Shepherd’s Watch The magazine for and by the people of the Good Shepherd www.goodshepherdbrighton.org.uk
June
2014
60p
The GS Festival Program from June 14 to 22 and the Great “Bake
Off” ...23
A church of hope ...4 Tribute: Ronnie Hunter...6 Mice Work, if you can get it....12 The Great Leveller...14 Victor (is Back!)...24 Knowing me, knowing you … Daisy Walpole... 30 Etc.etc.
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The Good Shepherd Magazine
Vicar
June 2014
Assistant Priest
Revd. Felix Mascarenhas The Vicarage, 272 Dyke Road Revd Christyan James Brighton BN1 5AE 14 St Mary’s Square Tel (01273) 882987 Brighton BN2 1FZ vicar@goodshepherdbrighton.org Tel 07595910443; 241753 .uk Christyanj@yahoo.com
Deacon
Reader
Helen Rawlings 6 Beacon Hill Ovingdean, Brighton BN2 7BN Tel 07967695753
Michael Miller 68 Ainsworth Avenue, Ovingdean, Brighton BN2 7BG Tel (01273) 240287
Churchwardens David Stevens: 2 Shirley Road, Hove, BN3 6NN, Tel (01273) 555197; desandpms@yahoo.com Hannah Beattie: 36 Matlock Road, Brighton BN15BF Tel 07771511879, hannahbeat@googlemail.com
Parish Office The Parish Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.30 to 10.30. The Parish Office telephone number is (01273) 553747
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Why Celebrate? Simply because we are called or born to celebrate life. As human beings celebration is part of our life; and being a church community we feel called to spread that flavor of joy to others. You might wonder what we celebrate here at the Good Shepherd. We celebrate liturgical feasts as well as various social events. That is because we believe we are called to thank God on one hand and share that joy with others on the other, particularly with those living around us. I personally believe we are all spiritual beings standing on a material basis. In us, the material and spiritual elements meet. Celebrating together provides for all of us, an opportunity to give witness of our human and divine calling. It is with these sentiments so many of us gather together particularly in the week of our festival. It’s admirable to see our parishioners spreading the social and spiritual gospel around. Such people find a fulfillment in their life for celebrating their life with and also for the sake of others. And Jesus himself came so that our joy in him may be complete. I hope many from around will come and share their joy also with us. Fr Felix ========================================== While every effort is made to ensure all information in Shepherd’s
Watch is correct, neither the Parochial Church Council nor the individualevery contributors can to beensure held responsible or in accept liability for any While effort is made all information Shepherd’s Watch is corerrors and/or omissions. rect, neither the Parochial Church Council nor the individual contributors can Theheld PCC does not or endorse the companies, products and services that be responsible accept liability for any errors and/or omissions. appear Shepherd’s Watch. The PCCin does not endorse the companies, products and services that appear in Shepherd’s Watch. Responsibility for any loss, damage or distress resulting from the use of Responsibility anyinformation loss, damageinorShepherd’s distress resulting from the usecaused, of or relior reliance onfor any Watch, however ance on any information in Shepherd’s Watch, however caused, is disclaimed is disclaimed by the Parochial Church Council. by the Parochial Church Council.
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A Church that offers Hope When listening to the Jeremy Vine show some weeks ago it came as no surprise to hear Australian-born Peter Tatchell challenging David Cameron’s proposal that we are a Christian country. Like so many non-believers he never misses the opportunity of seeking to create discord, where none exists, to justify his doubtful opinions. Historically the Christian Church forms part of the fabric of this country. It was influential in the development of education, the creation of universities leading to early scholastic philosophy and theology and the advancement of law. It has provided institutional benevolence to the poor, the sick, orphans and others in need; characteristic of the Christian church from the beginning – a legacy for modern governments. A pivotal role of the church has been the development and stability of family life. It rejects the subordination of women in the family in favour of equality of dignity and responsibility between men and women and advocates the procreation and rearing of children. The church upholds the truth of moral order and works towards the welfare of all members of society. The core teachings of the majority of religions are similar: the supremacy of God and man’s duty to him and his fellow beings – and they have many externally common features and unity. All of today’s major religions stress the necessity of ethical life and morality and their ultimate goal is to make men perfect. So given that ‘religion’ is a force for good, why is it that so many people are keen to destroy it?
