The Parish magazine of March 2023 Volume LIV No.2 stsaviourseastbourne.org.uk £1
2 Church Services All of our services are livestreamed on Facebook Sundays 8.30am Morning Prayer 9.00am Said Mass 10.30am Solemn Mass and Sermon The Daily Offices of Morning Prayer and Evensong are celebrated publicly Saturday – Wednesday at 8.30am and 5.00pm Weekdays 10.30am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 11.00am Tuesday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Mass at 12noon 12noon Friday 10.00am Saturday Major Weekday Festivals Sung Mass as above, unless otherwise indicated on notice boards. The Clergy are happy to bring the Sacrament to the housebound or sick at any hour of the day or night. The Holy Oil is available for those who wish to be anointed. The Sacrament of Reconciliation Confessions by appointment. Hospital visits The Clergy will visit and give communion to those in hospital. Other Services provided by the church For Baptisms, Banns of Marriage, Weddings and Funerals please contact the Vicar. Facebook facebook.com/stsaviourseastbourne Website stsaviourseastbourne.org.uk The church is open from 8.30am each day, but The Book/ Souvenir Shop is currently closed. St Saviour's Church South Street Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4UT Telephone: 01323 729702 Contents Page From the Vicar 3 The Amazing Human Mind 5 Lent 2023 6 The Art of St Saviour’s 7 Bread of Life 9 The Lenten Challenge 10 World Book Day Helping Each Other 11 Pancakes and Bingo once more… The Rainbow 12 Eastbourne Food Bank – Thank you 13 The Desert Shall Bloom Like The Rose 14 Looking in the Mirror New Chairs 15 Burns Night Sullivan and/or Gilbert – Part 6 16 More Gardening Tips from Annette 18 What is a Men’s Shed? 19 Blast from the Console 21 Kitty 22 Dates for your Diary 23 Directory 24 The Parish Magazine is published on the first Sunday of the month. Production: Paul Fella Matter for publication should be submitted to [email protected] Copy deadline is 20th of the month and articles should be no longer than 750 words. News items or reports should be factual and no longer than 500 words. Articles are copyright to the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author or Editor. The Editor's decision is final regarding content. Disclaimers: The Editor does not necessarily agree with all of the views expressed in this magazine. St Saviour’s Eastbourne, is the parish church of St Saviour and St Peter. The parish and its representatives do not endorse or recommend any of the products or services advertised in this Magazine. Caveat emptor! Cover image: A Contemplation for Lent – Fast • Pray • Give.
3 My dear friends, What a start to Lent this year! It was wonderful to see over 90 of you attending across the two Masses on Ash Wednesday and it was also a real treat to have Brother Steven CR with us to help us begin our Lent here at St Saviour’s. We very much look forward to him returning to guide us through Holy Week this year as our Holy Week preacher. Br Steven reminded us that a truly meaningful Lent involves something deeper than simply giving something up which we enjoy such as chocolate or gin. When I was a child, inevitably our first question for Lent was often “What are you giving up for Lent?” There was an element of competition involved between us which, in retrospect, was very much characterised by a form spiritual masochism disguised as a 40 day endurance test (those of us who were particularly severe in our devotion didn’t even take Sundays in Lent off as one is able – a practice I still follow to this day). However, giving something up for the 40 days was a custom that, when we were younger, certainly helped us enter into the season with a sense of purpose and a greater awareness even if the motives were not entirely spiritual. As adults, however, we ought to consider looking at Lent in a deeper way. We are probably much more settled into our behaviours and patterns of life and sometimes giving up something is where we begin – and, regrettably, end – our reflections on Lent. It can be tempting to say “I am giving up chocolate” or gin or even all sweets and all alcohol. But without more reflection, it can become simply a way we show God how strong we are: in short, there is a danger that it is more about me and the heroic (or otherwise) extent of my endurance rather than any conversation with God leading to my conversion. Because Lent isn’t simply, or only, about us “giving up” something. The real grace is when we recognize that Lent is a season in which God wants to give us something. God wants to help us transform our lives and make us more free as people – not just freer with God, but in the way we live our lives and love our families and other people. As Jesus tells us: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) LENT: REMOVING THE BARRIERS
