Church

Church Offering light in a very dark world

By The Rev Deb Smith, Team Rector of Bridport

This week in the news we have watched as men, old and young, have been reduced to heart-wrenching sobs. Struggling to put into words the horror they are living through, and failing, as Ukraine is battered and bombed. We have all watched, hearts in our throats, as we see men and women, old and young, desperate to protect others and keep body and soul together. Mothers distraught, young soldiers crushed by what conflict looks like close at hand in residential areas. In the places people live, work, go to school and deliver their babies. And it made me think of these words of Jesus, words of raw lament: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” Words which seem to speak into the desolation and terror of these days. This image of a mother hen, yearning to shield her little chicks from danger, is one we see even in the darkness of this time. For despite the horror and brutality of this vicious war, there are so many examples of light in the darkness, of people offering refuge, hope and kindness. Think of those who have opened their homes to refugees, those who put themselves at risk in Russia to protest, those who open their hearts in so many ways. Don’t we need that image today – of a mother longing to gather her chicks, poignant and true for so many? In St Mary’s Church, Bridport we have on display a painting entitled Soul by Soul and Silently by the artist Hugo Grenville. (See Page 11). The huge canvas depicts refugees in a battlescarred landscape reminiscent of the images we see daily on our TV screens. Among the displaced people, we see the crucified Christ taken down from the cross, a mother cradling his lifeless body. This startling painting has become the focus for our weekly prayer vigils for Ukraine and for all those suffering through war. Our world is overwhelmed by such pain and suffering. God’s love and grace, glimpsed in the action of those who gather to themselves the lost and suffering like a mother hen, are signs of hope in the darkness of this hateful war. Calling us to stand with others, help where we can and remain constant in prayer for those who live in fear, so they may also find refuge under the shadow of the wings of Jesus the mother hen. Amen

Services

Sunday, March 27 Quakers host worship meetings at 10.30am each Sunday in the Friends Meeting House at 8 Holloway Road, Fordington, Dorchester. The churches at Burton Bradstock, Shipton Gorge and Littlebredy will host their Holy Communion services at 11am. The churches at Swyre and Litton Cheney will hold Holy Communion services at 9.30am. Puncknowle: 9.30am Family Service A telephone ministry service is available on 01308 293062. Sherborne Abbey Sunday, March 27 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 6pm Choral Evensong St James the Great, Longburton:10am Holy Communion St Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10am Morning Service St Pauls at the Gryphon 10.30am All Age Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton: 11am Mattins Cheap Street Church at 10.30am. All welcome Bridport area 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 1 Morning Praise) Beaminster area St Mary’s Church 8am BCP Eucharist 9.30am Eucharist St Andrew, Burstock 11am Matins St Giles Church, Hooke 11am BCP Eucharist Netherbury, St Mary 6pm Evening Prayer Salway Ash 9.30am Eucharist South Perrott, St Mary 11am Eucharist Sunday, April 3 Meplash Christ Church 11am Eucharist Mosterton St Mary 11am Eucharist Stoke Abbott, St Mary 11am BCP Eucharist Toller Porcorum, St Andrew and St Peter 3.30pm Tea Church Dorchester area parishes St Peter’s Church, High West Street, Dorchester open daily 10am-4pm. Sundays: BCP Eucharist at 9am & Common Worship Eucharist 10.30am. Mid-week Morning Prayer at 9.15am Monday & Thursday. Thursday Eucharist at 10am. Choral Evensong 4.30pm fourth Saturday. St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester. Sundays: Holy Eucharist 9.45am. Morning Prayer on Tuesdays at 9am, 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 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 1st and 3rd Sunday n Email newsdesk@ westdorsetmag.co.uk to add your services to the list.