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Certainly the Church has had its problems but its accomplishments far outweigh those of today’s political parties and the selfabsorbed ministers that serve them. Its teachings have been a source for good and it has been our conscience. For centuries, it has provided solace to millions of people during times of war and suffering or as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. It has provided hope and the realisation that man is ultimately answerable to his maker. In truth we require a vibrant national Church and an energetic State working in tandem with a view to reversing current trends and clawing back moral order and honesty.
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A Tribute to Ronnie Some of you will not recognise Ronnie from the photograph on the service sheet. But that is the smile of the man that I married that he never recaptured after the stroke nearly 14 years ago. But his personality didn’t change and he was mentally alert right up to the end. Ronnie was born in Hackney on 11th September 1921, the only child of Charles and Cicely. They moved to Bush Hill Park and he attended Clark’s College, Stamford Hill. Although all his school friends have died – the last one in 2011 – he was still in touch with Mewburn who lived next door and as children they used to play with their train sets. At the start of WW2 the family moved to Sidcup where his father was stationed and he worked briefly for a radio dealer helping with repairs – a job that he loved and often spoke about. After failing a medical to join the forces because of his asthma, he was seconded to the Civil Service to work in the R A Records Office at Footscray where again he made lifelong friends. The house in Sidcup was bombed with him, his family and the Scottie dog in the Morrison shelter - luckily none of them was hurt. He transferred to Edinburgh when his parents moved up to Scotland and, much to his disgust, they returned to Sidcup when the
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war was over. He then started working in the law. It was not a job that he enjoyed but he stuck at it, working for several firms in London and then in Hove until 1980. The family moved to Hove to be near his grandparents in Shoreham. Ronnie’s father died suddenly in 1969 and he cared for his disabled mother until her death in 1972. We were married later that year. In 1980, we bought a small hotel in Torquay. But with the recession hitting our main sources of business, we sold it and moved back to Sussex, Ronnie rejoining the Civil Service for a few years before retiring. Ronnie had a lifelong passion for cars – his father had owned a car in the late 1920s – quite unusual for those times. When we first met he had an open-topped MG TC sports car – pretty but very unreliable. But it was nearly the end of our romance when he sold it in favour of an Austin A30! A succession of cars followed – some small, some larger, some sporty, some not. He was drawn to garage forecourts and one of his favourite pastimes was what I called Car Salesman Baiting. He’d be looking round a car and up would come a salesman asking if he could help. Ronnie had no intention of buying that car but he would lead the poor man on eventually offering a really stupid price – so embarrassing. His interest extended to motorsport. As a member of the Brighton & Hove Motor Club he took part in rallies and trials (getting very annoyed when I once beat his time on a trial – in his mini!) and we’ve spent hours polishing up cars and engines to take part in the Concours D’Elegance that used to be held on Madeira Drive each summer.
Page 8 The Good Shepherd Magazine June 2014 Motor racing too – most of our early dates were spent at racing circuits watching the Lewis Hamiltons of the day and many of you knew not to contact us if there was Formula 1 on TV. In his younger days, Ronnie was also a keen railway enthusiast. He had articles published in specialist magazines and he’d spend holidays on guided tours round railway yards both in this country and abroad. We were passengers on the very last Brighton Belle from London to Brighton in 1972. Ronnie loved dancing. On ice, square dancing – he was a member of a team giving demonstrations in the ‘50s and I think another one of the team is here today. Ballroom dancing – many Saturday evenings in the late ‘50s and ‘60s would be spent at a dance hall or enjoying a dinner dance and it was a source of regret that he only ever managed a few steps after his stroke. Then there was Scottish Country dancing which he took up in the early 1960s. I have many happy memories of our attending dances – having frantically swatted up on the steps beforehand, cushions on the lounge floor representing other dancers. Ronnie was very aware of his Scottish ancestry and joined the Brighton, Hove & District Scottish Association in 1963. Apart from dancing, he was an active member of the drama group. His favourite part was that of a vicar in Suspect. He served on the Council for many years and was proud to be President from 1988 to 1992. He had an eclectic taste in music: trad jazz, dance bands, girl singers, male singers, some pop music and some classical. He had a collection of cds, a collection of LPs, a collection of 45s and a collection of pre-war records in pristine condition.
