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Dear Church Family,   I want to start by wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. I hope you all get a chance to stop, rest and anchor yourself in the profound nature of the season – that we are loved by God and the coming of Christ into the world is an invitation to know him personally...

Dear Church Family,   Apologies for the delay in getting this to you. Ideally I would be writing for the first Sunday of the month. Half Term Holidays got in the way of the prep time needed.   I know from conversations with some of you that the push on finances over the last month has...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   This month we need to write to you about financing the vision that we believe God is calling us into as a church to be a community that is Devoted to Jesus, Formed by Jesus and Sent By Jesus to be a Beacon of God’s Hope for Blandford and Beyond...

Dear Church Family, It’s such a joy to be back with you after 3 months away. I have missed being with you all, but it is so encouraging to hear of all that God has been doing in your midst during my absence. It was a blessing to come back into work on Monday and find that there wasn’t...

Dear Church Family,   The past month has been filled with reasons to celebrate God’s faithfulness and goodness. As our community grows, God is seeking faithful people through whom He can accomplish His plans. My hope is that we’re becoming a gathering of disciples increasingly...

Dear Church Family,   I can’t believe how quickly 2025 has started! There’s already so much to reflect on and celebrate. Over Christmas, we welcomed 400 more people than the previous year—a record for our services. Since January, we’ve seen new faces joining us and an...

Dear Church Family,   I hope you’re well and getting some space over this Christmas season to reflect up on the amazing truth that is Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. As I said in my sermon this Sunday, it’s often easy for clergy to become so busy over December that we forget...

Dear Church Family,   I’m writing this message a week in advance (although it will be distributed for the first weekend in Nov) as I’m taking leave for the half-term.   By the time you read this we will have hosted the High Sheriff’s Legal Service and not one, but...

Dear Church Family,   This morning the staff team went out for breakfast -something we’re going to try and do on a regular basis as part of the practice of eating with others. It was good to reconnect as a team after a whole month of not being all in the same place at the same time. We...

Dear Church Family,   How was the summer for you? I hope most of you managed to find some time to rest and recharge? Many of you have asked me how my summer was, and for the most part I think I’ve responded in a polite British manner, assuring you that it was good. Whilst that is true...

Dear Church Family,   Summer is finally here, and I don’t know about you but I need to slow down and breathe in after the busyness of the last few months.  The Church Wardens, Will and myself met last night to touch base before we dispersed for the summer and to assure ourselves...

Dear Church Family,   It’s been a while since I wrote one of these messages, and so there’s much to communicate with you.   Looking back over the past few months, there have been some amazing things to celebrate. We had a great church weekend, welcoming John and Anne Coles...

Dear Church Family,   We start this month with much to be thankful for. I always find it’s helpful to focus on what we can thank God for. We can cultivate a discipline of praise - a choice to praise God in all circumstances and to thank him for all that’s good in our lives. Not...

Dear Church Family,   At the start of the year I outlined the four priorities of mission and ministry for the year ahead.    Leadership – growing our capacity for mission Discipleship – growing our confidence in mission Children and Families &ndash...

Dear Church Family, My apologies in the delay writing this update to you. I was ill last week on the day I intended to sit down and write it.   Vision Sunday The year has started with many encouragements. We started with vision Sunday where I set out our four priorities for the year ahead...

Dear Church Family,   Happy New Year to you all. I hope that managed to find some time and space to relax and find refreshment over the Christmas Season? I come back to work feeling that little bit more relaxed than I did in the run up to Christmas. It was good to have some time off with...

Dear Members of the Community,  You may be aware that it’s not been possible to ring the bells of the parish church properly for some time. Although we’ve recently been able to reinstate the clock chimes, Covid-19 restrictions, the restoration work and the toppling of the...

Dear Church Family,   It seems like every time I wrote one of these messages there’s a lot to report to you all. We are now firmly back in the church building and settling into a new worshipping rhythm, although I know some of us are still struggling with knowing what’s happening...

Dear Members of the community,   You may be aware that the Parish Church clock chimes have been silent for most of the past year while building work was being undertaken. At one point during the year the chimes resumed, but we were made aware that the impact of doing so on some of those who...

Dear Church Family,   I am writing to you slightly earlier than normally as I’m away at a conference next week – which I do once a year, because it’s important to get fresh ideas, inspiration and challenge from beyond the context you’re in for the majority of your...

  Dear Church,   Looking back over the last few weeks there has been lots happening in the life of the church, with lots to celebrate also. We’ve moved to a 2-service format, with a 9am Traditional and 11am Contemporary Service. We’ve welcomed the Bishop to re-open...

Dear Church Family,   It’s never easy writing to inform you that one of our family is no longer with us. This afternoon I have the sad duty to let you know that Anne Shire passed away at 11.15 this morning (Tuesday 20th Dec).    Anne suffered a stroke yesterday, and...

Dear Church Family,   I’m excited about Christmas. In church life this is a busy season, but it’s also a great opportunity to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to a world that is looking for hope as we face many challenges in our society. All churches are looking to grow...

Dear Church,   I’m writing to you this month feeling quite tired. As a family we were hoping to get a rest over half-term at the end of October, but were then beset by illness – and so actually feel more tired than before.   My thanks however go to all the team who have...

Dear Church Family,   I hope you’ve enjoyed your summer and had some time to reconnect with family and friends. For me it seems that this summer has gone very quickly, and my children are having to re-engage with school no sooner than they’ve stopped for the summer.   We...

Dear Church Family,   It seems much more than a month since we had our Vision Sunday – but it was only four weeks ago. So much has happened in that time.   Obviously the major event over the past month was the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II. As I’ve written elsewhere most...

Dear Church Family,   I think it’s fair to say that many of us will be saddened but probably not surprised to hear the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing yesterday. Her long life and her extensive reign was a testament of service and of her faith in Jesus, and we give thanks to...

Dear Church Family,   It was lovely to see so many of us gathered together with the rest of the churches in Blandford at the United Service this past weekend. I was struck by the sense of God’s presence as we worshipped and prayed in unity with one another. Many people have commented...

Dear Church Family,   There are so many things to be encouraged by in the life of our church. We have new people joining us, we are seeing more children actively playing a part in our worshipping life. Our hope is that this will continue over the next few weeks and months.   A couple...