Harpley, My Life is my Message." Mahatma Gandhi
Revd. Josh Whitnall, Rector
July/August 2026
Dear friends,
July and August always seem to have a different rhythm. Schools finish, suitcases appear, gardens grow faster than we can keep up with, and even those who are not going away often find that the pace of life changes a little.
Summer can be a gift, but it can also be deceptive. We imagine rest will arrive simply because the calendar says it should. Yet many of us know that life does not always become peaceful just because the sun is shining. Worries come on holiday with us. Grief does not take August off. Work, family, money, health and responsibility can press in just as heavily in summer as in winter.
That is why Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel are so precious: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” He does not say, “Come to me when everything is sorted.” He does not say, “Come to me when you have earned a break.” He simply says, “Come.”
Christian rest is not just putting our feet up, though that can be holy too. It is remembering that we are held by God before we achieve anything, organise anything, fix anything, or prove anything. It is learning to receive the day as a gift. It is finding God in the ordinary: in a cup of tea in the garden, a walk down a familiar lane, a conversation at the village shop, the laughter of children, the silence of church, the beauty of creation.
So, this summer, whether you are travelling far away or staying close to home, may you find moments of true rest. May you notice God’s goodness in small things. And may our churches continue to be places where the weary, the joyful, the anxious and the thankful can all come and find welcome.
With every blessing this Summer,
The Revd Joshua Whitnall, Rector
rectorggmbenefice@gmail.com 01485 750075
