The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
19th September 2021
‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9.37. Picture by Revd Jess – see Bible art below.
At our Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting this week we decided to take a further step forward in relaxing covid restrictions. We will soon re-introduce an opening hymn sung in church at the 10am service (only three verses), and bring back a procession (just a crucifer). We decided that for now it is sensible to continue to encourage people to wear a face mask. Our final hymn will be sung outside, face mask free, when the weather permits.
Our Collect prayer this week encourages us to see God’s glory all around and open our eyes to God’s wonders. Autumn is a beautiful season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, according to the poet John Keats. We hope you are enjoying the changes in nature all around you this Creationtide.
Collect
Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
and know your peace at our lives’ end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings
Wisdom of Solomon
1.16 - 2.1,12-22 or
Jeremiah 11.18-20, Psalm 54,
James 3.13 - 4.3,7-8a, Mark 9.30-37
Sea Lights is back in the hall this Sunday 19th September. The children will join us at Communion.
Harvest Festival – all age service 3rd October
There is a food collection during this service for the Shoreham Food Bank. Dried and tinned foods only. We are informed that UHT milk (semi skimmed) and fruit juice is needed. Also items such as tea and coffee (medium or small size), tinned veg of all varieties. But please no cereals at the moment.
Or you can make a donation to Turning Tides, a charity providing services for single homeless people in West Sussex. Cash or card donations will be possible after the service.
Harvest Flowers
This year there is an opportunity to sponsor some of the flowers for Harvest Festival. If you would like to remember someone special, there will be a list at the back of the church, from next Sunday, for you to write their name and reason for remembrance or thanksgiving. These will either be printed out or read at Harvest Festival.
Please put your sponsorship donation in one of the yellow envelopes, mark it 'Harvest flowers', and post it in the porch wall safe. If you prefer to pay by bank transfer to the church account, please reference the payment as Harvest. Chris Thompson
Sussex Underwater talk in church
Thursday 30th September 7.30pm
Sussex Underwater is a social media group set up for the public to share their videos, photos and information about the sea off Sussex. Their aim is to document the positive changes that are now happening in the seas across our area thanks to the kelp restoration. Representatives for Sussex Underwater are offering a talk in the church with photos and videos to show us what is happening underwater. They will also talk about the kelp project and how important kelp is to the health of our seas and the planet. Tickets are free but you need to reserve your place through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sea-kelp-forest-talk-sussex-underwater-tickets-173819327287
Alternatively there is a sign-up sheet at the back of church after the services. Please wear a mask to the talk, unless exempt. The talk is part of our Creationtide celebrations. All welcome.
Deputy Church Warden
We are delighted to announce that Kay Haffenden has agreed to become a deputy church warden until the next APCM. This was voted on and agreed at the PCC. Kay will assist our church wardens Emma and Penny, especially during this quinquennial inspection year when there is much to do concerning church fabric. Thank you Kay for agreeing to take on this work for us.
Quiz Night
Prayer Chain
All prayer requests to Joy 01273 462584 from Sept 19th- 24th inclusive.
Duck Race
Congratulations to Derek Hansen who had the winning duck! In total the duck race raised £372 for the Good Shepherd and a good time was had by all, including the ducks.
Shoreline
The latest issue is emailed out to you this week. Paper copies are also available in the porch. Thanks to all who have contributed.
Recycling in church
We hope to soon resume our church recyling. For those who are interested in helping, we have a meeting over church coffee on Sunday 19th September, after the service.
Autumn Beach Labyrinth Walk
Revd Jane and John Watters, with help from friends connected to the Brighton and Hove Centre for Spirituality, are building a pebble labyrinth outside the church on the beach at low tide, Wednesday September 22nd, weather permitting. If you’d like to walk it come along anytime from 6.30pm - until the tide comes in and the sun goes down. Cash donations are welcome for the Marine Conservation Society. You can walk barefoot, in beach shoes or wellies.
Autumn Bible Study
We have the opportunity to join with St Mary de Haura for a season of autumn Bible study.
In October we are offering two weekly courses running for 4-6 weeks. Both are based around texts in the bible but exploring them from different perspectives. Everyone is welcome at either, or both courses. If you cannot manage every week, still come along when you can as they are “stand alone” sessions.
The first course will explore a different text from the bible each week and reflect on what it has to say to our lives today, through a time of sharing and discussion with one another. The material to be used will be available one week before the sessions to give participants time to think about it in advance. This course will be run twice each week – online and face to face.
Monday evenings on Zoom using the usual link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74867075396 , led by Revd Steve.
