September 2016 News & Notes

Archdeacon Antony MacRow-Wood's visit
A decade ago Antony was a team vicar here, and it was great to welcome him and his family back. He has lost none of his thoughtfulness as shown by an excellent sermon, and none of his humour. Captions please.

Fri 2 Sep, St Francis Holy Communion at 1.00pm
As from this month these quiet reflective services will move to 1.00pm, so that those attending the lunch can join in.

Sun 4 Sep, 2.00pm Weymouth Crematorium: Remembering Loved Ones
All those grieving for loved ones who have died are invited to join others from the area, so we can give thanks for their lives and support each other. Tim West will be at the chapel.

Tue 6 Sep, Bishop Karen Gorham visits the deanery

Sun 11 Sep, 5.00pm St Osmund's Musical Evening
All welcome to hear Trumbonium Brass Quintet, and Dr Richard Hall as organist give us a great evening of music by Bach, Elgar, and Wesley. £8 includes refreshments. Proceeds for our village Church.

Wed 14 Sep, 7.30pm St Andrew PCC
Main items: worship pattern change, and upgrade

Sat 17 Sep, 7.00pm Osmington Village Hall: Barn Dance
£10 adults, and children £5

Sun 18 Sep, 11.15am Harvest Festival followed by Reg Symes' ashes being laid to rest
This is the first Harvest Thanksgiving in our team of Churches, and each one gives an important opportunity to thank God for the gift of life and all who sustain it. Many in Osmington have fond memories of Reg, who was a churchwarden for many years and very fond of our village Church. We will remember him and his wife Yvonne as we lay Reg's ashes alongside hers.

Tue 20 Sep, 7.00pm St Aldhelm: Licensing of Nick Clarke as Rector of the Radipole Team
Bishop Nicholas will help us mark the start of Nick's ministry across the team, and we pray for God's blessing on this new chapter.

Wed 28 Sep, Interview for St John, Greenhill team vicar
Tim West involved discerning the right appointment to follow Tim Greenslade, who is moving to become Melbury Team Rector.

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
10.00am services will be shorted than normal to allow everyone to gather in the Church Rooms. It will be necessary to change the existing pattern so that upgrade of the church building work can proceed. The existing sustained ​growth in Café Church means we need to cater for extra numbers.

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

Holy Trinity, Bincombe: St James choral Evensong

Our thanks to Judy Foot and her team for tasty refreshments after the service. During Evensong Philip prayed for God's blessing on a new altar frontal.

Carl Mitchell and Samantha Young wed at St Andrew

In a fun and meaningful celebration Carl and Samantha declared their vows boldly. After showering the couple with confetti everyone hopped on board a double decker bus, and headed for the reception.

August 2016 News & Notes

Sun 7 August, All Stage in Osmington Church

Sadly there is no fete this year, so we will hold 11.15am service in Church. All most welcome.

Sun 14 August, West Ridgeway Church Worship
At 10.15am Bincombe, Broadwey, and Buckland Ripers join together at Upwey for worship. All are welcome to join in. There will be no other services in these Churches that day.

Sun 4 September, Crematorium Remembrance
At 2.00pm Weymouth Crematorium Chapel will host a service for all who wish to remember loved ones who have died. Tim West will be at this special time, which is both homely and moving.

  

Tim West's last year as Rural Dean

Bishop Nicholas has accepted Tim's request to stand down next June as Rural Dean of Weymouth & Portland, in order to concentrate on growth at St Andrew's and oversee the refurbishment programme. This will also give time to find and hand over to a successor.

Bishop Nicolas Holtam on the Referendum

The Referendum delivered a decision for the UK to Leave the European Union. So we have to take responsibility for what we have done and allow the consequences to be worked through. It will take time for these to clarify, not least because the simple In/Out question has opened deep divisions among us and the changes it has triggered at the moment feel seismic.

One of the problems is that the result was close and fractious. There are Christians on both sides. Some are delighted, others are downcast; a lot are bewildered.

The economic situation currently feels very uncertain. Some turbulence after a decision like this was probably inevitable, but the absence of political leadership is making this worse, with both major parties retreating into internal disputes. Tragically, the murder of Jo Cox reminded us that most of our MPs, of whatever party, are committed, decent and extraordinarily hard-working. Pray for our politicians in this extremely testing time.

