Church

48 The West Dorset Magazine, February 11, 2022 Church Kittens move in mysterious ways too

By The Rev DEB SMITH Team Rector of Bridport

This is the story of a vicar who discovered a kitten up a tree in his garden. The little thing was too frightened to come down even though the vicar coaxed it and offered milk – it was to no avail. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the vicar decided that if he tied a rope from the tree to his car and drove it a little way the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the stranded kitten. So that’s what he did – all the while checking his progress in the rear view mirror. But as he inched forwards the rope broke. The tree went ‘boing!’ and the kitten instantly sailed out of sight. Naturally the vicar felt terrible. He walked all round the area searching for the poor creature, asking his neighbours if they had seen the kitten. So he prayed: ‘Lord, I commit this kitten to your safe keeping’ and went about his business. A few days later he was in the supermarket where he met Dorothy, one of his church wardens. He was amazed when he noticed in her shopping trolley cat food – knowing that Dorothy wasn’t a cat-lover. “Why are you buying cat food when you dislike cats so much?” he asked her. She replied: “You won’t believe this.” She explained that her daughter had been begging to have a cat for some time and she kept refusing. The nagging got to her and finally she said to her daughter: “If God gives you a cat you can keep it.” A few seconds later she watched as her daughter went out into the garden and knelt down to ask God for a pet cat. Dorothy said: “Really vicar – I saw it with my own eyes – a kitten suddenly came flying out of the sky with its paws outstretched and landed right in front of her!” So never under-estimate God’s generosity, his power to give, to answer prayer and of course his sense of humour!

IT’S RAINING CATS AND KITTENS: Never underestimate God’s generosity

Services

Beaminster area Sunday, February 13 8am and 9.30am Beaminster Eucharist 9.30am Netherbury 10.15am Salwayash 11am Burstock Eucharist 11am South Perrott Morning prayer 11am Hooke Family service Sunday, February 20 8am and 9.30am Beaminster Eucharist 9.30am Melplash Eucharist 9.30am Broadwindsor Eucharist 11am Drimpton Morning prayer 11am Mosterton Eucharist 11am Toller Porcorum Eucharist 6pm Stoke Abbott Evensong Sherborne area Sunday, February 13 Cheap Street Church at 10.30am. All welcome Thursday, February 17 Cheap Street Church - Thought for The Day at 10.30am followed by refreshments Sunday, February 13 10am Family Communion at St James the Great, Longburton 6pm Choral Evensong at Sherborne Abbey 10am Holy Communion at St Martin of Tours, Lillington 11am Holy Communion at ST Mary Magdalene, Castleton 10.30am Holy Communion at St Paul’s at The Gryphon Bridport area Sunday Services 8am St Mary’s, Bridport (Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion) 9.30am St Swithun’s, Allington (Eucharist) 9.30am Holy Trinity, Bradpole (alternating Holy Communion & Morning Praise) 11am St Mary’s, Bridport (Holy Communion on 3 Sundays and one Morning Praise) 11.15am Walditch Church Dorchester area parishes St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester The church is open daily 10am4pm. Sundays: BCP Eucharist at 9am & Common Worship Eucharist 10.30am. Mid-week Morning Prayer at 9.15am on Monday and Thursday. Thursday Eucharist at 10am. Choral Evensong 4.30pm fourth Saturday of the month. St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester Sundays: Holy Eucharist 9.45am. Morning Prayer on Tuesdays at 9am followed by the Eucharist at 9.30am. Taize services first Sunday of the month at 6pm. Contemplative Prayer Group in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at 5pm Wednesdays. St George’s Church, High Street, Dorchester Open daily 9am-4pm for private prayer. Wednesday, 9.30am, Morning Prayer Thursday, 11am, Midweek Holy Communion for tea and coffee afterwards. Sunday, 9.45am Holy Communion. 8am BCP Holy Communion on first and third Sunday St Andrew’s Church, West Stafford 11.15am: February 13 and 20 Holy Communion Bride Valley Sunday, February 13 Burton Bradstock 11am Holy Communion Shipton Gorge 9.30 Breakfast Church Swyre 11am Holy Communion Litton Cheney 9.30 Holy Communion Little Bredy 11am Holy Communion Sunday, February 20 Burton Bradstock 9.30 Family Worship, 6.30 Evening Prayer Shipton Gorge 3pm Pet Service Swyre 11am Morning Worship Punchknowle 11am All Age Holy Communion Litton Cheney 9.30 Morning Prayer Long Bredy 9.30 Morning Worship n Services listings: newsdesk @westdorsetmag.co.uk