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An introduction and formal welcome to Revd...

Some of us recently attended the inauguration of the new Vicar of St Mary The Blessed Virgin, Addington, Deborah Forman.  Ably assisted by Revd Barbara Gentilella and other members of the Parish, Debbie has embraced us all.  Croydon Sea Cadets experienced their first service given by Debbie at the recent Sea Sunday service where she recited some poetry, including Sea Fever by J Masefield.  Many of us admired her personal choice of stole depicting fish.  It is not always the big actions of a person that have impact, often it is the culmination of little actions showing forethought and attention to detail that makes one feel the keenness of another. We look forward to getting to know Debbie more in the future. 

"Sea Fever" by J Masefield:

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And when the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the all of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

 

 

 

Our Unit Chaplain: Revd Barbara Gentilella

Hon. Asst. Curate Revd Barbara Gentilella is Chaplain for the Croydon Sea Cadets.  Barbara is a familiar face, often attending the Unit and functions where she happily interacts with the Cadets and Staff and has been a welcome member of the Croydon Sea Cadet Unit family since 2009.  We are very fond of Barbara and are thankful for all the time, effort and support she gives to the Unit and its members.  Thank you from us all.

 

 

 

Sea Sunday - 10 July 2016

A wonderful service held at St Mary The Blessed Virgin, Addington, was attended by a good many Cadets from Croydon Sea Cadet Unit.  The Vicar Revd Debbie Forman and Hon. Asst. Curate Revd Barbara Gentilella talked about the lives and perils of those sailors who have fought wars, protected our shores and who continue to do so and those seafarers who currently travel the seas to provide for our nation's needs.  Special prayers were given to those desperate individuals undertaking perilous journeys by sea to escape conflict where so many have lost their lives in the process.  Thanks were given to all those who try to assist and save these migrants and attend to others who require assistance off-shore. Please take a moment to reflect on The Sea Sunday Prayer:

Almighty God, creator of the oceans and seas, bless and protect all those who sail the seas to bring us food, clothes, necessities and luxuries we use in our daily lives. Keep them safe from storms, loneliness and the many hazards they face in their lives at sea until they are reunited with their loved ones at home  Look after and protect their families as they wait for them.  Help us to remember seafarers with grateful hearts.  We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who stilled the waters of Lake Galilee and still controls the seas and oceans today.

 

 

Sponsored Row

Well done to Croydon Unit for their endurance during the Sponsored Row on 16th and 18th May.  With much jeering, shouting, support, competition, sweat and grim determination the cadets and staff battled it out to raise funds towards new competition t-shirts for the Unit.  A good time was had by all and this is an event we hope to do again in the future.  An update will follow shortly to confirm how much money was raised.  Well done teams!

 

 

Mayor of Croydon Inaugral Dinner

12 Cadets and 3 staff attended the Fairfield Halls in Croydon on the evening of 26 May 2016 to provide the guard of honour and to pipe the new Mayor into his Inaugral Dinner.  The Cadets and staff were a credit to the Unit and the Sea Cadets as a whole.  A wonderful turn out from Croydon with everyone looking their best.  A most impressive presence.  Bravo Zulu!

 

 

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