The Good Shepherd The Newsletter of your Parish Church Harvest 2010

Please visit us on the web: www.the-good-shepherd.net

When I was a child in Goa, accompanying Grandma to the local mill was a treat. No reference to the rising prices of wheat; that’s for the economist! The “transformation” at the mill fascinated me. People gathered there to grind wheat for bread.

With awe I watched the grains falling in one end, the husk out the other with the flour next to it, as thick belts from the diesel-motor kept the mill working. “Health and safety” was unheard of and I thought the ladies’ saris could get trapped in the belt and kill them. Amidst the loud noise of diesel-motor and ladies’ chatter, the fresh aroma of flour filled the atmosphere.

At home, no frying pan or oven, but a piece of earthenware was placed on the kitchen fire. Leaves from banana or jack-fruit tree or some other type were gently placed on it before spreading a layer of dough. The bread then gradually absorbed the leaves’ flavour. The final result is best not described to keep your mouths, and mine particularly, from watering.

Now as adult, I look at it in a new perspective. The flour comes from millions of grains through people’s labour. The unity from multiplicity, and the unique utility of each crushed grain in every loaf, continues to bring in me awe and tremor. When families break bread, they share, chat, relate and communicate. In sharing food we walk together and go beyond; with Christians having a particular meaning in the Communion bread.

Visiting Goa now, sadly I found no agricultural lands, no workers around, and the mill had disappeared. In its place stood the “Blue Bar & Restaurant”! So many and so fast are the changes, it seems as if we are standing in the quick-sand.

The challenge is not how to avoid changes but how to bring about the right ones and get the maximum advantage from them. Many community symbols and cultural centres if not destroyed, are being transformed. Harvest Festival could offer us a thought on unity and on being ready for the changing world: ecologically, culturally and economically. Many of you are engaged in that process of community building. We at the Good Shepherd too, wish to build a united neighbourhood, and you are welcome to join us. I hope and pray this Harvest will inspire us even more.

Felix MascarenhasFelix MascarenhasFelix MascarenhasFelix Mascarenhas

From the Vicar…. Wheat, Flour, Bread and the Mill

Each year we support an important charity with our Harvest Appeal. This year our Harvest appeal will contribute to the Rotary International of Britain and Ireland “Thanks for life” campaign to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth.

Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since 1985. Polio cases have since fallen from 350,000 a year to a recorded 1,600 last year.

Thanks to Rotary’s help, two billion children in 122 countries have been protected from the disease, and the number of endemic countries has fallen from 125 to just four: Afghanistan, northern India, Nigeria and Pakistan. It is estimated that five million children have been spared from disability and 250,000 deaths have been averted.

It is these four endemic countries that represent the "last inch" in achieving the goal. Money raised goes towards funding national immunisation drives for all children under age five in endemic and high risk countries, as well as tracking possible incidences of the disease, measures to control outbreaks and improving public health infrastructures.

If you would like to contribute towards ending polio as a visible sign of our thanks for the harvest, please donate in Church, and, if you are a taxpayer, use one of our special gift aid envelopes.

We will present our gifts at our Harvest Festival on Sunday, 17 October

End Polio now Food and friendship Are you over 50?

Do you like meeting others for friendship and a chat over a cup of tea and cakes?

Do you like the occasional game of bingo, or a sing-song?

Do you like hearing from interesting speakers?

If so our monthly tea club is for you. The club, which meets in the Church Hall, is for everyone in the area. We promise you a warm welcome, whether or not you come to Church.

Recent speakers have talked about The Martlets, Reflexology and far away places (with photographs)

As well as Bingo other activities have included a pianist and local singers. In December we have our Christmas party where we are often entertained by a local school singing carols.

In the spring and autumn we have outings to such places as nearby country garden centres

It costs £1.00 to come to the club. This includes tea and cakes, an entry in the raffle and contributes to the hire of transport for outings.

