Parish and Benefice news

We’re entering the time of remembering in the church season. This is a chance to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, In past years we have had services to mark All Souls’ Day (2^nd November). This year there will not be a service at this time, but different ways to remember, open to everyone who has loved ones that they see no more. During November, in Affpuddle churchyard, in the Peace Shrine, there is the chance to build a ‘Cairn to Remember’ – bring a pebble or pebbles which may or may not have your loved ones names on and place them in the shrine to build a cairn. And in Bere Regis churchyard, near the South door, there will be the frame of a cross to fill with pebbles, again with or without names on. Hopefully, this way, we can socially distance and safely remember our loved ones as we walk through our churchyards, stopping for a moment or two to remember in peace, love and thanks.

Sunday 8^th November is, of course, Remembrance Sunday. You will see elsewhere in this magazine the outline for the short act of remembrance on that day at the memorial. It seems more important than ever that, as our world becomes increasingly more volatile, we concentrate on this theme of remembering, both corporate and individual, as we confront issues of war and peace, loss and self-sacrifice, memory and reconciliation, forgiving and forgetting.

I also wanted to write a bit about West Purbeck Benefice of which we are part.

The last 18 months or so was meant to be a time of adjustment and settling into the workings of a new benefice. Three parishes (Affpuddle, Bere Regis and Wool) working together for the common good, being led by Carol Langford as Rector and assisted by Revs Jenny Alidina and Judy Hill, bringing together Lay Licensed Minister’s Jonathan Haigh and Brenda Pitfield from Bere and Affpuddle with Jenny Hunt and John Matthews from Wool. You of course welcomed me to join that team in October, and I thank you for that welcome. More readjustment. It was then announced that when the Lulworth parishes became vacant in May 2020 there would be a proposal by the diocese to form a larger benefice of seven parishes. We had already been working together covering services and occasional offices as required. Again, readjustment and understanding needed. We have looked at service patterns and worked to make them manageable for everyone, we had started to look at a benefice vision and how mission could work across the benefice. Then change happened again, but this time with a global pandemic. Who could have foretold that. There’s that word again, readjustment. We then received the devastating news that Rev Carol is now off on long term sick leave because she has a brain tumour.

Where does this leave us as a benefice? – readjusting, feeling our way forward, trusting in God, praying for each other and working together, of which I’ll write more next month.

Food Bank – Update!

Usually every 6 -8 weeks we hand over at least five carrier bags full of your gifts to the Food Bank - so thank you from the people who were very grateful....and please keep your contributions coming!

There are boxes in both our churches for you to place any goods you would like to donate. This provides a simple way of helping people who have fallen on hard times.

I would ask: Please ensure that your gifts are at least 6 months in date.

You do not have to be a church member to contribute!

The boxes are emptied regularly

and the contents given to BereConnect and/or the Wareham Food Bank.

The list of what is most appropriate is:

Tinned Soup   Fruit Juice(carton)    Pasta Sauces Baked Beans    Rice/Sponge Pudding (Tinned)

Tomatoes (Tinned)    Pasta/Rice (1kg)   Tinned Vegetables  Tea Bags/Coffee    Instant Mash Potato

Tinned Meat/Fish   Tinned Fruit   Sugar (500g)    Biscuits or snack bars

The FOOD BANK provides for local individuals and families in crisis -

Thank you for your support!