So, what happens at Sunday Café? And who is it for? Well, it's for anyone who wants to have a drink and some delicious cake while we chat, and then spend some time thinking about some of the deeper things of life while having fun! It's good for all ages, and it's easy for families to come – children can join in as they want to, and spend time playing if it's all a bit over their heads. Each Sunday Café is based around a theme: here is Cheryl's description of the one we based around the Royal Wedding.

'During our time together we thought about what love is and what it means to us. We considered what it means to be committed to other people and to God and how love involves serving others and doing things that sometimes we'd rather not. Some very willing young helpers arranged various love hearts on the wall and stick things we wanted to commit to God on the cross.'

Another Sunday Café had a Wimbledon theme and was extremely active for those who wanted to be. (Strawberries were also involved …)

As I write, riots are beginning to die down in London, Manchester and Nottingham. They seem to have been fuelled almost entirely by the desire of people to have something for nothing – simply to acquire more 'stuff'. It has been a depressing mirror held up to our society – a society that worships riches and values people for what they have, rather than who they are. I doubt if the looters (even those who get away with it) will be made much happier by their acquisitions. Certainly, society as a whole has lost out.

One of the things we are in danger of losing in our favoured part of the world is the spirit of thankfulness. Over my lifetime, I have noticed Harvest Festival becoming less and less important as the big supermarkets hold out the possibility of being able to have whatever we want whenever we want it. Even in this rural area, there is no collective sigh of relief as we see the harvest brought in and know that we are able to survive for another winter.

It's easy to shrug our shoulders and to dismiss this as a problem that is too big for us to solve. Yet we can make a difference. In any situation the only thing we can ever have any confidence in changing is ourselves!

So here is a challenge for you as we enter the season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness. Count your own blessings – the ordinary, everyday ones: family and friends; sunshine and rain; food on the table and warmth for our homes. Be truly grateful for what you have - the attitude may be catching! Be thankful and, if you will, give God thanks.

The Blackdown Benefice is made up of six churches serving the five parishes of Buckland St Mary, Churchstanton, Corfe, Otterford and Pitminster, in the boundaries of the Blackdown Hills AONB.

You can find your way around our website using the menu at the top or you can go straight to the individual parish pages by clicking on the parish name below.