Time: 6.30 to 7.30pm
Starting: Monday October 4th.
Wednesday mornings in the Parish Centre, led by Anthony Rathbone and William Payne, members of the congregation from St Marys.
Time: 10-11.30am.
Starting: Wednesday October 6th.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to join these groups or have any questions. Materials will be distributed in advance. smdh.office@gmail.com; 01273 440202
The second course will explore how we read the bible. “This is the Word of the Lord” we say. How is it? How did it come about? How should we use our minds when we read it? In what ways is it true? This short course will start from the belief that we can and should read the Bible in a critical way, that God gave us brains and we should use them in our religious life as well as our secular one. So we shall look at the Bible as a library of books written over a period of about a thousand years, and used by the Christian Church as a source of guidance and inspiration ever since. Each session will begin with a talk, followed by time for discussion and questions. No previous expertise is needed, but it would be helpful if participants brought a modern version of the Bible with them.
Thursday Mornings in the Vicarage, 33 Church St, led by Revd Peter. Time 10-11.30am Start Date Thursday October 7th
Please contact the Parish Centre if you would like to join or have any questions: smdh.office@gmail.com; 01273 440202
Celtic Evening Prayer
This is being replaced this week by a beach labyrinth walk.
Richard Durrant Fundraising Concert
Richard will be putting on a fundraising concert for the St Francis Fund. This will be in the church on the evening of Saturday 2nd October. More details to follow. Thank you to Richard for doing this for us.
Bible Art Mark 9.30-37 – see top of newsletter for image.
Jesus said 'Whoever" welcomes one such (little child) in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." In this drawing I have tried to represent the shekinah, the glory, which is being welcomed as the child is welcomed.
First the figure on the right, the 'Whoever' ...the critical bit of the sentence seems to be 'in my Name.' I have drawn a friendly looking human being, but the figure might have been of someone fierce and even repellent. There might there be people who welcome children who are not also welcoming God the Father and God the Son at the same time? Like Hitler or those kidnapping girls in Nigeria and Afghanistan in order to make them into child brides. The quality of their welcome is different?
Then I was thinking if I had ever consciously welcomed a child in the Name of Jesus, and realised that I may not have done that very often ... when baptising a baby - yes, when inviting children into our home and garden for holiday clubs - yes - but these are recognised situations where we welcome children within the life of the church; what about when I greet my neighbour's child and start to engage him in conversation? To what extent do we welcome a child in the name of Jesus just because we worship him?
Revd Jess
Mission Action Planning
Every parish has been asked by the diocese to develop a new mission action plan. This is to enable us to identify opportunities and priorities for mission and our life together. As part of this process you are all invited to a special coffee time in the hall after the 10am service on Sunday 24th October. We will take time over cake and coffee to share thoughts and ideas in an enjoyable and fun way. Save the date and come along.
Ride and Stride
Our cyclists raised £360 to be shared between our church and the Historic Churches Trust. Thank you to the cyclists and all who have donated.
Lamb’s Tales is now back in church every Friday morning, 9.15am to 10.45am.
And finally…
The healing book has been given a new cover and some loving care. It is now back on the altar. It is there for you to enter any requests for prayers, for yourself or a loved one. These requests might be for a period of two months or longer. There is also a section to record prayers that have been answered, in whatever way. Thank you to the healing team for this ministry.
I work half-time and my usual days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning.
Blessings and prayers for you all.
Revd Jane Email: bartlett.jane@ntlworld.com. Tel: 079355 38085.
If you are reading this newsletter on a paper copy and would like to receive it each week through email please contact: cogsenews@gmail.com
Notices for the newsletter should be emailed to Revd Jane by Wednesday at 12noon
Services this Week
Sunday, 19th September
8am – Holy Communion with Revd Jane and Derek.
10am – Parish Communion with Revd Jane and Derek.
This service will be live streamed onto our Facebook and You Tube channel.
You Tube page CLICK HERE
Church Facebook page CLICK HERE
Tuesday, 21st September
9.30am - Informal Holy Communion
With Revd Steve.
Wednesday 22nd September
6.30pm – Beach labyrinth
Friday 24th September
8am – Meditation with Morning
Prayer on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 513293120
(No password is needed ) Click here LINK
Evening Prayer
This is said at 5.30pm from St Marys via Zoom on
Monday and Wednesday, at 5.30pm. If
you want to attend contact Canon Ann for the
link. Email: annwaizeneker@gmail.com
To donate to the Church of the Good Shepherd online CLICK HERE Thank you!
Church website: www.goodshepherdshorehambeach.org.uk