Dear friends,

A very warm welcome to this service, wherever you are worshipping in the Langtree Team ministry area. May God’s peace and joy be with you.

In case you missed the big news made by announcement in our churches last week, I will repeat it here in print:

I am pleased to inform you that the Revd Alan Gates has been offered, and has accepted, the post of House for Duty Associate Priest in the Langtree Team Ministry, with responsibility for St Mary’s Ipsden and St Mary’s North Stoke.

Alan was a Lay Reader for 10 years before his ordination in 2001. He served parishes in the Chelmsford and St Edmondsbury Dioceses, including a time as Area Dean of Thingoe. Since his retirement in 2014 he and his wife Margaret have lived in Majorca, where Alan has helped in both of the island chaplaincies. He and Margaret are looking forward to belonging to a parish again, sharing in the ministry of the Team, and being closer to their wider family in the UK.

We are awaiting confirmation of a start date for Alan from Bishop Colin’s office. It is anticipated that this could be around the middle of October.

Give thanks to God for answered prayers, and expectant hope !

Churchwardens are reminded that the rescheduled visitation service (postponed from June) is this coming Thursday (21st July) at St Mary’s Henley, at 7.30pm.

Finally, please do give thanks for your local schools, many of which are breaking up for the summer holidays this coming week. We pray for rest and refreshment for staff, pupils, and governors alike, and offer special congratulations to Checkendon C/E (VA) school for its recent “Good” Ofsted grading.

Your Rector and Area Dean                       Revd Kevin Davies