| Volume 16 No. 28 | Friday 5 June 2026 |
The Friday ThoughtThis week’s gospel from Matthew 9 gives us a story where Jesus both calls and is called by three very different people. The story begins when Jesus called Matthew the tax collector to follow him, and Matthew immediately left his booth, which was his source of earning, and followed Jesus. Later, Jesus had dinner with Matthew and his friends, tax collectors and sinners; people who were shunned and despised by the community. The Pharisees were offended by the company that Jesus was keeping, and were unable to see how their own sense of rightful superiority was cutting them off from seeing their own need of God. Then Jairus a leader of the synagogue came and knelt before Jesus, and asked him to come and heal his daughter who was close to death at home. As Jesus followed him through the crowd, a woman, excluded from the community as she was constantly bleeding and designated unclean, came and touched Jesus from behind and was healed. Jairus daughter had already died when they reached his home, and leaving the wailing crowds outside, Jesus went into the house, took the young girl by the hand and raised her back to life. Matthew gives us these three stories to show that Jesus reached out to those who lived painfully on the edges of society. The tax collector and the unnamed woman were excluded outsiders; Jairus, despite his high position in the community was drawn to Jesus, in his anguish for his daughter. Those who relied on their status to give them power, and who used laws to exclude others, created a society in which their use of othering created deep injustices, especially for the poor and outsiders. I was thinking about this passage and about the way Jesus responded to the deepest needs of the people he met, and how important it was that each was included, as I was looking at some of the reports of Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI. The Pope is clear that the technology is neutral but he asks us to pay attention to the need to safeguard the human being at the heart of our social systems from the unjust uses of power. He writes: “Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity made possible.”
This is an urgent imperative for us all; and this week we can hear the way Matthew shows us the way Jesus paid attention to the heart of each person he met. |
Church news & notices Scaffolding updateSTOP PRESS: The scaffolding inside the Lady Chapel has been dismantled! This means that the first phase of repair work to the roof has been completed - but this is not the end! Our Renovation Appeal continues, as we have other areas of the roof that need urgent attention, so please continue to support our appeal as we make progress to repair our historic building. | Sunday 14 June
Choral EvensongThere will be a sung evensong for RSCM Music Sunday at St Peter's. This is a UK-wide celebration of church musicians promoted by the Royal School of Church Music, and the music will be fantastic. The canticles will be the awe-inspiring setting in B minor by Thomas Tertius Noble (1867-1953), a British choirmaster composer whose career took him to St Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City. The anthem will be the triumphant "Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing" by that most English of composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). Our choir work very hard to make evensong possible, and we are most grateful for all that they do to enrich our worship at St Peter's with glorious music. We are most fortunate to have wonderful cathedral-style worship in our parish church, so do please support these services. Don't stay at home - you can catch up with Antiques Roadshow on iPlayer later! | Saturday 20 June
St Peter’s Market Stall Once again St Peter's will be out meeting the people on Saturday 20th June. We will be publicising the Petertide Fair. For the children there will be a colouring competition - colour a candle and take it to the church for display - and everyone wins a prize. It's important that we are seen out and about. Volunteers are needed, 9am to 1pm, to promote St Peters and the Fair. Please give us an hour and meet the crowds and help the children. A rota will be at the back of church at the 9.30 service.
Contact:Carolynne Charman Stephen Lally | Sunday 28 June
The Petertide FairThe Petertide Fair is happening this month! This will be a fun-filled family fête, with afternoon entertainments, games, stalls, food and drink. Drop by for Pimms or a beer in the sun, browse the plant stalls and bric-à-brac stalls. For youngsters, there are train rides - and bring a cuddly toy to ride the daring Teddy Zip Wire from the bell tower! Entry is free, and all proceeds will go to the St Peter's Renovation Appeal, helping us to fix our leaking church roof! This is another opportunity for St Peter's to welcome the wider Berkhamsted community, and an important fundraiser for our repair costs, so please support this in any way you can. | Thank you from Fr Stuart I'd like to express my deep thanks to everyone who supported me during the sponsored walk I made during half-term. Over £3500 was raised for the charity Hector's House, which will make a real difference to the important work that they do.
