April 2017 News & Notes

Thanks Sarah Sprague
St Andrew's School has turned around, and is making steady progress in the right direction. We are grateful to Sarah Sprague who has stepped in as short-term headteacher, and is seen here helping to paint the entrance to a new teaching area.

Bowley Brothers baptised at St Andrew's
After a celebration of baptism and communion the clan gathered on the Church Rooms' steps for this group photo. Mum and Dad hold Morgan and Elis.

Sweets from Mike the Lollipop
Congratulations to Mike, full of fun on his 80th birthday. He celebrated by sharing sweets with those crossing the road he patrols.

3 April, Canon Andrew Gough licensed at 7.00pm in Holy Trinity, Weymouth

23 April, Tim visiting Portland
Rural deans have responsibility for overseeing the normal life of their deanery, so taking part in worship is important. Checking fabric and records is included in these visits.

30 April, St Osmund's APM
This is the last of our team's Annual Parish Meetings, and marks an encouraging year which includes progress on upgrading church facilities, and paying share in full. Congratulations to Brian, PCC members, and fantastic community supporters.

30 April, 6.30pm Confirmation with Bishop Karen
Anyone interested should get in touch with their minister. Those who have completed a year at All Stage, Tuesday Candlelights, or Café Church are already trained.

March 2017 News & Notes

Tom Coopey was licensed at St John, Greenhill by Bishop Karen on 17 January. He knows the area well, having worked as a Youth Worker in the Radipole Team. He is warmly welcomed back, but in a very different role as Team Vicar.

1 March is the start of Lent and our bishops are encouraging us to make it a meaningful season by praying regularly. Booklets are available in our Churches, so please get involved. Each week there are plenty of opportunities to join with others, and enjoy a wide variety of styles. Our own private prayer is important too.

5 March the rector is covering the vacancy at Holy Trinity, Weymouth. Canon Andrew Gough will be licensed by Bishop Nicholas on 3 April. We warmly welcome his appointment.

Fairtrade fortnight runs until 13 March
We have an excellent team running Fairtrade stalls in the team. Our thanks to them. Here's an opportunity to encourage the movement, which makes a real practical difference to millions of producers.

12 March, first Annual Parish Meetings (APMs) within Café Church for St Andrew's. The Team Rector attempts to attend all these meetings, and this year we will sign the new constitution which sets out how we work together.

19 March, St Nicholas for Bincombe and Broadwey APMs to celebrate the last year, which included a huge tidy up and new services.

26 March, APMs at St Francis, and St Laurence with plenty for which to thank God, and hopes for the future.

21 March, Clergy Chapter ministry development day in London, reflecting on Tate Modern and other developments.

3 April, Canon Andrew Gough licensed at 7.00pm in Holy Trinity, Weymouth

30 April, 6.30pm Confirmation with Bishop Karen
Anyone interested should get in touch with their minister. Those who have completed a year at All Stage, Tuesday Candlelights, or Café Church are already trained.

February 2017 News & Notes

It's not too late to join Café Church Alpha

10.00am in Church Rooms, Preston on third Sundays. This is part of Learning Church, and the course works as well for for those who know little about Christianity, as for regular Church members wishing to refresh their understanding.

Weekday prayers
There is truth in the saying 'seven days without prayer makes one weak', so to encourage our collective strength we have many opportunities on weekdays. This year we added three new ones:
 • Morning Prayer, normally led by Brian Ellis, 9.30am on second Mondays in Osmington Church.

 • Evening Prayer, normally led by Philip Elliott, 7.30pm on second Wednesdays in Bincombe Church.

 • Evening Prayer, normally led by Philip Elliott, 7.30pm on fourth Wednesdays in Buckland Ripers

Church.

Record tree for St Osmund

Dr Warwick has kindly donated a Christmas tree to the Church each year. This one beat the record for height, and only just fitted in the north aisle. Congratulations to those who decorated it ~ no mean feat. The Christmas congregation certainly appreciated their efforts.

Thanks for the extras

A huge amount goes on behind the scenes at Christmas. Many thanks to highly skilled decorators, musicians, and busy ministers supported by admin wizards. 

Fairtrade fortnight starts 27 Feb

We have an excellent team running Fairtrade stalls in the team. Our thanks to them. Here's an opportunity to encourage the movement, which makes a real practical difference to millions of producers.

