February 2021 News & Notes

James Menzies to be licensed by Bishop Karen Gorham on 21 February as the new Team Vicar in the Weymouth Ridgeway Team. He will have particular responsibility for the life and worship of St Francis Littlemoor and the pastoral care of that community. He will continue in his role as Assistant Rural Dean of the Weymouth and Portland Deanery, and some time after Canon Tim West retires James will be 'rectified' to lead the Team. We look forward to this exciting new chapter in our lives.

A huge thank you to all who made the Christmas season so different and so special. We could sing with our hearts if not our voices, had opportunity for some quirky decorations, and enjoyed banter. The heart of the story with Jesus showing us God in human form was at the centre of all we did. This month we focus on signs of hope.

Use of our church buildings is permitted under 'lockdown 3' but, having monitored local case numbers, all Ridgeway church buildings are closed except for local arrangements allowing private prayer. Meanwhile a huge shout-out for those involve distributing, administering vaccines, and training people involved.

'Four candles' seeks new home as Canon Tim retires from ministry in April after 40 years of 'vicaring'. His Advent stole has plenty of life in it yet, so if you know a priest who would like it let him know!

January 2021 News & Notes

Welcome James Menzies

Bishop Karen and the benefice representatives, are pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd James Menzies as the new Team Vicar in the Weymouth Ridgeway Team. James will have particular responsibility for the life and worship of St Francis Littlemoor and the pastoral care of that community. In due course the plan will be that James is appointed Team Rector following the retirement of the Revd Canon Tim West, in this he has the support of many including both Tim and Philip.

James as volunteer fireman [c/o Echo]

James is currently Team Vicar on Portland, he was ordained in 2010 and served his curacy in the Diocese of Durham. James is already Assistant Rural Dean of the Weymouth and Portland Deanery and will continue in that role, particularly working with the Rural Dean to reshape ministry in the deanery as a response to local need, forming new partnerships to fit a changing population. We are delighted that James, in seeking a new challenge, wanted to remain in the deanery and feel that he has the right gifts and experience to lead the benefice into the next phase of its life. James, his wife Georgie and their family will be moving to Weymouth sometime in the New Year, and he will be licensed on 21 February. 

Welcome PCSO Kirsty Gatehouse
She covers Preston as part of her team's area, and it was great to see her checking the local community after an incident at the Co-op. Kirsty is always welcome [post-Covid] to pop in for a chat.

An extra zag to St Osmund's path
At long last it is possible to take an electric scooter from Church Lane up into Osmington village church. Construction of good foundations is shown below, and stone capping will be added to blend in with the surroundings. Thanks to all involved in this important project.

December 2020 News & Notes

The interview for Team Rector designate took place by Zoom but the outcome can't be published until the next edition of The Register, so watch this space!

Remembrance was held early on 1 November during worship. Churches were also open for private prayer Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the month. Many paid their respects in a very different way this year. May we relish the gift of peace even more wholeheartedly by living life to the very full.

 
Christmas will also be different this year and here is how it will be celebrated in St Andrew, Preston; and St Osmund, Osmington. Of course, we can only assume we come out of 'lockdown 2' as planned. All December services will include listening/humming to 2 well known carols, candlelight if possible/desired, and crib scene as the central decoration for the whole month.

Sunday 6

  8.30am St Osmund's with 2 Advent carols

  9.30am St Andrew's

Wednesday 9

  7.30pm St Andrew's with 2 Advent carols

Sunday 13

  8.30am St Osmund's with 2 Christmas carols

  9.30am St Andrew's

Wednesday 16

  7.30pm St Andrew's with 2 Christmas carols

Sunday 20

  4.30pm St Osmund's 6 carols & 5 readings

  6.30pm St Andrew's 6 carols & 5 readings

Thursday 24 Christmas Eve

  9.30pm St Osmund's said Communion, 4 carols, & incense

11.30pm St Andrew's said Communion, 4 carols & incense

Sunday 27

  8.30am St Osmund's with 2 Christmas carols

  9.30am St Andrew's

Wednesday 30

  7.30pm St Andrew's with 2 Christmas carols

St Andrew is looking smart now that the scaffolding has been removed to reveal repointed south and east elevations. Already the interior is beginning to dry out. Thanks to Harry Barnes for carrying out this complex project.

November 2020 News & Note

Harvest October, and Remembrance November are how we are celebrating important moments under Covid. Decorations are different and quirky. St Andrew, Preston and St Osmund, Osmington are open during Sundays and Wednesdays, so do pop in for some quiet. Giving thanks for peace, at such huge cost to life, is always a privilege. This picture shows harvest and remembrance around the font, a symbol of new life. Thanks decorators!

