Add your story or photograph

Do you want to share a photograph or story about something that is happening here in the Benefice? Just email it to:- mawvoffice@btinternet.com

Sunday 27 September 2015

Harvest at Winterborne Stickland

 St Mary's Church, Winterborne Stickland, held their Harvest Service today followed by an excellent Harvest Lunch in the Pamela Hambro Hall. The harvest loaf had been prepared the day before at the rectory  - with two new recruits learning the skills - ready for next year!
Our Harvest service was lead by the Reverend Sue Litchfield and with so many people, we were almost able to raise the roof with our singing. The church always looks its best at Harvest and the flowers were wonderful - with every window ledge brimming with flowers.
More people joined us for lunch and the hall was full. The harvest loaf was auctioned and went to a mystery telephone bidder for £20 who then kindly donated the loaf towards the meal. So it was sliced and added to wonderful selection of food.


Thank you to all who helped prepare or serve the food or who decorated the church or laid the hall out so beautifully - you all helped make this a very happy harvest in Winterborne Stickland



 

Thursday 24 September 2015

A Facelift for Winterborne Whitechurch Church and Parish Rooms





Remember this?
and the transformation
 It's all change at Winterborne Whitechurch. The smart new church noticeboards can't be missed from the roadside. There is even a new brown sign directing everyone to the church from the main road. There has been a huge amount of work going on to transform The Parish Rooms into a stylish, comfortable function room - perfect for smaller gatherings as well as the weekly Wednesday Cup &Cake. The new kitchen was recently completed and the official opening took place on the same day as the Historic churches Ride and stride - ensuring a steady flow of visitors.



Remember this .......





now all replaced with a very smart new kitchen ....

Those tiles have gone!


People arrived in all sorts of ways - Pat and Martin completed their ride and stride before attending.


  

 And some people got a parking ticket for parking on the pavement!


(Thanks to Ed Thornton for the great photographs) 


Sunday 20 September 2015

Coffee Afternoon for Macmillan

 
Coffee Afternoon for Macmillan
Friday 25th Sept at 1:30pm at Winterborne Whitechurch Base
Dunbury Academy would like to invite you to join us for a cuppa and some homemade cake. The children have been learning about the work of Macmillan and baking for the event. We’d love to see you and welcome you to our school.




What they didn't tell you about when you become a church warden!


Thanks Toni for the great photo of Michael practising his horse box driving skills in church.

Monday 14 September 2015

Ride and Stride completed - can you work out our route?

One
Two

 Can you work out from the photographs the order in which we rode round our 6 churches plus 2 more? (more photographs on Facebook Page) We were very glad not to be doing any more! Thank you to all those people who sponsored Edel and Fryso.
Three

Four


Five

Six

Seven

eight.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Ride and Stride


It's Ride and Stride day on Saturday! You may have seen the posters outside our churches and wondered what it is all about. You may have been asked  by people to sponsor their efforts as they try to visit lots of churches in one day. I hope you have encouraged them. We have quite a few people from our benefice taking part on foot or on bicycle or on horseback! We know of two horses who will be striding between the valley churches with Mr and Mrs Rector. They have been in training for the last two weeks (that is Mr and Mrs Rector) and intend visiting all our  churches plus Milton Abbey and St Catherine's Chapel. Look out for the yellow jackets.


 If you are riding or striding - have a great day and remember (when the legs are aching) that you are supporting your chosen church and other historic churches in England. And thank you to all the other supporters that are providing refreshments at their churches.

If you are taking part - don't forget your camera. It would be great to have a Benefice record of the day.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Our Benefice Shoebox Appeal


Link to Hope

Family and Elderly Shoebox Appeal

Going to: Albania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania

 Jesus said to us:

“Whenever you do this for the least of my people, you do it for me.”

 
Please will you save your shoe boxes (all sizes)

 
It costs £2 per box to transport, so please try and donate your £2 coins which will be sellotaped to the boxes when covered and secured.

 
Can you donate wrapping paper to cover the boxes or sellotape?

Let us guide you through what to put in your shoebox and we need the items by the  Sunday 25th October!

 You can provide items for a Family or Elderly Shoebox.

Sweets / Chocolates (best before 6/16        Candles and Holders   
Gloves / Scarves / Hats                   Shampoo / Shower Gel (max 300ml each)
Small Games                                              Toothbrush / Toothpaste
Wind up Torch / Radio                             Nail Clipper / Small Scissors
Craft / Sewing Kit                                     Brush / Comb
Socks / Tights (new)                                  Safety Razors / Plasters
Soap / Flannel
 Extra Items for a Family Box

Pens / Crayons / Felt Tips                          Small Toys
Teddy / Doll / Soft Toy          Simple Calculator (solar powered)
Colouring Books / Writing Pads               Hair Accessories

 Extra Items for an Elderly Person

Tissues / Handkerchiefs                                       Pens / Paper
Sensory Items (lavender bag, wind chimes, beany item)
Small Mirror                                             Reading Glasses
 
Last year Milton Abbas started late but still managed to fill 80 boxes!

Please will you help make this a BENEFICE EFFORT.

We will be filling the boxes together at St James, Milton Abbas, over coffee at the end of October, date to be arranged, so do join us. It is such fun and SOOOOOOOOOOO worthwhile.

Thank you, so much for helping, Sue Litchfield  01258 880054