KEYNOTES

June 2020 60p THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST PETER’S, WEST BLATCHINGTON

Rector The Reverend Tim Gage The Rectory 23 Windmill Close , BN3 7LJ Tel : 07910 938810 Email: [email protected]

Friday is ordinarily the Rector’s rest day; however please do not hesitate to contact him in the event of a pastoral emergency. Please refer all other urgent matters to the Churchwardens.

CHURCHWARDENS Jonathan Cooke Tel: 563178 David Keeling Tel: 501504

HON. TREASURER Mandy Gander Tel: 271982

CENTRE BOOKINGS Richard Delacour Tel: 07968 227639

PASTORAL CARE

Sick Visiting Carol Gander Tel: 555414

KEYNOTES EDITORIAL TEAM

William Holden Tel: 706482 David Keeling Tel: 501504 Jane Cummings Tel: 880274 Michael Evans Tel: 567399 Charlie Flackhill Tel: 965122 Mandy Gander Tel: 271982 Maggie Holden Tel: 706482

E-mail: [email protected] Church website : www.stpeterswestblatchington.org.uk EDITORIAL

We live in extraordinary times and as the Queen said recently in her VE Day message to the nation, “Never Give Up, Never Despair” which is exactly what our religious teaching has always been about through the love of God.

At the time of writing there are exciting changes coming with the feeling that the rules of lockdown just may be able to be relaxed a little as we try get back to normal. The peak of infection may have passed but when might we be able to meet again in church?

As most people will know, our new incumbent Rev’d Tim Gage is to be licensed in the next week which will mark a turning point in the life of our church. He and his wife Clare and their two boys Sammy and Ben hope to move into the Rectory towards the end of May provided the lockdown is eased for removal firms.

As many people have said, what will be “normal” in this context? Nothing will ever be quite the same and we shall have to reappraise what we need to do within our church and the wider parish and how we go about things helped by the new and exciting guidance from Tim.

We have waited with eager anticipation for this moment. The Rectory is redecorated and the gardens tended. We thank all those who have made this possible.

Finally, we hope that you will enjoy the Summer months for we have much to look forward to.

Stay safe.

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07598 188440 Dear Parish,

I firstly just want to thank you for the warm and loving welcome that you have given my family since I was licensed as Rector of St. Peter’s on the 13th May. While my licensing took the form of a small ceremony it is certainly the case that once lockdown is finished, we will gather in the church building for the public ceremony as well – exciting! I also want to thank all those who have been providing ongoing support for the church family and parish during the interregnum and especially during the pandemic.

I am looking forward to getting to meet you all soon and welcoming you to one of our services at St. Peter’s, whether online or face to face.

Also, as lockdown continues we will continue to explore how we might support the spiritual and practical needs of the parish. If you have ideas or feedback we would be glad to hear from you.

As at this point we don’t have a fixed phone line at the Rectory, so if you need to get in contact with me please either email me at [email protected] or call me on 07910 938810.

Every blessing in Christ.

Rev’d Tim Gage, Rector

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) WOMEN’S SOCIAL GROUP

As is evident from our Group title, we all enjoy getting together and being SOCIAL and therefore the current situation is difficult. But we are a resilient clan and coping remarkably well. Those that can are exercising - be it across their front gardens, gardening, following exercise classes on-line, walking, etc. Various crafts and skills are being learned or resurrected – knitting, baking, crochet. We are keeping in touch by telephone, e-mail, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. Aren’t we lucky to live in an era when there are these means of communication?! And, of course, the weather has been glorious which has made it much easier to enjoy the outdoors. Those of us lucky enough to have gardens and be able to work in them have been working very hard. Our garden has never looked better and the only sadness is that no-one will see it!

However, time certainly doesn’t stand still and we are still having birthdays. In April Rosemary had a significant birthday but is still the youngest member! Sandy and Beryl, too, had April birthdays. In May birthdays were celebrated by Daphne B, Janet and Shirley and in June we will raise a glass to Jane and Stella.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Maggie Keeling

Friday Coffee Mornings - They are held on the first Friday of every month only. Please come along and join us for conversation and friendship.

