EVENTS IN OUR PARISH Tuesday 1st Alton and Bradley PCC 4:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Monday 7th Open The Book with the school 9:00am at St Peter’s Monday 7th Alton Social & Fundraising meeting 4:15pm at St Peter’s North Aisle Tuesday 8th Crafty Cuppa Café 2:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Saturday 12th Coffee Morning 10:00am in St Peter’s Church Wednesday 16th Life Worth Living 10:00am in St Peter’s North Aisle Tuesday 22nd Crafty Cuppa Café 2:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Wednesday 23rd Life Worth Living 10:00am in St Peter’s North Aisle Sunday 27th Bishop Michael’s leaving service 3:30pm in Lichfield Cathedral Wednesday 30th Life Worth Living 10:00am in St Peter’s North Aisle Every Monday Bellringing Practice 7:00pm at St Peter’s Please note that the Soiree has been postponed until a later date. St Peter’s, Alton and St Leonard’s, Bradley le Moors NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2026 Working Together with God in Church and Community SERVICES IN THE WEAVER GROUP OF CHURCHES ALTON BRADLEY ELLASTONE STANTON MAYFIELD SUNDAY 6th September Trinity 14 10.45am Morning Prayer 2.15pm Evening Prayer 9.15am Holy Communion 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Holy Communion SUNDAY 13th September Trinity 15 10.45am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 9.15am Morning Prayer 6.30pm Evensong 10.45am Morning Prayer SUNDAY 20th September Trinity 16 10.45am Morning Prayer - 9.15am Holy Communion 9.15am Holy Communion 10.45am Holy Communion SUNDAY 27th September Trinity 17 or Harvest 10.45am Holy Communion 2:15pm Evening Prayer 9.15am Harvest Morning Prayer 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Harvest Morning Prayer SUNDAY 4th October Trinity 18 or Harvest 10.45am Morning Prayer 2:15pm Harvest Evening Prayer 9.15am Holy Communion 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Holy Communion EVERY THURSDAY 10:30am Holy Communion Your Newsletter If you would like a copy of the newsletter by email, or you know someone else who would like it, please drop an email to stpetersalton@btinternet.com . The Newsletter, and past editions of the Parish News, will also be on the church website at: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4132/news/122149/parish-news-online/ If you still wish to receive a printed copy of the Newsletter, please let Chris Mellor know on 01538 702640.

Finding your rhythm Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28-30) One of the curious things about going on holiday is how quickly our routines disappear. We eat at different times, go to bed later, forget what day it is and perhaps stop looking at the clock altogether. Then September arrives. Schools return, clubs and meetings begin again, and diaries suddenly start filling up. Before long, life feels as busy as ever. There is nothing wrong with routines. In fact, they help us make sense of life. But there is a difference between being busy and living well. The question isn't simply whether we have found our routine again, but whether we have found the right rhythm. As a new season begins, schools have fresh timetables, businesses set new priorities and leaders cast their vision for the months ahead. Most of us quietly do the same. We decide to be more organised, to exercise more regularly, to spend more time with family, or perhaps to stop saying "yes" to quite so many things. There is something refreshing about a fresh start. One of the rare new year resolutions that worked out for me was to read the Bible in a year using an app on the phone. I am usually barely awake, and now it has become a habit – the start of the rhythm of my day. But putting something new into the diary is not always the best thing. Experience tells us that a full diary is not always a fulfilled life. We can become experts at filling our days without stopping to ask whether we are filling them with the right things. Jesus lived one of the busiest lives imaginable. Crowds constantly surrounded Him. People wanted His help from morning until night. Yet He never appeared rushed. He had time to notice the person everyone else ignored. He had time to pray. He made time to rest. He never hurried simply because everyone else was hurrying. His secret was not better time management. It was that His life was shaped by His relationship with His Father. Before He served people, He spent time with God. Before making important decisions, He prayed. His rhythm was determined by obedience rather than pressure. That is why His invitation is so appealing: "Come to me... and I will give you rest." Jesus was not promising a life without work or responsibility. After all, He speaks about taking His yoke upon us. A yoke is something that enables work to be done. But His yoke fits properly. It is the right way to carry life's responsibilities, with Him beside us rather than struggling alone. Perhaps the greatest challenge for us is not that our lives are too busy, but that we often allow our busyness to set the pace. We rush from one commitment to another, hoping that life will somehow become calmer next week or next month. Usually it doesn't. Instead, God invites us to begin each day with Him and allow Him to shape its rhythm. A few moments in prayer, a passage of Scripture, a quiet reminder that we belong to Him, these small habits gradually change not just our schedules but our hearts. September often feels like a new beginning. Before we fill every spare space in our diary,

