Friday 17th July 14.30pm 

w/c Sunday 19^th July 2026

Dear Friends,

In his recent Ad Clerum, Bishop Mike wrote on the important topic of promoting unity in our nation and communities: – “Many commentators have described contemporary Britain as ‘Divided’, ‘struggling’ and ‘broken’, and there is a pessimism about the state of our nation — As witnesses to the Prince of Peace and followers of Jesus’ way, we need to make a conscious effort to strengthen our social relations, identify shared values and ways of pursuing the common good”. 
He quoted a poem from Donna Ashworth entitled “Good” which is at the end of this Newsletter, and which helps set things in perspective.  
I hope it offers some help to us all to see others as Jesus sees them.

Thought for the week: 

Our readings from Romans and Matthew are a combination that encourages us to look at our

theology of the environment, particularly how we view our role in responding to the challenges

facing the environment today.

30 years ago, the Anglican church realised responding to the environmental crisis was a vital part

of the church’s mission.
So much so they made it the fifth mark of mission – adding it to the four

previous marks of mission, which were a shorthand way of expressing the different elements of

mission that churches should engage with.
The fifth mark is to ‘strive to safeguard the integrity of

creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth’.
And our readings today give us some

pointers on how and why we might do this.

Paul recognises that humankind’s and the planet’s present and future are inseparably linked.
He has a cosmic view of salvation – the earth isn’t just a tool for us to use but is itself a loved creation

of God’s.
If the whole of creation will ultimately be redeemed then part of our work, our mission, is

to assist in the healing of God’s precious creation.
Today, it doesn’t seem hard to view ‘creation’s groans’ as referring to all those things we hear about in the news, or see around us, like the

decreasing biodiversity, wildfires, rising sea levels, floods and droughts.

The sheer scope of the problems can lead to a feeling of hopelessness, but both readings remind

us that, although we should be aware of the problems, and committed to doing something about

them, we shouldn’t give in to despair but keep hold of hope.
We have this hope as we know God the Father holds all things in his hands, and, ultimately, he will bring salvation to the world.
But, as Paul says, this hope does also require patience (8.25), and that’s exactly what the parable of the

wheat and tares reminds us of. When the labourers want to leap in and rip out the weeds from the

wheat, the farmer stops them. Because doing that would have risked further harm and destroying some of the wheat too. Instead, he told them to wait until the harvest.

We live in those waiting times, waiting with hope for the final redemption, yet we are still called to be wheat or light or salt in the world – bringing healing to the world around us.
What might that

look like for us as individuals or a mission community?
Rev Alex Holmes

Notices and Diary

• St Petroc’s MU is holding The Cream Tea on Thursday 23^rdJuly at 3pm at 6 New Orchard South Brent. TQ10 9DL in aid of the Celebration of 150 years of Mothers’ Union

Tues 21^st July                      Ministry Team meeting at 11.30am

Wed 22^nd July                     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

Thur 23^rd July                      St Petroc’s MU Cream Tea at 3pm at 6 New Orchard , South Brent.

Fri 24^th July                           Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

Sat 25^th July                         Dean Prior Wedding (Humphries/Beecham)

                                                      Landscove Wedding (Minto/Renja)

Sun 26^th July                        St Petroc’s Baptism at 1pm (Young)

Most people are good.

Most people kiss their pets goodbye and read just one more bedtime story to their children.

Most people visit their grandparents even when they have no time and stop by to check on quiet friends,
after a day too long and draining.

Most people return their shopping trolleys, despite being already late and let someone with only one item,
jump to the front of a queue.

Most people give money when money is scarce and most people worry about people they don’t even know,
day in and day out.

When the world seems bad, remember, most people are good.

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