The tea club meets from 1.30pm to 3.15pm on the first Monday of each month (apart from when this falls on a Bank Holiday).

If you are interested just come along to the next meeting on Monday 4 October when a talk and video about a trip to Rome and Montecassino is scheduled.

If you have any questions, or would like to come, but have difficulty getting there, please telephone Elizabeth Alcock on 506351 or Sue Bottani.297829.

Teddies parachute from the tower

Festival success

Once again our Good Shepherd Festival was a great success with Church members and visitors alike. More and more people from outside the Church are taking part in our annual community festival.

Next year’s festival will open with our Fun Day on Saturday 11 June and run through to Sunday 19 June. If you would like to take part in the Fun Day or perform or exhibit in Church during the Festival week please email us at gsfest11@gmail.com.

Lancing Prep Brass group

Local schools entertain in Church

Face painting attracts the crowds

Charities

In our last newsletter we explained how we try to contribute to local, national and international charities. We have our forthcoming Harvest appeal for “Thanks for Life”; and at Christmas we will be supporting the Street Pastors scheme in Brighton and Hove. Street Pastors care, listen and help, particularly young people who have found themselves disenfranchised or marginalised from society.

We now have an External Giving Fund from which we can top up the generous donations from our congregation and occasional visitors. If you would like to contribute towards this fund, please contact the Vicar or

Dates for your diary

Bonfire & Fireworks party in the Vicarage garden Friday 29 October (more details in Church)

Remembrance service Sunday 14 November (starts at 10am)

Advent Carol Service Sunday 28 November at 6.30pm

Watch out for our Christmas card with details of Christmas services and events.

Make your views known

Over the last few months we have been collecting views about our Parish. What do you like and dislike about living in our area? How can the Church contribute more to life in the Parish? The survey is at www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWWS9QM , or via our web site, or you can fill in a form at the back of Church.

one of our Church Wardens.

And thank you to everyone who contributed to our Christian Aid week collection, We raised over £2,800.

Contacting us

Vicar

The Rev Felix Mascarenhas

The Vicarage, 272 Dyke Road

Brighton BN1 5AE

Tel: 01273 882987

Email: felixmas@hotmail.com

Reader

Michael Miller

68 Ainsworth Avenue

Brighton BN2 7BG

Tel: 01273 240287

Churchwardens

Ian Hill

77 Hove Park Road

Hove, BN3 6LL

Tel: 01273 888607

David Nissen

1 Shirley Road

Hove, BN3 6NN

Tel: 01273 554183

The Parish Office

Open Wednesday and Friday

9.30 to 10.30am

Tel:01273 553747

Church Hall

To hire the Church Hall, contact:

Margaret Bell Tel: 01273 505763 Email: cgschurchhall@googlemail.com

Brownies

Meet on Tuesday evening in the Hall

Contact Tessa Pacey: 01273 551298

If you would like to talk to someone, or book a Baptism or Wedding, please telephone the Vicar. We also do our best to conduct any funerals from the parish, either in Church, or at the crematorium. Please get in touch with the Vicar or Reader, or ask the Funeral Director to do so.

Keep Fit with Yoga

Tuesday in the Church hall

For all ages, 10am to 11 am

Contact: Joanne Cassidy: 01273 508010

Grub Club

We meet for a meal out each month. Come and join us

More details: Daisy Walpole: 01273 508600

Bell ringers

Why not join our enthusiastic band of ringers? New members are al-ways welcome. All ages from ??? More details from Pat Hunter:

01273 555954

Our Sunday Services

8am Said Eucharist

10.15am Main Parish Eucharist in Church

10.15am "Time for God" service in the Church Hall. Ideal for young people and their families; finishes in time for people to take communion in Church if they wish.

On the third Sunday of each month there is a single Family

Eucharist in Church at 10.15am

6:30pm. Evening Prayer, Choral Evensong (on third Sunday) and other occasional services such as Taizé or “Songs of Praise”.