Dear friends,

May the peace of Christ be with you all. A warm welcome to this service, wherever you are worshipping in the Langtree Team Ministry area. It is the time of farewells, as we say “God be with you” to Revd Alan on 25th August, and Revd Claire on 15th September. Alan is retiring and Claire going to a new posting in Reading.  Alan and Claire have both given much to our Team; not forgetting their better halves, Margaret and Chris. I shall especially miss their great singing voices, adding harmony and depth to our staff prayers on Friday mornings. Thank you Alan, and Claire for all your love and service with us.

It is also the time of holidays; today in Checkendon we are going to be hearing from Chris Potter, back in the UK after a gap year spent in Latin America.

Sometimes when we are travelling God will use the newness of our situation, or the absence of daily pressures, to speak to us. There might be fresh insight on an old problem, or clear resolve for a new direction or initiative. There might be a better appreciation of every good gift, or the simple things. Whatever you are up to in these holiday weeks, may the Lord bless you, refresh you, and hold you in His loving arms.

Your Rector                                                                        Canon Kevin Davies

PS As an advanced warning the Team Office is going to be closed next week, and so there will be no pewsheet on Sunday 18th August.