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 21st JANUaRY 2024
the third sunday of EPIPHANY
Sunday 21st 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
Epiphany 3 09:30 Parish Eucharist with Sunday School
14:00 Holy Baptism- Olive West
Monday 22nd 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Tuesday 23rd 10:00 Eucharist (Aldwick)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
19:00 Tuesday@7 (Pagham)
Wednesday 24th 17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Thursday 25th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham)
Conversion of St Paul 10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Aldwick)
Friday 26th No public services today
Timothy & Titus, Companions of Paul
Saturday 27th No public services today
Sunday 28th 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
PRESENTATION OF 09:30 Parish Eucharist followed by coffee
CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE 14:00 Holy Baptism Daisy and Harry Crocker
(CANDLEMAS)
HYMNS
Introit: 137 Crown him with many crowns
Gradual: 741 When we walk with the Lord
Offertory: 85 Brightest and best
Final: 709 We are marching
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 Third Sunday of the Epiphany:
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; 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: Genesis 14: 17- 20
After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,
‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’
And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
Psalm 128 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: Revelation 19: 6- 10
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,
‘Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure’—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow-servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’
Gospel Reading: John 2: 1- 11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
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, Bea Tucker.
Recently departed: Marjorie Woods, Bob Tomlinson.
Anniversary of death: James Turton, Florence Plummer (24th); Cyril May, Mark Bryan (25th); Winifred Turner, Isobelle Summerside, Phyllis Perkins, Marjorie Phillips (27th)
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: Almighty Father, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen
Next week’s readings: Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Malachai 3: 1- 5; Psalm 24: 7- end; Hebrews 2: 14- end; Luke 2: 22- 40.
‘Pagham Church Men’s Group’ Burns Night
Thanks to all who supported this event, and to Stephen and the Men’s Group for the work put into organising the evening.
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.
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.
Shrove Tuesday
Please join us for our fun Pancake Party in St Andrew’s chapel at 6pm on 13th February. All welcome, please sign- up to help us with catering.
Lent 2024
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday- 14th February 2024. There will be a said eucharist with impostion of ashes at 10:00 in Pagham and a sung eucharist with imposition of ashes in Aldwick at 19:30 on this day. Please be sure to put the dates and times in your diaries. Details of all our activities in Lent will follow next week- keep an eye out!
Save the date: Chilli & Bingo
I am pleased to share that we will be supporting two local young people with their fundraising for Grass Roots and their mission trip from Bishop Luffa School to Tanzania to see the charity in action, and to support their work. As part of their fundraising, they will be holding a ‘Chilli & Bingo’ night at the Church Centre on Saturday 9th March, please put the date in your diary!
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The APCM will take place on Wednesday 20th March at 19:30, in St Andrew’s Chapel. You are very welcome to attend as we review and give thanks for the activity of Pagham church in 2023. In preparation for this many of you will be asked to write a report for the activity of the groups that you co-ordinate, please look out for an email from MO, PCC Treasurer about this.
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.