1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

The Benefice of Spire Hill
Purse Caundle, Stalbridge
Stock Gaylard and Stourton Caundle
Services for February 2015
1 February The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
8.00am Stalbridge—Holy Communion
9.30am Stalbridge—Holy Communion (Family friendly)
11.00am Purse Caundle—Holy Communion
11.00am King’s Stag—Morning Worship
6.30pm Stalbridge—Evening Prayer
The Benefice of Spire Hill
Church and Community News
18 February Ash Wednesday
7.00pm Stalbridge—Holy Communion
22 February
The First Sunday of Lent
8.00am Stock Gaylard—Holy Communion
9.30am Stalbridge—Holy Communion
11.00am Stourton Caundle—Morning Prayer
and Holy Communion
6.30pm Stalbridge—Holy Communion (Methodist)
Stalbridge
Church
Celebrating the presence of God
Serving all in these communities
Holding each person in prayer
www.spirehillparishes.co.uk
Happy
Valentine’s
Day
Underlined service indicates a traditional style service.
32
The Benefice of Spire Hill
e
Purse Caundle, Stalbridge, Stock Gaylard and Stourton Caundle
8 February The Second Sunday before Lent
9.30am Stalbridge—Holy Communion
11.00am Stourton Caundle—Holy Communion
3.00pm Stalbridge—Snowdrop Service at The Pound
6.30pm Stalbridge—Evening Prayer
15 February The Sunday next before Lent
8.00am Stalbridge—Holy Communion
10.00am Stalbridge—Young @ St Mary’s (Family friendly)
11.00am King’s Stag—Holy Communion
6.30pm Stalbridge—Evening Prayer
Fre
Lord, you have taught
us that all our doings
without love are
nothing worth: send
your Holy Spirit and
pour into our hearts
that most excellent gift
of love, the true bond
of peace and of all
virtues, without which
whoever lives is
counted dead before
you. Grant this for
your only Son Jesus
Christ’s sake, who is
alive and reigns with
you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.
Amen.
This monthly magazine is published free of charge by your local church.
February 2015
1
Guggleton Farm
Arts Project
Wessex Animal Trust
Station Road, Stalbridge
Donations always wanted of
furniture and clothing, books,
etc.
Please visit the
web site for details
of art courses or
telephone the
numbers below.
www.guggleton.co.uk
01963 363456
or 01963 370219.
Peter Jackson
Funeral Services
Independent Family Funeral Directors
Private Chapel of Rest
24 hour Service
Mons, High Street
Henstridge
Templecombe
BA8 0RB
01963 362570
01747 833757
[email protected]
2
Station Road, Stalbridge
House clearance service.
Stockists of Stylecraft Wool
Shop open:
Tim Jones
Happy Pets and
Home Service
House Sitting
Pet Care
Garden Care
Painting and Decorating
Competitive Rates
Call Juliet: 07773 566425
Monday-Friday 9.30am—4.30pm
Saturday 9.30am—1pm
REDLINE
AUTOMOTIVE
ENGINEERING
Unit 1 Gibbs Marsh
Trading Estate, Stalbridge
(next to Ford Fuels)
01963 363855
For all your car needs,
Service, pre-MOT, maintenance,
Also TIG welding.
Motorcycle maintenance
07726 493608
Collection service
Grace Haine Eyecare Ltd
Williams Nursery
Station Road, Stalbridge,
Dorset, DT10 2RQ
01963 362355
[email protected]
www.williams-florist.co.uk
We supply flowers for all occasions,
anniversaries, birthdays, new arrival, and of
course just to say I love you or Thank you.
We are open 9am—5pm
Monday to Friday
9am-4pm on Saturdays
We have 40 years experience in
supplying flowers to the local area
from simple buttonholes
to full Wedding packages.
Bereavement flowers for your loved ones.
