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 14th JANUaRY 2024
the second sunday of EPIPHANY
Sunday 14th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
Epiphany 2 09:30 Parish Eucharist followed by coffee
Monday 15th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Tuesday 16th 10:00 Eucharist (Aldwick)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
Wednesday 17th 17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
St Antony 19:30 PCC Meeting St Andrew’s Chapel
Thursday 18th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Week of Prayer 10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham)
for Christian Unity Begins
Friday 19th No public services today
18:30 Burns Night Supper Pagham Parish Church Centre
Saturday 20th No public services today
Sunday 21st 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
Epiphany 3 09:30 Parish Eucharist with Sunday school
followed by coffee
HYMNS
Introit: 17 All heaven declares
Gradual: 574 Purify my heart
Offertory: 503 O Jesus I have promised
Final: 332 I the Lord of sea and sky
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 of the Epiphany:
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 3: 1- 10
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
Psalm 139: 1- 9 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: Revelation 5: 1- 10
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’
Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God,
and they will reign on earth.’
Gospel Reading: John 1: 43- end
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’
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
Recently departed:
Anniversary of death: Margaret Woombell (14th); Gladys Pickett (15th); Ronald Masters (16th); Helene Shaw (19th); Colin Knight, Jason Clarke, Anthea Potter (20th)
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 of glory, you nourish us with your Word who is the bread of life: fill us with your Holy Spirit that through us the light of your glory may shine in all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: The Third Sunday of Epiphany
Genesis 14: 17- 20; Psalm 128; Revelation 19: 6- 10; John 2: 1- 11.
‘Pagham Church Men’s Group’ Burns Night – Friday 19th January
Tickets are now available for the Burns Night Supper on Friday 19th January, 18:30 for 19:00 at Pagham Parish Church Centre on Nyetimber Lane. Tickets (£15 per adult, £8 under 14’s) include: 2 course supper (Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (vegetarian option available), Pudding or Cheese, a glass of wine and a wee dram! As well as entertainment with Piper. Please contact Stephen Cox-Rusbridge 07974 177 905 or stephen.coxrusbridge@btinternet.com for tickets.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The week leading up to the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul (25th January) is kept as a week of prayer for Christian unity. On Thursday 18th January at 19:30, the Bognor Churches Together Group hold The Gathering at The Shore Community Church (73 Victoria Drive) for an evening of conversation, worship and fellowship – all are welcome to attend. For more information please visit facebook.com/bognorchurches or email bognorchurches@gmail.com.
The Bear Necessities – a conversation for women
This group got off to a fantastic New Year last Monday 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.
Tuesday@7
Our midweek informal evening eucharist continues on Tuesdays evening at 19:00. Suitable for all ages, a warm welcome awaits those wanting to explore their faith in new ways. Particularly suitable for those who find Sunday mornings difficult due to other commitments.
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 and corrected date.
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.