2005 local events guide

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ALDHELM WAY EVENTS - 2005

Saturday 7th May - Blandford Parish Church
We intend to do something The Aldhelm Way as a parish on Saturday 7 May (7/05 as the year 705AD) at around 1.00pm (13.00 as the anniversary)! In the spirit of Aldhelm, we will move outside of the church walls to reach out into the people of our community and we will set up a barbecue to give away free food to the people of our town. The idea was inspired by mention of the 25th May as a feast day to mark the date of Aldhelm's death, and by Matthew 22:9 and Luke 14:23. There will be a card to hand out to people explaining why we are doing this with a list of (and an invitation to) our regular church services.

PS. Pictures of our BBQ at Blandford are on our parish website at www.bfpc.org.uk It was a good time and it went so well that we ran out of burgers with half an hour to go!

Saturday 21st May - Southern parishes of the Blackmore Vale Deanery
The Southern Parishes of the Blackmore Vale Deanery are holding a pilgrimage to St Aldhelm's Church, Belchalwell. Pilgrims will be walking from Sturminster Newton, Hazelbury Bryan and the Okeford Benefice during the morning to arrive at Belchalwell Church for prayers at midday.
After a shared lunch, there will be community activities in the afternoon ending with a Eucharist at 3.15pm. Further information is on www.pilgrims-in-the-vale.co.uk

Saturday 28th May - Shaftesbury
Clergy from The Shaston Team of Churches will be out and about in Shaftesbury on Saturday 28th May copying the evangelising St Aldhelm. With the Revd Clive Thomas on guitar, the clergy will sing, tell stories and riddles at 5 venues around Shaftesbury to those who will be passing by. Like Aldhelm they hope to engage their parishioners in discussion about the love of Jesus.

Sunday 29th May - Shaftesbury
Year 10 Art students from Shaftesbury School have brought to life St Aldhelm, 1300 years after his consecration as the first Bishop of Sherborne in 705AD. The school accepted the commission from the Shaston Team of Churches to depict the life of Aldhelm in 9 large images for the 1300th anniversary celebrations this year. The project began at Sherborne Abbey when the students met the current Bishop of Sherborne, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton. They then studied religious art with their teacher, Ms Isabel Mullery, before designing the nine pictures to bring to life Aldhelm's work as scholar, church founder and missionary, the miracles he performed, and riddles that he composed.

The triple-triptych will be on display at various team events in and around Shaftesbury this summer and at the celebration at St Aldhelm's Head on 4th June. The paintings can first be seen at the Team Service at St James Church on Sunday 29th May, and will later be placed, one each, in the nine churches of the team. Following the Team Service people from the team will enjoy an outdoor feast with hog roast and entertainment.

Sunday 29th May - Benefice of Buckland Newton, Cerne Abbas, Godmanstone and Minterne Magna
There will be a pilgrimage to Hilfield Friary on Sunday 29th May. Walkers assemble by 2 pm at Cerne Abbas War Memorial outside church suitably shod and attired and complete with sociable dogs (with leads) and children if they wish. The pilgrimage will cover 3 1/2 miles of beautiful countryside (mainly paths and tracks) to arrive at Hilfield at about 4.15 pm. There will be frequent stops for rest, prayer and reflection. A delicious tea on arrival at Hilfield will be provided, followed by Evensong in the Chapel (being Franciscans they welcome dogs to Chapel too!). Those who feel they cannot walk 3 1/2 miles are welcome to arrive for tea and Evensong and offer walkers lifts home. Bring a New Testament and Ordnance Survey Map to help find clues for discussion on the way. Join us to celebrate St Aldhelm and enjoy the companionship of fellow
pilgrims and the welcome at Hilfield.

Sunday May 29th - Pewsey and Swanborough Team
Join the Canal Walk Pilgrimage through the Team. Starting at Stanton Church at 10.00am with a short service with the challenge to consider being the mission church of today as the walk moves through the Team parishes. 1.00pm lunch at Pewsey Wharf, then moving towards Wootton Rivers for an Open Air Service with the Bishop of Ramsbury (in church if wet). The service will include some of the thoughts and reflection on being the Church today, and thanking God for the life of St. Aldhelm. We welcome all to share with us on this special day. Full details from Rev.Hugh Hoskins email HAHOSKINS@AOL.COM TEL:01672 564357

Sunday 29th May to Sunday 26th June - St Mark's, Talbot Village
Join our activities as we celebrate the Aldhelm Way:

29th May - St Aldhelm's Celebration Service at 6pm.
4th June - Gathering at Corfe Castle or Renscombe Farm to join The Pilgrimage Group.
26th June - Family Service with the theme 'Letting God Work' followed by a Parish Picnic in the grounds, for fellowship, music and activities relating to church activities.

Monday 30th May - Verwood
The Noah's Ark Puppet Group from St Michael & All Angels' Church in Verwood will be performing at the Verwood Carnival, Monday May 30th, in the afternoon. The Puppet Group performs Bible stories and other Christian messages for children and adults alike, and is in growing demand in local schools and churches.


Saturday 11th June - Corfe Mullen
The Churches in Corfe Mullen will be celebrating St Alhelm by joining together to lay on activities at this years annual village carnival on Sat 11 June 2005. They are working together with Fusion ( http://www.fusionyac.org ) an organisation that originates from Australia to provide fun and refreshments for all the family as well as participate in the Carnival procession. Over 50 people attended the launch event for this great opportunity to show that Christians can work together to bring value to their communities.

Sunday 19th June - Bradford Peverell, Stratton, Frampton and Sydling St Nicholas
Parishes in the Benefice of Bradford Peverell, Stratton, Frampton and Sydling St. Nicholas will be holding their own 'Mini Pilgrimage' on 19th June. Beginning at the old preaching cross at the crossroads in Sydling there will be a short service at 11.00am. This perhaps will be the first time a service has been held at the cross for 400 years. Walkers will make their way to Frampton for lunch on the Millennium Green where, after lunch, there will be another short service, before they depart for Stratton. If more refreshment is needed the local ale house in Stratton will be open and tales of the journey so far can be told and retold as on pilgrimages of old. They will once more worship together before setting out on the final leg of the journey to Bradford Peverell, where there will be tea provided. The day will end as it began with worship in the open air.

St Mary’s Prayer Labyrinth.
St Mary's Festival Offering the church and its life to the community

Monday 20th to Friday 24th June
10am -12 noon 3pm – 5pm 6pm – 9pm
You are welcome to walk the prayer labyrinth following the twists and turns of the pathway marked out
in the building, which will also be your own journey of the soul and the imagination – and a lot of fun.
Stay a while on Thursday to enjoy the space of the building with an informal music recital from 8:30pm

If you are planning a visit to St. Mary's Church click here for more information.

St Mary's Church
Edward Road
Dorchester
Dorset
England

Click on the link to streetmap.co.uk for directions to the Church. Click here to see more information


Links to other websites.

Our Website at the Parish of Dorchester http://www.dorchesteranglican.info/

Our website www.sherborneabbey.com contains a diary of events for the 2005 Festival.

Wimborne Minster Online www.wimborneminster.org.uk

www.swuklink.com http://www.swuklink.com/BAAAGCBQ.php

Eilmer, the website for Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England www.eilmer.co.uk/malmesbury/aldhelm.htm.

Malmesbury Abbey www.malmesburyabbey.com

Corfe Mullen parish www.corfemullenparish.org.uk

Pilgrims-in-the-vale www.pilgrims-in-the-vale.co.uk

 


The Diocesan Office, Church House, Crane Street, Salisbury, SP1 2QB Tel: 01722 411955

www.TheAldhelmWay.org.uk