Our first Annual Parish Meeting

St Andrew's APM will be within Café Church on Sunday 12 March. The Team Rector attends all these meetings, and this year we will sign the new constitution which sets out how we work together.

Canon Andrew Gough at Holy Trinity

I'm delighted to report that Andrew will be licensed by Bishop Nicholas on 3 April. We warmly welcome his appointment, and I'm grateful to colleagues for picking up extra services so we could help cover the vacancy.

30 Apr, 6.30pm Confirmation with Bishop Karen

Anyone interested should get in touch with their minister. Those who have completed a year at All Stage, Tuesday Candlelights, or Café Church are already trained.

January 2017 News & Notes

New worship & prayer opportunities begin:
 • from Sun 8 Jan at St Andrew

10.00am Cafe Church will be complemented by an All Age Communion, and Learning Church. Traditional Matins and Holy Communion will move to 11.15am, and the two times linked by shared refreshments from 10.45 - 11.15am.
 • from Mon 9 Jan at St Osmund
9.30am monthly Morning Prayer in Church, normally led by Brian Ellis.
 • from Wed 11 Jan at Holy Trinity, Bincombe
7.30pm monthly Evening Prayer, normally led by Philip Elliott.
 • from Wed 25 Jan at St Nicholas, Buckland Ripers
7.30pm monthly Evening Prayer, normally led by Philip Elliott.

Sun 15 Jan, Alpha course begins 10.00am in Church Rooms, Preston. This is part of Learning Church, and the course works well for those who know little about Christianity, but also for regular Church members wishing to refresh their understanding.

Sun 15 Jan, Messy Church flies into action 3.30pm in Church Rooms, Preston. These session involve adults and children working together, and sharing a meal.

Tue 17 Jan, Tom Coopey is licensed at St John, Greenhill by Bishop Karen Gorham as Team Vicar. All welcome to celebrate his return to Weymouth, having been a youth worker in the Radipole & Melcombe Regis Team abour eight years ago.

We welcome Shannon McDonald on her journey of faith. The clan, supplemented by friends, enjoyed a happy occasion at her baptism. They posed outside afterwards to record the latest babe to use the 150 year old christening gown.

December 2016 News & Notes

Make yourself at home at our Carols

The chart shows many opportunities and settings, so do join in. There's a mix of traditional Carols by candlelight, to open air, pub, Christingle, and Crib services. Something for everybody.

Changes from 8 January at St Andrew

The 10.00am Cafe Church will be complemented by an All Age Communion, and Learning Church. Traditional Matins and Holy Communion will move to 11.15am, and the two times linked by shared refreshments from 10.45 - 11.15am. Please see the chart for details.

Celebrating 30 years in St Francis Church
In 1965 worship first took place in Littlemoor Community Centre, and a local worshipping community was formed. A new building was opened in 1986, dedicated after St Francis of Assisi. Lorraine Dobbins crafted a Songs of Praise including all styles of worship used in the Church. Philip Elliott dedicated a new sanctuary light to mark the occasion.

November 2016 News & Notes

Philip Elliott is now Mayor's Chaplain, so Upwey Station Remembrance is postponed a year

Daniel Newman has acted as Mayor's Chaplain, but is moving to pastures new. Philip has agreed to pick up this additional role, which means he will be involved in the borough's act of remembrance. We have therefore decided to postpone the event at the railway station.

Sun 13 Nov, All services have Acts of Remembrance

Tue 15 Nov, Open Synod at All Saints' School

Archdeacon Paul Taylor will be following up the 'Pray, Serve, Grow' initiative. All welcome. We start at 7.30pm.

Sun 27 Nov, 6.00pm Advent Service of Light at All Saints', Wyke Regis

All are welcome to join in this moving time which marks the start of our preparation for Christmas. There is always a focus on Christian Aid.

Changing pattern from January at St Andrew

On Sun 11 Dec, at 10.45am after shortened services, there will be a second presentation of how the worship pattern will change in January 2017.

Make yourself at home at our Carol services

● Sun 4 Dec, 11.15am St Osmund's Christingle, an All Age Worship event thinking about Jesus as Light of the World

● Sun 11 Dec, 6.30pm West Ridgeway Carols at St Nicholas, Broadwey. This is a good chance for Churches towards the west of our team to come together for carols, but of course all are welcome.

