Weekly Pews News
no 21-52 & 22-1
26.12.21 & 2.1.22
THE FEAST OF STEPHEN, DEACON, FIRST MARTYR
First Sunday of Christmas
Sunday 26th December
09:30 Parish Eucharist
Collect Gracious Father, who gave the first martyr Stephen grace to pray for those who took up stones against him: grant that in all our sufferings for the truth we may learn to love even our enemies and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt, looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us, Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings 2 Chronicles 24: 20–22; Psalm 119: 161–168; Acts 7: 51–end; Matthew 10: 17–22
Psalm response Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Sunday 26th December
Intention: the elderly, lonely and bereaved; all those in residential care, and those caring for them.
Monday 27th December – JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
Intention: all who work for peace and justice; the maintenance of good relationships with the United Nations and all other countries.
Tuesday 28th December – THE HOLY INNOCENTS
Intention: vocations to the ordained ministry, especially in our own parish; theological colleges and ordinands in training; vocations to the religious life.
17:30 Evening prayer (on Zoom)
Wednesday 29th December – Thomas Becket, archbishop, martyr, 1170
Intention: our mission to our own parish; the outreach of our parish newsletter; all newcomers to Pagham, and to our Church family.
17:30 Evening Prayer (on Zoom)
Thursday 30th December
Intention: our neighbouring Churches, and the work of Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District.
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 31st December
Intention: our family and friends.
Saturday 1st January – NAMING AND CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS
Intention: our Parish Team – Clergy: Lucy Sullivan, Colin Wood, Bill Meyer; Reader: Roland Ell; Churchwardens: Mike Wake, Alex Brockhurst.
Sunday 2nd January – THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
09:30 Parish Family Eucharist
Readings Isaiah 60: 1–6; Psalm 72: 1–7, 10–14; Ephesians 3: 1–12; Matthew 2: 1–12
Psalm response Kings bow down before him.
Intention: our hospitals, doctors, nurses and midwives, home care assistants, pharmacists, therapists, opticians, dentists; all who provide health care.
Monday 3rd January
Intention: those baptised and confirmed here during the year, their parents, godparents or sponsors, and our own godchildren.
09:00 Morning prayer (in church)
Tuesday 4th January
Intention: all imprisoned in any way, and those caught up in modern slavery; the prisoners, staff, chaplains and visitors at HMP Ford. // 17:30 Evening prayer (on Zoom)
12:00 Funeral of Jean Martin (see below)
Wednesday 5th January
Intention: our children and young people, and their leaders; our Sunday School and Saints (older children). // 17.30 Evening prayer (on Zoom)
Thursday 6th January
Intention: our Archbishops, Justin Welby of Canterbury and Stephen Cottrell of York; the work of the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod; the worldwide Anglican Communion.
09.00 Morning prayer (in church)
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 7th January
Intention: our schools, colleges and universities; all teachers and learners, governors and administrators.
Saturday 8th January
Intention: the hungry, homeless, refugees and asylum seekers; the work of Church Army, Christian Aid and all relief agencies; our local charities Stonepillow and Bognor Regis Foodbank.
Sunday 9th January – THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Readings: Isaiah 43: 1–7; Psalm 29; Acts 8: 14–17; Luke 3: 15–17, 21–22
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.
The recently departed Alix Sullivan, Jean Martin.
Anniversary of death Montague Austin, Margot Fisher, Edna Stevens (26th); Nicholas Carr, Terry Wice, Yvonne Clark (28th); Stella Tribe (30th); John Monkton (31st); Florence Austin (1st Jan); Elsie Barker (2nd); Richard Hardy, Reginald Porter (3rd); Patricia Harvey, Patricia Norton, John Gray (4th); Frances Weston (5th); Vanessa Knight, Julia Balk (6th); Elsie Smith, Joyce Wentworth-Payne, Beryl Eames (8th).
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home: Bett Steenerson, Jane Upton, Beatrice Armstrong, Mary Baxter.
NOTICES
Face coverings It is now 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.
Jean Sheila Martin Jean was a long-standing PCC member, and her husband was a Reader in the parish. The family would love to see Pagham folk at her funeral on 4th January, COVID-19 permitting.
Friends of Pagham Church annual fundraising quiz is available for £2 from Mo Hatzfeld (268576) or Trudi Kearsley (263597) for a prize of £100. Entries should be returned by Sunday 9th January; the draw will be made after the Parish Eucharist on Sunday 16th.
NB Question 10: for BC, read AD!
Support the Square Meal Project as you shop (see flyer with a recent Church Communications email). This scheme, set up by the Rotary Club, provides food vouchers to families in need. It is run by Cooperative stores: shoppers register as members (for £1, recouped by savings), and choose this charity to support; funds are raised by buying ‘own brand’ items (raising 1p in every £1).
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.