Friday 18th September 18.32 

                                                                                   w/c Sunday 20^th September 2026

Dear Friends,

I love the reading in Ecclesiastes – to everything there is a season.
Well, my season as Team Rector with you is drawing to a close, and the “farewell” celebrations have already started.
On Thursday about 80 of us enjoyed the most amazing train ride on “Lydia”, a fully restored Pullman carriage attached to a S Devon Railway steam train.
What an occasion it was. Lydia is immaculate and we sat in seats occupied by Winston Churchill, Eisenhower, our late Queen and Prince Philip – not all at the same time!
What a privilege to enjoy her luxury and each other’s company.
Enormous thanks to Richard Jones who gifted Lydia to us for the day; and Alasdair Page of S Devon Railway who looked after us so wonderfully.
Pictures of the day will appear on the website.
Thank you to all those who joined me for a truly memorable day.

For those who couldn’t join us then, and to those who did, the celebrations haven’t ended!
Please do come to my Retirement Service on Sept 27^th at St Petroc’s at 10am followed by coffee and cakes in S Brent Village Hall.
I hope it will be a joy-filled occasion as we share memories and fellowship.

Thought for the week:  

Is it just me or is there a lot of grumbling in the world today?
It certainly seems like that on the news, although the people one generally meets are much happier.
People of faith, according to psychological studies are generally much happier (Psychology Today, May 2026).
The children of Israel in our Old Testament reading this week (Exodus 16 v2-15) were not happy bunnies and complained to Moses that they were better off enslaved to the Egyptians than wandering about in the desert; well better fed at least!

In our Gospel reading, we have the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20 v 1-16).
Here too there is grumbling but for a different reason: the workers taken on early in the day for a denarius are discontented because those employed later in the day get paid the same.
This parable is about the Kingdom of Heaven of course and the message is clear.
It doesn’t matter if we have been a Christian 70 years or 70 minutes; we have come to faith in God and are saved by Grace.
If we are honest, I don’t think any of us feel that we are remotely good enough Christians.
I might have done a bit of good here and there but perhaps I could have done it better if…..? This is both a healthy and realistic response in some ways but we did our best in the moment and God used us in His way, so we ought not to grumble at ourselves!
God call us to believe and to trust in Him.
We should rejoice that our names are written in the Book of Life.
There might be a bit of wondering about in the desert but our Navigator knows the way perfectly.
All right? Mustn’t grumble!
David Harwood

Notices and Diary

• Wed 23rd Sept at St Luke’s – “My Life in Music and other funny intervals”. A talk by Richard Lester, a celebrated organist, in the coffee lounge at 7pm. Free entry. Donations to St Luke’s welcome.
• Sun 27^th Sept – Rev Gina’s Retirement Service at 10am at St Petroc’s, South Brent followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. All very welcome

Tues 22^nd Sept                   Landscove Funeral at 10.30am (Merchant)

Wed 23^rd Sept                    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

St Luke’s talk by Richard Lester at 7pm

Fri 25^th Sept                         Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

Sun 27^th Sept                      Rev Gina’s Retirement Service at 10am at St Petroc’s, South Brent followed by tea and cakes in the Village Hall. All very welcome!

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