Team Rector designate interview takes place this month. The panel includes three churchwardens representing western, central, and eastern Churches. Do pray for all involved.

Worship by candlelight has restarted 7.30pm every Wednesday evening at St Andrew. It's available to all in the Ridgeway Team, and has a gentle healing nature. In order to make this possible Canon Tim's normal day of rest is now Friday. 

Covid etiquette has tightened, and that might be a healthy challenge to complacency. Rightly we want the new norm to become a background routine, so we can live lives as full as possible. However guidance is constantly evolving, and we are grateful to all who revise risk assessments, share clear guidance, and do it all with a smile!

Access points are restricted to a maximum of 6 wearing masks, and they should not interact with any other six. Scanning the QR code is strongly encouraged. That way we maximise safety for everyone.

October 2020 News & Notes

Harvest is an essential thanksgiving particularly this year with weather and Covid 19 making life very difficult for growers, distributors, and retailers. We are amazingly spoilt to have such a robust household supplies with only a few significant short-term shortages: flour, toilet rolls, and eggs.

We can, and we can't do certain things, and the new normal includes abnormality + change. We can take baptisms, weddings, and funerals in church to a maximum of 30. All have to wear masks, use sanitiser, can't sing but can listen to music, and keep distances. We can't take Holy Communion to those who are vulnerable, but they can with appropriate technology and 'bubble' companions watch facebook.com/canon.tim.west for regular acts of worship. Worship has to be short, and we are all getting used to things.

Candlelight worship restarts on Wednesdays in St Andrew, Preston at 7.30pm. These special occasions are being run by Lay Worship Leaders [commissioned or in training], and provide space for reflection using both contemporary and traditional material.

A fantastic wedding took place at St Osmund, Osmington when Simon Jerrard and Kerry-Anne Burt joined hands. The rings were carried in by Lola [pictured below], the bride arrived in an open-topped coach pulled by a pair of shires, and we swayed to 'Hold my hand' by Jess Glynne.

September 2020 News & Notes

Community Angels play a vital part in our neighbourhood, and are headed up by Brian Sadler [sometimes referred to as the Archangel Gabriel]. During lockdown keeping in touch was important, and the Angels are constantly responding to guidance. Our thanks to all involved.

Prestons across the world are being invited to keep in touch via Facebook. The initiative comes from Lancashire, and a growing number can now exchange ideas and news. There is a great contrast between our happy situation, with no known local Covid 19 cases, and Lancashire having additional lockdown.

Canon Tim will retire in April and made the announcement the Sunday before lockdown. This month Bishop Karen will be in Zoom conversation with Ridgeway churchwardens about a successor team rector.

A vegetable tribute formed part of the thanksgiving for a remarkable character, Tony Patterson. His family are delighted to share this picture. He was a drug addict for many years, but was saved by the sponsorship and support of others. Several spoke movingly about his faith, how he in turn got clean, and became a counsellor for others. He would get away from it all on his allotment, and his friends there organised this vegetable display.

Archdeacon Antony's haircut is a bit of fun but draws attention to trauma in Sudan which faces famine and Covid 19 simultaneously. He was once team vicar at St Francis. If you would like to support this cause please use this link https://bit.ly/sudansemergency

August 2020 News & Notes

Learning to crawl before we walk would be a good description of bringing church buildings into use for private prayer, said worship, small weddings, and small funerals. Each place is different, and the people involved are finding the right pace to work through risk assessments, sorting out Covid 19 etiquette, and publicity. Some have misunderstood national media and assume that all church buildings are open and we can carry on as if there was no pandemic ~ that is definitely not the case.

To find out the latest position click on https://www.facebook.com/canon.tim.west and also check local publicity

Our Funeral Directors do a grand job helping families with small scale thanksgiving services. At the moment 10 is still the maximum attendance, although any number can watch online. It's great to see that Sam Wilding has been included in the Thank You painted on the side of a Portland van.

The Lay Worship Leaders [LWL] course has started online with nearly 20 taking part. There are two [Gloucester and Cheshire] who have local connections but are having to live away.

Getting Church Rooms, and Community Rooms open is a different challenge to hosting private prayer or said worship. The principle is taking a slow steady space so people feel welcome and safe. Mid July flags up Covid 19 infections as 6 in a 1,000; we cannot be complacent. Signage and risk assessments are coming on nicely.