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)
Churchwarden: Mr Alex Brockhurst
Tel: 07792 544259.; Email: churchwarden@paghamchurch.org
Churchwarden: Mr Mike Wake
Tel: 07899 705632; Email: churchwarden@paghamchurch.org
Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Jan Brockhurst
Email: safeguarding@paghamchurch.org
Find us online: www.paghamchurch.org // @StThomasPagham
Registered charity number 1134842
SUNDAY 25th decEMBER 2022
CHRISTMAS DAY
Sunday 25th 08:00 Holy Communion- St Richard’s
CHRISTMAS DAY 09:30 Parish Eucharist – Christmas Day
There are no public services this week.
Sunday 1st January 08:00 Holy Communion – Pagham
Naming & Circumcision 11:00 Said Eucharist- St Richard’s of Jesus
Monday 2nd
Basil the Great & Gregory No public services today
Nazianzus
Tuesday 3rd 17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Wednesday 4th 17:30 Evening Prayer (Zoom)
Thursday 5th 09:00 Morning Prayer (Church)
10:00 Holy Communion
Friday 6th No public services today
Saturday 7th No public services today
Sunday 8th 08:00 Holy Communion
EPIPHANY 09:30 Parish Family Eucharist
Hymns
Entrance: 479 – O come all ye faithful
Gradual: 745 – While Shepherds Watched
Offertory: 700 – Unto us a boy is born
Final: 370 – Joy to the world
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 at the back of church. Thank you for your generosity.
The Collect (Opening Prayer) for Christmas Day:
Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; 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 9: 2- 7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Psalm 96 the response to the psalm is “To you is born this day a saviour; who is Christ the Lord”
New Testament reading: Titus 2: 11- 14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Gospel reading: Luke 2: 1- 20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
((When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.))
The Collect (Opening Prayer) for the Naming & Circumcision of Jesus: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was circumcised in obedience to the law for our sake and given the Name that is above every name: give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit, and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world; who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament reading: Numbers 6: 22- end
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
New Testament reading: Galatians 4: 4- 7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Gospel reading: Luke 2: 15- 21 See above in ((…))
Prayers of Intercession
The sick and those who care for them: Rosie Sims, Terry Haskell, Barbara Crew, Karen Cox, Jim Fowler, Sheila King, Dawn Spurway Pearson, Nicola Simpson, Betty Smith, Mike Hatzfeld, Andrew Naylor, Colin May, Tyler Rankin, Max Davey, Leslie Francis, Dickie Roots, Colin Wood.
Recently departed: Kathleen Bryant, Jean McEwan.
Anniversary of death: Audrey Hunt (25th); Montague Austin, Margot Fisher, Edna Stevens (26th); Nicholas Carr, Terry Wice, Yvonne Clark (28th); Stella Tribe (30th); John Monkton (31st); Florence Austin (1st January); Elsie Barker (2nd); Richard Hardy, Reginald Porter (3rd); Patricia Harvey, Patricia Norton, John Gray (4th); Frances Weston (5th); Vanessa Knight, Julia Balk (6th).
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.
For urgent prayer, contact Gillian Purvis (267597) or Pat Rush (262561) to start the Prayer Chain.
Post Communion Prayer- Christmas Day: God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.
Post Communion Prayer- Naming & Circumcision of Jesus: Eternal God, whose incarnate Son was given the Name of Saviour: grant that we who have shared in this sacrament of our salvation may live out our years in the power of the Name above all other names, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next week’s readings: The Epiphany
Isaiah 60: 1- 6; Psalm 72: 10- 15; Ephesians 3: 1- 12; Matthew 2: 1- 12
Christmas gifts to the church
As we approach the end of the year, conscious of the difficult financial situation many of us will be in, I write to share that unfortunately the church is also in a similar position. At the time of writing, we have just received a £1000 bill for energy costs for this month (and I assure you we have dropped our usage as much as we possibly can), and we face an end of year deficit of ~£5000.
We haven’t done a Generous Giving Campaign in the last three years, however, if you have been considering amending your regular giving, or giving a one of gift to the church in this Christmas Season, please know that it would be very gratefully received and put to very good use as we continue to grow our mission and outreach in this community. A Generous Giving Campaign will follow in February, so if you don’t feel able to change your giving now please do give it some thought as we approach this. Thank you Mthr Lucy
Colin Wood Writes
I thank you all for your kindness and prayers for me following my accident, this has meant a lot to me at this difficult time. I am on the mend, not yet fully fit, but look forward to being back with you in Church soon. God bless you all.
Hogwarts Open House
Carole-Anne and Peter Pocock host a Hogwarts themed open house at 11 Church Lane- open evenings 17:00- 20:00 until the New Year, raising money for their sailing charity.
Friends of Pagham Parish Church fundraising Family Quiz
The annual Christmas quiz is available for £2 at church, or from Alison Blenkinsop, 261131/07784 544981. Closing date is 8th January, and winners’ names will be drawn after the morning service on 15th January.