Though the traditional words of blessing bestow a peace which passes understanding, we hunger for understanding.

Members of St Peter's Church have spent summer Friday evenings walking through Wellesbourne praying for our community. This is part of a process of asking God for his vision of what St Peter's should focus on over the next few years - we trust that this will become clear.

As we have walked, I have really enjoyed the peace and stillness and lovingly tended gardens. Wellesbourne is incredibly fortunate to live in and celebrate such peace and beauty at a time when the world is in such turmoil and distress.

I know that many of us, me included, struggle to understand the great problems of our time, especially living as we do in a part of the world that does not face them directly daily. So I am delighted that Christopher Lamb who has recently retired to Wellesbourne has agreed to give a series of talks about such problems. Christopher worked in Pakistan in the 70s, and has since engaged with Muslims in Birmingham, Coventry and nationally for over 20 years, gaining a PhD in Islamic Studies along the way.

He was Secretary for Inter-Faith relations to the General Synod of the Church of England and of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland for 7 years.

Christopher will lead a series of three Tuesday evenings in September at 7.30pm in St Peter's Church Centre. Each evening Christopher will give a talk followed by a discussion at which you can ask anything you wish about Islam or the current situation in the Middle East. These sessions are open to everyone, and you are welcome to attend just one or all of them.

We can look forward to informative and stimulating evenings perhaps too to some understanding.

Kate Mier