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Ronnie loved his holidays – we rarely went to Scotland without visiting Edinburgh and going round some of his old haunts. He’d been holidaying in Bournemouth since he was a baby and never tired of going there. He enjoyed coach trips both in this country and abroad and latterly he’d enjoyed the pilgrimage holidays with friends from this church – the last one to Cyprus in October. And then this church and its community who have seen him through the last difficult years of his life. After his stroke when he was living in a nursing home, he would insist on coming to Sunday evensong. He couldn’t get into our car and wheelchairfriendly taxis were rare in 2000 and the wait for one would sometimes be over an hour. But we got here – occasionally very early, sometimes late. When he came home in the summer of 2001 he was able to take part fully in the life of the church again and worked hard to be able to walk to the altar rail to receive communion – which he did for a number of years. He packed a lot of living into the years after his stroke and was determined that his physical disability wasn’t going to stop him. We travelled around the country visiting friends and relations. We went to Wimbledon most years. We went to Hickstead and the theatre. We negotiated a field normally inhabited by cows to reach a tiny church for a family wedding. If I demurred at some expedition he would say “why not?” How do you answer that! With all this, it is hardly surprising that he made lots of friends. But he also had the ability to keep friends. He was in touch with his childhood playmate and school friends. The same for work colleagues – he even kept up with several old girlfriends. He still heard from 2 of our waitresses in Torquay – one now living in Australia. He remained friends with people we’ve met on holiday and he would be so pleased to see so many friends here today.
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Ronald Charles Alexander Hunter: A loving son A loving husband A true and loyal friend Thank you, darling, for being my loving husband, my best friend. Pat Hunter ====================== Quarter Peal to celebrate the life of Ronnie Hunter A Quarter Peal of 1260 Grandsire Triples was rung at the Good Shepherd on Easter Monday to celebrate the life of Ronnie Hunter. The ringers who all knew Ronnie were drawn from several bands in Sussex and Pat invited friends to join her outside to listen. Afterwards everyone enjoyed tea and cakes in the church porch.
Front: Anne Franklin (Ringmer), Marion Huang (St Nicholas, Brighton), Alison Mitchell (Good Shepherd), Pat Aylward (Ringmer), Charlotte Pacey (Good Shepherd), Pat Hunter, Marisa Hayes (Ringmer), Jonathan Franklin (Ringmer), John Norris (Hurstpierpoint)
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OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES: 8am, Holy Communion 10.15am, Parish Eucharist 10.15am, “Time for God” informal worship for all ages, in Church Hall On the third Sunday of each month there is a single All age Eucharist in Church at 10.15 6.30pm, Choral Evensong : Please look at the details on our website (Eucharist on Thursday at 10.30am followed by Coffee and on Saturday at 9am) June 2014 2nd : Tea Club, 1.30-3.15pm 8th : PENTECOST 14th :GS Festival begins with the Fam. Fun Day, details on pg 22 15th : TRINITY SUNDAY-FESTIVAL EUCHARIST 17th: Programme of music & singing by local schools, 2pm;Wellywanging & open air picnic on church grounds, 6.30-8pm 20th: Variety Programme: Community Talents 7.30pm
22nd : Closing Eucharist for G S Festival 10.15 July 2014 7th : Tea Club, 1.30-3.15pm 11th: Corpus Christi Euch. (transferred) in the vicarage garden; strawberries/wines Ascension Sunday 12th: Summer Gardening around the church, 9.45-12.00 August 2012 17th : Hymns & Pimms, and BBQ, 5pm, in the vicarage garden
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MICE WORK - IF YOU CAN GET IT Oh! Oh! I am so hungry” said the mouse. There must be some food in this house? Mouse you see, was one of three, and they were not blind. “We are too”, the others said, and they all set off in a gentle tread … some food too find. Feeling peckish, rather, they headed for the larder … squeezing … through the gap, under the door, they were amazed at what they saw! Food, food, food, food galore! Yummy, yummy, yummy; we will soon have some food inside our tummy” they cried, rubbing it … of all the lovely food, if you please! They were only after cheese. Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff; then they caught the whiff, but cheese they could not see! Sniff, sniff. Now where can it be? They searched high and low, yes they did. It must be hid! Then, they found a dish with a funny shaped lid. Could it be in there?. It was their wish because they were so very, very, hungry. Sniff, sniff, The lovely whiff came form inside. Hooray! It is in here, they cried. To lift the lid, they tried and tried … Oh fudge! the thing just would not budge. Gerry the giraffe, poked his head in the kitchen door. Is it cheese you smell, are you sure? Because you see, it could be me! My feet that pong. My nose, is so far from my toes---and my legs are too long, as for my feet, I cannot smell those. To help you, I would like to try, but the larder is too low, and I am too high! So into that, I cannot go. Nellie, the elephant who lived in the toy-box, tromped through the kitchen in her tread ---. Oh! Nellie, cried the mice. Will you please be very nice and help us the hungry mice? The cheese is hid and we cannot lift this lid? Oh! No. We elephants, are scared of mice, my dear.
