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 19TH NOVEMBER 2023
Second SUNDAY before advent
Sunday 19th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick & Pagham)
Second Sunday 09:30 Parish Eucharist with Sunday School
before Advent 16:00 Getting to know St Paul (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Pagham)
Monday 20th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Edmund, king and martyr 19:30 The Bear Necessities
Tuesday 21st 10:00 Eucharist (Aldwick)
17:30 Evening Prayer (zoom)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
Wednesday 22nd 17:30 Evening Prayer (zoom)
Thursday 23rd 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Clement, bishop and martyr 10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Friday 24th No public worship today
09:45 Pilgrims depart for Walsingham
Saturday 25th No public worship today
Sunday 26th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick only)
Christ the King 09:30 Parish Eucharist followed by coffee
Hymns
Introit: 225 God of grace and God of glory
Gradual: 752 Will you come and follow me
Offertory: 201 Give me joy
Final: 54 At the name of Jesus.
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 before Advent:
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament reading: Zephaniah 1: 7, 12- end
Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.’ Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste.
Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Psalm 90: 1- 8 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1- 11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 14- 30
‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
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, Julie Green, Lucia, Jessie Hutchins.
Recently departed:
Anniversary of death: Mary King (20th); Ernest Caterer, Joan Lack, Eileen Badger (21st); Ronald Rudduck (22nd); Phyllis Woombell (23rd); Phyllis Bell (25th).
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: Gracious Lord, in this holy sacrament you give substance to our hope: bring us at the last to that fullness of life for which we long; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Christ the King
Ezekiel 34: 11- 16; 20- 24; Psalm 95: 1- 7; Ephesians 1: 15- end; Matthew 25: 31- end
Return of Generous Giving pledges
Thank you to all those who returned their Generous Giving Pledge cards, early indications are of a positive response. As you know envelopes were prepared for everyone on the Electoral Roll. Approximately 27% of those which were collected or delivered returned their pledge card in the gold box. (Pledge cards asked people to indicate whether they were able to increase their giving or would be keeping it the same, it was very helpful to receive those cards we did with whatever information was shared). Approximately 20% of envelopes were either not collected or delivered… it’s not too late to return yours if it’s still sat at home.
Pilgrim’s prayers
Next weekend a group of 16 pilgrims from Aldwick and Pagham will be making their way to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. If you have a prayer intention you would like to be carried by the pilgrims and offered at the shrine, please do contact Mthr Lucy. We depart on Friday morning. Please pray for our pilgrims as they make their way, too.
Getting to know Paul
The final session of our study course on the writings of St Paul- is this Sunday 19th November, at 16:00 in St Andrew’s Chapel at Pagham Church. It’s not too late to join us!
The Bear Necessities – a conversation for women
Join us on Monday 20th November at 19:30 in The Bear, Pagham. A current affair topic of conversation will be introduced: you bring the conversation. A safe space for good conversation with no hidden agenda and meeting of women of all ages. Following on the second Monday of the month (next meeting Monday 11th December, at 19:30)
Pie and Mash Knees-Up
Saturday 25th November 18:30 at Pagham Parish Church Centre. Tickets £12.00. Please add your names to the sign-up sheet on the noticeboard and indicate which Turner’s Pie you would like. For details contact Carole Druce 07732 768 890. Places must be reserved by the 19th November.
Church Christmas Tree 2023
This year we are asking for small donations from members of the congregation and visitors towards the cost of our Christmas tree and new decorations. The decorations we will be using this year, and in years to come invite people to write names of loved ones they are praying for or thinking of this Christmas and then to hang them on the tree. The collection jar will be available in the church at all services and at all church events until the end of November.
Christmas Fair
Thank you for all of the offers of help. Please can you start to bring your donations to Church, either Sue or Trudi will take them. If you need items picking up let Sue know and she will arrange this. Please take a poster with you after Church to put up locally and share with friends and family. Lookout for more information on stalls on the notice board. Many thanks, Sue.
SUPPORT FOR THE FOODBANK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
Urgently needed this week: Durable plastics bags, 1ltr UHT Fruit Juice, 1ltr UHT Milk, Tinned Fruit, Pasta Sauce, Tinned Fish, Tinned Custard, Tinned Rice Pudding, Pasta, Tinned Meat, Cereal, Shampoo/ Conditioner, Nappies- size 4/5.