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December 2022 December 2022

FROM THE AFFPUDDLE CHURCHWARDEN THE ALTERNATIVE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love said to me I'm glad we bought a turkey
Congregation and a proper Christmas tree.
The number of people attending church in our parish has gone down over the On the 2nd day of Christmas much laughter could be heard as we tucked into
years that I have lived here. I often ask myself - why has the congregation turkey a most delicious bird.
reduced? The answer is, unfortunately, very simple. The older members of the
congregation have died, and their offspring have not joined the church. In On the 3rd day of Christmas we had friends in from next door, the turkey tasted
Affpuddle we have another problem. The price of houses has risen so much that just as it did the day before.
young families are less likely to move in.
On the 4th day of Christmas Gran came, she's rather old, we finished up the
There are, however, two school buses that come through our village, and I would Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold.
love it if we were asked to give those children a lift to the church on Sunday. But
our service does not attract them. There are lots more children in Bere Regis and On the 5th day of Christmas outside the snowflakes flurried but we were nice and
seeing many of them in scout uniform at the remembrance service last month warm inside we had the turkey curried.
was a treat. On the 6th day of Christmas the turkey spirit died, the children fought and

Our vicar, Richard, recognises that it would be good to see young adults attend bickered so we had turkey fried.
our services. He is in conversation with Chaplain Matthew, the army chaplain of On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave a wince when we sat down to
Lulworth and Bovington, where there are lots of young men and ladies. So, dinner we had turkey mince.
conversations are pursuing between clergy and staff of West Purbeck Benefice
and the army chaplain. We were invited to join Revd Matt at Lulworth last month. On the 8th day of Christmas the dog ran out for shelter as I served up turkey
Some of the army staff have visited our churches and some of our team have pancakes and a glas of alkaselzer.
attended St George’s chapel in Bovington. Discussions are ongoing about On the 9th day of Christmas by lunch time Dad was blotto, he knew that bird was
widening the exchange.
back again, this time it was risotto.
Meanwhile, our benefice clergy have arranged special services when lots of fun On the 10th day of Christmas the air was rather blue as everybody grumbled at
things are happening. We have now got a regular program of activities at 4pm eating turkey stew.
on each of the four Sundays of the month (with a joint benefice at one of our
churches on each of the fifth Sundays of the month). They are all advertised On the 11th day of Christmas the Christmas tree was moulting, with a hot and
elsewhere in this magazine. They are in different places throughout the seven spicy sauce the turkey was revolting.
churches of the benefice.
On the 12th day of Christmas we had smiles on our faces, the guests had gone,
One of the topics we have discussed is the sad decline in the numbers attending the turkey too and we had fish and chips.
church services. Separately, I have visited several different churches around the
area to find out how they are serving the community - Bere Heath, Moreton,
Tincleton etc. The services with fewest congregation tend to be the old-fashioned Thanks to Eileen
communions. But I think you will find the younger folk will enjoy all the 4 o’clock Maidment for
meetings. this - not the
original author
but a great
Mike Menzies giggle!
Church Warden, LWL, Affpuddle

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