The Benefice of St. Bartholomew

Family Service Streamed Over the Internet - 29th March 2020

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Written by Bob Thackray

We will try another Family Service via Zoom on Sunday 29th March 2020. The invitation and link are shown below. I am so sorry if you were cut off before the end of the last service; we should have had 40 minutes which would have been ample, but I think that the timer must have started when the first families logged on. I have now taken out a subscription which should give us unlimited time. Just in case I am wrong, please don't join the meeting before 9.50 am. If you do get cut off, then you can log in again and carry on.

Requests and points to note:

• The clocks go forward an hour on Saturday night.
• Clcik here to download and/or print the Service sheet.
• Requests for hymns to sing will be received sympathetically.
• If you relayed these details to friends or family members last time then please do the same this week.
• Next Sunday (5th April 2020) is Palm Sunday. You might consider dressing up?

Topic: Family Service
Date/Time: 29th March 2020 10:00 am BST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2872955220

Meeting ID: 287 295 5220

if you prefer to use the Zoom app rather than the browser method of joining the service, you can download it from the Zoom website at this link: https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting The download to choose for a PC (desktop, laptop, etc) is the first one - 'Zoom Client for Meetings'. The system should automatically sense which operating system you are using – Windows or Mac OS – when you click to download.

Once the Zoom the app is installed, click on it to open it, and then enter the meeting ID shown above.

Bob Thackray

Coronavirus Information and Updates

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Written by Jo Johnson

Update for 25th March 2020 - The Annunciation

Online Services

The following streamed and online services will take place:

• Sunday at 10.00 am - Family Worship on 29th March 2020. For more details, click here...
• Thursday at 11.00 am - Eucharist. Visit the Benefice Facebook page to view this streamed service. The link to the Facebook page is in the left margin of this website.

Our Churches and Prayer

In light of the Government guidance around non-essential contact, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended until further notice.

Churches are now be closed. Prayers will be said by clergy and ministers at home. Please do continue with your own prayers. Prayer booklets are available to download and/or print here.

If you would like somebody’s name on the prayer list for the sick - with their permission - please send the Benefice Office the details with a contact number where possible. Click here and when the new window opens, select the ‘Contact Form’ tab to send the Benefice Office a message.

Please remember in your prayers Barbara Waterman, and Michael Hobbs, priest, who died recently. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Foodbank!

The need is greater than ever. Please add an extra item to your weekly shop.

Covid19 Support Groups

Villages would seem to have their own help systems going and here are the details that we have:-

Semley: the main contact is David Curless, telephone: 07719 655 036

Sedgehill: the main contact is Rosalind Conlon, telephone: 07799 895 501

In Donhead St Mary with Charlton, all households should have received a leaflet with contact details to use in the case of need for assistance. The support group leads are shown below:

• Richard Ecclestone, telephone; 07713 686 368
• Paddy Bleakley, telephone: 07789 888 905
• Tim France, telephone: 07712 002 900
• Phil/Jo James: telephone: 01747 828227

Donhead St Andrew: the contact is Judith Barton, telephone 01747 828 244

In East Knoyle, Tim Hyde, Chairman of the Parish Council, will receive calls for assistance, telephone 01747 830 718.

Will you volunteer to help self-isolated residents in Shaftesbury, Motcombe and The Donheads? Or do you need some support yourself? Click here for more information.

Baptisms and Weddings

All Baptisms and Weddings are postponed until further notice.

Funerals

The Crematorium is still accepting funerals with small gatherings of mourners, (only three seated in each row). Funeral services may be held in the graveyard or cemetery with a priest.

Shopping

Wren’s Shop at East Knoyle is able to deliver groceries - telephone: 01747 830 735. Click here for the Wren’s Shop website which gives more information.

The Tesco supermarket in Shaftesbury is now closing from 10.00 pm until 6.00 am to allow more time for the restocking of shelves. The store is now serving elderly and vulnerable customers only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.00 am and 10.00 am.

