Weekly Pews News
no 20-50 Third Sunday of Advent
13.12.2020
Sunday 13th December
08:00 Holy Communion: Isaiah 61: 1–4, 8–end; John 1: 6–8, 19–28
09:30 Parish Eucharist: Isaiah 61: 1–4, 8–end; Psalm 126; 1 Thess 5: 16-24; John 1: 6–8, 19–28
Collect O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Sunday 13th December
Intention: our organist and director of music, our choir and musicians; our lay ministers of communion, altar servers, welcome team and bell-ringers.
14:00 – 15:00 Collection of Takeaway Christingle (see below)
Anniversary: Gladys Markworth (1975)
Monday 14th December – John of the Cross, poet, teacher of the faith, 1591
Intention: our Parochial Church Council, its officers and committees; all those who serve our Church in any way.
09:00 Morning prayer
Anniversary: Cecelia Fielder (1998)
Tuesday 15th December
Intention: our local community; our Parish Pastoral Care Team, local Residents’ Associations, and the County, District and Parish Councils.
09:00 Morning prayer (online, see below)
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Wednesday 16th December
Intention: those married here and preparing for marriage this year; family life, and especially any families facing adversity.
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Anniversary: Edward Ashwood (1976); Alfred Dobson (1986); Henry Alldis (1988); Geoffrey Niblett (1996); Tony Lock (1997)
Thursday 17th December
Intention: the press, radio and television corporations, and all who influence public opinion; also Christian publishing and broadcasting.
09:00 Morning prayer
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 18th December
Intention: all seafarers, fishermen and lifeboat crews, and the work of Mission to Seafarers.
Anniversary: Francis Atkinson (1976); Richard Kimbell (2005)
Saturday 19th December
Intention: Church finances, national and international finance; consider what the words poverty and wealth mean to us.
Anniversary: Samuel King (1976); Llewellyn Burnett (1988); Robert Breakspear (1993)
Sunday 20th December – Fourth Sunday of Advent
08:00 Holy Communion
09:30 Parish Eucharist
Readings: Isaiah 61: 1–4, 8–end; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24; John 1: 6–8, 19–28
PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS
We pray for all in need of healing in body, mind or spirit: Lynette, Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Barbara Crew, Jean Martin, Lila Cowee, June Evans, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Robin Potter, Gerald Hume.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Colin Wood (264192) to activate the Prayer Chain.
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Lila Cowee, Kathleen Dudley, Ethel Huckle.
We pray for all affected directly by Covid-19; for vaccination programmes, and decisions about Christmas.
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
Sunday worship at St Thomas à Becket’s: please continue to book in. This helps us to welcome everybody in, and keep the Track & Trace register. Booking is now open for all of our Christmas Services. You are encouraged to book to avoid disappointment and to make arrival a little easier.
Please email trudikearsley@hotmail.co.uk (tel: 263597) with all of the services you’d like to attend, and how many of your family, social/Christmas Bubble are coming along. Please give a day’s notice.
Morning & Evening Prayer: we continue to combine prayers in church and online, to allow those unable to access Zoom to return to church prayers, and provide for those unable to attend in person. See diary above.
Online services: there will still be a form of weekly service, 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. See the Weekly Communication email for details.
Church remains 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.
Advent reflections and activities: please continue to use the booklet 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. Doe contact Trudi if you need it sent to you again (tel: 263597).
Advent and Christmas 2020
Sunday 13th December 14:00–15:00: drop by 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 have started taking bookings – see above.
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 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, St Thomas à Becket: 10:00 Eucharist
Sunday 3rd January, 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.