Galileo Restaurant

Authentic Italian cuisine in the most welcoming surrounding

1 Woodland Parade, Hove, BN3 6DR - 01273 330883 Opening Hours - Mon - Sun: 12pm - 10:30pm

Takeaways and Deliveries available

Bringing the very best of authentic Italian cooking, made from top quality ingredients cooked freshly for you to enjoy. A MESSAGE FROM THE CHURCHWARDENS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION AT ST PETER’S, WEST BLATCHINGTON

We are delighted to report that Rev Tim Gage was duly licensed as Rector of St Peter’s on Wednesday, 13th May, by the Archdeacon of and Lewis, Martin Lloyd-Williams, following his appointment to the post by the Bishop of . A formal service of collation and induction will take place in St Peter’s, led by the Bishop, once the current restrictions on services in church have been lifted. In the meantime, we welcome Tim, his wife Clare and their two boys, Ben and Sammy, to our parish community. Owing to the current restrictions, it has not yet been possible for them to move into the rectory but they hope to do so before the end of this month. In the meantime, we can report that the extensive repairs and redecorations that were needed to the rectory have been carried out very satisfactorily and the house is ready for occupation. Our thanks go to Terry and Jean Rogers, of our congregation and known to many, and to the team employed by the Diocese for renovations, and also to our willing gardening volunteers. We wish to record our grateful thanks to the many people who have helped us to keep St Peter’s functioning during the difficult time since Fr Dan fell ill and felt obliged to resign as rector. A special thank-you to the Revs Erika Howard and John Joyce who between them took the majority of our Sunday services, as well as the additional services of Christmas and Easter and occasional weddings, baptisms and funerals and as a result gave us a considerable degree of continuity. John has also been helping us out during the current period of lockdown by recording a weekly Sunday sermon which could be viewed online from the parish website. We are also grateful to Rev Keith Perkinton who took a service of Holy Communion most months on Tuesday evenings, as well as to many other clergy who occasionally took services for us when Erika and John were both unavailable. Rev Tim has plans for a weekly Sunday service to be held online at 10.00 and this will be accessible via a link on the parish website. As time progresses, he may announce plans for other services as well, to be accessed in a similar way. Services and other parish meetings will have to continue being held online until the current restrictions are lifted. For parishioners who do not have access to the internet we are investigating other means of making services accessible to them, possibly by distributing recordings on CD or even cassette tape.

Jonathan Cooke David Keeling Thank you!

Thank you gifts and cards have been sent to Revs John Joyce and Erika Howard. They were both delighted. Please find below the photographs of them receiving their gifts.

These are the messages we had back from them which I hope they dont mind me sharing with you.

It has been a real joy and privilege to share with you all in the ministry at St Peter’s over these last few years – is it really years, and I fear it is. I have loved being able to celebrate so many of the feasts of the Church with you – Holy Week 2019 was very special and I was only sorry it could not repeated in quite the same way this year. Thank you for forcing me into writing sermons again after 35 years!!

I know you will go from strength to strength in the years to come as you work with your new .

With renewed thanks and with much love and many prayers

John What a lovely surprise when Mandy arrived on my doorstep last week with the lovely gifts and thank you card.

A big thank you, the roses are still doing well and we will look forward to sharing the Prosecco at an appropriate time. The chocolates have long since gone. Yum!

We are still both keeping well and getting on with some of those jobs that were on the list. We are very proud of our effort and the garden. Its surprising what you can do when you have no other choice, I am getting quite a suntan with the outdoor life.

Erika

A Different Way

For those of you that have not yet listened in, Rev Tim has set up 2 new ways to listen to the Sunday Parish Service. Firstly, by visiting Youtube and typing in St Peters West Blatchington. Or, if you do not have access to a computer or console then you can also now listen to the service via your telephone. Please dial 01273 071150.

Technology is amazing and we are very lucky to have these facilities during lockdown to keep us going until we return to our Church building.

Thank you Rev Tim for all your hard work in getting these services up and running so quickly is greatly appreciated. Our charity for June is Street Pastors

The Church in action on the Street

Street pastors offer reassurance, safety and support through listening, caring and helping. They work together with other partners to make communities safer.

Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust, which is the governing body behind Street Pastors, and run by a local coordinator with support from local churches and community groups, in partnership with the police, local council and other statutory agencies.

Since 2003, they have trained over 12,000 street and prayer pastors, who have played an active part in strengthening community life and working for safer streets. Currently, more than 300 towns and cities around the UK have a Street Pastors team. When you add prayer pastors, management teams and trustees, this means that there are over 20,000 volunteers in total associated with the Street Pastors network.