Abbott’s Greengrocers in Shaftesbury are now only accepting telephone orders which may be collected from the shop - telephone 01747 853 424.

Ludwell Stores (telephone: 01747 828 227) will open early every day from 8.00 am to 8.30 am JUST for those who are over 70 and would like a quiet shop. The shop is also operating modified opening hours from 23rd March 2020 as follows:

Monday to Saturday
08:00 to 08:30 Open to old and vulnerable customers ONLY (Please, only use this time slot if you are avoiding close contact with people).
08:30 to 14:00 Open for normal trading
14:00 to 17:00 Closed but available by phone or email to take orders for emergency delivery
Sunday - Closed

Click here for the Ludwell Stores website which gives more information.

Semley Village Stores (telephone: 01747 830 832) is offering to deliver your shopping to your door. This will be a free service. Click here for more information.

'This Is Alfred' Website: By far the best place to look for information about shops is on 'This is Alfred's daily update - find it here.

From the Rector - Coronavirus

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Written by The Rev'd Richard Warhurst

Update - 23rd March 2020

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you all following this evening's announcement from the Prime Minister (see above). Amongst the other restrictions that have now been imposed, our churches are closed completely. This is an incredibly distressing time for us all, however you will doubtless understand the necessity of this in the effort to stop the spread of Covid19.

I will continue to pray the offices each day, along with the Eucharist, privately at home, where I will hold you all in my prayers.

Please contact me by phone or email if you are feeling lonely, anxious or become unwell. I will try to provide as much support as I can.

Please be assured of my love and support.

Yours in Christ,

Richard

21st March 2020

Dear Friends,

I wanted to write to you at the end of a challenging week. During this current crisis, it is vital that we remain in touch, not just by email and phone calls – but in prayer. Please do send me any prayer intentions and I will ensure they are remembered personally in prayer during the week and also when I celebrate the Eucharist privately.

Here are some further updates for you:

Daily Prayer

Although public worship must stop for now, the life of prayer continues.

The Church Bell

You may hear a bell tolling in one of our Churches throughout the coming weeks; this is not to call you to prayer, however to let you know that prayers are being said for the Parish and Benefice. The bell reminds us that the prayerful and sacramental life of the Church continues and that the whole community is being prayed for.

Our Churches will remain open for private prayer.

Day of Prayer

Our Archbishops have called for a National Day of Prayer and Action – Sunday 22nd March.

At 8.10 am, the Archbishop of Canterbury will be taking a service in Lambeth Palace chapel, which will be broadcast across the country on radio (including Radio 4). Do join him. If you missed the broadcast, you can listen to the recording on 'BBC Sounds' by clicking here.

At 7.00 pm, please join us in lighting a candle in the window of your home as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.

This call to prayer and action comes on Mothering Sunday: a time of thankfulness, remembering especially mothers who have served us, often in very costly ways. It is also a very mixed day for many. For some the remembrance is painful, and for others Mothering Sunday is a reminder of disappointment or loss. In many ways, this period under the shadow of the coronavirus will be prompting similarly diverse reactions and so it seems especially appropriate that the call to prayer is made this Sunday. At this time of uncertainty join in with the National Day of Prayer and Action, lighting a candle of hope.

Some prayers which may be useful

In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord, who lives to make intercession for us.

Saviour of the world,
be present in all places of suffering, violence and pain,
and bring hope even in the darkest night.
Inspire us to continue your work of reconciliation today.
We especially pray for all people’s around the world,
and most especially in our own community who are in fear of sickness,
and those who have fallen ill.
We pray for the rapid resolution of the coronavirus pandemic,
for all who suffer, for all who have died and for the dying.
Strengthen the weak and comfort the afflicted O Lord.

Lord, in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer

Shepherd and Guardian of our souls,
guide and enable all who lead and serve this community
and those on whom we depend for our daily needs.
We pray for those who are guiding our nation at this time,
and shaping national policies,
that they may make wise decisions
and that we may be quietly and Godly governed.

