Parish of Clayton with Keymer

The Parish News,

April 2019

From the Rector

As our lent journey continues our focus shifts to Jerusalem and the cross. Our season of fasting prayer and almsgiving directs us to think not just about ourselves but our community, our families and friends, how we experience Jesus Christ in our lives and in our hearts and minds in 2019.

We have the benefit of over 2000 years of reflection, teaching, prayer and understanding to help guide us through the Lenten journey, Holy Week and Easter. It is the busiest time of the church year and a real roller coaster ride of emotions as we reflect on the hurt and the pain,

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the struggle and finally the joy and relief of Christ rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Combine this with the delicate nature of Great Britain preparing to leave the European Union or whatever happens with that. The recent atrocity in New Zealand and the general uncertainty in the world at the moment is a real reminder for us to focus on what is important. What is important? Jesus tells us plainly and simply. Love one another, as I have loved you...

Our Parish Administrator Marion will be in the Parish Office at St Francis on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10.30 to 12.30. She can be contacted on 01273 846853. Any items you would like to be considered for the May Parish News please email to claytonkeymer@gmail.com before Friday 19 April. With prayers and blessings and wishing you a very Happy Easter. Fr Alex

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Diary for April

Tues 2nd

Eucharist at Age Concern 13.30 TC

Wed 3rd

Mothers Union Corporate Communion BCP Stations of the Cross at Keymer

10.30 20.00

AB TC

Fri 5th

Women’s Prayer Breakfast at the Rectory

09.30 TB

Sun 7th

Passion Sunday Holy Communion BCP at Clayton Sung Eucharist at Keymer Eucharist at St Francis Eucharist and Baptism at Clayton

08.00 09.45 09.45 09.45

AB TC SM AB

Wed 10th

Stations of the Cross at Keymer 20.00 TC

Fri 12th

Men’s Prayer Breakfast at the Rectory 09.30 AB

Sat 13th

Walsingham Mass at Keymer 09.30 TC

Sun 14th

Palm Sunday Holy Communion BCP at Keymer + Palm Ceremonies, Procession, Passion Gospel and Eucharist Please assemble for the procession at Villa Adastra

08.00 10.15

AB AB/TC

15th Monday in Holy Week Eucharist at Keymer Cameo Easter Celebration

09.30 14-16

AB

16th Tuesday in Holy Week Chrism Mass at the Cathedral. To which all who in a multitude of ways enable our weekly worship to take place, the Bishop extends a welcome.

12.00

17th Wednesday in Holy Week Eucharist held at Keymer Stations of the Cross at the URC

09.30

TC

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18th Maundy Thursday Sedar Meal, Maundy ceremonies, Eucharist, Striping of the Altar and Watch held at Keymer Church Hall

6pm

AB/TC

19th Good Friday all services held at Keymer Morning Prayer Stations of the Cross for Children Two hours devotion on the 7 last words using Jazz (come and go as you are able) The Good Friday Liturgy

09.00 09.30 12.00-13.45 14.00

AB AB/TC

20th Easter EVE The great vigil of Easter at Keymer

19.00

AB/TC

Sun 21st

EASTER DAY Holy Communion BCP at St Francis +Sung Eucharist at Keymer Eucharist at St Francis Eucharist at Clayton

08.00 09.45 09.45 11.15

AB TC AB/RH TC

Tues 23rd

Eucharist at Villa Adastra 10.30 TC

Fri 26th

Concert “Vocal Fusion Acapella” at Keymer

19.30

Sat 27th

The “Roaring Twenties” Night at Clayton

19.30

28th The Second Sunday of Easter Holy Communion BCP at Keymer Sung Eucharist at Keymer Family service St Francis breakfast from 09.45 Holy Communion BCP at Clayton

08.00 09.45 10.15 11.15

TC TC RH TC

Mon 29th

St Georges Day Parade Service at Keymer

17.30 AB/GP

Fr Alex has Tuesday off and Fr Tom Friday off. Morning Prayer is said each weekday at 09.15 at Keymer

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Holy Week, Liturgy and Drama come together This solemn season preserves some of the oldest texts still in current use, and rehearses the deepest and most fundamental Christian memories. Through participation in the whole sequence of services, the Christian shares in Christ’s own journey, from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the empty tomb on Easter morning.

Sunday. Hosanna to the Son of David The procession with palms, which was already observed in Jerusalem in the fourth century, is accompanied by the reading or singing of the Passion Narrative, in which the whole story of the week is anticipated.

Palm Sunday, Meet at Villa Adastra by 10.15 for Procession

Thursday. I come as one who serves Maundy Thursday (from mandatum, ‘commandment’, because of the use of John 13.34 in the Antiphon) contains a rich complex of themes: humble Christian service expressed through Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet, the

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institution of the Eucharist, the perfection of Christ’s loving obedience through the agony of Gethsemane.

Maundy Thursday liturgy starts at Keymer Hall at 18.00 with the Sedar meal

Could you not watch with me one hour? After keeping vigil (‘Could you not watch with me one hour?’) Thursday passes into Good Friday.

