’s undergraduate studies in Psychology and Theology were undertaken at the University of Natal and the University of South Africa, followed by post graduate studies in Spirituality and Clinical Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Nicosia.
Sean is married to Jenny and they have five children and one grandchild.
A date for the service of consecration will be announced shortly and this will be followed by enthronements in the two cathedrals of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf: St Christopher’s, Bahrain, and St Paul’s, Nicosia.
Sean said of his appointment. “It has been a most unexpected and humbling experience to be discerned for episcopal ministry in a Diocese I came to love during my time of ministry there. Working with the clergy and laity of its chaplaincies I look forward to encouraging and supporting the ministry and mission of the Diocese at a time of great tension in the region.
I am grateful to Bishop Richard Jackson for his encouragement and support during this process of discernment. Jenny and I are sad to be leaving the Ross Parishes and the friends we have made in our adopted home of Herefordshire. May I request your prayers for both Dioceses, the Ross Parishes, and my family during this time of transition; and as I take up the challenge and privilege of serving as the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf.
Bishop Richard said. “Sean has made a huge contribution to the life of our diocese as a parish priest, Rural Dean and member of Synod. He is passionate, strategic and pastoral. We will miss him. However, I am delighted that these gifts will now be deployed in a larger context where he can bless others as he has been a blessing to the parishes here where he has served. The invitation to become a Bishop serving Cyprus and the Gulf is an enormous privilege and it is clear to me that Sean has been called by God to this role. Sean’s gifts and wealth of experience will be richly used. and I greatly look forward to watching him from afar in his new capacity. I will be praying for him and his family as they make the move to Cyprus.”
All in the Ross Parishes will want to congratulate Sean on this appointment; many, too, will rightly be concerned that we will soon (most likely in the summer) need to say goodbye to our wonderful and much loved Rector. What is certain, is that the legacy he will leave in Herefordshire is exemplary.
We are holding a short service of prayer on Thursday 8th February at 6.00pm, in St Mary’s to mark Sean’s appointment, which will be followed by refreshments. This will provide an opportunity for us to gather together with Sean and Jenny in prayer, celebration, and fellowship.
A Pastoral letter and response from Sean
Dear friends in Christ
This announcement will come as a great shock to many of you, particularly at a time when our parishes are flourishing, and for this I am truly sorry. My ministry in the Ross benefice has been a time of great fulfilment and happiness, and Jenny and I and our family have loved living here.
For these reasons we were certainly not looking to move but through a series of extraordinary events, I have been elected to Episocpal office in the Diocese I served in before coming to the Diocese of Hereford. For anyone who knows the Anglican Church, such happenings are vanishingly rare. And it is because of these unusual circumstances that I believe we can have hope. God is at work – God, whose wild and unpredictable Spirit disrupts and challenges and blesses – God is in this and is leading us forward.
What I have witnessed in my five years here is that when God’s people humble themselves and pray and seek his face; when they take the risk of being open to God and neighbour; when they begin to believe in themselves as God’s people, faith, hope, love and joy grow. It is your joy that first comes to mind when I think of you.
In the months I have left with you, I will relish our partnership in the Gospel and the the bonds forged through pandemic and change; and I ask for your prayers, as I hold you all in prayer and love.
The Hereford Passion is a new play, a dramatic retelling of the last week of Jesus’ life with a cast drawn from across the diocese.
The production is being staged inside Hereford Cathedral on March 8th and 9th from 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for children and, are available to purchase from the cathedral website The Hereford Passion 2024 | Hereford Cathedral or from the Cathedral Shop (01432 374 210).
We’re delighted that our former Bishop of Hereford, The Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, has agreed to lead our Lent course this year. His subject is Forgiveness.
You can join the six sessions at Walford Church on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm, from 15th February.
To book a place, call Rachael in Ross Parishes Office (01989 562175) or leave your name and email address below.
We celebrate Candlemas on Sunday 1st February, and bring the longer 40 day season of Christmas & Epiphany to its close.
Join us at 9.30 for our Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s or come along to our special Candlelit service, In his temple shall appear at 6.00pm. It will contain much great music, some movement in the church and plenty of candles will be used!
The service will be sung by the combined choirs of St mary’s, Ross-on-Wye and Holy Trinity Church, Hereford.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Hope Mansell but were afraid to ask will be revealed in local filmmaker, Ian Lewis’s film “A Parcel of Time.” We’re screening it at St Mary’s, Ross-on-Wye on Sunday 21st January, at 2.30 pm. Ian will be on hand to introduce it and to answer questions, the composer of the music used in the film will be performing on the day too.
