OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES

News from the Three Valleys Team

Remembrance Sunday is upon us once again and Battle of Britain Sunday not that long ago. At this time of year, we remember before God in church and by war memorials, all those who have fought and died to protect what they and we believe in. Covid-19 will not stop us doing this. Some of us will have recent memories of friends and comrades and some will have more distant memories. God gave us our memory so we could learn from experience, so we should use it wisely. What we remember now and, more particularly, how we remember it is very important because memories help to shape what we will be tomorrow. This applies as much to nations as to individuals. Nations can have strong memories.

Those who do not or will not remember past experiences, particularly if the memories are unpleasant, deny their past and deprive themselves of any roots. Learning to live with bad memories can be more valuable than learning to live with pleasant ones. It is to give us common roots that the military is very keen on tradition and living up to it. For it is recognised that without these roots we have nothing to fall back on for support in time of trouble. How we remember yesterday makes us who we are today. What we do today in our crisis will determine who we become tomorrow, both as individuals and as a nation. This is as relevant today as it was for previous generations.

“We are often tempted to ask ourselves what we gained by the enormous sacrifices made by those to whom this memorial is dedicated. But that was never the issue with those who marched away. No question of advantage presented itself to their minds. They only saw the light shining on the clear path to duty. They only saw their duty to resist oppression, to protect the weak, to vindicate the profound but unwritten Law of Nations. They never asked the question, ‘What shall we gain?’ They asked only the question, ‘Where lies the right?’”

From a speech marking the unveiling of a WW1 memorial in 1925 by Winston Churchill.

Tony Gilbert Team Rector

News from Yetminster Methodist Church

I don’t know if you have noticed how some people in our world seem desperately busy without a minute to themselves, or so it seems. Forever under pressure and rushing to the next thing on their packed agendas. While others seem to have too much time, no idea what to do, with few friends, lacking purpose and struggling with loneliness.

Living life now is complicated, we are grateful we are in the medium tier and not the Very High risk tier. The restrictions on our liberty seem very confusing and now more so because of regional differences. We miss socialising, we miss visiting our families and, as we begin what could be an extremely hard six months, it feels like the walls are closing in.

Presently I use Lectio 365 to aid my daily prayers. It’s an app you can download from the 24/7 prayer website. Today I was reminded that research has

discovered that living alone can increases your chances of premature death by 29%, deeply disturbing and not something anyone living alone can do much about. Can we create new opportunities for connection and relationship today? The problem can be that those who are busy and under pressure do not see those who are struggling with loneliness.

So today I prayed that I might be interruptible, that my attention might be drawn to specific people in need. I surrendered my plans. Motivate me Lord to be an available, interruptible friend, to see the overlooked and not rush by.

I am asking myself if I can create new opportunities for connection and friendship today. I have in recent weeks taken calls from two people who have moved into the area in the past few months and are seeking connection. The usual organisations are not meeting, the usual ways of becoming part of the community inaccessible. Longing for community is deep within our design.

Relationship is so important to us. The good news is that deep relationship is always available with God. God can meet us in our loneliness, we are never truly alone. When a friend of mine’s wife died, and he was housebound, he started to rewrite the scriptures into more everyday language and with different voices. As he delved deeply into scripture, he discovered what a friend we have in Jesus and a new purpose. It may seem ridiculously difficult to rewrite scripture, but the principle of meeting God in scripture is not ridiculous. Reading or listening to scripture enables us to discover what a friend we do have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear and what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged take it to the Lord in prayer. The final verse of Joseph Scrivens’ hymn: ‘Are we weak and heavy laden cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour still our refuge – take it to the Lord in prayer.’ In these Covid-19 times, may we discover in our loneliness that God is there.

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

For complete list see www.threevalleysteam.org go to Services page

Because of Covid-19, restrictions are still in place for worshipping in churches and the full schedule of services can not be implemented. Please check with the website and your local church.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2020

1st 8th 15th

ALL SAINTS REMEMBRANCE 2nd BEFORE ADVENT

CHRIST THE KING ADVENT SUNDAY

22nd 29th

BATCOMBE

10.50am Remembrance at Yetminster 10am CW Holy Communion

BEER HACKETT

9.30am Remembrance 10am CW Holy Communion

BRADFORD ABBAS

CHETNOLE

HERMITAGE 10am CW Holy Communion 10.50am Remembrance 10.50am Remembrance 10am CW Holy Communion 10am CW Holy Communion

HILFIELD

10am CW Holy Communion

LEIGH

10am CW Holy Communion 10.50am Remembrance at Chetnole 10am Community Spirit tbc

RYME INTRINSECA

THORNFORD 10am CW Holy Communion 10.50am Remembrance

YETMINSTER 3pm All Souls Service 10.50am Remembrance 10am CW Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion

ON-LINE SERVICES

10am via Three Valleys Facebook page 10am via Three Valleys Facebook page 10am via Three Valleys Facebook page 10am via Three Valleys Facebook page 10am via Three Valleys Facebook page

CW= COMMON WORSHIP BCP= BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER EXTRA AND WEEKDAY SERVICES

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

Every

Every 6pm Usually Night Prayer On-line via Zoom See website for details. Please email for link.

Every 6pm Usually Compline

6pm Evening Service On-line via Three Valleys Facebook page

On-line via Three Valleys Facebook page

1st WEDNESDAY

11th 10:50am Act of Remembrance BRADFORD ABBAS SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY

11th 10:50am Act of Remembrance THORNFORD SCHOOL

Midday prayer followed by Holy Communion tbc