Friday 22nd May 13.30pm 

                                                       w/c Sunday 24^th May 2026

Dear Friends,

As we continue in our Year of Prayer across the Mission Community, it is interesting to see that the Diocese are launching a new Contemplative Prayer group on Zoom called Time Well Spent.
Each session will focus on a single passage of Scripture and be gently guided in using the imagination to bring us into a closer encounter with Jesus.
It will be held on the first Tuesday evening of each month, starting on Tuesday 1st September at 8.00 pm for 45 mins.
For further information contact Rev’d Sue Roberts at sue41260@gmail.com

Thought for the week

This Sunday is Pentecost, which focuses our attention on the Holy Spirit.
One way in which the Spirit helps us is through the Bible, and yet I suspect many church members may find the Bible hard going, so here are two easy to use suggestions.

First, an app produced by the Church of England that can be downloaded for use on a phone or tablet – it’s called “Everyday Faith”, and is described as “A journey of daily reflections, prayers, and guidance to help you find and follow God in everyday life”.
Or if you prefer something on paper, there is “New Daylight” This is produced by BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship). It can be ordered online at (https://www.brfresources.org.uk/) or obtained from Choice Words, the Christian bookshop in Newton Abbot, (71 Queen St, Newton Abbot TQ12 2AU).
And they stock various other Bible reading resources. Both of these resources are straightforward and only require quite a short time for use.

Jesus said, I will ask the Father and he will give you another …… who will be with you for ever. (John 14:16) The gap in that verse is translated in many different ways in different Bible versions –

Comforter, Counsellor, Advocate, Guide, Helper, Companion, and at least one ducks the issue completely and has “Paraclete”, as does at least one hymn.
All are attempts to translate a very simple Greek word, parakletos, but it is a word with no one direct English equivalent. Para means alongside, (as in parallel lines) and kletos means called – so somebody called alongside to help.

You’re trying to move a heavy load, and it is proving too much, so you call out to somebody, “Can you come and give me a hand?”
They come alongside and help, and now it is easy.

Or you have a hard decision to make.
You have gone over and over it, and still, you can’t decide. Then you call on a friend/relative/professional adviser or one of the clergy.
You talk it over with them, and all becomes clear (or at least clearer!)

Or you are feeling really low for some reason. The temptation is to hunker down on your own, but in the end you have the good sense to seek the support of somebody you trust who will come and give support.

Sometimes the parakletos might be gently critical – bringing, not the sort of criticism that demolishes you, but the helpful suggestion of what could be improved.

All these, and others, are illustrations of what it means to have a parakletos, and all are seen in the work of the Holy Spirit, together with enabling us, like the first disciples, to bear witness to Jesus.

So our prayer this Pentecost might be, “Come, Holy Spirit, come alongside and bring

me, bring us, the help we need.”
George Day

Notices and Diary

• South Brent Mothers’ Union quiz in the Church room at 10am on Thursday 28^thMay.
• Littlehempston Coffee Morning, Thursday May 28^th 30-12
• United Mission Community Service on May 31^st at 10am at Yonder Cross, Hillside

S Brent with many thanks to the Barclays. There is v limited parking for disabled folk 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.

• St Petroc’s Flower Festival June 5-7^th with Songs of Praise on 7^th at 4pm

Sun 24^th May                       Rattery Baptism during service (Platt)

                                                      Rattery APCM after service

Wed 27^th May                      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 28^th May                   Littlehempston Coffee Morning, 10.30-12

Fri 29^th May                          Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

                                                      St Petroc’s PCC at 10.30am

Sun 31^st May                       United Mission Community Service at 10am at Yonder Cross, Hillside, S Brent

Mission Community Services

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