WDMC Weekly News, Issue 2
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WDMC Weekly News
News from the churches of the Western Dales Mission Community
Issue 2, Maundy Thursday, 2 April 2026
Today is Maundy Thursday, and this evening marks the beginning of the Triduum – the Three Holy Days. Over the next seventy-two hours, we are drawn to the heart of the Christian faith as we follow Christ through the Last Supper, his betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane, his unjust trial and suffering under the Roman authorities, and his death upon the cross.
In these events, God in Christ enters into the darkness of our world and bears it himself. Yet the story does not end there: on Easter morning we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin, death and evil, as he is raised from the grave.
Isaac Watts writes of the effect this has upon us in his famous hymn:
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
You can listen to this beautiful hymn by clicking here. You are welcome to join with us here in the Western Dales as we reflect on and celebrate these events that lie at the heart of the Christian story.
With every good wish,
Revd Andy Burgess
Western Dales Mission Community Leader
The Easter Journey Services
Maundy Thursday (2 April)
- 7pm The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday (St Andrew’s, Dent)
Good Friday (3 April)
- 11am Sedbergh Ecumenical Walk of Witness (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 3pm The Liturgy of Good Friday (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
Holy Saturday (4 April)
- 2pm Easter Fun Afternoon (Firbank Church Hall)
- 8pm Kendal Deanery Easter Vigil (Holy Trinity, Kendal)
Easter Day (5 April)
- 6.45am The Dawn Service (Summit of Winder)
- 9am Easter Day Holy Communion (St John the Evangelist, Cowgill)
- 9.30am Easter Day Service (St Mark’s, Cautley)
- 9.30am Easter Day Holy Communion (Holy Trinity, Howgill)
- 10am Easter Day Service (St John the Baptist, Garsdale)
- 10.30am Easter Day Service (All Saints, Killington)
- 10.30am Easter Day Holy Communion (Cornerstone Community Church, Sedbergh)
- 10.30am Easter Day Holy Communion (St Andrew’s, Dent)
- 10.30am Easter Day Holy Communion (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 10.30am Quaker Meeting for Worship (Brigflatts Meeting House)
- 12pm Roman Catholic Mass (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 4pm ‘Eggstraspecial’ Tea with Easter activities (Dentdale Methodist Church, Dent)
- 6pm Christian Meditation (Online Zoom Meeting)
Many of our churches use Bible readings from the ecumenical Revised Common Lectionary. You can view these readings by clicking here.
Prayer Points
This week we are praying for the churches and community of Dent.
People: Christine Wood, June Allen, Janet Dodds.
Family and friends of those who have recently died: Jean Dobson, Eileen Gardner.
Thanking God for: A special joint all-age service on Palm Sunday.
If you would like to add a prayer point, please email Emma at admin@westerndales.org.uk. We only publish names where permission has been given.
Prayer for the Week
An unknowable void where nothing is heard.
Remove from us the fear that we are insufficient
and that you are unresponsive.
Instead replace it with the knowledge that
all we have is you and one another,
And that is enough.
Amen.
(Jude Levermore, Head of Mission, Methodist Connexional Team)
Key Dates for the Diary
Saturday 16th May
- WDMC Vision Day, 10am–3pm (9.30am for refreshments), Sedbergh School Find out more and book here
Sunday 24th May
- Pentecost WDMC Joint Service, followed by Community BBQ, 10.30am, St Andrew’s, Sedbergh
Wednesday 24th June
- WDMC Open Meeting, 7.30pm (7pm for refreshments), Dentdale Methodist Church
Notices
KidsClub@Cowgill Easter Celebration!
Join us on Easter Monday, 6th April, from 10.30am–12.00pm at St John’s Church, Cowgill, for a fun-filled Easter celebration. There will be activities both indoors and outdoors, with songs, stories, crafts and plenty of Easter fun for everyone. All are very welcome—come and celebrate together!
Easter Crafts Drop-in Afternoon at St Andrew’s Sedbergh
Come along to St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh on Tuesday 7th April, 2–4pm, for a relaxed Easter crafts afternoon for all the family. Drop in at any time to enjoy making Easter gardens, bonnets and cards, decorating eggs, and taking part in an egg design competition. All materials will be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own extras to make your bonnet truly spectacular. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
New steward required for Cornerstone Community Church
Church stewards support the minister by providing practical leadership in worship, pastoral care, administration, and the day-to-day life of the church. If you would be interested in considering this role please speak to Andy or one of the existing stewards, Debbie Wilson, Ralph Sutton, or Martin Cope.
A special Vision Day coming up in May
If you are part of any of our churches in the Western Dales, you are warmly invited to join us for a special day together, as we help shape our priorities for the next 5–10 years.
