Weekly Pews News
no 21-18
2.5.2021
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 2nd May
08:00 Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
09:30 Parish Eucharist
14:00 Holy Baptism of Theodore (attendance by invitation only, due to Covid restrictions)
Collect Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings Acts 8: 26–end; Psalm 22: 25–end; 1 John 4: 7–end; John 15: 1–8
Psalm response All the ends of the earth shall turn to you, O Lord.
Sunday 2nd May
Intention: our hospitals, doctors, nurses and midwives, home care assistants, pharmacists, therapists, opticians, dentists; all who provide health care.
Monday 3rd May (Early May Bank Holiday)
Intention: the Pilgrim Course – leaders and participants. Those baptised and confirmed here during the year, their parents, godparents or sponsors, and our own godchildren.
Tuesday 4th May – English saints and martyrs of the Reformation Era
Intention: all imprisoned in any way, and those caught up in modern slavery; the prisoners, staff, chaplains and visitors at HMP Ford.
17.30 Evening prayer (Zoom)
Wednesday 5th May
Intention: our children and young people, and their leaders; our Sunday School and Saints (older children).
17.30 Evening prayer (Zoom)
Thursday 6th May
Intention: our Archbishops, Justin Welby of Canterbury and Stephen Cottrell of York; the work of the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod; the worldwide Anglican Communion.
09:00 Morning prayer (in church)
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 7th May
Intention: our schools, colleges and universities; all teachers and learners, governors and administrators.
Saturday 8th May – Julian of Norwich, spiritual writer, c.1417
Intention: the hungry, homeless, refugees and asylum seekers; the work of Church Army, Christian Aid and all relief agencies; our local charities Stonepillow and Bognor Regis Foodbank.
Sunday 9th May – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 10: 44–end; Psalm 98; 1 John 5: 1–6; John 15: 9–17
PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS
We pray for all in need of healing in body, mind or spirit: Lynette, Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Barbara Crew, Jean Martin, Lila Cowee, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Carole & Ian Turner, John Kitchener, Anne Woods.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Colin Wood (264192) to activate the Prayer Chain.
(See notice below regarding names on our prayer lists.)
Recently departed Pauline Fuller.
Anniversary of death Norma Tuckett (2nd); George Harrington, George Jones (3rd); Robert McLaughlin (4th); Marcus Rutterford, Sidney Wood, Hannah Goodley (5th); Doris Pay, Katherine Marydathe, Joan Kimbell (6th); Joseph Conneeley (7th); Nellie Baker (8th).
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Beatrice Armstrong, Mary Baxter, Madge Breakspear.
We pray for Theodore who is to be baptised on Sunday, his parents Ellen and Dean, and his godparents.
NOTICES
Public worship Please note that all steps for creating a Covid safe environment are in place, most notably: the wearing of face mask unless you are exempt, observing social distance and using hand-sanitiser on arrival. Booking is essential and will help us to arrange seating. Please note that as we are limited to 60 members of the congregation on a Sunday morning, a waiting list will be in operation. To book contact Trudi Kearsley, T 263597, M 07703 597353.
Prayer requests in Pews News and the Prayer Chain Praying for those in special need is a joy and a privilege for the Church. Those named in the list above, or in Prayer Chain messages, need to consent individually to this. Please note that the Pews News Prayer List and the Prayer Chain operate independently of each other i.e. inclusion on one does not mean inclusion on the other. It is important to keep all details of prayer requests confidential outside Prayer Chain boundaries.
APCM changes We thank God for the faithful and exemplary work of our outgoing churchwarden Stephen Cox-Rusbridge, and commend to God our newly-appointed warden Alex Brockhurst. Mike Wake has very kindly offered to stay on as warden for another year, and we thank God for his hard work and pray for him, too. We also pray for all members of the PCC and Deanery Synod reps.
Beating the Bounds Our annual Parish walk, usually undertaken in Rogationtide before Ascension Day, is again restricted by national Covid rules. Last year, Alison Blenkinsop walked and cycled round most of the boundary over several days, praying for residents, businesses and new housing developments in Pagham. You can read her reports and map on the Church website by searching for ‘Beating the Bounds’. We hope they will inspire you to walk round a boundary section of our parish and pray for all who live and work in Pagham, any time between 10th and 12th May.
Ascension Day is on Thursday 13th May. It is the day we celebrate Christ ascending to the heavens. Having first shown his glory in the resurrection, through the ascension we have had opened to us the way to life eternal, and in this we find our hope. The day will be celebrated by a celebration of the Eucharist at 10:00. We will move into the nave of the church to create enough space, so please do come along for this day of great day of rejoicing in the season of Eastertide.
Thy Kingdom Come The time between Ascension Day (13th May) and Pentecost (23rd May) is a time of hopeful waiting and prayer that we might all be renewed by the Holy Spirit. We are invited to pray for ourselves, those we are supported by on our journey of discipleship, and those who are yet to come to know the love offered them in Jesus Christ. There will be different prayer resources available in church to help us in the 10 days of Thy Kingdom Come. Keep an eye out!
Children’s Society Collection Boxes are due for opening in May. Please bring them to the church service on Sunday 2nd, or the following Sunday 9th. If this is not possible, please call Pat Rush to make a more convenient arrangement: T 262561, bprush@btinternet.com. Thank you!
Church cleaning We need your help in order to keep the church clean and tidy for the benefit of worshippers and visitors alike. This would entail just one hour per month, working with a team. If you are interested please contact Sue Miller: 07845 926766, sue.armex@btinternet.com.
Archdeaconry Confirmation On 8th July the Bishop of Lewes will confirm candidates from the Archdeaconry of Chichester, at St Mary’s Littlehampton. If you are a young person in school year 9 or above, or an adult, and are interested in being prepared for confirmation, please make contact with Mthr Lucy. Details on Admission to Holy Communion before Confirmation will follow later, for those in Year 6 and above who are seeking this.
CONTACT DETAILS – find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @StThomasPagham.
The Revd Lucy Sullivan: 19 Willowhale Avenue, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 4AU.
mthrlucy.pagham@gmail.com, 01243 941551.
Churchwardens: Mike Wake and Alex Brockhurst: churchwarden@paghamchurch.org 07899 705632//07792 544259.
Church website update: email editor@paghamchurch.org.
Safeguarding Officer: Jan Brockhurst, safeguarding@paghamchurch.org.
Pews News: Alison Blenkinsop, pewsnews@paghamchurch.org, 261131, 07784 544981.