This is the channel for the Beaminster Area Team. The Beaminster Area team Ministry covers 50 square miles of West Dorset and shares borders with Devon in the Diocese of Exeter and Somerset in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Beaminster Team is made up of 14 individual parishes plus the chapel in the grounds of Mapperton House. Our worship shows a wonderful variety of styles ranging from services from the Book of Common Prayer to the child-centred Messy Church, with music a vital part of our activities.
I was so interested to learn that David was once based near Denstone College, Utoxeter. When I was Designer/Manager for St Martin Vestment Limited in Lincolnshire during the 1980s (prior to being re-educated for Nursing during the AIDS crisis), I designed a set of Ferial and Penitential Altar Frontals and Vestments for the College Chapel. I remember driving past JCB en route to meet the, then, Chaplain. Now aged seventy-one, we live in Wiveliscombe, Somerset: but the closest I get to 'church' is following IRREVEREND and ANGLICAN UNSCRIPTED on RU-vid. However, back in the 1970s I studied Theology at Durham and Bangor: but could not be ordained (honestly) because the partner with whom I have shared forty wonderful years, is male: as I hoped, and expressed, at my Selection Conference. I was judged to be "too assertive". I notice you three are faced with the difficulty of conveying the Christian 'foundation myth' to children. This should be ludicrously difficult to convey with integrity: especially if you have studied any of the contemporary 'Jesus Studies' in the field of Christology. Geza Vermes, for example, has a lot to say about how the Hebrew word, ''almah, (young woman) came to be mistranslated in the Greek Septuagint as 'parthenos' (virgin: Hebrew betulah). Like you, I am a convinced Christian: but only the resurrection is vital for my faith in the Lordship of Jesus of Nazareth, the 'Annointed' of God. Today, 'religion', per se, is getting a ghastly press, thanks to one vile imported 'belief-system'. I spend so much of my time with our friends, trying to persuade them that they must not reat 'religion' as a monolithic concept: before I can even get around to the historicity of Jesus, in order to place him within the context of Judaism. I wish the three of you luck!
Hello, David, Jo, Chris and all of the Beaminster team! I'm still watching and enjoying Rev Chat and Sunday worship here in Upstate NY. I was delighted to attend a service in person at St. Mary's in Beaminster last September, and almost (long story) attend a service in Stoke Abbot. Next time! It was great to meet David and other members of the community, plus spend time with my friends Christine and Sue at the churches. The Rev Chats are very relevant to me. I find the discussion of current events and challenges as viewed through religious teaching and experiences to be comforting and educational. Thank you!
I heard a sermon on this at Glastonbury church some years ago. It sticks in my mind as Mary who knew what Jesus would do turns into the pushy Mum. The challenge was what sort of vessel would you be. Willing to be part of a miracle or doubtful or even in denial.
Thanks to all involved. Brilliant imagery ... you could only get a limousine cow on a really upmarket farm.... and recall meeting quite a few dragons in my time. The thoughts on welcome were really apt too - as were the prayer bubbles......
I really liked what you both said about grace in general but especially about saying grace before meals, something I only ever did when forced to as a child. Your explanation helped me to see it differently, as an act of gratitude, and I will start doing it now, using Jo's wonderful idea of including the person who prepared the food and also adding the Farmers and others responsible for providing us with food. Farmers with a capital F, so grateful to them. Thank you very much, this made my day. Also enjoyed hearing about David's aquatic egg and spoon race award.
Thank you all for a lovely and timely service. Marjorie, thank you for your candid discussion of your lockdown experience. Very thoughtful and hopeful.
My husband watched Rev Chat for the first time today, what a fun surprise for us to see the Jacksonville, NY shout-out! Thanks for another great episode, and ramblier is good too!
Happy Easter! I started watching for the entertainment (it was the music and humor that hooked me) but now am also learning a lot from and finding comfort in your theological discussions. Thank you so much!