Photos of Fr Stuart's six-day, 180-mile walk are on his Instagram page: | Petertide Fair – donations wanted! We are gearing up for our fundraising fair on 28 June and we are looking for donations:
- good quality bric-à-brac (homewares, kitchenware, toys, ornaments, books etc - no clothes please)
- plants for the plant stall
- wine/beer/spirits for the bottle tombola
- cakes for the cake stall
There are specific instructions for items - donation times, packaging etc. Please see the info leaflet below (this will be given out on Sunday too):
Contact:Hayley Khazaneh  07734 601 136 Hilary Armstrong 07969 654 160 Carolynne Charman (cakes) 07506 156 751 Sarah Dawson (plants) 07788 843 186 | Mothers’ Union sponsored cycle
As part of the celebrations of 150 years of Mothers' Union, a global trustee, Deb Lee, is cycling from York Minster to St Pauls Cathedral. Bev Jullien will be joining her for the penultimate leg on 9th June, to cycle from Kings Langley to St Albans Abbey, where the cyclists will join evening prayer. If anyone is in or near Kings Langley on the morning of 9th, the cyclists will be joining the regular coffee morning of All Saints Church from 10-11am, and all are welcome. If you'd like to sponsor Deb, please visit her JustGiving page: |
Schools news Green Week at Victoria School With our first week back and everyone refreshed, the children were keen to start their last half term before summer. We are getting ready for the Big Green Week so we can be part of supporting changes to how we look after our local area. Below is a poster of all the things we will be up to and look out for us on Wednesday as we litter pick across the town. We also had a lovely email from The Hospice of St Francis as our Kindness Ambassadors raised over £200 for the 'Saharan Stars' desert trek. We can't wait to find out about all their adventures, later on this year. If you would like to donate, go to the Saharan Stars' JustGiving page below to find our more. 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
 Diocesan news
Friday 12 June at 7:30 pm
Music from the St Albans Abbey scriptoriumA medieval manuscript written by the monks of St Albans Abbey 800 years ago is being brought to life in a rare live performance. For the first time in eight centuries, these monastic chants will be heard within the very space for which they were created - the church that is now St Albans Cathedral. For one evening only, the Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, Andrew Carwood MBE, joins singer and early music specialist James Preston will perform chants from the book, transporting the audience you back to the sounds that shaped medieval worship. The performance will be introduced by Dr Thomas Phillips (University of Cambridge). Tickets £15/£7.50 concessions. | Saturday 20 June
Alban Day: Pilgrimage & FestivalSt Albans will be holding its city-wide celebration of Britain's first saint, Alban the Martyr. The day begins at 11am with the Alban Pilgrimage procession of giant puppets through the city centre, followed by a Pilgrimage Eucharist at noon in the Cathedral. Throughout the day there are entertainments and activities across St Albans city centre. Parishes and pilgrimage groups are invited to walk in the procession - see the Cathedral website for details. | Bishop of St Albans Open GardenOur new bishop is moving into Abbey Gate House, the episcopal residence in St Albans, later this summer. Bishop Andrew has kindly agreed for the annual Bishop's Open Garden event to go ahead again this year. This is an opportunity for the public to visit the lovely gardens over four Sunday afternoons 2pm-4pm. It's only £5 entry, and all proceeds go to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust. So far, these events have raised nearly £25,000 for the trust! Abbey Gate House is on Abbey Mill Lane, just opposite the Cathedral west end. - Sunday 28 June
- Sunday 4 July
- Sunday 12 July
- Sunday 19 July
|  | 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 Friday 5 June - Sunday 14 June
Great Big Green Week 2026Berkhamsted will be holding another Great Big Green Week, with events all over town - walks, talks, family activities, quizzes and gardening events. On Saturday 6 June there will be the popular Berkhamsted Eco Fair in the Civic Centre. | Saturday 6 June at 3:00 pm