Within the Diocese of Salisbury the voting figures were on the whole more clearly to Leave than the 51.9% for Leave in the country overall:

West Dorset: 51%
Wiltshire: 52.5%
Bournemouth: 55%
North Dorset: 56%
East Dorset: 58%
Poole: 58%
Purbeck: 59%
Weymouth and Portland: 61%

These figures do not show the extent of division. In Wiltshire one electoral district voted 75% Remain whilst another was 83% Leave. This is how it was across the country and there is no single explanation as to why this happened or what it means.

There was a very marked division by age. A survey suggests that the breakdown by age of those who voted was:

18-24: 75% Remain
25-49: 56% Remain
50-64: 44% Remain
65+: 39% Remain

Many young people are angry and feel that their future has been taken from them by an older generation who appear to have had it all.

In some places the vote to Leave was out of the anger of people who feel their needs have been ignored in an age of austerity in which others seem to be thriving. At the ordination of Deacons yesterday I said that Deacons are to work with fellow members of the Church in searching out the poor and weak, the sick and lonely and those who are oppressed and powerless, reaching into the forgotten corners of the world, that the love of God may be made visible. That is a Gospel imperative.

Churches are centres of community and the Church of England is present in every community and serves the whole community. Please do all you can to get people listening and talking about what has happened because the extent of division has made even the conversation difficult.

We are now preparing to leave the EU but we are still European. It is vital that we keep a vision of how we belong together in this world. The vote was about what political institutions will best support us in our being people who are English, British, European and global citizens. Love mercy, act justly, walk humbly with God and one another. (Micah 6.8)

Ours is a diverse, tolerant and creative society. That has seemed a considerable strength of the UK. The opening ceremony of the London Olympics was only 4 years ago. The country was proud of that narrative. Many of our neighbours who have made their home here are now feeling insecure about whether they are wanted. It might help for us also to think about the 2.2 million British people living elsewhere in the EU and the universal wisdom in the Gospels taught by Jesus that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

On Sunday morning, I presided at the eucharist in a full cathedral for the ordination of 12 Deacons to serve in parishes across the Diocese from West Dorset to the north of Wiltshire. Life goes on. It struck me very forcibly that when the first disciples gathered as the community of the resurrection they were puzzled and afraid, as many of us are now. Our task as a Church is to live as people who love God and love our neighbour as ourselves. That might prove to be a very challenging Christian witness in our present circumstances.

July 2016 News & Notes

Fri 1 July, Remembering the Somme
This appalling waste of young life began 100 years ago at 7.30am, with whistles blowing to send people over the top. In honour of the fallen, and to treasure our freedom do join an Act of Remembrance around St Andrew's war memorial.  It will start with a whistle at 7.30am.

Sun 10 July, Archdeacon Antony MacRow-Wood preaching at St Osmund

12 years ago Antony was Team Vicar at St Francis, and played a full part across the team. It will be good to have him back, and you are warmly encouraged to join 6.30pm Evensong. Antony will be preaching.

Sun 24 July, Baptism at the Springhead
At 10.00am we start at the Church Rooms with worship in Cafe Church, walk down to Sutton Poyntz ready for baptism around 10.45am. All welcome. If you want to see what it's like watch the BBC Songs of Praise clip www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n9ncp

Mon 25 July, St James at Bincombe
Do come and join 7.30pm Festal Evensong in Holy Trinity Church, Bincombe as we celebrate the Feast of St James.

Sun 31 July, Upwey Songs of Praise
Here's an opportunity for everyone across the Ridgeway Team join come together to worship Almighty God through the gift of music. 

Sun 7 August, All Stage in Osmington Church
Sadly there is no fete this year, so we will hold 11.15am service in Church. All most welcome.

Sun 14 August, West Ridgeway Church Worship
At 10.15am Bincombe, Broadwey, and Buckland Ripers join together at Upwey for worship together. These occasional times are a great encouragement, as was the Songs of Praise at Buckland in May. 

Thanks for a moving time of worship, for hosting us, and for excellent refreshments including an amazing home made Battenberg cake. Every seat was taken.

Confirmation with Bishop Karen

After a cracking thoughtful sermon Bishop Karen confirmed Ronald Fielder, Barry Rigger, Alison Crane, and Clint Maslen. Here they are pictured with some of their families and supporters in the background.

