A fifth Sunday in this month, and our 10:00 am Service was A Celebration of the Eucharist. Father Stephen was the Celebrant. We were delighted to have Alan Thurlow playing for us again this morning, standing in for Joanna. The Choir were still in recession, so a communion hymn was sung.
The Gospel readings are back to St Mark this Sunday, and the passage covered two different stories which Father Stephen explored in his Sermon. Firstly the story of the Pharasees asking why the disciples did not follow the traditional cleansing rituals before eating. The Law, in the first 5 books of the Old Testament has been supplemented by a weight of traditional rituals, In replying to this 'trick' question Our Lord explains that what goes into us does not make us bad, but what is in our hearts, and it is this we must guard against rather than hollow rituals. In the second part of the reading, the story of the healing of the Syro-phonecian woman's child, father Stephen explained that this is a turning point in the Gospel, where Jesus starts to explain the message of the Kingdom to all people not just the Jews. In his human nature he was growing into the realisation that the Kingdom is for all who believe. Quite a lot of thought provoking ideas to take home with us this week!

There was no coffee this week, but we will back in full swing next week.

The very last few tickets for the Boat Cruise around Chichester Harbour are still available for next Sunday evening, contact the Church Wardens.

Alex Palmer and Friends will entertain us with a variety of classical music on the afternoon of Sunday 20th of September, followed by Tea, do come along retiring collection for the New Parish Rooms.