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Then promptly jumped up on to a chair. I'll help you in your struggle and strain, go to the play-room and borrow the crane. Oh! What a good idea, thank you Nellie, for poking your trunk in here, the mice replied, and to the play-room, they went in stride --- . Whey Hey! This is easy peasy. They hooked up the lid and wound away … Very soon, the lid began to r.i..s…e and there was the cheese before their very eyes! “Yummy, yummy”. They all jumped inside … and took a bite, Then it happened, an awful plight. The lid, came crashing down …. And mice were trapped inside. Help Help! Let us out, They cried. Then into the kitchen, Mrs Jones did stride ---“Oh! I am so hungry, she cried; I think I shall have some Welsh-rarebit, that is cheese on toast, if you did not know. So to the larder she did go … It gave her such a shock, Oh yes it did! When she lifted the lid. Oh! Oh! Oh! she cried, upon seeing those mice inside, she could not jump up on to the chair, dratt! Nellie, had flattened that! Oh, Oh, No, No, I will never ever, eat cheese again, she said. I will go to the take- away, instead. So off to the shop, she goes. Hello! Mrs Jones, You would like some fried mice noodles, I suppose?. No, no, no, and home she went in her trend --- and had a bowl of rice crispies instead. Peter Turner SERVERS WANTED Would you like to know more about Serving at the altar? We are looking for new Servers to join the team. Full training will be given. Please see John Holden head Server.
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The Great Leveller One of my favourite sonnets is “Surprised By Joy” written by William Wordsworth. In this piece, Wordsworth relates vividly to an episode of his struggle to cope with the death of his four year old daughter, Catherine. As he narrates his experience, he looks back with unfaltering conviction that nothing but sorrow must result from his ‘most grievous loss, and the worst pang that sorrow ever bore.’ The death of someone we intensely love is a death within ourselves. When someone we love dies, part of us dies with that person. Hence the suffering. There is a temptation in bereavement for people to use the grieving process to try to explain the inexplicable. People often resort to the familiarity of pious words, the assurances of heavenly bliss primarily, because they do not know what else to do. The hurt is so intense, and they desperately want to soothe a searing pain. I have never found that to be helpful. I do not for a moment deny the reality of what we Christians call our heavenly hope. But pointing to a future hope rarely meets the depth of bereavement now, a bereavement in which all of us are living at this moment. Every person I know has had to undergo personal bereavement. I am no exception. I know what it means to lose loved ones: both grandparents, several close friends, just to name my most intense memories of grief. I have also, in my ordained ministry, been privileged to live inside the experience of others' bereavement many times. Yet whether it was in my personal life or my professional life, comfort has never come to me in pious words or heavenly promises, which did not come near the place where I was living when grief surrounded me. I am today not certain that the Christian Church has been correct over the centuries when it has spoken of God in linear terms as that reality that is found at the end of life. Increasingly God is found, at least for me, in the present, in our willingness to enter life, scaling its heights, plumbing its depths, squeezing sweet-
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ness out of its every moment. Personally, I believe that the presence of God is experienced when we give ourselves away to another in a relationship of love and caring. Those are the occasions when the finite touches the infinite, and when meaning makes time stand still. It is in the moment that we call "now," that time opens into eternity and the timeless God is met. We all attempt to avoid facing the experiences of death and bereavement. But whether we want to or not they must be entered - embraced - endured. Their pain cannot be tranquilized or denied. Death is not a bad dream that will flee with the dawn. If we are going to live honestly, death must be accepted as real. We must journey through what the 23rd Psalm calls "the valley of the shadow of death" with our eyes wide open. It is the honest contemplation of death, the intensive thought that it will some day happen to us, that softens the hardest of hearts, binds one to another with cords of love and compassion, and destroys the barriers of social order, creed and race among the peoples of this earth all of whom are subject to the common destiny of death. Death is a great leveller. Pride of birth, pride of position, pride of wealth, pride of power will give way to the allconsuming inevitability of death. Grief invites us all to walk into the shadow of death and to find there a new commitment to live, to live fully; a new commitment to love, to love wastefully, and a new commitment to be all that each of us can be. Grief calls us to dedicate ourselves to build a world in which every person has a better opportunity to live more fully, to love more wastefully and to be more deeply that which each of us is created to be. That is the way we take death's hand, walk with it daily as a friend, and because of its reality learn to live with new passion. That is how grief will be transformed, God is met in the depths of anguish and heaven is entered in time. That is also where we will finally understand St Paul's words that God is that presence in which we live and move and have our being, the God who is all in all. Christyan James
