New Blackmore Vale, August 20, 2021
Church Church services Sunday, August 22 9.30am St Peter’s Shaftesbury Parish Communion 9.30am Motcombe Parish Communion 11.15am Melbury Abbas Parish Communion 6pm St James’ Shaftesbury Reflective Evening Communion Sunday, August 29 10am Team Service at New House Farm, Margaret Marsh
Blandford Methodist Church You are warmly invited to our Sunday services at 10.45am. We are anxious to offer help to those in need. Please leave your message on our answer phone 01258 577 030 and we will return your call within 24 hours. You are invited to our Lunch Club for the over 55’s on Tuesdays and Fridays at £4 per person. Please request your reservation on our answerphone, 01258
277030. Everyone is welcome to our coffee morning for tea, coffee and few cakes on Thursdays 10am till noon. St Mary's, Stalbridge Our regular services are as follows: 1st Sunday - Holy Communion at 10am 2nd Sunday - Evensong at 4pm 3rd Sunday - Morning Worship at 10 am 4th Thursday - Holy Communion at 10 am
Please note: there will not be the usual Evensong service in August. Everyone is most welcome to attend any service in the church. facebook.com/ StalbridgeChurch
Inspirational teachers can really make a difference in our lives Vicar in the Vale with Barbara Priest, wife of the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice
One of the books I’ve had at my side recently is a collection of meditations by Sister Wendy Beckett on works of art. You may remember her from the TV programmes on the story of art which she presented quite a long time ago now. Away from the cameras she lived in her caravan in the grounds of a Carmelite Abbey in Norfolk, devoted to a life of prayer. But what her programmes and this book reveal is the incredible knowledge of art that she had. Okay, she held a firstclass degree in art history, but that certainly does not guarantee that a person will be any good at conveying that knowledge to others. But, in this case, I have not only gleaned much value from her meditations, but I have also been left wishing I could walk around some of our art galleries in the company of Sister Wendy. As we approach a new academic year, this set me
thinking of school teachers who have a similar gift of enthusing their subject to their young charges. Not my old history teacher I’m afraid, who would enter the classroom, open his folder and read his notes to us in a monotone voice and then, as the bell went, close the folder and leave the room. How NOT to teach history! But there was also Miss Malone who taught English Literature. Hearing her read
Shakespeare as if it was some great adventure story, in her strong Black Country accent was a delight—especially when she interrupted herself by saying, “now listen up girls ‘cos this bit’s dead good”. We studied Othello with her for A-level and were on the edge of our seats at what the wicked Iago would do next! What a difference a teacher for whom their task is a vocation rather than a job can
Coffee mornings resuming St Peter and St Paul’s Church Wincanton will resume its monthly coffee mornings next month. As covid restrictions have been relaxed, the church is now able to restart fundraising activities. The first coffee morning will be on Saturday, September 11 between 10am and noon in the church. There will be delicious cakes and
produce, a book stall and a raffle. The October coffee morning will be held on October 9, between 10am and noon in the church. During the October coffee morning they will be holding a sponsored knit. All welcome. Any enquiries, please contact the parish office on 01963 824503.
make. Not just to teach the curriculum, but to share the wonders that their subject offers with enthusiasm and passion. Not to pile on academic pressure, but to nurture interest and talent, and allow their pupils to flourish. It is 38 years since I walked into Miss Malone’s classroom to begin my Alevel studies, but my continued appreciation and love of literature and poetry will certainly have been deepened by those two years spent in her company, and the fact that I still remember her must be proof of that. I’m sure most of us can remember at least one teacher who made a difference to us, whatever subject it may be, and we should be grateful to them. We may not all turn out to be rich or famous because of them, and the subject which spoke to us may only ever remain a hobby rather than a career, but how much poorer would our lives be without that initial spark of enthusiasm that can fuel a life-long interest? Let us hope and pray that all our young people preparing to return to school will be so inspired. n Barbara is about to be licensed as a Licensed Lay Minister in the Stour Vale Benefice 65
