Church

48 The West Dorset Magazine, December 16, 2022 Church Hope at Christmas even in the darkest of times

By Canon Deb Smith, Team Rector of Bridport

Christmas is coming! These words either fill you with dread and panic or with a sense of wonder and joy. But this year perhaps we are all more aware than ever of how the rampant jollity of the season may be difficult to swallow. Worries about putting the heating on, the rocketing cost of living, the war in Ukraine, political and economic unrest around the world, anxiety over climate change…where does the Christmas story fit in? It fits in perfectly. For the Christmas story is not about detachment from reality, it’s not about setting aside the life we are in and smothering it in tinsel. In one of our churches in Bridport, we have a large nativity scene, which can be seen from the glass doors. As the afternoon sun dims the lights of the nativity catch the attention and the imaginations of those who pass by. I see people stop, ponder for a moment and sometimes step inside for a while. Mary and Joseph in the stable, encircled by the animals, the manger empty as we await the birth the Christ child, is on some days surrounded by those who come into church to socialise with friends, by those who use the food bank, who take part in craft activities for Advent or use the building as a warm space. Some days the nativity scene is swamped by excited youngsters from school singing carols and acting out the Christmas story once again, at others it is a sign of hope for a lone figure who has come in for a moment of quiet. It seems to say, this story, is for you – for you whatever is happening for you in your life right now. Christmas is for all, because it takes account of some of our most basic human needs. There is the need to make the effort, even once a year, to keep in touch with friends, to let them know they are not forgotten. There is the need, even once in a year, to try to pick up the threads of broken relationships, to mend what has been torn. There’s the age-old need of people to have a festival, especially in the depths of winter, to break the long, dark nights with colour, to anticipate the coming of the light. We need times when we can put down the burden of daily living and say today we will take joy in what we do, in others, and in being part of this Christmas celebration. And all of us in our war-torn world yearn for something that will give us hope and a vision of better world. We know that this Christmas people will still suffer, that this Christmas people will still starve in a world of food mountains and plenty, that this Christmas some of those we pray for will still be facing grave illness or bitter loneliness. And maybe it is in part this yearning for hope, this longing for a better world, that makes people who otherwise have little faith connection fill churches at Christmas. The good news of Christmas is that we can love, and that love, the love that is the light that shines in the darkness, is what endures when all else is lost. Merry Christmas!

Services

Friday, December 16 Sherborne Abbey 11am Remembering the Fallen Saturday, December 18 Sherborne Abbey 1.30pm Shoppers Carols 2.30pm Shoppers Carols 3.30pm Shoppers Carols Sunday, December 18 Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 5pm Abbey Festival of Lessons and Carols St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10.30am All Age Nativity Service St Mary Magdalene 11.15am Mattins St James the Great, Longburton 4pm Carol Service with Nativity St Martin Tours of Lillington 6pm Carol Service St Mary Magdalene, Loders 9.30am Celtic Worship St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 11am Benefice Eucharist St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 6.30pm Carol Service St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton 6.30pm Carol Service St Swithun’s 4pm Carol Service with St. Mary and St. Catherine’s Catholic Church followed by mince pies and tea. Monday, December 19 St Peter’s, Eype 6.30pm Carol Service Tuesday, December 20 St Swithun’s 3pm - 5pm Festive Family Fun Afternoon Wednesday, December 21 St Paul’s, Broadoak 6.30pm Carol Service Thursday, December 22 St Swithun’s 9.30am – 11am Refreshments in the Hall, handing out Children’s toys kindly donated by the people of Bridport. The Surplus Food Stall plus Christmas goodies in the car park. St Mary Magdalene, Loders 6.30pm - Carol Service Christmas Eve Sherborne Abbey 3pm Crib Service and lighting of the tree 5pm Crib Service 11.30pm The First Eucharist of Christmas (Midnight Mass) James the Great, Longburton 11.30pm Midnight Mass St Swithun’s 6pm First Eucharist of Christmas followed by mince pies and tea. St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell 6.30pm Carol Service St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 11pm Midnight Mass St Mary Magdalene, Loders 11pm Midnight Mass Christmas Day Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist with Carols 11.30am Festival Mattins St Martin of Tours, Lillington 9.30am Family Holy Communion with Carols St James the Great, Longburton 10am Family Communion St Paul’s at the Gryphon 10am All Age Celebration St Mary Magdalene, Castleton 11am A Service of Lessons and Carols St Swithun’s Christmas Day Service St John the Baptist, Symondsbury 9.30am - Family Crib Service St Michael & All Angels Askerswell 9.30am Eucharist St Saviour’s, Dottery 11am Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock 11am Carol Service St Mary Magdalene North Poorton 12.15pm Holy Communion Monday, December 26 9.30am Feast of St Stephen Eucharist with Carols Wednesday, December 28 Sherborne Abbey 10.30am Holy Communion

Lots of Christmas activities in valley

Several events are being held to mark Christmas in the Bride Valley – and everyone is very welcome! n Hide and Seek Rocks in Burton Bradstock and Shipton Gorge: You are invited to join the rock hunt to find rocks painted with stars for the Follow the Star theme. If you find one, take a picture and post it on the Bride Valley Churches Facebook page and then hide the rock or bring it along to the Crib Service on Christmas Eve at 4pm. n Follow the Star – Advent and Christmas windows: Puncknowle and Swyre and Shipton Gorge have decorated windows and gardens – with one revealed each day in the lead-up to Christmas. In Burton Bradstock, find all the stars, numbered 1 to 24 around the village, in buildings, homes and businesses. Make a note of where you spot them on the trail sheets available from the Post Office or the back of church and bring your sheets along to the Crib Service on Christmas Eve at 4pm – most star locations found will win a small prize! n Live Nativity – Long Bredy, December 18, 9.30am Join Mary and Joseph, with their donkey as they journey through Long Bredy to St Peter’s. There will be shepherds and sheep to meet and a village decorated with stars to follow on the way to the church where you will enjoy Christmas carols as you hear the Christmas story. Refreshments will be served afterwards. n Carol Singing: Join the carol singers in Burton Bradstock on December 19 –meet at church at 6pm. There will be a charity collection for The Children’s Society. The carol singers will finish the evening in The Anchor at around 8pm. Litton Cheney also has carol singing –December 15 and 16. Why not join in? Meet at the bus shelter at 6.30pm. n Crib Services: Come dressed as one of the Nativity characters (if you’d like to) as the Nativity scene is put together and the Christmas story told. A choice of services – Litton Cheney or Burton Bradstock church at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Details of events, services and activities are at achurchnearyou.com and on the Bride Valley churches Facebook page.

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