| Volume 16 No. 21 | Friday 17 April 2026 |
The Friday Thought | Fr Anthony Lathe
Retired priest |
The gardening season is upon us. Well, for serious people it never stops. In the middle of winter there are people out there with plenty to do. Having downsized very considerably I am now only just over the window-box grade. Nevertheless, planting seeds remains an experience. Five cucumber seeds produced seedlings but, oh dear, three flopped and with regret had to be consigned to the bin. Not too late to try again so, here’s hoping! Coming from an agricultural, if not horticultural, background scripture is all for helping us take a leap from the mundane world of gardening to the big issues of life and death. Planting seeds, things growing, flowers, plants and trees producing fruit, working the ground, different kinds of soil, harvest, the seasons, all are prominently there. We seem to be being urged to learn from nature, if you like. A friend who was professed as a nun sent out a card quoting the words of St Paul, “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies”. Shutting herself away in a monastery was a kind of dying. It felt like that to several people who spoke about waste. Later, she was certainly not unhappy and remained a very talented artist. For those of us who conducted funerals the words on her card were very familiar, being part of the service. Facing death, we were invited through sadness and grief to see a bigger picture of a new kind of life emerging. Of course, in church this is played out every year. In Holy Week we immerse ourselves in the death of Jesus, seeking meaning. Then, now, in Easter time we try to grasp the new life and hope which is promised. It is too easy to say simply that life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, sunshine and rain, summer and winter. If you are sad, you are sad. “Don’t worry, everything will be OK!,” sounds good but does not actually help very much. Those cucumber seedlings were not going to get better. And I say that as someone from Norwich whose Julian, when contemplating the death of Jesus, wrote the famous words, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”. If you are happy, you are happy. It is not very helpful to be told, “Things can only get worse!” So, I am not going to bin the healthy seedlings. Joy and sorrow – each is a full and complete experience. What we may learn from Holy Week and Easter is that each has its own particular value even if we do not realise it at the time. Then, having lived through both, we can be really helpful being able genuinely to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. |
Church news & notices Petertide needs YOU! As we look forward to our Petertide Fair (Sunday 28 June), our team are making preparations. However, we really need volunteers to make this event happen, or it cannot go ahead. St Peter's needs YOUR help. On Sunday, we will be asking everyone to consider how they can help - maybe running a stall, running an activity, helping with setting up. The more people that take part, the easier the task. Many hands make light work - will they be YOUR hands? You are needed - so please fill in a volunteer form in church this Sunday, or fill it in online here:
This can be a really fun summer event if everyone mucks in, and of course we are raising money to continue with our roof repairs. Also, in previous years we have had a hugely successful plant stall, so please consider if you can donate any plants to be sold - Sarah Dawson would love to receive houseplants, bedding plants, perennials, herbs, perhaps even a shrubbery. | Sunday 19 April at 11:00 am
APCMThe Meeting of Parishioners and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will be held after our morning worship on Sunday 19 April. Do please make every effort to be present at these meetings - they are a significant occasion in our communal parish life. The 2025 Annual Report and Parish Accounts are now available to download from the parish website, and a limited number of paper copies will be available in church. | Friday 1 May at 6:00 am
May May MadrigalsAs is our custom, Adrian is planning May Morning Madrigals from the tower of St Peter's again this year. There will be singing from the tower and a repeat on the lawn for those who prefer not to clamber up the tower steps! Tower singers are asked to gather at the south door by 6:00am for a 6:15am start. It is anticipated that the lawn repeat will happen around 6:40am (depending on if singers abseil or climb down the steps!). It should finish by 7am, so there is plenty of time to get to work/school afterwards. If you would like to sing, please speak to Adrian about rehearsal time - you'll need a silly hat and a copy of the Oxford Book of English Madrigals. If you'd like to listen, just turn up in the churchyard bright and early! | Saturday 2 May
St Peter’s goes to market!One of the outcomes of our recent Mission Action Plan consultation was that many felt we should be more active in our outreach to the community. We have a glorious building with so many wonderful events throughout the year, but perhaps waiting for the public to come to us, we need to think about going out to meet people and extend our welcome. With this in mind, we are going to hold a St Peter's market stall on the High Street market on Saturday 2 May 8am-1pm. We plan to meet people out in the town, hand out leaflets and promote our year-round activities and welcome for families. We'll also be advertising June's Petertide Fair. It will be an opportunity to chat to shoppers - we won't be forcing beliefs on people, but assuring them that our doors are open to all, whatever their faith. Carolynne will be drawing up a rota, so volunteers will only do a 1-hour stint. Can you help us to raise the profile of St Peter's on the market? Get in touch! | Sunday 3 May at 3:00 pm
Honorary Canon Fr John PritchardOur former Curate Fr John Pritchard, vicar of St John the Evangelist Upper Norwood, is to be made an Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral next month. All are welcome to attend a special Choral Evensong with Installation of Honorary Canons at the Cathedral at 3pm on Sunday May 3rd. The preacher will be the Dean, the Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley. Responses: Shephard
Canticles: Stanford in G
Anthem: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem - Stanford | Saturday 9 May at 7:00 pm
Lasagne EveningThere will be another fundraising lasagne evening in the Court House, raising money for the St Peter's Renovation Appeal. The last event was such an enjoyable evening with good food and good company, so do please support this evening. We have a lot of hidden talent for la Cucina Italiana in the parish, so if you can contribute a lasagne or a desert, please contact: | Children’s Society Crib Services donationsThe Children's Society Berkhamsted Branch thank everyone for donations received at our last Christmas Crib Services. The total raised at the services (with card payments, cash donations and Gift Aid) was £1,137.83. This compares with £750 in 2024 and £759 in 2023, so a wonderful result for 2025 and welcome support for the Children's Society and for the children the Society seeks to protect. If you'd like to support the Children's Society further, registration is now open for this year's fundraising Berkhamsted Walk (see below). | Barbara ConwayWe are sorry to announce that Barbara Conway died on Monday night. Barbara and Alan have been devoted members of St Peter's for over 60 years and Barbara served as churchwarden from 1998 to 2001. The funeral will be on Tuesday 28 April at 11am. We will pray for Alan and family at this sad time. |
Schools news Summer term at Victoria School Welcome back to the Summer term! We have had a jam-packed start to the week, with visits from Animal Antics who brought along snakes, spiders and beetles and History off the Page, looking at what it was like at the seaside in the past. They both came in to work with our Early Years children. Reception also were very excited about their newly refurbished outside area, where we have doubled the space for them to explore. For Collective Worship, we looked at the story of doubting Thomas and talked about the importance of believing in others, even if we haven't seen it for ourselves. Using Ripley's Believe it or Not unusual facts, we discussed how things that seemed impossible to achieve such as chickens that lay square eggs, have happened. It was great to have everyone back at school and catching up on their holiday adventures and we cannot wait to share all our summer news with you. Mrs Lisa Freeman
Head of School, Victoria CE Infant and Nursery School |
The Castle Federation is the governing body responsible for our two Church of England schools in Berkhamsted
 www.castlefederation.org
More about our schools:
www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/about/schools
 Church noticeboard
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Berkhamsted community news & events Saturday 18 April
Donate old musical instrumentsBerkhamsted Rotary, in partnership with Dacorum Music School, are building a Musical Instrument Library of donated instruments to be made available to local young people who want to learn but can't afford to buy their own. They are accepting donations of musical instruments at the Rotary market stall this Saturday 8am-2pm, and again on Saturday 30 May. They can also collect donations, and they'll repair instruments, so nothing gets turned away. The Saturday market stall on is also collecting old hand tools for the charity Tools for Self Reliance to help people in Africa to learn a trade and earn a living. | Saturday 18 April at 8:00 am
Prayer BreakfastNorthchurch Baptist Church are hosting this month's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, starting with breakfast at 8 am. All are welcome to join Berkhamsted churches as they pray for the town. Next month, Sacred Heart Church will host the May Prayer Breakfast on Saturday 16 May. Prayer leaflets for April/May are available at the back of St Peter's Church. | Sunday 19 April
April Farmers’ MarketThe next Farmers' Market is on Berkhamsted High Street, offering a range of local produce, tempting street food, beers and wines, delicatessen and fine cheeses, plus hand-crafted gifts, herbalist therapies and much more. Farmers' Markets are held on the 3rd Sunday of every month. | Sunday 19 April at 3:00 pm
Mayor of Dacorum’s Civic ServiceThe Mayor of Dacorum, Cllr Catherine McArevey, would like to invite members of the community to attend her Civic Service this coming Sunday at Holy Trinity Church, Leverstock Green. It provides an opportunity to come together and warmly welcome the community. Guests are asked to arrive at 2.30pm to be seated ready for the service to begin promptly. All are welcome to attend. | Saturday 25 April at 12:00 pm
Northchurch St George’s Day celebrationOur friends at St Mary's Northchurch are once again hosting a St George's Day celebration in the grounds of the Northchurch Rectory 12 noon-3pm. The afternoon will include crafts, face painting, fun and games for children, and music, barbecue and bar for adults. All welcome - free entry. | Saturday 25 April at 7:00 pm
Mozart’s Magic FluteMozart's joyous opera Die Zauberflöte is being screened at the Vyne Theatre Berkhamsted from the Royal Opera House. The fantastical tale of monsters, a handsome prince and a magic birdcatcher features some of opera's most popular tunes. Tickets £18, children £12, available from: | Saturday 25 April at 7:30 pm
Ein Deutsches RequiemBerkhamsted Choral Society with English Philharmonia will perform Johannes Brahms' German Requiem in St Peter's Church, one of the most beautiful and spiritual works of the 19th century. Drawing on a range of texts from the German Lutheran bible that focus on spiritual healing, it was written to give comfort to the living rather than serve as a prayer for the dead. The programme will also include Mozart's Serenade no. 6 in D major Serenata notturna. | Sunday 3 May at 2:30 pm
Sarah Garrett organ recitalsThe first of this year's Sarah Garrett Recital Series will be given by William Fox who is the organist and director of music at St Albans Cathedral. Refreshments will be available at the interval. Entry is free no booking is required, and there will be a retiring collection to support the series and the church fund. | Sunday 3 May at 4:00 pm
A Song of SummerBehind the Mirror are at Berkhamsted Town Hall, presenting a celebration of English music old and new for cello and harp. The programme will feature a mix of music inspired by folk traditions, including works by Delius, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Purcell. Eleanor Turner (harp) and Clare O'Connell (cello). Tickets: £25 U18 free. | Saturday 9 May at 3:00 pm
Musical & Literary Arts FundraiserBerkhamsted Citizens' Association are holding an afternoon of music and readings at the Great Hall, Berkhamsted Town Hall. Madalina (soprano) and guests, accompanied on piano by Bertha Kum (Castle Choir music director). Tickets £10, in aid of Berkhamsted Castle Trust's Save Castle Fields appeal. | Sunday 10 May
The Berkhamsted Walk 2026Registration is now open for the Berkhamsted Walk. This is Berkhamsted's annual fundraiser for the Children's Society, helping disadvantaged young people and vulnerable children which has been going since 1968! You can choose from three different walks: 6, 12 or 18 miles (the routes vary each year), and there are checkpoints and refreshments along the way. To take part, you need to register on their website, and you can make a personal donation (online or by bank card on the day), or collect sponsorship (download the sponsor form from the website). | Friday 15 May - Saturday 23 May
Chiltern Arts Festival 2026Booking is now open for this year's Chiltern Arts Festival - eight days of concerts, walks and events that are inspired by nature, at beautiful locations across the Chiltern Hills. Music will include orchestral, jazz, Renaissance and contemporary choral music at venues including Great Missenden, College Lake, Ashridge, Aldbury, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Thame and Princes Risborough. On Saturday 16 May, the Blaze Ensemble will be here at St Peter's Berkhamsted, playing Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony and favourites by Mendelssohn, Delius and Mozart. Pick up a festival brochure at the back of the church. Full listings and ticket sales are all on the Chiltern Arts website: | Saturday 13 June at 7:30 pm
Bridgewater Sinfonia concertBridgewater Sinfonia is back at St Peter's this summer for a performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, and they welcome soloist Michael Foyle to the concert stage. The programme will also feature Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, making this an ideal concert for young people (under-18s' tickets are free!), followed by Shostakovich's famous Symphony N° 5 in D Minor. Advance tickets are available from Ashtons Estate Agents (next to Tesco) and online for £20, or £22 on the door. | Sunday 14 June
DENS Castle WalkAnother community fundraising walk coming up in summer: registration is now open for the DENS Castle Walk, raising money for our local homelessness charity. Beginning at Berkhamsted Castle, participants can select either a 5 or 10 mile route through beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. Adults £15, U18s £10, family ticket £40. Participants are invited to get friends and family to sponsor them through JustGiving. Register online: | Bluebell seasonThe bluebells are out, and our local woodlands are carpeted in deep blue and filled with fragrance for just a couple of weeks. Dockey Woods near Ringshall is a popular spot, but the ecosystem is suffering from overtourism. The National Trust have introduced admission charges at certain times to manage numbers, so you may want to visit other more secluded spots to experience this spring wonder. Many woodlands near Berkhamsted have hidden bluebell spots, so take a wander to see what you can find. We're not going to recommend any specific woodlands, as this risks encouraging hordes of visitors, but why not pick up a Berkhamsted Citizens Association footpath map in Waterstones and start exploring! Read more about bluebells at the Ashridge Estate on the NT website: |
Cartoon Church This week's cartoon courtesy of CartoonChurch
Copyright © 2026 Dave Walker
  | Worship with usThis Sunday: 19 April 2026
3rd Sunday of Easter |
9:30am Sung Eucharist
You are invited to join us at our main Sunday service
Next Sunday: 26 April 2026
4th Sunday of EasterMusic this weekHymns: | Anthem: | Abendlied - Rheinberger | | Voluntary: | Finale Jubilante Healey Willan |
ReadingsActs 2.14a, 36-41But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. Psalm 1161 I love the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my supplication; because he inclined his ear to me on the day I called to him.2 The snares of death encompassed me; the pains of hell took hold of me; by grief and sorrow was I held.Response3 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.’4 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is full of compassion.Response7 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.8 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.Response Gospel: Luke 24.13-35Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
 In our prayers this weekAnglican Cycle of Prayer:The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma)Intercessions | Diocese | ✚✚Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, ✚Andrew, Bishop Designate of St Albans, ✚ Jane, Bishop of Hertford, and Charles, Archdeacon of St Albans | In our
continuing prayers | Denis Beard, Mary Beard, Christina Billington, Patricia Cody, Nola Frost, Yvonne Hart, Judith Hill, John Malcolm, Ghullam Mutaheri, Frozan Mutaheri, Clare Wallington, Stacy Giles | In our
immediate prayers | Graeme Davis, Mark Few, Barbara Fisher, Peter Kirk, Gwen Roberts, Fr Chris Rogers, Peter Rolfe, David Steadmann, Charlotte Szypryt, Neata Thomson, Sienna Vallance, Ken Organ, Barbara McKenna, Liz Wright | Weddings
(next four weeks) | | Wedding banns
called this Sunday | Theresa Ann Hill & Matthew James Clark
| Baptisms
(next four weeks) | | | RIP | Cheryl Beauchamp, Barbara Conway | | Memorial (year's mind) | Michael McKenna | ☩ Funeral noticesTuesday 28 April 202611:00 am– 1:00 pmFuneral of Barbara Conway
 RotasWe are ever thankful for our team of dedicated clergy and volunteers who support our collective worship every week. If you are new to St Peter's, we encourage you to get involved in our parish life. Listed below are rotas for this coming Sunday and the week after. You can check future rota dates on the parish website at www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/rotas Sunday 19 April 2026 - Easter 3| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Rob Jenkins | | Reader | Sarah H. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Margaret (Fr Stuart) ((Rob Jenkins)) | | Preacher | Rob Jenkins | | Sidesperson | Uli G. | | Sidesperson | Helen P. | | MC | Libby G. | | Acolyte | . | | Acolyte | Emma G. | | Thurifer | Richard C. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Hilary A. | | Intercessions | Joseph C. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Kate H. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Pru M. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy G. | | Friday Thought | Fr Anthony |
Sunday 26 April 2026 - Easter 4| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Margaret | | Preacher | Margaret | | Reader | Mike H. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Margaret) ((Fr David)) | | Preacher | Margaret | | Sidesperson | Judy C. | | Sidesperson | Jenny H. | | MC | Richard C. | | Acolyte | . | | Acolyte | Libby G. | | Thurifer | Chris C. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Rachel B. | | Intercessions | Richard H. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Carole D. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Uli G. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy D. | | Friday Thought | Richard |
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Contact Sarah Dawson (plant stall)
07503 156 751