Please support them. The Announcement of the Appointment of the New Suffragan Bishops of and . Below is a copy of the announcement made on 29th April 2020 “10 Downing Street has today announced the names of the new bishops of Horsham and Lewes to serve as suffragan bishops in the . The Revd , currently Vicar of St Paul’s, Dorking in the will serve as . The Revd William Hazlewood, currently Vicar of the United Benefice of Dartmouth and Dittisham in the will be the next . The , Dr , said it was “a very significant day in the life of the Diocese of Chichester. It is the outcome of prayer, across the diocese and beyond, that has sustained us in this complex and demanding appointment process. “The announcement of who will serve as Bishop of Horsham and Bishop of Lewes now comes as a joyful pledge of hope and confidence in the Church’s mission beyond the painful restrictions that responding to the Coronavirus pandemic demands of us. “We gladly open our hearts to Ruth and to Will, and to the wonderfully diverse gifts and experience they will bring to our apostolic life, as we welcome them and their families into this household of faith.” Today’s digital announcement in the Chichester Diocese is the first virtual introduction of new bishops since the current lockdown began. A video launch, hosted by the Bishop of Chichester during which he will welcome his two new colleagues, is being streamed online today at 10:15am. Ruth Bushyager was ordained priest in 2006 and after serving in the Southwell & Nottingham and Oxford dioceses became Area Missioner for the Kensington area in the in 2010. She has served as the Vicar of St Paul's, Dorking since 2014 and now also serves as Area Dean of Dorking. Ruth is married to Ron, a psychotherapist, and they have two young daughters. “I am really looking forward to getting to know the churches, chaplaincies and schools of the diocese and seeing how I can help to encourage and serve their mission,” said Ruth today. has been a priest since 2002. He served his curacy in a parish in the centre of Bristol before moving to Buckinghamshire to the parish of Iver Heath on the outskirts of Slough. He moved to the Diocese of Exeter in 2011 to be Incumbent of Dartmouth and Dittisham, a market town and village in the South Hams. He became Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral in 2017. His wife Sophie grew up in and is a Project Manager. They have two young children. “I’m really looking forward to getting started,” said Will today before adding: “My first task is to listen and get to know the clergy and people of the diocese so that I can discern how to support and encourage the local mission of the church in all aspects of its life.” Both of the new bishops-designate are announcing news of their appointments to their congregations and communities today”.

Windmill Close Wildlife

Jean and Terry Rogers have kindly sent me the photo below of the hedgehogs in their garden. It really brightened my day, hope it does yours too!

We are pretty sure we have a resident hedgehog in the hedgehog box that Terry made. I have been drying grass and putting it in the vicinity of the house and she has been taking it into the bed chamber regularly, to hopefully have babies in. The pair of hedgehogs have been coming to feed for a while now and it is really exciting to have them make their home here.

Remember traffic jams?

One good thing about the lockdown is that you’ll have spent less hours stuck in traffic this Spring.

Recent research has found that in 2019, car-using commuters lost an average of 115 hours stuck in traffic. No surprises that London was the most congested, with people losing 149 hours over the year. After all, London comes 8th in the world for bad traffic jams.

Belfast was the next worst, with 112 hours lost per commuter. That is closely followed by Bristol (103 hours), Edinburgh (98 hours), and Manchester (92 hours).

London and Edinburgh have tied for the title of UK’s slowest-moving city centre, with the average speed being about 10mph.

The following are actual call centre conversations….

Customer: “I’ve been ringing you on 0700 2300 for two days. Why didn’t you answer?” Travel agent: “Where did you get that number from, sir?” Customer: “It’s there on the door to your Travel Centre.” Operator: “Sir, they are our opening hours.”

Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while travelling in France ): “If I register my car in France, do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?”

Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven. Operator: “Woven? Are you sure?” Caller: “Yes, of course. That’s what it says on the label; Woven in Scotland.” JOIN US FOR MESSY CHURCH

AT ST PETER’S COMMUNITY CENTRE, WEST BLATCHINGTON FREE FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY!

Sunday 19th July 2020 4pm - 5.15pm

Prayer List Requests

Each Sunday in Church we pray for people in any kind of need. These may be people known only to us individually or they may be the names of people on the prayer list which is printed in the Pew Sheet, and mentioned in Intercessions. Names on the prayer list are usually there as a result of a request by a friend or family member. Please can friends or family requesting (or who have requested in the past) a name to be included on the prayer list keep in touch with our Pastoral Care Group from time to time to let us know of any change, or otherwise, in the situation of the loved one. This will help us in keeping the list relevant, accurate and up to date, which we regard as an important aspect. When convenient, please contact Carol Gander (01273 555414) with any helpful information. As with all matters to do with Pastoral Care and personal relationships, all communications will be entirely confidential, but will allow the prayer list to be kept meaningful and up to date.

St Peter's Pastoral Care Group

Our Pastoral Care Group exists to offer entirely confidential help and support on any pastoral matter.

Perhaps you would like a friendly visitor for a good chat now and then, help with transport, a name included in our prayer list at Church, some professional advice which we can help find, or an offer of Communion at home?

Please contact, in the first instance, Carol Gander on 01273 555414. TERRY ROGERS

Your Local Builder & Decorator

General Building, Plastering, Decorating & Repairs

(Small works also carried out)

Tel: 01273 737118 The Parish Church of St. Peter West Blatchington

FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES

Our afternoon concert series continues with

Hangleton Brass Band Ensemble

1.10 p.m. on Saturday 20th June

The Recital is for approximately 40 minutes

Refreshments provided

There is no admission charge, but donations to fund future concerts will be gratefully accepted.

