Weekly Pews News
no 20-49 Second Sunday of Advent
6.12.2020
Sunday 6th December
08:00 Holy Communion: Isaiah 40: 1–11; Mark 1: 1–8
09:30 Parish Eucharist: Isaiah 40: 1–11; Psalm 85: 1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3: 8–15a; Mark 1: 1–8
Collect O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Return to Sunday worship at St Thomas à Becket, Pagham:
This Sunday (6th December) we will return to ‘in-person’ worship – to the same pattern of Sunday worship as before Lockdown 2.0. Please do book in with Trudi as before, if you are able to (tel: 263597). This helps us to welcome everybody in, and makes keeping the Track & Trace register much easier.
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Radio & TV broadcasts: Sunday Worship on Radio 4; Songs of Praise on BBC1; Choral Evensong on Radio 3; Sunday services on Premier Christian Radio and Angel Radio.
Smartphone free apps: C of E Time to Pray, Daily Prayer, Pray As You Go, Lectio365, Taketime Spiritual Meditations.
24-hour freephone: Daily Hope (for Christian worship): 0800 804 8044.
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Sunday 6th December
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.
Anniversary: Charles Martin (1997)
Monday 7th December – Ambrose, bishop, teacher of the faith, 397
Intention: our schools, colleges and universities; all teachers and learners, governors and administrators.
09:00 Morning prayer (in church)
Tuesday 8th December – conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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.
09:00 Morning prayer (online, see below)
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Anniversary: Dorothy Hender (2000)
Wednesday 9th December
Intention: the Queen and Royal Family, our nation and government, and our local MP Nick Gibb.
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Thursday 10th December
Intention: our local clubs and organisations, especially our Ladies’ Club and Men’s Group, and Pagham Luncheon Club.
09:00 Morning prayer (in church)
10:00 Holy Communion
Anniversary: Olive Bringan (1976)
Friday 11th December
Intention: our Scouts, Guides, Cadets and other local youth organisations.
Anniversary: Rose Bailey (1987)
Saturday 12th December
Intention: our local industry and commerce, our farmers and growers, and the holiday industry; the staff and guests of Church Farm Holiday Village. Anniversary: Dorothy Player (1989)
Sunday 13th December Advent 3 church services and Takeaway Christingle – see below
PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS We pray for all in need of healing in body, mind or spirit
Lynette, Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Jean Martin, Lila Cowee, Barbara Crew, June Evans, Bea Tucker, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Robin Potter, Gerald Hume-Huet.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Colin Wood (264192) to start the Prayer Chain.
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Beatrice Armstrong, Mary Baxter, Madge Breakspear.
We pray for all affected directly by Covid-19; for safety in care homes, as families are reunited in visits.
Praying for our Community: we are now praying for all our streets over a two-month cycle, published with December’s Good News. Please use your copy at home, to remind you to pray for our community each day.
NOTICES
Advent reflections and activities: a booklet was made available last week for your use as we walk towards Christmas. I do hope you will share with one another the things you get up to and the thoughts these reflections stir up for you. Please contact Trudi if you need it sent to you again (tel: 263597).
Morning and Evening Prayer: due to the success of saying the Daily Office online, we will now be offering a slightly different pattern, combining in-person and Zoom prayers. This I hope will allow those who haven’t been able to join on Zoom to return to prayers in church, and also maintain a pattern for those who are not able to attend in person. This new pattern begins on Monday 7th: see the diary above.
Online services: as we return to in-person worship this Sunday, there will be a change to our online provision. There will still be a form of weekly service – this will be available a little later on Sunday mornings, ~11:00. Its format will change each week: either a celebration of the Eucharist, or a Service of the Word. All will include some music and of course prayers. Please refer to the Weekly Communication email for details.
If you are not able to join in online please know that you are all prayed for daily, and I appreciate your prayers too for the whole of our community at this time.
Church to remain open for private prayer: thanks to a team of volunteer cleaners we are able to keep the church open daily ~09:00–16:00 for private prayer. When visiting please be sure to wear a face mask, use the anti–bac. hand gel provided, and check in using the NHS Track and Trace code, if you are able.
Reverse Advent Calendar: a huge thank you to all of those who have collected for the Foodbank during lockdown. The donations for Christmas parcels have been staggering, and I am completely bowled over by your generosity – in a very small way you will have made a difference to the Christmas celebrations of those using the Foodbank. Let us continue to pray for all users and volunteers. *It’s never too late to donate.*
Advent and Christmas 2020
Sunday 13th December 14:00-15:00: drop by the church to collect your Takeaway Christingle – everything you will need to make your Christingle at home, with a link to a video to see how it’s done. Aimed at the Children of St Thomas à Becket’s but really fun for all ages! Thanks to Jenny and Linda for preparing this.
It is hoped that the following church services will be offered, but please keep an eye out for any changes due to the pandemic. We will start taking bookings from Monday 7th – please email or speak to Trudi (tel: 263597).
Thursday 24th December, Christmas Eve: Crib Service at 16:00 and 18:00: due to social distancing we are offering two identical Crib Services this year. Please come dressed as your favourite character from the Nativity Story. We need plenty of Shepherds, Angels, Wise Men, Marys, Josephs and ‘Live’ stock to fill our socially distanced scene. Please note the invitation to come dressed up isn’t limited to our younger friends!! A fun-filled 30 mins that won’t fail to get you in the spirit and remind you of the greatest gift that we all receive at Christmas. Don’t forget to book – we would hate to turn anyone away.
Bethlehem Midnight Service at 21:00: the traditional service of Midnight Mass, when we time and unite our prayers and celebration of the first Eucharist of Christmas with our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem. After the preparations of Advent we gather to celebrate the Incarnation – Emmanuel, God with us – on this most holy night of the Christian year.
Friday 25th December, Christmas Day
08:00 Holy Communion for the Nativity of Our Lord 09:30 The Parish Eucharist for Christmas Day
Saturday 26th, St Stephen’s Day 10:00 Eucharist for the Feast of St Stephen
Sunday 27th, First Sunday of Christmas, St John the Evangelist
08:00 Holy Communion 09:30 Parish Eucharist
Tuesday 28th December, St Thomas à Becket: 10:00 Eucharist
Sunday 3rd January, The Epiphany
08:00 Holy Communion 09:30 Parish Eucharist with the blessing of chalks
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. Rest day Friday.
Churchwardens: Mike Wake and Stephen Cox-Rusbridge: churchwarden@paghamchurch.org,
07899 705632//07974 177905. Church website update: email editor@paghamchurch.org to add content.
Safeguarding Officer: Jan Brockhurst, safeguarding@paghamchurch.org.
Pews News: Alison Blenkinsop, pewsnews@paghamchurch.org, 261131, 07784 544981.