4 Mother Church provides Lent almost like an annual retreat for us: a time for deepening the understanding of our Christian faith, a time for reflection and renewal, and a time to make a fresh start. The easy option is to simply choose something to give up – and then we can dismiss Lent. “I am giving up… …for Lent” (fill in the gap yourself). And so we give it up and exercise our willpower for 40 days to prove to ourselves and to God that we can do it… and at the end of Lent we can return to what we gave up. Is this really meaningful? In fact, is there any point to it, other than perhaps the added advantage of both losing a few pounds (weight lost) and gaining a few pounds (money saved)? This year we might reflect and ask the deeper question: what is God inviting me to change this Lent? How do we know what that might be? What might God be stirring in me? We begin by listening to the movements in our hearts. Where are we feeling uncomfortable with the choices we are making? With the things we have done? With the habitual ways we respond? The Lord will be speaking to us in those small nagging moments of discomfort in our hearts. Asking what we would like to change about ourselves this Lent requires a little reflection. What pattern of behaviour in my life needs changing? What do I need more of in my life? Patience? Unselfishness? More loving behaviour towards those I love and those closest to me? Towards people in general? An ability to see good in others rather than be constantly critical and undermining? An open and generous heart? Each of us can think of something that gets in the way of our being loving and self-sacrificing. Too often the ordinary conflicts, divisions and difficulties in our daily lives result from simple selfishness on our part. We choose to fight. We choose to defend our opinion. We choose to use things we know about other people against them. We choose to hurt them. The results of that behaviour are never good and always divisive. We are constantly tempted, as the Lord was, to take our own way – and not God’s way, the right way. We can ask: what would it cost me to change this behaviour? What would it mean if I didn’t walk around being angry all the time? What if I decided to be much more loving and patient with my spouse – or others – this Lent? What if I did decide to ‘give up’ something really destructive in my life, like excessive alcohol, excessive shopping, or malicious gossip? As we reflect, we might realize that changing a particular way we live is coming to us as a call from God and we don’t have to do it alone. God is moving our heart to reflect on these changes and God will remain faithful and help us to stay open to the grace being offered to us for change. We all need help. It may be something that we don’t want to change or acknowledge. We don’t think we can change it. But that’s where talking to God can make the difference: I am not doing this alone; I am doing it with God, as Jesus faced his temptations in the desert as we are reminded in the Gospel on the first Sunday of Lent. In asking God for help, actually for healing, we might reflect upon one of the many accounts of healing in the Gospels, such as the healing of the paralysed man (Mk 2:1-12). You will remember that in this story, a group of friends carried a mat with their paralysed friend on it to Jesus, who was teaching inside a house. So many people crowded around the outside of the house that the friends were unable to get the mat inside. So they went up to the roof and moved aside the tiles and lowered their friend on the mat to Jesus below. St Mark deliberately says that the man’s friends on the roof had “broken through” the tiles to lower their friend into the house for healing. And so their breakthrough led directly to the healing. Where do we need a breakthrough in our broken and fractured lives? What is the barrier that keeps us from asking for healing? In our own lives, we need to break through our denials, our defensiveness and our unwillingness to look at ourselves. Discovering what the barrier is in our life is critical. If we don’t know what the barrier is, these weeks of Lent are a great time to reflect upon it. And when we identify the barrier, we
5 All of our services are open to the public and are also being livestreamed via Facebook. have made the breakthrough. That’s when Jesus can heal us of it. So in this special period where God invites us into a deeper relationship with him, let us ask ourselves those two questions: where do we need a breakthrough in our broken and fractured lives? And what is the barrier that keeps us from asking for healing? Jesus will help us work out the answers, and will cause God’s grace into our souls and into the place where our real lives exist. Jesus stands with us every day, waiting for us to be lowered from the roof so he can touch us and heal us. As we enter into this great season again this year let us commit to giving ourselves the time and space to search our hearts, to open them so that the Lord may heal them and to renew our relationship with him. There are plenty of opportunities here at St Saviour’s to do so – the Lent Booklets many of you are using, the daily Mass, Stations of the Cross after Mass on Thursday mornings, the Lent course on Thursday afternoons, and confession and/or spiritual advice from one of the priests if you approach us. If, in past years, we let Lent go by largely unnoticed, let this year be different. Lent is often called God’s spring time – so let it be a second spring in our lives. Let it mean something in our discipleship with Jesus Christ and a time of growth and healing. With my love and prayers as ever, Fr Mark ? THE AMAZING HUMAN MIND I CDNUOLT BLVEIEE that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdeniag. The phaonemneal pweor of the hmuan mind. Aodccrnig to rseearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dnsoe’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt thing is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tish is bcuseae the hmuan mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azmanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghouht slpeling was ipmorantt.
6 Lent 2023 A truly holy and meaningful Lent requires us to clear a space for God and each other. What it requires is a real commitment – not opting in and opting out when there are ‘better’ things to do with our time. And so there are a number of opportunities for us all to make a personal commitment to make Lent more meaningful this year: 1 BY ATTENDING (AT THE LEAST) SUNDAY MASS – Every Sunday at 10.30am – we should make it a priority (unless we are ill) – to attend Mass every Sunday. At St Saviour’s we are also privileged to be able to offer Mass every day of the week – why “not take on” attending on another day as a Lenten discipline? Or take on attending that wonderful quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday morning from 11am? 2 BY ATTENDING THURSDAY MASS followed by STATIONS of the CROSS - Every Thursday in Lent from 10.30am – A spiritual pilgrimage of prayer and meditation through the chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death. 3 BY ATTENDING OUR LENT COURSE – ‘BREAD OF LIFE’ Every Thursday in Lent from 2pm – 4pm in the Hall (beginning on 2nd March). 4 USING THE LENT PRAYER BOOKLET EACH DAY The usual, and immensely helpful, Walk with Me booklets will be available to help us reflect and pray on a daily basis. 5 BY ATTENDING ONE OF OUR CHARITY LENT LUNCHES We will be having simple lunch after Stations of the Cross on Thursdays 2nd and 30th March. All profits from these lunches will go to charity. 6 MAKING YOUR CONFESSION and/or UNDERTAKING SPIRITUAL COUNSELLING The clergy are available for you (by appointment) either to offer you the wonderful sacramental gift of God’s forgiveness (via Confession) or to offer spiritual advice as a fellow pilgrim. Do make use of them! Resolve to make the commitment this Lent. Use the precious and wonderful gift being offered to us by the Lord in this Holy Season. That gift is space, sacred space: a time of renewal, refreshment and immersion in the mystery of God’s love for us in Christ. Don’t waste it.
7 This month I will focus on the next Beatitude in the sequence, ‘Blessed are the merciful’ The mosaic in the Sanctuary above this is of the Roman Centurion Cornelius. The Bible verse is given as Acts 10:4. This reads as, And he (Cornelius) stared at him in terror and said “What is it Lord?” And he (an angel) said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” Cornelius was stationed at Cæsarea, the capital of the Roman province of Judaea. He is considered in the tradition to be the first Gentile to be baptised. He was known as a God fearing man who prayed and who exercised philanthropy and so I assume that this is why the connection is made between him and ‘Blessed are the merciful’. However, in his position as a Roman Centurion his work would have afforded him many other opportunities to practice mercy rather than simply in deeds of alms. The story is a little more complicated and involves St. Peter. As Acts 10:4 tells us an angel visited Cornelius in a vision. The angel then informed Cornelius to send the men of his household to Joppa where St Peter was staying with a tanner called Simon. St Peter himself had also witnessed a vision (Acts 10:10-16). In this vision he saw many animals and birds coming down from Heaven in a sheet; he was told to eat these animals. When he objected, saying that these animals were unclean according to Mosaic Law, a voice told him not to call unclean that which God had cleansed. When St Peter then saw Cornelius’ men he understood that the meaning of the vision was that he was being told to preach the word of God to the Gentiles. St Peter then travelled to Cæsarea with Cornelius’ men. Upon meeting St Peter Cornelius fell down at his feet. The two men shared the visions that they had seen and the Holy Spirit descended upon the whole group. After that St Peter commanded that Cornelius and his men should all be baptized (Acts 10: 47). The above events are very important in the development of Christianity in that Cornelius had been accepted a Christian without first having been Jewish: unlike all before him was uncircumcised. Readers will remember that this issue of prior Jewish faith or otherwise is very much evident in the writings of St Paul. Cornelius is a Saint and his feast day is the 20th October. He is one of quite a few ‘Military Saints’ and his image stands next to those of St Martin of Tours and St George on the reredos of the Chapel on Governors Island in New York. Governors Island was once a military institution. Aslan The Art of St Saviour’s
8 [email protected] www.everlastimprovements.co.uk 0800 112 3544 07833 469 190 EVERLAST IMPROVEMENTS • Design, supply and fitting of double glazing • Design, supply and fitting of kitchens and bathrooms • General building work and decking 100s Club The results for the December and final draw of 2022 were 1st Prize 4 David McLean 2nd Prize 17 Carolyn Hunt 3rd Prize 12 Isobel Nugent The first draw of 2023 took place on Sunday 29th January and we are after new members. The cost is £3 per month and the prizes will be £50, £25 and £10. If you are interested in joining our Walsingham Cell please contact Mary Delves on 735410 A lamp burns for this church in the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
9 Our Lent Course for 2023… Bread of Life The Christian Faith through the Lens of the Eucharist This Lent, we are pleased to offer a brand new Lent Course which has been commissioned by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. We will run this 6 part course each Thursday afternoon (2pm-4pm) in the Hall, beginning on Thursday 2nd March. Bread of Life consists of six different modules which broadly follow the structure of the Eucharist. Whilst we are delivering it here as a Lent course, Bread of Life is also an ideal refresher course in the Christian faith, and as preparation for confirmation and first communion. The modules of the course are: 1 “I am the bread of life.” This module introduces the Eucharist as the central sacrament of the Christian life by looking at its history, its meaning and its importance to the contemporary Church. 2 “He has reconciled us to God.” This module looks at what it means to be reconciled to God and why we participate in repentance and absolution as preparation for receiving the Eucharist. 3 “The word of the Lord.” This module examines the importance of Scripture, giving an overview of the arc of Scripture, and looking in detail at the Biblical passages that inform our understanding of the Eucharist. 4 “Hear our prayer.” This module looks at the role of prayer in the Christian life, specifically at the Lord’s Prayer as the prayer of the Eucharist and as a pattern of prayer. 5 “The body of Christ.” This module looks at what it means to receive Christ in the Eucharist. 6 “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” This module explains why the Eucharistic life is missional and outward-looking. Course materials will be provided. Please let Fr Mark know if you’d like to attend, or if you would like further details.
10 A Lenten Challenge Fasting Fast from hurtful words and speak kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and have trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words and be silent so you can listen. Pope Francis (Ash Wednesday 2017) OOK! World Book Day World Book Day is held annually in the UK on the first Thursday in March. On World Book Day, every child in full-time education in the UK is given a voucher to be spent on books (the event was first celebrated in the UK in 1998). The event is the local manifestation of the original, global World Book Day organized by UNESCO to promote reading and publishing. Currently children dress up as book characters on WBD to celebrate this event. Who is the book character pictured on the right, from which series of books is he, and by whom are they written? Answers on page 22
11 Helping each other… Rena Loizou owner of Seniors Helping Seniors says, “matching active, loving, caring people, with seniors who need support is the clever part of what we do. We provide home help in a way that allows people to age with dignity, remain independent and actively participate in daily life. We also provide people who have life experience, flexible, part-time employment opportunities.” Seniors Helping Seniors was invited on the Smith Square Debate to share their radical perspective on ageing. Rena says, “Safeguarding ‘ordinary’ activities is highest on every client’s wish list and we manage to support every client’s personal goals by matching carer to client carefully. Our carers know what is important to our clients. I’d say we are very perceptive, and we draw back when our clients want quiet as well. It’s a fine line best walked by a local social enterprise with its heart in the right place and an abundance of amazing carers who know a little bit about ageing first hand.” The themes raised on the debate were: valuing and trusting local expertise, and how to stop catastrophising ageing! Rena says “Spring with our clients is about nature, Mothering Sunday, and Easter. 2023 has a Coronation and three wonderful bank holidays! We’ll be helping our clients make the most of it.” Here’s a photo of a client helping our carer ready the garden for Summer Pancakes and Bingo once more…! The Community Wellbeing Café held an ‘open’ Pancake day party on Shrove Tuesday. The afternoon kicked off with a ‘round the room’ quiz about pancakes and pancake day, while people were gathering. As well as most of the regulars there were a number of visitors from other parishes. 80 pancakes were made and consumed – mostly served with caster sugar and lemon and there was a savoury option (spinach, ham and cheese in a cream sauce) for those who preferred it or were diabetic. This was followed by Bingo expertly called by Fr Mark. A fun time was had by all!!
