| Notices |
Chichester Voices – Advent and Christmas Concert – Chichester Voices is looking forward to performing a concert of Advent & Christmas music on Thursday 19th December at 7.30pm in church. The concert is in aid of the FRIENDS OF CHICHESTER HOSPITALS. Tickets are £10 each (with £7.50 concessions) and are available from Andrew Naylor or via the box offices on 07900 098197/07976 917271.
Pram Race. A team is required for this year’s Pram Race. Our theme will be The Ten Commandments. A list will be put up in church, we need 15 volunteers (Email: stephen.coxrusbridge@btinternet.com)
Church trip to the panto. Robin Hood. Sat 21st Dec, 2.30pm. £9. Sunday 1st December is the last day to add names to the list and that payment is also due for those who wish to go. Jeanette will be by the notice board after the service.
“Daily Prayer” – Many have used Bible notes from Di Willson. This is now stopping but those who wish to continue should make their own arrangements and can speak to Di. An alternative suggestion is to try “Common Worship Daily Prayer”, a rich resource for Anglicans in punctuating our daily lives with scriptural prayer. Alongside this (or instead of) is the excellent brief daily commentary on one of the readings, entitled “Reflections for Daily Prayer”. Both books are Church House Publishing and available from St. Olave’s in Chichester and are what Mark and others use daily in church.
Our current parish book is ‘Cross Roads’, the latest novel by Wm Paul Young, author of ‘The Shack’. Sign-up sheets on Book Group notice board in church. Discussion groups: Mon 13th at 8pm & Thurs 16th Jan at 10am.
Sunday School Christmas party, Pagham Church Centre, Saturday 7th December 2-4pm. Please RSVP by Wednesday 4th December so catering can be arranged. Contact Jenny Ellis 07798555472 or jennyellis@btinternet.com (One of Father Christmas’s helpers will be arriving. If you wish your child to have a small gift (£1 or so) please drop it off to me wrapped and named or bring it on the day).
Youth Group Christmas get together – Thursday 12th December 7pm St Andrew’s Chapel. Year 5 and above are invited to a Pizza Christmas Party. Please feel free to bring games or music you would like to play.
Ladies Club – Christmas Tree Drive, Tuesday 3rd December, 7pm, fund raising evening, includes nibbles.
Church helpers – required to keep our beautiful church clean and tidy. Just 1.5 hours one day per month light exercise. Join the team, enjoy the fellowship, and the rewards will speak for themselves! Contact Sue Miller; 01243 261839 or 07845 926766’ email sue.armex
Church Website update: Sunday sermon recordings are now available to download on the Sermons page (thanks to Graham Jones). We also have new Church Calendar and Gallery pages. To add content to the website email editor
Revd. Mark Eminson can be contacted at the Vicarage, 38 Kings Drive, PO21 4PZ. Tel: 262713. Email: vicar@paghamchurch.org
Pews News – Sarah or Nikki can be contacted via Email: sarah@stom29.plus.com
The Church of St Thomas a’Becket, Pagham
Weekly Pews News
No.652 1st December 2013
Colour of the season: Purple
First Sunday of Advent
Collect for the day:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The response to Psalm 122: I was glad when they said to me ‘Let us go to God’s House’.
Our Opportunities for Worship today
| First Sunday of Advent (P) | |
| 8.00am | Holy Communion Readings: Romans 13: 8-end, Matthew 21: 1-13 |
| 9.45am | Parish Eucharist
Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5, Romans 13: 11-end, Matthew 24: 36-44 Psalm: 122 |
| 4.00pm | Advent Carols (no 6pm service) |
After the Parish Eucharist you are welcome to gather for refreshments in
St. Andrew’s chapel, where we can get to know each other better.
Sunday 1st December First Sunday of Advent
Intention: Pray for our parish team – Clergy: Mark Eminson, Colin Wood, and Bill Meyer. Reader: Roland Ell;Churchwardens: Trudi Kearsley and David Smith,our prospective Curate: Jo King.
8.00 am Holy Communion
9.45 am Parish Eucharist
4.00 pm Advent Carols
Monday 2nd December
Intention: Pray for our hospitals, doctors, district nurses, home care assistants, pharmacists, therapists, opticians, dentists; all who provide health care.
11am-3.30pmGroup from St Wilfrid’s for an Advent quiet day
6.30pmBognor RegisDistrict Cubs’ Carol Service
7.30 pm Prayer Group meeting at Gillian’s, 18 Old Place, (267597)
Tuesday 3rd December
Intention: Pray for Christian Unity. Pray for those baptised and confirmed here during the year, for their parents, godparents or sponsors. For our own godchildren.
Anniversary: Charles Meyer (1990)
10-11.30 amCoffee and scripture at Glenda’s, 31 Sea Lane (263537)
7.00pmThe Eucharist
7.00pmLadies Club Christmas Tree Drive
8pmAdvent teaching session at St. Andrew’s chapel
Wednesday 4th December
Intention: Pray for all imprisoned in any way; and for the prisoners, staff, chaplains, & visitors at HMP Ford.
Anniversaries: Brian Jenkin (1993), Greta Garland (2004)
10.00 am Holy Communion
11.15am Petworth Bell-ringers Quarter-peal
2-4pm Knit and Natter at Glenda’s, 31 Sea Lane (263537)
9.00pmCompline
Thursday 5th December
Intention: Pray for our children and young people, and their leaders; for our Children’s Groups, Wednesday Club & Youth Group.
Friday 6th December Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326
Intention: Pray for our Archbishops, Justin Welby of Canterbury & John Sentamu of York; for the work of the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod; for the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Anniversary: Charles Martin (1997)
7.30pm Cursillo Small Group reunion – 103 West Front Road, Pagham – Di Willson Tel 268712
Saturday 7th December Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397
Intention: Pray for our schools, colleges & universities; for all teachers and learners, governors & administrators.
2.00-4.00pmChurch Centre Sunday School Christmas party
Weekday Morning and Evening Prayer
Morning prayer: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9.20am. Friday 8.30am
Evening Prayer: Monday to Thursday 5.20 pm. Friday 4.30pm
No evening prayer on Saturday
Prayers and Intentions
For urgent prayer contact Angela Halfacree to activate the Prayer Chain
(Tel: 864353).
For longer-term prayer needs contact Gillian Purvis (tel 267597).
We pray for all in need and especially those in need of healing in mind, body or spirit: Katherine, Sylvia, Ellie, Lucia Elsom, Bob, Sally, David Thompson, Johny and Dawn Palmer.
We pray for those who have died recently, Margaret Walker, Margaret Kennedy and Stan Chandler and for those recorded in our Memorial Book whose anniversaries occur at this time. We pray for all those who mourn their passing.
We pray for Ashley Campbell and his family during his tour in Afghanistan.
Parish Pastoral Care Course: Meeting after church today for all those who are interested in this course.
Advent – See purple leaflet for details of services and events or look on the website.
Walsingham 2014 – The parish visit to Walsingham has been booked from 9th to 13th June. Should you be interested in joining our pilgrimage, please add you name to the list which is on the white notice board in the South Aisle. Please speak to Roland if you would like more information about Walsingham.
| Next Sunday | Second Sunday of Advent (P) |
| 8.00am | Holy Communion Readings: Romans 15: 4-13, Luke 21: 25-33 |
| 9.45am | Parish Eucharist
Readings: Isaiah 11: 1-10, Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19, Romans 15: 4-13, Matthew 3: 1-12 Hymns: 527, 949, 221 & sheet |
| 6.00pm |
Informal Worship (guitar-led) |
Registered Charity No 1134842