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 22nd OCTOBER 2023
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sunday 22nd 08:00 Holy Communion (Aldwick)
TRINITY 20 09:30 Parish Eucharist followed by coffee
16:00 Getting to know St Paul (Pagham church)
17:30 Evening Prayer (Pagham church)
Monday 23rd 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham Church)
Tuesday 24th 10:00 Eucharist (St Richard’s)
18:00 Evening Prayer (Pagham Church)
19:30 Walsingham Pilgrimage meeting (Pagham)
Wednesday 25th 18:00 Evening Prayer (Pagham Church)
Alfred
Thursday 26th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Pagham Church)
SIMON & JUDE 10:00 Holy Communion (Pagham Church)
17:30 Evening Prayer (St Richard’s)
Friday 27th No public worship today
Saturday 27th 10:00 Admission to Holy Communion Class
Sunday 29th 08:00 Holy Communion (St Richard’s)
LAST AFTER TRINITY 09:30 Parish Eucharist
BIBLE SUNDAY 16:00 Memorial Service (Pagham)
Hymns
Introit: 382 Let all the world
Gradual: 411 Lord Jesus Christ
Offertory: 552 O worship the Lord
Final: 716 We have a gospel to proclaim.
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 Twentieth Sunday after Trinity:
God, the giver of life, whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ and make us eager to do your will, that we may share with the whole creation the joys of eternal life;
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: Isaiah 45: 1- 7
Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.
Psalm 96: 1- 9 The response to the psalm is as announced.
New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1: 1- 10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 15- 22
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
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: Violet Bell, Kathleen Bircham, Joseph Moore (22nd); Peter Wice, Peter Kenward, Frank Williams, Elsie Gulliver (24th); Harold Mortimer, John Pett (25th); Harold Sadler, Kenneth Fuller (26th); Joyce Allam, Edith Daniell (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: God our Father, whose Son, the light unfailing, has come from heaven to deliver the world from the darkness of ignorance: let these holy mysteries open the eyes of our understanding that we may know the way of life, and walk in it without stumbling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: Bible Sunday
Nehemiah 8: 1- 4a, 8- 12; Psalm 119: 9- 16; Colossians 3: 12- 17; Matthew 24: 30- 35
Letters for collection
There is a letter for collection for every church member of the Electoral Roll, with extra copies available for those who are not yet on the roll. This outlines some of the hopes and aspirations for the next season of the church and how you can be a part of this. Please do collect your copy today. If you are not worshipping with us today, your letter will be available for collection from the church throughout the week or hand delivered by a willing volunteer!
Annual Memorial Service
On Sunday 29th October at 16:00 we hold our annual memorial service. At this service we will remember by name all those we love but see no longer, there will also be an opportunity to light a candle. Do join us for this poignant service as the nights draw in and we begin a month of remembrance and celebration of all the saints’ living and departed, who shape our lives and faith. Please add names to be remembered to the list at the back of church.
If you are unable to attend this service, there is a similar service at St Richard’s on Thursday 2nd November at 19:30.
Getting to know St Paul
Continuing this Sunday is our study course on the writings of St Paul- the dates of these sessions are Sunday 22nd October and 12th & 19th November, at 16:00 in St Andrew’s Chapel at Pagham Church. All Welcome!
2022 Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal
Are you able to provide empty shoeboxes for us to fill- please? boxes can be left at the back of church. Many thanks!
Leaflets are now available at the back of the church. Please bring boxes to church by Sunday 5th November. Pick up a leaflet and fill a box – or if you feel that you cannot fill a whole box, perhaps you could supply some items or money towards the transport costs. Every little helps. Details – Trudi Kearsley 263597/07703597353.
Yr7 Church Support Letters for 2024 admissions
If you are still seeking a church support letter for your child’s secondary school admission application, please contact Mthr Lucy to arrange an appointment.
Pastoral Visiting- Saturday 4th November
On Saturday 4th November there will be a meeting for all those who would like to join a Pastoral Visiting team for the parish. We will meet with friends from Pagham church in St Andrew’s Chapel at 11am- for coffee, conversation about the nature of pastoral visiting and briefing about how pastoral visiting will work going forward. This is an important gathering for those who have previously been involved with visiting, taking home communion to the housebound, and also for those who would like to get involved with this ministry. Please speak to Mthr Lucy if you are interested in joining. Please note for safeguarding and good practice it is essential that individuals both meet with Mthr Lucy prior to the training and engage with this meeting before starting visiting- if you are unable to attend this session but are still interested please let Mthr Lucy know.
Admission to Holy Communion 2023
Sessions continue on Saturday mornings 10:00- 11:00 at Pagham church, on the 21st and 28th October. The children will be admitted to Holy Communion in a special service at 16:30 on All Saints’ Sunday – 5th November. Please pray for our candidates: Noah, Joseph, Woody, Teddy, Nicholas and Rufus.
Remembrance Sunday
We gather at Pagham church for the Parish Eucharist as usual at 09:30, followed by an Act of Remembrance at 11am. At our service we welcome the congregation of St Richard’s and include the singing of the joint choirs, as well as welcoming local uniformed organisations. There will be a said Eucharist at 8am in Aldwick on this day, but no 11:15am service.
Christmas Fair Saturday 2nd December in the Church Centre. More details available from Sue O’Neill!
Lunch on Sunday at St Richard’s
The next ‘Lunch on Sunday’ will be on Sunday 5th November, following the Parish Family Eucharist (~ 12:30). The meal will be Chilli and Jacket Potatoes, both vegetarian and meat versions available. Please sign-up at the back of church. £10 per person, please bring your own drinks.
St Richard’s Church invites you to… The Quiz night with Fish & Chip Supper
Following the success of the quiz night in February another night is offered to get the brain working as the nights draw in. Saturday 18th November 6pm– £10 per person for Fish & Chip supper, bring your own drinks. Please sign-up in church. If you’re able to provide a dessert, there is a sign-up list for this too!