All welcome! Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers by Michael Blencowe of the Sussex Wildlife Trust

I bless the rains down in Africa

It’s amazing how a song can transport you someplace else. I can’t hear ‘Africa’ by American soft-rockers Toto without drifting back 35 years to a school disco in Plymouth. Right now I’m sat by a Sussex reedbed listening to two songs simultaneously pouring from deep in the reeds. These songs also take me back to my childhood and Saturday mornings spent birdwatching beside similar reedbeds in South Devon.

These summer singers are two small brown birds; the Reed Warbler and the Sedge Warbler and their songs make me feel strangely nostalgic for a place I have never been; Ghana, where these warblers will have spent the winter before returning to Sussex each spring. Reed Warblers are rather plain whereas Sedge Warblers sport a streaky back and stripy head with a heavy ‘eyebrow’ that fixes them with a permanently intense expression. But these identification features aren’t important because you’ll rarely see these secretive birds. But, boy, will you hear them! Because when they start singing they just can’t stop.

The Reed Warbler’s song is a loud, repetitive stuttering chatter of jumbled phrases that just just doesn’t just doesn’t seem to just just just just doesn’t just doesn’t seem to seem to go anywhere. It sounds like one of those warehouse-sized 1950’s computers churning out data. The Sedge Warbler’s song is similar but much more energetic and erratic with added harsh ‘churrrs’ and whistles giving the overall impression that it urgently needs a straightjacket and heavy medication.

These complex songs have a simple message; ‘Hey ladies, my territory is so rich in insects that I don’t have to spend much time hunting for my food; I can waste my time just singing’. It’s the loudest, longest, craziest song that will seduce a feathered female. Sedge Warblers raise their family in a no-thrills nest low in vegetation but the Reed Warbler weaves an incredible deep hammock lashed together with spider silk between the stiff stems of the tall reeds. The whole cradle will rock as the reeds bow in the breeze. In August, after raising their families, their warbler thoughts drift back to Africa where drums echo and wild dogs cry out in the night. The warblers will gorge themselves with aphids and, with a fat belly full of fuel, take off from Sussex and head over Iberia, North Africa and the wide Sahara to Ghana; a 3000 mile journey. I always imagine a Ghanaian naturalist pausing momentarily each autumn to observe these returning visitors. Do his thoughts drift to the Sussex riverside where they spent the summer? When the rains return to Africa in the spring they will summon the insect food that will again power their tiny warbler wings back to England to add to my Sussex summer sound- track.

Lipstick

Every morning, a little girl would go in the bathroom to watch her mother as she was putting on her makeup to go to work. But during coronavirus, the mother stopped bothering with makeup, much to her daughter’s confusion. “Mummy,” she cried early on in the lockdown: “Come back! You forgot to kiss the toilet paper goodbye!” Word Search clues

Coronavirus has turned our world upside down. But God is still there, and we can call on Him, as Psalm 91 (vs 1-6) reminds us…

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Dwells cover shelter feathers most wings high faithfulness shadow shield almighty rampart refuge fear fortress terror trust night save arrow snare plague deadly destroys pestilence

People and Places of the Bible

Bezalel & Oholiab This month I have chosen two people, both craftsmen. It is interesting that the names of ordinary people who made a contribution to life are also recorded in the Bible, not just people like Moses. Moses, having received the Law was also instructed by God to have a tabernacle for the Tent of Meeting and God called Bezalel, son of Uri of the tribe of Judah and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan as his assistant. Exodus 31.2 & 6. These two lead a team of workers who worked with fine metals, precious stones, rare wood and luxurious cloth of blue, purple and scarlet. All these were needed for the furnishings of the tabernacle, and the finely worked garments for Aaron and his sons for their service as . Exodus 31.10. It was said that more than 300 years later the tabernacle stood in Solomon’s temple. Horeb Mount Horeb in the Bible is another name for Mount Sinai, the mountain where the Hebrew people entered into a covenant with God after escaping from bondage in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:2; 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10). Mount Horeb is also the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments and the laws, rules, and instructions for the people before continuing on their journey through the desert toward the Promised Land (Exodus 33:6; Malachi 4:4). “The mountain of God” is another name in the Bible for Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1; 4:27; 18:5).

Horeb comes from a Hebrew term meaning “desert.” Most of the events that the book of Exodus describes as happening at Mount Sinai are located at Mount Horeb in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy uses the name Horeb exclusively for the mountain of God except in one verse, Deuteronomy 33:2. However, this mention of Sinai could refer to the wilderness of Sinai rather than the mountain.

Before the exodus, while Moses was tending the flocks of his father- in-law, Jethro, he came one day to the slopes of Mount Horeb. There he caught sight of a bush that was on fire but not burning up. As Moses investigated the phenomenon, God spoke to him from the flames. Calling him by name, the Lord told Moses to go to Pharaoh and deliver the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3:1– 12).