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PR ELECTRICAL SERVICES
(ELECSA Registered)
Your local Domestic Electrician
Condition Surveys/Upgrades/
Emergencies/Additions
also
Appliance (PAT) testing undertaken
for public & private sector
Your safety is more important than
the size of the job
Mobile: 07866 967 020 Home: 01747 228091
Email: [email protected]
Paul Ratcliffe

Eyecare

Spectacles

Contact Lenses

Sunglasses
Our team is dedicated to ensuring
you get the best possible care for
your eyes and the widest options of
products available. We have more
information in our leaflets and are
only up the road if you want to pop
in and ask any questions.
1 Skye House, Ring Street, Stalbridge DT10 2LZ
Phone: 01963 362775
Web: gracehaineeyecare.co.uk
February
2015
Please support our advertisers!
Tell them
you saw their name here!
31
Church Contacts in the Benefice of Spire Hill
Rector
Stalbridge
Church
Assistant Curate
The Reverend William Ridding Tel. 01963 362859
The Rectory, Church Hill, Stalbridge, DT10 2LR
[email protected]
The Reverend Colette Annesley-Gamester 364675
Snowdon House, 7 Gold Street, Stalbridge, DT10 2LX
[email protected]
Licensed Lay Minister Mrs Judy Waite
Tel. 01963 362945
Wynhill, Gold Street, Stalbridge, DT10 2LX
Churchwardens
Purse Caundle
Stalbridge
Stock Gaylard
(King’s Stag)
Stourton Caundle
Mr Michael de Pelet ...........01963 250400
Mrs Ethne Waltham ...........01963 250238
Mr John Foster-Pegg ..........01963 362788
Mr Stuart Waite .................01963 362945
Mrs Janet Minikin ................01258 817180
Mr Mike Williams ...............01258 817616
Mr David Jeanes ..................01963 365828
Mrs Vinny Taylor ................01963 362692
Lay Pastoral Assistants
Mrs Alison Nolder and Mrs Judy Waite
The lay pastoral assistants are happy to visit
parishioners when asked. Please contact any
of the telephone numbers above to request a
visit from Alison or Judy or one of the clergy.
A visit will be arranged as soon as reasonably possible. A contact
telephone number is helpful so that a date and time can be agreed.
Copy for March's Church and Community News:
To Stalbridge Rectory by 12 noon on the third Sunday, 15 February.
Published on the fourth Sunday, 22 February.
30
The Benefice of Spire Hill
February 2015
3
February Wordsearch tells us about the Presentation of Christ.
Stalbridge Pharmacy
Richard Smyth and Valerie Mackay
High Street, Stalbridge, DT10 2LL
Opening times: Monday to Friday—9am to 6pm
Saturday 9am to 1pm
Telephone and facsimile 01963 362246
Email: [email protected]
Handy Cabs of Stalbridge
Prompt & friendly Family run Private Hire Company
Local & any UK destination
Airports, seaports, railway stations, hospital, doctor &
dentist appointments and even your weekly shopping
01963 363714 office hours 9am-5pm
07707 55-99-39 24 hours
(Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.)
www.handycabs.webs.com
4
The BeneficeTell
of Spire
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In New Testament times, 40 days old was an important age for a baby
boy: it was when they made their first ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all
good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her first male
child - to ‘present him to the Lord’. At the same time, she, as a new
mother, was ‘purified’. Thus we have the Festival of the Presentation of
Christ in the Temple, 40 days after Christmas. Jesus is described in the
Bible as the Light of the World, and so early Christians developed the
tradition of lighting many candles in celebration of this
Appearance day. The Church also fell into the custom of blessing the
Baby
year’s supply of candles for the church on this day Boy
hence the name, Candlemas. The story can be found in
Candlemas
Luke 2:22-40. Simeon’s great declaration of faith and
Days
recognition of who Jesus was is of course found in the
Dimittis
Nunc Dimittis, which is embedded in the Office of
Evening
Evening Prayer in the West.
