17 May 2026
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Acts 1:1-11
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
In the first book, Theophilus,
I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning
until the day when he was taken up to heaven,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
After his suffering he presented himself alive to them
by many convincing proofs,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem
but to wait there for the promise of the Father.
“This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me;
for John baptized with water,
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him,
“Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods
that the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were watching,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven,
suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why do you stand looking up toward heaven?
This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven,
will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Ephesians 1:15-23
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the age to come.
And he has put all things under his feet
and has made him the head over all things for the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Luke 24:44-53
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“These are my words that I spoke to you
while I was still with you—
that everything written about me in the law of Moses,
the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
and he said to them,
“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer
and to rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed
in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised,
so stay here in the city
until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
While he was blessing them,
he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
And they worshiped him
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
10 May 2026
Job 28:1-11
A reading from the book of the prophet Job.
“Surely there is a mine for silver
and a place for gold to be refined.
Iron is taken out of the earth,
and copper is smelted from ore.
Miners put an end to darkness
and search out to the farthest bound
the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation;
they are forgotten by travelers;
they sway suspended, remote from people.
As for the earth, out of it comes bread,
but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
Its stones are the place of sapphires,
and its dust contains gold.
"That path no bird of prey knows,
and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.
The proud wild animals have not trodden it;
the lion has not passed over it.
“They put their hand to the flinty rock
and overturn mountains by the roots.
They cut out channels in the rocks,
and their eyes see every precious thing.
The sources of the rivers they probe;
hidden things they bring to light.
Philippians 4:4-7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:1-15
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesys Christ according to Matthew.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before others
in order to be seen by them,
for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms,
do not sound a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
so that they may be praised by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your alms may be done in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners,
so that they may be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But whenever you pray,
go into your room and shut the door
and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“When you are praying,
do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do,
for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them,
for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
but if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
09 May 2026
There was a joyful and historic evening at St Mary’s on 5 May 2026 as we gathered for the licensing and collation of Fr Chris as Vicar with the Rt Rev William Hazlewood Bishop of Chichester and the Archdeacon of Chichester.
Many people from across our community were there including children from Sidlesham Primary School. Some who read and helped during the service. The choir also sang beautifully and the flower team had done a fine job of dressing the church.
03 May 2026
Acts 7:55-60
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Standing before the high priest and the council,
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
But they covered their ears,
and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him,
and the witnesses laid their coats
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
When he had said this, he died.
1 Peter 2:2-10
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
Like newborn infants,
long for the pure, spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow into salvation—
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone,
though rejected by mortals
yet chosen and precious in God’s sight,
and like living stones
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,
to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
To you then who believe, he is precioous;
but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,” and
A stone that makes them stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the word,
as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God’s own people,
in order that you may proclaim
the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
John 14:1-14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself,
so that where I am, there you may be also.
And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him,
“Lord, we do not know where you are going.
How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you will know my Father also.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus said to him,
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip,
and you still do not know me?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own,
but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
but if you do not,
then believe because of the works themselves.
Very truly, I tell you,
the one who believes in me
will also do the works that I do and, in fact,
will do greater works than these,
because I am going to the Father.
I will do whatever you ask in my name,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If in my name you ask me for anything,
I will do it.
Fr Chris is to be licensed to the Parish as Vicar
on Tuesday 5 May, 7.30pm
This is a time of great joy for our parish as the Bishop of Chichester has reinstalled the living for the parish, which has been suspended for approximately 30 years.
The Service of Licensing and Collation will be conducted by The Right Reverend William Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes and Fr Tom Carpenter, Archdeacon of Chichester. We do hope you are able to join us for the service and refreshments afterwards in the Parish Rooms.
26 April 2026
Acts 2:42-47
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Many were baptised and were added to the community.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone
because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their possessions and goods
and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple,
they broke bread at home
and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
And day by day the Lord added to their number
those who were being saved.
1 Peter 2:19-25
A readiing from the first letter of Peter.
Brothers and sisters:
It is a credit to you, if being aware of God,
you endure pain while suffering unjustly.
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that?
But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it,
you have God's approval.
For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was abused, he did not return abuse;
when he suffered, he did not threaten,
but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
so that, freed from sins, we might live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were going astray like sheep,
but now you have returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
John 10:1-10
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“Very truly, I tell you,
anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate
but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him,
and the sheep hear his voice.
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has brought out all his own,
he goes ahead of them,
and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
They will not follow a stranger,
but they will run from him
because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this figure of speech with them,
but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them,
“Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and bandits,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters by me will be saved
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
19 April 2026
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
On the day of Pentecost,
Peter, standing with the eleven,
raised his voice and addressed the crowd,
Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty
that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,
this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart
and said to Peter and to the other apostles,
“Brothers, what should we do?”
Peter said to them,
“Repent and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
so that your sins may be forgiven,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is for you, for your children,
and for all who are far away,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
And he testified with many other arguments
and exhorted them, saying,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
So those who welcomed his message were baptized,
and that day about three thousand persons
were added to their number.
1 Peter 1:17-23
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
If you invoke as Father
the one who judges impartially according their deeds,
live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.
You know that you were ransomed
from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious blood of Christ,
like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
He was destined before the foundation of the world
but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.
Through him you have come to trust in God,
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
so that your trust and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified your souls
by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love,
love one another deeply from the heart.
You have been born anew,
not of perishable but of imperishable seed,
through the living and enduring word of God.
Luke 24:13-35
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ accordiing to Luke.
On that same day
two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem,
and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
While they were talking and discussing,
Jesus himself came near and went with them,
but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
And he said to them,
“What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”
They stood still, looking sad.
Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,
“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem
who does not know the things
that have taken place there in these days?”
He asked them, “What things?”
They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over
to be condemned to death and crucified him.
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.
Yes, and besides all this,
it is now the third day since these things took place.
Moreover, some women of our group astounded us.
They were at the tomb early this morning,
and when they did not find his body there
they came back
and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who said that he was alive.
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb
and found it just as the women had said,
but they did not see Jesus.”
Then he said to them,
“Oh, how foolish you are
and how slow of heart
to believe all that the prophets have declared!
Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things
and then enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them
the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going,
he walked ahead as if he were going on.
But they urged him strongly, saying,
“Stay with us, because it is almost evening
and the day is now nearly over.”
So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them,
he took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him,
and he vanished from their sight.
They said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he was talking to us on the road,
while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem,
and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
They were saying,
“The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”
Then they told what had happened on the road
and how he had been made known to them
in the breaking of the bread.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