After the exodus, as the people wandered in the desert, they suffered from thirst and began to complain to Moses about having no water. The Lord commanded Moses to strike the rock at Horeb to obtain water to drink (Exodus 17:1–7).

In Exodus 19—20, the Israelites camped at the base of Mount Horeb while Moses went up the mountain to receive instructions from God. The people were told that from the mountain they would receive the commandments of God, and even hear the Lord’s voice. After three days of preparation, God would come down in the sight of all the people. Moses set boundaries on where they could go, and under penalty of death, they were prohibited from even touching the mountain. On the third day, amid thunder, lightning, and trumpet blasts, a thick cloud of smoke engulfed the mountain as God descended on it. Then Moses brought down the Ten Commandments and all the instructions of the law.

The book of Deuteronomy reiterates that on Mount Horeb God made a covenant with the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 5:2) and handed down the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:6–21). Also, while camped at Mount Horeb, the people made a golden idol in the shape of a calf to worship, provoking God’s wrath (Deuteronomy 9:13–29; Psalm 106:19).

From Mount Horeb, the Israelites set out toward Kadesh-Barnea, an eleven day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2, 19). Much later, the prophet Elijah fled to Mount Horeb because of Jezebel’s wrath (1 Kings 19:1– 8). There he stayed in a cave and had an extraordinary encounter with God, who spoke to him not in the windstorm, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. On Horeb God also instructed Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Syria and Jehu over Israel, and He named Elisha as the prophet to succeed Elijah (1 Kings 19:9–21).

Compiled from The Universal Bible Dictionary published by Lutterworth Press and Who’s Who in The Bible published by The Reader’s Digest and other sources by William Holden REGULAR WEEKLY SERVICES

SUNDAY

10:00 The Parish Eucharist (Common Worship) (1st Sunday is a Parade/Family Service)

TUESDAY

19:30 Holy Communion (Common Worship)

WEDNESDAY

10:00 Holy Communion (Common Worship) 19.30 Meditation (every Fortnight)

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH ONLY

10.30-12.00 Open Church drop in for coffee, cake & conversation

The Rector is always available for spiritual counsel, confession or healing prayer

HELPING YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY Your Local Funeral Professionals W CORNFORD & SON 19-20 Queens Parade, Hangleton BN3 8JG Tel: 01273 726766

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Polite church

“The congregation was wonderful,” said the minister after the Zoom service. “They were so polite that they even covered their mouths when they yawned.”

PARISH EVENTS DIARY

The following events taking place in June and July as notified are:

Saturday 6th June - Summer Fair - 11.30am

Friday 20th June - Hangleton Brass Band Ensemble - 1.10pm

Saturday 11th July - Hymns and Pimms evening - 7.30pm

Friday 17th July - Margaret Watson on harp concert - 1.10pm

Sunday 19th July - Messy Church - 4pm

Please continue to keep me informed of events that you have planned or know about by sending a message to our email address which is [email protected]

The deadline for the July/August issue is the 4th June

We do not know when the lockdown will be lifted and therefore all events have been listed, however some or all of them may have to be cancelled. Please see our website for up to date details.

St Peter’s ‘Open Church’ drop-in

On the First Friday of every month 10.30am – 12noon

For coffee, conversation and companionship.

We are open between 10.30am and 12 noon for you to 'drop-in' for a coffee, piece of cake and a chat. A very warm welcome awaits you, so please do 'drop-in' - we'd love to see you. THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR

My winter work on my two bramley apple trees has been very effective with the espalier tree against the fence. Here it was easier for me to identify the fruit buds when pruning and there appears to be a good crop of fruit taking shape. With the half standard, my efforts have not been so successful and there will be a limited amount of fruit. Next year I will prune this tree earlier and will also undertake some summer pruning. The fan shaped plum tree that I planted against the fence three years ago had some blossom, but I can only see two fruit. I will give this some attention with pruning and shaping during the coming months. My severe pruning of the gooseberry bushes seems to be producing dividends with healthy looking bushes and fruit. The oldest blackcurrant bush was cut back severely to bring it back into shape and to rejuvenate it so this year the crop from it will be modest, but the two other bushes promise a satisfactory crop. The loganberry is flourishing and has produced some good new canes this year and an abundant crop of fruit is forming. Because of poor returns in recent years and weed problems I have dug up all my raspberries, leaving the ground fallow to clear the weeds. The grapes vines have produced small clusters of grapes. I have started pinching out the ends to keep the vine remains compact and for the growth to go into the fruit. The blackberries look healthy with good growth. I need to tidy them up and secure them to the fence before they shoot out too much. This is a continuing task. Given the right mixture of sunshine and rain, particularly the latter at the time of writing, we could have a reasonably fruitful season.

