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 5TH NOVEMBER 2023
ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY
Sunday 5th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick & Pagham)
ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY 09:30 Parish Family Eucharist
with blessing of Shoeboxes followed by coffee
16:30 Admission to Holy Communion
Monday 6th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Tuesday 7th 17:30 Evening Prayer (zoom)
Willibrord 19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
19:00 Poppies & Ceremonies (Mosse Hall)
Wednesday 8th 14:30 Tea & Chat Church Centre Nyetimber Lane
Saints and martyrs 17:30 Evening Prayer (zoom)
of England 19:30 PCC Meeting
Thursday 9th 09:00 Morning Prayer
19:30 Pints of View
Friday 10th No public worship today
Leo the Great
Saturday 11th No public worship today
Martin
Sunday 12th 08:00 Holy Communion including
Remembrance Sunday act of remembrance (Aldwick)
09:30 Sung Eucharist
with Act of Remembrance at
St Thomas à Becket, Pagham.
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: 17 All heaven declares
Gradual: 405 Lo he comes with clouds descending
Offertory: 74 Blessed assurance
Final: 177 For all the saints (omit vs 3, 5, 7)
The Collect (Opening Prayer) for All Saints’ Sunday:
God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age: as we rejoice in the faith of your saints, inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First reading: Revelation 7: 9- end
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
Psalm 34: 1- 10 The response to the psalm is as announced.
Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1- 3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1- 12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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, Lucia, Jessie Hutchins, Bill & Pat Rush.
Recently departed:
Anniversary of death: Kevin Bircham (5th); Daphne Hutchison (7th); Trevor Ribbons, Elizabeth Coneeley (9th); Douglas Smith (10th).
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, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things: may we who have shared at this table as strangers and pilgrims here on earth be welcomed with all your saints to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Remembrance Sunday
Wisdom of Solomon 6: 12- 16; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13- end; Matthew 25: 1- 13
Return of Generous Giving pledges
The gold box for returning your generous giving pledge cards is now available in the church. If you have yet to collect your letter about this, please do see the trays at the back of church, or look out for a letter through your door in the coming days. We will offer up your returned cards as part of the offering on All Saints’ Sunday in thanksgiving for the prayerful consideration of your giving to the church in support of our mission and ministry.
Getting to know Paul
Our study course on the writings of St Paul- continue on Sundays 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 and suggested pre- reading. It’s not too late to join us!
2023 Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal
Please bring your filled and wrapped shoeboxes to church by Sunday 5th November when we will bless them and send them on their way. Details are available on leaflets in church– 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.
Admission to Holy Communion 2023
Noah, Joseph, Woody, Teddy, Nicholas and Rufus will be admitted to Holy Communion in a special service at 16:30 on All Saints’ Sunday – 5th November. Please pray for our candidates as they prepare to take this step on their journey of faith- all are very welcome to come and support them, perhaps if you/ your child has been admitted to communion in the last few years you might come and support this year’s candidates.
Poppies & Ceremonies Tuesday 7th November, 7pm, Mosse Hall.
Alan Kingshott, a former chief yeoman warder at the Tower of London, is coming to speak on the subject of Poppies and Ceremonies. Alan is an excellent and very knowledgeable speaker – it would be great to give him lots of support from the parish about this very topical and interesting subject. Hosted by the Mothers’ Union, open to all, refreshments available.
Pints of View Thursday 9th November
Following on from last month’s successful gathering, the men of Aldwick and Pagham parishes are invited to meet for a pint and a discussion of various current issues of concern. We’ll be at The Lamb for 19.30. BYO Pint!
Remembrance Sunday
We gather at Pagham church for the Parish Eucharist as usual at 09:30, followed by an Act of Remembrance at 11am. At our service we welcome the congregation of St Richard’s and include the singing of the joint choirs, as well as welcoming local uniformed organisations. There will be a said Eucharist at 8am in Aldwick on this day, but no 11:15am service.
1st Pagham & Aldwick Brownies Children in Need fundraiser
We’re holding an indoor campfire, because “Girls can perform anything!”. We’re hoping it won’t just be the girls though – families, friends and of course members of St Richard’s congregation are invited to join us for the evening, and we’re hoping for lots of audience participation :-)
There will be refreshments for sale, a lucky dip, a raffle and maybe other side stalls too.
The Mosse Hall on Thursday 16th November, 5.30-7pm.
Pie and Mash Knees-Up
Saturday 25th November 18:30 at Pagham Parish Church Centre. Tickets £12.00. Please add your names to the sign-up sheet on the noticeboard and indicate which Turner’s Pie you would like. For details contact Carole Druce 07732768890.
Christmas Fair
Thank you for all of the offers of help. Please can you start to bring your donations to Church, either Sue or Trudi will take them. If you need items picking up let Sue know and she will arrange this.
Please take a poster with you after Church to put up locally and share with friends and family. Lookout for more information on stalls on the notice board. Many thanks, Sue.