Church As anyone who knows me will testify, computers, technology and I do not work well together. Yet it is now twelve months since I broadcast my first Facebook service at the start of Holy Week 2020 and despite many technical problems, all overcome by my wife with very little help from me, I continue to do so. We are back in church for Easter but still broadcasting most of the Holy Week services. Is this the new normal? The vast majority of people have had at least one vaccination to overcome covid, we are well on the Road Map to ending the lockdown restrictions, but will we ever go back to what was normal? Shops are about to open, but will we ever go back in the numbers seen before
God’s love is the only constant as we face a new normal
with the Rev Richard Priest, of Stour Vale Benefice
Vicar in the Vale
lockdown? We are all wandering around with hair two to three inches longer that in the past. I quite fancy a pony tail but have been warned that if I do it will be cropped while I am asleep. As a lover of good food and usually paying a visit to my local on special occasions, we are reduced to a take away or fish and chips to mark that special event. However I am told that some food outlets have done more trade during lockdown than they ever did before and may delay opening their doors for
casual drinkers until later in the year. What is the normal we are returning to? The only thing that is constant is the love of God. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to become part of the human race. To die upon the cross and after three days to rise again. This is what we are celebrating at Easter. As Christians we treat this as normal and yet this is the only time in history that this event occurred. So what is normal?
Many things have changed in the last twelve months and may never be the same again. I wish we did not have to live-broadcast and yet, now it is here, have realised that it is a way of reaching out to people who could not go to church and maybe never even wanted to cross that doorway. I suspect that we may never return to what was normal and indeed may not want to, but be assured that the love of God is endless and is open to each and every one of us. That is the true normal.
Shaftesbury office@ShaftesburyCofE.org.uk / 01747 853060 facebook.com/ShaftesburyCofE Mon 29th March: 5.30pm, Motcombe Evening Prayer 6.30pm St Peter’s Sacred Space: Evening Worship 7.30pm Enmore Green Reflections on the women of Holy Week 8pm St James’ Compline Tue 30th March 5.30pm Motcombe Evening Prayer 6.30pm St Peter’s Sacred Space: Evening Communion 8pm St James’ Compline Wed 31st March 5.30pm Motcombe Evening Prayer 6.30pm St Peter’s Sacred Space: Stations of the Cross 8pm St James’ Compline Thu 1st April 7pm St James’ Maundy Thursday Eucharist 7pm Motcombe Maundy Thursday Eucharist
Fri 2nd April 9.45am Enmore Green Meditation at the Foot of the Cross 10am Compton Abbas Meditation & Quiet Prayer Noon Melbury Abbas Meditation 1.30pm St James’ Good Friday Liturgy 2pm Motcombe Meditation at the Foot of the Cross 6.30pm St Peter’s At the Foot of the Cross 6.30pm Margaret Marsh At the Foot of the Cross Easter Day, Sunday 4th April: 9.30am St Peter’s Easter Communion 9.30am St James’ Easter Communion 9.30am Motcombe Easter Communion 11.15am Melbury Abbas Easter Communion 11.15am Compton Abbas Easter Morning Worship 11.15am Margaret Marsh Easter Communion Sunday 11th April: 9.30am St Peter’s Parish
Communion 9.30am Motcombe Parish Communion 11.15am West Orchard Parish Communion 11.15am Melbury Abbas Matins 6pm St James’ Pilgrim Service
Church services Gillingham Social distancing restricts the number who can join church services, and so we must take bookings for the Easter Triduum service. Please contact us advising which services you wish to attend and the total number of people in your group. carrivick79@gmail.com, 07887 988123. Maundy Thursday – 1st April – 6pm, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, at St Benedict’s, Gillingham; Good Friday – 2nd April – 11am, Stations of the Cross, at Our Lady’s Marnhull; 3pm, The Passion of the Lord, at St Benedict’s, Gillingham; Easter Vigil – 3rd April – 8pm, The Easter Vigil Mass, at St Benedict’s, Gillingham; Easter Sunday – 4th April – 9.30am, Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection, at Our Lady’s, Marnhull; 11am, Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection, at St Benedict’s, Gillingham. 66
Blandford Methodist Church Good News. We will be open for Easter Sunday service on the 4th April starting at 10.45am with ocovid-19 practices in place, eg. seat-bookings, face masks, 2metres apart and no singing for the time being. And then remain open for Sunday services from then on. To book your seat please ring our answerphone 01258 577 030. We will get back to you to confirm whether or not your seat has been reserved.