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Chansons D’Eté A Cappella French and English songs – the perfect start to the summer season Directed by: Sandy
Chenery
Sunday 22nd June 2014, 3 pm Church of St John the Evangelist, Knoyle Road, Preston, Brighton Tickets £10 in advance from our website, £12 on the door (under 16’s free) See www.esterhazychoir.org for more details
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The Good Shepherd Magazine June 2014 Good Shepherd Festival 2014 FAMILY FUN DAY… 2-5pm Saturday 14th June
Bouncy Castle Live Music Stalls Books Free Tea & Cakes Plant Stalls Tombola Food Stalls
Coconut Shy Games and Competitions Face Painting Craft Stalls Bric a Brac Stalls Foods Grand Raffle
A week of fun and entertainment for the whole community. As usual, the festivities will begin with the Family Fun Day and run through the week. Here below are some of the details: Saturday 14 June 2pm to 5pm Family Fun Day. Admission Free! Sunday 15 June 10.15am Festival Eucharist with The Reverend Graham Low, being the preacher for the day. Tuesday 17 June 2pm Programme of music and singing by students from our neighbouring schools Tuesday 17 June 6.30pm to 8.00pm “Welly wanging” This will be followed by “Bring a picnic to share”. Friday 20 June 7.30pm Variety Programme: Parishioners’ talents. Sunday 22 June 10.15am Festival Worship with Families and Children, all on the theme of “The Samaritan Woman”
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The Good Shepherd Welly Wanging Championships 2014 What, you may ask, is ‘Welly Wanging’? Welly wanging or welly throwing is a sport that originated in Britain, most likely in Yorkshire. Competitors are required to hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within boundary lines. Many other countries have their own equivalent of welly wanging. The town of Taihape, New Zealand, styles itself the gumboot -throwing capital of the country, while an annual Boot-Throwing World Championship takes place in various European countries such as Germany, Finland and Poland. The World Welly Wanging Championships are held each year during the Summer Gala in the Village of Upperthong in Yorkshire. The Good Shepherd Welly Wanging Championships will take place on Tuesday 17 June from 6.30pm during the Good Shepherd Festival. This is the evening when the church groups, Brownies and others meet for a special event and a shared picnic. There will be 3 categories: Men, Women and Pre-teens. There will also be a Team prize – a maximum of 6 in a team with the best 3 throws (man, woman, pre-teen) to count. Each contestant will be allowed 2 throws (right and left boot) which will count for both individual and team events. Entries are £1 – and please bring your own boots. Entry forms will be available from the beginning of June or enter on the night. Afterwards we’ll enjoy our usual picnic so bring a plate of food and a drink to share. Come to compete or to cheer on your team. Pat Hunter
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MOTHERS’ UNION PROGRAMME Saturday 7th June 9am: Corporate Communion in the Lady Chapel Thursday 12th June 12.45pm: Talk Time led by Marguerite Harland at 7 The Paddock, Hove, Followed by snack lunch Thursday 26th June 7.30pm: Poems at Pat’s. Please bring your favourite poem to read at Pat Hunter’s, 29 The Martlet ,Hove Saturday 5th July 9.00am: Corporate Communion in the Lady Chapel Thursday 17th July 3pm: Our Summer outing will be to Liz Hill’s home for afternoon tea. Please ring Liz to let her know if you will be there. Tel 01903610021 Address Driftwood.9 Anscombe Close,Worthing BN11 5EW Saturday 2nd August 9am: Corporate Communion in the Lady Chapel &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
THE PARTY Something had been troubling my Constance, she had been out of sorts for days. I suspected it was something to do with her wretched friend Mavis. Mavis had injured herself playing golf on the Dyke, tripping in a bunker and spraining her ankle. I had laughed when Constance had told me, very wrong of me I know. Constance had given me one of her looks. A few days later everything became clear. It was at breakfast. Constance had cooked my favourite meal, baked beans, bacon