Save Your Space launch eventBerkhamsted Castle Trust is launching a new initiative to enable supporters to sponsor a square of this historic Castle Fields next to Berkhamsted Castle. For £39, you will be able to put your name to a 3m x 3m square on an interactive map, and all money raised will help to save Castle Fields from development. You can sponsor as many squares as you like. Come along to Castle Fields (next to Berkhamsted Castle on the other side of New Road) between 3pm and 5pm to find out more at a special launch event. Bring a picnic, enjoy a special performance by the wonderful Choir on the Green and celebrate with donors and campaigners. | Saturday 6 June at 7:30 pm
Green Week talk: Disappearing wildlife of the ChilternsIan Gamble gives an illustrated Great Big Green Week talk about The Chilterns' Unique and Disappearing Wildlife. Ian is a wildlife expert who will surprise you with the variety of plant, animal and insect life to be found in our area - while identifying the species on the rise and those declining. Northchurch Baptist Church, High St, Berkhamsted HP4 3QH. | Sunday 7 June at 10:00 am
Great Big Nature Hunt  
The Friends of St Peter's are participating in Great Big Green Week again with a fabulous Nature Hunt through our historic cemetery on Rectory Lane, 10am-1pm. Come and discover the hidden life of bees, bugs, newts and hedgehogs - it's teeming with life! Children can collect little natural treasures as they go around and visit the nature-themed craft tent. Home-made refreshments on sale. Free event - donations welcome to support the cemetery maintenance. This event is also taking place as part of Love Your Burial Ground Week, a UK-wide celebration of wildlife in churchyards and chapel yards, which is organised by the conservation charity Caring for God's Acre in partnership with the Church of England, the Church in Wales and A Rocha UK. It's wonderful that the Friends of St Peter's are organising this event to include Berkhamsted in this lovely initiative. | Sunday 7 June at 2:30 pm
Sarah Garrett organ recitalThe next Sarah Garrett Recital at All Saints' Church will be given by Jane Watts, one of Britain's leading concert organists. Refreshments will be available at the interval. Entry is free and no booking is required, and there will be a retiring collection to support the series and the church fund. All Saints' Church, Shrublands Road | 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 WalkDon't forget the DENS Castle Walk is 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: | Friday 10 July - Saturday 11 July
Berko Beer FestivalThe 11th BerkoBeerFest is taking place over the weekend of 11 & 12 July at Kitcheners Field, behind Berkhamsted Castle. The event will feature stand-up comedy, live music, street food stalls, and of course a huge range of cask and craft beers and ciders. This year, BerkoBeerFest is supporting four wonderful charities: Electric Umbrella (as seen on Britain's Got Talent), the Swan youth Project, Toy Hub and Save Castle Fields. Advance tickets are now on sale - they always sell out! | The Black Prince 650th anniversary650 years ago, on 8 June 1376, Edward of Woodstock died. Known to history as Edward the Black Prince, he was the eldest son of King Edward III of England. Edward is renowned as one of the most successful English commanders during the Hundred Years' War against France, and one of the greatest knights of the age. In 1337, Edward was granted a new title: Duke of Cornwall. Berkhamsted Castle became the centre of operations of the powerful Duchy of Cornwall, and much money was invested in restoring Berkhamsted Castle. Ever since, the Duke of Cornwall title has been granted to the heir to the throne (today, Prince William is the Duke of Cornwall), and until the 19th century, the Patron of St Peter's Berkhamsted. The Black Prince, however, never became king, as he died before his father and so his son acceded to the throne instead - King Richard II. The knight Henry of Berkhamsted was Edward's right-hand man, and fought alongside the Black Prince at the Battles of Crécy (August 1346) and Poitiers (September 1356). Henry's stone tomb can be seen here in St Peter's Church, topped with a recumbent effigy of Henry and his lady wife - a typical style of a tomb honouring a knight, and very similar to the design of the Black Prince's (conspicuously more opulent) copper-alloy tomb in Canterbury Cathedral. It is a reminder of St Peter's ancient ties with the history that shaped England. Berkhamsted Castle is open every day, it's free to visit, and on weekends you can meet the friendly volunteers who can tell you all about the history of Edward the Black Prince. You can also read more about the life of the Black Prince and Henry of Berkhamsted on the Berkhamsted