Last things first

Dear friends,

After over twenty three years of service in the Langtree Team Ministry, our beloved Revd Angela will be retiring from parish ministry on the 23rd July. Before she steps down, Angela will be conducting a number of “last services” at churches around the Team between now and then, beginning this Sunday at Checkendon. Members at Checkendon are warmly invited to come on Sunday at 11am to offer our prayers and thank you’s to Angela as she moves into the next part of her journey. (Note: Angela’s “final final” service will be at 0930 on 23rd July at St John’s, Stoke Row.)

Worship Services for Sunday 25th June

9.30am Holy Communion at St John’s, Stoke Row with Revd Romey Poston. A short service of communion to start your day.

11am Holy Communion at St Peter & St Paul, Checkendon, with Revd Angela Linton. Angela’s final service at Checkendon – do join us.

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Strawberry Fields

The Beatles famously sang a song with this title, although I don’t think it was about horticulture. Our own strawberry patch however, reminds me of the parable that Jesus once told about the kingdom of heaven being likened to a field where buried treasure was discovered.  The seeker was so eager to find the treasure that he gave everything that he had in order to buy the field. What Jesus failed to go on and explain, however, was that when the man bought the field, he then had to spend all his time and energy preventing the birds, slugs, mice, squirrels, and now rats from finding the treasure before he did. Happily, the strawberry season is only for a few weeks, whilst the treasure that is the kingdom of heaven is something that lasts for ever, and Jesus tells us elsewhere that it can’t be stolen by theives, or corrupted by vermin.

May the Lord be with you, and be your joy.

Revd Kevin

PS …and School Field…Tickets for Checkfest, an evening of (pop) music in the beautiful grounds of Checkendon C/E School, on Sat July 1st from 7-10pm, are available priced £10 from www.pta-events.co.uk/checkendonprimary  The event is run by the Checkendon parents’ association, to raise funds for the school. It promises to be a lively evening of summer music, although, sadly, the Beatles were not able to join us. But I’ll be there…