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 4th FEBrUaRY 2024
SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
Sunday 4th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
Second Sunday 09:30 Parish Eucharist
before Lent 14:00 Holy Baptism Freddie Charman
Monday 5th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Tuesday 6th 10:00 Eucharist (Aldwick)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
19:00 Aldwick Mothers’ Union AGM (The Waverly)
Wednesday 7th 09:30 Breakfast Club (Manor Nursery)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Thursday 8th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham)
19:30 Pints of View (The Inglenook)
Friday 9th No public services today
Saturday 10th No public services today
Sunday 4th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
Second Sunday 09:30 Parish Eucharist
before Lent 14:00 Holy Baptism
HYMNS
Introit: 392 Let us with a gladsome mind
Gradual: 590 Seek ye first
Offertory: 551 O Worship the King
Final: 419 Lord the light of your love
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 the Second Sunday before Lent: Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament reading: Proverbs 8: 1, 22- 31
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?
The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth—
when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
Psalm 104: 26- end The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: Colossians 1: 15- 20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Gospel Reading: John 1: 1- 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
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, Jeanne Dalton, Bea Tucker.
Recently departed:
Anniversary of death: Baby Lavinia Caraccioli (4th); Mary Pryde (5th); Ethel Funnell (7th); Elsie Breaker, Rita Lloyd (9th)
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: God our creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church: may we who have been nourished at your table on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Sunday next before Lent
2 Kings 2: 1- 12; Psalm 50: 1- 6; 2 Corinthians 4: 3- 6; Mark 9: 2- 9.
Pints of View – a conversation for men
Meets with The Rev’d Clive Ashely on Thursday 8th February 2024 at 19:30 in The Inglenook. Buy yourself a pint and come have a chat on current affairs – no hidden agenda, a meeting of men of all ages. Please note the change in venue.
Aldwick Mothers’ Union AGM
The Mothers’ Union meet at 19:00 on Tuesday 6th February for their AGM at 19:30 at The Waverley. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to join them. You can learn more about the MU here: www.mothersunion.org
The Bear Necessities – a conversation for women
This group got off to a fantastic New Year with 17 of us meeting for conversation. This is a safe space for good conversation on current affairs with no hidden agenda, a meeting of women of all ages. The next meeting is on Monday 12th February 2024 at 19:30, at The Bear Inn – Pagham.
Chichester Cursillo Ultreya – meeting at Pagham Church
Saturday 10th February, 10.30 – 3.30, with Eucharist at 11.30. A day of worship, learning and fellowship. Everyone is welcome. You can read more about Cursillo here https://www.anglicancursillo.co.uk/what-is-cursillo.php
Mardi Gras/ Shrove Tuesday Party
Please join us for Mardi Gras fun in St Andrew’s chapel, Pagham Church at 6pm on 13th February. With freshly made pancakes, fun and company as we prepare for the holy season of Lent. We will also be burning last year’s palms to make ash for the services on Ash Wednesday. All are welcome, please sign- up to help with catering.
Lent 2024
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday- 14th February 2024. There will be a said eucharist with imposition of ashes at 10:00 in Pagham and a sung eucharist with imposition of ashes in Aldwick at 19:30 on this day. Please be sure to put the dates and times in your diaries. Details of all our activities in Lent are available in the Lent Flyer.
Lent Lunches
Following the success of last year’s soup lunches during Lent, the opportunity for good food and company will return on Thursdays: 22nd, 29th February and 7th, 14th and 21st March at the Pagham Parish Church Centre, Nyetimber Lane. 12noon- 1:15pm. Join us for a warm welcome, soup and a roll, and tea & coffee. Why not invite a friend to join you? If you can help on any of the days, please add your name to the sheet in Church. Donation on the day for charities as listed.
Invitation from St Richard’s Aldwick: Lunch on Sunday
Following today, the next ‘Lunch on Sunday’ at St Richard’s is on 3rd March following the 11:15am Parish Family Eucharist at St Richard’s (approx. 12:30). £10 per person for a two course, cooked lunch. Specifically designed for those who look for company on a Sunday afternoon and others to enjoy a meal with, or indeed those who would like someone else to do the cooking and washing up! All are very welcome to join, please sign-up at the back of church, or at St Richard’s. Mthr Lucy.
Save the date: Chilli & Bingo
I am pleased to share that we are supporting two local young people with their fundraising for the charity ‘Grass Roots’ and their mission trip from Bishop Luffa School to Tanzania to see the charity in action, and to support their work. As part of their fundraising, they will be holding a ‘Chilli & Bingo’ night at the Church Centre on Saturday 9th March, tickets in advance, can be bought here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lily-and-harriet-fundraiser
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The APCM will take place on Wednesday 20th March at 19:30, in St Andrew’s Chapel. You are very welcome to attend as we review and give thanks for the activity of Pagham church in 2023. In preparation for this many of you will be asked to write a report for the activity of the groups that you co-ordinate, please look out for an email from MO, PCC Treasurer about this.
SUPPORT FOR THE FOODBANK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
Urgently needed this week: UHT Milk, UHT fruit Juice, Tinned/ packet soup, Toilet Rolls, Sweet selection boxes. We have plenty: Baked beans, pulses.