Friday 26th July 15:00pm 

w/c Sunday 28th July 2024

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our weekly Mission Community Newsletter.  
I have recently attended some of our local schools’ Leavers services, where we have said goodbye to Year 6 pupils as they move on to new schools and new adventures in their lives. Moving on and change is part of the pattern of life.
We will soon say goodbye to our Curate Laura, who will be moving on to a new role at Paignton.
We are so very grateful for all she has contributed to our Mission Community and wish her all God’s blessings in her future ministry as she continues her journey with God.
Laura’s farewell service will be on August 4th at Eden farm at 10am.With every blessing,
Rev Gina, Rector

Thought for the week  

Financial giving is part of our worship. In our churches we express this by having a

collection in the service, or a collection dish as we come in, or through the Parish Giving

Scheme. But whatever way it is done, our giving is part and parcel of our worship, and

not merely an add-on on the side.

We give partly as a response to need. That may be the practical need for our church to

pay the bills, including the Common Share, which funds things like clergy pay and

housing. Then there are practical needs met through charities. But our giving is also a

response to God’s love. “We love because he first loved us,” says the First Letter of

John, and one might adapt this to “We give because he first gave to us”. The more we

realise how much God has done for us, the more we will gladly respond in our giving.

But then come the practical questions – how much should I give? And what should I

give to? The Christian giving organisation Stewardship reports that Christians in the UK

give an average of £73 each month to various charitable causes. This equates to 3.2%

of their income after tax and is £8 more than the average given by the general UK

population. And, not surprisingly, those who are really committed in their faith give more

than those who are more nominal. But the report also highlights that only a limited

number give a tithe, a tenth of their after-tax income. This should never be seen as a

requirement, as some need to give less and some can give more, but it’s a good biblical

starting point for thinking about giving.

And who should we give to? Well, our own church finances are one obvious area. But

many of us may have links with charities or mission societies and give them financial

support. But whatever our own personal financial situation, here is an important area for us to think about. Our giving is part and parcel of our worship.
George Day

Notices and Diary

1. Rattery prayer group are looking for new members.
   We follow the ‘New way of Being Church’ and meet in Hillside, South Brent on the first Wednesday of the month.
   Our group is friendly, supportive and informal. Please contact Sally on 07522817439 or sally231@btinternet.com if you would like to come along.
2. Laura’s leaving service is on August 4^th at 10am at Eden Farm (St Luke’s if wet).
   Please bring a chair, coffee and cakes provided.
   Please give contributions to her present to your church warden

Wed July 31st                        St Petroc’s Morning Prayer at 8.30am

Thought for the week at 10am by zoom and telephone

                                                St Petroc’s Funeral at 2pm (Sullivan)

Friday August 2nd                            Morning Prayer at 9am by zoom and telephone

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