Festival
Forty
Jesus
Jewish
Light
Lord
Mary
Mothers
Nunc
Office
Prayer
Present
Presentation
Public
Purified
Simeon
Temple
West
World
February 2015
29
STALBRIDGE BUILDING
SUPPLIES
Tel 01963 363372
Aggregates Loose or Bagged
Top Soil/Rock Salt
Blocks/Bricks/Paving
Lintels/Drainage
Timber/Guttering/Facias
Paint/Electrical/Plumbing
Tool Sales/Hire Centre
Quality workwear stockists
Friendly advice given
Free Local Delivery
Dry Stone Walling & Paving
All types of stone walling undertaken
Annual Pilgrimage coming to the
Pilgrim Parishes in 21 to 28 June 2015
01963 371123 or 07791 588141
Peter and Paul – Prayer and Party
Patrick Houchen - DSWA member
CIS / CSCS registered
Offering a professional & reliable service
www.yenstonewalling.co.uk
For all your Garden
and Home improvements
Over 20 years local experience
Extensions, patios, landscaping, stonework,
brickwork, fencing & plastering
Ail aspects of Garden and Home Improvements
For a free, no obligation, quotation please call:
07977 070703 or 01963 371453
[email protected]
To advertise in this
monthly magazine,
contact Miss Anne
Gillett on 01963
362813.
Or email the rector:
[email protected]
The inclusion of an advertisement in this
parish magazine does not imply or indicate
endorsement of the advertiser’s products or
services by the parochial church councils of
the Benefice of Spire Hill.
28
J & G GARDEN MACHINERY
Family run with friendly prompt service
Sales, Services, Repairs of All Garden Machinery
9 Spire Hill, Thornhill
Stalbridge, DT10 2SG
Telephone 01963 364397
Mobile 07831 301345 (anytime)
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Saturday 9am-12.30pm
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Working on the theme of Peter and Paul, each
day of our pilgrimage will be visiting the parish
churches dedicated to these saints within the
Pilgrim Parishes.
There will be the usual programme of walks (both full and half day) with
time for reflection and worship together and a Skittles Evening at the
end of the walking programme.
Bearing in mind the experiences in 2014, and following a
recommendation from the previous planning group, the 2015 group
considers it important to advertise early NO DOGS on any of the
walks, please.
The Pilgrimage will culminate with the usual Covenant Renewal Service
on Sunday 28 June at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton. More
detailed information later.
This is a very inclusive event and we do hope as many as possible may
be encouraged to attend (walkers and non-walkers). Tell your friends!
And this March...
Parishioners are also invited to attend a talk by seasoned pilgrim, Harry
Bucknall, ‘Like a Tramp. Like a Pilgrim’ reflecting on his recent
pilgrimage to Rome. 16 March at 7.30 pm at St Nicholas School, Child
Okeford. Tickets £5. Contact Colette-Annesley Gamester on 01963
364675 or [email protected] Transport is available.
Palm Crosses
Please bring last year’s palm crosses to any service on 1 or
8 February. They will be collected and burnt at the Young
@ St Mary’s Service on 15 February at 10am to make the
ash for Ash Wednesday.
February 2015
5
The Soduku
Challenge
Each Soduku has a
unique solution that
can be reached
logically without
guessing.
Enter digits from 1
to 9 into the blank
spaces.
Every row must
contain one of each
digit. So must every
column, as must
every 3x3 square.
Easy (above) and Intermediate (below)
Stalbridge Hall
Booking Agent
Mrs P Sewell
01963 362455
Secretary
Mr C Rhymes
01963 363702
colin@colinrhymes
.wanadoo.co.uk
Club contacts on
request.
6
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February 2015
27
Nazareth Lodge
Residential Care Home
Sturminster Newton
Winter can bring on the blues,
but not here at Nazareth Lodge!
Our residents enjoy a real log fire to keep them warm and good,
wholesome food to keep a smile on their faces !
Nazareth Lodge…….a real home.
There is so much more we can tell you,
so why not explore our website?
All standards inspected by the CQC
in January 2014 recorded as ‘fully met’
Full respite and day care services are available.
For further information or to request a brochure
please contact us on 01258 472511
Email: [email protected] www.nazareth-lodge.co.uk
26
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Stalbridge Garden Society
The chairman Brian Spiller wished everyone, a Happy New Year at our
January meeting. He then reminded us that we had our meal out later
in the month, and that we had lost “Vi Gatling”, a lady who years gone
by had entered lots in the domestic classes at our annual show and had
always won. She will be sadly missed, as she had also done a great deal
for the community.