- Date: Saturday, 16th May 2026, 10am–3pm (tea & coffee from 9.30am)
- Venue: Sedbergh School, Hirst Centre Hospitality Suite (Busk Lane)
Together, we will take time to reflect, pray, and think about the future of our Mission Community. This will be an opportunity for everyone to contribute, as we seek to discern where God is leading us in the coming years.
Missions Coffee Morning at St Andrew’s Sedbergh
Join us at St Andrew’s Sedbergh on Wednesday 8th April, 9.30–11.30am, for a coffee morning in support of NISCU, Scripture Union, Friends International and CMS. There will be refreshments, a cake stall and a raffle, with all proceeds going towards these mission organisations. Donations of cakes and raffle prizes would be very welcome. For more information, please contact Margaret Denton on 015396 20521.
WDMC Coffee Morning
There will be a coffee morning in aid of The Western Dales Mission Community at St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh on Wednesday 29th April, 9.30am - 11.30am. Items to sell on the cake, bric-a-brac or book stall plus raffle donations would be greatly appreciated.
- Please contact Ben Maunder: ben.maunder@westerndales.org.uk
Dentdale Choir performs Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas
We’re delighted that once again the Dentdale Choir are holding their annual concert in St Andrew’s Dent. They will perform Henry Purcell’s dramatic opera The Loves of Aeneas and Dido on Saturday 11th April 2026 at 7.30pm in St Andrew’s Church, Dent. This powerful tale of love, intrigue and tragedy features Claire Booth (Dido), Terence Ayebare (Aeneas) and Laurie Ashworth (Belinda), alongside a distinguished group of musicians and The Julian Cann Players, conducted by Nicholas Hurndall Smith. Refreshments will be served during the interval (donations welcome). Tickets are £15 on the door or available online via www.thedentdalechoir.com.
Cowgill Church Annual Sale
Join us at Dent Memorial Hall on Monday 25th May, from 10am to 12pm, for the Cowgill Church Annual Sale. There will be bacon butties, coffee and cakes, as well as books, bric-a-brac, plants, a KidsClub stall, and a raffle. All contributions are welcome, with fresh produce especially appreciated on the day.
Next Week
Monday 6 April
- 9.30am Morning Prayer (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 10.30am Cowgill Kids’ Club (St John the Evangelist, Cowgill)
- 6.15pm Prayer time (Dentdale Methodist Church, Dent)
Tuesday 7 April
- 10am Open House Wellbeing Cafe (Cornerstone Community Church, Sedbergh)
- 2pm Easter Craft Afternoon (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 6pm Bell Ringing Practice (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 7.30pm Bible Study (5 Loftus Manor, Sedbergh)
Wednesday 8 April
- 9.30am Missions Coffee Morning (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 2pm Community Corner (Dentdale Methodist Church, Dent)
- 6pm Christian Meditation (Online Zoom Meeting)
Friday 10 April
- 6.30pm Choir Practice (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
Sunday 12 April
- 8.30am BCP Holy Communion (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 10.30am Holy Communion (St Andrew’s, Dent)
- 10.30am Morning Service (Cornerstone Community Church, Sedbergh)
- 10.30am Quaker Meeting for Worship (Brigflatts Meeting House)
- 10.30am Choral Matins (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 12pm Roman Catholic Mass (St Andrew’s, Sedbergh)
- 2pm Afternoon Service (Low Smithy Chapel, Garsdale)
- 2.30pm Holy Communion (St John the Evangelist, Firbank)
- 4pm Messy Church (Cornerstone Community Church, Sedbergh)
- 6pm Christian Meditation (Online Zoom Meeting)
Contacts
Notice Compiler: Emma Brown admin@westerndales.org.uk
Deadline for Notices: End of day Tuesday
Revd Andy Burgess
Vicar, Methodist Minister, WDMC Leader
015396 20018, andy.burgess@westerndales.org.uk
Ben Maunder
Children, Youth, and Family Worker
07525 065018, ben.maunder@westerndales.org.uk
Revd Dr Sally Pickering
Associate Minister (part-time)
07476 959936, sally.pickering@westerndales.org.uk
Revd Christine Brown
Priest with Permission to Officiate, Anna Chaplain
015396 25418, christine.brown@westerndales.org.uk
Judith Bush
Licensed Lay Minister
015396 20058, judith.bush@westerndales.org.uk
Heather Fraser
Lay Pioneer Minister
015396 25727, heather.fraser@westerndales.org.uk
Pam Dent
Lay Preacher
015396 20042, pdent123@btinternet.com
Sarah Woof
Local Preacher
015396 25212, sarahwoof@hotmail.com
Chris Fawcett
Local Preacher
07966 009486, ccfawcett@gmail.com
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