Weekly Pews News
no 20-51 Fourth Sunday of Advent
20.12.2020
Sunday 20th December
08:00 Holy Communion: 2 Samuel 7: 1–11, 16; Luke 1: 26–38
09:30 Parish Eucharist: 2 Samuel 7: 1–11, 16; Canticle: Magnificat; Romans 16: 25–end;
Luke 1: 26–38
Collect God our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The church will be closed for private prayer from Wednesday, 12 noon
until Thursday 16:00, in time for the first Crib service on Christmas Eve
Sunday 20th December
Intention: all victims of violence, crime and oppression; those affected by domestic and other forms of abuse, and all who seek to support them.
Monday 21st December
Intention: the sick in body, mind or spirit; those who have life-limiting conditions; the work of St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
09:00 Morning prayer
Anniversary: Cecil Smith (1982); Sylvia Harvey (2004)
Tuesday 22nd December
Intention: our Deanery of Arundel & Bognor, and its parishes, clergy and people; our Rural Dean Mark Standen, and the work of Deanery Synod.
09:00 Morning prayer (online, see below)
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Anniversary: Mary Cornell (1993); Philip Ray (1994)
Wednesday 23rd December
Intention: all those who do difficult work on our behalf, especially in the armed services and the emergency services.
17:30 Evening prayer (online)
Anniversary: Christine Taylor (2001)
Thursday 24th December – Christmas Eve
Intention: the Church’s worldwide mission; all missionary societies and the Bible Society.
09:00 Morning prayer (online)
16:00 Crib Service (see below)
18:00 Crib Service
21:00 Bethlehem Midnight Service and first Eucharist of Christmas (see below)
Friday 25th December – Christmas Day
Intention: our Diocese of Chichester, Bishops Martin, Ruth and Will, and Archdeacon Luke; the work of Diocesan Synod and Church House; the witness of Chichester Cathedral.
08:00 Holy Communion for the Nativity of Our Lord
09:30 Parish Eucharist for Christmas Day
Anniversary: Audrey Hunt (2009)
Saturday 26th December – Stephen, deacon, first martyr
Intention: the elderly, lonely and bereaved; all those in residential care and those who care for them.
10:00 Eucharist for the Feast of St Stephen
Anniversary: Montague Austin (1972); Margot Fisher (1975); Edna Stevens (2015)
Sunday 27th December – St John the Evangelist
08:00 Holy Communion 09:30 Parish Eucharist
Readings: Exodus 33: 7-11a; Psalm 117; 1 John 1; John 21: 19b–end.
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 start the Prayer Chain.
The recently departed: Maureen Yates, Sally, Joyce Reid, Victor Hatzfeld.
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Catherine Morrish, Daphne Sharrad.
We pray for all affected directly by Covid-19; for safety amid family Christmas gatherings.
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 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.
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 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 (apart from 23rd–24th, as above). When visiting please wear a mask, use the anti–bac. hand gel, and check in using the NHS Track&Trace code.
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. Contact Trudi if you need it sent to you again (tel: 263597).
Advent and Christmas 2020
It is hoped that the above and the following church services will be offered, but please keep an eye out for any changes due to the pandemic. We are taking bookings – see above.
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.
Sunday 27th, First Sunday of Christmas, St John the Evangelist
08:00 Holy Communion
09:30 Parish Eucharist
Tuesday 29th, St Thomas à Becket
10:00 The 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.
Safeguarding Officer: Jan Brockhurst, safeguarding@paghamchurch.org.
Pews News: Alison Blenkinsop, pewsnews@paghamchurch.org, 261131, 07784 544981.