Introducing Hephzibah:
Hello! My name is Hephzibah, and I live in the Stour Vale Benefice, which is a friendliness of villages between Shaftesbury and Gillingham in Dorset. Alright, I know that it’s not called a ‘friendliness’ of villages, but I think it should be. It’s a lovely place to live. All the neighbourhood children are really kind to me. Even the adults smile when they see me and are always welcoming!
My name mean’s ‘Loved by God,’ which makes me feel very special. Of course, everyone is loved by God, so we could all be called ‘Hephzibah’, but that would be very confusing!
I have lots of adventures at the events organised by the churches in the Benefice, so I’ll share those with you. Watch this space! #adventuresofhephzibah
Love Hephzibah x
Stour Row Prayer Walk 2025
Despite getting a little damp, Hephzibah enjoyed the Prayer Walk around Stour Row yesterday. There were four other dogs to play with, so it was great fun! The route reminded us how varied village life is, taking us past businesses, farms, housing development areas, people’s homes, the cemetery, the phone box library, and the village hall, where we finished with a cup of coffee and some delicious biscuits (chocolate ones for the humans and doggy ones for the dogs!) #adventuresofhephzibah
Pet Blessing Service 2025
Hephzibah, and her housemate Ben, had a great time at the Pet Blessing Service at St Andrew’s Church, Todber on Sunday. It was very well attended, with lots of people, dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages, and one horse. There was even a very sweet puppy who looked just like Heph! We were blessed with the weather, with the showers holding off so we didn’t need to squeeze everyone under the gazebo. The hymns and the reading were all animal-orientated. Revd Clare blessed all the pets individually, and they all got a treat. Afterwards there was tea, coffee and biscuits for the humans and the chance for the dogs to play, or to have more treats and lots of fuss and cuddles, as they preferred. It was all very exciting for both Ben and Heph, who were both shattered by the time they got home and in need of a nap!.
Holy Week and Easter 2026
HAPPY EASTER from Hephzibah!
She started Holy Week at the Palm Sunday service in Stour Provost, where she enthusiastically waved her palm cross in the procession. There were joyful hymns to sing, and fun crafts for the children. Afterwards in the village hall she was disappointed not to be allowed the chocolate brownies, which everyone said were delicious, but there were plenty of other tasty treats that were OK for dogs, so that was fine.
Good Friday was more sombre, but Heph still enjoyed the Hot Cross Bun Service at Todber. The talk was about different types of cross – ones that tell us something is wrong, ones that mark the spot to find treasure on a map, and ones that shows we love someone, when we use them as kisses at the end of messages. Christians use a different type of cross as a symbol of their faith. It represents the one Jesus died on, on Good Friday. However, like the other crosses, it also reminds us that we get things wrong and need to say sorry; it tells us where we can find treasure – the peace, joy and eternal life Jesus offers us; and reminds us just how much Jesus loves us – enough to die for us! Afterwards there were hot cross buns, which were very tasty.
Then on Easter Day the church at Kington Magna was packed full of people, all there to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection! The bellringers pealed the bells to call people to worship. Heph partied along with the singing, helped with the children’s activities during the service, and enjoyed some delicious biscuits afterwards and an Easter Egg to take home!
