Saturday 30th May 12.50pm 

w/c Sunday 31^st May 2026

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, when we think about who our God is – Father, Son and Spirit.
 Trinity Sunday can be a preacher’s nightmare – how do you try to explain the inexplicable without sounding crass, or repeating what you say every year? Well, come to our United Mission Community Service this Sunday and see how your preachers manage it this year!
The service is at 10am at Yonder Cross, Hillside, S Brent TQ10 9DR with grateful thanks to the Barclays.
There is limited parking on site, so please can we keep this for those who are more disabled.
Please bring something to sit on.
The forecast is OK but if the unexpected happens and it rains it will be at St Petroc’s.

Thought for the week

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, coming hot on the heels of Pentecost when we particularly celebrated the giving of the Holy Spirit.
As George reminded us last week, our eternal parakletos, our guide, companion, advisor…our God is with us, always.
Jesus promised that He would not leave us alone and would ask the Father to give us His Holy Spirit (John 14 v16).
In the following verses Jesus

makes clear that we already know the Holy Spirit, “for He lives with you and will be in you”. (v17) When Jesus is baptised, the Holy Spirit descends on Him like a dove and the voice of the Father is heard “this is my son, who I love, listen to Him” (Matt 17v5, Mark 9 v7).

From Jesus’ conversations with Thomas and Philip in John 14 it is clear that Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus (v10).
The Spirit comes to teach us, to remind us of Jesus teachings and God’s law and to give us peace (v26).

The Trinity is not only a New Testament idea. In the Old Testament God is heard as a voice from on high, a presence of fire in a burning bush which burns with energy and light but does not destroy.
The children of Israel followed God in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
In 2 kings, Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him before being taken up to heaven – a double portion of the Spirit it his request!
This may seem a little confusing but our God is one. God may reveal Himself in different ways; through prayer, through the Word, through Creation, in silence, as the calm amidst the storm of life but God is always with us and will never leave us alone.
The writer of Psalm 139 knew that very well and so did Jonah!

I am often drawn to a simple song written by Ian Smale about 40 years ago “Father God I wonder how I managed to exist without the knowledge of your parenthood and you loving care.
But now I am your child, I am adopted in your family and I can never be alone…I Will Sing your praises for evermore!

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
David Harwood

Notices and Diary

• United Mission Community Service on May 31^st at 10am at Yonder Cross, Hillside

S Brent. There is v limited parking for disabled only so please park along Hillside and walk up the hill. Please bring something to sit on.  If wet it will be in St Petroc’s.

• Buckfastleigh MU Thurs June 4^th – Talk on Holy Trinity Churchyard at St Luke’s at 2.30pm
• St Petroc’s Flower Festival June 5-7^th in aid of church bells, with Songs of Praise on 7^th at 4pm
• June 14^th 11-4pm Open Garden to support the Littlehempston church and community orchard at Gatcombe House Littlehempston TQ9 6LW

Sun 31^st May                       United Mission Community Service at 10am at Yonder Cross, Hillside, S Brent – St Petroc’s if wet

Wed 3rd June                     St Petroc’s Morning Prayer at 8.30am

Thought for the week at 10am by zoom and telephone

St Petroc’s Parish Lunch 12.30-1.30pm

Thurs 4^th June                     Buckfastleigh MU talk on Holy Trinity Churchyard at 2.30pm at St Luke’s

Fri 5^th– Sun 7^th                     St Petroc’s Flower Festival with refreshments

Fri 5^th June                            Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

                                                      Staverton with Landscove PCC at 12.00pm

Sat 6^th June                          Rattery wedding at 2pm (Sanderson/Downes)

Sun 7^th June                         St Petroc’s Parish breakfast from 8,30am

                                                      St Petroc’s Flower Festival Songs of Praise at 4pm

 Know you are in my heart and in my prayers.
Rev Gina