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What do you consider to be a treat for yourself? An occasional extravagance or luxury - which is rare because of cost or number of calories?! Like a meal at a restaurant or a box of chocolates. Something to look forward to keep you going through the mundane and regular routine. Like a holiday - in the sun?! Something to make you feel pampered and appreciated, warm and relaxed. Like a massage - I'm not sure what the male equivalent is, possibly a round of golf with the reward of a warm Golf Club to return to? Please advise!!

How is it that the 'feel good' seems to involve more rather than less, calories - often by the 100's, and can be very expensive! What is it about the 'simple things in life' that doesn't quite fit the bill?

Perhaps it's time to just check this out. Some homemade elderflower cordial with Audrey today was a blast of summer sun along with the primroses in the vase. A 'Mummer's Play' that took weeks, rather than months or years, to organise with several crafts people lending their skills to make masks and outfits, singers joining in their voices, cooks trying their skills at cake and an 'olde' recipe for mulled ale wrapped around Harry's play, entranced visitors who laughed and paraded and packed the church. Alex's brother accompanies a friend on a boat a few miles offshore and respond to diving turns, gulls and guillemots to find a surprise mass of bass gorging on a shoal of little fish - a great sight and catch for them! Charles recounted the tale at great length to make sure Alex was jealous!

So often what is valuable and life-affirming is quite simple but involves time and attending to each other. It can be about so living in the present moment that we notice the opportunities about us and focus on what become treasured memories. It can be about achieving something which on our own we wouldn't have dreamt of doing.

So in Lent we often talk of doing without and embracing the pain - of dieting after Christmas (which I suggest has very little virtue!) or the challenge of no chocolate or alcohol for 40 days - we might consider the 'doing with less' in order that we might appreciate and notice the more valuable and lasting. Living simply today is a challenge but can be a lifeline to some who are cluttered in body, mind and spirit. Jesus lived extraordinarily simple life without possessions, accepting the generosity of those with whom he based himself. It made sure that his adherents were there because of who he was not what he had. Jesus would usually advocate sharing, giving away, renouncing earthly cares. He had no suitcase. Nothing to dive for and rescue in the case of fire. No insurance policy. And Jesus invites us on a journey with him; He doesn't add himself to our package. He asks us to 'Come, follow me'.

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Morning Worship

We have experienced our first service of Morning Worship and it was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed!
The reason for holding this occasional service is that there are many people in the community of Lyme Regis who are not Confirmed and able to participate in the Eucharist. Despite encouraging people to come and receive a blessing, it is quite daunting for some to stand and come forward. The Morning Service is inclusive and we share in a simple and direct confession and statements about our faith. Hopefully, this is a service where people will feel confident and comfortable when they come to share with us.
But how will 'they' know?! Well part of the spreading of the word is down to the regular congregation and those who receive information about this opportunity. Invite, encourage, suggest people come along with you and enjoy refreshments in the hall afterwards. And the time in the hall is really important to get to know each other. I hope that when people visit us, we will postpone our conversations with old friends - who you will see again later or the following week - and make new friends!
Because the PCC was concerned that we offer Eucharist, a shortened service follows which is kindly led by Keith Vivian. This proved to be valued with almost half of those attending the Morning Worship remaining for the Eucharist.
We enjoyed the preaching of Ed Standhaft and look forward to his ministry amongst us. Some of those who have been training on the LWL course (Lay Worship Leaders) will give input in the future. And it's great to hear from Anne and Linda about what a favourite hymn means to them - more from others later! And later is February 19th and then March 11th, so start inviting and thinking about your hymn to introduce.
Many thanks to those for whom this is a struggle and challenge for taking the risk of trying Morning Worship. I ask that we all pray that this service will offer the opportunity and blessing that is hoped for. We will be reviewing after the summer and I encourage people to share their responses with myself and their PCC representatives.
Jane Skinner

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Helping you celebrate Lent

Fully Alive: Lent Course

Season 3: Mission - Making the love of Jesus known in Word and Deed

Salt and Light - the church as an agent of change is the theme of the first week. Come and hear about how Salisbury Diocese have been awarded Fairtrade status and how the 'Message Trust' in Wythenshawe, where 30 Christian youth workers chose to work and live in the Manchester overspill estate, have seen many changed lives as they've lived out the Gospel. Material is shared each week interspersed with questions to explore more deeply and to share together. Questions such as:-

1. What are the qualities of salt and light that Jesus is telling his disciples that they should have?
5. In what ways does your church hide its "light under a bushel"?
6. What changes do you think your church should be advocating locally and nationally?

If you want to know what questions 2-4 are, you'll need to come along and join the meeting at St. Michael's church that come together in the Lady Chapel!

The titles of other weeks include 'Living Generously' and 'The God who Reigns'.

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, 22nd February, with a Eucharist for the Golden Cap Benefice at 7pm (as well as the usual 10am). Then a weekly service of Compline on Wednesday evenings at 7pm with the last week being Holy Week, 4th April. After Compline, some choose to depart in the reflective atmosphere whilst others stay to follow the course. This flexible pattern was appreciated last year and we hope many will join together to share in our Lenten journey.

If you can't manage Wednesday evenings, the Benefice also has Lent Groups meeting at Chideock on Thursday afternoons, 2.30 - 4.30 and around Hawkchurch on Monday afternoons - details from Rosemary Bragg.

Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.' Anthem from Compline.

Jane Skinner