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and fried bread. It was the fried bread that told me something was up. ‘Victor, don’t be cross but I have agreed with Mavis that we will host her annual old folks’ party, here at home.’ ‘How many old folks are you expecting?’ ‘About 70, maybe a few more.’ I nearly fell out of my chair. ‘You must be joking.’ ‘I don’t joke about that kind of thing.’ Constance was very upset, there were tears in her eyes. I sighed ‘Constance, of course I will help, but remember I am on Jury Service from the end of next week. Maybe I can find some jail birds to wait at table.’ Constance gave me another of her looks. At that moment it started raining. ‘Good grief Constance, have you thought what to do if it rains? There is no way we can get 70 people indoors.’ Yes, I’ve been worried about that and of course we will need lots of helpers, but Mavis says she will get at least six volunteers from her Ladies Bridge Circle.’ ‘God save me! Most of Mavis’ Bridge Circle ladies will be older than the old folks. This is a real mess Constance. Why can’t Mavis find another venue?’ ‘I don’t know Victor, but Mavis can be very persuasive.’ ‘Don’t I know it.’ I took my coffee out to my study. Sitting there, feeling very irritated for some unfathomable reason, Lord Lockwood popped into my head. He had sacked me from his company when I was far too old to find another job. ‘The trouble with you Victor is that you have lost your drive and its time you retired. I am doing you a favour.’ I’ll show you Lockwood I thought. I’m no has-been. I returned to the kitchen and found Constance crying. ‘I’ll call it off Victor.’
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‘Oh no you won’t! We are going to give Mavis’ old folks the best party they have ever had. We’ll work out a plan of action. I will cut the lawn and provide some entertainment - I bet Mavis never did that.’ ‘No they were rather dull parties.’ ‘Mumsey (that’s what we call Constance’s mother) can play the piano. She can still knock out the old numbers and your father can organise some games.’ ‘Not the ones he learnt in India, that would be too embarrassing.’ ‘Nonsense! He has lots of charm, the old folks will love him.’ ‘But what if it rains?’ ‘Nil desperandum. I will think of something,’ ‘And what about helpers?’ Constance was beginning to sound rather like me. ‘We will go to the Church of the Good Shepherd on Sunday and recruit. When it came to Sunday I rather lost my nerve on the recruitment drive, but we enjoyed the service. Christian was on top form and it was fun looking at the exhibition of paintings bringing new life to our Church. So I’ve still got to find some helpers. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thinking about it though, Constance is right. Henry’s party games will have to be censored. Tim Parker Are you paying too much for your
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Tea Club The Tea Club’s first Fish and Chips lunch in March was followed by a talk by Deacon Helen on the Fishermen’s Mission. It was a great success and after a collection, we were able to give a donation which went to help two fishermen and their families who were having difficulties. In April we had a very enjoyable afternoon with everyone bringing their favourite poems and were treated to two beautiful new ones by Peter Turner. In May, we had Bingo on a very wet afternoon and were amazed by the number of people who struggled to the hall through hailstorms. On June 2nd, Brighton and Hove High School Junior Choir will be entertaining us again..It is lovely to see these delightful young girls and hear their beautiful voices and instruments and we enjoy their visits very much. On July 7th, we will be off to Rushfields Garden Centre by car and Minibus. We have booked tea and cakes! Another new venture, but we must know numbers in advance. After the August break we look forward to the September meeting when we will have a return visit from Preston Guild. The Autumn programme will include our November trip to a Garden Centre to see the Christmas decorations and plants and maybe find some unusual Christmas presents and in December we will have our usual Christmas Party when we hope we will be joined by Lancing Prep Choir. We would like to welcome our new members and send our best wishes to those who are ill at this time and hope they will soon be back with us. Do join us if you are interested at 1.30pm in the hall on the first Monday of the month. Marguerite Harland Tel 01273503040
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June 2014
HOPSCOTCH
Jo Halling Operations Director 9, Aymer Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 4GB Tel: 01273 385577 office@hopscotch.uk.com www.hopscotch.uk.com
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Knowing me, knowing you ‌. Who does not know Daisy Walpole? Young at heart and full of wisdom... I have interviewed a few people for the magazine in the past and now I have been asked to interview myself. I have attended CGS for over thirty years now and it is difficult to remember anything from before I came to Brighton. It was in 1968 and my husband Ronnie had been transferred to a Brighton office of the GPO telephones and I started to teach at Burgess Hill. Three of our children came with us – the eldest had just married and left the nest. We had both belonged to non-conformist churches, particularly to one of the three churches which combined to finance Brighthelm. We were happy there but the bus times was not convenient for services. A neighbour had been recently widowed and remarked that she would like to go to church but did not want to go alone and so we offered to go to the local church with her. We began with Christmas Eve and then Easter. When we mentioned our Baptist and Methodist background a slight chill descended but Pearl and Ruby May were so welcoming that we stayed. We were slightly taken aback when told that to take communion we should be confirmed. We had been baptised by immersion as believing adults and given our testimony but agreed and so we became Anglicans. We had lived on the compound of Bishops College in Calcutta for a few years and Ronnie had played the church organ at the