We were also reminded that the AGM was coming up. And that we
needed a new “treasurer”, as Sally Robinson was standing down, and
had done a great job, to which the society has been very grateful. So if
there is anyone who would like to take up the challenge, please contact
Brian, Geoff Jeans or Anne Brown.
Our January speaker was Mike Burke from Castle gardens, an old
favourite, who always seems to make us laugh. Mike’s talk was on
“gardening folklore”, this was something different. He had a selection
of plants and vegetables, and went through each one telling us how they
all had folklore traditions behind them, following up with any questions,
or local folklore that we had heard of.
Here are some of the items he talked about:- Potatoes: Plant on Good Friday,
because this was the only day, years ago that the farm workers had off. Full
moon: Plant leafy crops before the full moon and root veg after, giving bigger
and better crops. Box hedge: Plant and prune on Derby Day, less threat of
frosts. Shallots: Sow on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day.
These are but a few, he also told us about “companion planting”, this is an old
tradition, really before the use of chemicals, and Mike thinks we will return to
this way in the future, as there are less and less garden chemicals on the shelf
to buy. This was a great talk full of useful information, as well as lots of fun!
Come along and join us at our next meeting on Thursday 12 February,
7.30pm in the Stalbridge Hall, (Preparing for the show bench), with Jo
Osment.
Signs of spring are beginning to show in our gardens. I am told that
there are already daffodils out in Yeovil, although we do not seem to
have had winter yet!
Enjoy a walk when we have a nice winter sunny day!
February 2015
Michelle Howell
7
Cutting Specialists
Blowdrying
Perming Highlights
Tinting
Phone for an appointment
01963 363432
Open: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sat
Late night—Thursday
Stalbridge Community Office at the Hub
The community office is located in the Stalbridge Hub
building beside the library and is open on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings from
9.30am – 12 noon and on Friday afternoons from 2pm
– 4pm. Details are also on the Stalbridge website.
A church surgery will be held on Friday 13 February from 10.30am with
the Rev William Ridding to arrange baptisms, marriage ceremonies,
funerals and special prayers or any matter pertaining to the church.
Bill Batty-Smith will be available for enquiries pertaining to District
Council matters on Saturdays 14 and 28 February from 9.30am to 12
noon. The DCC Councillor, Pauline Batstone will be in the Hub on
Saturday 21 February from 11.15am.
The Dorset Credit Union will no longer be available in the Hub but
information on how to contact them is held in the office. First For You
will be in the Hub on Wednesdays 4 and 18 February from 10am.
The computer suite is now up and running and available, free to use. A
photocopier is also available at 10p per page for photocopying. Use of
the computers is free.
New volunteers are wanted to join the team, working for the Stalbridge
community. Please contact us on 01963 364177 or call in during our
opening hours to find out more.
MB Private Hire
All UK Destinations
The Community website: the who, what, when and where website for
Stalbridge is now up and running. Check www.stalbridge.info
Jan Carson
Airport and Seaport
Transfer Specialist
Reliable, Courteous Service
Coffee Morning and Marmalade Sale in Stalbridge
Tel: 07813 841466
To be held on a Saturday in the second half of March in
Station Road, Stalbridge. Seville oranges are now on sale
in Dikes—please help by cooking your own recipe to sell
for Stalbridge Church funds. Thank you!
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mbprivatehite.co.uk
8
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February 2015
25
INWOOD
JOINERY
Stalbridge Women’s Institute
Carpentry & Building
Maintenance
Complete Joinery Services
All types of Carpentry work
Fitted Wardrobes
Hardwood Conservatories
Extensions & Porches
Windows & Doors
Bespoke Kitchens
Stalbridge 01963 363570
www.inwood-joinery.co.uk
FORGE FABRICS
Continuing to stock most things textile
related from Haberdashery and Dress
Fabrics to Curtains and Blinds EVEN
knitting wool and patterns.
Come and have a Browse!
Looking for something in particular?