Come along and watch over a cup of tea and an opportunity for a chat. Tickets are £5, on the door.
Coffee & Sgwrs @ St Mary’s is on today (Saturday 6th January) – in church from 10.30 – noon. Best coffee venue in town, especially given the seriously good home made cakes. Welsh speakers, come and join one of the Sgwrs tables. St Mary’s Youth Choir (and helpers) will be there to serve you today.
Come and explore their journey and the wonder they found as they followed the star…
What star will you follow into 2024 to guide your feet…?
Don’t forget – Messy Church is 3.45 – 4.45 pm every first Thursday of the month @ St Mary’s Church.
So it’s THIS Thursday!
Snacks and chat, old and new friends, thought starters, inspiration for your journey through life, activities, crafts, songs, bible, prayers… for families together and people of all ages!
To all who look after and beautify St Mary’s Church
A 740 year old building requires constant attention to keep it in a good state of repair and looking good. This work is ultimately the responsibility of the churchwardens and we say a big thank you to John Setchfield who retired in April after 10 years of service. Thanks to current wardens Bryan Jones and Mark Sanderson.
Week by week our voluntary cleaning team meets: Ian, Janet, Jean, Paul, Julian, Sue, John, John, Avril, Fiona & Edward.
Thanks too, to all who donate and arrange flowers through the year – a team too numerous to name, coordinated by Sue.
Finally to the contractors who have worked in the building this year, especially: Alder Preece Electrical, and Andrew and Jim from APi Communications who have worked hard this year on our AV installations (with more still to come in 2024).
Christmas begins tomorrow (Sunday 17th December) at St Mary’s, with our annual service of Carols by Candlelight. The service starts at 4 pm but come a bit earlier than that for a good seat. We hope you’ll stay after the service for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. If you can’t get to us, the service will also be live streamed on our website.
The Ross Parishes are seeking an Administrator in their Church Office in Ross-on-Wye. The position is part time – 25 hours per week, 5 hours per day.
This is a key role, as the Administrator is the community’s first point of contact with the Church of England parishes in Ross, Walford, and Brampton Abbotts, and the Administrator deals with the general administration of the parishes. Such responsibility includes:
Arranging baptisms, weddings, and funerals
Basic accounting, invoicing, and reconciliation
Producing a weekly newsletter
Diary management for the Church and Church Hall
The preferred candidate will be:
A competent general administrator, able to work with the Microsoft Office suite.
A people person with excellent communication skills
Self-motivated, able to work to deadlines, and able to maintain confidentiality.
The Ross Parishes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders (and volunteers) are expected to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. In addition, you will be required to complete Diocesan Safeguarding Training to C1/Safeguarding Foundation level as a minimum.
Salary is in line with the Real Living Wage.
For an informal chat about the position please contact Louise Jarvis on 01989 562175 between 9am and 2pm.
There are less than two weeks to go to the 2023 Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s. This year’s Saturday concert (25th November) is by the professional group, The Mellstock Band and will transport you back to the world of Thomas Hardy for “Christmas in Mellstock.”
The Mellstock Band presents a show built around the descriptions of Christmas festivities in the works of Thomas Hardy and his friend, the Dorset dialect poet William Barnes. The band performs in costume, with village band instruments of the nineteenth century including fiddle, clarinet, concertina and serpent.
The stunning surroundings of St Mary’s filled with Christmas trees will be the backdrop to this great evening of entertainment, please come and join us.
Tickets (£15, accompanied children don’t need one) are available on TicketSource or from Rossiter Books.
Did you know that our full fibre broadband at St Mary’s is provided for us, free of charge, by BeFibre. We’ve been enjoying their game-changing and reliable connectivity since the beginning of June.
AND we are part of a referral scheme whereby both St Mary’s and anybody who signs up to a BeFibre package will receive £50 when using this referral link: http://aklam.io/lE4bif Please spread the word (and the link).
The BeFibre team have entered a tree in our Christmas Tree Festival, and will be around in. church over the weekend (25th & 26th November) to answer any questions.
The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Archbishop of Canterbury have issued a joint appeal for prayer, advocacy, and financial support for the work of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. They are particularly needing funds to continue offering critical care to the injured at the Al Ahli hospital.
The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts 