| Volume 16 No. 44 | Friday 25 September 2026 |
The Friday ThoughtIn the last Friday Thought I offered, I spoke about a safeguarding course I completed in the autumn of last year. On completion of the course, all who had taken part had to draw up a 3-point Action Plan. My first Action was a meeting I called with all those responsible for safeguarding at St Peter’s, and we discussed safeguarding in general at St Peter’s. This was followed up by Action 2 in my previous Friday Thought, when I spoke about the importance of culture in ensuring a healthy and safe church environment. Now we come to the final Action. Below is a passage from scripture and I invite anyone interested to read it and reflect as to what it might have to speak to us about safeguarding. If you are interested, please write on ONE side of A4 your thoughts and the parish safeguarding officers and Fr Stuart will judge the best reflection offered for which there will be a mystery prize! ‘For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.’ Deuteronomy 10.17-19
Anyone who might be interested in the challenge, please email me your reflection, and remember not more than one side of A4. The last date for receiving responses is Friday 16 October davidmlawson@btinternet.com |
Church news & notices Saturday 3 October at 7:00 pm
An Audience with Captain John TyeThe David Pearce Memorial Lecture was started last year in memory of our dear departed churchwarden and Berkhamsted schoolmaster. It's run by the Friends of St Peter's in partnership with Berkhamsted School, and this year's event is a fundraiser for the St Peter's Renovation Appeal, supporting our urgent ongoing roof repairs. This year the Friends welcome BA Concorde pilot Captain John Tye as speaker. John will explain technical features of Concorde and take us on a virtual flight from Heathrow to New York. There will be a Q&A session and an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of his best-selling book. Tickets: £15 and include a complimentary drink on arrival (£5 for under-18s and students). All ticket holders will also be entitled to a year's membership of the Friends of St Peter's. Centenary Theatre, Kings Road, welcome drinks from 7pm. Don't miss this - and invite your friends and neighbours, and support this vital appeal! Book online, or contact Cathy Imber to secure a ticket.  
Contact:Cathy Imber  07909 868 928 | Sunday 4 October
Singing day at St Peter’sSt Peter's Church is inviting children in years 3 - 6 for a day of singing and fun. Over the course of the day, they will have the chance to learn some songs and find out about being a chorister at Berkhamsted's parish church. The day will end with a short concert, in which they'll appear alongside existing members of the choir. No previous experience is required, just a good singing voice and bags of enthusiasm! | Sunday 4 October at 11:00 am
Harvest Promises Auction On Sunday 4th October we will be celebrating Harvest Festival and as part of our thanksgiving, we'll be holding a Promises Auction to raise money for the work of Christian Aid. Last year, we had so many fantastic offers, including cream teas, lunches and dinners, organ lessons, gardening, baking, home-made moussaka, clay pigeon shooting.... with all these bids, St Peter's raised over £1000! They're also a super excuse to enjoy social time together. So let's get your offers in this week and try to beat last year's total! Email Fr Stuart with your offer (and try to be as specific as possible, eg 'two hours light gardening' rather than just 'gardening'). Thank you!
| Friday 16 October at 12:45 pm
Funeral of Barbara BaggaleyBarbara's funeral will take place in the Milton Chapel at Chilterns Crematorium. | Saturday 17 October
Parish Pilgrimage to AldburyOn Saturday 17th October there will be a pilgrimage to St John the Baptist's, Aldbury. We will begin with Midday Prayer at St Peter's and then walk to Aldbury via the Ashridge Estate. After a picnic lunch we will say Afternoon Prayer and then walk back to Berkhamsted via the canal and finish with Evening Prayer. Please speak to Fr Stuart if you're interested and would like to know more. Contact:Fr Stuart 01442 879 739 | Could you run Little Fishes?We are looking to recruit new leaders for our Little Fishes Parent and Toddler Group. The group was founded in 1997 and so will be thirty years old next year! Each week the group welcomes anything from 30-40 people (adults and children) who enjoy time together with other parents (and grandparents and guardians!), offer mutual support and friendship, and allow the children to develop and thrive in the company of their peers. Download the specification below. For more information, please contact Fr Stuart: | Parish office printerThe Parish Office printer is no longer working, and so no pew sheets can be printed for Sunday mornings. If you do prefer to have the readings, music and parish news on paper, please download the sheet below and print it at home. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! | Volunteers’ ServiceOn Thursday last week, we held a thanksgiving service for all the volunteers who give their time freely to make life better in Berkhamsted. We welcomed representatives from organisations all over the local area, as well as people in our own congregation, giving thanks for the work that people do to bind our community together. The service was also an opportunity to strengthen the links between St Peter's Church and the wider Berkhamsted community - thank you to everyone that supported this event. | Nepal red bucket collection Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to the red bucket collection in church for the people of Nepal suffering from flash flooding. In total we raised £302.85, which has been donated to the British Red Cross. If you were unable to give, you can make an online donation at:
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Schools news
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
 Diocesan news
The Installation of the 11th Bishop of St AlbansLast Saturday, more than 1,500 people gathered at St Albans Cathedral (with a further 4,000 joining online), as Rt Rev Dr Andrew Rumsey was installed as the 11th Bishop of St Albans. Following the traditional ceremonial knocking on the West End doors by the incoming Bishop, the Archdeacon of Canterbury, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury, formally placed Bishop Andrew into his cathedra (the bishop's chair). During the service, the Dean of St Albans, the Very Revd Jo Kelly-Moore, handed Bishop Andrew the diocesan crozier, the pastoral staff symbolising his role as shepherd to the Diocese. In his sermon, Bishop Andrew reflected on faith, pilgrimage and the call to build a future rooted in both "fresh planting and tenacious old roots". You can watch the service again on the Cathedral's YouTube channel. There are also photos of the day, and you can read Bishop Andrew's sermon at the links below.
| Diocesan email newslettersThe Diocese of St Albans now offers a range of newsletters covering different aspects of diocesan life and ministry: the Bishop's Bulletin, Mission and Ministry, Church Buildings, Safeguarding, and this month the Diocesan Inter Faith Network (DIFN) has launched a new Interfaith Newsletter. If you'd like to stay up to date with news, guidance, events and resources from across the Diocese of St Albans, simply fill in the online form below: |  | The Parish of Great Berkhamsted is in the Church of England's Diocese of St Albans |
 www.stalbansdiocese.org
St Albans Cathedral:
www.stalbanscathedral.org
 Church noticeboard
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Berkhamsted community news & events Sunday 27 September at 2:00 pm
Climate and Creation SundayAt St Mary's Church, Studham - come and Listen to Dr Martin J Hodson and the Revd Margot Hodson speak about the current state of our climate and what we can do in our lives to make a difference: how to live wisely and well in God's world and how to live sustainable lives. There will also be group discussions on food, fashion, transport, home energy, young people, and finance. Free workshop - sign up online: | Friday 9 October at 6:00 pm
Comedy Evening & Pop-up Beer BarBerkoBeerFest are holding an autumn comedy evening in the Civic Centre, with four tip-top comedians: Stephen K Amos, Conor Drum, James Alderson and Max Fulham. There'll also be live music, street food suppers and a bar. Tickets £22. | Saturday 10 October at 7:30 pm
Retro RewindÉtoile Events present Retro Rewind, an evening of live music from The Simply 70s Show band at Northchurch Social Centre. Get on down to disco, soul, glam rock and funk, and enjoy a licensed bar and retro food. There will be prizes for the best dressed guests and a charity raffle in aid of Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled. Advance tickets £30, or £35 on the door, table bookings welcome. To book contact: Contact:Étoile Events 07769 183 362 | Saturday 10 October at 7:30 pm
Bridgewater SinfoniaThe thriving Berkhamsted music scene continues with the Bridgewater Sinfonia new concert season. It opens on Saturday 10 October at Berkhamsted School's Centenary Theatre with Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, leader of the BBC Concert Orchestra Nathaniel Anderson-Frank playing Mozart's Violin Concerto N° 5, and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony (please note that this replaces the performance of Verdi's Requiem advertised earlier). And on Advent Sunday 29 November, they will be presenting a pre-seasonal Sunday matinée performance of Tchaikovsky Ballet Suites in Deans' Hall, Berkhamsted School. Advance/online tickets are £22, or £24 on the door, under-18s free. Pick up a season brochure at the back of church or visit: | Tuesday 13 October - Saturday 17 October
The Pepper Show 2026The Pepper Show returns to the DEMBE Theatre in Tring for five nights (plus a matinée) with rock and pop hits across the decades. This hugely popular annual event raises funds for The Pepper Foundation, a local charity that raises vital funds for children's hospice at home care in Bucks & Herts. Tickets are on sale now: | Sunday 1 November
BerkoFest Book Festival
Back for its seventh year, BerkoFest Book Festival is returning to Berkhamsted Town Hall, with a mix of acclaimed fiction and non-fiction writers, children's authors, comedians and cartoonists in discussions, readings, Q&A sessions and book signings. The event will be hosted by Robin Ince and Nigel Barden, with appearances by Alexei Sayle, Lucia Osbourne-Crowley, Athena Kugblenu, Ellen Jones, Caroline Litman and Ben Jennings. Tickets are now on sale, and usually sell out very quickly, so book now to avoid disappointment! | Berkhamsted cinemaBerkhamsted Film Society is a friendly society who meet in the Civic Centre, Berkhamsted and screen about 15 films a season. The 2026-27 season starts on Monday 5 October with a showing of The Roses, a comedy starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Come early for a welcome glass of wine before the opening film. Non-members £7 on the door, or £45 for a year's membership. Pick up a season brochure in St Peter's Church. We also have the Rex Cinema October programme available at the back of church. Highlights include Antonin Baudry's two-parter De Gaulle and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. | A double Choral Society concertThe amassed Choral Societies of Berkhamsted and Chorleywood returned from their musical triumphs on tour in the Netherlands to treat Berkhamsted to their varied vocal programme. A delighted audience in St Peter's last Saturday was treated to Mozart's Missa Brevis in D Minor, along with a selection of choral classics by many composers. The Balfour Gardiner Evening Hymn was a glorious "wall of sound" experience, enthusiastically received by a packed house! BCS will be back in St Peter's nearer Christmas, but in the meantime, Chorleywood Choral Society are running a Come and Sing Fauré's Requiem at the Hillside Centre in Chorleywood on Saturday 10 October - all singers welcome. | Concerts at St Peter’sOur autumn and winter concert programme has started, and there is much to look forward to! A concerts leaflet was given out at our church market stall - sadly we've run out, and as the printer is broken, no more can be printed. You can download your own copy below - why not print if out and give it to your music-loving friends? | Way Inn gears up for ChristmasThe Way Inn is so much more than a Post Office, it is a Christian Presence on our High Street. Over the coming weeks we will welcoming our Christmas stock so why not pop in to pick up an Advent Calendar, choose your Christmas cards or select a gift? There will also some Christmas books at bargain prices and local produce. The Way Inn is run by a Christian Charity which is looking for some new trustees. Is this something you or someone you know might be able to do? Please pray about it and speak to The Way Inn to find out more. |
Cartoon Church This week's cartoon courtesy of CartoonChurch
Copyright © 2026 Dave Walker
  | Worship with usThis Sunday: 27 September 2026
17th Sunday after Trinity |
9:30am Sung Eucharist
You are invited to join us at our main Sunday service
Next Sunday: 4 October 2026
Harvest (International Chorister Day)Music this weekHymns: | Anthem: | Teach me, O Lord - Thomas Attwood | | Voluntary: | Processional - Grayston Ives |
ReadingsEzekiel 18.1-4, 25-endThe word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. Psalm 25 (vv. 1-9)1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies triumph over me.2 Let none who look to you be put to shame, but let the treacherous be shamed and frustrated.Response3 Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you have I hoped all the day long.Response5 Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.6 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions, but think on me in your goodness, O Lord, according to your steadfast love.Response7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; therefore shall he teach sinners in the way.8 He will guide the humble in doing right and teach his way to the lowly.9 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.Response Gospel: Matthew 21.23-32When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
 In our prayers this weekAnglican Cycle of Prayer:The Church of BangladeshIntercessions | Diocese | ✠✠Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, ✠ Andrew, Bishop of St Albans, ✠ Jane, Bishop of Hertford, and Charles, Archdeacon of St Albans | In our
continuing prayers | Mary Beard, Christina Billington, Barbara Fisher, Stacy Giles, Yvonne Hart, Judith Hill, Barbara McKenna, Ghullam Mutaheri, Frozan Mutaheri, Ken Organ, Gwen Roberts, Neata Thomson, Clare Wallington, Liz Wright | In our
immediate prayers | Doug Billington, Patricia Cody, Graeme Davis, Mark Few, Peter Kirk, Peter Rolfe, Charlotte Szypryt, Sienna Vallance | Weddings
(next four weeks) | Philip Gameson & Suzy Harker
| Wedding banns
called this Sunday | | Baptisms
(next four weeks) | | | RIP | Barbara Baggaley, Graeme Selkirk, Marion Muller | | Memorial (year's mind) | |
 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 27 September 2026 - Trinity 17| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Richard | | Reader | Mike H. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr David (Margaret) ((Fr Stuart)) | | Preacher | Richard | | Sidesperson | Liz Y. | | Sidesperson | Barbara J. | | MC | Will G. | | Cruficer | Hayley K. | | Acolyte | Richard C. | | Acolyte | Tilly A. | | Thurifer | . | | Reader | Hilary A. | | Intercessions | Will G. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Carole D. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Uli G. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy G. | | Friday Thought | |
Sunday 4 October 2026 - Harvest| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Reader | Tracy R. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Helen) | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Sidesperson | Kate H. | | Sidesperson | Helen P. | | MC | . | | Cruficer | . | | Acolyte | . | | Acolyte | . | | Thurifer | . | | Reader | Rachel B. | | Intercessions | Richard H. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Paul J. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Hilary E. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Julian D. | | Friday Thought | |
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Email Cathy Imber
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