I’ve just returned from a holiday in France where, whilet visiting a church, I picked up a bookmark with the following words on: entrez; regardez; ecoutez; recontrez; partagez.

After double-checking in our English-French dictionary, I discovered it was a catchy invitation to worshippers and visitors alike to get something out of their visit to this place of prayer and worship.

An invitation to not only enjoy the beauty of the building and the sense of the presence of God, but to take part in the life of the church, whether it be regularly or just momentarily as a visitor on holiday. An invitation to enter; to look, to listen, to meet, and to share.

It made me think that we, too, are blessed in our county with so many different places of worship – some very well-known and well-visited and others more of a ‘hidden gem.’ Why not take up the invitation over these summer weeks in particular to find blessing in crossing the threshold of a church either on a Sunday or through the week?

A local church perhaps or one a little further afield? Have a look around. Take time to listen to God, to the silence, or to deep within yourself.

Maybe go along at a time when you know you will meet others who find this place a blessing and share in something going on there.

The Rev Canon Angela Whittaker

On behalf of Old Hutton Church