From the Desert to Stroud
I’ve just come back from the Thursday afternoon Lent Course at the church in Paganhill. We continued exploring the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. It feels slightly improbable that voices from the fourth-century Egyptian wilderness should have anything to say to us in 2026 — and yet they speak with startling clarity.
Much of what I know of this comes from a small, rather battered Penguin paperback I have owned for many years. It contains the simple, piercing sayings of those early Christians who withdrew into the desert, not to escape the world, but to find God more truly — and, in doing so, to learn how to live within it.
Their wisdom is rarely complicated. It is often disarmingly direct. They speak about silence, humility, patience, self-knowledge, and above all the slow work of allowing God to change the heart. In an age that rewards noise and certainty, they remind us of the holiness of stillness and the courage of staying put.
Lent invites us into that same desert space — not necessarily a physical wilderness, but an interior one. A place where distractions fall away and we come face to face with God, ourselves, and one another.
It turns out the desert is not so far from Stroud after all.
Sunday Services 1st March
9.30am
Holy Communion at St Matthew’s Church
Saints Alive at Uplands
Cowshed Service at St Laurence
11.00 am
Morning Worship at Slad
Morning Worship at Holy Trinity
Morning Worship at Randwick
Morning Worship at Paganhill
4.00pm
Choral Evensong at All Saints, Uplands
News:
With Thanks — and a Few Goodbyes.
Over the past few weeks we have been blessed by the presence of Rev Tracey Clements, who has been with us on placement. Tracey is a final-year curate based in Minchinhampton and has spent time across the Stroud Team experiencing the rich variety of worship and ministry that shapes our life together.
Her final Sunday with us will be 8th February, when she will be leading worship alongside me at Holy Trinity, Stroud. If you see Tracey in these remaining days, do say hello. Many of you have already met and warmly welcomed her — thank you for the generous way you share the life of your congregations with those who come among us to learn.
We are also grateful for Jeremy Clutterbuck, who is with us on Reader Ministry Placement. Jeremy will remain with us until Palm Sunday, which will also be his final service — our 5th Sunday Team Service at St Laurence at 11am. That will be a fitting moment to gather as a team and mark his time among us.
It is a gift, I think, that others come to see what God is doing here. Sometimes it helps us notice it afresh ourselves.
Paganhill Coffee Morning on Saturday 28th February from 10.30-12.00
Lent Groups
Thursday afternoon Lent Group at The church of the Holy Spirit, Paganhill.
From 1.30 to 3pm for 7 weeks. We will be following the Lectio 365 course on the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers.
Thursday evening Ecumenical Lent Group at St Albans Church from 7.00-9.30
A Wide and Varied Lent Programme at St Laurence
Lent is well underway, and there is a rich and varied programme unfolding at St Laurence over the coming weeks.
Do take a moment to click the link and see what is happening. Perhaps there is something that might stretch you, nourish you, or simply offer a space to pause in the midst of busy days.
Lent is not about adding pressure. It is about making room.
We would love you to join us.
Please click here to see all that is happening throughout lent at St Laurence.
World Book Day at St Pauls, Whiteshill.
For children and carers: Do pop and see our now lovely & warm(!) Lady Chapel – whilst showing us your Book Day costumes!
Enjoy free drinks & snacks, try our new wi-fi… and imagine the comfortable seating & serving hatch that is to come..Please do join us on March 5th
Dates for your diary:
Team Palm Sunday Service at 11am at St Laurence in town on Sunday 29th March.
Team Pilgrimage on 31st May, finishing at Holy Trinity, Slad for a Choral Patronal Festival Evensong. More information to follow.
Joint PCC Meeting on Tuesday 10th March at St Matthew’s Church Hall from 7pm-9pm, for all PCC members.
For details of all our services and events, please visit our website stroudparishchurches.org.uk
As we continue our Lenten journey together, may we remember that we do not walk it alone. In desert places and green pastures alike, God is already there ahead of us.
May this season be one of quiet strengthening — not striving, but steady hope.
James