Friday 27th February 12.25pm 

w/c Sunday 1^st March 2026

Dear Friends,

As we begin the second week of Lent, I wonder how we are each approaching this church season.
Our Lent groups have started, looking at practical “habits” for help us grow in faith.
This week we looked at prayer and out own prayer lives.
I’m not going to spill the beans on next week – come along to one of our groups, or look at the Draw Near daily reflections on the Church of England website.
Whatever way you are approaching Lent, I pray that this may be a time of encounter, reflection and growth in your walk with Christ.

Thought for the week:  John 3 v1-17

In our Gospel this week we meet Nicodemus, a religious leader, who comes to see Jesus under the cloak of night.
Here we see our own journeys as Christians.
“I don’t get it God, I simply don’t understand what this life is all about, why these things happen, who I am.”
God’s answers “Come closer, stop, look, listen.”

We don’t know why Nicodemus visited Jesus, or how long the conversation lasted, or what other questions were asked.

What we do know is that Nicodemus arrives with some confidence that Jesus is “a teacher who has come from God.”
He was prepared to stop, look and listen to what God had been doing through Jesus, and had started to think.
It is because of his thinking, of wanting to understand more, that he comes to Jesus.

Despite being constantly challenged by religious leaders who want to catch Him out, Jesus doesn’t turn Nicodemus away.
Despite the fact it is dark and Jesus is probably tired, He gives this man all His attention, He makes time for him.

Encountering Jesus may have left Nicodemus with more questions than answers, and it is clear that there is more to learn.
The reality is, encountering Jesus, following Jesus still leaves us with lots of questions.
God can’t be reduced to the limit of our understanding.
One of the things I have discovered as I have gone further in my faith journey is that its OK to have questions, to know there are things that I struggle to understand about God. It is in some ways incredibly liberating, because it reminds me that God is so much more that I can think or imagine; and that I can never stop learning about Him.

But the one thing we can know without question, is reflected in one of the most famous verses in the Newt Testament.
It contains the words Jesus said in response to Nicodemus’ searching and questions.
Its as if He was saying to Nicodemus – “I know you are struggling to understand who I am, and what my teaching ius all about; I know that you are seeking and looking for answers.
So listen here is the one thing to hold on to – God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Yes Nicodemus, of course you have questions – but the answer to them all lies in this wonderful truth – that God so loved!

Lent offers each of us a chance to explore what we believe, to ask questions and seek answers.
To draw near to God, to grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
We call this time our Lenten journey, because that is what it is.
Lent takes us on a journey of exploration, reflection, discovery.
And ultimately Lent takes us to Holy Week and Easter, where we will find the one truth that lies behind the answers to all our questions – that God so loved the world that He sent Jesus.

What love, what a Saviour!

Notices and Diary

• Lent Course: St Luke’s on Tuesdays at 10am; and at South Brent Methodist hall on Wednesdays at 2pm.
• Tent for Lent Lunch on Wednesdays at 12.30 at South Brent Methodist church hall
• World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s WDP) Service on Friday 6th March at 2pm in St. Petroc’s – written by the women of Nigeria.  All are welcome
• Buckfastleigh MU–
• 5th March 2.30pm in St. Lukes with Annie Jefferies from Anna Chaplaincy
• 8th July boat trip on Exeter canal. Cost £25. Book with Janet Jones by June 7^th

Sun 1^st Mar                           St Petroc’s Parish Breakfast from 8.30am

Tues 3^rd Mar                         St Luke’s Lent Course at 10am

Wed 4^th Mar                         St Petroc’s Morning Prayer at 8.30am

Thought for the week at 10am by zoom and telephone

South Brent Tent for Lent 12.30-1.30pm at Methodist church hall

South Brent Lent Course 2-3pm at Methodist church hall

Thurs 5^th Mar                      St Lukes Buckfastleigh MU at 2.30pm

Fri 6^th Mar                              Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

                                                      St Petroc’s World Day of Prayer at 2pm

Mission Community Services

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