We will do our best to source it for you
Open
Mon—Fri
Saturday
9 till 5
9 till 12.30
Contact us 01963 548138
Quality Traditional Workmanship
Regular Service Visits &
Emergency Call Outs
7 Days a Week
Commercial & Domestic
Clients Covering Rats, Mice,
Wasps, Moles, Moths, Flies,
Foxes & Rabbits.
After a hectic time collecting annual subscriptions and handing out the
new programme detailing all the forthcoming events, it was a relief to
sit back and listen to our speaker, Jennie Adams from Shillingstone, who
came to talk about Reflexology. She demonstrated how she treats
patients with a variety of problems by applying gentle pressure on the
feet or hands to stimulate the body’s own healing energies and so
restore a healthy energy balance. Two members had been treated by
Mrs Adams and gave glowing reports.
Tel: 07999 957694 / 01963 251306
Email: [email protected]
CRB Checked
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 5 February, in the Stalbridge Hall
at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Mike Complin on the subject of 200
years of Gurkhas soldiering with the British.
Wayne Timmins
New members and guests always very welcome.
Jenny West (01963 363198)
Painter and Decorator
Dulux Approved
Interior and Exterior
All Jobs Considered
For a FREE quote call
01935 872007 or 07715 867145
Find us on Ring Street, Stalbridge
24
At the January meeting, Wendy Bailey
(President) welcomed everyone and wished
them a Happy New Year. She thanked them
for their contributions to the Christmas
meeting and particularly Yvonne Stroud for
arranging the lunch at East Stour. Details were given of a quiz that will
be held at the Stalbridge Hall on Saturday 7 February at 7.30pm in aid of
Hall funds. The annual Snowdrop service will be on Sunday 8 February
at 3pm, followed by tea at Dike’s Café for which WI members were
asked to make some cakes. Skittles’ practice resumes on 2 February at
the Bird-in-Hand at 7pm.
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Purse Caundle News
All are welcome to join us for Holy Communion
at 11am on 1 February at St Peter’s Church.
We celebrate the Presentation of Christ
in the Temple (Candlemas).
February 2015
9
The Rev Dr Gary Bowness shares his tongue-in-cheek letter from ‘Uncle Eustace’…
On the peculiarities of ordination candidates
The Rectory, St. James the Least of All
My dear Nephew Darren,
I was quite happy to see the young person from your
church whom you are encouraging to get ordained –
even though we did not entirely see eye to eye.
When I answered the door to someone dressed in Tshirt, jeans and trainers, I naturally assumed he was the gardener; it was
only after I had given him the wheelbarrow and shown him where the
spades were, that I found out who he really was. His assurance that
this is how Jesus would dress, were he to visit in person again, jarred
somewhat. I think that a three-piece suit and stout pair of brogues
would be far more likely. We agreed to differ.
I moved on to ask him about the Sunday Services he attended and was
interested to hear that he was a church musician. Wanting to know if
he sang tenor or bass, or even played the organ, he told me that he was
the drummer in the worship band and provided backing vocals. I felt
obliged to comment that I was not sure how that would fit in with
Mattins, but he told me that he had never heard of that Service and only
attended Mega Rock Praise. Since I suspected it would not have been
written by Cranmer, we moved on.
I had hoped we may have been on safer ground when I asked him
whether he preferred early perpendicular or Victorian gothic, but as he
had apparently only ever worshipped in your converted cinema, he was
unable to offer any opinion. His reaction to my offer to show him
round our late Norman church, prompted him to tell me that he
believed all churches should be closed and people should gather in each
other’s homes, like the early Christians.
In a last despairing attempt to find common ground I asked him if he
had ever preached. He was slightly apologetic to admit that he had
done so very rarely, as he found it took such a long time to write an
10
The Benefice of Spire Hill
Stalbridge Congregational Church
Affiliated to the Congregational Federation
Sunday Morning Worship at 10am. Our worship is a
mixture of traditional and modern in a nonliturgical style.
*Coffee Morning—Wednesdays from 9.30am—11.30am. Coffee, tea and
chat – bring your knitting, learn a new stitch.
