This invitation is open to all members of the church, of all denominations, whether or not you are currently involved in a formal way in church or within ecumenical children’s ministry. [Ecumenical children’s ministry includes Open the Book, Little Lights, Experience days] Safeguarding training session – Thursday 20th June 2024 – 6pm-9pm We are committed to creating an environment, which is welcoming and respectful and enables safeguarding concerns to be raised and responded to openly, promptly and consistently. I last offered this training three years ago and therefore the time has come to offer this training face to face! If you trained face to face with me previously, have a certificate for training in the last three years, or have not undertaken training before; please do book and attend. Everyone who is involved within the life of the church from greeting on a Sunday morning, helping with children’s ministry, making the refreshments, or any other role within the church; are required to undertake ‘Safeguarding training’ at both basic and foundation level, this is to be renewed every three years. To this end, we have arranged to offer an in-person safeguarding training session at Holy Trinity, Dilton Marsh on Thursday 20th June 2024 - 6pm-9pm. If you are unable to attend in person, it is possible to complete ‘Safeguarding training’ at both basic and foundation level online through: https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/ If you choose to complete online, please send a copy of your certificate to diltonpso@whtministry.org.uk so this can be recorded. Refreshments will be provided, and a certificate issued, valid for three years to each participant. Please contact Yvette Croft (Parish Safeguarding Officer) on 07460451770 or via email diltonpso@whtministry.org.uk to reserve your place or to answer any questions I look forward to facilitating this training and seeing many of you there.
Our March meeting was held at the home of Maureen Torry where we were made welcome and heard from our speaker, Mrs. Francoise Eden-Hamilton, a Senior Nurse Practitioner, who’s role is for the Transformative Care of the Older Person at the White Horse Health Centre.The huge number, 25,000 patients, cared for at the Health Centre, helped us to realize the extent of the health conditions which require medical intervention. The delivery of healthcare has changed dramatically, and we are now able to understand just what is involved when we make our initial phone call or ask questions at reception. We might see a doctor, or receive a phone call, or see another professional practitioner to deal with our problem. Mrs. Hamilton's experiences in her extensive nursing career, enables her to visit patients in their own home as well as being able to diagnose, assess and prescribe medication as necessary.The support given to us all as we advance in age, was reassuring and very informative. Mrs. Hamilton was thanked for her very interesting talk and given a copy of our book of 100 Reasons to be Thankful, which had been compiled during Lockdown. Jocelyn then brought us up to date with news of the Holiday Park vacancies, the request for diocesan help with bookings for this as well as a request for a treasurer to replace our retiring treasurer and help with organizing the Virtual Baby Programme.We were reminded of our Spring gathering which will be at West Ashton village hall on 24th April and we look forward to our outing to Sherborne on May 2nd. Janet concluded our meeting with prayers and Maureen was thanked for her hospitality.Jocelyn and Enid
Dear Friends,We are currently betwixt Easter and Pentecost. You may have heard of each of those festivals perhaps being more familiar with Easter! However, in between Easter and Pentecost there is the Ascension. This special day records the moment when we talk about Jesus being raised to heaven. He has spent 40 days being risen and reassuring his disciples, helping them to understand that their connection to him is changing. Before Easter, Jesus was with them in a geographical, physical and timely way, but after the resurrection he is with them in new ways such as in the stories where he suddenly appears! It reminds me of the game we used to pay with our little ones ‘peekaboo!’The Ascension is the moment when Jesus is raised up to be with His Father. From this moment, Jesus is no longer steadfastly visible as himself. Jesus goes, or if you like disappears so that the disciples can get on with the things that Jesus has taught them. He is giving them responsibility and authority to go out and be the good news to their communities. This is our commission too. As baptised believers we are to be good news to our communities. But community doesn’t begin and end when the village stops, the community might be the church, or the school, your social groups or your workplace. The Ascension reminds us that Jesus has gone to be with His Father, but we are empowered to be the hands and feet, the heart and voice of Jesus to the people we meet and the places we belong to. And, as we encounter one another may we also encounter Christ in our midst through the loving actions, kind words and thoughtfulness of each other.Grace and peace,Rev’d Caroline
In the days leading up to the Easter Trail the ‘Children’s and Families’ team met. We still had quite a lot to do and many of us were feeling under the weather – incidentally the weather was forecast to be a washout for the whole Easter weekend. But we carried on in faith, believing that God wanted us to join in with his plan to love, bless and spread the message of Easter to our community. On the day, Holy Saturday, the sun shone down and team from far and wide came together to serve each other and the community. There was a steady stream of visitors to church, including many who would not usually come to church, and children and families were filled with joy and excitement as they set out on their journey around the village to learn about the Story of Easter. Many of the people stayed for refreshments, chats and crafts – there was a buzz at Holy Trinity Church with children playing and parents chatting over a cup of tea and also those young and old calmly enjoying the crafts resting in the presence of God. There was also a theological discussion about the differences between the old and new testaments and how the stories of old all point towards God’s desire to restore the people to himself and bring them back into relationship with him. And there, of course, was lots of love, care and prayer surrounding the whole morning. We were able to help to: love, bless, and bring the Easter message to around 52 children and adults in our community and this couldn’t be possible without all of you who helped to make it happen. We would personally like to thank: Ellie and Steve; Stan and Diana; James; Lynn; Sonya; Sarana; Tess and Garth; Caroline and Cliff. And all those who prayed for the event including: Enid; Jocelyn; Penny. And anyone else who gave their support! Ephesians 3 vs 20 – 21 ‘Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ We are very much looking forward to joining the ‘Eco Church’ team later this year in July for the Eco Day! Yvette and Matt Croft; ‘Trailblazer’ organisers
