Saturday 13th June 15.20pm 

                                                                                             w/c Sunday 14^th June 2026

Dear Friends,

This week the Diocese is holding its Clergy Conference, which happens about every 4 years.
It is an opportunity for clergy from across the Diocese to get together to learn, pray, worship and socialise together.
In such a big Diocese, this is the only time we have of meeting with each other in this way.
Please do pray for all those attending, that God’s Holy Spirit may refresh, renew and revitalise.

Thought for the week

During this last week I attended a study day run by the Devon Retired Clergy Association, led by Grace Davie, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Exeter University, specialising in the sociology of religion.
I want to pick out a few things from what she said.

She spoke of religion as having the power of…

…. IDEAS to motivate (e.g. our beliefs and the content of sermons, etc., motivate us as Christians)

…. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES to shape ways of life (so what we do in church influences the way we live)

…. RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES to mobilize (so our involvement with our fellow Christians in the church moves us to service)

…. RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND SYMBOLS to legitimate calls to action, (so the cross is a powerful symbol, and leaders (bishops etc,) can call us to united action).

It struck me that all of these are important aspects of our faith and of the church life of our mission community – motivating teaching, relevant worship, church communities that inspire and support, and the various things and people that call us to action.

As a result, religion can be a powerful force – for good or ill.
For good as e.g. in Pope Leo’s recent encyclical on AI.
Grace commented that it is encouraging that this received much media attention, whereas 40+ years ago, when she started her work, what a pope said was not of great interest in the secular world.
But for bad when religion is co-opted by the state, (as in Russia or Iran) or is suppressed (as in China).
Are we seeing an unhealthy co-option today in this country with demonstrations by the far-right that claim to be Christian and feature the symbol of the cross, but that often espouse views that seem far from the teaching of Jesus?
Or is something here genuine and real?

Grace remarked on the complexity of the situation in this country and elsewhere, with many different things happening at once, producing a confused and confusing picture.
One recent phenomenon in the UK was the claim, based on a survey done on behalf of the Bible Society, producing figures which were seen as evidence of a quiet revival taking place.
Sadly the statistics in the end proved to be unreliable, and yet anecdotally things are happening, Sometimes this happens in very unexpected ways – this week for example there was the report of a reunion on stage of the group Boyzone, and Shane Lynch led the stadium in the Lord’s Prayer, in memory of late lead singer Stephen Gateley.

Where will this go? We don’t know. Much is in flux, in church, in politics, in society.
We need to be faithful, praying, expectant.
George Day

PS If you would be interested in thinking further about such things, perhaps looking at the history that has made us what we are, and where we might go from here, do let one of the Ministry Team know.

Notices and Diary

• June 14^th 11-4pm Open Garden to support the Littlehempston church and community orchard at Gatcombe House Littlehempston TQ9 6LW

Wed 17^th 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

Fri 19^th June                         Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

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