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() Worship/ Liturgy

Good Shepherd Newsletter No. 66: February 2005

The beginning of 2005 has been overshadowed by the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia with appalling loss of life, massive destruction and many years of reconstruction ahead to restore what has been destroyed: many people in this community will have suffered personal loss and our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this unprecedented catastrophe: out of such unimaginable tragedy good does come and if it proves the wake up call for the developed world to deal with the third world in a just and equitable manner not just in the short term but also through long term commitment then perhaps all will not have been in vain: it also shows how humankind, so sure of its own invincibility, is swept aside by the awesome power of nature, and if faith communities can genuinely work together to bring relief to the millions who need it then again good will have emerged from a situation of apparent hopelessness.

And whilst we concentrate on Asia, let us not take our eyes off the continuing need to help Africa in its many requirements.

I hope you all had a pleasant Christmas and the New Year has certainly started with much to keep us busy locally! Whilst we see pavements and kerbs improved and await the traffic calming measures as well, we still have the proposal to change the name of the Beavers Estate: whatever new name they give it, it will still be called the Beavers Estate: are the road names going to be changed, and the School, and is London United expected to change all its bus blinds as well, let alone changes to printed paper and a whole host of other things? It will be a nightmare and a waste of money: far better things to spend money on than that!

And the Beavers Centre for Health, and what a battle there was to get that facility, is also being lined up for a name change because somebody in the Fire Authority says the name is confusing: to whom? It is on the Beavers, it is a centre and it deals with health: it does what it says on the Tin! The Primary Care Trust has a £7 million pound deficit, and the South West London Health Authority under which we come has the highest deficit in the NHS: after five months of being open, we have over 2000 patients registered in Chinchilla Drive: we need 3,400 to have 2 GP's: one will be cut, losing five sessions a week: I have asked that any decision is left for at least 9 months after opening, and we wait to see! The answer? IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED WITH A GP GET DOWN TO CHINCHILLA DRIVE AND DO IT! In the next newsletter I may have more information on the Government's proposals for Sure Start: it's an excellent scheme delivering fantastic services: stop tinkering with everything and leave it alone!

At the Good Shepherd we had an enjoyable Christmas Season, and we are looking forward to 2005: I will be licenced in my new Parishes in Wraysbury and Horton on the evening of Monday 25th April 2005 and my last days in the parish will be 10/11th April though I will be teaching at the School until the end of the Summer Term.

Our Sunday School has restarted and five candidates will be confirmed by the Bishop of Kensington on 2nd February at 7.30pm, my last batch! On 5 th February Year 4 children will start First Communion preparation for Easter Sunday, and if you would like your child to be prepared please ring me as soon as possible. I am doing what I can to make the interregnum between my leaving and the new Vicar coming as short as possible and I can't be sure what sort of newsletter you will get after I leave: keep an eye on the Good Shepherd, our usual activities will still continue and get behind the new Vicar as and when they come: the parish is feeding ideas into the Good Shepherd Representatives which they in turn will pass onto the Bishop: somebody who will continue to build on the foundations laid since 1997.

In the Hounslow Deanery review we, the Good Shepherd was the only parish to be classified C out of 20 parishes, which means that we can never pay our way but we have a long term future worthy of support by the Diocese of London, a transformation indeed from 1997: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! The Youth Project needs additional funding and I think I have rescheduled the grant that supports the

Legal Advice Centre on Monday afternoons so it will continue into the end of 2006. Support all these activities and parents in particular we want your input and support to the Youth Club and CBBC Clubs that form the Good Shepherd Youth Project. IF YOU WANT TO HIRE THE GOOD SHEPHERD MINIBUS, OUR WEBSITE HAS THE HIRE DETAILS AND YOU CAN MAKE A BOOKING VIA EMAIL ON kidsprojects@tiscali.co.uk

A Happy and Contented New Year to you all,
With every blessing and best wishes,

FAITHFUL DEPARTED:
Rita Hawkes: Rosina Treadaway: Pam Roe

HOLY BAPTISM: Chantel Benkilani

PARISH STAFF
Fr Simon: Vicar.............................................8570 4035
Fr Paul Topham: Asst Priest.........................8979 4277
Wendy Fay: Parish Reader...........................8577 5141
Captain Tom Hughes: Parish Evangelist and Community Youth Worker.........................................................8570 1116

WEEKLY EVENTS DIARY: NOTE CHANGES ON SOME OF THE DAYS

Sundays at 10.00am:Sunday School Junior Ministry
Sundays at 4.00pm: All Nations Bride Church : contact The Rev'd Noble Gill, 8572 6149

Mondays: 1.30pm: Drop In Legal Advice: Surgery Details overleaf: 4.30-6.15pm Kumon Maths and English: contact Taran Hans 8754 8171.(ALSO THURSDAYS SAME TIMES) 8.00pm: Hounslow Light Opera

Tuesdays:10.00am: Short Mass in the Upper Room: 1.30pm: 50+Club
Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.00pm: KENSHUKAI Karate: Contact Peter Angell: 07958 926556

Wednesdays: 2.00pm Wednesday Club Mass followed by Tea and
Bingo. CHOIR PRACTICE NOW 9.30AM ON SUNDAYS: 7.30pm: Community Bingo: new members always welcome: contact Rosina Wells on 0208 570 8793. 8.00pm: Good Shepherd Prayer Group: various locations: ring 8570 4035 for details of venue.

Thursdays: Brownies from 6.45pm: contact Brown Owl on 8577 6365 First Thursdays: 5. 15pm to 6.15pm: Ward Councillors' Surgery in the Hall by appointment on 0208 583 2000
Saturdays at 4.30pm and Sundays at 1.30pm: Amsave Fellowship: contact Evangelist Manasse Obibi: 0208 754 9000

DAYTIME HALL BOOKINGS: 8572 3794

SURE START TIMES FOR THEIR PROJECTS IN THE CHURCH HALL: RING 0208 570 8156
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DIARY DATES

COMMUNITY NEWS 8-11 Youth Club and the Big Breakfast Club To enrol and for further information: contact Tom Hughes: 8570 1116
YOUTH CLUB: THURSDAY NIGHTS: 6.30-8.30PM AT THE SCHOOL
CBBC:SATURDAYS IN THE HALL FROM 10.00-12NOON

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SURGERIES AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD
EVERY MONDAY EXCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS
LEGAL ADVICE DROP IN FROM 1.30PM TO 4.30PM
REFRESHMENTS WHILE YOU WAIT!
HOUNSLOW HOMES DROP IN: FIRST MONDAYS FROM 2.00PM TO 3.30pm
POLICE SURGERY: SECOND MONDAYS FROM 2.00PM TO 3.00PM
HOUNSLOW RACIAL EQUALITY COUNCIL DROP IN: FIRST AND THIRD MONDAYS FROM 3.00-4.00 PM
WARD COUNCILLORS SURGERY: FIRST THURSDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ON 0208 583 2000

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NEED HELP?: RING THE NOBES ON 0208 570 8320
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY!
EVENTS IN HOSANNA: SALISBURY ROAD PRECINCT
18 TH JANUARY:11.00AM TO 4.00PM
19 TH JANUARY:4.00PM TO 8.00PM
22 ND JANUARY:11.00AM TO 3.00PM
YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY!!
GOOD TURN OUT FOR THE SESSIONS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
LENT 2005 AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD
DETAILS ON ATTACHED POSTER OVERLEAF
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER DETAILS NEXT ISSUE

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=> Newsletter: December 2004