The Fruit Farmer From the Vicar

At this time of global pandemic, we live with stark reality of death and life. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (37:1-14) was given when God’s people were in exile in Babylon. They felt dead, being separated from home and God! The vision answers God’s question: ‘can these bones live?’ We can also feel cut off from God, facing the loss of job, business, home or health, with churches unable to meet on Sundays. This vision assures us that God has power over death and can breathe new life into what is hopeless.

When Ezekiel is told to ‘prophesy to the bones’ (4), God brings them back to life: the bones come together and are covered with muscles and skin, and then filled with God’s breath to bring new life, by the life of His Spirit.

The Covid-19 virus robs people of their life by suffocation, so that they can’t breathe. Our hope beyond the pandemic is that the gift of God’s Spirit will bring new life to our lives, churches and world. Life will certainly look very different in the future, but we can be assured that God is with us and that we are safe in his hands.

‘I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ (14).

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2.21

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR GARDEN?

1)Check plants daily and water if the soil is dry. 2) Keep on top of weeding. 3) Move hanging baskets into final position. 4) Lift and divide clumps of Snowdrops and Bluebells once their leafs start to yellow. 5) Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of bulbs. 6) Wait for bulb foliage to die down naturally before cutting back. 7) Pinch out tips of Fuschias to encourage a bushy habit and more flowers. 8) Start to pick Sweet Peas as soon as they flower to encourage more blooms. 9) Dead head your Roses if they are repeat-flowering types. 10) As new shoots grow use soft ties to train climbing plants, such as Honeysuckle and Clematis, to their supports. 11) Towards the end of June, if your Hardy Geraniums have finished flowering, cut them back to encourage new foliage and flowers. 12) If there hasn't been much rain, raise your mower blades to reduce stress on the grass. 13) Treat your lawn with specific lawn fertiliser and weed killer. 14) Use water butts as much as possible and water your containers and baskets well in hot weather. 15) Look out for aphids on the underside of leaves. Rub off by hand or spray with insecticide. 16) Watch out for scarlet lily beetles on your Lilies. Remove and crush any you see. 17) Check for vine weevils by tipping your plants out of their pots and looking for "C" shaped creamy maggots amongst the roots. 18) Turn the compost in your bin every month to keep it well aerated.

Greenfingers

COME INTO MY KITCHEN…….

I do hope this finds you well and that you are coping with Lockdown.

Jane Cummings has sent me the following recipe. They are melt-in- the-mouth “Ladies Kisses” and are irresistible served with coffee or ice cream.

ORANGE BACI DI DAMA

100g softened butter 100g caster sugar 100g ground almonds 100g flour Finely grated zest of one orange 10 almonds, halved

Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas mark 4. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and light. Add the ground almonds, flour and orange zest. Work the mixture until it forms a stiff dough. Shape into 20 small balls, then arrange on baking sheets, leaving a 3-4 cm gap between each one. Press an almond half in the centre of each ball. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Thank you Jane. The next recipe is one I made recently and both David and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

HEALTHY AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA

Serves 4

2 aubergines, sliced into ½ cm thick slices, lengthways spray oil 2tsp olive oil 1 finely chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 x 400g tins tomatoes 300g mozzarella, thinly sliced large bunch of basil (I didn’t have fresh so used dried which worked well) 75g parmesan or other Italian hard cheese

Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the aubergine slices onto baking paper lined trays and spray with a little oil. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, flipping halfway until softened and crisping at the edges. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan and cook the onion and garlic for 20 minutes until soft. Then add the chopped tomatoes, season and simmer for 20 minutes. In a roughly 20cm x 30cm baking dish, layer up the aubergine and sauce, and roughly half-way, a layer of half of the mozzarella, basil and parmesan. Layer up the remaining aubergine and sauce and finish with a final layer of mozzarella, basil and parmesan. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Serve with salad. And now a quick dessert recipe. We have plenty of rhubarb in the garden and this will become a favourite way of using it!

RHUBARB AND CUSTARD ETON MESS

Serves 4-6

400g rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces (bright pink forced is best but if using your own, just pick the smallest stalks) 3tbsp caster sugar 300ml double cream 2tbsp icing sugar 1tsp vanilla extract 4 crushed meringues (ready-made are fine) 300g ready made vanilla custard

Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Put the rhubarb in a large baking dish, scatter over the caster sugar and cover with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until just tender. Whip the cream with the icing sugar and vanilla extract. In individual dishes, layer up the cream, rhubarb, meringue pieces and custard (adding any syrup from the rhubarb).

I hope you enjoy these recipes. If you have a favourite recipe, please send it to me so we can all enjoy them!

[email protected] or 26 Lloyd Road, BN3 6NL.

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The views expressed by individuals in Keynotes are not necessarily the views of the Church of St Peter, West Blatchington, or the Editorial Team. External advertising in this magazine does not imply any endorsement or promotion of the advertisement or its content, products or services. Errors and omissions, whilst regrettable, may occur. Please advise any member of the Editorial Team in writing and corrections will be published JUNE FESTIVALS AND SAINTS.

