Weekly Pews News
no 21-9
28.2.2021
Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday 28th March
10:00 Online Eucharist (see notice below)
Readings: Genesis 17: 1–7, 15–16: Psalm 22: 23–end; Romans 4: 13–end; Mark 8: 31–end
Collect Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Lockdown 3.0: public worship continues to be suspended at Pagham church, and the church remains closed for private prayer. As we have heard in the Government Roadmap announcements over the last week, a very cautious approach is being taken to coming out of this Lockdown. We too will seek to reopen carefully and slowly. We do not anticipate making any significant changes for quite a few weeks to come. If it is felt we are able to safely return to public worship in time for Easter, then this will be a very stripped-back and simple celebration. Provision will be made for you to mark this Feast at home and online.
While this will be sad and difficult news for many of you, we must continue in this way to care for ourselves, one another and our NHS. The local situation on rates of infection with coronavirus is improving, but the NHS is still under tremendous strain. We must continue to do what we can to ‘Stay at Home’ while the vaccination programme is rolled out, and appropriate time is given for the first dose of the vaccine, that many of you have received, to take effect. Now is the time to be patient, but also thankful for the great steps that have been taken in protecting the community so far. Let us continue to pray for all frontline workers, our friends and family that we miss, and all those who have died with Covid-19. Mthr Lucy
Sunday 28th March
Intention: vocations to the ordained ministry, especially in our own parish; theological colleges and ordinands in training; our own parish ordinand Gemma Fleury; vocations to the religious life.
11:00–12:00 Online coffee meeting (see below)
Monday 1st March – David, bishop, patron of Wales, c.601
Intention: our Parish Team – Clergy: Lucy Sullivan, Colin Wood, Bill Meyer; Reader: Roland Ell; Churchwardens: Mike Wake, Stephen Cox-Rusbridge.
09:00 Morning prayer (online, see below)
17.30 Evening prayer
19:30 Lent course 2
Tuesday 2nd March – Chad, bishop, missionary, 672
Intention: our hospitals, doctors, nurses and midwives, home care assistants, pharmacists, therapists, opticians, dentists; all who provide health care.
09:00 Morning prayer
17.30 Evening prayer
21:00 Compline
Wednesday 3rd March
Intention: the Pilgrim Course – leaders and participants. Those baptised and confirmed here during the year, their parents, godparents or sponsors, and our own godchildren.
15:00 Lent course 2
17:30 Evening Prayer
Thursday 4th March
Intention: all imprisoned in any way, and those caught up in modern slavery; the prisoners, staff, chaplains and visitors at HMP Ford.
09:00 Morning prayer
19:00 Stations of the cross IV-VI
Friday 5th March
Intention: our children and young people, and their leaders; our Sunday School and Saints (older children).
Saturday 6th March
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.
Sunday 7th March – Third Sunday of Lent
Readings: Exodus 20: 1–17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1: 18–25; John 2: 13–22
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 & Bruce Evans, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Gerald Hume, Carole & Ian Turner, John Kitchener.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Colin Wood (264192) to start the Prayer Chain.
The recently departed: Gill Coppuck, Beryl Rundle.
Anniversary of death: Lilian Hamerton (28th); Alan Dalrymple, Phyllis Burrow (1st March); Michael Fielder, Ronald Bosher (3rd); Margaret Bell, Douglas Pennicott (4th); Frank Stedman, Dorothy Tapping, Olive Lewis, Irene Plumb (5th); Roland Hunt (6th).
We remember Church family who live in residential care or usually receive communion at home.
We pray for all affected directly by Covid-19; for the safety of students, teachers and admin staff returning to educational establishments.
NOTICES
Fairtrade Fortnight is in full swing! Visit the festival of online events and activities laid on to entertain, educate and inspire us all in choosing the world we want to see, and in learning how to play our part in tackling the climate crisis. https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/choose-the-world-you-want/
Online Sunday service: I encourage you to join the service at 10:00 on YouTube if you can – just as you would turn up to church for a set time.
Online Coffee Hour after the service: we continue to meet from 11:00 to 12:00. You are welcome to join whenever you are able, and leave early if you need to. Details are in Trudi’s email – if you would like some help navigating Zoom please do contact Mthr Lucy.
Morning & Evening Prayer on Zoom continues as listed above. The praying of the Daily Office is an important way to pray together as a community, to offer up the day’s challenges and give thanks for the blessings. All texts are provided on screen. The link to this can be found in Trudi’s email. Please contact Mthr Lucy if you have any trouble joining the call.
Additional services during Lent: we meet online for the office of Night Prayer (Compline) at 21:00 on Tuesdays on Zoom and our Facebook page. You may find it helpful to have a copy of the Lent Prayer Resource with you for this. Stations of the Cross at 19:00 on Thursdays is presented on Zoom: everything needed will be shared onscreen. NB feel free to dip in and out of the online offerings.
Lent course: Cracked Wide Open began in the last week. It is not too late to join the course; please be in touch with Mthr Lucy if you would like to join us. Please note all difficulties with technology have been sorted, and so it is hoped that sessions will run without hiccup – thank you for your patience.
Palm Sunday Passion Gospel: if you would be interested in taking part in this year’s Passion Gospel for our pre-recorded service on Palm Sunday, would you please contact Mthr Lucy. NB you must be able to use Zoom for this.
Christian Aid 2021: the charity continues to support families facing poverty and injustice, although now unable to offer the Lent Count Your Blessings, with a focus on Bangladesh this year. Please continue to pray, and give online: christianaid.org.uk; or call 020 7523 2269 to donate by telephone.
Churchwardens: at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting after Easter, both Mike Wake and Stephen Cox-Rusbridge will be stepping down as our churchwardens, having served the maximum term (+in Mike’s case!). We will of course give great thanks for all that they have done and the time that they have dedicated to the role when we are able to meet. Now, however, we find ourselves needing to appoint two new wardens. Please do see the information attached to this week’s Communication email which outlines the role. I ask you all to give some prayerful thought to this subject as we seek to elect two new wardens for Pagham Church.
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