Church

Church Recognising real life in difficult times

By The Rev Deb Smith, Team Rector of Bridport

Real life is something so unusual that we barely recognise it. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of it, and it touches us with awe; the birth of a baby for instance or listening to a perfectly performed piece of music or beholding beauty in nature, or in a gesture of kindness or in a moment of grace. Real life comes in those moments which are suffused with so much meaning, but so often when they happen to us, we cannot see how precious they are. The gospel accounts of the risen Jesus suggest that when people encountered him, they did not see him, or at least they did not immediately know him. Even the people closest to him needed help to connect the risen Jesus with the man they loved. When Mary meets Jesus in the garden she is obviously in a state, her eyes are filled with tears, she is anxious and fearing the worst about what could have happened to Jesus’ body. She just does not know him. And the simple explanation must be true: that real life is something so unusual that we barely recognise it. Easter is about running up against real life, about coming face to face with the glory of God. And most of the time that happens in very ordinary ways, in our life together, in cherishing those we love, in our worship, in living out our faith as the body of Christ, in the ways in which we treat one another and the earth, and how we serve Christ in the world. Even in the suffering and conflict of Ukraine real life might be experienced in the ways ordinary people show kindness, love and courage in the midst of such pain and suffering. Real life, in which perhaps they glimpse the face of Christ in the darkness of war. My prayer for us all is that we will catch a glimpse of real life this Eastertide, as we journey onwards. He is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Services

Sunday, April 24 - 2nd Sunday of Easter Sherborne Abbey 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong Castleton Church 11am Mattins Lillington Church 10am Morning Service Longburton Church 10am Family Communion Celebrant Stpauls@thegryphon 10am Morning Worship Bridport Bridport Catholic Church has Mass every Sunday at 10am. 8am St Mary’s Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion 9am Eucharist at St Swithun’s, Allington 9.30am Holy Communion alternating with Morning Praise, Holy Trinity in Bradpole 11am Holy Communion and Morning Praise, St Mary’s Halstock 9.30am Breakfast Church Cattistock 10am Holy Communio Milborne St Andrew 9.30am Parish Communion Tolpuddle 10am Go Fourth Puddletown 11am Matins Dewlish 11am Parish Communion Dorchester The United Church, 10.30am Sunday Service St Peter 10.30am Eucharist 9.15am Morning Prayer every day Dorchester Community Church 10.30am – Celebration Service Live Band, Message, Coffee. Sherborne Abbey: Weekday Services Every Monday at 9am – CW Holy Communion - The Lady Chapel Every Tuesday at noon –CW Holy Communion - The Lady Chapel Every Wednesday at 10.30am – Holy Communion with Homily – The Lady

Inexpensive ways to protect your home from care costs

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