Winterborne Stickland's Harvest Celebrations

 

Rural churches look wonderful at Harvest time and St Mary's Church, Winterborne Stickland was no exception. The flower arrangers had worked hard on Saturday afternoon and the church looked amazing.

At the same time, flour and dough was flying around at the Rectory as the harvest loaf was prepared. This was an opportunity to pass on traditional harvest loaf making skills - if you can roll plasticine or play dough - make sure you volunteer to help next year!

  Waiting for the end result is always quite exciting because as the dough proves, the original shapes change! But once egg washed and baked, it is very satisfying. It was even more satisfying to cut and slice it for the harvest lunch!

 The church was full and more  people joined us afterwards for the lunch in the Pamela Hambro Hall so that over fifty people sat down to share lunch together. Again, there was a fantastic group of helpers who are now very experienced in providing a super lunch for an unpredictable number of people. - Forty people had bought tickets in advance but more are always welcomed on the day.

 

 

 

Another happy baptism.

Many vicars worry about baptisms with toddlers - they can never be quite sure how the youngsters are going to perform. Alan, our Rector, had no worries on Sunday at Winterborne Stickland, two year old Annabelle took to her role - like a duck to water! It is lovely for all the church to be able to share in these family occasions.

 

 (thank you, Jenny G for the photographs)

Welcome to Jo

The Rev'd Jo Davis and The Ven. Stephen Waine (Archdeacon)

Jo Davis was licensed as chaplain to the Milton Abbey School on Tuesday Morning.

Thought for the week from our Primary School

Our Dunbury Church of England Academy children were given a great Thought for the Week as they started the new school year (thank you Mrs Culy):-

 

Do not panic about today or tomorrow remember who is holding you tight.

 

 

'That's right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.

I'm telling you 'Don't panic, I'm right here to help you.'

Isaiah 41 v 13 (The Message)

Church Welcome Video For A Sunday Service HD

World War One Commemorative Flower Festival at St James Church, Milton Abbas

Visual images can say so much more than words sometimes and the WW1 commemorative flower festival at St James church, Milton Abbas, left a lasting impression on the many visitors that saw it. There were so many beautiful and moving displays. It was one part of a very busy commemorative weekend in the village that was enjoyed by so many people.

A Very Happy Baptism

Amelia's Baptism at St James Milton Abbas on Sunday 7th September

Well that’s it - summer is over! – The fetes and summer shows are over, cream teas are ending, the trees are getting ready for their autumnal display of colours, lights have to be turned on in the evening and we are greeted by mist and fog first thing in the morning. Officially we won’t be in that season ‘of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, as described by John Keats, until the 23^rd September – the day of the autumnal equinox but we all can feel the change in temperature. I have had a wonderful summer season of weddings and celebrating new beginnings for young couples.  It would be very easy to think that that’s it for the year, - the best is over. However, this is not the case because, as I head into September, I am excited for the school children as they return to school for the new school year or for their first ever school year! The Dunbury Church of England Academy has a new Head Teacher – Mr Ben Barker, and I bet he is as excited about the new school year as all the new children. And I am excited because for the first three Sundays in September, there are young children being brought to church to be baptised. Their baptisms mark the beginning of their Christian life.

As autumn approaches, we need to stay alert to all the new opportunities around us.

Blessings  Alan