Darren Dalton training in Oxford for ministry

Fantastic news, and a wise choice because Darren is going to train as a vicar. He is an excellent Family Worker for Littlemoor, and has been part of the worship leadership team for several years. Our thoughts for him and his family as they move to Oxford. The Church is fortunate to have such an energetic thoughtful person heading for ordination.

  

June 2016 News & Notes

Many thanks to all those running our Annual Parish Meetings
No two were the same. Three took place after Holy Communion, one after a Palm Sunday procession, another during Café Church, and one afterwards. Here St Nicholas, Broadwey consider God's amazing love for each of us. Prayers have been hung on a fence panel, and some of them ask that we might share and explore that love better.

Sun 5 June, Ada at Holy Trinity
Ada is covering for the vacancy at Holy Trinity with St Nicholas, Weymouth. Tim was there last month, and is delighted to report that they have made an excellent start looking for their next leader.

Sun 12 June, Queen's Official 90th celebration

It's great to hear of ideas to make this thanksgiving a meaningful time. What an amazing amount has taken place in her reign. Her strong understated faith is an inspiration to many.

Sun 19 June, St Francis has two morning services

After a trial of a few years the Church has decided to have only four joint worship services a year. Third Sundays will now be like any other, with 9.15am Holy Communion being followed by 10.45am Family Friendly Worship. 

Sun 10 July, Archdeacon Antony MacRow-Wood preaching at St Osmund

12 years ago Antony was Team Vicar at St Francis, and played a full part across the team. It will be good to have him back, and you are warmly encouraged to join 6.30pm Evensong.

St Clements and the Amos Trust
As rural dean, Tim led a voluntary clergy chapter to London to explore character Churches, and tour Westminster Abbey. One of the two that impressed was St Clements, which is the base for the Amos Trust which seeks to support those damaged by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They invited visitors to their evening worship, and offered hospitality in a simple moving ceremony. It made a fitting conclusion to a day of Continuing Ministerial Development.

Michelle Delves will train for ordination

A selection conference was pleased to recommend Michelle for training at Durham, and Bishop Nicholas heartily supported the decision. Congratulations to Lorraine and all those at St Francis for supporting and nurturing a sense of calling. Michelle will be brilliant.

May 2016 News & Notes

Cover for Holy Trinity, Weymouth vacancy

As of this month, Ada and Tim will be alternating to look after first Sundays. To free up Tim, Harry Barnes will be sharing All Stage Worship in Osmington Village Hall.

Nick Clarke is the new Radipole Team Rector
On 20 September, nineteen months after Ian Hobbs left, Nick will be licensed by Bishop Nicholas Holtam to lead the team of Churches.

Sun 8 May, Archbishops' Call to Prayer begins

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York invite us to prayer every day this week. Of course that is something we should all be doing anyway, but the focus is that we should receive renewed power from God's Holy Spirit to share our faith more generously. A prayer service is being held everyday, so do please join in. 

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Sun 15 May, 11.15am Morningsong at St Osmund, Osmington

We want to worship God through the gift of music, and already have a number taking part with recorders, organ, and ukulele. Do get in touch if you would like to add to the variety.

Sun 29 May, 10.30am Deanery Confirmation with Bishop Karen Gorham at St Andrew, Preston

Please let clergy know of any confirmation candidates, so we can make sure they are ready. It will be a great opportunity to be together, with combined choir etc to meet our new bishop, and to pray and support candidates.

Sun 29 May, 6.00pm Ridgeway Songs of Praise at Buckland Ripers

If you have never been to this Church you have missed a real treat, so pencil this date in your diary.

Sun 12 June, Queen's Official 90th celebration

It's great to hear of ideas to make this thanksgiving a meaningful time. What an amazing amount has taken place in her reign. Her strong understated faith is an inspiration to many. 

St Laurence Palm Sunday Procession

Philip negotiated some large palm branches from a pub in town, and worship started at the Wishing Well with a procession into Church. Thanks to Paul Sutcliffe for this picture and the one below.

Pat Jones' second retirement

Tim West persuaded Pat to help out during the vacancy following Richard Simmons' retirement. Now that Philip is in post she has stepped back again. Our thanks to Pat for pastoral inspiration over many years.