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Howrah Baptist Church and we did some visiting and helped with mid-week meetings. We had two children then and because the students on the compound had families there were Indian children for them to play with. Missionary work was changing and the running of the churches in North and South India was losing the influence from the Raj days and being run by Indian clergy. Going there was a great experience which changed my attitudes to many many things. I did a teacher training course to teach Religious Knowledge – or Divinity. More change of attitudes and ideas and then my move into more Special Education changed me a bit more. Two more children and the guardianship of sons of missionaries changed me more. Awkward questions about the bible from teen agers are tremendously helpful in getting the grey matter churning. Losing Ronnie nearly thirteen years ago and finding so much help and support has shown just how wonderful it is to have a church we can safely go to. No one burns our house because we are Christians. We have had a series of wonderful Clergy at the Good Shepherd and each has built on the good work of the one before. I am so thankful that we came to the parish church. (The parish boundary now includes us!) Who am I ? I do wonder sometimes. C of E/ MU/Mother/ widow/ grandma/Retired pensioner/ great grandma/ Daisy Walpole………Mouse. Daisy Walpole
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Charity Events We have held a number of Charity events this year included our Lent Breakfasts and The Good Shepherd people have been exceedingly generous as always. On each of three Saturday mornings during Lent the Social Group prepared breakfasts for about 20 people who then listened to a talk given by people involved in Christian Mission. On the first Saturday we were treated to an impassioned talk from Revd. Paul Jones about ‘Off the Fence’, a local homeless Charity. This was followed the second week by a volunteer talking about the work of another local charity ‘The Clock Tower Sanctuary’, empowering young people in crisis. Each of these were given £350. The third Saturday some of us were rendered speechless after watching a slide show depicting the atrocities carried out against Christians abroad, particularly in Pakistan where, Imtiaz Trask, our visiting speaker works for Release International. Release were given £200. On Friday 25th April we held a Race Night with fish ‘n’ chip supper in aid of Hellen’s Shelter in Uganda for women and children victims of domestic and cultural abuse as well as conflict and AIDS. Thanks to the generosity of people at The Good Shepherd who raised £700 they now have enough to pay for their much needed new roof. Our Chosen Charities for 2014 are: The Shalom Children’s Home, Karunalaya, Bangalore The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen (Fisherman’s Mission) With two local charities: The Clock Tower Sanctuary: crisis assistance for young people. Carousel: supporting people with learning disabilities We hope to work with all four throughout the autumn and at Christmas to help raise awareness and much needed funds, so watch this space and the website for forthcoming events. Helen Rawlings
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So long! Farewell! A tout à l’heure! Over the last few weeks we have said farewell to three inspirational families – the Hills, the Annis’s and the Vincents. Each in their own way has made a huge contribution to the life and witness of the Good Shepherd over many years, far more than can possibly be recognised in a short note here. All of them have really thrown themselves in at the deep end and have gladly taken responsibility for so many things that between them they have I’m sure taken care of almost every aspect of church life. Each of them can truly be said to have been a ‘builder of the kingdom’ in terms of serving others in a Christian spirit of love and compassion. It would be invidious to list out all the things that each family has accomplished as there would sure to be some omissions but just to mention a very few highlights: Ian has been Churchwarden, lead Sidesman, chair of the Finance Committee, Deanery Synod Representative and Deanery Treasurer. Liz has worked with many church activities including women’s fellowship, social committee, organising the famous roving suppers and offering bereavement counselling and support. Janet has been PCC Secretary, and along with Liz, involved for a long time in various aspects of pastoral care, including welcoming newcomers and visiting those in need. She has also organised church transport and has spent considerable time working to support those in need in Africa, particularly through the KwaZulu project. Meriel gently introduced us to a new way of spiritual thinking and helped develop so many ongoing relationships. She led our reflective Time for God services and had the vision of ‘Time for God’ which is a great legacy to leave to our wider church, especially our young people. She was Deputy Churchwarden and helped the parish move forward in a life of prayer.
