Christmas 2013

Alan seems a little alarmed by the donkey.

We had two lovely children's services on Christmas Eve - in Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Stickland. Alan would like to thank everyone (- including the music group and Awesome cakers) who made the services such a success. 

Those of you who tramped through the woods to St Catherine's Chapel on Christmas Eve were not disappointed. There was a wonderful atmosphere with the music and the candle light. Many thanks to the singers for all their hard work.

Christmas Services at a church near you.

Merry Christmas from the Diocese of Salisbury

In the Diocese of Salisbury this last year:

64,000 people attended services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and tens of thousands more at Christmas services throughout December.

In our 452 parishes, there is a Christian presence in every community.

Over 2,000 people were baptised and 691 were confirmed (494 aged under 20).

150 examples or experiments in parishes with new forms of ministry for mission – including  70 Open the Book in schools; 44 with Messy Church;  20 Cafe Churches; 11 Breakfast Churches; 7 Pub Theology Groups; 5 benefices piloting Energising Local Ministry; and 2 Missional Communities.

42,000 children and young people attend 195 Church Schools and Academies.

Ofsted identified 90% of our Schools and Academies as ’good’ or ‘outstanding’.

We have 2,000 Church School Governors.

There are 370 licensed clergy, more than 20 years ago. They include 52 Curates in training posts.

We have 22 students in colleges and courses training for ordained ministry.

Our highly committed lay people include 871 Churchwardens, 882 PCC Secretaries and Treasurers, 202 Licensed Lay Ministers, 1,006 Lay Pastoral Assistants and 34,525 on parish church Electoral Rolls.

Thank you, and please forward our thanks and good wishes for Christmas and the new year to others in your church. We are all serving the God who comes among us in Jesus Christ renewing the hope of the world. 

May the joy of the angels,

the eagerness of the shepherds,

the perseverance of the wise men,

the obedience of Joseph and Mary,

and the peace of the Christ child

be yours this Christmas.

+Nicholas Sarum

Crisis and Winterborne Houghton

Well Done

Winterborne Houghton!

The Candlelit Carol service proved to be very popular and St Andrew's Church looked beautiful in the candle light.

 

The amount raised at the village carol service on December 19th for the charity 'Crisis at Christmas' was £106.77

23rd Dec - Now increased to £128!

Sincere thanks to all who donated.

For further information about the charity click here

Church Services this Sunday at a church near you.

Church Services in the Benefice

Sunday 22^nd  December

 

W. Whitechurch  09.00  Holy Communion (said service)

                            Book of Common Prayer - Traditional

                            Rev’d Alan

Milton Abbas     10.30 Sung Eucharist

                            Holy Communion

                            Rev’d Alan

 Milton Abbey     18.00  Abbey Carols

W. Stickland      11.00 Carols and Coffee

                            Rev’d Jimmy

A flavour of Christmas at Cup and Cake

 Winterborne Whitechurch's Cup and Cake ended the year with a Christmas flavour. It is brilliant to see that the parish rooms prove to be such an excellent venue for the coffee mornings on Wednesday mornings. This week it was buzzing with people. Unfortunately this was the last Cup and Cake until Wednesday 8th January but do come along then, and enjoy some conversation with excellent tea, coffee and cakes available.
Thank you to all the Cup and Cakers - we really appreciate your hard work!

Houghton's Candlelit Carol Service - Tonight!

 

Candlelit Carol Service

Thursday 19th December

St Andrews Church - 6pm

Houghton

Followed by mince pies

and mulled wine

Carols in the Crown - 18th Dec - tonight!

Don't Forget.............TONIGHT!

 

Carols in the Crown

&
around Stickland
Wed 18th December
Meet at 7pm in The Crown

(Don't let a bit of rain dampen your singing)

 and after at 8pm
for mulled cider
and mince pies
In association with St Mary’s Church

Thursday 19th December - Houghton Carols

Houghton Carols

Candlelit Carol Service

Thursday 19th December

St Andrews Church - 6pm

Followed by mince pies

and mulled wine

What a great way to start the week.

 Thank you The Dunbury School for setting the week up with such a good start. This morning, the Coffee Potters at Winterborne Stickland were visited by the children. They sang Christmas songs and carols and we were all able to join in. We enjoyed listening to the recorder group playing and look forward to hearing more on another occasion. We all were offered sweets and everyone had a Christmas card from the school. Thank you! This was such a thoughtful gesture - do come again.

 I f you missed the Christmas Tree festival at Milton Abbas this weekend - you really should go and see them. The theme was 'Winter Song' and there are lots of clever and beautiful Christmas trees to look at. They are lit up during the day and the doors are open - you might even see the handiwork of the Coffee Stoppers in th South Aisle.

Church Services this Sunday at a church near you.

Church Services In the Benefice

Sunday 15^th December

W. Stickland   10.30 Holy Communion

                       

                          Rev’d Jimmy

                    

 

W. Whitechurch 10.30 All Age Worship

                            

                             With modern language and followed by a short

                             communion service for those who wish to stay.

                            Jenny /Rev’d Marion
Don't Miss..........18.00 Carol Service

 

Milton Abbas  18.00 Evening Prayer

                          

                          Book of Common Prayer – Traditional

                          Rev’d Sue

Seeing Stars at The Christmas Tree Festival

 The Coffee Stoppers were hard at work this week, finishing the decorations for the south aisle at Milton Abbas, in time for the Christmas Tree festival - this weekend. Everyone learnt knew skills and had many a laugh at the same time. There was a soup and baked potato lunch to follow. - Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this happen and to the gentlemen who climbed up and down ladders to hang the finished stars. People are getting very crafty at Milton Abbas!

 

The FoodBank

 Click here to find out more

Dear All

May I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their wonderful support of the Food bank over the coming year.  Since the beginning of January the food bank has been able to help some 573 people who have found themselves in crisis.  Without prayer and the gifts of food and money the food bank would not have been able to help.  So on behalf of all those who have received from the generosity of others, a heartfelt thank you.

Best wishes for a happy Christmas and New Year.

God bless.

Gail Del-Pinto

Blandford Foodbank Manager