Church

• Shaftesbury Quakers (Society

of Friends). Meets for one hour each Sunday from 10.30am at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury SP7 8BB.

• West Camel Independent

Methodists. All Saints Church on the first Sunday of the month at 4pm followed by tea. Other Sundays, evening worship is at 6pm. 01935 850838, Geoff.mead@yahoo.com.

• Anglican High Mass at

Wimborne St Giles. High Mass is the first Sunday of each month at 10am. BH21 5LZ. • Sherborne Abbey. Monday to Saturday, 8.30am Morning Prayer; Sepulchre Chapel. Mondays, 9am CW Holy Communion; Lady Chapel. Tuesdays, noon CW Holy Communion; Lady Chapel. Wednesdays, 10.30am Holy Communion with Homily; Lady Chapel (alternates CW and BCP). Thursdays, noon BCP Holy Communion; Lady Chapel. Fridays, 9am Ecumenical Holy Communion; Lady Chapel. First Friday of the month, 9am Requiem Holy Communion; Sepulchre Chapel. Third Friday of the month, 11am Remembering the Fallen. Saturdays, 9am CW Holy Communion; Sepulchre Chapel.

• St Peter’s, Hinton St Mary.

First, second and third Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer. Fourth Sunday, 9.30am Holy Communion. • St Thomas’ Lydlinch. Second and fourth Sunday, 11am Holy Communion. Third Sunday, 6pm Evensong.

• St Mary’s, Sturminster

Newton. First and third Sundays, 11am Holy Communion; 6pm BCP Evensong. Second and fourth Sundays, 9.30am Morning Prayer; 6pm BCP Evensong. Fifth Sunday, 11am Benefice Holy Communion. Wednesdays, 10am BCP Holy Communion. • Kingston Lacy. Second Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. Fourth Sunday of the month, 9.15am Family Service. • Shapwick. Third Sunday of the month, 9.15am Holy Communion. • Horton Church. First Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Hinton Martell. Second Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Horton and Chalbury village

hall. Third Sunday of the month, 9am Breakfast Church. • Witchampton Church. Third Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion. • Chalbury Church. Fourth Sunday of the month, 10.30am Holy Communion.

• Our Lady’s RC Church,

Marnhull. Mass Sunday, 9.30am and 6pm.

• St Benedict’s RC Church,

Gillingham. Sunday, 11am. • Fancy a coffee? The churches in The Donheads, Charlton, East Knoyle, Semley and Sedgehill now have a team of friendly, approachable people available to offer home visits. Contact Revd. Kate at rector@benofbart.org.uk,

01747 830174. • Organ recitals at Sherborne Abbey on Mondays at 1.30pm resume on 12 September. • Mothers’ Union meeting at the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall, Sherborne Abbey, on Friday, 23 September, at 10am for 10.30am start. • Sherborne Quakers meet Sundays 10.30am in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall. Everyone welcome.

• Dorset Historic Churches

Trust’s 2022 Ride and Stride event is on Saturday, 10 September. • Sherborne Abbey – the abbey is open to visitors Monday to Saturdays from 8am-5pm and on Sunday from 11am-5pm. The abbey may close when private services are taking place. • Blandford Methodist Church. Morning worship Sunday 10.45am, followed by refreshments and chat in the hall. Thursday 10am-noon – coffee morning. Fridays noon-2pm – lunch club for over-55s at £5 – phone 07817 505 543 to book. If you have a prayer request or are feeling lonely and need to chat, phone 07799 516735. For details visit https://www.candwmc.org.uk/

• St Mary’s Church, Donhead

St Mary (SP7 9DQ) open afternoon on Saturday, 3 September, 2.30-4.30pm. Explore the medieval church and churchyard; find out about bell ringing and hear the bells in action; listen to and play the organ; historic photographs from

Thought for the day

by Vera Peevor Co-Leader Sturminster Christian Fellowship

How would you feel if someone offered you a gift which was worth a fortune? Most people’s first reaction would be one of disbelief: “How could anyone give me something so valuable?”

Those who’ve won the lottery or other major prizes have mostly greeted the news with initial amazement and incredulity. “What me?” “Is it really true?” But when the reality has sunk in, they have enjoyed celebrating their win and have usually wanted to share their joy with others.

Sadly, however, some valuable prizes remain unclaimed as the beneficiaries have, presumably, been unaware of their good fortune. What a great shame if you are struggling and are unaware you could have had a major windfall. How very sad!

Now, if you’re just about to stop reading, please continue, because this next bit is for you! YOU can be a major winner!

Quite a long time ago someone left a legacy, a huge gift, that is available to everyone, but – sadly – many haven’t claimed their share. They may be unaware that this gift exists or they may have just chosen to ignore it, getting on with their busy lives as best they can. The giver made it available to everyone and, in fact, it was such a valuable gift it cost him his life.

If, until now, you’ve been thinking only in monetary terms, take a few minutes to think a little wider, and deeper. What could this amazing gift be? Is money the most important thing in life? What about relationships? What about love? What about forgiveness? Many rich people are not happy and some who have come into a sudden fortune have not been able to cope with it and their lives have fallen apart.

No – this gift is more important than money. It’s the best gift ever because it lasts for ever! It’s the gift of eternal life, reconciliation with Creator God, total forgiveness for every wrongdoing, a completely new start in life.

This gift was made possible by Jesus Christ – the Son of God – who gave his life to pay the price for our sins – yours and mine. He offers this gift to all who are willing to receive it.

Have you claimed yours?

around the parish; try your hand at flower arranging; join in activities for children.

• Lower Stour Benefice

September services. Sunday, 4 September – 10.45am, Together Communion, All Saints Langton Long. Sunday, 11 September – 9.30am, Communion, Blandford St Mary; 11am Communion, All Saints Langton Long; 11am Family Service, Tarrant Keyneston. • St Mary’s Stalbridge. Sunday, 4 September, Holy Communion 10am; Sunday, 11 September, Harvest Festival 4pm; Sunday, 18 September, Morning Worship 10am.

• Gillingham Methodist Church. Sunday afternoon recitals 3pm (lasting about one hour). Admission free: retiring collection. Superb two manual William Sweetland organ. Video screen. 4 September, Philip Scriven (Cranleigh School) – JS Bach, Widor, Mendelssohn, Jongen, Dubois, Locklair, Dupre, Vierne, Takle. • Chris Mahon is giving an organ recital to celebrate his 25 years as organist in St James Church, Shaftesbury, on Sunday 4, September, at 3pm. He is using this as an opportunity to collect funds for RNID, in particular aid for Hear to Help groups in the Gillingham and Shaftesbury area.Donations will help to make life fully inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus.