Parish Mag Christmas 2011

Shepherd’s Watch The magazine for and by the people of the Good Shepherd

www.goodshepherdbrighton.org.uk

December 2011

60p

� Advent

� Christmas

� Remembrance

Page 2 The Good Shepherd Magazine Dec 2011

Associate Curate Revd Christyan James

14 St Mary’s Square Brighton BN2 1FZ Tel 07595910443; 241753 [email protected]

Churchwardens

Ian Hill 77 Hove Park Road Hove BN3 6LL. Tel (01273 888607) James Baxter 14 Radinden Manor Road Hove, BN3 6NH Tel.07595831508

Stewardship Secretary

David Nissen 1 Shirley Road Hove BN3 6NN Tel (01273) 554183

Vicar Revd. Felix Mascarenhas

The Vicarage, 272 Dyke Road Brighton BN1 5AE Tel (01273) 882987 [email protected]

Reader

Michael Miller 68 Ainsworth Avenue Ovingdean, Brighton BN2 7BG Tel (01273) 240287

Parish Office

The Parish Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.30 to 10.30. Telephone num-b e r i s ( 0 1 2 7 3 ) 5 5 3 7 4 7 . www.goodshepherdbrighton.org.uk

Tea Club Meets on the first Monday of the month at 1.30pm. We welcome all who are 50 years plus, who are free and would like some company. Just come along.


Christmas starts with Christ!

Yes, and however you dress it up, it is Christ with whom it starts. Christ came with the message of peace, love and hope and that is what every church continues to offer to the world. In this cold and dark winter, He is the warmth and the light to humanity.

At every Christmas we celebrate something beyond our capacity to understand intellectually: the mystery of incarnation, God becoming human. However, it does not make us irrational or less human. The joy of every Christian is precisely to aim for highest ideals offered by Christ himself, of being a light and a hope to a seemingly dark and hopeless world.

In this world, often presented as one without hope, many people of good-will continue the mission of Christ. Just as Christ incarnated in human flesh, every Christian tries to be a light of hope and joy to those in darkness. Christmas, which begins with Christ, can and should make our celebrations full of hope, joy and peace.

Christmas therefore, invites also our incarnation, for the

sake of humanity. I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

Fr Felix


Diocese of Chichester Family Support Work

The Family Support Work (FSW) helps families overcome difficult peri-ods in their lives with positive, emotional and practical advice/support. FSW is a UK Charity pioneering work with families across Sussex. We work intensively with families through our many activities including home visits, support groups, one-to-one meetings, drop-ins as well as supported breaks with our community workers at our residential centre, Knowles Tooth, in Hurstpierpoint. Our free and confidential support is offered to parents or carers and their children. This includes anyone who has the responsibility for the care of children, whether they are married, single, separated, partners, divorced, bereaved or grandparents. The FSW mission statement is: "In obedience to the Lord's command to care for those in difficulty, the parishes of the Diocese of Chichester combine through the association to help hurt and broken families." Moving from an adoption agency set up in the nineteenth century, FSW's work has often been of a pioneering nature with a relationship to government provided services. We have anticipated roles taken on by the state with the adoption work being one example. At present our work complements that of government whilst offering support focused on distressed parents as well as children and young people. We repeatedly see that the disintegration of families, arising from issues such as bereavement, illness, imprisonment and relational breakdown is accompanied by many emotional and practical difficulties. FSW currently offers individual and group support to some 250 fami-lies each year, with the work done at our residential and day centre multiplying that figure ten-fold. Family Support Workers "find" their clients by means of referrals from a wide variety of sources related to government. Schools - teachers, educational welfare officers, educational psychologists - general practi-tioners as well as other NHS professionals including Health Visitors and School Nurses, Social Service Department staff, Job Centre advice


workers - as well as members of the church, particularly the clergy, refer clients to us. Large numbers of clients refer themselves. Unlike statutory bodies who often limit client support to a maximum period of time, FSW workers have no set limits and are available by phone during office hours or answer-phone in addition to one-to-one or group meetings. The work of FSW complements that of statutory agen-cies, rather than in any way duplicating it. It can be described as Pre-vention as well as Partnership. Our focus is on the whole family holis-tically. Our underlying aim is to help keep families together, not sepa-rate them, which is often a fear of parents facing difficult situations. We offer confidential, personal, one-to-one services to families and to women and men bringing up children on their own. Several employed (part and full-time) workers make home visits and offer advice on a wide range of issues and needs - financial, emotional and practical through active listening. Our Children’s Centre in the countryside, Knowles Tooth, provides short breaks for families to meet and establish new friendships. The children enjoy the canoes, bikes, tree house, zip wire, & the well equipped playground. Many families from the Church of the Good Shepherd have of course enjoyed a stay at Knowles Tooth and hope to visit again next year.

You can read more about the work of FSW at www.familysupportwork.org

Peter Rose


The Hamper is back!!

Many of you will have noticed that the hamper is back in the corner of the church porch. This was used to collect items for St Patrick’s but due to collection and delivery problems it was suspended some time ago. It has now been agreed that we should collect items for the Brighton & Hove City Mission Basics Bank. Despite the obvious wealth in the City there are still areas of real deprivation and poverty which affect the lives of many individuals and families. Throughout its long history the City Mission has tried to bring practical relief to those genuinely in need. In recent years this has been expressed through the Basics Bank. The people helped may be homeless or in temporary accommodation, families escaping from domestic or other violence, single parents, the unemployed, those with debt problems or mental health issues, ex-prisoners or teenagers thrown out of home. The Basics Bank offers up to four weeks unconditional support with food parcels to the value of £20 per week. It seems incredible that there is a need for food parcels in our affluent advanced society, but reality tells otherwise. Clients of the Basics Bank say they have not eaten a meal for several days and they get excited over, say, a packet of cornflakes. So please help if you can by supplying one or two items from your food cupboard every week. Items needed are as follows: Tinned Meat/Fish Tinned Vegetables/Tomatoes, Baked Beans/Spaghetti Rice, Pasta/Curry/Cooking Sauces Tea, Coffee Cereals Biscuits Noodles, Pasta Tinned Fruit/Puddings Jam, Marmalade Sugar Peanut butter/Marmite Squash/Fruit Juice


Shampoo, Shower Gel Toothpaste Anti-perspirants Razors Many thanks for all your support.

Janet Annis

LUKE’S STORY Each of the four who wrote the gospel story, wrote differently. Matthew who was impressed with the lineage of Our Lord, gave glory to the power of the prophets he possessed. Told of His heirship and His sovereignty… Mark, moved by the Passion, wrote of it until he wakes our tears and tenderly John , speaks words like candles newly lit. But the Doctor, Luke, tells of the physician, who came to heal men’s souls. He is concerned with life with birth. From his astute position he sees the night on which the promise burned. With beauty and with great simplicity he gives the details of the Nativity.

Christie Lund Coles and suggested by Beth Parker.

THE TEA CLUB We are pleased to learn that Marguerite Harland has kindly agreed to lead the organisation of the Tea Club with immediate effect in succession to Liz Alcock who has run it so successfully for many years. Our sincere thanks go to Liz for all the effort that she has put into this project.

Ian Hill


Time for God – and then……

Peter Rose led us in the thanksgiving service where we gave thanks for God’s care and His invitation to His feast. We were a group of tiny people, tweenies, teenies, parents and older people. All were invited to write on “Thank you” cards the things for which we were thankful. Many listed friends and families and food was mentioned. When we went into church for the communion service the children put a bowl of the “Than you” cards on the altar. The harvest displays from last week were still lovely. So many fruits, berries, cherries, apples, hips, tomatoes. So many vegetables, beech leaves and corn bread, ivy, ferns. Among the flowers were roses, lilies, daisies, carnations and geraniums. Looking round the church, there were so many friends we must say “Thank you” for. So many children all looking pleased to be in church! We did indeed “Go out with joy.”

Church Mouse

NO CHANGE A priest was very fond of his cat but the cat was not very well behaved and liked to sit on peoples’ laps. Puss used to follow the priest into PCC meetings and irritate people by pawing at them. The priest decided that he would tie the cat to the leg of his chair to restrain it. This seemed to be acceptable and went on regularly for some years. Eventually the cat died at about the time that the priest retired. Imagine the amazement of the new priest when he went into his first PCC meeting and saw the wardens tying a reluctant cat to his chair. They explained that this was the usual custom.

Overheard by the Mouse


Bringing our faith to life The following passage is from an article in the BRF Guidelines maga-zine May-August 2011 by Steve Hollinghurst, Church Army Researcher in Evangelism to Post-Christian culture, based in Sheffield. He has an academic background in social science & theology, with postgraduate research into contemporary spirituality. What he has to say about relating our faith to today’s culture was interesting to me. Perhaps it will be to you too.

‘For over a thousand years in Britain, the Christian relig-ion had a state role, forming a substantial part of the nation’s legal and educational system and influencing the daily life of monarchs to manual labourers. For much of this period there was no mission, as all citizens were assumed to be Christian. However, what began as a minority view – that those born in Christian countries needed to make adult commitments to faith – grew into the Wesleyan revival and, from there, shaped the church’s thinking on evangelism. This new mission was still, however, a mission within Christendom. The people to whom Wesley preached had been raised as Christians, yet the faith was not personal to them and they had no meaningful connection to it or the church. The same was still mostly true when Billy Graham arrived in the 1950s, but it is now only the case for people who are over 65. Those now approaching retirement - the first of the ‘boomer’ generation – are only about 50% likely to have had some form of Christian upbringing, although many show some Christendom affinity, with over 75% describ-ing themselves as ‘Christian’ in the 2001 census. For people under 50, an increasing majority have no Christian background, with the exception of the Northern Irish, though it is fading among them, too. Furthermore, among those under 30, the majority did


not describe themselves as ‘Christian’ in the 2001 census. We are watching the decline of Christendom as each generation grows further distant from that heritage.’

He goes on to describe how research* has shown that the majority (76%) of adults who have committed themselves to an active Christian faith had had a Christian upbringing.

‘ The 24% who did not have that background, on the whole, did not come to faith through an evangelistic event or programme but over time through personal relation-ships. This should not surprise us: our evangelism was developed for a population with a Christian upbringing. As that heritage fades, we need to rethink mission in Britain. In this there are striking parallels with the situation of the pre-Christendom church as it moved from the familiar territory of the Jewish faith to mission among pagan Gentiles.’

How are we addressing this at the Good Shepherd? I believe we have made a good start with welcoming those who come for marriage services and to have their babies baptised, but who may have no previous background in the Christian faith. We are developing our relationships with these new friends and attempting to demonstrate what our faith means to us in our conversations, our informal services, our discussions and in our lifestyle. We have made a start with our Exploring Christianity course, but perhaps we each need to rethink how we share our faith informally with our friends – mission may now be up to us as much as the responsibility of the trained clergy!

John Finney, ‘Finding Faith Today’, Bible Society, 1992 Article By Steve Hollinghurst, from Guidelines May to August 2011, published by BRF www.biblereadingnotes.org.uk, 2011,

Reproduced with permission.


John Finney, ‘Finding Faith Today’, Bible Society, 1992


:

Remembering Ian Maclean

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts give glory to the living God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I remember sitting in the vicarage next door, with a very bad back. People from the congregation were very kind, and kept phoning to express their concern. Then the doorbell rang, and I groaned aloud at the prospect of having to move from my seat. But I struggled to the porch to answer the door, and Evelyn was standing there, with a plate of smoked salmon sandwiches and a small bottle of champagne. Ian, she told me, and this is important, was in the car, having driven her up the road. It was, as so often, a team effort - with Ian being quietly but gently supportive. As I feasted on the McLean platter, I remember how the pain slowly melted away - as if by magic. As they say in Yorkshire where I now live, 'fine words butter no parsnips!' But Evelyn and Ian's practical and extravagant gift made a world of difference. I've picked this story at random; there are countless tales I could tell you of Ian and Evelyn's straightforward care and generous concern, for each other, for me, and for a whole range of people that you would neither expect nor predict. I am very grateful for the marvelous tributes we have heard today, especially since you knew Ian when he was younger and fitter. You can all see from my build that I'm not a sport-ing man. So I rarely had the pleasure of discussing cricket or football with Ian. Neither did I ever hear his commentary on those sports for the local hospital. But I imagine that's an interesting and creative outlet if you struggle to get a word in edgeways at home! No I'm being a bit mischievous. We didn't discuss sport. Ian would often tell me with affection of his time at the Grammar School. But of course our most regular topic of conversation would be the family: Susan and Richard, Claire and Mark, of whom Ian would always speak with great love and pride. It has been wonderful to hear testimony of Ian's earlier years, though. I didn't meet him till retirement, and then he was as I've said quiet and faithful: a hugely calming influence on, and pillar of support to, his dynamic and indomitable wife. We used to have regular meetings of our Hall Committee in the Dining Room of their home. Ian's role was to take the Minutes, always spot on of course, and to pour the coffee at the start of the meeting, and the sherry at the end. I was so glad when we moved these meetings from the hall to 186 Dyke Road, for they became the most hospitable church


meetings we had. Even when the discussion became heated, as was sometimes the case if anyone had the temerity to challenge the Hall Secretary's decisions, the welcome was warm, and Ian's presence was mollifying. On other occasions, I might visit for a conversation with Evelyn about matters of great moment concerning hall lettings or cleaning or refurbishment. I always used to try to take a turn around the garden, exquisitely cared for, and abundant in colour from 1000 or more pelargoniums. Ian's presence was heard if not seen as he en-joyed playing the piano in the sitting room. And the same thing happened in church too. When Evelyn came up to create her floral wonders, Ian would explore the delights of the church organ. Of course in recent years, the piano has remained silent, and poor Ian's health has slowly faded. But the loving care from which I and my back both benefited has continued in an exemplary way. I'm glad we have a chance to acknowledge and celebrate Evelyn's devotion to and care for Ian this morning. It's a remarkable thing, love. It is of course what makes today so painful, but worthwhile. It's what leaves the gaping hole, deepens the sorrow, evokes feelings, sometimes of guilt, more often of gratitude. Because your lives were so entwined for so long, and in recent years with such intensity of course, it leaves us this morning with much to celebrate, and many tears to shed. That is all the fruit of love. And let's not forget this love goes on. Just because Ian has moved, we believe, from us into a more intimate relationship with God, that does-n't diminish love one jot. As St Paul tells the Christians in Corinth, love never ends. We know that from personal experience. From our feelings of pain and loss today. But also from a more positive perspec-tive. For in so many ways, Ian is always with you. In all you think, say and do. I say that to you Evelyn, especially, and to Susan But it's equally true for all of us here in church today. The reason today mat-ters so much is because our lives have been touched and made better by Ian's, and a bit of him lives on in us. The two tributes we've already heard have made that as plain as can be. It's an amazing thing being a teacher, for you are given the opportunity to play a pivotal role in people's lives, and to put in place the building blocks of a better world. That's what we've heard so powerfully this morning. Ian's love for his family, his love for all of us here, has been shown in myriad ways, all of them tangible and life-changing.


But today is not just a celebration of human love. We've heard this morning my favourite passage from the pen of St Paul. 'I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Yes, the love of God in Christ enfolds us all in the bright days and in the dark. That is the single most important tenet of the Christian Church, a beacon of light and hope in today's challenging world, and for us gathered here today. Today is of course All Saints Day, the day when we celebrate champi-ons of the Christian faith, known and unknown - those who have helped us experience at first hand the life and love of God. I have told from this pulpit many times the story of the little girl who visited a cathedral and admired the stained glass windows, with all their pic-tures of saints from around the world. When she got home, she enthusiastically told her mother of the visit, and finished off: 'Now I know who the saints are. ... They're the people the light shines through.' It's not my job this morning to compete with the Vatican in the creation of new saints, but I'm sure you know where I'm heading. For today we've gathered to give thanks for the life and work of Ian Maclean, and we've heard how for so many people here, his family, his pupils, his friends, he has been a source of great encouragement and enlightenment - even if in recent years the light has been a little fainter. That's a marvelous quality to reflect on this All Saints Day, and as we celebrate Ian's life this morning, we can be confident that he now enjoys that glorious new life which God promises to all his children.

To him be all glory this day and for ever. Amen.

Jonathan Greener, Dean of Wakefield Cathedral


Help! We need men.....

.... that was my plea last December and I’m delighted to report that we have our man! He started to ‘learn the ropes’ (so to speak) in the au-tumn and he’ll hopefully be ringing in the band on Sundays in the New Year. So then we’d like to start teaching someone else – maybe you? You don’t have to be male – anyone 11 or over will be very welcome. This year we’ve had to do some maintenance in the bell tower – the bell frame was beginning to rust so this was cleaned and painted in the spring and we’ve just replaced one of the ropes which had started to fray. Now we’re coming up to the Christmas period which is busy for us ringers. First, a visiting band from London are attempting to ring a peal (5040 changes taking nearly 3 hours) on 10 December. Then we’ll ring before the Christmas Carol Service on 18 December, for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning which falls on a Sunday anyway this year. The Good Shepherd Bell ringers wish all readers of Shepherds Watch a happy and peaceful Christmas and look forward to ringing you a wel-come to the church in 2012.

Pat Hunter Tower Captain

([email protected])

Grub Club We’ll have had Tea and a Beetle Drive at Daisy’s by the time you read this and you’ll know who was quickest to throw the dice and draw their Beetles. We’ve found those who protest that they don’t know how to play are the ones who win the prizes! As December is a busy month for us all and the third Monday is getting close to Christmas, we have nothing planned. So the next Grub Club meeting will be lunch at The Sportsman, Withdean, on Monday 16 January. This is always popular (and a very good value carvery) and we look forward to seeing lots of you there. In February we’ll be having Fish and Chips and Poems – something we’ve missed for a couple of years. We haven’t fixed a venue yet but watch the service sheet for more details nearer the time.

Pat Hunter


Charity Christmas card display… This year our cards will support the work of the Diocese of Chichester Family Support Work. For many years now we have sold cards to dis-play at the back of Church. Not only does this avoid the clutter of indi-vidual cards, but also raises money for a local charity at Christmas. Many people will know of the work of FSW from visits to Knowles Tooth Children’s Centre. But their work goes much wider, helping families in difficulties through a variety of circumstances. A separate article in this magazine gives more background. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 for each card. We have kept this the same for many years, so it would be marvellous if you feel you can give more. And of course please remember to use a gift aid envelope if you are a taxpayer. Peter and Margaret Rose will have the cards on sale from Sunday 4 December, when Anne Twistleton will come to talk to us about the work of FSW. Please give generously to this good cause and use your card to wish your friends a happy Christmas.

… And our Parish Christmas card Once again we will be distributing a Christmas card to all homes in our Parish. The card will give details of our main services from Advent 1 to Christmas Day. It will also highlight some events early in the New Year and remind people of the Mothering Sunday and Easter services, the Good Shepherd Festival and Fun Day and our regular services. The card will be distributed between 23 November and 2 December. It will also be handed out at services from Sunday 4 December (Advent 1). As we have to order a minimum number of cards to get the best print prices, we will have lots of spares. Please feel free to take some cards to give/send to friends and neighbours or to leave in your school or workplace.

Peter Rose


iZulu Orphan Projects Harvest Appeal

A huge thanks to all those of you who contributed to the Harvest Appeal in aid of iZulu Orphan Projects in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The collection from the congregation and Lancing College Prep, together with profit from the Harvest lunch and the cupcake sale organised by the children, raised a total of £755 including Gift Aid which the church has rounded up to £800 and a cheque for this amount has now been sent to South Africa. I will report back in the next issue of the magazine with further news from the project but be assured that this money will be a huge help in furthering the great work of this organisation.

Janet Annis



Pat and Daisy


Proposal for the Rebuilding of Demolished Houses Umm Al Khair Bedouin Community – South Mount Hebron

Location: The area of Umm Al Khair is located right behind the Israeli settlement of Karmail. Only a fence separates between the 21st century settlement and the tents and makeshift shelters of the Palestinian refugee community of Umm Al Khair.

Population: The area of Umm Al Khair is populated by 125 Palestinian Bedouins from Al Hathaleen tribe which left its original dwellings in the area of Arad in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba. All of the residents of the community are registered refugees with UNRWA. Uniqueness of Umm Al Khair: The community of Umm Al Khair is considered by most national and international organizations working in the South of the West Bank as the most vulnerable community in the said region. This fact is due to a number of reasons including the fact that the community resides on lands occupation forces want to use to expand the settlement of Karmil. As such, Israeli occupation forces have carried out demolition campaigns in the years 2006, 2008 and 2011 in an effort to displace the Palestinian residents. The Problem: In the year 2008 Israeli occupation forces demolished 6 structures in the area of Umm Al Khair including 5 shelters. The owner of one of the demolished houses managed to re-build his house only to be re-demolished on September 9, 2011. As of the writing of this proposal, all of the families whose shelters were demolished are crammed in smaller shelters due to the inability to re-build depending on their own financial resources. Goal: The goal of this proposal is to re-build the houses that were destroyed in 2008. This decision was arrived at after extensive consultations with the population of the area who unanimously indicated that re-building the demolished structures is a priority of the community.


Steps Taken So Far: U The total equipment and materials needed for the re-building proc-ess were surveyed by long-term laborers. They have estimated that each shelter would cost around NIS 5,000. U A number of legal and rights organizations were approached as to take initial steps to prevent the demolition from taking place once again. The advice given by these organizations is move the location of the intended shelter at least 30 meters away from the original location of the shelter. U A local campaign was conducted to start the construction in early October. So far, it did not bear any fruit. U In the aftermath of the demolition of another shelter on September 9, 2011, enough money was raised to re-build the demolished shelter. The following pictures are of the materials handover. Message From Peter Coleman

On the 13th October this year I was made aware of a desperate situa-tion that was taking place in the South Hebron Hills in the West Bank amongst a group of Palestinian refugees that were living legally on Pal-estinian land but are consistently being harassed by settlers from an illegal Jewish settlement that is directly behind the tiny shacks that house a total of 125 refugees. The intention of the Jewish settlers is to take over the land in order to expand the Jewish settlement. This Jewish settlement is illegal under International Law. The Israeli forces in September demolished one of the structures that was rebuilt in 2008 despite a Court Order which was supposed to prevent this from happening. Currently the refugees are living in hellish conditions crammed into tiny shacks. Funds to build the first structure came through but not for the other four structures. Each structure would house a family of around 20 people. A friend of ours, James Agha, who is a human rights monitor in the area alerted me to the terrible conditions that these people were living in. I decided to make a contribution together with other friends of James Agha so that the other four houses could be built.

Peter Coleman


Meets on second Thursday afternoon and fourth Thursday evening of the month. Please contact Christine James telephone (01273) 724802

Mothers' Union Winter Calendar

Saturday 3rd December 9.00am Corporate Communion in the Holy Redeemer chapel. Thursday 8th December 7.00pm Christmas Party at 77 Hove Park Road. Saturday 7th January 9.00am Corporate Communion in the Holy Redeemer chapel Thursday 12th January 12.30pm Talk Time led by Christine James at 22 Ranelagh Villlas, Hove. Snack lunch Saturday 28th January 10.30am Coffee morning in the Church Hall to raise money for the Wheels Appeal. Saturday 4th February 9.00am Corporate Communion in the Holy Redeemer Chapel Thursday 9th February 2.45pm Talk Time led by Pat Hunter at 29 The Martlet Hove Thursday 23rd February 7.30pm in the Green Room AGM and Bring and Buy


WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER ......is a world-wide movement led by Christian women of many traditions who call the faithful together to observe a common day of prayer each year which is always the first Friday of March. More than 170 countries participate in this annual day of celebration which brings together people of various races, cultures and traditions sharing together in God's word and worship. The origins of Women's World Day of Prayer date back to the 19th cen-tury when Christian women of the United States and Canada initiated a variety of activities in support of women's involvement in mission at home and in other parts of the world. These activities related to: concern for women and children, the role of prayer in mission work, a vision of Christian unity, biblical study as everyone's responsibility, social issues and working with immigrants and linking world peace with world mis-sion. In 1926 the women of North America distributed the worship ser-vice to many countries and partners in mission. The worship service has a special annual theme prepared by a different country each year. Through preparation and participation in this, we can come to know how people of other countries, languages and cultures un-derstand the biblical passages in their context. We can hear their con-cerns and needs and can feel ourselves in solidarity with them. In this way it is possible to experience the richness of the Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international ecumenical expression. We will be hosting the 2012 service here at the Good Shepherd. The theme is 'Let Justice Prevail' and has been prepared by the women of Ma-laysia. Please do come along and join in- men are very welcome too! There will be tea afterwards.

Christine James



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Did you see…?

SONGS OF PRAISE fiftieth Anniversary. on October 9th. 2,500,000 still listen weekly.

A quote from Mahatma Gandhi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”


Activities for Children and Young People

The Little Lambs

(Parents and Toddler Group) Mee ts on Wednesday afternoon in the Church Hall.

Brownies

7-10 years

Meet on Tuesday evening in the Church Hall. Please contact Tessa Pacey (01273) 551298

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Hugs – and why God made them

Everyone was meant to share God’s all abiding love and care,

He saw that we would need to know A way to let these feelings show. So God made hugs a special sign And symbol of this love divine,

A circle of our open arms To hold in love and keep out harm,

One simple hug can do its part To warm and cheer another heart,

A hug’s bit of heaven above That signifies His perfect love.

Anon. from St. Mary Magdalene Magazine


The Christmas Quiz

The 2011 Christmas Quiz is here! The subject this year is Animals – and I’ve had fun not just thinking up interesting clues for cats and dogs, but finding some more unusual animals to challenge you . The price this year will revert to £1 a copy but there are only 50 questions so it may not take you so long to complete. There will be prizes, of course. The quiz will be on sale up to Christmas Day and the closing date for entries is Thursday 5 January 2012. We hope to announce the winners on Sunday 8 January. Buy your copy(ies) as soon as you can – it gives you maximum time to think up your answers. If you can take extra copies to sell to your friends, it will be a help as all profits go towards the church upkeep. If you want copies and don’t see me around, give me a call on 555954 (or email [email protected] ) and I’ll see you get them.

Pat Hunter


The NHS

I had a call from Victor this morning. He’s in all kinds of trouble. His 85-year-old-father-in-law is lost in London; his mother-in-law, Mumsy, has discharged herself from a nurs-ing home and Constance is still very angry about his articles. There is no way, Tim, I can prepare my regular piece for the church so will you take over? So here, and for this time only a piece about our National Health Service. I should add that I am a supporter and admirer of the

service which has always done me proud. I was born on 22nd November 1933, and this week I made my fort-nightly visit to the Outpatient department of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. There’s not much that’s royal about it nowadays, but it’s a surprisingly friendly place. For the last five years I have been taking Warfarin. ‘It’s a poison, said my consultant cheerfully. ‘It’ll stop you getting a stroke. You don’t want a stroke, do you?’ ‘Of course not, ’I replied. For the record, I have been suffering from Atrial Fibrillation – a flutter-ing heart, the same problem that troubled our previous Prime Minister, Tony Blair. He got better, and he got seen a darn sight quicker than me, but I am not complaining: I have received excellent care from our NHS. I hated my first visit. Outpatients was very crowded, seemingly disor-ganised, and I had to wait forever. The chairs were crammed in like cinema seats, and even so at busy times people have to stand. But now I look forward to my visits, and can usually remember my hospital number, K74875. Will it be Doreen, Shirley, Pamela or Gladys who will take my blood? Sometimes it’s a Scotsman. He is a nice man but speaks so softly that it makes hearing difficult. I must try to remember my hearing aid; it has been provided free by the NHS and it helps. I have made friends, and that’s not so easy when you get to my age.