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Of course we have also been blessed with watching the children and grandchildren of the families grow up amongst us, sometimes as part of our community and at other times as regular visitors, nurtured with loving care along the way. And we have enjoyed both Colin and Richard coming amongst us and showing us something different from their own churches from time to time. So much more could and should be said and no doubt has and will be in other circles as we wish all three families Godspeed as they move to Worthing, Goring and Ringmer. God’s kingdom in those places will surely benefit from the wisdom, love and prayer that each one will be able to offer. But as we say farewell we also hope that our parting will be but temporary and that all three families will become regular visitors amongst us. A tout à l’heure! Michael Miller
The Big Church Day Out Would you expect to find 16,000 Christians, in this country, all in one place? To be honest my answer was ‘no’ until I went to The Big Church Day Out at Wiston Park near Steyning on the Bank Holiday Weekend. The rain on Saturday didn’t put people off enjoying the atmosphere and taking part in all the activities as well as watching some top bands on one of three stages. I have to confess I arrived later on Saturday after the rain had stopped and enjoyed better weather, especially on Sunday, which was glorious. One side of the park had become a massive camp site and people had come from far and wide to take part. As well as music groups there were funfare rides, craft activities, Christian re-
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sources exhibition and sales, a market, a petting zoo and much more. Musical highlights for me included:
Canadian band ‘Newworldson’ who played an eclectic blend of soul, jazz, funk and Gospel. The band were enhanced by the addition of Motown alumnus Leroy Emmanuel (Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson) and worldfamous Chops Horns (Alicia Keys, the Police, Rolling Stones) Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda who have travelled internationally as ambassadors for millions of children in Africa orphaned by AIDS war and poverty; each child in the choir being also a victim. I hope to get them to come and perform at The Good Shepherd next year. The Abrams Brothers, another Canadian act, playing a modern form of blue-grass termed ‘new-grass’ and I would defy anyone listening to them to remain in their seats. Lastly Gospel Singers Incognito, Britain’s Got Talent semifinalists, described by Simon Cowel as “the best choir we’ve had on the show” they really stirred everyone to join in. I sang along to ‘Oh Happy Day’ before joining in with a crowd dancing ‘the slide’ in front on the stage.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the BCDO partner charity for this year, Tearfund, raising money to tackle child trafficking. Even in the portaloos small notices reminded us with the words ‘number twos?, by the time you’ve finished ten children will have been trafficked’ Next year I will return, perhaps with others from the Good Shepherd. Helen Rawlings
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Our Service Times Sunday Worship 8am Holy Communion 10:15 Sung Eucharist* 10:15 Time for God** 6.30pm: check on the web *On the 3rd Sunday of 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 Eucharist Thursday:10:30am Saturday: 9am =====================
Magazine Contributions to the magazine are welcome. Please leave copy at the back of Church by 15th of every Feb., May, Aug. and Nov. or e-mail daisy.kendall21@gmail.com or to The Vicar —————————————Tea Club
June 2014
Hall Bookings: Tel. Sheena on 07932591172 or sheenarichardson@btinternet.com
Grub Club Meets on third Monday of the month. All welcome. Please contact Daisy Walpole at (508600) or Pat Hunter at (555954)
Choir Choir practice: Sunday morning at 9. All are welcome. Please contact: Derek Froud (681007)
Flowers If you would like to donate an arrangement in memory of someone or help with the flower arranging, please contact church office 882987.
Stewardship Secretary David Nissen 1 Shirley Road, Hove, BN3 6NN Tel (01273) 554183 dnissen@btinternet.com
Bell Ringing
Ringing practice every Tuesday evening in the Tower. New ringers Meets on the first Monday are always welcome. Please contact of the month at 1.30pm. We Pat Hunter (555954) welcome all who are 50 Notice-boards years plus, and would like Information (lists and posters) for some company. Just come the notice boards may be placed in along. Tel. Marguerite the tray in the church porch Harland 503040; windowsill or contact hughharland325@ Gloria Cruttenden (505225). btinternet.com