FIPPENNYFIPPENNY NEWSNEWS The Parish Magazine of St. Andrew’s Church Okeford Fitzpain e 30p THE OKEFORD BENEFICE serving the parishes of:- St. Nicholas, Child Okeford: St Paul, Hammoon: St. Nicholas, Manston: St Andrew, Okeford Fitzpaine: Church of the Holy Rood , Shillingstone. In the Blackmore Vale Deanery of Salisbury Diocese . The Ministry Team Rector - The Revd Fr Darren A’Court - 01258 861847 (Off duty Friday) Licensed Lay Minister - Mrs Sue Le Riche - 01258 861830 (Off duty Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) The Rector is always happy to visit people in the Benefice, whatever the reason. Please let him know on 01258 861847 if you would like a vis- it. All enquiries relating to Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals should be directed to the Rector. The Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is available by appointment with the Rector. St Andrew’s Okeford Fitzpaine. Churchwarden Keith Bradley 01258 861735 Churchwarden Mrs Zoë Goddard 01258 861046 Church Mrs Carol Landricombe Treasurer P.C.C. Mrs Zoë Goddard 01258 861046 Secretary Closing time & date for copy is 5.00pm on the 20th of the month . 2 Recently on facebook a ministerial friend of mine shared a post she had received, this is what it said. A burglar broke into a house one night, he shone his torch quickly around the room looking for valuables, when a very strange voice said 'Jesus knows your here.' Well as you can imagine the robber nearly jumped out of his skin, he quickly turned off his torch and froze. When he heard nothing else for awhile, he shook his head and continued with his robbery. But, just as he was pulling the cables out of the music centre, clear as a bell he heard the voice again say, 'Jesus is watching you.' Freaked out, he frantically shone his torch around the room, and eventually his beam of light came to rest on a Parrot in the corner. 'Did you say that?.' the nervous robber hissed at the parrot. 'Yes' the parrot confessed, then in his squawky voice said. 'I'm trying to warn you that Jesus is watching you.’ The burglar immediately relaxed, 'Warn me huh. Who in the world are you anyway. ‘I'm Moses.’ said the parrot. The burglar laughed nervously and said, 'What kind of person calls their parrot Moses’”. The parrot replied ‘The same kind of person who calls their Rottweiler Jesus’. In this humorous tale there is a serious message Jesus is watching us, He is watching to see how we are living our lives. He is watching us to see how we treat others. He is watching us to see if we remember to thank God for all our blessings. But, Jesus is not only watching us. He is watching over us, He is ready in an instant to help us up when we fall, to envelop us in His love when we are sad, hurt and feel alone and unwanted and He is on call 24/7 to wipe away our sins when we pray to Him from our hearts for forgiveness. The Rotweiler was protecting his family, Jesus will protect us because we are His family. and like any loving parent He will mould us into good 3 people. The kind of people that would not take from others, that which is not ours to take. Sue le Riche St Andrew's Church Mothering Sunday Service 15th March at 10.30am Everyone welcome to join us and stay for Coffee, Biscuits and a Chat after the Service Parish Council News Planning Application to be discussed at the meeting on 3 March 2015 2/2015/0126/HOUSE – Spring Cottage, Back Lane, Okeford Fitz- paine - 2 Storey extension of converted chapel’s south elevation, single storey extension of converted chapel’s north elevation and carport and landscaping works at south of the site. Open Evening for Prospective Candidates 3 March 2015 There will be a meeting for prospective candidates for the forthcoming District and Parish Elections (7 May 2015) being held at Sturminster Town Council on Tuesday 3 March between 7 and 8 pm. If you are interested in becoming a local Councillor please feel free to at- tend the event where any questions can be answered. Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club (COFAC) Workshops and demonstrations every third Tuesday of the month at 2.15 pm. All welcome. For information phone Sue Brown on 01258 863775 4 Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall On behalf of the management committee I would like to thank Tim Burt for the work he does on the parish website, which has recently been upgraded and improved. There are several pages dedicated to the Village Hall and I am in the process of gathering more pictures and information for him. Have a look www.okeford-fitzpaine.org Fund Raising for 2015:- Table Top Sale – Saturday March 7th Spring Market – Sunday April 12th – the committee will be running a cake stall so any