Lord, in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer

Great Physician,
stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace
to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit.
Fill us with compassion, that we may be channels of your healing love.

Lord, in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer

Conqueror of death, remember for good those whom we love but see no longer.
Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of your eternal victory.
We pray today for the souls of those taken in the current pandemic,
and we also pray for the repose of the souls of Barbara Waterman and Michael Hobbs, Priest.
Grant them a place in glory O Lord.

Lord, in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer

Loving God,
Thank you for mothers and children
and for all the joy of family life.
Be with those who are grieving because they have no mother;
Be close to those who are struggling because they have no children;
Be near to those who are sad because they are far apart from those they love.
Let your love be present in every home,
And help your church to have eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of all who come.

Lord, in Your Mercy
Hear Our Prayer

We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us and watch over us;
The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us;
The Lord look kindly upon us and give us peace.
Amen.

Praying During The Pandemic

I have put together a booklet of prayers which you may find a comfort to use during the coming weeks. I have left copies in all the Churches – however it is also available here to download and/or print.

Yours in Christ,

Richard

From The Rector - March 2020

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Written by The Rev'd Richard Warhurst

Dear Friends,

During Lent, churches will journey through 'the stations of the Cross'. The fourteen stations, fifteen if you include the resurrection, help us each year to reflect upon Jesus' betrayal, his suffering, death and eventual rising. Across these stations we encounter Jesus in different ways and I'd like to focus on one in particular; 'Veronica wipes the face of Jesus'.

Who is Veronica? What purpose does the encounter serve?

In Latin, Veronica means: 'true image or honest image', which is a good starting point when we consider that Veronica, out of compassion for Him, wipes the face of Jesus with her veil and subsequently the image of Jesus' blood and sweat stained face was imprinted upon it; creating what could be seen as a 'true' or 'honest image' both of herself and Jesus as well. The meanings behind the story are far reaching and there exists a strong Lenten lesson in this single station.

Veronica symbolises for us the true reaction. She ignored all the nastiness, the back-chat and just got on with the job....her business was simply to demonstrate love and compassion.

As we try to follow the way of the Cross this Lent, let us try to apply the story of Veronica's encounter with Jesus to our everyday lives. It is we who are expected by Jesus to be the 'Veronicas', the true, honest and lasting images of what it is to be human and to be driven by the love of God that Jesus expresses on his way to the Cross.

To close, I'm sure you're aware that my family and I will be leaving the Benefice, with my final service on Easter Sunday after presenting a candidate for Baptism and Confirmation in the Cathedral at the dawn service.

We pray that you will support us with your love and prayer during this time.

Yours in Christ, Richard

Prayer Cycle and Prayer of the Month - March 2020

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Written by The Rev'd June Lane

We continue to pray as usual so please do keep your requests and news coming. Contact any of us: The Rev’d June (tel: 01747 828427), Julia (tel: 01747 829166), Theresa (tel: 01747 829188), The Rev’d Richard (tel: 01747 830174) or the Rev’d Kevin (tel: 01747 828551). There are many of us in need of that extra help and comfort that comes from knowing someone is praying for us.

Prayer of the Month

Just now the world is even more turbulent than ever, and so this prayer by John Johansen-Berg is a Prayer for Peace. It involves lighting a candle and setting aside a little time to think. Sometimes we need to do this to create some peace in our own lives. If there is more than one of you when you do this, just change all the pronouns and make it 'we' instead of ‘I’. It will be even more effective.

I light this candle for peace, Lord.
May its light scatter the darkness
may its flame be a symbol of hope;
may its burning be a sign of faith
joining many other lights for peace.
I light this candle for peace.
May my life be an expression of peacemaking;
may I seek to be a light in a dark world,
pointing to you, Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
and following the way of peace.
Let the candle burn as a sign for peace,
Offered to you. Amen