1. A fortnight ago I preached a sermon in the Abbey to which I gave the title Divine Paradox. It was not so much about the particular issues which are currently dividing both the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, as about how we should view them and live with them. In particular I asked the congregation to remember a remarkable paradox from the Gospels, when Jesus slept well in a small boat on a rough sea while gales raged around him, and when he was awoken by his anxious disciples he rebuked the winds and the waves for their comfort, but then rebuked them in turn for their little faith.

Many people have been kind enough to tell me how helpful they found that sermon, and of course it is available both from the Abbey bookstall and from www.sherborneabbey.com – the Abbey's website. But I am painfully aware from various conversations I have had about the town that some of you are deeply concerned about the future of our Church, and perplexed about what is happening to it. And that I can understand, not least because of the way things get reported in the media, which love to give everything an extra stir!

Well, General Synod is over and the Lambeth Conference now in full swing until 3 rd August. I want you to know that I am more than happy to see anyone and everyone who has ‘Anglican concerns' and would like to discuss them. All you need to do is to contact me so that we can fix a date and time. But some may be a little diffident about coming on their own, so please be reassured that you can bring a friend – or friends. Or would it be a good idea if I were to find an evening later in August when I could be ‘At Home' to anyone who wanted to come and talk through General Synod and Lambeth Conference issues? That I will happily arrange if a few people tell me they would find it useful.

So, over to you. Meanwhile, here's one more extract from that sermon: There is a lazy, uncritical side to most of us which prefers to be told what to believe. But the challenge of Christian faith is to use the mind which God has given us, to think issues through, and pray them through, and if at the end of the day you and your neighbour have not come to a common mind on this issue or that, do not imagine that everything needs to fall apart. God can live with paradox even if you cannot. And if the Bible is anything to go by, he positively thrives on it.

2. The Diocese has sent the following note round the parishes: Bishop David is making good progress following his stroke, and has now moved to a rehabilitation unit where he will have intensive physiotherapy over the next few weeks. Your prayers are much appreciated .

3.  My warmest thanks to all those who supported the Abbey Choir Concert last weekend. You will be glad to know that the sum raised by the retiring collection was over £1,000 (to be precise, £1,034.13, inclusive of tax credits).  As Director of Music Paul Ellis explained, this will be put towards the cost of taking the Choir to Paris next May, to sing at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. This is a most exciting project, which will mean a great deal to the Choir, and not least to the boys. So I will be very happy to receive further donations towards the cost of the expedition. Please make cheques payable to Sherborne Abbey. Gift-Aid them if you are a UK taxpayer, either by using the ubiquitous yellow envelopes or by reminding us that all your donations to the Parish are already covered by a Gift Aid Declaration. Address them to me or to Honorary Treasurer Bernard Brown c/o the Parish Office. Many thanks.

4. The season of Patronal Festivals continues this week at St Mary Magdalene, Castleton , on Tuesday 22 July with Evensong at 6.00pm. The preacher will be the Archdeacon of Sherborne, The Venerable Paul Taylor. All will be most welcome to the service, and to refreshments in the church afterwards.

Meanwhile, here is advance notice of the ever-popular Castleton Coffee Morning. Once again this will be held in the Powell Theatre, on Thursday 21 August , from 10.30 am.

5. After Castleton's Patronal Festival comes that of St James the Great, Longburton. St James' Day is actually 25 th July, but this year the Parish Church has teamed up with the rest of the community to produce a weekend of events. Here are the details:

Longburton is holding its third Scarecrow Day this year. Villagers produce all kinds of weird and wonderful characters, often to be seen in the most unusual places, so a drive or walk through the village on Saturday 26 th July is a must . Scarecrow Day is run by the village's Generation Club of which every resident of Longburton is automatically a member. The Club holds a variety of events, particularly its popular biennial pantomime due to be staged again next January.

To round off the day on 26 th July, The Volunteer Band of HMS Heron from RNAS Yeovilton will be performing a ‘ Proms in the Park' concert starting at 7pm in the grounds of Gate Lodge House, just behind the Rose & Crown, by kind permission of Major Tony Nunn.  Entrance to the concert and a free parking area can be accessed along the drive between the Rose and Crown and St James' Church. Tickets for the concert are £5.00 and there will be food and drink available. Bring your own garden chairs or sit on straw bales which will be on site. For more information about Scarecrow Day call Anne Griffiths on 01963-210374 and to reserve concert tickets call either Graham Winter on 01963-210589 or Rodney Parker on 210781.

Proceeds from ‘Proms in the Park' will be for Parish Church funds, and St James' will be open on the Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Then next day on the Sunday Patronal Festival will be celebrated at 10.00am. All will be most welcome.

6. On every side I have been told what a splendid Insight Summer School on the Book of Revelation was led last weekend by The Reverend Dr. Christina Le Moignan. I was sorry to miss it, but have written to Christina to thank her on behalf of all concerned. She tells me that her fee for the day will be devoted to the Methodist Overseas Guest House in Birmingham, where she used to be Chairman of the Methodist District. It is a cause close to her heart, and also receives all the royalties on her book Following the Lamb : A reading of Revelation for the New Millennium. Those who took part in the Summer School were able to purchase copies of Christina's book, but there are more available from the Abbey Shop in the Close , at £8.95 a copy. I am only a couple of chapters in, but can already warmly recommend it!