Church

54 The West Dorset Magazine, November 4, 2022 Church A little faith and belief can go a long way

By Canon Deb Smith, Team Rector of Bridport

One of my favourite sayings of Jesus is the one where he assures the people gathered around him that if we only have faith the size of a mustard seed, the tiniest seed of all, then anything is possible. Many years ago, a shoe company sent one of its salespeople to a faraway country to start a business. After a few months he sent back the message: “Coming home, nobody wears shoes here.” The same company sent another salesperson to the same backward country in his place. After a few months she wrote to the home office this note: “Send more order forms –nobody wears shoes here.” The second salesperson saw the opportunity in her situation – not the difficulty – and she believed in her product. And because of that she succeeded where the first salesperson failed. If we believe – even a little… even the smallest amount – then we are on the right track. It’s why we need each other – the encouragement of friends, people who will help us keep going when all looks lost. That’s an image of faith, knowing we can’t do everything ourselves. It’s why so often those who feel faithless find themselves uttering a prayer in times of great need. That mustard seed faith is all it takes. Too many of us look at ourselves instead of God. We look at ourselves and we say – I can't do it. I am not strong enough, wise enough, loving enough, I do not have the money, the power, or the faith to succeed at what I am doing. We have all met people who have lived through very difficult times, and no doubt many of us have looked at them and thought, they must have had great faith to come out of their tribulations as well as they have. We may even have said to them – with respect and admiration: "I don't think I could have faced what you have faced. Your faith must be very great." I have heard this said to people, and I have heard the answer that they normally make. They reply almost always with words like these: “My faith is no greater than anyone else’s. I just didn't know what I had until I needed it. God helped me, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have made it. If it wasn’t for the people around me, I couldn’t have done it.” Haven't you heard this kind of thing yourselves? Isn't it one of those occasions when we may have said to ourselves: “I wish I had a faith like theirs?” I suppose what I am saying to you and to me is not “have more faith" – but rather, “work with the faith that you already have”. When we start acting in faith, the very first thing we discover is that a little is a lot.

Services

Sherborne Abbey Weekdays Monday to Saturday 8.30am, Morning Prayer Monday 9am Holy Communion Tuesday at noon, Holy Communion Wednesday at 10.30am, Holy Communion with Homily Thursday at noon, BCP Holy Communion Friday at 9am, Ecumenical Holy Communion First Friday of the month 9am, Requiem Holy Communion Saturday at 9am, Holy Communion Wednesday, November 2 Sherborne Abbey 10.30am Requiem Eucharist –All Souls Sunday, November 6 Sherborne Abbey 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Eucharist 6pm Evensong Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10am Family Service James the Great, Longburton: 10am Village Communion St Paul’s at The Gryphon: 10.30am Morning Worship St Mary Magdalene, Castleton: 11.15am Mattins Burton Bradstock: 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Songs of Praise Swyre: 3pm Evening Service Litton Cheney: 9.30am Morning Worship Long Bredy: 11am Holy Communion Friday, November 11 Sherborne Abbey: 11am Remembering the Fallen Powerstock: 9.30am Morning PrayerLoders: 11am Benefice Eucharist, St Mary Magdelene Sunday, November 13 Sherborne Abbey: 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 10.55am Remembrance 6pm Choral Evensong St Paul’s at The Gryphon: 10.30am All Age Parade Mary Magdalene, Castleton: 10.45am Remembrance Martin of Tours, Lillington: 10.45am Remembrance James the Great, Longburton: 10.45am Remembrance St Saviour’s, Dottery: 10.30am Remembrance St Mary Magdalene, Loders: 10.50am Remembrance St Michael and All Angels, Askerswell: 10.50am Remembrance St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock: 10.50am Remembrance St John the Baptist, Symondsbury: 10.50am Remembrance St Mary Magdalene, North Poorton: 6.30pm Eucharist Roman Catholic Services 10am Briport 8.30 Chideock Burton Bradstock: 10.45am Remembrance 6.30pm Holy Communion Shipton Gorge: 9.30am Breakfast Church 10am Remembrance Service Swyre: 10.50am Remembrance Puncknowle: 9.30am Holy Communion Litton Cheney: 6.30pm Evensong Littlebredy: 10am Holy Communion and Remembrance Service A weekly telephone service by the Bride Valley team is available on 0300 293062