New simpler service pattern in Holy Rood from July

(See above link)

Coming Soon - Music in the Churchyard!

June 2022 - Celebrating The Platinum Jubilee of H.M. The Queen

On 6th February this year Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch in our history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives have taken place throughout the year, culminating in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.

The four days of celebrations included public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service.

Here in Wool we celebrated with The Queen

(With thanks to Sue Burroughs for most of the the pictures)

Thanks to those who decorated the Church -

And at a special Service in the D'Urberville (jointly with the Methodist Church)

which was quickly followed by The Big Jubilee Lunch!

The Vicar and Churchwarden checked the Master Plan

Decorations all in place and tables laid -

Oh yes - and the cakes!

And away we go -

A few lucky people even got to meet Her Majesty . . .

Including Revd Jenny who had a tiara with her, just in case . . .

. . . and she wasn't the only one!

Jubilee Sunday, Wool

Our Jubilee Sunday was a great success. Over 60 people attended the Celebration Service and over 75 brought a picnic for the Lunch.  The hall looked amazing, the number of cakes was astounding, the filmshow and music added brilliantly to the atmosphere. Additionally we raised £82 for Ukraine from donations whilst offering a free 'cuppa and cake'. Huge thank you to everyone who helped set up, donated cakes, flags, bunting, cleared away or attended and ate so many cakes. It was good to be working again with our friends in the Methodist Church.

Jubilee Café Church, Winfrith

Having moved the time from 10:45 to 9:30 we were not expecting a crowd, but God is full of surprises, and we were full to bursting with adults and children and had to ship in picnic tables.  Jan did a sterling job making crowns and we reflected on Serving Others using the Queen as a wonderful example of selfless service for others.

St John the Baptist, Bere Regis

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the marvellous exhibition in the church to celebrate the Jubilee.  It was a wonderful display of local talent.  Special thanks to Alison, Jill, Diane, Clare, Glo and their teams for all the hard work.  Thank you to everyone who visited and supported, if you missed it there is a lovely video on Bere Regis Facebook page thanks to Rodney Osmond.  Donations will be given to the Thomas Williams Educational Trust which supports young people in the village. Rev Sandra.

Wednesday Services at the D'Urberville Hall - now held on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month

Wednesday services are in the main hall.

There is accessible access and usually plentiful level parking (and toilets) - as well as coffee and cake after the service.

____________________________________________

Decoration completed

The Holy Rood Church Building has been decorated inside recently and looks whiter and fresher as a result. Thank you to the decorators and to those who cleaned and moved (and cleaned and moved again afterwards!).

And thank you to those who generously contributed to the cost.

_____________________________________________

Advance notice - Save the date!

We plan to be hosting Wareham Town Band on the 2 July to play between 2-4pm at Holy Rood, outside in the beautiful sunshine!

(Plan B -inside if wet!)

Do save the date - more details nearer the event.

Walking the Way of the Cross and the Resurrection

From the Vicar -

Dear friends

What a start! It has been really good to be able to meet so many of you during the first few days of ministry here in West Purbeck as we walked, talked, worshipped and enjoyed food together around the churches of the benefice during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week.

The congregation at St Laurence Affpuddle on the Monday morning was the largest crowd I have ever worshipped with on a Monday of Holy Week, and the food provided at St John the Baptist Bere Regis at the end of the walk that day was a delicious surprise – thank you.

As we set off from St Christopher, Winfrith Newburgh on the Tuesday it was good to see the work at the back of the church progressing so well, and then to pray together in St Nicholas Chaldon Herring. We then enjoyed a beautiful walk to Holy Trinity West Lulworth where we celebrated Holy Communion together in the intimacy of the chancel. On Wednesday I was thrilled to be presented with a hand crafted stick at St Andrew’s East Lulworth, which proved very useful in the walk back to Holy Rood, Wool, where we celebrated Holy Communion and then picnicked in the comfort of the west end of the church. A fantastic few days – thank you. What a start!

The Gospel readings used in the services during those three days retell the drama of the final few days of Jesus’ life, leading to his crucifixion. They are powerful and challenging. Powerful, as we reflect on Jesus’ final days, which must have been almost impossible for him to bare. Challenging, as we reflect that we are called to walk the way of the cross with him in our Christian lives too. Many of us continued this in acts of worship on Good Friday – literally walking in the way of the cross and prayerfully considering what this might that for each of us in our lives today?