The Watch is kept at Keymer after the Eucharist till midnight.

Good Friday. It is finished Good Friday we again hear the Dramatic reading of the passion, venerate the cross, listen to the singing of the reproaches (O my people what I have I done unto thee, how have I offended thee) we make our communion from the consecrated bread of the Maundy Thursday Eucharist. The church remains stripped of all decoration. It continues bare and empty through the following day, which is a day without a liturgy: there can be no adequate way of recalling the being dead of the Son of God, other than silence and desolation. But within the silence there grows a

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sense of peace and completion, and then rising excitement as the Easter Vigil draws near.

Good Friday services

09.30 young person’s Stations of the Cross.

12.00 the two hours devotion using the seven last words from the Cross, Jazz and silence.

14.00 The Liturgy of Good Friday

Holy Saturday. Alleluia, Christ is Risen Easter Eve 19.00 The Easter Vigil, Champagne and Cake

From earliest times Christians have gathered through the night of Easter to recall the story of God’s saving work, from creation through to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Easter Liturgy is not merely a presentation of God’s work. It is meant to be a real experience of new life for the worshipper, a passing from darkness to light which offers hope to all the faithful.

The Easter Vigil marks the end of the emptiness of Holy Saturday, and leads into the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. After lighting a new fire,

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from which the paschal candle is lit as well as our own candles, we sing the Exsultet, the ancient hymn of triumph and rejoicing, which links this night of our Christian redemption to the Passover night of Israel’s redemption out of Egypt. Christian baptism is a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ, and so we renew our own baptismal promises a dying to sin in order to be reborn in him. The Easter Gospel is proclaimed with all the joy and splendour that the church can find.

All the resources of the church – music, flowers, bells, colours – are used to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. The ‘Alleluia’, which has been silent throughout Lent, returns.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendour, with the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render. (John of Damascus)

Main text is (amended) taken from “times and seasons” and is copyright the Archbishops Council.

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Safeguarding – what is it? It is an umbrella or overarching term which requires us to put several policies and procedures in place and includes; child and vulnerable adult protection from abuse or the potential for abuse, ensuring a healthy and safe environment, having first aid facilities, policies and practice procedures for internet use, protocols for taking and publishing photographs of children and vulnerable adults, safeguarding training, safe recruitment, keeping records of activities such as junior church, accidents, reported abuse, etc. As a parish this enables us to adhere to The Church of England - House of Bishops safeguarding policy. Our Parish Safeguarding procedures and list of contacts is available on our website and is displayed in all our churches.

REMEMBER – safeguarding is everyone’s concern.

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Youth Worker

Hello all, Arklight Youth Group is still growing and we have been getting emails for new members to join. This is becoming a great outreach for the church and we are seeing lots of positive changes in some of the young people. The Drop In is still going well with the group getting some funding from a local business, which means we can look at expanding the variety of activities we have on offer. Schools we had a meeting with the Head of the Infant’s School and he is looking at what more we can do to support the school. He is very keen to build a stronger relationship with the Churches and the local community. Scouts we have got planned another St George’s Day service with the scouts, cubs and beavers which we are looking forward to. Speaking to some of the youngsters - they can’t wait to come again.

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Mini Bus how great! The Bus is up and running now so we can take the Youth Group out on more trips now and it will expand our youth outreach even more. I am so excited about this and it is such a great thing for the Parish. Also, a massive thank you to OCD Auto Spa Ltd Hassock for cleaning the minibus free of charge and done an amazing job. May Camp we are now in full preparation for our weekend away with 13 of us going. The excitement is building and what a fantastic chance we are getting to take our young people to have great worship, workshops, sports time all with other young people from the Diocese. This is all down to the great generosity of the parish. Toddler Easter we are holding a Toddler Easter Service again this year with a bring your own picnic party after to celebrate the 5th Birthday of BBT. We hope that we will get lots of people in attendance for this.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayer Gary

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Sponsor a Child at ‘May Camp’

There are a number of children who have expressed desire to go to the Christian May Camp which is held at the Plumpton Racecourse over the Spring Bank Holiday. However, there is a cost of £70 per child which can be a barrier for some parents. So, Gary came up with the idea of sponsoring a child or part of a child which I thought a great idea! Further to this it has been agreed that this sponsorship would attract gift aid (an extra 25%) if paid to the church and then the church would pay for the child as long as the donor was a UK tax payer. All that is needed is a cheque made out to the ‘Clayton with Keymer PCC’ or cash together with a short note saying what the gift is for and your name and address. If this is put into one of the church envelopes or a plain one it could be put into the church collection bag. It really couldn’t be simpler.

Christopher Moss

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Attention all Hassocks children and teenagers ages 5-18:

"Hassocks Music Festival" is coming to the field of Downlands Community School on Saturday 7th September. The Hassocks Music Festival Youth Choir will soon be forming to participate in the festival's 'Battle of the Bands'. We will be rehearsing 2-3 songs over 13 rehearsals through May, June and July. On Tuesday evenings from 7-8pm at St Cosmas and St Damian Church at Keymer. All Hassocks children and teenagers are welcome to join us but they must be able to attend the rehearsals and performance. It is generally free but we may ask for voluntary donations to cover costs. For more info please find us on Facebook, email Marion Smith (maser844@hotmail.co.uk) or Emily Hilson (emily@uk-aardvarks.co.uk). All proceeds from the festival will support St James and St Peter's Hospice.

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Bumps, Babies and Toddler Group Our Bumps, Babies and Toddler group celebrated their 5th year anniversary at the end of March. The group meets every Thursday throughout the year from 1.00 - 3.00, and over the years has welcomed almost one hundred families. Many of our original “babies” are now at school, and their brothers or sisters have joined us, as well as lots of new families. Each session the children are able to play with a wide variety of toys, while their Mums, Dads or Grandparents enjoy a cup of tea and cake. We provide many different craft activities including painting, dough, sticking, and foam, as well as opportunities to play with coloured rice, sand and porridge oats. We have a large range of sit and ride toys, and are able to play outside on the patio or in the garden in the summer months. We always have a singing session during the afternoon with musical instruments, and a great favourite is our bubble song. We have always had the most amazing support from our wonderful congregation at St. Francis, and our grateful thanks go to our talented cake makers, generous donators, and those faithful helpers who join us setting up, clearing up, making teas and washing up! We are having a celebration picnic and cake on Easter Saturday, following a special children’s Easter service , and look forward to welcoming as many original and current families as can make it.

Gill Pinchbeck and Jacquie Drake

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Fundraising that’s not going to cost you anything Dear Friends, We have been accepted as a fundraising opportunity at Tesco under the Bags for Help Scheme which is for green projects. We’ve applied for the scheme to help with renovations for St Francis Church garden to improve our garden space for the Youth Group and BBT. So how can you help??????? If you shop in Tesco or Tesco Express in Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath between March and April you can pick up a blue token and drop it into the token box at the front of the store. If we have the highest number of tokens, we will receive £4000, and if we have the least, we will receive £1000. So, no matter what we will get some money to help with the garden but, wouldn’t it be great if we can all club together and get the £4000! All you need to do is drop a token in the box under Garden Refurbishment for Our Local Community.

Please support this fundraising project.

Gary

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FRIDAY 26th APRIL. – A LIVE MUSICAL EVENT at 7.30pm in St Cosmas and St

Damian Church, Keymer. Sussex Vale Rotary is pleased to present special performances by Marcus Martin and Vocal Fusion in a fundraising concert on behalf of the Sussex based charity ‘Know Dementia’. There is no charge for admission, although it is hoped a retiring collection will raise a sizeable donation to the charity. Know Dementia is run by volunteers to build links with the local community to enable a better understanding of the disease. This is achieved through a number of approaches, including Dementia Friends Training, Dementia Action Alliances and their ‘Moments’ events. You can learn more on their website. Vocal Fusion Acapella, will be performing and is an unaccompanied Male Voice Chorus of around 20 singers, based in Steyning, West Sussex, with an extensive repertoire. They will be joined by Marcus Martin who is well known to local audiences in various professional musical roles such as the director of the HHD U3A choir, organist at St Cosmas and St Damian and also for his 17 years of presenting ‘Morning Melodies’ raising almost £60,000 to date for local and national charities. Don’t miss what will be an excellent evening of live music, make sure it goes in your calendar today! The Sussex Vale Rotary Club draws its members from Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint and surrounding areas. If you are interested in learning more about Rotary International and how you can help or join us, please contact our club secretary on secretary@rotary-sxvale.org.uk or call 07546 111996, he will be pleased to hear from you. Alternatively, you can follow us on Facebook or check our website.

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Saturday 27th April. ‘Roaring Twenties’ evening at Clayton to include a three course meal and entertainment. Tickets cost £15 and are available at Hassocks Hardware.

Period costume encouraged but not essential.

A fun evening for all. Lifts always available if needed.

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Parish Contacts

Rector Alex Baxter The Rectory, Keymer 01273 875894 Email: alexbaxter66@yahoo.co.uk Assistant Priest: Revd Tom Cameron 11 The Spinney 01273 846274 Reader: Robin Holford 48 Church Mead 01273 842651 Youth Worker: Gary Pickett 07745 299289 Email: gpickett170@gmail.com Hon Sec to PCC: Janet Sharman 12 Church Mead 01273 845194 Treasurer: Anne Knowles 45 Bonny Wood Road 01273 846925 Email: annie_mcknowles@btinternet.com Safeguarding Officers: St Cosmas & St Damian: Moira Monteith 01273 620545 St Francis: Wendy Moss 01273 842201 St John’s Clayton: Sandra Boyd 01273 844904 Parish Office at St Francis: Monday, Thursday, Friday 10.30-12.30 01273 846853: Marion Smith Website: www.claytonwithkeymer.org Facebook: ‘The Parish of Clayton with Keymer’