April News & Notes

Congratulations to Lorraine and St Francis
At the last diocesan synod the installation of a laundry on the Church site won top prize for projects empowering the communities we serve. It's great to see a vision and sustained effort to help those who cannot afford a washing machine.

Annual Parish Meetings continue this month
These are all linked to times of worship, and give us opportunity to thank God for his blessings over the past year, to thank all those who keep our worshipping life in such good order, and to look forward with joy:
 10 Apr: 10.30am St Nicholas, Broadwey with Holy Trinity, Bincombe; 
          and 6.00pm St Nicholas, Buckland Ripers 17 Apr: 10.00am St Francis, Littlemoor
 24 Apr: 11.15am St Osmund, Osmington

It's clear some want more time to consider the team constitution. The latest draft, which has been worked up over the last year, is being presented at this years APMs with a view to signing it next year.

After Darcey Rose Anders' baptism

The Cafe Church on Valentine's day included a baptism relayed on the video screen so all could see. It was a meaningful and homely occasion, but the main interest for some youngsters was playing with pebbles afterwards!

Cover for Holy Trinity, Weymouth following Canon Richard Franklin's retirement at Easter

I have had a busy time working with Holy Trinity with St Nicholas, Weymouth to set them up for the coming vacancy. Ada and I will be alternating to look after the first Sunday of each month, starting in May. I am grateful to Harry Barnes who will be sharing All Stage Worship in Osmington Village Hall with me, and thus make cover possible.

Sun 8 May, Archbishops' National Week of Prayer begins

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called us to prayer every day this week. Of course that is something we should all be doing anyway, but the focus is that we should receive renewed power from God's Holy Spirit to share our faith more generously. There will be more details next month, but why not join in one of our many weekday times of worship. 

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Sun 15 May, 11.15am Morningsong at St Osmund, Osmington

We want to worship God through the gift of music, and already have a number taking part with recorders, organ, and ukulele. Do get in touch if you would like to add to the variety.

Sun 29 May, 10.30am Deanery Confirmation with Bishop Karen Gorham at St Andrew, PrestonPlease let me know of any confirmation candidates, so we can make sure they are prepared. It will be a great opportunity to be together, with combined choir etc to meet our new bishop, and to pray and support candidates.

Sun 29 May, 6.00pm Ridgeway Songs of Praise at Buckland Ripers

If you have never been to this Church you have missed a real treat, so pencil this date in your diary.

Sun 12 June, The Queen's Official 90th birthday celebrationIt's great to hear of ideas to make this thanksgiving a meaningful time. What an amazing amount has taken place in her reign. Her strong understated faith is an inspiration to many. 

March 2016 News & Notes

Thank you
Our thanks to all who made Philip Elliott's licensing such a meaningful and real experience. Helen Williams and her team made us feel welcomed in St Nicholas and St Laurence School. Many worked hard to set things up, and strike camp afterwards; to lay on great refreshments and music.

Annual Parish Meetings begin this month
They are all linked to times of worship, and give us opportunity to thank God for his blessings over the past year, to thank all those who keep our worshipping life in such good order, and to look forward with joy. Here's the full set of dates:
 13 Mar: St Andrew, Preston
 20 Mar: St Laurence, Upwey
 10 Apr: St Nicholas, Broadwey with Holy Trinity, Bincombe; and St Nicholas, Buckland Ripers
 17 Apr: St Francis, Littlemoor
 24 Apr: St Osmund, Osmington

The Ridgeway website
A simple site is available at www.ridgeway.org.uk and it points you to other good sites. Full details of worship, and contacts are available. Thanks to our webmaster for developing this source of information, and for feedback from users that help with improvements.

Our Churches support a wide range of other groups: The Lantern, which operates near the railway station to support wayfarers or anyone going through a hard time; The Foodbank; WAVES, which is down by the harbour and supports young people; Samaritans; Julia's House, which is a hospice for young people; and so on. The website points to these organisations, so you can find out more.

Our Team Constitution, and meetings

At our Annual Parish Meetings we will be signing the constitution which has been circulated to all Church leaders. Once it has approval from the Bishop's Council, we will be calling meetings to work away at maximising opportunity across our seven Churches and the communities we serve. Philip will act as our Team Secretary to set up these conversations, the first of which will be a social so we can get to know each other.