This Sunday, the third in the month our 10 o'clock service was Mattins. The Service was particularly well attended as it was rather a special one. The choir sang 'Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes' by Thomas Attwood, words from Psalm 119, as the anthem. At the end of the service we were joined by the Sunday school, who had all brought their Teddy Bears to church. Father Stephen told us that the Bears had been in intensive training, as they were doing a parachute jump from the top of the church tower after the service. He was confident that no bears would be injured in the jump. He then blessed the children and their bears, and the choir sang 'The Teddy Bears Picnic' (words by Jimmy Kennedy, music by John Bratton arranged by Andrew Carter). The children then went outside and prepared their bears  parachutes. The teddy bears were then taken up the  tower (by two adults) and parachuted off!! The bears were sponsored in their jumps, and the money will go to support the Family Support Worker for the Chichester Diocese,  thanks to every one who sponsored a bear!! The children and their parents then enjoyed a picnic lunch of their own.

Father Stephen blesses the children and their bears

Not only children bought bears!

Some bears with a military background

some civilian bears

bears helped to serve

making the parachutes

some bears were too elderly to jump but came to watch

these bears bought their own picnic

my bear can fly!!

preparing a parachutist

catching the bears in a blanket

Dont forget to come to the Fete on Saturday!!!!