How do you fancy celebrating National Quince Day or doing some Mangold Hurling, or, my personal favourite, entering the Golden Spurtle Porridge Making Championships? All October events and all, I think, a big improvement on some of the things people choose to celebrate this month!! October is known the world over as the month of transition and celebration. In the Northern Hemisphere transition from summer through autumn to winter and in the Southern Hemisphere from winter through spring to summer. And celebration of gathering in the harvest, gathering round the fire (or other heat source!), or celebrating the longer days and better weather – depending which Hemisphere you live in. Our lives are made up of transitions and celebrations – from child to adult, from work to retirement, from living in one place to moving to another, from one scene to another in our favourite movie or play, from one key to another in our favourite music, from ignorance to understanding. Of course, many of us find change difficult – if it isn’t broken why fix it?, we’ve always done it like this, I’ve found the way that works for me, who’s to say that will work any better? And yet we DO change day by day, week by week, year by year. I am living proof of that. I can’t move as easily as I used to, I know more about Baseball now than I used to thanks to my Son-in-law, I’m learning Tai Chi moves, my hair colour is now called ash blonde (not grey!). We have a God of transitions and celebrations. A God who gently leads us from darkness to light, from ignorance to faith. A God who gives us all the resources we need to not only transition ourselves from Church attendees to people of faith, but also to invite encourage and support others as they come to know Him and love Him as we do. A God who sometimes shakes us up and urges us along different paths which we don’t expect and which feel uncomfortable and exciting in equal measure. A God who wants us to celebrate the ‘joy in heaven of one sinner who repents’, ‘the stone that the builders rejected (which) has become the cornerstone … and it is amazing in our eyes’, ‘for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should …have eternal life’. So I pray that as a family in God’s Church we will transition into God’s latest plan for us with joy and celebrate together the wonder of this season. Rev. Preb. Marilyn Peters – Lichfield Diocese - PTO
Dear friends, September often feels like a season of new beginnings. The long days of summer begin to fade, schools return, routines settle, and many of us find ourselves looking ahead to what lies before us. It is a time of change, of renewal, of new opportunities, and this year that is certainly true for me. After serving as Interim Team Vicar, Team Vicar and Acting Team Rector here in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes since August 2021, I now leave parish ministry to take up a new role in the Diocese of Lichfield as Vocations Officer and Bishop’s Director of Ordinands. It has been a privilege to share in the life of these parishes - to worship with you, to celebrate baptisms and weddings, to walk alongside families in times of loss, and to see God's faithfulness at work in so many different ways. I leave with deep gratitude and many happy memories. As I have prepared for this new chapter, I have found myself reflecting on the word vocation. We often think of vocation as something that belongs to priests or those training for ministry, but in reality, every person of faith has a vocation. The word simply means "calling"; God calls each one of us to follow Christ and then invites us to use the gifts he has given us in his service and for the good of others. Sometimes that calling involves a significant change of direction. More often, it is discovered in the ordinary faithfulness of everyday life: encouraging a neighbour, caring for a loved one, welcoming a newcomer to church, serving on a rota, offering hospitality, praying faithfully, or stepping forward to try something new. As one chapter closes for me, perhaps this September is an opportunity for each of us to ask a simple question: Lord, what are you calling me to now? The answer may surprise us. God is always at work, and he delights in inviting ordinary people to join in his extraordinary purposes. And remember, even when that feels challenging, as God said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” That’s the hope my family are currently holding fast. Thank you for your prayers, your friendship, and the many ways you have enriched my ministry among you. As I begin this new role, I would value your prayers, just as you can be assured of mine for you all. May God continue to bless these parishes, as together you seek to know Christ, and make his love known to others. With love, Jules
Living in unity and love Dear Friends, As Checkley’s July magazine combines with that of August, I am writing this August Area letter somewhat early! At this point of time, we are being inundated with rainy weather but the odd ray of sunshine is appearing and, in spite of many troubling world events, I have just enjoyed watching the first event of the 2026 World Cup! Although I am not an avid football supporter, I do enjoy these world events, which show how countries can work together in mutual respect and tolerance, even while obviously sending their teams out there in the hope that they will outperform others! Mega-events like the World Cup generate significant goodness by boosting local economies, fostering international unity, and driving transformative urban development. Other positive impacts of the tournament manifest in several key areas: Host nations experience substantial financial boosts through tourism, hospitality, and upgraded infrastructure. The event also creates thousands of temporary and permanent jobs. The tournament unites billions of fans worldwide, fostering a spirit of global harmony and providing a stage for diverse cultures to celebrate together. Such tournaments often leave a lasting legacy through grassroots programs. Initiatives like the FIFA Foundation use football to promote education, health awareness, and gender equality in disadvantaged communities. While mega-events require massive upfront investment, their long-term benefits can deeply enrich the host societies. It must surely rejoice the heart of God to witness the cooperation fostered by such events, no matter which nation comes out top at the end of it all! They become a focal point for social interaction, as people gather to watch matches together, celebrate victories, and mourn defeats. Such communal experiences strengthen social bonds and create a sense of unity. Before the crucifixion, Jesus famously prayed "that they may all be one" (John 17:21), as he prayed for his followers to be united, just as he and the Father are one. As death was looming before him, the unity of his believers was foremost on his heart and he wanted that unity to be visible so that the world would know that he had come from the Father. And that desire for unity extends to us too as we deal with one another in all of our varied relationships- in our families, our workplaces, our social time, our differing Christian denominations, our relationships with those from other cultures and backgrounds. I am sure, too, that we are all wishing The Revd Jules Walker all the very best as she leaves the Uttoxeter Area for her new post as Vocations Officer for lay and ordained callings. We thank her for her time here and wish her many fulfilling relationships as she seeks to encourage others to pursue their vocations across the diocese. Jules has said: “I am excited to be combining my commitment to both lay and ordained vocations, drawing on my experience of working in industry, leading lifelong learning and in fourteen years’ parish ministry. I deeply value exploring the varied ways God calls his people to ministry, have a love for encouraging theological learning, and I look forward to this new post with real joy and anticipation as these different experiences come together in one role.” God be with you, Jules. Peace and prayers, Irene Smith
