I hope this finds you well? On Sunday we keep the feast of St Bartholomew, one of the apostles, at Preston Wynne at 10.30am. The gate will be open and you are very welcome to drive over the field and park by the church. This will also be the first opportunity to hear the newly installed organ at the church, played by Michael Edwards. We know very little about Bartholomew, yet I find that encouraging. His quiet, faithful discipleship reminds us that following Christ is not always about being in the spotlight, but about steady service that may go unseen but is always known to God. I’ve just returned from Holcombe Moor, where I was with the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force. It was a full and lively time, helping young people grow in confidence, teamwork and discipline. It's part of my ministry that happens far from parish life, but I like to think it shares something of Bartholomew’s spirit — I am not involved in the training, but I "loiter quietly with intent", encouraging and supporting and trusting that good fruit will grow. It’s good to be back amongst you now, and I’m grateful for your prayers. Meanwhile, life in the benefice continues with our afternoon teas (details below) and our scything day at Bodenham. These simple gatherings are, to me, a real picture of Christian fellowship — friends meeting, newcomers welcomed, laughter and a common purpose shared, and God’s presence quietly in our midst. They may seem ordinary, but like St Bartholomew’s witness, they matter deeply. As we go into this week, may we rejoice in both the hidden and the ordinary ways God calls us to serve. Every blessing Paul