7th June – Trinity Sunday Trinity Sunday or to give its full title ‘The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity’ is the one feast to commemorate a doctrine rather than an event or a person. On Trinity Sunday, we remember and honour the eternal God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, and lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. The Eastern Churches have no tradition of Trinity Sunday, arguing that they celebrate the Trinity every Sunday. Westerners do as well, although they set aside a special feast day for the purpose. The Trinity is one of the most fascinating - and controversial - Christian dogmas. The Trinity is a mystery. By mystery the Church does not mean a riddle, but rather the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension that we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. It has been said that mystery is not a wall to run up against, but an ocean in which to swim. The common wisdom is that if you talk about the Trinity for longer than a few minutes you will slip into heresy because you are probing the depths of God deeply. The Trinity is described succinctly in the Nicene Creed but a fuller exposition is in the Athanasian Creed which can be found in the Book of Common Prayer following Evening Prayer. Essentially the Trinity is the belief that God is one (Greek ousia), but distinct in person (Greek hypostasis). Don't let the word "person" fool you. The Greek word for person means "that which stands on its own," or "individual reality," and does not mean the persons of the Trinity are three human persons. Therefore, we believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are somehow distinct from one another (not divided though), yet completely united in will and essence. How can this be? Think of the sight of two eyes. The eyes are distinct, yet one and undivided in their sight. Another illustration to explain the Trinity is the musical chord. Think of a C-chord. The C, E, and G notes are all distinct notes, but joined together as one chord the sound is richer and more dynamic than had the notes being played individually. The chords are all equally important in producing the rich sound, and the sound is lacking and thin if one of the notes is left out. is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. 11th June – Corpus Christi Today is appointed in the calendar as a day of thanksgiving for the institution of Holy Communion. Added to that description are the Latin words by which the Thursday after Trinity Sunday is more commonly known among those who celebrate it — Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. The festival day has been overlaid with all sorts of rite and ceremonial that emphasise an aspect of some beliefs, namely that the elements of bread and wine, after the priestly prayer of consecration really are the body and blood of Christ, and therefore are to be adored in the same way that we might adore Christ or a relic of Christ The history of this day is that it commemorates the Last Supper. Maundy Thursday also commemorates the Supper but coming in Holy Week and beginning the great Three Days of the paschal feast, there are other things that rightly take priority. So, with the three paschal days complete, and the fifty days of Eastertide complete, and the old week (or octave) of Pentecost complete, this is the first Thursday available for the commemoration. Having a separate festival of the Eucharist allows the celebration not to be muted by sadness. After the Reformation, the feast ceased to be celebrated in the . When the Oxford Movement gathered momentum in the latter half of the 19th Century many Anglo-Catholic parishes restored Reservation of the Sacrament and introduced Corpus Christi processions and adoration. Our Eucharistic joy compels us to go out into the world and share that joy by helping to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and free the oppressed. 29th June - Feast of S Peter (Our Patron Saint) Saint Peter (d. c. 64AD), originally called Simon, was a married fisherman from Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He met Jesus through his brother, Andrew. Jesus gave him the name of Cephas (Peter) which means rock. Peter is always named first in the list of apostles. He was one of the three apostles who were privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and the Agony in the Garden. When Peter made his famous confession of faith, that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus recognised it as being the result of a revelation from the Father. Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock on which his Church would be built, that the ‘gates of hell’ would never prevail against it. Peter and the apostles would have the power of ‘binding and loosing’, but Peter would be personally given ‘the keys of the kingdom of heaven’. Jesus also forewarned Peter of his betrayal and subsequent strengthening of the other apostles. After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter before the other apostles, and later entrusted him with the mission to feed both the lambs and the sheep of Christ’s flock. (This is depicted on the window in our Chapel) Peter played a big part in the early Church He is mentioned many times in the Book of Acts, where in the early chapters he organised the choice of Judas’ successor, preached with stirring authority at Pentecost; and was the very first apostle to work a miracle. Peter went on to defend the apostles’ right to teach at the Sanhedrin, and to condemn Ananias and Sapphira. It was Peter who first realised that Christianity was also for the gentiles, after his meeting with Cornelius. Later he took a prominent part in the council at Jerusalem, and went on to clash with St Paul at Antioch for hesitating about eating with gentiles. Early tradition links Peter with an apostolate and martyrdom at Rome. The New Testament does not tell us either way, but Peter being in Rome would make sense, especially as Peter’s first epistle refers to ‘Babylon’, which was usually identified with Rome. Peter’s presence in Rome is mentioned by early church fathers such as Clement of Rome and Irenaeus. Tradition also tells us that Peter suffered under Nero and was crucified head-downwards. There is no conclusive proof either way that St Peter’s relics are at the Vatican, but it is significant that Rome is the only city that ever claimed to be Peter’s place of death. St Peter was a major influence on Mark when writing his gospel, and the First Epistle of Peter was very probably his. (Many scholars believe that the Second Epistle that carries his name was written at a later date.) From very early times Peter was invoked by Christians as a universal saint. He was the heavenly door-keeper, the patron of the Church and the papacy, a saint both powerful and accessible and one with whom it is easy to identify because of his human frailties. In England, there were important dedications to Peter from early times: monasteries such as Canterbury, Glastonbury, Malmesbury, Peterborough, Lindisfarne, Whitby, Wearmouth, and especially Westminster. Cathedrals were named after him, too: York, Lichfield, Worcester and . In all, it has been calculated that 1,129 pre-Reformation churches were dedicated to St Peter, and another 283 to Saints Peter and Paul together. Images of Peter are innumerable, but his portraiture remains curiously the same: a man with a square face, a bald or tonsured head, and a short square, curly beard. Not surprisingly, his chief emblem is a set of keys, sometimes along with a ship or fish. Compiled by William Holden from various sources.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5.6-7