But the good news is that we are called to walk the way of the resurrection with Jesus too. The amazing Gospel passages of the resurrection which we read Sunday by Sunday in the Easter season remind us time and again of how the risen Jesus brings hope out of despair, joy out of sorrow, life out of death. This is Good News - Gospel! We read how gradually for Jesus’ friends and disciples the situation of defeat they thought they were in after Good Friday is turned into faith in the risen Jesus, as he appears to them and transforms their lives again. This is not some ‘papering over of the cracks’, the death and resurrection of Jesus is God taking seriously the pain of sin and evil, suffering and death, and transforming them through the death and resurrection of Jesus into life and hope and a promise of eternity.

We are called to walk in the way of the resurrection: to be bearers of this Good News! Where are the situations of despair and sorrow and death where we are called to bring the light of faith and hope and joy? Maybe they are in our own lives, or in our families, or in the communities we are part of, or perhaps we can consider this on a more global scale, as we continue to pray and act for justice for the people of Ukraine, and other places of suffering.

My prayer in this Easter Season is that together we will walk in the way of the resurrection, and as we do, become Good News for those around us. Surely that is good reason to repeat the Easter Acclamation time and again: Christ is Risen, he is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

Your friend and Vicar

Richard

_________________________

Holy Week 2022 Walking round the Benefice

There are some pictures to go with the Easter message, and see the Benefice website here.

Benefice Office hours (link to contacts page)

(Covid-19 restrictions: Please do not call in without an appointment. Not manned during lockdown.)

Office contact number is 07729 484866

Email address: westpurbeckoffice@gmail.com

(Telephone messages will be dealt with during office hours only.)

NOTICES

Dates of planned Teapot Club meetings

April to July 2022

All ‘Teapots’ meet at the Small Hall (known as “Meeting Room 1”) in the D’Urberville Hall from 2pm - 3pm

Teapot will take a break in August but we hope to return on 13^th September.

For services in Wool….some disabled parking

There are now 3 disabled parking spaces through the electronic double gate in the Wool School grounds leading to the church,. You will need to display a blue badge.  The pedestrian path at the back of the school that leads to church is wheelchair-friendly.  

Remember that the gates are opened 15/20 minutes before a service. All other parking is in the school staff car park.

JustGiving

We have joined JustGiving to enable people who wish to, to donate to Holy Rood via the web.

Go to the JustGiving site by using the button below (or use your smartphone camera with the QR code):

Online Services

We are still holding some services online on some Sunday mornings. Anyone may take part in this service using your laptop, ipad, or phone (smart or otherwise).

You would be most welcome to join in and if you would like to have more details please email the Church Office.

The contact arrangements are emailed in advance and you would need to give your contact details including an email address and phone number to the Benefice Office. We can't publish the Zoom contact details here for security reasons, but you are still very welcome.*

It is highly recommended not to 'arrive' at the very last minute as most people enjoy it more by taking a little while to get a good connection sorted out and iron out any queries. Also arriving in good time prevents you being excluded inadvertently by the security lock (see next paragraph).

* The service is locked down soon after the start time to prevent abusive internet behaviour which sadly has happened occasionally to other churches using online worship.

                  Other News

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Information

Pastoral Care

If you need to self-isolate, do inform the church office together with your contact phone number. A member of the church will be in contact to check on your welfare and to offer practical support with shopping etc.

Best hygiene practice and safeguarding procedures will be observed in all pastoral contacts.

Medical Advice

For up-to-date medical advice, the place to go is:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

For specific Church of England advice look at:

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

A Prayer For All Those Affected By Coronavirus

Keep us, good Lord,

under the shadow of your mercy.

Sustain and support the anxious,

be with those who care for the sick,

and lift up all who are brought low;

that we may find comfort

knowing that nothing can separate us from your love

in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Daily Prayer

Each day the Church of England publishes audio and text of the Prayer for the Day.

The Holy Rood website (part of the West Purbeck Benefice) is hosted by Krystal Hosting, to whom we are very grateful

Send mail to the webmaster (see Contacts) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Holy Rood Church, Wool
Last modified: Sunday, 19 June 2022