Page 2 - br-june-2021

June 2021

did actually manage to officiate at one at Affpuddle and although small, it was a
really joyous family occasion. We have a lot of the postponed 2020 weddings
planned for this year, let’s hope and pray that restrictions will be lifted enough for
them to have the day they really want. We have a wedding to look forward to in
the family in 2022. Our youngest daughter, Lucy, got engaged to her beau Sam
just before Christmas. It was so romantic, a candlelight proposal at Heaven’s
Gate overlooking Longleat, that they’ve won a competition! It’s a while away
yet, but there’s still lots of planning going on, we haven’t quite got to the ‘glad
when it’s all over’ stage though.
I know we’ll all be glad when we’re sure that the worst of the pandemic is over.
There is worrying news of another new variant and what that might do to the lifting
of restrictions and I suppose we need to be prepared for this to keep happening.
At least with the vaccines we have better protection this coming winter.

We were thinking only today in our church services of how Jesus prayed to God to
protect his disciples and those who followed them when he would no longer be
with them. Not a ‘keep them safe from harm’ protection, none of us can be kept
out of danger and free from all difficulty or inconvenience. But a ‘be with them in
all that they do’ to help us have the strength to endure hard times. No one is
excluded from this protection if we ask for God’s help. It is good news for all of us
that Jesus prays for us, enabling us to face whatever dangers or even those
inconveniences we may encounter along life’s path.
With blessings

Sandra

Parish and Benefice News

I’m pleased to say that the advert for Incumbent went out in May with shortlisting
later this month and hopefully interviews in July, please continue to hold the
Benefice and this process in your prayers as we seek the right person to lead us.

Lay Worship Leaders
Congratulations to Sarah Welton, Pat Wharf and Peter Wharf from Bere Regis
Parish and Mike Menzies from Affpuddle Parish who have all completed their Lay
Worship Leader training and have now been commissioned by the Bishop of
Sherborne. As well as leading some non-eucharistic services in church they will
also be looking at ways to take ‘church’ into the community.

Messy Church
Our monthly sessions online have proved very popular, we have been filling and
delivering about 30 craft bags each month to families in Bere Regis, Wool, Winfrith,

2