Notices

Chichester Voices – Advent and Christmas Concert – Chichester Voices is looking forward to performing a concert of Advent & Christmas music on Thursday 19th December at 7.30pm in church. The concert is in aid of the FRIENDS OF CHICHESTER HOSPITALS. Tickets are £10 each (with £7.50 concessions) and are available from Andrew Naylor or via the box offices on 07900 098197/07976 917271.

Pram Race. A team is required for this year’s Pram Race. Our theme will be The Ten Commandments. A list will be put up in church, we need 15 volunteers (Email: stephen.coxrusbridge@btinternet.com)

Our current parish book is ‘Cross Roads’, the latest novel by Wm Paul Young, author of ‘The Shack’’ Sign-up sheets on Book Group notice board in church. Discussion groups: Mon 13th Jan at 8pm & Thurs 16th Jan at 10am.

Youth Group Christmas get together – Thursday 12th December 7pm St Andrew’s Chapel. Year 5 and above are invited to a Pizza Christmas Party. Please feel free to bring games or music you would like to play.

Next Saturday – from 10am do come to help prepare the church for Christmas – setting up and decorating the tree, building the crib, some cleaning, making Christingles and more.

Building Project – We are grateful that the work on the ChurchTower and elsewhere is now completed. Thanks are due to our architect Simon Dyson, CWO Stonemasons and especially Bill Storey, Trudi Kearsley and Louise Gibbs who, as wardens, oversaw the project and those who gave generously: the Friends (£12,100), a legacy from Tom Street (£5000) and a legacy from Marion Jenkin (£130,000).

St Joseph’s Hostel – Thank you so much for all the cottage pies and pasta you so kindly made. The folk at St Joseph’s are so grateful.

Prayer Group – Please join the Prayer Group in prayer wherever you are on Mondays at 7.30pm, please bring the Pews News prayer requests before our Lord.

“Daily Prayer” – Many have used Bible notes from Di Willson. This is now stopping but those who wish to continue should make their own arrangements and can speak to Di. An alternative suggestion is to try “Common Worship Daily Prayer”, a rich resource for Anglicans in punctuating our daily lives with scriptural prayer. Alongside this (or instead of) is the excellent brief daily commentary on one of the readings, entitled “Reflections for Daily Prayer”. Both books are Church House Publishing and available from St. Olave’s in Chichester and are what Mark and others use daily in church.

Church helpers -required to keep our beautiful church clean and tidy. Just 1.5 hours one day per month light exercise. Join the team, enjoy the fellowship, and the rewards will speak for themselves! Contact Sue Miller; 01243 261839 or 07845 926766, email sue.armex

Church Website update: Sunday sermon recordings are now available to download on the Sermons page (thanks to Graham Jones). We also have new Church Calendar and Gallery pages. To add content to the website email editor

Revd. Mark Eminson can be contacted at the Vicarage, 38 Kings Drive, PO21 4PZ. Tel: 262713. Email: vicar@paghamchurch.org

Pews News – new editors – thank you to Glenda Biggs for all her work and welcome to Sarah Tomblin and Nikki Eldridge.

Sarah or Nikki can be contacted via Email: sarah@stom29.plus.com

The Church of St Thomas a’Becket, Pagham

Weekly Pews News

No.653 8th December 2013

Colour of the season: Purple

Second Sunday of Advent

Collect for the day: 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.

The response to Psalm 72: In his time shall the righteous flourish, [and peace till the moon shall be no more].

Our Opportunities for Worship today

Second Sunday of Advent (P)
8.00am Holy Communion
Readings: Romans 15: 4-13, Luke 21: 25-33
9.45am Parish Eucharist Isaiah 11: 1-10, Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19, Romans 15: 4-13, Matthew 3: 1-12
Hymns: 527, 949, 221 & sheet
6.00pm Informal Worship (guitar-led)

After the Parish Eucharist you are welcome to gather for refreshments in

St. Andrew’s chapel, where we can get to know each other better.

Sunday 8th December Second Sunday of Advent

Intention: Pray for the hungry, homeless, refugees & asylum seekers; for the work of The Church Army, Christian Aid & all relief agencies.

Anniversary: Dorothy Hender (2000)

8.00 am Holy Communion

9.45 am Parish Eucharist

6.00 pm Informal Worship (guitar-led)

Monday 9th December

Intention: Pray for the Queen & Royal Family, our Nation & Government, our local MP & MEP.

7.30 pm Prayer Group meeting at Gillian’s, 18 Old Place, (267597)

8pm Standing Committee at Vicarage

Tuesday 10th December

Intention: Pray for Christian Unity. Pray for our local clubs & organisations, especially our Ladies Club, the Luncheon Club and the Men’s Club.

Anniversary: Olive Bringan (1976)

7.00pm Healing Eucharist

Wednesday 11th December Ember Day

Intention: Pray for our scouts, guides, cadets & other local youth organisations.

Anniversary: Rose Bailey (1987)

10.00 am Holy Communion

12.30pmLuncheon Club Christmas Lunch at The Bear

9pm Compline

Thursday 12th December

Intention: Pray for for our local industry & commerce, our famers & growers and the holiday industry. For the unemployed & unemployable.

Anniversary: Dorothy Player (1989)

7-9pmYouth Pizza Party in St. Andrew’s chapel

Friday 13th December Lucy

Intention: Pray for our Organist and Director of Music, our choir & musicians, our Lay Ministers of Communion, altar servers & bell ringers.

Anniversary: Gladys Markworth (1975)

Saturday 14th December John of the Cross

Intention: Pray for our Parochial Church Council, its officers & committees.

Anniversary: Cecelia Fielder (1998)

10am onwards Church preparations for Christmas

Weekday Morning and Evening Prayer

Morning prayer: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9.20am. Friday 8.30am

Evening Prayer: Monday to Thursday 5.20 pm. Friday 4.30pm

No evening prayer on Saturday

Prayers and Intentions

For urgent prayer contact Angela Halfacree to activate the Prayer Chain

(Tel: 864353).

For longer-term prayer needs contact Gillian Purvis (tel 267597).

We pray for all in need and especially those in need of healing in mind, body or spirit: Katherine, Lucia Elsom, Bob, Sally, David Thompson, Johny, Dawn Palmer, Steven Prince, Roger Turner and Emma.

We pray for those who have died recently, Margaret Walker, Margaret Kennedy, Stan Chandler, Alan Harmer and for those recorded in our Memorial Book whose anniversaries occur at this time. We pray for all those who mourn their passing.

We pray for Ashley Campbell and his family during his tour in Afghanistan.

Advent – See purple leaflet for details of services and events or look on the website.

Walsingham 2014 – The parish visit to Walsingham has been booked from 9th to 13th June. Should you be interested in joining our pilgrimage, please add you name to the list, which is on the white notice board in the South Aisle. Please speak to Roland if you would like more information about Walsingham.

Next Sunday Third Sunday of Advent (P)
8.00am Holy Communion
Readings: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5, Matthew 11: 2-10
9.45am Parish EucharistReadings: Isaiah 35: 1-10, Canticle-Magnificat, James 5: 7-10, Matthew 11: 2-11

Psalm: 146

Hymns: 263, 949, 282, 438

4.00pm
Christingle Service

Registered Charity No 1134842