Weekly Pews News
no 22-3
16.1.22
SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
08:00 Holy Communion
09:30 Parish Eucharist
09:30 Sunday School in St Andrew’s Chapel (see below)
Collect Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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.
Readings Isaiah 62: 1–5; Psalm 36: 5–10; 1 Corinthians 12: 1–11; John 2: 1–11
Psalm response With you is the well of life.
Sunday 16th January
Intention: those married here and preparing for marriage this year; family life, and especially any families facing adversity.
Monday 17th January – Antony of Egypt, hermit, abbot, 356
Intention: the press, radio and television corporations, and all who influence public opinion; also Christian publishing and broadcasting.
09:00 Morning prayer (at church)
Tuesday 18th January – Week of prayer for Christian Unity begins
Intention: “We observed his star in the East …” (Mt 2:2): Raise us up and draw us to your perfect light.
17:30 Evening prayer (on Zoom)
Wednesday 19th January – Wolfstan, bishop, 1095
Intention: “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” (Mt 2:2): Humble leadership breaks down walls and builds up with love.
17.30 Evening prayer (on Zoom)
Thursday 20th January
Intention: ‘When king Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.’ (Mt 2:3): The presence of Christ turns the world upside down.
09.00 Morning prayer (at church)
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 21st January – Agnes, child martyr, 304
Intention: ‘And you, Bethlehem … are by no means least …’ (Mt 2:6): Though small and suffering, we lack nothing.
16:00 Choir practice (note probable time for this week)
Saturday 22nd January
Intention: ‘Ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising …’ (Mt 2:9): We are guided by the one God.
Sunday 23rd January – Third Sunday of Epiphany
Readings: Nehemiah 8: 1–3, 5–6, 8–10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12: 21–31a; Luke 4: 14–21
PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS
We pray for all in need of healing in body, mind or spirit Lynette, Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Barbara Crew, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Dawn Spurway Pearson, Mo Ford, Nicola Simpson, Betty Smith, Heather Marchant, Mike Hatzfeld, Andrew Naylor, Colin May, Lucy Gammon.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Pat Rush (262561) to start the Prayer Chain.
Anniversary of death Ronald Masters (16th); Helene Shaw (17th); Colin Knight, Jason Clarke, Anthea Potter (20th).
We remember Pagham Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Ethel Huckle, Daphne Sharrad.
We pray for our wider Christian family in the Middle East as they follow Christ and share his love in very challenging and difficult times. (See below.)
NOTICES
Face coverings It is mandatory to wear face coverings when in places of worship. You are asked to wear your face covering at all times when attending services/events in the church including when singing, please, unless medically exempt. We also ask that you use the hand sanitizer available at the door on arrival. Mthr Lucy and the Wardens will continue to review our COVID-19 practices regularly, so please be aware of notices on the pew sheet and in church.
Transept seating These side areas are kept for those who wish to maintain social distancing. There are ‘red crosses’ available to place on the seats beside you, to signal that you want to keep social distance.
Sunday School We start again this Sunday at 09:30, and will continue to meet once a month, on the third Sunday. We welcome those in primary school years. More information from Linda Tempest: lindatempest@hotmail.com, 07443 905893.
Week of prayer for Christian Unity, 18th–25th This Week of Prayer has been prepared by the Churches of the Middle East. They say: ‘The history of this area was, and still is, characterised by conflict and strife, tainted with blood and darkened by injustice and oppression. The Christians of the Middle East offer these resources conscious that the world shares many of the travails and much of the difficulties that it experiences, and yearns for a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness.’
Our prayer intentions during these days are adapted from the resources available on this website: https://ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022/
Christian Aid provides Go and Do action points for each of the daily reflections – linking into the important work of Christian Aid in the relief of poverty and advocacy of justice:
https://ctbi.org.uk/go-and-do-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022/
Chichester Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts resume on Tuesday 18th, with professional musicians. At present, tickets need to be booked in advance to ensure safe seating. There is no charge for admission, but a donation of at least £3 is suggested, with Gift Aid added if possible.
To book, see https://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/music/concerts/lunchtime-concerts.
Book group Our next meeting is on Friday 4th February at 14:30 in St Andrew’s Chapel. We will be discussing ‘Two dogs and a parrot’ by Joan Chittister. More information from Linda Tempest, lindatempest@hotmail.com, 07443 905893.
Tea and chat at the Church Centre will return in early February.
CONTACT DETAILS – find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @StThomasPagham
Priest-in-Charge: The Reverend Lucy Sullivan
19 Willowhale Avenue, Bognor Regis, PO21 4AU mthrlucy.pagham@gmail.com, 01243 941551.
Churchwardens: Mike Wake and Alex Brockhurst: churchwarden@paghamchurch.org,
07899 705632//07792 544259.
Church website update: email editor@paghamchurch.org.
Safeguarding Officer: Jan Brockhurst, safeguarding@paghamchurch.org.
Pews News: Alison Blenkinsop, pewsnews@paghamchurch.org, 261131, 07784 544981.
Registered charity number 1134842
www.paghamchurch.org