OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES

Letter from the Three Valleys Team – ‘Trust in God, trust also in me…’

“Everything is provisional.” Those words have been repeated on endless occasions by Tony Gilbert, our Team Rector, when referring to organising events and Services within the Benefice that have to be changed, sometimes at the last minute, due to Covid. That saying does seem to have been the watchword in so many ways over the last year, especially now we are in Lockdown 3.

As I wrote this clergy letter, at the beginning of the year, I mused on what the situation might be like on New Year’s Eve 2021. Will we be free of Covid? Will we be able to meet without restrictions? Will we still have to socially distance? Whatever happens, the last year has been like no other in the memories of many folks.

Many have suffered in so many ways. Restrictions, lockdowns, businesses failing, some after many years trading, and changes to lifestyles have abounded. Some may have become ill with the virus. Some may have tragically lost relatives. We, as a nation, have had a really bad time over the last year. We are very much down, but not out! We are made of sterner stuff than we might appreciate. We can move on after all of this.

In the search for positivity, the people I have spoken to in the last few weeks, either as parish priest or as chaplain to the farming and rural communities, mostly say the same thing – be positive going forward into next year, with the vaccine being treated as a gift from God! Let’s keep going, keeping safe, looking after and loving one another – we’re nearly there!

By the time you read this we will be heading into February and a month will have elapsed since those New Year Resolutions were first hatched. Did we make one after all? How many of these resolutions are still intact? Have we broken any already? Have we lost any weight then? Are we texting less and talking more? What about those few extra drinks then? Are we really sticking to the resolutions ‘religiously’?

In the Bible, Jesus says in St. John’s Gospel, “Trust in God, trust also in me”. (14: 1). But how many times do we trust in God, rather than the world, full of trickery and deceit? I don’t know about you, but I would rather hedge my bets on trusting Jesus than a bunch of rather shallow resolutions that really don’t mean much at all. For me, Jesus is the only one to trust, he can be leant on and will really be there when we need him. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11: 28).

With the wonder, awe and re-birth of Easter in the first week of April, and all the issues of the last year, let us look to that wonderful resurrection of a life for each one of us to be part of. Jesus said, “Trust in God, trust also in me”. In the weeks ahead, let us do just that.

Vicar Richard

World Day of Prayer 2021 “Build on a Strong Foundation”

Friday 5 March

Save the date As I write this article for the magazine the year has just turned and COVID-19 is still controlling much of our lives. Although we are encouraged by the prospect of vaccinations bringing the pandemic under control, I cannot see that we will be in a position to meet together as we usually do by the beginning of March.

I have been wondering how we could still celebrate with the women of Vanuatu, who have compiled the service this year. The service sheets etc. were sent out some time ago, so my plan is to broadcast the service on Zoom. In previous years we have had meetings and a time of preparation. This may not be practical this year, but I know many of you have been willing to take part in the past and hope you may do so again by reading. We may be unable to do it exactly as it is in the book, but we will follow most of it.

Anyone who is interested in taking part or simply joining us on the day please contact liz.kirlew@ btinternet.com or phone Holwell Rectory on 01963 23570, and I urge you all to keep an eye on the website at www.threevalleysteam.org for further updates.

Many thanks

News from Yetminster Methodist Church

Sermon – Philippians Chapter 1 VV 3-11 The pandemic has turned our lives upside down and perhaps you, with me, have spent time in 2020 thinking about what is important. I mean valuing key workers – in shops/delivering goods/ cleaners as well as consultants in hospitals. We saw that the New Year’s Honours list was not so much about celebrity (Linda Snell from the Archers notwithstanding) but for services to the food supply chain and to the vulnerable during the Covid-19 response. People such as Caroline Halfhide, recognised with an MBE, after she changed her pub the Bell in Ash, Martock into a village shop.

Has 2020 taught us about what we value – relationships, going for a simple coffee with friends, handshakes? That is what is important. But it is our love for our family and friends, even for strangers, which keeps us at home now to stop the virus spreading. Presently, that is how we can show love.

Paul is setting the goal for the Philippian church: “That your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced a harvest of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus for the glory and praise of God.”

This prayer from Paul is about growth. If you are a Christian, you long for the church to grow: if you are not, this is exactly what you find scary. No-one wants to be manipulated into believing a lie. Look at those in America who believe President Trump won the recent election for example. Evangelism is a scary idea to those outside the church, who are frightened of persuasion by a charismatic character, who do not want to be disappointed. I agree. That is not Paul’s growth strategy though, that is not love.

The growth strategy for the church is that we are abounding love more and more. Paul is not specific about who we love, good people, bad people, those in the church, those outside the church, our family, our enemies. Our love needs to be all encompassing, the refugee, the homeless person, the prisoner, the rich, those ridiculing our faith. Well, hang on, I hear you cry – how can we abound in love, especially now when we can hardly keep it together ourselves? By trusting the God of love who is at work within us. Paul sees love as the growing point of the Christian life. As a virtue to pervade our whole beings and characters as Christians, which will prompt and mark every action. The love of Christ has become the centre of Paul’s character; the greater heart, the heart of Christ, has taken possession of his servant, Paul.

All exceptionally good you may say, but that is Paul, an apostle, not me. But Paul does not speak to people who lack love and need to ask for it, but a people who possess love and need to grow it. And that is true of every Christian believer, it is what marks us out. Just as Lydia on first coming to faith asked Paul and his friends to be house guests and the jailer on becoming a Christian immediately bathed the wounds of the man he had previously put in stocks. Love is the new nature of the Christian; the seed is placed within us. The gift of God, that God wants to grow in us.

The life of a Christian is a life of programmed growth because God is at work within us. He grows the love in us and keeps on doing so as we choose to spend time with him in prayer, reading scripture, sharing in a small group, going on retreat; the Holy Spirit does the miraculous thing of perfecting us in holiness as we abound in love.

This is a daily walking in grace, practising the presence of God and persisting experience. It is challenging. Who wants to love their enemies? As we get closer to God, we realise our griefs, losses and pains and we can run away and hide. BUT he loves us and if we have the courage and make the choice to be in him, make space for Christ in the continuous present tense, look and keep on looking for his love, experience and keep on experiencing his love, well maybe just maybe he can use us to transform his world.

Rev’d Kate Konrad

THREE VALLEYS TEAM

Team Office:

Yetminster Jubilee Hall, Church Street, Yetminster, DT9 6LG

01935 872600

e:3valleysoffice@gmail.com w:www.threevalleysteam.org Opening hours Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri 9.30am – 12.30pm Tues 1.30 – 4.30pm

Team Rector: Rev’d Tony Gilbert

The Rectory, Church Rd, Thornford, Sherborne. DT9 6QE

01935 873044 e: rector3valleys@gmail.com

Team Vicars Rev’d George Moody

The Rectory Church St, Yetminster DT9 6QE

01935 873214 e: revgeorgemoody@gmail.com Rev’d Richard Kirlew

@RuralChaplain

01963 23570 e: rector3valleys@gmail.com

Jubilee Hall Yetminster

ENQUIRIES: Three Valleys Benefice Office,

01935 872600 e: 3valleysoffice@gmail.com

Yetminster Methodist Church

Chapel Lane, Yetminster DT9 6LJ Minister: Rev Kate Konrad 01935-415837 Worship co-ordinator: Mrs Barbara Driver

Tel: 01935 873690 Treasurer:

Mrs S Gilbey

All services begin at 10:30am followed by coffee.

Sundays:

7.30am Morning Prayer followed by silent prayer 8.30am Sung Eucharist 12.30pm Midday Prayer 5.15pm Evening Prayer, followed by prayer time Night Prayer arranged at supper

Tuesday to Saturday

7am Silent Prayer in Chapel 7.30am Morning Prayer 12 noon Midday Prayer and Eucharist 5.15pm Evening Prayer, followed by prayer time 9pm Night prayer (8.15pm -Thurs, 8.45pm-Sat)

Roman Catholic Services

Roman Catholic Church

The Sacred Heart & St. Aldhelm, Westbury, Sherborne DT9 3EL

tel: (01935) 812021 Weekend mass times: Saturdays at 6.00pm Sundays 10.30am Holy Days 10.00am and 6.30pm

Parish Priest: Monsignor Canon Robert Draper e: sherbornerc@prcdtr.org.uk w: sherbornecatholicchurch.org.uk