.

Popular Posts

26 May 2014
We reach the last Sunday of Easter tide, and the last Sunday of May. A beautiful day, and a celebration of the Eucharist at 10:00am. Father Stephen was the Celebrant, and the Easter alleluias were sung for the last time this year. In his sermon Father Stephen pointed out that next Thursday we shall celebrate the Ascension of Christ to his father in Heaven, and how he promised to send us the Holy Spirit to comfort us until his coming again.
The choir sang 'The day draws on with golden light' translated from the Latin by Thomas Alexander Lacey, setting by Edward C Bairstow (1874-1946) based on an Angers Church Melody.
Coffee was served after the service.
Thursday, Ascension Day, there will be a sung Eucharist at 7:30 pm, do come along to the service and share in the feast which completes Easter tide and looks forward to Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit.




18 May 2014
On a beautiful early summer's morning we met at 10:00am for Mattins. The sunlight streamed through the Church windows, as we sang Hymns, Canticles and Psalms. Our readings, from the King James version included the story of Noah's Ark coming to rest at the end of the flood, and St John's gospel recounting Jesus words ' I am the way the truth and the light' In his sermon father Stephen picked up the story of the Flood and God's continued patience with the wilful and disobedient human race! Baptism themes are part of the Noah story, we have our sins washed away as we enter Christianity, but we constantly fail to live up to our promises, we have the assurance that God will forgive and the through his Resurrection Jesus shows the way to his Father's house.
For the Anthem, the Choir sang 'A Claire Benediction' by John Rutter.

After the service there was a Baptism, Roxy Rose was welcomed into the family of the Church




11 May 2014
This Sunday, the fourth Sunday after Easter is known as 'Good Shepherd Sunday' This is because the Gospel for this Sunday is John 10,1-10, in which Jesus addresses the Pharisees, describing himself as the Shepherd of the sheep. Father Stephen told us in his sermon about the role of the clergy as Shepherd of the flock of souls in their charge. This image of the priest as Shepherd goes back as far as Aaron in Exodus, and is continued today with Bishops and Archbishops carrying a Crosier, shaped like a shepherds crook. We too must shepherd our resources, and offer them up to God so that he may use our talents for his work.
The Choir sang a setting of the 23 psalm, 'Brother James Air'. There was coffee after the service.

On the recent trip to the Ordination in Southern Turkey, we saw many sheep being moved to different pasture by their shepherds, which made this week's service particularly relevant, Her are some pictures of those sheep!!


    
In Turkey, Sheep have priority and cars just have to wait!

There will be an evening of pictures and stories from the trip to the Ordination in the Church Hall, all are welcome to come and hear all about it. Date to be arranged, but most likely a Thursday in June, look out for more details soon!!
05 May 2014
The first Sunday in May we make our Rogation Walk. Traditionally a Rogation Walk should be around the boundary of the Parish, but we have refined this to include the Church Farm Barns, The Churchyard, and the Vicarage meadow. We started in Church, and set off through the kissing gate to the Barns, where we had a reading from Genesis and a blessing of the farm. We then proceeded to the new church yard extension. In the field next door, from which the churchyard extension was taken, some of the dairy cows were grazing, here we read, prayed, sang and blessed the land and animals. We then walked to the garden of Scantlings and read, sang and blessed the garden and gardeners. We then proceeded through the gap in the hedge to the Vicarage meadow, where some horses were paddocked, more readings, blessings and the final verses of 'All things Bright and Beautiful' We then crosses the Vicarage garden to re-enter the Church once more. Final Hymns and prayers completed our Rogation service, which was followed by coffee.








The collection from the Organ concert has risen to a marvellous £750!

On Thursday next there will be the first meeting of the new PCC. The Agenda for this meeting is as follows

A meeting of the PCC on Thursday the 8th May at 7:00pm 
Preceded by the Eucharist at 6:30

1. Apologies
2. Acceptance of the minutes of the meeting held on 27th February 2014
3.Matters arising that are not on the Agenda
4.Notification of matters fro AOB
5. Mission Plan
6. Reports
 ACORA
Church Fabric
Church Yard
Church Hall
Church Rooms Project
Deanery Synod
Electoral Roll
Finance
Sunday School
7. PA System
8. Future Events
Newcomers Party 10th May
Confirmation 6th June
Sunday School Teddy Bears Picnic and Parachute jump 20th July
Summer Fete 26th July
9. Any Other Business.

As decided at the AGM a summary of the minutes of this and future PCC meetings will be available to view via this website in future.

03 May 2014
This Sunday, although it was the fourth Sunday in the month we had as our 10:00am service, Matins. As Easter Sunday fell on a third Sunday, our Matins was transferred. The service included psalms and hymns, and the Lessons were read from the King James version of the Bible.
Included in our prayers were the group of people from St Marys who had gone to Turkey to the Ordination of our friend Brother Aho, who spent some time in at Chichester University and became friends with several people at Sidlesham. He was Ordained in his Monastery in Turkey last Saturday and was celebrating his first Eucharist, as Father Aho, on this Sunday morning. Some pictures from the trip are included below.









On Sunday Afternoon we were treated to a wonderful concert of Organ music from Daniel Phillips. This was followed by tea and was a great success, over 50 people came to the concert and over £600 was raised for the New Annex project. Many thanks to Daniel for giving his time and talent so generously.

Service Times

First Sunday in the Month:
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Service

Second Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Sung Matins

Fourth Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Variations can be found in the Parish Magazine or the Calendar at the bottom of this page.

Useful links


Here are some links to resources you may find helpful:


  1. St Mary's Facebook page
  2. Chichester Cathedral will be live streaming services. For the Eucharist and order of service Click here before 10:00am Sunday and follow the instructions.
  3. The BBC Daily Service is available here.
  4. Prayer for today.
  5. The C of E youtube channel.
  6. Hearing You is a new phone help line launched by the Diocese of Chichester in partnership with Together in Sussex in response to the impact that Covid 19 has had on Just about the whole community. It aims to provide pastoral support and a listening ear to the recently bereaved and people directly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
  7. COVID-19 advice from the Diocese of Chichester here.

Please note that St Mary's are not responsible for the contents of external links

Blog Archive

Archived posts by year: