A beautiful sunny day today and the churchyard was lovely.



There was a lovely display in church of the Sunday School's Candlemas work


The Gospel today was from Luke, telling of the time when Jesus and his disciples were in a boat.  Jesus fell asleep and a storm blew up.  The disciples were very afraid and woke Jesus who quelled the storm.  All of our hymns today had a watery theme,   Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us, Fierce Raged The Tempest, The Spacious Firmament On High and Eternal Father, Strong To Save. The anthem sung by the choir, Crossing the Bar, by Alfred Lord Tennyson and set to music by H Parry has an especial watery theme.

The sermon was also based on the gospel and the story of Peter walking on water with Jesus until he lost faith and started to sink. We glory in God's creation, it being a natural response to the beauty of  his creation. There is lots to discover in the universe, the seas and yet mankind pollute. The Gospel shows us how much we don't trust in God.  The disciples were fearful of the storm despite having God's own son with them. Jesus subdued the storm and by doing this showed he had dominion over the evil thought to be under the sea. We are made in God's image and yet are marred by the evil deeds mankind still does.  We can fight against this by good deeds. Trust in the Lord to quell our inner psychological disturbances.

The Sunday school also had a watery theme from the Gospel, and made blue jelly with an orange segment boat, complete with sail, and jelly baby Jesus and Disciples.  I'm sure they were fun to make and fun to eat!

This morning at 10 am our service was Sung Mattins. We are now inthe period just before Lent, and our readings, from the King James version of the Bible were from Jeremiah and St Luke. The set psalm for the day was Psalm number 1. The choir sang the Te Deum in the setting by Herbert Sumsion, and the anthem was 'Blessed are the Pure in Heart by Henry Walford Davies (1869 -1941)

In his sermon, Father Stephen asked us what gives us Happiness? He discussed how the beatitudes in Luke, differ from those in Matthew. Luke goes beyond the blessings of the poor, and adds that those who re comfortable in this life without caring, will be cursed in the end. When we look for happiness it is to Jesus that we turn for true contentment and joy.

The service was followed by coffee in the rooms.

Last night we were treated to a most excellent evening in the Church Hall. We had a 4 course meal with a french theme, accompanied by accordion music from our friend Peter.

We came to our 10 am Eucharist through a very soggy churchyard, having been battered by storm Eric over the last 24 hours. Father Stephan was the celebrant, and the Gospel told the story of Simon Peter and his fishermen colleagues, under instruction from Our Lord, catching so many fish the nets nearly broke. This miraculous event occurs just after Jesus calls the fishermen to be 'fishers of men'. In his sermon Father Stephen pointed out that such great blessings often come to people who come to love Jesus, and can occur along our journey of faith, as we are encouraged along the way. 

On a cold but bright morning we came together at 10 am for our family Service celebration of Candlemass. We started the service in the Parrish Rooms where we heard a reading from Malachi, and lit our candles. We then processed into the church singing 'At the name of Jesus' and continued our family Eucharist. The Sunday School children told us about the  traditions associated with this festival, including the presentation of our Lord in the temple the responses of Anna and Simeon, and its association with St Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland.
The choir sang the Nunc Dimittis in C major setting by CV Stanford.

After the service we gathered in the Rooms to see a side presentation of the building of the rooms put together from his own photographs by Richard Clark Adams, followed by the first showing of the Film 'A history of St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham' both were very well received and we enjoyed refreshments during the presentations. DVDs of the film are available to buy, please see the list in the church.

We hope you have your tickets for the french supper on the 16th of February, because we are already sold out!! We are all looking forwards to another of Hilary's excellent meals.

Online version of film available here >

Sunday 3rd February 2019.

The Candlemass service  will start in the Parish Rooms where Candles will be lit and we will process into the church.

After the service there will be a slide show of the building of the new rooms.

This will be followed by a preview of a DVD about the history of St Mary's. Refreshments will be available.

Please support this event as the DVD will go on public sale shortly and orders will be taken. Profits to go to church funds.

Sunday 10th February

There will be a sale of Jewellery, and of the new post cards of the Wall Hanging after the service.

Saturday 16th February 

**Sold Out**

We are having our 4 course French Supper in the church hall. This event is usually very popular so make sure that you get your tickets from the Church Wardens, before they sell out.