12 In December 2003 I was in the study at my vicarage near Tunbridge Wells working out the parish Carol Service. when suddenly I had a heart attack! Sufficient to say that everyone did all they could and as a result I have no permanent damage. Eventually, I was sent to St Thomas’ Hospital to have three stents fitted. The husband of my Churchwarden brought his car in later to bring me home. We wove our way home through a dismal, grey and rainy London and at last got out into open countryside with green fields and clearing skies. Suddenly, the largest, brightest most vivid rainbow I have ever seen, before or since, burst across the sky. Now you will remember what the Bible says about the rainbow after the flood – it is to remind us – “Never again!” It is God’s signature on the agreement, the Covenant made between God and us. I got the message, and I will never forget that rainbow! The rainbow reminds us of God’s mighty, creative power. Yes, we know about droplets of water and the sun shining through them, but that vivid arc across the sky is something quite different for those of us who believe in our Creator Father. It reminds us of God’s power and His beauty, and of course His faithfulness in keeping His promise in all sorts of situations – and above all, we give thanks for His promise of our salvation. You can utterly rely upon it - for ever. The rainbow is an emblem of God’s faithfulness and we do need to be reminded of the agreement, or Covenant. “I will be your God, and you will be my people – I will always look out for you.” But let’s not forget these words – “likewise after supper He took the cup and having given thanks, He said: “Drink this all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins….” The new Covenant of love, is made with the Blood of Christ who is the mediator of this new agreement. We are redeemed by His Blood and promised His inheritance. Not in the old way of malice and wickedness, but in the new way of sincerity and truth, this Covenant also gives us the Holy Spirit in our lives, as Jesus promised. He is the Lamb of God, our sacrifice, and by His Blood we are healed. It is, if you like, a huge extension on the rainbow, but the rainbow still has meaning. Our God still keeps His promises, and never forgets His people. We all need a rainbow from time to time, so let’s thank God for His goodness, His faithfulness and His love. Some verses might help: O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Your hand has made, I see the sea and hear the mighty thunder, Your power throughout the universe displayed The sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. And when I think that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, how great Thou art. Let’s give thanks every time we see the rainbow, and indeed for all God’s mercies. Fr Tony Fiddian-Green The Rainbow
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14 The Desert Shall Blossom Like The Rose Most people did not hear His plea Too deaf to hear, too blind to see Their hearts were rock-like, arid, dry They felt no pity at His cry He thirsted for their love and prayer And longed to take them in His care. So deathless love led Christ to die On that stark hill against the sky His tongue was parched, His lips were dry The guardian soldiers heard His cry. The darkening desert bowed its head The King of all the earth was dead. The Lord who came to shield and save Was buried in an earthly grave. Gone were His powers to help and bless? And earth still held its emptiness ? The cold stone masked the changing scene The parched earth burgeoned into green. Bright healing streams of mercy flow And in the desert roses blow. Mrs M M L Hadfield Looking in the Mirror I look in the mirror and what do I see, In those two brown eyes, gazing back at me. A lifetime of memories, stretching back through the years, that makes the woman - I am full of laughter and tears. As I look in the mirror, at the woman I am, I find myself smiling and saying, ‘I can’. It’s the springtime of life, everything’s new, I can do anything; I choose to do. My face is familiar, as I journey on. It’s changed with age, but my heart sings a song of love for my life as I look where I’ve been, where I’ve come to and wonder, what the future dreams. The eyes in the mirror look back at me now, With lots of sparkle and wonder at how, Each day just gets better, there is so much more. I’m learning and growing as I open each door. Annette Smyth Thursday 30th March 12noon - 2pm Tickets £5 All proceeds will be split between our chosen charities for this year. stsaviourseastbourne.org.uk St Saviour’s Church South Street Eastbourne Registered Charity No 1131420 Tickets available from Yvonne
15 New Chairs for the Church Hall If you have been in the church hall recently, you may have noticed that we now have new, lightweight, stackable chairs (replacing our worn red, heavy ones). If you would like to contribute towards the cost of a chair (£50 gift aided would more than cover the cost), please see a churchwarden. These chairs also have a version with arm rests for which some have expressed an interest in donating money. BURNS NIGHT Our Burns Night celebration was a runaway success again this year, making over £450 for church funds. A great time was had by all with good music, great food and brilliant dancing – it was a struggle to get people to leave at the end of the evening. Thanks to all those who helped and supported it!
16 The partnership of composer and librettist had only four more operas remaining, despite the efforts of Richard D’Oyly Carte (in effect their agent) who controlled the Savoy Theatre and eventually the Savoy Hotel. Gilbert kept offering his pet ‘magic lozenge’ plot, which Sullivan refused. Sullivan wanted his music to reflect real-life people, not the topsy-turvy world of ‘The Sorcerer’ or ‘Iolanthe’ and ‘Ruddigore’, the latter being the most recent of their collaborations. Gilbert came up with a historical romance-comedy, set in Tudor times which started off as ‘The Tower of London’; it was Sullivan who suggested that ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ would be a better title. Sullivan responded with music that comes nearer to Grand Opera than any he had written to Gilbert’s words. The Yeoman of the Guard offers a good mixture of heroic, mock heroic and romantic music. The collapse of Jack Point the comic lead, at the end is deliberately left ambiguous by Gilbert. We do not know if he fainted or died. Sullivan and/or Gilbert – Part 6
17 Some productions emphasise the brutal side of the story, one featured a huge execution block throughout. The Yeoman of the Guard mercifully does not present the older woman as a figure of fun, instead Dame Carruthers is dignified. She is housekeeper of the Tower and sings of its ancient history –‘ when our gallant Norman foes…’. The following year (1889) saw the creation of perhaps the best of Sullivan’s collaboration with Gilbert – ‘The Gondoliers’. Gilbert produced a sparkling libretto, even suggesting some of the possible music treatment to Sullivan (which he adopted). The butt of the satire is against strong republican principals – which the jolly Gondoliers Marco and Giuseppe soon abandon when they learn that one of them is the new king of Barataria (could this be a shortening of baritone and aria?). The seedy duke and duchess, flat broke, reveal how to make money out of opening bazaars, attending dinners and endorsing products which they may love or dispise (the Australian version captured on DVD has lots of updated words so hence we learn that ‘there’s a fortune in condoms!). Strong Italian (the Venice setting) and Spanish (Barataria) style music pervades the score, for example the lively ‘dance cachuclia’. The quartet in act two is a work of genius, it starts slowly, and voice by voice enters furiously against the calm of the other three. The next year (1890) saw the partnership split asunder. More next month … Robert Milnes
18 Spring is here at last Daffodils everywhere, in parks, gardens and also along motorways. While crocuses peep out from under the Lilac tree in the back garden. Azalea, Rhododendron and Camellias all prefer rainwater to tap water. Use that old plastic bin/tin bath to collect rainwater as ìt falls and cover over the container where children are playing. With all the rain we been having in the last few months, all of us are getting ready again for this coming month, hopefully with greater supply of our rainwater in no time at all, with no extra cost. Streatch fine netting across the top to protect the water from fallen leaves or debris. Forsythia bushes are blooming outside the kitchen window. Tiny Narcissi have reappeared this year, a Mother’s Day gift of a few years ago. Doesn’t it lift up our hearts to see the garden coming to life once again. Leave space this month between plants for a different variety of lettuce seeds. Help cacti and succulents and other household plants, moving into the right position for a better sunlight or shade accordingly to your particular plants. Also cacti need a water drenching at this month to get them, off to a good start. Check the leaves for any sign of diseases, spray just in case, be ruthless, only keep the healthy plants. Song birds are getting ready for nesting this month because, of their nest building elsewhere being disrupted, to ensure that we attract more bird’s by putting nesting boxes at the bottom of the of our garden. The necessity for pruning trees, before the end of this month and the proper way to engage a professional gardener, the wrong way is to attempt do it yourself approach and casually to prop the ladder against the willow tree etc. Prune back really well rose bushes, and other plant’s as well so that when they flower in the next coming months will have beautiful flowers. About the compost heap. Turn over the contents and aerate at regular intervals. Did you know that you can compost the dust from your vacuum cleaner. Never put cooked foods on the heap in case of attracting vermin. Well rotted compost is perfect as mulch around the base of shrubs and trees. More gardening hints from Annette…
19 Flexible, award winning elderly care Care is provided by someone experienced and the same person visits • Companionship Care • Meal Preparation • Shopping • Medication Prompting Housekeeping • Overnight Stays • Laundry • Administration • Appointments • Much More! To find out more about receiving care or working with us in and around 01323 912 303 WE ARE HERE TO HELP or visit our website © 2022 independently owned and operated © seniors helping seniors ® www.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk Eastbourne A very personal commitment A helping hand at home: for seniors, by seniors Seniors Helping Seniors was founded in 1998, to offer older people the chance to stay in their own homes for longer, by providing them with help and care. We are fully committed to the highest standards and to help all seniors in our community to lead dignified and independent lives. As award winning social entrepreneurs we are proud to use profit with purpose to make an important social change. “It is only through the action of caring that we find our true purpose in the world.” KIRAN YOCOM CO-FOUNDER, SENIORS HELPING SENIORS The Seniors Helping Seniors in-home service is the place to call when help or future care planning is needed 01323 912 303 [email protected] www.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk 01323 912 303 [email protected] www.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk Are you looking for help for yourself or a loved one? We can help with: • Companionship • Meal times • Shopping • Transportation • Medical appointments • Hospital discharge • Welcome home and convalescence • Dementia Care • Respite care • Holidays and overnights • Housekeeping and laundry • Maintenance and repairs • Gardening • Pet care • ...and much more ©2022 independently owned and operated ©Seniors Helping Seniors® What is a Men’s Shed? Men’s Sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. Sheds are whatever the members (or Shedders as we call them) want them to be. Although labelled sheds, they often aren’t sheds at all. They can be empty offices, portable cabins, warehouses, garages, and in at least one case, a disused mortuary. Some Sheds are purpose built workshops, but they rarely start out that way. Many don’t have premises at all in the beginning and instead form a group that meets regularly for the social connection, company and camaraderie until they can find somewhere to kit out with tools. Many Sheds get involved in community projects too – restoring village features, helping maintain parks and green spaces, and building things for schools, libraries and individuals in need. Activities in Sheds vary greatly, but you can usually find woodworking, metalworking, repairing and restoring, electronics, model buildings or even car building. Sheds typically attract older men, but many have younger members and women too. Eastbourne has Three Sheds: Fort Lane, Eastbourne BN22 7SN, Langney Priory, Etchingham Rd, Langney BN23 7DT and Brassey Parade, Eastbourne, BN22 9NG. They are all under the auspices of Age Concern Eastbourne and can be contacted via www.eastbourneshed.co.uk/contact.html or through Age Concern Eastbourne, The Venton Centre, Junction Rd, Eastbourne BN21 3QY Tel. 01323 638474
20 We need stewards for open church. COULD YOU GIVE two hours a week to welcome visitors? WE ALSO DESPERATELY NEED MORE volunteer cleaners to help clean the church on tuesdays – If you are able to help with either of these, PLEASE See A CHURCH WARDEN, THANK YOU.
