February 2020
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Dorchester News Free to every home in the parish February 2020 1 Dorchester News February 2020 In this issue Dorchester Abbey DoT view Local and national government Firstly I apologise for an omission in Ash Wednesday 3 From the Chairman of the Parish Council 23 the December/January issue of Dor- Lent Lunches 3 Parish Council Notices 23 chester News. Under ‘Refuse Collec- Meet the author coffee morning 3 From your District Councillor 25 tions’ I failed to indicate that the col- Morning Service 2 Feb 3 From your County Councillor 27 lection on Monday 6 January was Morning Service 1 March 3 General election result 29 green bins only, i.e. NO brown bins. Talking Point 3 To those of you who put out brown £139 for the Abbey 4 bins that were not collected, I apolo- Dorchester Abbey Ensuring the Future 4 gise. You may take comfort from the Family Service 16 Feb 4 Schools and education fact that I too spent all of the Sunday World Interfaith Harmony Week 4 Berinsfield Library 9 afternoon collecting up garden rub- Village Carol singing 5 Pre-School 9 bish to make sure that the bin was full Dorchester Abbey Museum 7 St Birinus School 9 for collection the next day. Ah well, at Heavenly Host Angels 2019 7 least it was a job done ready for the Narnia...a journey of discovery 12/16 Wallingford next collection. Wallingford Country Market 31 A new year. A new decade. Perhaps Wallingford Gardening Club 31 Clubs, Societies and Sports a new interest. On 20 February there Wallingford Historical Soc 31 is the Village Information Evening, Hempcroft Allotments 5 Wallingford Museum 31 sub-titled What’s up DoT? when Historical Society 5 Corn Exchange 33 clubs, societies and other village Lunch Club 5 Sinodun PLayers 33 Thursday Tea Club 5 activities will be showing what they do Culham Horticultural Soc 7 in the Village Hall. Sometimes known Football Club 10 Advertising as the Newcomers’ Evening this is Tennis Club 10 Advertising in Dorchester News 32 most definitely not just for newcomers DADS Treasure Island 18 Index of advertisers 35 to Dorchester. It is a chance for eve- ryone to re-acquaint themselves with what goes on, or to find out more Village news/articles Cover picture: Snow at Day’s Lock. about something that they have Walking for health in Dorchester 7 sometimes thought that they might Village Information Evening 11 like to take part in or join a group. So Focus on The White Hart 20 if you fancy having a go in the next Deadline for panto or wonder what bell-ringing is March like (both are great fun in their own Art Music and Entertainment ways), standing for the parish council Crossword 26 Dorchester News or finding our more about any of the Thames Consort 28 Spotted Dick village activities, come along and 29 Corona Strings have a chat. 36 You may find a new interest that will February truly make it a Happy New Year.. Community and Charities Ian Brace BHF Sponsorship 10 Friday Earth Trust 15 Footsteps 17 7 Feb Editorial Team Citizen’s Advice needs volunteers 26 Ian Brace, Gail Thomas Help with home repairs 28 Distribution Co-ordinator YoCo Dinner and Concert 28 Maurice Day Oxfordshire Care Awards 29 email: Printed by Artisan Print Solutions [email protected] Dorchester News February 2020 2 Talking Point Revd. Jennifer Morton It’s ‘all change’ at the have finally left the moment! The Abbey is transformed into drops will be in full bloom, the other European Union and all that means for Narnia, and Jennifer reflects below on spring flowers joining them and the this country? Will the pressures on the some of the changes that are happening buds swelling on the trees ready to burst natural environment be taken seriously? around us. Changing from within is the into leaf. They have survived their Can people be persuaded to tolerate basis of anything we take on or give up downtime after all despite erratic views that are different to their own for Lent – online and in the Abbey you’ll temperatures and rainfall!! without resorting to the nastiness that find daily reflections on Caring for seems to be a detrimental characteristic, February is also a transitional month in Creation – and ideas for generosity from not only of social media, but also all the seasons of the Church. The Christmas 40acts.org. Looking outside ourselves is public comment? season comes to an end on the 2nd with often the first step to building inner the presentation of the baby Jesus in the It is sometimes difficult to feel optimistic strength and there is a great opportunity Temple in Jerusalem. The final chapter in the light of all that is happening for that with World Interfaith