St Thomas à Becket
Pews News
Priest-in-Charge: The Reverend Lucy Sullivan
Tel: 01243 941 551 Email: mthrlucy.pagham@gmail.com (Rest day: Friday)
Licensed Lay Minister: Mrs Rosemary Towse
Email: rosemarytowse@talktalk.net
Churchwarden: Mr Alex Brockhurst
Tel: 07792 544259; Email: alex.brockhurst@hotmail.co.uk
Churchwarden: Mrs Sue O’Neill
Tel: 07867 904780; Email: suesdesignservices@gmail.com
Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Jan Brockhurst
Email: safeguarding@paghamchurch.org
Find us online: www.paghamchurch.org // StThomasPagham@gmail.com// @StThomasPagham
Registered charity number 1134842
SUNDAY 1st OCTOBER 2023
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Sunday 1st 08:00 Holy Communion
TRINITY 17 09:30 Parish Family Eucharist followed by coffee
Monday 2nd 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham Church)
11:00 Meditation (Pagham Church)
17:30 Evening Prayer (St Richard’s Church)
19:30 Adult Confirmation Class-
(Pagham Church Centre, Nyetimber Lane)
Tuesday 3rd 10:00 Eucharist (St Richard’s)
18:00 Evening Prayer (Pagham Church)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham Church)
Wednesday 4th 09:30 Breakfast Club meet at Manor Nursery
St Francis of Assisi 18:00 Evening Prayer (Pagham Church)
Thursday 5th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham Church)
10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham Church)
17:30 Evening Prayer (St Richard’s)
Friday 6th No public worship today
Saturday 7th 10:00 Holy Communion class
Sunday 8th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick and Pagham)
TRINITY 18 09:30 Parish Eucharist
The Collection plate– If you would like to make an offering, please use the contactless Payaz machine or the collection plate, both can be found by the door. Thank you for your generosity.
Hymns
Introit: 16 All hail the power
Gradual: 408 Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour
Offertory: 161 father hear the prayer we offer
Final: 695 To God be the glory
The Collect (Opening Prayer) for Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity:
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself, and so bring us at last to your heavenly city where we shall see you face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament reading: Ezekiel 18: 1- 4, 25- end
The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
Psalm 25: 1- 8 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: Philippians 2: 1- 13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 23- 32
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Prayers of Intercession
The sick and those who care for them: Barbara & Alan Crew, Karen Cox, Sheila King, Dawn Spurway Pearson, Mike Hatzfeld, Elizabeth, Pam Browning, Julie Green and Lucia.
Recently departed: Nicola Simpson, Jeanne Outred, Jean Cooke, Sheila Ridgewell.
Anniversary of death: Albert Piper (1st); James Sage (2nd); Charles Major (3rd); Daisy Major (4th); Ashley Courtenay, Nancy Courtenay, David Grout, Vera Barnes (7th).
For those to be married among them Simon Namnyak and Karen Davey to be married here yesterday.
We pray for peace and especially for and with the people of Ukraine. We pray for all those caught up in conflict, and for those seeking safety and refuge on these shores.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Pat Rush (262561) to start the Prayer Chain.
Post Communion Prayer: Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
Isaiah 5: 1- 7; Psalm 80: 9- 17; Philippians 3: 4b- 14; Matthew 21: 33- end.
2022 Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal
Leaflets are now available at the back of the church. Please bring boxes to church by Sunday 5th November. Pick up a leaflet and fill a box – or if you feel that you cannot fill a whole box, perhaps you could supply some items or money towards the transport costs. Every little helps. Details – Trudi Kearsley 263597/07703597353
Yr7 Church Support Letters for 2024 admissions
Mthr Lucy will be available to meet with children and parents seeking Yr7 admission church support on Saturday 7th October from 11am- 12noon at Pagham Church. Please let Mthr Lucy know you will be attending.
Tea & Chat
Join us on Wednesday 11th October for this month’s gathering. This time in aid of Macmillan please do spread the word and invite your friends.
Friends of Pagham church
On Saturday 14th October at 14:30 the Friends of Pagham Church invite you to ‘A Walking tour of Pagham Church followed by tea and refreshments’. Hosted by David Smith comprising a short talk followed by a walk around the Church. Price £8 per head. Please sign-up in church- there are a maximum of 30 places for this event.
Confirmation Courses
Please pray for our candidates preparing for Confirmation with Bishop Ruth on the 17th October at St Mary’s Clymping. Suzi, Natalie and Michelle. All are welcome to join us on the 17th to support them.
Admission to Holy Communion 2023
Sessions continue on Saturday mornings 10:00- 11:00 at Pagham church, on the 30 th September, 7th, 14th, 15th and 21st October. The children will be admitted to Holy Communion in a special service at 16:30 on All Saints’ Sunday – 5th November. Please pray for our candidates.
Getting to know Paul
In the autumn we will be running a study course on the writings of St Paul- the dates of these sessions are Sunday 15th & 22nd October and 12th & 19th November, at 16:00 in St Andrew’s Chapel at Pagham Church. Do pick-up a flyer for these sessions which include details on how sessions will run suggested pre- reading. A sign-up list is now available.
Christmas Fair
We hope to run something of a Christmas Fair on Saturday 2nd December at the Church Centre. If you are able to help with the preparations for this, please speak to Sue O’Neill (details above).
News from our schools
Nyewood Infants and Juniors schools are in consultation with parents, carers and all stakeholders; including the Diocese and the local community, about joining the Bishop Luffa Learning Partnership (BLLP). You can learn more about the BLLP here https://www.bishopluffalp.org.uk/
Please do continue to pray for the school communities as they give time and prayerful consideration to this consultation and the best path forward for the children, staff and families.