  7.30pm Spice Ship Carols. Do join in half an hour of traditional carols and readings, and stay afterwards for refreshments.

● Sun 18 Dec, 10.00am St Francis Nativity

  3.00pm Holy Trinity, Bincombe Carols

  6.30pm St Francis Carols; and Carols by candlelight at St Andrew and St Osmund

● Mon 19 Dec, 6.30pm Sutton Poyntz open air Carols, followed by Baptisms. If you are interested in baptism please get in touch.

  6.30pm St Laurence Carols by candlelight

● Wed 21 Dec, 6.30pm Bosworth Carols; and Osmington singing around the village

● Sat 24 Dec, 4.30pm St Andrew's Crib service, and Broadwey St Nicholas Christingle

  6.30pm Buckland Ripers St Nicholas Carols

Handing over the role of Rural Dean

Tim West's remaining years before retirement will be focused in the parish, so at the end of June he will be passing on his rural dean's responsibilities.

Reg Symes' ashes laid to rest

After a traditional Harvest Festival, with local band, Reg's ashes were poured alongside Yvonne's. He designed the stone with both their names, leaving a space for his dates, now completed as shown.

 

Nick Clarke licensed and commended

Bishop Nicholas Holtam led a warm meaningful service, in which he licensed Nick Clarke as Team Rector of Radipole & Melcombe Regis. Afterwards Yemi Lijadu gave a strong commendation from the Church Nick has led in France. 

October 2016 News & Notes

Do send items to the Register

We are very grateful to Iain Ross for including Church items in his excellent magazine. If you have anything for publication do send it to him.

Bishop Karen Gorham visited the chapter

Her experience, as Archdeacon of Buckingham, gives Karen good understanding of the delights and challenges of a borough at the end of a railway line. Her questions and insights will be helpful for the future.

Sun 2 Oct, 10.30am St Laurence Harvest Festival

Sun 9 Oct, 10.30am St Nicholas, Broadwey Harvest

Sun 9 Oct, 10.45am St Andrew considering a new pattern of worship

After shorter 10.00am services everyone will gather in the Church Rooms to hear about necessary changes so that upgrade of the church building can proceed. The sustained ​growth in Café Church means we need to cater for extra numbers. From January there will be 10.00am contemporary worship in the Church Rooms every Sunday, followed by 3/4 hour traditional worship at 11.15am. Joint refreshments will link the services.

Sun 16 Oct, 10.00am St Andrew, and at St Francis Harvest Festivals

Sun 23 Oct, 6.00pm Holy Trinity Harvest Festival

There will be no service at St Nicholas, Buckland Ripers that day

Sun 30 Oct, 9.15am St Nicholas, Buckland Ripers Harvest Festival

Sun 30 Oct, 6.30pm Ridgeway worship at St Francis

An opportunity to give thanks for church building, and Church people. Worship started in the Community Centre in 1965.

Fri 11 Nov, 10.45am Upwey Station Remembrance

100 years ago many families and friends waved their menfolk off as they boarded troop trains taking them to fight in Europe. Tragically for millions it was the last time they saw their loved ones. Railways stations are appropriate places to remember the cost of our freedom.

Sun 13 Nov, All services have Acts of Remembrance

Sun 27 Nov, 6.00pm Advent Service of Light at All Saints', Wyke Regis

All are welcome to join in this moving time which marks the start of our preparation for Christmas. There is always a focus on Christian Aid.

Constable's honeymoon

Congratulations to Hilary Ballard and all those alongside her in running a weekend of events commemorating the painter John Constable's links with Osmington. Here she is with fellow 8.00am Holy Communion regulars.

The next baptisms at the Springhead

After Sutton Poyntz' traditional 6.30pm open air carol service on Monday 19 December, there will be some baptisms in the Springhead pond. If you are interested please get in touch.

Rugby baptism for Noah

A healthy gathering of family and friends welcomed the start of Noah Jacob Clark's journey of faith. After the celebration the family posed for a picture at the chancel steps. His father Roger is a rugby coach, so Tim enjoyed putting in a few teasing references to the game and the challenge of faith.