*Wednesdays 9.30am—12 noon. THE FOOD BANK is open for
donations and collections. Food parcels can be collected from the
Congregational Church by arrangement. For more information about
how or what to give or if you need our help, please contact Angela
Goss 07510 575565.
Urgently Required: Instant Mash Potato, Tinned Meat, small jars of
Instant Coffee.
The church is open for quiet thoughts or to speak to someone.
Little Wrigglers Wednesdays at 10am.
Walkie Talkies Thursdays at 10.30am.
*For more information, contact Sandra on 01202 822133
or email [email protected]
To hire the church hall, contact Pam Tredger on 01963 363106.
www.stalbridgecongregationalchurch.weebly.com
This parish and community magazine has been
compiled and printed by the rector. The edition
dated March 2015 will be the last edition that
William will be responsible for.
If you would like to know what is involved, please
speak to William Ridding. The churchwardens of the Benefice of Spire
Hill will be responsible for appointing the person/team who will carry
the magazine forward from April 2015.
February 2015
23
hour-long sermon. When I mentioned that I did not think I had ever
exceeded eight minutes in my entire life, he gave me such a look of
withering astonishment that with heroic Christian charity, I did not beat
him over the head with the Bible he was carrying.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
Worship for the Young
at Stalbridge Parish Church
Young Communion @ St Mary’s is at 9.30am on 1 February.
We celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
Young @ St Mary’s is on 15 February at 10am.
We celebrate the Transfiguration of Christ.
We shall also be burning
last year’s palm crosses at
the end of this service.
All are welcome as we worship together.
Follow us on Facebook—Stalbridge Church
Holy Communion on Thursdays in Lent
starting on 26 February
10am at Stalbridge Parish Church
6.30pm at Stourton Caundle Parish Church
Healing Service on 12 February 2015
The next service of Holy Communion with the laying
on of hands and anointing for healing will be on
Thursday 12 February at 6pm at Stalbridge Parish
Church. All are welcome to come whether for their
own healing or on behalf of another person. All are welcome to pray
and worship with others from the parishes of this benefice.
22
The Benefice of Spire Hill
February 2015
11
Michael Burgess continues his look at GOD AND THE ARTS.
William Blake’s ‘The Ancient of Days’
‘Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my
footstool…All these things my hand has made, and so all these things
are mine, says the Lord.’ (Isaiah 66.1-2). Each month we are exploring a
work of art that invites us to look from canvas to creation and see
there signs of wonder and of glory – signs of God the creator of all that
is. The prophet Isaiah invites us to look in humility and awe at creation
and so be led into praise of God the creator.
Medieval paintings often showed God the creator
as an architect with his compass marking out the
universe. It is an image caught up in William
Blake’s illustration for ‘The Ancient of Days’ in
1794. We see God leaning down from eternity,
with the swirl of fire and wind moving through his
hair and beard. His compass is stretched out as he
brings into being this universe of time and space.
It is a powerful and dynamic portrayal of God the
creator, the one named by Daniel as the ancient of
days, the one before time began.
William Blake was born in 1757 and became a poet, engraver and
painter. Although he lived in poverty and died unrecognised, he is now
acclaimed as a great artist and visionary whose perception of creation
around enabled him to ‘see a world in a grain of sand.’ He wrote of the
sun in the sky, ‘What, it will be questioned, when the sun rises, do you
not see a round disc of fire somewhat like a guinea? Oh no, I see an
innumerable company of the heavenly hosts crying, Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord God almighty.’ That kind of visionary power can open our
own eyes. As we look and ponder creation, we can ask ourselves, does
it evoke a sense of wonder, or is it simply a means to an end, a
resource for us to use and exploit? And more than that: does this
world lead us into an awareness of the cause of all that is?
