We stand on the threshold of Pentecost — the day when the Church remembers the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon ordinary people, gathering them together and sending them out in courage, hope and love.
Pentecost reminds us that the Church was never meant to be simply a building or an institution, but a living community, filled with the breath of God. In a world that can feel fragmented and weary, the Spirit still calls people together, still gives strength where there is weakness, and still surprises us with new life.
This weekend across the Stroud Team there will be opportunities to worship, pray and gather together as community. We will also celebrate baptisms — moments of joy, promise and welcome — as families come to mark new beginnings in faith and thanksgiving. These occasions are always a reminder that God continues to draw people to himself and that the Church continues to be a place of belonging, hope and grace.
Wherever you find yourself at the moment — full of faith, carrying questions, exhausted, hopeful, or simply curious — my prayer is that you might know something of God’s presence afresh this Pentecost as together we pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Sunday 24th May
9.30
Matins at All Saints, Uplands
Sunday Worship at St Matthew’s, Cainscross
Holy Communion at St Laurence
10.30
Cafe Church at Whiteshill
11.00
Patronal Festival Holy Communion at Paganhill
Holy Communion at Holy Trinity
Cafe Church with Baby Mack’s Baptism at Randwick
Sunday Worship in the Church Field at Slad
“Assembly Bangers” brings the joy of school hymns back to Stratford Park
This Sunday (24th) at 3pm we have something a little different taking place at the Stratford Park Bandstand — “Assembly Bangers”!
Come along for an hour of nostalgic singing as we revisit some of the great school assembly classics that many of us grew up with. Whether it’s songs that still make you smile or tunes you haven’t heard in years, it promises to be a joyful and relaxed afternoon together.
A Churches Together in Stroud (CTiS) event and Rev Simon and rev James will be leading the music, and our friends from the Salvation Army will be there offering refreshments. Bring a chair, bring a picnic, bring some friends, and come ready to sing your heart out in the open air.
We would love to see you there.
A Room Needed for Ed
Ed is 18 and has been on a year-long internship with Illuminate/The Door, but due to circumstances beyond his control his living situation has had to change. He is now looking for a room with a local household so that he can complete both his Youth Ministry degree and his internship, which runs until the end of July.
Many of you will know Ed through his work with our young people, through the Illuminate Project we partner with across the Stroud Team, and through his involvement at Archway School.
We are hoping someone may be able to offer a spare room or some temporary accommodation over the coming months. A modest contribution of £250 per month is available to help towards costs.
If you think you may be able to help, or would simply like to have a conversation about it, please do get in touch with James directly.
This Saturday we hold our 24 Hour Day of Prayer across the Stroud Team. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to take part.
There are just a few spaces available, so if you are able to commit to half an hour of prayer and quiet during the day ( and night!) , please do add your name to the sign-up sheet. You can pray at home, in church, out walking, or wherever you find space to pause and be still before God.
In the busyness of life, setting aside intentional time for prayer matters deeply. It is one of the ways we hold one another, our communities and the wider world before God together.
Sign up to pray here:
Prayer Resources Here:
A short Reflection Here
Parish Pilgrimage 2026: Sunday 31st May
A reminder that our Parish Pilgrimage takes place on Sunday 31st May. Full details, including approximate timings and route information, are now available on the website.
Take a look also at Rev Mathew’s invitation to pilgrimage here:
Whether you are planning to join for the whole pilgrimage or simply part of the journey, we would love to welcome you along. Pilgrimage offers us a chance to walk together, pray together, talk together and enjoy the beauty of our parishes and community at a gentler pace.
Please do take a look at the details online and we hope to see many of you there.
Thank you, as always, for all that you do across the Stroud Team to support one another and serve our wider community with generosity and care.
We hope to see many of you over the coming days at one of our services, gatherings or events. Until then, may God bless you and give you peace.
James
For details of all our services and events, please visit our website stroudparishchurches.org.uk