If you’ve just joined us and this is your first newsletter – welcome! I try to get one out every month although, when life is hectic, it can be less. There’s church news, some local news, and some international news, anything I think you may find interesting. If you have any suggestions that you think might improve the format then please let me know.
For the next few weeks Chris, Dameon, and I, will be away at conference in Florida. Sounds lovely but it’s presently in the mid to high 30’s with humidity at over 80%. Not the kindest weather to us polar bears! But the hotel will have a/c, and there’s a pool, so don’t feel too sorry for us. Rev. Peta will have the church phone for any church business, and if you need to reach me for some reason then I will be checking my emails every once in a while.
Here in Brighton, I ask that you please pray for the family and friends of Richard Tredgett who passed away last Thursday morning. An unexpected fatal illness tragically took a very special man. Please pray for his fiance’ Joe, director of The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as those in The Actually Gay Men’s Chorus who have lost one of their own. Please also pray for the family and friends of Andy Saich, especially his partner Laurent. Please also pray for all those in our own congregation who are grieving. May everyone touched by these losses know God’s richest Grace and gentle Love in its fullness.
I’m pleased to say that You have asked your Lay Delegate, (Dameon), to vote for Cecilia Eggleston to be the next Moderator of MCC. Prayers please as conference votes. Especially for Dameon. This will be his first conference as Lay Delegate and you know how challenging church business can get! Know that he will vote as you have asked him to and I know will represent you well.
Love
Rev. Michael
Phoenix Affirmations change of date.
The Phoenix Affirmations group scheduled for 10th of July has been postponed a week to Wednesday 17th July. It’ll be the final one in the series. If you have suggestions for another series please let me know!
FREE PIANO RECITAL!
On Sunday, 7th.July – (3.30 pm; doors open 3.00 pm) – at St.Luke’s Church in Queen’s Park Road, Brighton, one of my adult students, Jannie Lee, will be playing the programme she is preparing for a diploma examination later that month. Its a fairly short programme, ending around 4.30pm.
This is a very valuable performance experience and both Jannie and I would greatly appreciate your support if you are able join the audience and perhaps bring a friend with you!
Programme: Beethoven – Sonata in D, Op.10 No.3; Debussy – Ondine (Preludes Book 2); Ireland – Amberley Wild Brooks; Chopin – Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor, Op.31.
The Church is at the junction of Queen’s Park Road and Queen’s Park Terrace, served by bus routes 18, 21, 21a and 23; the bus stops, depending on the route, are called either St.Luke’s Church or The Pepper Pot and are all just a few yards from the Church. Bus route 22 goes to the end of Queen’s Park Road (in Elm Grove) – the stop is Queen’s Park Junction – and then its a 5-10 minutes walk to the Church. There is disabled access.
Learning about: Mental Health and Nature
Research shows us that being in nature promotes well-being and can help with the healing of mental health issues.
Peace of Mind is offering a day at Saddlescombe Farm with Growing Wellbeing to experience that for yourself and to help you learn how your faith community can use nature to support people with mental health issues.
Saturday, July 20, 10:00 – 4:00
Saddlescombe Farm BN45 7DE
Course Facilitator: Jo Wren and the team of “Growing Wellbeing”
Booking forms from cpark1947@gmail.com
Peace of Mind (Brighton and Hove)
Empowering faith communities to support people with mental health concerns
Have you tried PRAY-AS-YOU-GO from the Jesuits? It’s worth a listen and usually LGBT+ friendly.
Newsletters and events you might find of interest:
HRC: remembering Stonewall 50 years on.
Three years on – remembering the victims of Pulse.
London bus attack – homophobic attacks in London more common than most people realise.
National LGB&T partnership Newsletter
National LGBT awards for Stephen Fry, Little Mix, and Peter Tatchell
The rainbow flag originally had 8 colours, and hot pink was for sex!
See ALTURI for some of the latest LGBT+ news.
Simply ‘click’ to open each newsletter in a new window.
(Thank you to the Peter Tatchell foundation for some of these links).
Who is who at the Village MCC?Wendy, Isla, and Charlie are our Deacons at the Village. They’re able to offer emotional support and a friendly ear, and some signposting when you need further help. They especially love to get to know people so don’t be afraid just to connect for a coffee. They’re great listeners!
Tony Wares is our Social Media Coordinator and we now have active pages on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I can’t say that I understand any of it but I know that many people have visited with us through these media and have connected with the church. If you’d like to post anything relevant then please talk to Tony. My husband Chris looks after the website.
Dameon is our Lay delegate. His job is to ensure that communication lines are open; between the pastor and board, pastor and congregation, board and congregation, UFMCC and The Village MCC. If you don’t feel you can talk to the pastor, or a board member, or even a deacon, then Dameon is the one to talk to. Dameon is also responsible for hospitality, welcoming new people, sending birthday and celebration cards.
Mary is our health and safety officer; Sarah is our safeguarding officer. Wendy, Simon, Keith, and Rev. Peta are all board members. Keith is treasurer, Simon is secretary, Rev. Peta is vice chair, and Wendy is member at large. Will is our worship leader and musician.
Pickle team members are Rev. Peta, Stephen, Sarah, James, Isla, and myself. The Garden is managed by Rev. Peta and Mary. The web site and facebook page are run by Chris. The prayer team is Wendy, Sheila, and Rev. Peta. Pastoral care is specifically Wendy, Rev. Peta, and myself, although any of the deacons will offer a listening ear. Simon organises refreshments for the worship service.
Anyone can join the group of liturgists opening the service with a reading and prayer, or offer a word by preaching, or praying in worship for the congregation, or by celebrating and/or serving communion. Church is a community in action, and if you feel called to help out just let me know!
PRIDE 2019
Pride will be different for us this year as The LGBT Community Safety Forum is not running accessibility. It’s being run by a private company and so casual volunteers are not needed. I’m sad that we won’t be involved in accessibility, but it does give us the opportunity to run our own stall. Jesus deck readings and temporary tattoos are lots of fun and always enjoyed, and we do get to talk to folk about The Village and what we can offer. Alas, there are very limited volunteer tickets available but if you are already planning on going to Pride and can offer some help throughout the day it would be wonderful. I know it’s going to be a fabulous event – who’d have thought that Kylie Minogue would be headlining.