donations will be very welcome. TOPS Rally – Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May Fippenny Fayre – Sunday June 21st Race Night – Saturday September 12th Jumble Sale – Saturday September 26th Christmas Market – Sunday November 15th More details of all the above will be in subsequent magazines and on the notice boards. I'm taking bookings now for the Spring Market, prices remain the same at £7 and £4 for 6 foot and 3 foot tables respectively, your oppor- tunity to make some extra cash for yourself or your club/organisation. Also in April on Friday 10th (please note change of date) the AGM of the management committee will take place, this will usually be followed by an ordinary committee meeting. The AGM is open to every- one so come along and see how things work. We are all volunteers so any extra help is always very welcome. Agenda: (1) Apologies, (2) Minutes of April 14th 2014 (3) Matters Arising (4) Chairman's Report (5) Treasurer's Report (6) Election of Committee (7) A.O.B. Diane Burt, Treasurer/Secretary & bookings. Tel: 01258 863474 or email [email protected] Thank you for your continued support, you're what keeps us going. 5 Parish Plan Feedback Meeting 13th February 2015 6 7 The Olde Bell Stores & Post Office Okeford Fitzpaine 01258 860414 General grocerieslocal produce. Bakery serving breadcakeswarm savouriestake-away tea & coffee Off Licence Traditional sweetshop Opening Hours Shop & Post Office:- Tuesday, & Thursdays 9am - 5.00pm Closed 1pm - 2pm. Noah had problems too When Noah sailed the waters blue, he had his troubles same as you. For forty days he drove the Ark before he found a place to park. 8 Okeford Fitzpaine Neighbourhood Plan Group As you will all know the first questionnaire has been completed and out of the 789 sent out, responses were received from 136 parishioners. Thank you for taking the time to fill them in. The feedback evening held on February 13th proved very successful with lots of people attending during the evening. Many thanks to the Community Group for organising the refreshments, to Jane Tapping for putting up a display of photographs showing how the parish has changed over the years and to the Village Hall Committee for the use of its display boards. There were displays of all the general comments made along with graphs showing the results of the specific questions. Members of the NPG were on hand to answer questions and receive any further com- ments. Also on show were some initial ideas on possible housing with the possible inclusion of light industry but at this stage there are no firm plans on the table. There have been discussions between North Dorset District Council (the planning authority) and the potential developers of two brown field sites in the parish. The agents for the developers have attended Parish Council meetings to put forward suggestions and ideas about how to give the parish what it needs and the best way of doing that. The group now has to analyse all the data received and liaise with Dorset County Council, North Dorset District Council and possibly other agencies regarding highway and access issues, the general infrastructure of the area and anything else which needs further discussion. Thank you once again for taking part. As the plan progresses there will be further questionnaires and feedback events so that you can be involved in the whole process and have your say in how the parish devel- ops. If you are interested in joining the group you would be very welcome, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council email: [email protected] NPG 9 Painting & Decorat- ing Interior & Exterior James Witcher Free Estimates Phone 01258 860970 Skinny Minis Homemade Treats Freshly Made Breads & Delicious Healthy Flapjacks. Delivered Straight to your Door! Derek J Andrews Call Jo on: 01258 863 785 Electrical Contractors Email: [email protected] www.facebook.com/ skinnyminishomemadetreats Paul R Andrews (Partner) [email protected] Self-Catering Holiday Cottage 7 Nethermead In Okeford Fitzpaine Dorset Okeford Fitzpaine DT11 0TP Converted 2 bedroom Coach House Sleeps 4. 01258 863744 Graded 4 star VISIT BRITAIN 07792 613383 Linen◦Heating◦WiFi◦TV provided Small Private Garden Details: Proprietor Sue Godden No job too small Email: [email protected] Tel: 01258 860763 10 Jam & Chutney Stall I am looking in advance by appealing now for anyone who has a surplus of fruit or vegetables - fresh or frozen - if so please send them my way at 75 The Cross, Okeford Fitzpaine. So far the stall has raised £16,400 for the Village Hall. Many thanks to everyone who has supplied me with ingredients and jars or has helped behind the stall, also transported the stall to different venues.