Rector’s Update 22/07/2025

I hope this finds you well and you have been able to enjoy the summer sun and refreshing rain showers of recent days.

This coming Sunday (27th) we will finish our sermon series looking at some of the many things that we know about Jesus and will explore Jesus as the healer.  During the month of August, we will be looking at a number of great characters from the Old Testament – Solomon, Esther, David, Ruth and Jonah.

The New Wine summer festival starts soon (30th July to 4th August) and a group from the Benefice, including Caroline and me, will be staying together on site.  There’s still time to decide to pop down for a day visit and if you’d like to do so please let me know asap so that people can co-ordinate journeys and those on site can provide lunch for you.  https://www.festival.new-wine.org/book-now 

Looking ahead to the autumn, we will hold an inter-congregational tea on Sunday 7th September at 3.30pm.  Our next Evening Celebration will be held on Sunday 21st September at 6.30pm when the speaker will be the Revd Mark Melluish (Strategic Director of New Wine).   Also, all our churches will be marking Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 5th October.  Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to arrange a Benefice wide Harvest Supper this year but hopefully it will return in 2026.

In yesterday’s sermons we looked at Jesus the Challenger and our Gospel reading reminded us of the importance of the Sabbath. If you are going away during the school summer holidays, I hope you have a good time and for those staying in West Berkshire I hope you can take a sabbath rest from the normal routine.

Have a good week. 

Steve