21 Some of you might have noticed that the organ has sounded a lot better this past couple of weeks. Well, it won’t come as a surprise when I tell you that I have been on holiday. Sally and I have been back to Singapore to see our younger son and his wife who are working over there on secondment for three years. Of course it all sounds very glamorous and exciting which it is, but it does mean that you don’t see them as much as you would like. Actually it’s not that so much, rather it’s knowing that they are not a short train ride away. So, now we are back and just a little sad, but so pleased to have seen them and to have visited some extraordinary places in Thailand and Malaysia as well. I am indebted to both John Ross and Andrew Wilson who covered for me in my my absence. Now it’s back to work. Easter will soon be upon us and there’s always a lot of work to do to prepare for that. So much story telling to pack into these short weeks of Lent and then the Triduum which, as any organist will tell you, is a real Odyssey. Although one tends to think of Easter Day as the ‘main event’, it’s actually quite a relief when it comes round! On the concert scene, we have the Renaissance Singers coming on the 18th March (that’s a Saturday). The theme will be ‘From Ash Wednesday to Easter’. This is exactly what it says it is; a journey through Lent and the Passion to the triumph of Easter Morning. I’m really looking forward to this. There is some glorious music and readings on which to reflect. Entry will be free with be a retiring collection. Another thing that I need to tell you is that it looks like, finally, we are going to present our ‘Festive Songs of Praise’. This will on Sunday 18th June at 3.00pm and will be an opportunity for us all to raise the roof as we sing some of our bestloved hymns. It will feature the Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Brass Band and a sizeable choir. Please put the date in your diaries, more details will follow. This is a fundraiser for the choir candle holders which we so desperately need for our services around Christmas and Holy Week. Please look out the details of the concert series which you will find at the back of the church. As I said last month, make a special note of Thomas Trotter’s recital on 11th June. Now, if you’ll forgive me, I’m very jet-lagged and am going back to bed! zzzzzzzzzzz
22 Hello Darlings Here we are just 4 weeks away from the annual Spring Forward with the clocks. Also as I write Easter is a short 6 weeks hence. I must begin by thanking my readers for their kind remarks. I’m pleased that we shall have a visit later in the year from our Colonial cousins in Australia. Hopefully accompanied by suitably hot weather so we can enjoy a barbie or three. They always enjoy reading this load of lighthearted tosh. Thank you too to the lovely Francesca who always enthuses over my witterings. Much as I’d like to take up your idea of writing for the nationals, I fear I would be reduced to the births, marriages and deaths columns. Nice idea though. Well in a couple of days we mark Ash Wednesday in true St Saviour’s style and then we are in Lent. To most people it’s the idea of giving up something for the period. I find it a period of challenge. To be more patient, more charitable and more caring to other people. It’s so easy to say I’m giving up gin, cream cakes and meals out. Not much of a sacrifice anyway at the moment, as with the price rises we can’t afford most of them anyway – so no sacrifice. Well it’s finally happened. Something I thought I’d never live to see. What? I hear you gasp... The new chairs have arrived for the church hall and lovely they are. Those of us of a certain age who have found their bodies increasing in size in a certain area can now sit in comfort as they are slightly wider. Fr Mark gave his customary hand signs for ’give us your money’ during the notices. Buy a chair for 50 quid (preferably by donating with Gift Aid). Some people have asked for some to be bought with arms. Well, come on give us the money. It was also Mary Delves’ birthday and accompanied by Sandy McPherson on the organ (sorry John) a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday took place. I must say the organ playing on that