Weekly Pews News
no 20-48 First Sunday of Advent
29.11.2020
Sunday 29th November
Readings set for today: Isaiah 64: 1–9; Psalm 80: 1–8, 18–20; 1 Corinthians 1: 3–9; Mark 13: 24–end
Collect Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Lockdown 2.0 at St Thomas à Becket, Pagham: in line with Government instructions, public worship at St Thomas à Becket’s church is currently suspended, but see below. Thanks to a team of volunteer cleaners we are able to have the church open ~09:00–16:00 for private prayer. When visiting please be sure to wear a face mask, use the anti–bac. hand gel provided, and check in using the NHS Track and Trace code.
If you have any kind of need or need to speak with someone please do call Mthr Lucy (see below). We pray for those who have contracted the virus, those treating them, those researching a vaccine, the families of those who have died, and for the repose of the souls of the virus’s victims. May God bless us all. Mthr Lucy
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Radio & TV broadcasts: Sunday Worship on Radio 4; Songs of Praise on BBC1; Choral Evensong on Radio 3; Sunday services on Premier Christian Radio and Angel Radio.
Smartphone free apps: C of E Time to Pray, Daily Prayer, Pray As You Go, Lectio365, Taketime Spiritual Meditations.
24-hour freephone: Daily Hope (for Christian worship): 0800 804 8044.
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Sunday 29th November
Intention: our mission to our own parish; the outreach of our parish newsletter; all newcomers to Pagham, and to our Church family.
Monday 30th November – Andrew the Apostle
Intention: our neighbouring Churches, and the work of Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District.
09:00 Morning prayer (online, see below)
17:30 Evening prayer
Anniversary: Alan Harmer (2013)
Tuesday 1st December
Intention: our Parish Team – Clergy: Lucy Sullivan, Colin Wood, Bill Meyer; Reader: Roland Ell; Churchwardens: Mike Wake, Stephen Cox-Rusbridge.
09:00 Morning prayer
17:30 Evening prayer
Wednesday 2nd December
Intention: our hospitals, doctors, nurses and midwives, home care assistants, pharmacists, therapists, opticians, dentists; all who provide health care.
17:30 Evening prayer
Thursday 3rd December
Intention: the Pilgrim Course – leaders and participants. Those baptised and confirmed here during the year, their parents, godparents or sponsors, and our own godchildren.
09:00 Morning prayer
Anniversary: John Morrish (2015); Charles Meyer (1990); David Atkins (2017)
Friday 4th December
Intention: all imprisoned in any way, and those caught up in modern slavery; the prisoners, staff, chaplains and visitors at HMP Ford.
Anniversary: Brian Jenkin (1993); Greta Garland (2004); Eric Martin (2004)
Saturday 5th December
Intention: our children and young people, and their leaders; our Sunday School and Saints.
Anniversary: Jack Vagg (2017)
Sunday 6th December Readings: Isaiah 40: 1–11; Psalm 85: 1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3: 8–15a; Mark 1: 1–8
PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS
We pray for all in need of healing in body, mind or spirit: Lynette, Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Jean Martin, Lila Cowee, Barbara Crew, June Evans, Bea Tucker, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Robin Potter.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Colin Wood (264192) to start the Prayer Chain.
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 Government decisions over preparations for Christmas.
Praying for our Community: the weekly streets prayer list has been revamped, and we will be praying for all the streets of the parish over a two-month cycle. The new copy of is published with December’s Good News, and will be available thereafter. The streets we pray for will no longer be in Pews News, but please put your copy in a prominent position at home, to help you to remember to pray for our community each day.
NOTICES
Advent reflections and activities: a booklet of daily reflections and activities has been made available for your use 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. This comes with December’s Good News, so please contact Trudi if you need it sent to you again.
Zoom Daily Prayer resumes on Monday at 09:00, using the same link as before. We will stick to the Zoom schedule for this week at least, regardless of what changes are allowed following 2nd December.
Sunday Services: every week a new service for the parishes of Pagham and Aldwick is being recorded and uploaded to YouTube. With Trudi’s email you will find a new Order of Service for Advent that will help you to join in, when you watch. If you’d like to take part either reading or leading the intercessions please contact Mthr Lucy. To find the service, simply click on the link in Trudi’s email.
If you are not able to join in online please know that you are all prayed for daily, and I appreciate your prayers too for the whole of our community at this time.
Reverse Advent Calendar: thank you for your donations towards the Foodbank Christmas collections. It is not too late to make Christmas donations. Please remember the Foodbank’s work continues 52 weeks a year.
Advent and Christmas 2020
It is hoped that the following services will be offered this Advent, but please keep an eye out for any changes due to the pandemic. Booking is encouraged to help us fit as many people as possible in for these popular services, and to assist with Track and Trace. We will start taking bookings from Monday 7th – please email or speak to Trudi.
Sunday 13th December, Advent 3: Take Away Christingle: DIY Christingle kits will be available from the church on the Third Sunday of Advent. Drop by anytime between 14:00 & 15:00 to pick up your Take Away and get ready to be creative at home. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to church, there will be a video available with all the instructions and list of the items you’ll need before you get started!
Thursday 24th December, 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.
Friday 25th December, Christmas Day
08:00 Holy Communion for the Nativity of Our Lord 09:30 The Parish Eucharist for Christmas Day
Saturday 26th, St Stephen’s Day 10:00 Eucharist for the Feast of St Stephen
Sunday 27th, First Sunday of Christmas, St John the Evangelist
08:00 Holy Communion 09:30 Parish Eucharist
Tuesday 28th December, St Thomas à Becket: 10:00 Eucharist
Sunday 3rd January, The Epiphany
08:00 Holy Communion 09:30 Parish Eucharist with the blessing of chalks
Pagham Church on social media: find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @StThomasPagham.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Revd Lucy Sullivan: 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 to add content.
Safeguarding Officer: Jan Brockhurst, safeguarding@paghamchurch.org.
Pews News: Alison Blenkinsop, pewsnews@paghamchurch.org, 261131.