The last 12 months have been a time of change, hope and expectation for our churches as we continue in our journey with Christ here within the benefice. I am delighted that I am now able to serve you and the community full-time and my grateful thanks go to AD Fiona and Bishop Richard, along with the Deanery and all of you for your support. We live in turbulent times, and we too are not immune from pressure on funds and a strong pull across our society away from the established church. We continue to swim against a tide of apathy and in some cases active hostility towards the Gospel. Whilst our attendance has held up, we need to be alive to other ways in which we can connect with our local community. I am particularly pleased with our strong relationship with Brown Clee Primary School. The Christmas carol service and our Easter service were an enormous success, and we are currently looking at other ways we can work with the school going forward. Our work with the school especially at festival times continues to go from strength to strength. We look forward to the Pentecost Service in a few weeks’ time and the leavers service in summer. Mission within school is a key platform for growth, in the future we are planning regular twice termly assemblies built around the Christian Values of the school. Other events are planned later in the year. Our Open the Book team are active every month in school bringing scripture alive to the children. It is a delight to see how deep their understanding of the bible goes not only that, but how they live out Christlike values in their relationships with the church and the wider community. We continue to grow our relationship Brown Clee Young Farmers. The carol service was a huge success once again with more time spent in prayer and worship which is really encouraging. There was a great turn out for the Curry and Quiz night hosted by the Young Farmers and Brown Clee Benefice, a fun time. On the buildings front there has been a massive amount of work undertaken this year, if not in construction in the preparation for it. The planning for the new WC at Ditton has now been obtained so our challenge is to raise money to turn it into a reality. Repairs to Cleobury North have now been completed and we are awaiting start on site for the final phase of works. Refurbishment of the bells in Chetton to celebrate the bi-centennial anniversary next year of their installation along with various other ad hoc repairs. Further works are planned at Neenton and Wheathill as we seek to maintain these buildings, so important as a symbol of both an anchor for our tradition and hope for the future. I must thank all across our churches who have worked so hard this last year, from all involved in sorting out the planning at Ditton Priors, to those involved in the works at Cleobury North and the various fund raising events, to all that pulled together the wonderful Christmas event at Aston Botterell, to our lovely songs of praise service at Wheathill, to the lovely memorial service to our sister Bobbie at Neenton, to our fantastic attendance for Christmas Eucharist at Chetton, finally refreshment of worship at Loughton, and so many more things. These churches run on the love, goodwill and perseverance of so many, thank you for all you do. I must also mention the memorial services both on the top of Brown Clee and Eudon George, which we have just done. It is a privilege to minister at these occasions and to welcome all who attend, most of which see the church as being at the heart of these important and special events. In closing I am so grateful to Emma who is such an asset to our benefice, she is not only an excellent administrator but goes way beyond in her love and commitment to this community in so many ways. Finally, I may have told you in the past the I am ‘a prisoner of hope.’ This is not misplaced or a false hope it is based on our firm belief that God is in charge of our lives individually and corporately and he is working his plan out in our lives and across our benefice. There is much to be hopeful about. I am so uplifted by all that I saw and heard at our Vision afternoon I know my hope is real and that God has plans for everyone of us to be fruitful. Every blessing to you all. Revd. Joe Simons Rector Brown Clee Benefice