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() Worship/ Liturgy

Good Shepherd Newsletter No. 68: April 2005

So we come to the last newsletter and it will be for the new Vicar to decide how best to communicate with the Parish and Community: I have had eight wonderful years here but it is time to move to a new ministerial challenge and as I am discovering, there are many Hounslow links in Wraysbury and Horton! My licencing and induction there will be on 25th April at 7.30pm at St Michael's Horton and my farewell evening is on 10th April at 6.30pm in the Good Shepherd Hall: details of both these events can be had from the Churchwardens, contact details being on one of the attached posters. All other information needed during the interregnum is also attached and I suggest that you keep this information handy during the coming months.

One thing I have learnt (and it is a sad thing to report) is that you have to make a great deal of noise and effort to get anything done these days: as I write this the water leak outside the Vicarage is at last being mended after 17 days of water pouring into the drains. On my first morning here on 25th July 1997, I looked out of the office window onto a sea of weeds, rubbish everywhere and the results of every dog in the Home Counties leaving me a little message on the pavements! I made the first of thousands of phone calls to the Civic Centre and the process of getting the Beavers on the local agenda had begun: eventually (and it took over 2 years and I nearly gave up!) things began to happen: grants applied for began to arrive, we got Hot Water and Central Heating into the church, we repaired the roof, BAA replaced our windows, funding came through for the Youth Project, the congregation grew and the Hall began to be a community resource.

The Community School (what excellent work it does and what a privilege to have been a Governor and Teacher there) with so many problems with the buildings and the infrastructure, and that too gradually has (after much nagging!) received finance to improve the buildings and to have been praised by OFSTED as we came out of Special Measures. And all around us we see new building work, landscaping, roads and pavements resurfaced, and new facilities coming to the community. Whatever you do, do not for one moment relax your vigilance on the delivery of what has been promised and to hold to account those who are responsible for that delivery. We will all be visited by our elected representatives in the coming weeks (elections I expect!) and we have to see that they come regularly and not just when they want our votes! The profile of the Beavers is now one of improvement and confidence and do not let anybody tell you otherwise: keep at it!

At the Good Shepherd, all is in hand for the interregnum: the parish profile is with the Bishop for prospective candidates to read and view and if they visit the parish incognito as I did, the visual appearance is one that should attract and not deter! Even the Salisbury Road shopping area is at last being dealt with. A new regiment comes in August 2005 (the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters) and they will have the chance to live in an area being regenerated. You will find a Brownie Poster with this newsletter: 9th Hounslow Brownies have been going 16 years now and it is a facility we cannot lose: if you have a daughter of 7-10 years old (or know somebody who has) get in touch with Brown Owl.

When the Focus re-opens in the Autumn the clash of nights between Brownies and the Junior Youth Club can be avoided: groups once closed seldom re-open. The Good Shepherd itself has not been without its moments either but we now have our Category C status (not financially viable but with a long term future) and that is the foundation upon which the new Vicar must build. We have our Youth Project, the Breakfast Club and our Sunday School is very well attended: all to play for for the future and I leave knowing that all will be well. The Legal Advice Drop In is also guaranteed until the end of 2006.

So farewell my friends, and thank you for the eight interesting years I have enjoyed (mostly!) here. I have made many friends and these friendships will continue though after the new Vicar arrives it is courtesy for me to disappear whilst the new ministry is established and we pray that God will send the right person as soon as possible. The only comment I make is that the Good Shepherd must be involved with the community as much as possible and I hope that this will continue. My work has been sustained in the love of the Lord Jesus and the privilege of Christian ministry in this diverse community has been unforgettable.

With every blessing and my affectionate best wishes for the future,



HOLY BAPTISM: Keeki Tamara Bennetts: Demi Samantha Bennetts

FIRST COMMUNION: Serena Kasoze-Batende: Eden Corr: Otis Corr: Chloe Robinson

PARISH STAFF

Vicar. Vacant Position from 10th April 2005

Fr Paul Topham: Asst Priest.........................8979 4277

Wendy Fay: Parish Reader...........................8577 5141

Captain Tom Hughes: Parish Evangelist and Community Youth

Worker.........................................................8570 111

WEEKLY EVENTS DIARY: NOTE CHANGES ON SOME OF THE DAYS

Sundays at 10.00am:Sunday School Junior Ministry

Sundays at 2.00pm: Amsave Fellowship: contact Evangelist Manasse Obibi: 0208 754 9000

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: 1.30pm: 50+Club

Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.00pm: KENSHUKAI Karate: Contact Peter Angell: 07958 926556

Wednesdays: 2.00pm Wednesday Club Service 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 8577 5141 for details of venue.

Thursdays: Brownies from 7.00 pm: contact Brown Owl on 8577 6365 First Thursdays: 5. 15pm to 6.15pm: Ward Councillors' Surgery in the Hall by appointment ONLY on 0208 583 2000

DAYTIME HALL BOOKINGS: 8572 3794(ring between 6.00-7.00pm)

SURE START TIMES FOR THEIR PROJECTS IN THE CHURCH HALL: RING 0208 570 8156/0208 538 0380

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COMMUNITY NEWS
8-11 Youth Club and the Big Breakfast Club To enrol and for further information on meeting days for CBBC: 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

SUMMER PROJECT: DETAILS FROM TOM AS WELL

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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 2.00 TO 4.00 pm

POLICE SURGERY: SECOND MONDAYS FROM 2.00PM TO 3.00PM

WARD COUNCILLORS SURGERY: FIRST THURSDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY ON 0208 583 2000

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NEED HELP?: RING THE NOBES ON 0208 570 8320

INTER-REGNUM
During the interregnum the weekly service pattern will be as follows:

Sundays: at 10.00am
The last Sunday of the month: The Parish Mass with Sunday School and all age services
Fourth Sundays: A service of night prayer and healing, at 6:30pm
Wednesdays: The Wednesday Club service followed by tea and bingo, at 2:00pm
Any special services will be publicised as necessary.

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FOR STATISTICS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WE CAN COUNT 5 WEDDINGS, OVER 400 FUNERALS, 97 BAPTISMS, 21 FIRST COMMUNIONS AND 41 CONFIRMATIONS.

I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT ALL: THANK YOU!

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=> Newsletter: March 2005