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MONEY MA££ERS - Figures for April 2020

Receipts Planned Giving £ 2404 Income tax recovered £ 1156 Community Centre Income £ 404 TOTAL RECEIPTS £ 3964

Payments Parish Contribution £ 5784 Salaries £ 645 Utilities and Insurance £ 298 Community Centre Costs £ 520 Church running costs/Upkeep of services £ 821 Rectory cleaning £ 365 TOTAL PAYMENTS £ 8433

YTD Deficit of £15,860

Date Reading, Commemorations & Intentions Calendar for June (Year A) MON Justin, martyr, c165 1ST All people suffering persecution TUES 2ND For Aldrington School WED The Martyrs of Uganda, 1885-87 & 1977 3RD All Christians suffering persecution THURS Petroc, abbot, 6th Century 4TH All youth workers FRI Boniface (Wynfrith), bishop, martyr, 754 5TH All missionaries SAT Ini Kopuria, founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood 1945 6TH The Church in Melanesia SUN Trinity Sunday Isaiah 40.12-17,27-31 2 Corinthians 7TH 13.11-13 Matthew 24.16-20 MON Thomas Ken, bishop, nonjuror, hymn writer, 1711 8TH All Church musicians TUES Columba, Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597. Ephrem of 9TH Syria, , hymn writer, teacher of the faith, 373 Hove Deanery Synod WEDS 10TH Our Choir and Director of Music THURS Corpus Christi (Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Com- 11TH munion) Our Suffragan Bishops Designate, Ruth and Will FRI Barnabas, Apostle (transferred from 11th) 12TH The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives SAT 13TH Peace in the Holy Land SUN 1st Sunday after Trinity Genesis 18.1-15, 21.1-7 14TH Romans 5.1-8 Matthew 9.35-10.8 MON Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941 15TH Our prayer life Reading, Commemorations & Intentions Calendar for June (Year A) TUES Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253, Joseph Butler, Bishop 16TH of Durham, Philospher, 1752. All theologians WED Samuel and Henrietta Bearnett, Social Reformers, 1913 & 17TH 1936 Our Foodbank THURS Bernard Mezeki, Martyr, 1896 18TH Social Justice FRI Sundar Singh, Sadhu (Holy Man), Evangelist, Teacher of 19TH the faith, 1929 Bishop Martin SAT 20TH All farmers SUN 2nd Sunday after Trinity 21ST Genesis 21.8-21 Romans 6.1b-11 Matthew 10.24-39 MON Alban, first Martyr of Britain 22ND The Bishop’s Council TUES Ethelreda, Abbess of Ely, c678 23RD All food distributors WED Birth of John the Baptist, 24TH Courage to proclaim the Gospel THURS 25TH All cleaning services FRI 26TH All doctors, nurses and health workers SAT Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Teacher of the faith, c200. 27TH Peace in the Holy Land and the Middle East SUN St Peter Our Patronal Festival 28TH Acts 12.1-11 1 Peter 2.19-25 Matthew 16.13-19 MON St Peter & St Paul (St Peter transferred to Sunday 28th 29TH June) Spread of the Gospel MON 30TH All hospital chaplains And finally……..

St Sofa’s

We worship at St Sofa’s now Since Covid came to stay We don’t dress up or do our hair But still we come to pray!

Our Vicar is a clever chap A Zoom with his IT And so we sit down ev’ry week And meet up virtually!

Our Parish Church stands empty With praise she does not ring; But still her people gather round To pray, and praise, and sing!

The virus is a nasty thing Yet it has helped us see The church is NOT a building But folk like you and me!

By Nigel and Carol Beeton