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4 The Parish Magazine — February 2026 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to this advertisementHeartfelt CareYour Next Chapter Starts HereWe offer high-quality residential, nursing, dementia and respitecare in a welcoming and engaging environment. Whether you’reexploring care for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to make thejourney feel reassuring, honest and human, every step of the way.Learn more about our heartfelt care0118 462 1268 averyhealthcare.co.ukOld Bath Road, Sonning, Berkshire, RG4 6TQ
The Parish Magazine — February 2026 5parish noticeboard — 1The vicar's letterDEAR FRIENDS,St Paul had one goal in mind — and he was straining with all his mightto attain that goal — and that was to know Jesus Christ. No wonderSt Paul had such a lasting impact on the world because it makes areal difference when you know what your goal in life is and then giveyourself unreservedly to that goal. We don’t always fulfil our dreams,but having a compelling goal is surely a vital ingredient in an effectiveand successful life.In my experience, some Christians don’t have a clear understandingof what God expects from them. Biblical scholar William Barclay toldof a dog he had once owned called Rusty, a bull terrier, who wouldaccompany him on walks through a meadow and beside a stream.When they reached the stream Rusty had a passion for plunging intothe water, locating a rock on the bottom, getting it in his mouth, andbringing it to the bank.He would carefully deposit the stone some distance from the water’sedge, and then go for another one. Time and again he would fetch histreasured rock, repeating the process for hours, if so allowed.Barclay asked this question: 'What is the point of retrieving rocks fromthe bottom of a stream for this dog?' So far as he could determine, therewas none and the exercise served no discernible purpose at all. Barclaythen observed that this is the way many Christians are. They seem tobe going through the same monotonous routine every day, but withouta purpose; with no projected goal. They appear not to know what theirreason for existing actually is.It was the Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, who wrote, 'Most of the peopleI see suffer not from physical illness, but from spiritual aimlessness. They havelost their aim. They have lost sight of who they really are and what is reallyvaluable'ATTAINING THE PRIZEIf we recall St Paul’s Damascus Road experience, he was on a journeyto persecute Christians and as he neared Damascus, suddenly a light fromheaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say tohim, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'From that day forward, Paul was determined to do and to be what hebelieved Christ had called him to do and to be. There was no turning backonce he had this vision of Christ.Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of Lipton Tea was an accomplished racer ofyachts. He won many boating trophies, except the one he really wanted:The America’s Cup. One day he was showing some friends all his trophiesin his home, and said, 'I’d give them all away to get the one I didn’t get!'I don’t believe that St Paul fell short of his goal. I believe he came toknow Christ in both his death and resurrection. In fact, I believe thateveryone who seeks to know Christ will one day attain that prize; and itwill be the prize above all prize.'I want to know Christ,' wrote St Paul, 'Yes, to know the power of hisresurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.'Warm wishes,Jamie
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The Parish Magazine February 2026

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The Parish Magazine February 2026

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