Castle website: | 100 years of the National Trust at AshridgeYesterday (Thursday 4 June) marked 100 years of the National Trust caring for the Ashridge Estate. After centuries in the hands of the Egerton and Brownlow families, the estate was passed to the National Trust in 1926, while the house and garden was sold off separately. Today the estate comprises 5,000 acres (20 km2), including Ivinghoe Beacon, the Ashridge Monument and parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Ashridge House is now a business school, and is rarely open to visitors. In the 1810s, the 7th Earl of Bridgewater commissioned the architect James Wyatt to build Ashridge House. Around this time, Wyatt also carried out restoration work on St Peter's Church. The widow of the 7th Earl, Countess Charlotte, donated land to St Peter's in 1842 to establish our cemetery on Rectory Lane. |
  | Worship with usThis Sunday: 7 June 2026
1st Sunday after Trinity |
9:30am Sung Eucharist
You are invited to join us at our main Sunday service
Next Sunday: 14 June 2026
2nd Sunday after Trinity| 9:30am: | Sung Eucharist | | 6:00pm | Choral Evensong for RSCM Music Sunday |
Music this weekHymns: | Anthem: | Panis Angelicus - César Franck | | Voluntary: | Cortège - Louis Vierne |
ReadingsHosea 5.15 - 6.6I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour: ‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.’ What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgement goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings. Psalm 50 (vv. 7-15)7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: ‘I will testify against you, O Israel; for I am God, your God.8 ‘I will not reprove you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are always before me.Response9 ‘I will take no bull out of your house, nor he-goat out of your folds,10 ‘For all the beasts of the forest are mine, the cattle upon a thousand hills.11 ‘I know every bird of the mountains and the insect of the field is mine.Response12 ‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the whole world is mine and all that fills it.13 ‘Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?Response14 ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and fulfil your vows to God Most High.15 ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall honour me.’Response Gospel: Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.
 In our prayers this weekAnglican Cycle of Prayer:The Scottish Episcopal ChurchIntercessions | 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 | Mary Beard, Christina Billington, Yvonne Hart, Judith Hill, John Malcolm, Ghullam Mutaheri, Frozan Mutaheri, Clare Wallington, Stacy Giles, Liz Wright | In our
immediate prayers | Patricia Cody, Alan Conway, Graeme Davis, Mark Few, Barbara Fisher, Nola Frost, Peter Kirk, David Labbett, Gwen Roberts, Fr Chris Rogers, Peter Rolfe, David Steadmann, Charlotte Szypryt, Neata Thomson, Ken Organ, Barbara McKenna, Sienna Vallance | Weddings
(next four weeks) | | Wedding banns
called this Sunday | | Baptisms
(next four weeks) | | | RIP | Denis Beard | | 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 7 June 2026 - Trinity 1| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Richard | | Reader | Tracy R. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Margaret) | | Preacher | Richard | | Sidesperson | Cathy I. | | Sidesperson | Carole D. | | MC | Richard C. | | Acolyte | Hayley K. | | Acolyte | Stephen L. | | Thurifer | Emma G. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Uli G. | | Intercessions | Robin M. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Carole D. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Uli G. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy D. | | Friday Thought | Margaret |
Sunday 14 June 2026 - Trinity 2| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr David | | Preacher | Fr David | | Reader | Liz P. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Margaret) ((Fr David)) | | Preacher | Fr David | | Sidesperson | Uli G. | | Sidesperson | Helen P. | | MC | Libby G. | | Acolyte | Stephen L. | | Acolyte | Will G. | | Thurifer | Chris C. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Christopher G. | | Intercessions | Joseph C. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Paul J. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Hilary E. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy G. | | Friday Thought | Fr Stuart |
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Email Carolynne Charman
