KEYNOTES October 2018 60p THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. PETER, ST PETER’S, WEST BLATCHINGTON Rector The Reverend Daniel Smith, BTh (Oxon), Dip Min The Rectory 23 Windmill Close, Hove. BN3 7LJ Tel: 01273 732459 E-mail: [email protected] Monday 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 Jane Gough Tel: 554256 HON. TREASURER Mandy Gander Tel: 271982 CENTRE BOOKINGS Richard Delacour Tel: 07968 227639 PASTORAL CARE Transport to Church Keith Bassant Tel: 561345 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 Lee Tel: 911968 E-mail: [email protected] Church website : stpeterswestblatchington.org.uk EDITORIAL We do hope that you have had a relaxing and peaceful Summer break and are now ready for the cooler days and nights of Autumn and the rigours of Winter. One of our Churchwardens, Jane Gough and her husband Michael have decided to move to Cornwall in the next few weeks to be closer to family and we shall miss their wholehearted support of Church services and social activities within the Parish. The list of things they do is endless and they will be sorely missed. We are pleased to advise that it has been decided to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to resuscitate someone in the vicinity of the churchyard who may have suffered a cardiac arrest. This will be located on the east wall of the Community Centre. Some training will be given to regular users of the Community Centre but this is not essential as a simple phone call will bring help and give guidance in the meantime. Safeguarding of our children and other vulnerable people is something that we take very seriously at St Peter’s. Recent changes made by the Diocese are being embraced and further training is under way for those involved in activities with them. Please support our lunchtime concerts and note that the next one is on a Saturday afternoon, not the usual Friday, at 2.00 pm on 20th October. It features the Acabellas, one of whom is Dee, the wife of one of our choir members, Paul Brunsdon. We are indebted to those who give of their time to keep the church- yard looking so neat and tidy. Maybe you can spare an hour or two on an occasional basis to help mow the grass or join the rota to maintain a flower bed? The green-fingered with their own gardens will find that our regular feature “Greenfingers” will help with the work to be carried out in the next few weeks in preparation for Winter. Editorial Committee The Rector’s Ramblings I’ve just returned from the three-day Clergy Conference held at the University of Kent at Canterbury. The theme of the conference was ‘Vocation’ and next year the Diocese will be celebrating the ‘Year of Vocation’. The strap line of the conference was from the popular hymn ‘Here I am Lord’. You might know the next line…’Is it me Lord’. I think we all ask that question from time to time. In the Bible, we hear the story of God calling Samuel three times. On the first two occasions, Samuel doesn’t recognise the call of his Lord God. But on the third time, something changes within Samuel and he realises that God is calling him. We are about to go through some changes at St Peter’s with Jane and Michael moving to Cornwall to be with their family. Jane and Michael have been wonderful examples of people responding to a call – a call to serve, love and nurture their Church family and beyond. This has been their vocation. So, what do you hear God calling you to be or do? God calls people from all walks of life and we are all ‘good enough’ in his eyes. What are your passions and skills? How do you think you could use these in God’s service? How can we help you realise and accept what God is calling you to be and do? One of the things I found at the Clergy Conference, there were 300 of us there, was that we come from different places and traditions, but we all love God and have had some change in our own lives which has caused us to want to know, love and follow him. But you don’t have to be a priest to do this or to have a significant role in the parish. As we say in the Eucharist we are one body because we all share in one bread. As we move towards Christmas, why not reflect on what God has given you and what you might give back. Blessings, Fr Daniel I was elected a churchwarden at the annual parish meeting in April, taking Keith Bassant’s place who had been a warden for the previous three years, and acting jointly with Jane Gough who is now in her seventh year as a warden. Most of you will know that, for family reasons, Jane and Michael are moving to Cornwall and, therefore, she has had to resign as warden although the effective date of her departure has yet to be announced. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jane and Michael for the amount that they have both contributed to our life at St Peter’s, well over and above the normal duties of a churchwarden, and they will be a very hard act to follow. Keith also achieved a great deal during his time as warden, most notably overseeing the structural renovations to the church building and the ongoing issue of the boundary wall between the Community Centre and 365 Hangleton Road. As for me, I have been attending St Peter’s for about 17 years and was a church warden once before, for six years during Fr Robin’s time. Over the years I have also been a member of the PCC, a server, an intercessor and for a few years was the Hove Deanery Treasurer. A parish generally has two church wardens who, in theory, are elected by all of the people who reside in the parish and who are on the civil electoral role, not just those who are members of our church. In practice, of course, only members of the church turn out to vote. Church wardens are responsible for the following: • The maintenance and security of the fabric and structure of the church building and the furnishings and ornaments within it; • The administration associated with the running of the parish, including making sure that all legal requirements are complied with, e.g. health and safety, fire and planning regulations; • Keeping order in the church during services and evicting anyone who causes a nuisance; • Ensuring that there is someone available to take services if the rector is absent, or even taking a (non-eucharistic) service if at the last minute the priest is unable to perform; • Acting as a guide and sounding-board for the rector and taking concern for his general welfare; • Listening to the views and concerns of members of the parish. In practice the wardens are assisted with many of these tasks by members of the PCC and other members of the congregation, for which we are very grateful and long may that continue! Nevertheless, it is the rector and wardens who have the legal responsibility for these matters. Father Daniel and I ask for your prayers and support as we attempt to fulfil our roles over the coming year. Jonathan Cooke This photo was taken of Jonathan at David & Maggie Keeling’s, at a recent party. What have we let ourselves in for!! WOMEN’S SOCIAL GROUP At the beginning of August the Women’s Social Group went to The Bull, Henfield. In total we were a group of 28 which included husbands, fiancées, sisters and grandsons. We arrived on one of the rare wet days of the summer but were given a warm welcome. We enjoyed a delicious spread of pizzas (with about 16 different toppings!), salads and bread, followed by a selection of desserts. We were then divided into two teams of thirteen (we had two supporters) and played two games of skittles. It was great fun and we saw a variety of styles of play. Harrison and Sam helped set up the skittles after each competitor which was much appreciated. We departed in good spirits and warm sunshine. Later in the month, we enjoyed coffee at Pam’s home. As usual we enjoyed delicious refreshments and good company. Maggie ITB Electrical Services All Domestic Electrics Part P Compliant Fully Insured For a free quote call: Ian Barrett 01273 417484 or 07902 909605 Michael Porteous Thank you for all the many cards and messages that we have received. Michael was a proud Australian born in Tasmania, but spent most of his life in Sydney. Michael was the eldest of four children and came from a very loving family. Music played a major part in Michael's life. He studied the cello at Sydney Conservatorium and played in the National Youth Orchestra. He was granted a Scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, which he was unable to take up, but continued to have weekly cello lessons there. Michael was an accomplished recorder player as well as being able to play a number of other instruments.