Church

Church Light at the end of the tunnel

Luke 2: 22-40 is well worth reading before you read this: We celebrate Candlemas on the Sunday closest to or before February 2. It is a time of light and encouragement, the days are getting longer and hopefully we will also get warmer. Having said that, I have seen and read a great deal of very discouraging things lately, have you? Petrol and power seem to cost more every week. My accountant has told me my pension is not going to be worth having, so I will have to work until I am older than Simeon and Anna.. I could go on and on but I am sure that on several occasions I have turned on the radio and heard them tell me ‘today is the most depressing day of the year.’ Are they just making stuff up or are days getting worse and worse? I guess it is not the most depressing day of the year, it just feels like it. But there is good news – winter is halfway over! Candlemas is halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Spiritually there is also good news. We have this beautiful story of the aged Simeon and of Anna in the temple. They were really old in that time. Old people who knew how difficult it was. Anna has also been a widow a long time. So they have much to teach us about being old. I talk to many people who are complaining about life today. There is a common theme to many of those complaints – things are just not what they used to be. Once things were so much better. Now I have some sympathy for this line of thought because I can remember a time when my savings, my pension and my house were worth something. But some are not looking back to specific times of well being. There is a general despair. They have been so dragged backwards they no longer hope for the future. There are lessons to be learned for all of us. Do not allow these thoughts to imprison you in their dungeons of despair. When this episode took place, the Romans were occupying the land as a military force. Taxation was an issue, the high priests tried to trap Jesus with the question about paying taxes to Caesar. And we know also from the life of Jesus that if you stepped out of line you could be punished on a cross. It was when times were so much worse than today, that Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph to

CHURCH SERVICES

Sunday 14th February, Sunday next before Lent 10.30am: Fifehead Neville Morning Prayer CW 10.30am: Hazelbury Bryan Morning Prayer BCP Wednesday 17th February, Ash Wednesday 7pm: Hazelbury Bryan, Service of prayer and reflection Sunday 21st February, 1st Sunday of Lent 10.30am: Hazelbury Bryan Family Worship Sunday 28th February, 2nd Sunday of Lent 11.15am: Hazelbury Bryan, Morning Prayer CW 6.30pm: Woolland, Evening Prayer BCP

Blandford Methodist Church With the rising number of people testing positive for covid-19, coupled with advice from the Methodist Church, we are unable to hold Sunday services until further notice. We will keep you updated when we are able to safely re-open. If you have a prayer request, are feeling lonely and need to chat, then please leave your message on our answerphone 01258 577 030: we will keep your information confidential and observe data protection regulations. We aim to return calls within 24 hours.

Shaftesbury Team Ministry There are no public services in the Shaftesbury Team Ministry during the lockdown but we will be

WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN WORSHIP

Here is the latest information on worship in the Blackmore Vale nSt John’s Church, Yeovil Church Services on Sunday and Tuesday will be going ahead, but only attend if you feel it is safe to do so. Sunday 10:30am – booking is required to attend or watch on the live stream. Book at sjyeovil.org.uk. Tuesday, Communion – You are able to attend in person, there is no need to book nSt Mary’s the Virgin, Gillingham Sunday at 10am – Sunday Service For more details go online at achurchnearyou.com or ring Carole Blackmore on 01747 821598 68

nSt John’s Church, Shaftesbury Church Services are returning online. More details at facebook.com/ShaftesburyCofE nBlandford Parish Church Services have been suspended at both churches during January 2021. There is an online service each Sunday at 10am on the Blandford Parish Church Facebook Page followed by Zoom Coffee from 11am. View our Thought for The Day here on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays on our Facebook Page led by members of our congregation. If you require any assistance during this new period of lockdown or would like someone to pray with you, please contact us or email pastoral care@bfpc.org.uk or prayer@bfpc.org.uk nSt Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton The church remains open for individual prayer from 2pm until 4pm on Wednesdays. We are also open for Sunday services. Some services may vary from our usual, so please check our latest information online at stmaryssturminsternewton.org.uk nWincanton Parish Church Sunday Communal worship has been suspended during lockdown. The with the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice Vicar in the Vale

the temple, 40 days after he had been born. We are told the Holy Spirit rested on Simeon. The Holy Spirit leads us into the future with hope, because the future is God’s. The challenge for each of us is to put our trust in God in the same way Simeon and Anna did We must, like Simeon, have the faith to recognise God at work, have the faith to trust that God has a plan. We do not know what lies around the corner. However we do know that God has not abandoned us in the dark.

broadcasting a service on our Facebook page each Sunday at 10.00am –do join us:

facebook.com/ShaftesburyCofE

n Mass times for Catholic churches in Marnhull on Sundays and Thursdays, 9.30am; in Gillingham on Sundays at 11am and Wednesdays at 10am.

church is open for private prayer on Sundays between 9am and 11am and on Wednesdays between 12noon and 2pm. You are very welcome to come inside the church for private prayer and contemplation, distancing and wearing face coverings. Rev Alison Way can be contacted on 01963 33151 or 07515 958988 or rector@wincantonparishchurch.co.uk nSherborne Abbey Worship in the five churches of the Sherborne Benefice has been suspended. The Parish Office is closed but the parish secretary can be contacted on 01935 812452 between Monday and Friday, 9am - 4.30pm.