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 3RD DECEMBER 2023
Advent Sunday
Sunday 3rd 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick & Pagham)
Advent 09:30 Parish Family Eucharist followed by coffee
Monday 4th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
11:00 Meditation (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Tuesday 5th 10:00 Eucharist (Aldwick)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
Wednesday 6th 09:00 Breakfast Club (Manor Nursery)
St Nicholas 17:30 Evening Prayer (zoom)
Thursday 7th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
St Ambrose 10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham)
12:00 Funeral- Elizabeth Kahn-Smith
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Friday 8th No public worship today
Conception of the BVM
Saturday 9th No public worship today
Sunday 10th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
ADVENT 2 09:30 Parish Eucharist followed by coffee
Introit: 262 Hark! a herald voice is calling
Gradual: 541 O thou who camest from above (omit v3)
Offertory: 128 Come, thou long expected Jesus
Final: 405 Lo, he comes with clouds descending
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.
The Collect (Opening Prayer) for Advent Sunday:
Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the
light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 64: 1- 9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.
Psalm 80: 1-8 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3- 9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel Reading: Mark 13: 24- end
‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’
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, Lucia, Jessie Hutchins.
Recently departed: Elizabeth Kahn-Smith.
Anniversary of death: John Morrish, Charles Meyer, David Atkins (3rd); Brian Jenkin, Greta Garland, Gwendoline Nicholls (4th); Jack Vagg (5th); Charles Martin (6th); Dorothy Hender (8th)
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.
We pray for the people of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. For the peace of the Holy Land. For those who will weep, and fear, and die this day.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Pat Rush (262561) to start the Prayer Chain.
Post Communion Prayer: O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 40: 1- 11; Psalm 85: 1- 2, 8- end; 2 Peter 3: 8- 15a; Mark 1: 1- 8
Christmas Fair
Thank you for all the support given to our Christmas Fair on Saturday – it was a wonderful, wonderful gathering of the community. Thank you to everyone who helped in the lead up
Christmas – it’s time to spread the word!
Flyers with details of our Christmas services are now available, and it would be wonderful if you can deliver some to your neighbours and friends, and perhaps take some along to your clubs and societies. We can all play a part in sharing the invitation this Christmas.
The Travelling Crib
During Advent our travelling crib will be making its journey around the parish. Each day Mary and Joseph will be invited into a new home to rest for the night. If you would like to welcome the Holy Family for a visit during the season of Advent, please sign up alongside a date on the list- and note down your contact details.
Ahead of time you will be contacted by those who host the family the day before you to arrange delivery, and likewise you will need to contact the hosts who follow on from you. This is a wonderful way to get to know new people in the church community, and also to share hospitality together.
The Holy Family set off from church on Advent Sunday- 3rd December at the Parish Family Eucharist at 09:30am and will make their way back to the church on Christmas Eve at the Crib Service (4pm).
Church Christmas Tree 2023
This year and in years to come we will be inviting people to write names of loved ones they are praying for or thinking of this Christmas on stars to be hung on the tree. Do spread the word and invite friends along so they can hang their own decoration. Available from 17th December.
Carols at The Bear
Join us for a good old carol sing at The Bear Inn, Pagham on Tuesday 19th December from 19:00, the more the merrier so do invite your friends!
Christmas Quiz
The Annual Christmas Quiz raising funds for the Friends of Pagham Church is available for £2.00 in church or from Alison Blenkinsop 261131/07784544981. The prize is a food hamper. All entries will be entered into a draw for a mystery consolation prize. Closing date is Sunday 7th January.
Grand Christmas Raffle
We have a large selection of magnificent prizes donated by local businesses, in addition to a first prize of £100. Thank you to all who have already returned their counterfoils and money. Additional tickets can be obtained from Trudi either in church or call 07703597353. All counterfoils and money need to be returned to Trudi by 16th December. This will be drawn on 17th December.
Events at St Richard’s Aldwick
All are very welcome to pop into the Aldwick Christmas Tree Festival at St Richard’s perhaps you will spot a tree decorated by one of the community groups you belong to? Open Friday 8th and Saturday 9th 11am- 6pm, Sunday 10th 1pm- 5pm. With People’s Choice awards and carol sing-along Sunday at 5pm. Tea Room available from 4pm Friday and for the rest of the festival.
Church Cleaning – A plea for more help for our fantastic church cleaning team…
“Please would you come and help us to keep our Church clean and tidy. If you could spend as little as 1 hour per month and you know of someone else who could join you it would be so helpful. Any day any time (to fit in around Church activities) would be good. My contact details are: Sue Miller 07845 926766, email sue.armex@btinternet.com I can meet with you in Church to discuss further if that helps. Some of us have been doing this work for several years and it brings its own rewards (and a big `thank you’ to all of those who have gone before us). We take pride in perusing the Visitors’ Book to note the compliments regarding the obvious care that is taken in making the Church look beautiful and welcoming. You could be part of that effort. Thank you.”