Church of the Good Shepherd Brighton

Experience God's Love

Monthly news - October 2025


Yesterday I went into Lancing Prep to do a Harvest assembly with the older children. It brought back many memories of singing “Cauliflowers fluffy and cabbages green…” as a child in my non-church primary school. I brought along a pumpkin that had been grown in the Vicarage garden this summer, before I dramatically dropped it on the floor and shattered it to pieces. On purpose, it must be made clear, but I succeeded in making it look like an accident, and the school hall was filled with shocked gasps. I wanted to get to the seeds to make my point about what Harvest Festival was really about. You’ll have to join us on Sunday though to find out what I said.

 

For it is Harvest festival time again as we give thanks for all the good gifts that the earth has brought us. Whether you’ve grown something at home, or whether your harvest involves a trip to the supermarket, it is a time to give thanks for the food we receive, and for all those who work to bring it to our plates. And it is a chance to collect for those who for whom access to food is less certain and more difficult. Our church will be decorated by local organisations, we will be collecting food for Brighton Food Bank, and we will be joined by Chomp, one of our charities this year, to hear about what they do to combat food poverty in our city.

 

On the 4th October the church celebrates the life of  St Francis of Assisi. There is a beautiful window dedicated to him in our Lady Chapel. It shows him surrounded by the beauty of creation: kingfishers, pheasants, ducks and chickens, lilies, trees, swallows, lambs, owls and more. It is an incredibly rich image. And at the bottom, the simple words from Psalm 150: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. A clear and stark reminder of what we and all of creation are here to do - in amongst the harvest suppers, the charity collections and window dressing fun, our sole purpose in life to to give praise to Almighty God. May we and the whole of creation be free to do so.

 

Mthr Alice

 

Harvest Festival

We gather at our normal times of 8am and 10.15am on Sunday 5th October to celebrate our Harvest Festival - complete with real life pumpkins from the Vicarage garden, as well as a host of other produce that will be artfully displayed. We are collecting on behalf of Brighton Food Bank, so if you are able, please do bring in your harvest donations of any long life food (especially pulses and tinned meat and fish) or any toiletries.

 

Chomp

As well as collecting donations for the food bank, we are also going to be joined at 10.15am on Sunday 5th by Chomp, the third of our charities for this year. Chomp run holiday lunch clubs across the city especially aimed at children who are in receipt of free school meals. They aim to combat holiday hunger, provide activities, and educate families about budget friendly healthy eating. There will be a collection for their work at the end of each of our services.

 

Wave of Light Service

As part of Baby Loss Awareness Week we will be holding a Wave of Light Memorial Service on Sunday 12th October at 4pm. At whatever stage you may have lost a baby, and however long ago it was, you are welcome to join us to love, to grieve, to remember and to give thanks. Siblings are welcome - there will be some activities for them to do at the back, and refreshments will be served afterwards.

 

Tea at the Good Shepherd

Our new drop-in Tea at the Good Shepherd starts on Tuesday 14th October meeting in church. We’ll be meeting each week from 2pm-4pm for tea, coffee, homemade cakes and gentle activities. It’s free to attend and open to everyone in the community, so please do spread the word far and wide.

 

And if you’d like to be involved in running the sessions, whether that’s sitting and chatting, setting up or baking some cakes, please do let us know!

 

Autumn Course

As if Sunday Snippets and the Book Group weren’t enough to get your brains going, our Autumn Course starts on Thursday 9th October. We’re going to be looking at Heresies and How to Avoid Them, based on the book of the same name. We’re going to be taking a look around the early church and the controversies that shaped what we believe and why. This is not all jam and Jerusalem; it’s fiery, fast paced and full of drama.

 

We meet at 11am in church (after the 10.30am Eucharist) or at 7.30pm in Maldon Road. And you don't even have to read the book!

 

Sunday Snippets

Our Sunday Snippets have got off to a great start as we spend about half an hour after our 10.15am Parish Eucharist dipping our toes into a variety of topics. The priest in the picture above is Fr Brice. We don't know who he is, but he made a YouTube video on why we adopt certain postures at different times during our worship. Had the Vicar known there was a video, she wouldn’t have bothered writing her own session, but she has now, so this Sunday you should come and hear it!

 

You can find our full Growing in Faith programme by clicking the button below.

 

Book Group

Our Book Group next meets on Friday 24th October. We’re reading “Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life” by Christopher Jamison OSB. It’s not too late to join us - send us an email if you’d like to get involved.

 

Light Party

We’re going to be celebrating All Saints Day with something new this year. As well as our celebrating with our Sung Eucharist in the morning of Sunday 2nd November, we’re going to be hosting a children’s Light Party on Saturday 1st November between 4pm and 6pm. With glow sticks, a fire pit, marshmallows, hot dogs and lots of fun crafts, we’re going to be bringing the light to the darkest time of year.

 

Please do invite any children you know to come along! You can help us with catering by clicking the button below and filling in the (very short) form.

 

All Souls

We’re keeping All Souls this year on Sunday 2nd November at 6pm. It’s a chance to pray for all those who have died and to remember them. If you’d like us to remember anyone in particular, you can let us know.

 

Dates for your diary

Sunday 5th October - Harvest Festival

Sunday 12th October - Baby Loss Memorial Service - 4pm

Tuesday 14th October - Tea at the Good Shepherd begins - 2pm - 4pm

Friday 17th October - PCC

Friday 24th October - Book Group

Saturday 1st November - Children’s Light Party - 4pm - 6pm

Sunday 2nd November - All Saints - 10.15am

Sunday 2nd November - All Souls - 6pm

Sunday 9th November - Remembrance Sunday

Wednesday 19th November - Domestic Abuse Training - 7.30pm

Saturday 6th December - Christmas Fayre





  • 272 Dyke Road
  • Brighton
  • East Sussex
  • BN1 5AE

01273 532000
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