Licensing Service Congratulations and a big welcome to our Associate Minister for Church Planting, Evangelism and Discipleship, Rev Keith Murphy, who was Licensed by the Bishop of Exeter last Monday at St Matthew’s CE Academy. The school hall was full and our very own Glenda, choir and

band ‘Old Play’ led the worship. Special thanks are due to Lightyears and Anthony for supplying the Sound System and Lighting. Also for young Jo, Peter, Libby, George, Maureen, Pam, Terry, Dave and many others who made this a memorable evening.

Easter Holidays What a surprise! The children are on holiday and the weather has been fine – in fact, delightful. The sunshine has encouraged the trees to awaken from their winter slumbers and begin to show off their lovely shades of green and yellow. Some of the blossoms are already past their best but there is plenty more awakening to come to inspire us to exclaim, “Oh to be in Devon now that April’s here.”

Annual Parochial Church Meeting Having attended this morning’s Service which started an hour later than usual, we are sure that all members of the congregation will know that the Vestry Meeting and APCM will here in church at approximately 11.45am when the Churchwardens will be appointed and members of the Parochial Church Council elected. Please do stay if you are able.

Funeral Service of John Hawken John’s funeral took place at Efford Crematorium on Thursday. Unfortunately, the date was not generally known until the beginning of the week so there will have been a number of people wishing to attend who did not have the opportunity. It is intended that a Memorial Service will be arranged here in St Edward’s a little later this year – perhaps early in July when John would have celebrated his 80th birthday. Further details will be publicised in good time.

Chocolate, Please and Toiletries This is also another reminder that Linda Hodgson would be most grateful for chocolate goodies for her lucky numbers competition stall at the Eggbuckland Church Spring Fair on 13th May. Please see Linda in church on any Sunday morning between now and the beginning of May if you are able to help with her request. Also, Vicki Hocking is seeking toiletries for her stall at the Spring Fair and would be pleased to receive any suitable items.

Only Joking! A surgeon, a civil engineer and a consultant were arguing about what was the world’s oldest profession. The surgeon began: “In the Bible, it says that God created Eve from a rib taken out of Adam. That clearly required surgery, so I can justifiably claim that mine is the world’s oldest profession. The civil engineer, keen to express his opinion said, “But even earlier in the book of Genesis it says that God created the order of the heavens and the earth from

out of the chaos. This was the first application of civil engineering, so mine is the oldest profession.” The consultant leaned back in his chair, smiled and said, “Ah, but who do you think created the chaos?”

Walking the Walk For those who did not see a copy of last Sunday’s Snippets, we are repeating the grateful thanks of Brian Soole to all who sponsored his recent Men’s Only Walk for St Luke’s Hospice. Brian was delighted to have raised £250, a good proportion of the sum from members of St Edward’s. This well exceeded his target of £100.

Mental Health Awareness Week This is an advance notice of the Mental Health Awareness Week which will be held between 8 & 14th May when the question, “Surviving or Thriving?” will be explored. We will be including more details nearer the time in Snippets and in the May Parish Magazine. In the meantime, further information can be found

at www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

Big Bluebell Watch The Woodland Trust is looking for people to take part in their Big Bluebell Watch and is asking for reports of any sightings of bluebells and where they were found. This could be a fun way of keeping the children occupied. The sightings have to be recorded on a map on the website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk For anyone who does not have access to a computer but would still like to participate, Sue Lake would be pleased to complete the record on their behalf – telephone 298434. Sue says native and non-native bluebells need to be recorded. The stems of the native ones droop like a shepherd’s hook and the flowers are scented and darker in colour than the non-native Spanish bluebells which have upright stems and no scent.

Easter Services & Events The April Parish Magazine contains comprehensive details of the Parish services and events over Easter and the following offers a brief reminder: Maundy Thursday – 6.00pm in St Edward’s – Passover Meal, then at 8.00pm Celtic style Communion service followed by Prayer in the Garden Vigil. Good Friday – 9.30am – Prayer Walk from Crownhill Methodist Church to St Edward’s for joint service at 10.30am. From 12 noon in St Edward’s – decorating the church for Easter. From 12 noon at Christ Church Estover – 3 hours of reflective silence and meditation. Saturday, 15th April – 6.00pm – Short Easter Eve Service of Light at St Edward’s. Easter Day – 6.30am – Sunrise Service at Christ Church followed by breakfast. 9.30am – Easter Day Communion at St Edward’s and at 11.00am Baptisms and Easter Garden Celebration – an interactive service for all the family.