‘Merry’s miscellany’

The Vicar’s monthly letter for the Parish News

August 2026

Hopefully, the heatwaves are now over for this year. I am certainly looking forward to spending a little more time in the garden, seeing what has grown and what needs to be pruned. Although warm weather and sunshine encourage rapid growth, the beauty of nature still develops in slow, gentle and often almost imperceptible ways.

St Paul writes: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

At first glance, this can sound like advice to “think positively”. But Paul is saying something much deeper. The word translated think means to dwell on, to reflect carefully, to let something take root in our hearts. Just as a gardener tends the plants they want to flourish, Paul encourages us to cultivate our minds by dwelling on what is good.

This matters because we gradually become like the things we admire. What we reflect on shapes our character. If we fill our minds with goodness, beauty and truth, those qualities begin to grow within us. As any gardener knows, whatever is carefully nurtured will flourish.

This is why it is important for Christians to delight in God’s creation, celebrate acts of kindness and generosity, and spend time reading the Bible. These things do more than lift our spirits – they help cultivate the best aspects of our human nature.

Throughout the month of August I am going to challenge myself to reflect on this passage, and each evening I will consider ‘what did I admire today?’

Perhaps I may have seen an act of kindness, a glimpse of beauty in creation, someone’s patience, courage or generosity. I then plan to spend a few moments thanking God for what I have observed and I will think about how I might grow that same quality in my life.

I invite you to join me: This August let us reflect on the good we see in the world and allow our characters to be changed and inspired by truth, nobility, righteousness, purity and love.

Rev Merry