This morning we met at 10 am for a parish Eucharist, Father Stephen and Father Roger were both with us, Father Stephen preached the sermon, the Gospel to day was from St Luke and recounts Our Lord teaching the disciples to pray, using what we call the Lord's Prayer. Father Stephen spoke of the intimacy of our relationship with God, he is our Father, and the close daily relationship in our lives, and yet we hallow or make Holy his name, The whole of Christian Devotion is wrapped up in this one straightforward prayer.

The Choir  sang 'O Lord my God' by Samuel Sebastian Wesley as the Anthem.

At coffee after the service there was lots of talk about the Fete yesterday! Having woken to a downpour,  by midday the rain had stopped and the afternoon was dry and cloudy with sunny periods, perfect Fete weather. We were happy to welcome a very good crowd to buy from the stalls, listen to the Chichester City Band, attend the Dog Show, and have a go at various side shows. The Mini Show had nearly 50 entries and very splendid vegetables and floral displays were on show in the Parish Rooms, while in the Church there was an exhibition of paintings by local artists. There was a beer tent, a barbque and the best ice cream in West Sussex on sale from Caroline's Dairy. An excellent time was had by all!!

Some of the Mini Show entries

   

The third Sunday of July, and after some most welcome rain, we met for worship at 10 am. Father Stephen returned to us refreshed from his holidays, and he preached a sermon on the theme of Hospitality, which had been the subject of our readings, the Old testament from Genesis and the story of the Angels visiting Abraham, and from the New Testament the story of Matha and Mary.

The Choir sang the Benedictus in the setting by CV stanford in B flat, and as the Anthem Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by J S Bach, ably conducted by James Roriston and accompanied as ever by Joanna Chivers.

The notices were all about the Fete which is on Saturday, we hope to welcome you all between 2 and 4 on the Vicarage Field!

This morning after a a week of lovely weather we woke up to most welcome rain! The 10 am service today was our family service, and we made the focus of our worship Sea Sunday. The hymns had a nautical theme, and the Sunday School accompanied by some Adults presented a meditation on the Sea, reading poems with different aspects of the Sea in our lives, finishing with a small group of singers performing Crossing the Bar. We were joined by Gavin Marshall, who is a serving Naval Officer, who read the Mariners Prayer , Gavin's family are long time Sidlesham parishioners.

Father Roger was the Celebrant for the Eucharist, and the choir sang  'A new commandment' by Peter Nardone as the anthem. The final hymn was 'Eternal Father Strong to Save' rounding off our Sea Sunday service.





There was coffee after the service and by the time we left, the rain had almost stopped.

The Fete is 3 weeks away!!! Dont forget to send in our entries for the mini show!!!!