St Peter’s Academy The Summer term concluded with a fantastic show based on mermaids and pirates, performed at the village hall. The scenery, props and costumes were amazing, and the children sang heartily throughout the show. The leaving service at St Peter’s church, included celebrating the school journeys of the seven pupils moving on to new pastures in September. They recalled their favourite memories; litter picking, recycling soft plastics, finding mini beasts, sharing afternoon tea with grandma, giving chocolates to firefighters and many more. They stated ‘We have learned We have grown We have given back We are ready for our next adventure’ The service concluded with the presentation of trophies and songs and prayers from the leavers. As the new school term begins this week, I wish all the pupils more adventures as they continue their school journey. Linda Goodwin Foundation member of the Local Academy Council Dear Box Holders and Supporters, Thank you for your generous donations this year, which totalled £660. Linda Goodwin & Sally Packer

Crafty Cuppa Café Alternate Tuesdays in St Peters 2 - 4pm 8th and 22nd September Come and join us for craft or companionship, we are a friendly lot. Bring something you are making, learn a new skill or show others. While the Alton 'Bayeux' tapestry is being made, (see separate notice) feel free to bring anything you are contributing and get crafty with us! No cost, but donations welcome. Just turn up or ring Deborah for more details 07779254996. Our next Coffee Morning is on Saturday 12th September at 10 am in St Peter’s Church. We are hoping to include a breakfast menu of bacon or sausage butties, as well as cakes and, of course, tea and coffee. The cost will be £5, which will include unlimited tea or coffee and either a butty or cake. We look forward to seeing you there.

In celebration of Alton Village Hall’s 50th Anniversary and to coincide with the national touring exhibit of the Bayeux Tapestry, local artist Kim Greenwood is helping Alton create its own tapestry in the Bayeux narrative style. Supported by ACE and Alton Village Hall, the Alton Tapestry will document the village’s rich heritage and community, and when complete, will be permanently displayed in the Village Hall. The Design The tapestry will be made up of four panels, designed by Louie Young, each featuring different landmarks and aspects of the village’s community and heritage. The narrative begins with a depiction of the Iron Rooms, which served as Alton’s community space until it was replaced by the Village Hall in 1967. Each panel features a distinct element: a railway track, a carriageway, a river, or a rollercoaster track. These linear designs flow through the tapestry, representing not only Alton’s past and present but its ongoing evolution. How do I take part? The design contains a number of squares that we would love all the different organisations and groups in the village to take ownership of to create a piece that represents them. Accordingly, we would love to have you on-board and represented in the final piece so that tapestry can showcase all the wonderful things that make up our community. For full details on the project, visit: www.altoncommunityevents.com/tapestry If you would like to take part or have any additional questions please email: altoncommunityevents@gmail.com

Who’s Who? St. Peter’s, Alton with St. Leonard’s, Bradley Weaver Group Clergy Vicar Rev Preb Brian Leathers 01538 702469 email: briantopsey@googlemail.com Minister based at Mayfield Rev Chamil Fernando 07511 117822 email: chamil.fernando77@gmail.com At St Peter’s & St Leonard’s Churchwardens ALTON Mrs Linda Goodwin 01538 703104 BRADLEY Mr Don Burton 01538 753864 Mr Robert Burton 01889 507071 Organist Mr Mark Goodhew (Alton) 01538 722741 Mr Fred Ayre (Bradley) 01538 702399 Ringing Master Mr Alan Walters 01538 702888 Treasurer Mr Chris Mellor 01538 702640 St. Peter’s C of E School Mrs Rebecca Walker - Executive Head 01538 702321 Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4132/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/stpeterschurchalton Raise Free Donations For St Peter’s Church With Easy Fundraising St Peter's Church Alton PCC are registered with easyfundraising, which means you can raise FREE donations for us every time you shop online. Over 7,000 shops and sites will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself! These donations really mount up and make a BIG difference, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE and only takes a moment. You can find our easyfundraising page at: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stpetersalton