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Dear Friends of St Peter’s

We all enjoy special days in our lives; our birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Christmas Day, and so on. The Church has its special days as well as the great festivals; days such as those on which we remember the great Christian Saints. October, like other months, has its fair share of Saint’s Days. I am just going to mention one of the October Saints, St. Luke whom we remember on the 18^th.

Luke was a great friend of St. Paul and is mentioned by him three times in his letters. Paul describes him as the ‘beloved physician’ and refers to him in his second letter to Timothy as his only companion in prison. He is believed to be the author of the Gospel bearing his name and the Acts of the Apostles. As a Gentile, St. Luke makes it clear that the good news of salvation is for all, regardless of their nationality, sex, or social situation.

I shall be with you on 12^th October and so I intend to do the Anglican practice of anticipating St. Luke and keeping the feast of St. Luke on that day with the

appropriate readings and hymns.In keeping with the tradition, we shall also, on that day, be remembering, with gratitude, all those who care for us when we are sick, our families, our carers, doctors, nurses, and members of ambulance crews and paramedics.

Do make this an opportunity to remember, in your prayers, your loved ones who are ill and those who care for them.

I have just heard from my friend and colleague, the Revd. Robert Beaken, the Vicar of the Bardfields, that he is holding a Songs of Praise in St. Katherine’s Church, Little Bardfield at 4.00.p.m. on that same day. I know it is a little distance away, but it will be well worth the drive, not only to take part in the Songs of Praise, but to see the Church which has been most beautifully and tastefully restored. Details of the Songs of Praise on the poster in Church.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Fr. John.