Bowland Benefice Pews News 24 May 2026 – Day of Pentecost Come down O love divine! Seek thou this soul of mine and visit it with thine own ardour glowing…… Collect God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This week in the Benefice Sunday 24 May 9.30am Holy Communion in White Ladies Aston 10.30am Hymns and a Prayer in Upton Snodsbury 11.00am 2.00pm Holy Communion in Peopleton Baptism of Harry Andrew Whiten Saturday 30 May 10.30am to 4.00pm Flower Festival in Upton Snodsbury Church Sunday 31 May Trinity Sunday 10.30am 5th Sunday Benefice Holy Communion in Broughton Hackett 2.00pm to 4.00pm Flower Festival in Upton Snodsbury Church This Sunday at 2.00pm in Peopleton, we welcome Harry Whiten into the family of the church for his baptism. We wish Mum Nicola, Dad Andrew and Harry’s Godparent and Sponsor a very happy and memorable day. Dear God we thank you for Harry Whiten who is to be baptised this Sunday. May your blessings of peace and joy be with him and protect him all of his days. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen. St Kenelm’s Flower Festival It’s that lovely time of the year again when St Kenelm’s in Upton Snodsbury is filled with the fragrance of wonderful flowers! There is a week to go as the Festival begins next Saturday, 30 May at 10.30am. If you would like to get involved please contact Church Warden Helen Bennett. She would be very pleased to hear from you! Her phone number is 01905 381490 and email address: [email protected] The theme for the Festival this year is: Secret Garden. Refreshments will be available and there will be a stall with gifts for sale. It costs only £2.00 to look around and you will be made very welcome. All proceeds for St Kenelm’s! The May Bank Holiday and unusually we are promised a warm and sunny weekend! How lucky we are to live where we do and see the gifts of nature at their very best. We think of all those who are not so well off and in need of our help. Christian Aid week has ended but locally there is continuing need for financial donations and gifts of food and clothing etc for the local foodbanks in Pershore and Worcester and for the Maggs Day Centre and St Paul’s Hostel in Worcester. There are collecting boxes in church for donations and food collection points at most of our local supermarkets…… When I was a youngster (many moons ago!) Pentecost was mostly called Whitsunday and the Bank Holiday, the Whitsun Bank Holiday. As usual with the Church of England there is history and tradition behind the names……. The term Whitsun or Whitsunday is mostly used in the UK and stems from several key traditions: Pentecost is called Whitsunday (Hwita Sunnandæg in Old English) which is short for White Sunday, primarily because of the ancient Christian tradition of holding mass baptisms on this day. Newly baptized Christians would wear special white robes, symbolizing purity and their new spiritual life, which they would wear again when attending services later on this day. Also early medieval scholars like Walter William Skeat noted a linguistic link to the Old English word wit (formerly spelt wyt or wytte) meaning understanding. It was believed the name reflected the outpouring of wisdom and understanding the Holy Spirit brought to the Disciples. If you have a social or fundraising event going on in your Parish and you would like it advertised, please do let me know on [email protected] and I will do my best to include it in the Pews News.