I am on nodding acquaintance with a number of patients and have become fond of the tea lady. I treat myself to a scone and butter after the needle; that was, until this week. Where are the scones? ‘The bakery has gone bust, ’said the tea lady. Her name is Janice. Some-times I think of Janice and myself going to the pictures, but she lives in Brighton and I in Hove. I have grown to appreciate the bravery of many sick patients and the way the nurses look after them. It seems to me that the nurses in the department are happy and efficient, and I can’t understand why the Argus keeps criticising. When I was young I had my tonsils out on the kitchen table and the doctor was paid in cash. Last week a man collapsed, falling from his seat to the floor. A nurse rushed to his assistance; it wasn’t easy for her to get to him and a row of seats had to be moved. ‘I’m so sorry, nurse, ‘the man said. ‘Don’t you worry love, we’ll have you right in no time.’ Both of them knew that would not be the case. As I left the hospital I stopped to speak to Charlie. ‘How are you?’ ‘Not too bad, but the wife’s poorly.’ ‘What’s wrong with her?’ I asked. ‘Blowed if I know’, he replied. Charlie, a merchant seaman for most of his life, is an interesting character. He told me that he always arrives an hour before his appointment. ‘I don’t like to keep people waiting’, he explained.

Tim Parker


OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES:

8am, Holy Communion 10.15am, Parish Eucharist 10.15am, “Time for God”, informal worship for all ages, in the Church

Hall; On the third Sunday of each month there is a single Family Eucharist in Church at 10.15

6.30pm, Choral Evensong on third Sunday of each month and Evening Worship on other Sundays.

(Eucharist on Thursday at 10.30am followed by Coffee and on Saturday at 9am)

December 2011 2: Christmas Show, Pre-Prep Lancing school,10.15am 4: Advent Carol Service, 6.30pm 7: B&H J Girls School Concert, 4pm 8: Lancing Prep School, Carol Service, 4pm 9: Windlesham School Christmas Service, 4pm 11: Children’s Christmas party, 12noon 18: Carol Service, 5pm 24: Christmas eve, Crib Service, 6pm 24: Midnight Mass, 11.30pm 25: Eucharist, 8am and Family Eucharist, 10.15am

January 2012 20: Family Challenge/Games Evening 7pm 29: Candlemas & Christingle, 10.15am February 2012 5: Any Questions & Breakfast, 9.30am 19: Brownies’ Sunday (Family Eucharist)10.15am 22: Ash Wednesday, Eucharist at 7.30pm (Lent Courses begin) 26: Eucharist with Ashes, 10.15am


DAVID FORGHAM ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES

I am a qualified accountant providing a professional service to meet individual client needs • Sole traders/partnership accounts • Personal tax returns • Limited company accounts • Bookkeeping/Vat Returns • Management accounts Reasonable rates, no vat charged For details please contact David Forgham on 07887 902963 or [email protected]


Grub Club Meets on third Monday of the month. All welcome. Please contact Daisy Walpole at (508600) and Pat Hunter at (555954)

Choir Choir practice every Friday evening in the church. New singers are always welcome. Please contact: Derek Froud (681007)

Hall To book the hall please contact Margaret Bell (505763)

Keep Fit With Yoga Classes are held on Tuesday mornings – 10:15am to 11:15am. All ages welcome. Please contact Joanne Cassidy (508010)

Flowers If you would like to donate an arrangement in memory of someone or help with the flower arranging, please contact Gloria Cruttenden (505225).

Bell Ringing Ringing practice every Tuesday evening in the Tower. New ringers are always welcome. Please contact either Pat

Hunter (555954) or Margaret Bell.

Notice-boards Information (lists and posters) for the notice boards may be placed in the tray in the church porch windowsill or contact Gloria Cruttenden (505225).

Magazine Contributions to the magazine are welcome. Please leave copy at the back of Church by 15th of every February, May, August and November or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] by these dates.

The Church of the Good Shepherd Service Times

Sunday Worship 8am Holy Communion 10:15 Sung Eucharist* 10:15 Time for God**

6.30 Evensong

*On one Sunday each month this will be a Family Eucharist to which children are particularly welcome. ** Time for God Services are held in the Church Hall. Weekday Eucharists

Tuesday 8:30am

Thursday 10:30am

Saturday 9am

Morning Prayer

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8.30am

Evening Prayer

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 5.30pm

Documents

Parish Mag Christmas 2011