Another visionary and poet, Paul Claudel wrote, ‘When we want to
look at a picture, we make use of our eyes. When we listen to music,
12
The Benefice of Spire Hill
16 Disappear (Psalm 104:35) (6)
17 How Jeremiah was likely to die if he wasn’t rescued from the
cistern where he was imprisoned (Jeremiah 38:9) (6)
18 What the prophets do to a wall, with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10,
RSV) (4,2)
20 Made by a plough (Job 39:10) (6)
21 Noah was relieved when the flood waters continued to — (Genesis
8:5) (6)
23 Jesus gave the Twelve the power and authority to do this to
diseases (Luke 9:1) (4)
February 2015
21
Across
8 Interrogated (Acts 12:19) (5-8)
9 ‘Burn it in a wood fire on the — heap’ (Leviticus 4:12) (3)
10 Tobit, Judith, Baruch and the books of Esdras and the Maccabees
are part of it (9)
11 Science fiction (abbrev.) (3-2)
13 Clay pit (anag.) (7)
16 Went to (John 4:46) (7)
19 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to —
your bodies as living sacrifices’ (Romans 12:1) (5)
22 David’s plea to God concerning those referred to in 14 Down: ‘On
— — let them escape’ (Psalm 56:7) (2,7)
24 Royal Automobile Club (1,1,1)
25 How the book of Ezekiel refers to God more than 200 times
(Ezekiel 2:4) (9,4)
Down
1 Seas (Proverbs 8:24) (6)
2 One of the sons of Eli the priest, killed in battle by the Philistines (1
Samuel 4:11) (6)
3 Specialist in the study of the Muslim religion (8)
4 ‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but — him as if he were your
father’ (1 Timothy 5:1) (6)
5 One of Esau’s grandsons (Genesis 36:11) (4)
6 Taking a chance (colloq.) (2,4)
7 God’s instructions to the Israelites concerning grain offerings: ‘ —
salt to — your offerings’ (Leviticus 2:13) (3,3)
12 Confederation of British Industry (1,1,1)
14 ‘All day long they twist my words; they are always — to harm
me’ (Psalm 56:5) (8)
15 The crowd’s reaction to Jesus bringing back to life a widow’s son in
Nain (Luke 7:16) (3)
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The Benefice of Spire Hill
we make use of our ears. When we think about God and meditate on
him, we can let eyes and ears lead us to the idea of cause to guide us.
As a creating and sustaining cause, God is everywhere present.
Everything is, as a result of him, but he himself remains always cause and
never result.’
With William Blake and with Paul Claudel, we can look and listen to the
world in which we live, and so think about the origin of such wonder
and beauty. It is work that requires patience and attention and the
willingness to be surprised. But it is work that will take us from
creation to creator as we realise that this world is the result of his will,
his compass reaching out from eternity into time and space. Blake was
revising ‘The Ancient of Days’ right up to his death in 1827. ‘I have
done all I can,’ he said, ‘It is the best I ever finished.’ With that he died
on 12 August, singing of the things he saw in heaven. As we look on
this painting, his work may move us to song as we echo the psalmist
‘The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims
his handiwork.’
February 2015
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Diary Dates in February 2015
The Rector’s day off is Wednesday, the Assistant Curate’s day off is Friday
1
2
3
5
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
22
23
24
26
27
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The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
10.30am Curate leads worship at Ibberton Parish Church
8am
Pilgrim clergy meet for prayer, breakfast and fellowship
7.30pm Purse Caundle’s Parochial Church Council meets
7.30pm Churchwardens of the benefice meet with the ministers
9.10am Stalbridge Primary School attends worship in the church
The Second Sunday before Lent
10am
Rector leads worship at Marnhull Parish Church
1pm
Holy Baptism of Ethan Howes
3pm
Snowdrop Memorial Service at The Pound, Stalbridge
8am
Pilgrim clergy meet for prayer, breakfast and fellowship
10.15am Holy Communion at Stalbridge Close
2.45pm Rector leads worship at Hazelbury Bryan Primary School
7.30pm Stalbridge’s Worship Planning Group meets
10.15am Rector visits Stalbridge Toddlers
11am
Rector visiting in Purse Caundle
6pm
Holy Communion for Healing at Stalbridge Parish Church
10.30am Rector at Stalbridge Community Office at the Hub
9am
Rector meets with Ministry Group of Hazelbury Parishes
The Sunday next before Lent
8am
Pilgrim clergy meet for prayer, breakfast and fellowship
10am
Lay Pastoral Assistants meet with benefice ministers
Ash Wednesday
7pm
Holy Communion at Stalbridge Parish Church
11am
Rector visiting in King’s Stag
The First Sunday of Lent
8am
Pilgrim clergy meet for prayer, breakfast and fellowship
10am
Rector visiting in Stourton Caundle
3.10pm Rector leads worship at Bishops Caundle Primary School
9.10am Stalbridge Primary School attends worship in the church
7.30pm Stock Gaylard’s Parochial Church Council meets
11.30am Holy Communion at The Old Rectory, Stalbridge
The Benefice of Spire Hill
King’s Stag News
Coffee Morning on 17 February, 10am—11.30am. Bring & Buy stall.
