United Church Dorchester

News and Events: Latest News

Read here about some of the most important issues and developments within the United Church and beyond. 

You can read elsewhere about Events taking place at UCD.

You may also want to read the weekly notices, monthly news sheets and annual reports.

Everyone is warmly invited to join us for Revd Ruth Lownsbrough's Leaving Service, to be held on Sunday 13th July 6 pm at Easton Methodist Church.   

Tea and Cakes will be served from 5 pm to give us the opportunity for conversation and fellowship.

UCD’s Action for Children team are inviting you to the following events this summer:
 
Action for Children Garden Party
On Saturday 21st June, 2 – 5 pm, at 51 Coburg Road.  Come and join us for cream teas, cakes and refreshments in Sue and Colin Gannaway's garden.  Plant and Cake Stalls and Bring and Buy Sale.  Any donations to the stalls would be greatly appreciated.  

Action for Children Sunday
On Sunday 13th July, 10.30 am at UCD, our Action for Children Sunday Service will be led by Peter Jenner and the AFC team.  Please bring along your League of Light boxes if you have them; there will be a retiring collection for AFC.  

Please come and support us, for fun and fellowship and to raise much needed funds for Action for Children and their important work with children and families.

 The annual Tolpuddle Festival will be taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July with the usual speakers and musicians on the main stage over the whole weekend.  The Church plays its part as the New Methodist Chapel  is open for people to see the displays that tell the story of the Methodist Tolpuddle Martyrs.   

The new President, Rev Richard Andrew, and Vice-President, Mr Matthew Forsyth, will also be with us for the weekend.  On Sunday at 2pm there is the parade through the village to which all are welcome to walk with the Tolpuddle Methodist banner and at 5pm there will be a Circuit Service at the New Chapel. The new President along with our own minister, Revd John Yarrien will be leading the service and preaching.  

The plans that Dorchester Family Support have for this summer are now well under way. They hope to offer food parcels to their families for five weeks from 24 July.  

Last year they helped just under 200 families and do not envisage that number reducing any time soon. They are working on the assumption that each parcel will cost around £28.00. They are also in the process of putting together volunteer rotas and, as usual, will be working from the Thomas Hardye site. Feedback from their families highlighted the need for dental products for the children, so they are hoping to incorporate those items in the hampers this year.  

If you can support the team with a donation, they would be very grateful. Details can be found on the DFS donation site, or alternatively they are happy to accept any offers of support.

 Dorchester Poverty Action will be holding a Cream Tea at The Old Vicarage in Puddletown on Saturday 9th August, from 2.30 – 4.30pm.   

A cream tea will be £5 and a glass of Prosecco will be £3 – all in aid of Dorchester Poverty Action

It is now some time since Traidcraft went into administration. However, a limited number of their own brand products have been re-launched by Transform Trade, including tea bags, greetings cards and toilet rolls. 

The United Church remains committed to Fair Trade. We have recently been awarded our Fairtrade Place of Worship certificate and we continue to use Fair Trade tea and coffee at church events. The Church shop stocks many Fair Trade items, including Divine chocolate, cocoa, coffee, peanut butter, honey, Fair Trade cards and gifts from Shared Earth.

Thank you for your support.