SERVICES IN THE WEAVER GROUP OF CHURCHES ALTON BRADLEY ELLASTONE STANTON MAYFIELD SUNDAY 1st November All Saints 10.45am Morning Prayer Pets Service 2:15pm Evening Prayer 9.15am Holy Communion 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Holy Communion SUNDAY 8th November Remembrance 10.45am Remembrance 9.30am Holy Communion 10.55am Remembrance 6.30pm Remembrance 10.15am Remembrance FARLEY 2.00pm Remembrance SUNDAY 15th November 2 before Advent 10.45am Holy Communion - 9.15am Morning Prayer 9.15am Holy Communion 10.45am Holy Communion SUNDAY 22nd November Christ the King 10.45am Holy Communion 2:15pm Evening Prayer 9.15am Morning Prayer 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Morning Prayer SUNDAY 29th November Advent 10.45am Holy Communion - 9.15am Holy Communion 9.15am Morning Prayer 10.45am Morning Prayer EVERY THURSDAY 10:30am Holy Communion EVENTS IN OUR PARISH IN NOVEMBER Sunday 1st Pet Service 10:45am at St Peter’s Monday 2nd Open The Book with the school 9:00am at St Peter’s Tuesday 3rd Crafty Cuppa Café 2:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Wednesday 4th Life Worth Living 10:00am in St Peter’s North Aisle Tuesday 10th Standing Committee 4:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Wednesday 11th Life Worth Living 10:00am in St Peter’s North Aisle Saturday 14th Bingo 6:30pm in Alton Village Hall Sunday 15th Confirmation 10:30am in Leek Tuesday 17th Crafty Cuppa Café 2:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Saturday 21st Sip and Paint 3:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Tuesday 24th Alton and Bradley PCC 4:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Saturday 28th Coffee Morning 10:00am – 1:00pm in St Peter’s North Aisle Monday 30th Open The Book with the school 9:00am at St Peter’s Every Monday Bellringing Practice 7:30pm at St Peter’s 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. St Peter’s, Alton and St Leonard’s, Bradley le Moors NOVEMBER 2026 Working Together with God in Church and Community

How to find God in the hospital car park I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip –he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:1-4) The queue had barely moved. I circled the hospital car park once, then again, following the slow procession of cars beneath the grey sky. Every space seemed to disappear just as I reached it. A driver edged forward; someone else signalled and slipped into a spot. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. I had come to visit someone who was ill, and already I felt late, anxious and helpless. Around me, other people were carrying their own worries. A woman stared at her phone, perhaps waiting for news. A man gripped the wheel and leaned forward, searching the rows. A parent tried to soothe a restless child in the back seat. We were strangers, but for a few minutes we shared the same small world: the slow queue, the circling cars, the hope of finding somewhere to stop. “Lord, please help me find a space,” I prayed. It was an ordinary request, almost embarrassingly practical. Yet as I said the words, I remembered that God is not reserved for church pews, quiet mornings or moments when we know exactly what to say. He meets us in the places where we are, among the traffic, in the worry, beside the hospital entrance. We do not have to feel calm before we pray. Sometimes prayer begins with a sigh and a simple plea for help. As the cars crawled forward, I began to pray for the people around me. For the woman looking at her phone: may she receive kind news. For the parent: give them patience and strength. For the driver circling ahead: ease whatever burden they are carrying. I did not know their stories, but God did. My frustration did not vanish, and I still wanted a parking space. But my attention widened. The other drivers were no longer obstacles; they were people who, like me, might be frightened, tired or hoping for a little kindness. That small change mattered. Prayer did not make the illness disappear or tell me what would happen next. It helped me remember that I was not alone, and neither were the people in those cars. The hospital can hold fear and uncertainty, but it also holds remarkable tenderness: a hand held in a waiting room, a cup of tea brought to a bedside, a nurse who takes time to listen. God’s care often reaches us through such ordinary acts. Then, at last, a car pulled out. I eased into the space and switched off the engine. For a moment, I sat still. The space was small, but it was enough. I took a breath and asked God to go with me inside—to help me listen, to offer comfort where I could, and to trust him with what I could not change. We may not always find the answer we are seeking, or the words that will make everything better. But we can look for God in the middle of the waiting: in patience, in prayer for strangers, in courage for the next step, and in love shared with someone who is suffering. That day, I found a space in the hospital car park. And, as I sat there, I remembered to find a space for God in my heart too. The Lord watches over you –the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore. (Psalm 121:5-8) Brian Leathers

Join us for our next Coffee Morning on Saturday 28th November 10am to 1pm in St Peter’s church. We will be offering cakes and bacon baps and soup. We look forward to seeing you there.

Christmas Concert An afternoon of handbells and song brought to you by Alton Handbell Ringers and singers from The Musical Root Music School Sunday 13th December, 3:00pm Alton Village Hall Tea & Cake and raffle No admission cost but donations would be most welcome. The surplus will go to Dougie Mac and the Midlands Air Ambulance For more details please contact Wendy Walters 0776 3852691 Crafty Cuppa Group St Peters Church Alt Tues 2-4pm November 3rd – sewing poppies on to Banner for the village, so please bring any poppies you have knitted November 17th- Starting Christmas decorations knitting & sewing chains for the Christmas Tree, making Angels to hang…… Just come along, craft, chat, have a laugh And a cup of tea/coffee and nibbles! No charge, but donation towards costs enables us to keep going

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 You can donate to St, Peter’s Church through Just Giving by scanning this QR code. Thank you. 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