King’s Stag Methodist Chapel. All are welcome!
You will be welcome to join
in Worship at the Methodist
Chapel in King’s Stag on 8
and 22 February, both at 6pm.
Worship at the Memorial Chapel is at 11am on 1
and 15 February. On 22 February at 8am, there
is a service of Holy Communion at the Church of St Barnabas, Stock.
Roman Catholic Worship
at Our Lady at Marnhull and St Benedict at Gillingham
Masses for Sundays
Marnhull
9.30am and 6pm
Gillingham
11am
Father Martin Budge
Telephone 01258 820388
Prayer Requests
If there is a person or concern you would like to be
prayed for at the weekday services through this
month in Stalbridge Parish Church, please let William
Ridding or Colette Annesley-Gamester know.
It is good to let the person know that they are being
prayed for.
Weekday Worship at Stalbridge Parish Church
Monday to Friday
8am—Morning Prayer and 5pm—Evening Prayer
Thursday at 10am—Holy Communion
February 2015
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one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken
away from her.”
Response
A time of Silence for reflection, ending with
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
Prayer During the Day in February (Lent)
Many people have evolved a daily Quiet Time, for reading Scripture and for
praying. With this in mind, Prayer During the Day is offered as a framework
for personal devotion; it follows a pattern which may be shared with others. In
this way Christians can be united in their worship.
Be comfortable. A lighted candle or a cross in front of you may be helpful.
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
¶ Those preparing for baptism and confirmation
¶ Those serving through leadership
¶ Those looking for forgiveness
¶ Those misled by the false gods of this present age
¶ All who are hungry
Preparation
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears.
Psalm 39.13
The Collect
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to seek for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen.
Ignatius of Loyola (1556)
The Lord’s Prayer
The Conclusion
May God bless us and show us compassion and mercy.
Amen.
Praise
Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you;
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us;
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness,
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
Anselm (1109)
Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included
in this service, is copyright ©The Archbishops’ Council 2005.
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The
Prayer
Benefice
in February
of Spire iv
Hill
Prayer
February
in February
2015 i
15
The Word of God
Read one or more of these psalms
Sunday
51.11-end
Monday
3
Tuesday
6
Wednesday 11
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
12
32
61
Scripture Reading
Read the Bible passage and notes from New Daylight (The Bible Reading
Fellowship), or other notes, or one of passages below.
Sunday (Romans 6.3-5)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with
him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly
be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Monday (Joel 2.12-14)
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with
fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not
your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents
from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and
leave a blessing behind him, a grain-offering and a drink-offering for the
Lord, your God?
Tuesday (1 Corinthians 9.24-27)
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes
exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable
wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I
box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so
that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
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of Spire Hill
ii
Wednesday (Romans 7.21-25)
I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close
at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in
my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me
captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man
that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to
God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Thursday (Isaiah 58.6-9a)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to
undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break
every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the
homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover
them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall
break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your
vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your
rearguard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry
for help, and he will say, Here I am.
Friday (Matthew 6.1-4)
Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Beware of practising your piety before
others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from
your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a
trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they
have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be
done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’
Saturday (Luke 10.38-42)
Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha
welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at
the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was
distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do
you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?
Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha,
you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only
Prayer
February
in February
2015 iii
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