Sunday (19th Feb) was fabulous. The fanfare before Fr Mark’s homily was tremendous. He was almost lost for words... Great news that we are to have another Curate in June. Another product of St Stephen’s House in Oxford no less. We shall have yet another Fr Richard. Having got Fr Tony and Fr Anthony, it’s something to ponder on. On Ash Wednesday and through Holy Week, we will have one of the Brothers from the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield joining us – Fr Mark’s old college. Don’t forget the Lent Course and Lent Lunches and by the time this comes out the shops will be drowning in Easter Eggs. Who will be first with the Christmas cards on Easter Monday? How the year flies by. Well, my dears I wish you a Happy Easter. See you at Mass. Cheers! Kitty xx ANSWERS: The Librarian (an Urangutang) from The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett
23 Wed 1 10.30am Mass S. David Bp. 6.30pm Mass pro PCC Thur 10.30am Mass and Stations Lent Feria Fri 3 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Sat 4 10.00am Mass Lent Feria Sun 5 09.00am Mass The 2nd Sunday of Lent 10.30am Solemn Mass Mon 6 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Tues 7 11.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Wed 8 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Thur 9 10.30am Mass and Stations Lent Feria Fri 10 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Sat 11 10.00am Mass Lent Feria Sun 12 09.00am Mass The 3rd Sunday of Lent 10.30am Solemn Mass Mon 13 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Tues 14 11.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Wed 15 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Thur 16 10.30am Mass and Stations Lent Feria Fri 17 12 noon Mass S. Patrick Bp. Sat 18 10.00am Mass Lent Feria Sun 19 09.00am Mass The 4th Sunday of Lent 10.30am Solemn Mass and Ministry of Healing Mon 20 10.30am Mass S. Joseph Tues 21 11.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12 noon Mass Lent Feria AD Wed 22 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Thur 23 10.30am Mass and Stations Lent Feria Fri 24 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Sat 25 10.00am Mass The Annunciation of the Lord Sun 26 09.00am Mass The 5th Sunday of Lent 10.30am Solemn Mass Mon 27 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Tues 28 11.00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Wed 29 10.30am Mass Lent Feria Thur 30 10.30am Mass and Stations Lent Feria Fri 31 12 noon Mass Lent Feria Dates for your Diary – March
24 THE DIRECTORY Church Officers Telephone Vicar Fr Mark McAulay SSC (Fr Mark’s rest day is a Monday) 01323 722317 The Vicarage Spencer Road Eastbourne BN21 4PA Hon Associate Clergy Fr Anthony Fiddian-Green MA, Cert Ed 381796 Canon Richard Harper SSC 733927 Canon Robert Fayers SSC 07706 067496 Canon Anthony Delves SSC 893695 Fr David Weaver 07811 145656 Churchwardens Mrs Pauline Fella 656346 Mr Keith Metcalfe 645145 Secretary PCC Dr Simon Thorp 07711 986695 Treasurer and Chair of Finance Mrs Beverley Thorp 07845 713771 Other Officers Director of Music Mr Paul Collins 647969 Parish Hospital Contact Mr Robert Ascott 728892 Mrs Veronica Gottlieb 07801 069991 Car Park Manager / 100 Club Mr Steve Gilbert 469078 Acting Church Hall Manager Mrs Pauline Fella 656346 Safeguarding Officer Mrs Yvonne Dyer 07702 199844 Electoral Roll Officer Mrs Susan Metcalfe 645145 Deanery Synod Mr John Vernon 412061 Librarian Mrs Krystyne Breeze Open Church Mrs Yvonne Dyer 07702 199844 Flower Arranging Mrs Yvonne Dyer and Team 07702 199844 Church Grounds Ms Megan Humphreys, Mrs Lynette Newman, Mr Ross Piper Events Coordinators Mrs Yvonne Dyer 07702 199844 Church Cleaning Mrs Judy Grundy, Ms Francesca Fairs, Mrs Judith Coe, Mr Terry Brookes Webmaster / Magazine / Publicity Mr Paul Fella 07379 679741 Church Office Answerphone 729702 Church Organisations Book Group Vacancy Reach Out Team Ms Ruth Figgest 729702 Family Support Work Mr Robert Ascott 728892 Chatstop Fr Anthony Fiddian-Green 381796 Lunch for One Mrs Yvonne Dyer 07702 199844 Guild of All Souls Vacant Our Lady of Walsingham / CBS Miss Mary Delves 735410 Mission to Seafarers Mrs Isobel Nugent 725796 Additional Curates Society Mr Roger Emery 431283