News

Values
What are the values by which you try to live?  This whole issue of values came to the fore recently as one of the criticisms made of our last Prime Minister was that he seemed unable to articulate a vision for what he was planning.  Now we have a Prime Minister who is very clear about his vision and he gets criticised for not giving us a detailed plan!  Such is life for our politicians!

It is often said that what underlies much of our law and way of life in the UK is a Christian vision of what society should be.  I leave you to ponder just how true that is but, for we Christians, the likelihood is that the values you thought about in answer to my question at the start are largely Christian ones.  Now, let’s be clear here, that should mean values based on the life and teaching of Jesus rather than regulations introduced by particular Churches.  (Another area for you to ponder!)

Now Jesus’ teaching, over and over again, emphasises the need to care for people and is summed up very clearly in Matthew 25 with Jesus’ story of the end of time.  ‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’  It’s not wealth or fame or intelligence or good looks that matter, it’s how you help other people.  We see a similar description of Jesus’ values in Luke 4 when he quotes from Isaiah.  ‘He has sent me to proclaim release for the captives and recovery of sight for the blind.’  This little section is often described as Jesus’s manifesto; would that our politicians could do as well in writing theirs!

How much our Christian values are reflected in society at large is an open question, I think.  But if our media is a true reflection of our society, perhaps we should be worried.  What are the values we often see portrayed as normal?  Wealth – try and get more by any means, fame – do what ever it takes to be noticed, intelligence – you’ve got to be smarter than your colleagues, good looks – use every product you can to match the current fashion.  I don’t think these values are shared by most people – yet.  But if the media normalise these behaviours, that could change.

That’s why, as Christians, we are called to live counter-cultural lives, lives that demonstrate Jesus’ values.  Jesus called this the Kingdom of Heaven.  Whether it’s here in all its fullness yet or not, we have to live in it right now and we have to point out other examples of it when we see them.  We have to normalise Jesus’ values.  Not because it’s a chore, something we have to do to belong to Church, but because it’s a joy to follow Jesus and to live his way!

So, my friends, enjoy!
Rev Mike

This week and Next week
Please refer to the calendar on the Parish website for up to date details of the coming week’s events and watch facebook for announcements
https://www.winchcombeparish.org.uk/calendar/
https://www.facebook.com/ParishofWinchcombe/

Please Pray for:
– Those who are sick.
– The recently bereaved.
– Rain for our wildlife and plants.

Church Services this Sunday 23 Aug
– 8.00am Holy Communion at St Peter’s
– 10.00am Holy Communion at Christ Church
– 10.30am Holy Communion at St Peter’s
– 4.00pm Evensong at St Mary’s

Church Services Sunday 30 Aug
– 8.00am Holy Communion at St Peter’s
– 10.30am Holy Communion at St Peter’s

Readings for 12th Sunday After Trinity
Isaiah 51: 1-6
Romans 12: 1-8
Matthew 16: 13-20

Readings for 13th Sunday After Trinity
Jeremiah 15: 15-21
Romans 12: 9-end
Matthew 16: 21-end

Thanksgiving Service for the Life of Margaret Jarvis
This service will take place in St Peter’s on Tue 1 Sep at 12 noon. Everyone who knew this fine Christian lady is  warmly invited to attend her farewell, which, with all the components of the Service having been chosen by Margaret herself, will be something of a ‘State Funeral’. After the service, refreshments will be served at the back of St Peter’s, the church she loved so much, and for which she worked tirelessly over so many years.  Do please inform any friends of Margaret and Alan who may not have heard our plans.  Dress code: traditional, with a good splash of colour.
Chris Haslam

Christ Church: Missing Vestry Outer Door Key
In preparation for the sterling effort to clean the outside portaloo – for which many thanks to Sue and John Fleck – the Vestry outside door key was found to be missing from its usual place in the hanging bag.  If anyone can enlighten as to where it has been moved to, please speak with Simon Andrews ([email protected]).

Events
Winchcombe Pride Sat 5 Sep
Join in from 12-4 pm for a Pride picnic in the field behind St Peter’s church. Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, and bring the whole family (including well-behaved dogs on leads!) for a fun day with lawn games, badge making, face painting and a tea tent; thought provoking documentaries and talks; and a walk around Winchcombe featuring interesting historical titbits.  We invite everyone in the LGBTQ+ community and of course our wonderful allies to attend!

Ride & Stride 12 Sep 26
St Peter’s Church will be a visiting venue for the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust’s Ride & Stride event on Sat 12 Sep.  We hope that visitors will be encouraged to visit the church and enjoy some refreshments on their visit to us and en route to other Gloucestershire churches on the various trails that day.  More info is available in the attached poster and via [email protected].

Butterfly Count
Join Eco Church in contributing to citizen science! Spend 15 minutes in a green space counting the butterflies you see and report it using the Butterfly Conservation app. Together we can help them monitor the health of Britain’s butterfly population! For more information and to download the app, visit the website: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org.


Longfield Charity Shop Closure
The Longfield charity shop on North St is closing at the end of Aug and there is now a big closing down sale.

Harvest Festival Foodbank Support
With Harvest Festival celebrations being prepared for in Oct, please start to think about what you could provide to help those who need help.  Sadly the need for emergency food in our area still remains incredibly high. During the last year, North Cotswold Foodbank has provided 1794 emergency food parcels to people who can’t afford the essentials.

Things the Foodbank suggests are: long-life milk; tinned meat and fish; coffee/tea; tinned vegetables; tinned fruit; rice pudding; long life fruit juice; table sauces; jams and spreads.  Urgently needed: tinned potatoes; cooking sauces; sponge puddings.

An Additional Note from the Foodbank
On behalf of the Trustees and all the Volunteers of the North Cotswold Foodbank, I would like to thank all at St Peter’s church for the food donation received recently. This weighed in at 5.6kg.

The North Cotswold Foodbank is getting busier each year and we have been able to feed many local families who have found themselves in desperate need.  The majority of our clients are low-income, working families and they are all deeply grateful that others would consider them at a very difficult time in their lives.  

With rising prices in energy and food, we have seen a marked increase in demand at our local Foodbank during the last few years. Your donation will help to ensure that our Foodbank is well stocked so that we can meet any further increase in demand, and help those in our community who are struggling.

Without your generosity, we would not be able to offer this help, so thank you for your support and kindness – it is very much appreciated and it really does make a difference to so many lives. 

Kevin Carden
Foodbank Manager

Old School Buildings/SPC Car Park
After an earlier announced false start, the wall at the North end of the SPC car park is due to be rebuilt starting Tue 1 Sep and aims to complete by the end of that week.  Accordingly, please do not park in that area.


Diocese Weekly Bulletin
https://mailchi.mp/0eb68d27200b/the-weekly-bulletin-18-august-2026?e=74c7c0836a

Collect for the 12th Sunday After Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Collect for the 13th Sunday After Trinity
Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

www.winchcombeparish.org.uk
St Peter’s Streaming link