Harmony of the story of his birth forty days after around us, socially, politically and perhaps Week being celebrated in Clifton Hampden. the celebrations of Christmas day. This, most of all in the natural environment. Be gentle with creation, be generous however, was only the beginning. At the The blossoming of the spring flowers, with others, be Blessed! Rev Sue end of the month the Church begins and the promise of new life in creation Lent with Ash Wednesday on the 26th does give us a hope that the seasons of the next period of forty days. The baby the year will come and go as expected. February is, for me, a transitional has become a man and Christians will be Maybe then we can also reflect through month. At long last days are getting preparing to remember again his death the seasons of the churches year on the longer although we have not yet said and resurrection at Eastertide. This year life of a child born in humble goodbye to winter and the rather variable there are a few weeks in between these circumstances, who grew to be the man weather we have experienced over the two seasons of the Church when we can who showed us the way to treat each last few months. However there are take the opportunity to reflect on what other and creation. If only we would already signs that spring is on the way. life holds for us, our families and friends, listen, hear and act on his words then As I write this in early January the hazel our communities, our country, our there might be a greater hope for all of catkins are forming and the first snow- world, at the beginning of this new decade. us. drops flowering in the grass. By the be- Will the world become a place where ginning of February no doubt the snow- there is equality and justice? Will we Morning Service Ash Wednesday 10.30am Sunday 2 February 7.30pm 26 February with the Leprosy Mission Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent and there is the Mr Trevor Grant, the Regional Manager for the South West opportunity to receive the sign of a cross, in ash, on your and Wales will be joining us. He will be speaking on the theme forehead during a special service on that day. There will be a for this year’s World Leprosy Sunday entitled Hospital Heroes, service in Berinsfield Church at 9.30am and in the Abbey which focuses on the remarkable medical staff who make (Birinus Chapel) at 7.30pm. many sacrifices to care for people affected by leprosy at This ancient tradition is an annual reminder of our Baptism Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital in Myanmar. and our commitment to bring constantly to mind the places where we fail and the blessings of forgiveness! Telling the Story of Narnia Thursday 6 February Morning Service Join us in Narnia to hear storytellers, authors and Narnia 10.30am Sunday 1 March enthusiasts trace the history of Narnia with some favourite On this first Sunday in Lent we will reflect on the gift of readings and the opportunity to weave the stories of our own God’s creation and our responsibility to care. imaginations. Our guests include Francis Spufford – a Narnia enthusiast who was recently part of the Radio Four ‘Beyond Belief’ broadcast about the Narnia Chronicles. Lent Lunches 2020 All are welcome to share a simple lunch on the Fridays in lent. ‘Meet the Author’ coffee morning All proceeds go to charity The Nasio Trust this year. Friday 7 February On 28 February the lunch will be with Julie Taylor at Overy Francis Spufford author of Golden Hill and Unapologetic who Manor, 12.30 to 2.00 pm. is joining us for the Narnia storytelling event has kindly offered to stay on and discuss his books over coffee on Friday 7 Dates of the venues for the rest of Lent will be in the next February. Depending on numbers this will be held at the Dorchester News. Rectory or in the Guest House. Please contact Sue direct to reserve your place. 3 Dorchester News February 2020 Sunday 9 Feb Dorchester Abbey Ensuring the future The plans for the developments within and around Dorchester Abbey reported in the November Dorchester News are proceeding. Currently these are mainly in two areas: a) architects have been appointed to create preliminary ideas and drawings of the two parts of the scheme: the gallery in the west end of the Church and the new As part of the international World Interfaith Harmony Week, a building or visitor centre to the rear of the Guest service in which people of several world religions will participate House. This will lead in time to discussions with historic will be held at St Michael’s Church, Clifton Hampden on Sunday and local authorities and eventually to an application 9 February at 2.30 p.m.