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28 August 2022
Another beautiful Sunday as we reach the end of August. This is our last Sunday in interregnum, as Father Chris will be officially our priest from the 1st of September. The 8 am service was taken by Fr John and the 10 am Parish Eucharist by Fr Roger. We were able to give them a thank you card each and a gift from the congregation which will contribute to their next holiday or other project! We are most grateful to them both for all their work to help us keep going since the departure of Fr Stephen. We hope to seem them both again in the future as our guests at events at St Marys, or any time in our services!

We had a selection of lovely hymns, and next week the choir will be back so we will return to an anthem during communion.

There was coffee after the service.
Next week we will have Father Chris with us and at the 10 am service our Family Service, Archdeacon Luke will preach. There will be light refreshments after this service. 


















Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.

Let mutual love continue. 

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, 
for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 

Remember those who are in prison, 
as though you were in prison with them; 
those who are being tortured, 
as though you yourselves were being tortured.

Let marriage be held in honour by all, 
and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; 
for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 

Keep your lives free from the love of money, 
and be content with what you have; 
for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ 

So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’

Remember your leaders, 
those who spoke the word of God to you; 
consider the outcome of their way of life, 
and imitate their faith. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

Through him, then, 
let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, 
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 

Do not neglect to do good 
and to share what you have, 
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.


Luke 14:1, 7-14

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

On one occasion 
when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees 
to eat a meal on the sabbath, 
they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, 
he told them a parable. 

‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, 
do not sit down at the place of honour, 
in case someone more distinguished than you 
has been invited by your host; 

and the host who invited both of you 
may come and say to you, 
“Give this person your place”, 
and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 

But when you are invited, 
go and sit down at the lowest place, 
so that when your host comes, 
he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; 
then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 

For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, 
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’

He said also to the one who had invited him, 
‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, 
do not invite your friends or your brothers 
or your relatives or rich neighbours, 
in case they may invite you in return, 
and you would be repaid. 

But when you give a banquet, 
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 

And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you,
for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
21 August 2022

This morning our 10 am service was Mattins as we have reached the 3rd Sunday in August. Unfortunately we were without a Priest for this service, but we went ahead with the worship, with hymns and prayers, but no sermon. Happily we were lead by Janet our Churchwarden and with Joanna intoning the versicles and collects. The hymns were well known and we enjoyed singing them and the Canticles were to familiar chants as we were without a formal choir.
We had coffee after the service.

Next week Father Roger will be with us at 10 am, and the following week, the 4th of September will be our first service with Father Chris, who will be starting with both a Family Service and our Patronal Festival! We welcome everyone to come to this celebration of the arrival of Father Chris and to mark the 822 years of St Mary our Lady in Sidlesham by dedicating this day to St Mary.




8am Holy Communion

Hebrews 12:18-29

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.

You have not come to something that can be touched, 
a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, 

and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, 
and a voice whose words made the hearers beg 
that not another word be spoken to them. 

(For they could not endure the order that was given, 
‘If even an animal touches the mountain, 
it shall be stoned to death.’ 

Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 
‘I tremble with fear.’) 

But you have come to Mount Zion 
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, 
and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 

and to the assemblyg of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, 
and to God the judge of all, 
and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, 
and to the sprinkled blood 
that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; 
for if they did not escape 
when they refused the one who warned them on earth, 
how much less will we escape 
if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 

At that time his voice shook the earth; 
but now he has promised, 
‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ 

This phrase ‘Yet once more’ 
indicates the removal of what is shaken—
that is, created things—
so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, 
let us give thanks, 
by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 

for indeed our God is a consuming fire.


13:10-17

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 

And just then there appeared 
a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. 
She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, 
‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ 

When he laid his hands on her, 
immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 

But the leader of the synagogue, 
indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, 
kept saying to the crowd, 
‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; 
come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ 

But the Lord answered him and said, 
‘You hypocrites! 
Does not each of you on the sabbath 
untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, 
and lead it away to give it water? 

And ought not this woman, 
a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, 
be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ 

When he said this, 
all his opponents were put to shame; 
and the entire crowd 
was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.


10am Matins

Jonah Chapter 2

1Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

3For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

4Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

10And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.


Revelation Chapter 1

1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
14 August 2022
Another very hot day but nice and cool inside the Church. Father Roger was the celebrant for our Parish Eucharist at 10 am and we sang some well known hymns, no formal choir, but plenty of the choir in the congregation so we made a good job of them!



 







Hebrews 11:29-12:2

 A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea 
as if it were dry land, 
but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 

By faith the walls of Jericho fell 
after they had been encircled for seven days. 

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish 
with those who were disobedient,
because she had received the spies in peace.

And what more should I say? 
For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, 
of David and Samuel and the prophets— 

who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, 
obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 

quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, 
won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 

Women received their dead by resurrection. 
Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, 
in order to obtain a better resurrection. 

Others suffered mocking and flogging, 
and even chains and imprisonment. 

They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, 
they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, 
destitute, persecuted, tormented— 

of whom the world was not worthy. 
They wandered in deserts and mountains, 
and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, 
did not receive what was promised, 

since God had provided something better 
so that they would not, without us, 
be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 

looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 
disregarding its shame, 
and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.


Luke 12:49-56

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Jesus said to his disciples:

 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, 
and how I wish it were already kindled! 

I have a baptism with which to be baptized, 
and what stress I am under until it is completed! 

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? 
No, I tell you, but rather division! 

From now on, five in one household will be divided, 
three against two and two against three; 

they will be divided:
father against son and son against father,
mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

 He also said to the crowds, 
‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 
“It is going to rain”; 
and so it happens. 

And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 
“There will be scorching heat”; 
and it happens. 

You hypocrites! 
You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, 
but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
07 August 2022



The first Sunday in August, we are well into Trinity now! We had a Family Service this morning, taken by Father Roger. Although the summer holidays are underway there were still a number of families with us. The Choir are in recess during August, so we sang some familiar hymns and enjoyed a wonderful Eucharist on a beautiful summers day.

There was Coffee after the service and we were delighted to hear that the total made at the fete had grown again to over £7,000 a marvelous effort by everyone!!









 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16


A reading from the letter to the Hebrews. 

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 
the conviction of things not seen. 

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, 
so that what is seen 
was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed 
when he was called to set out for a place 
that he was to receive as an inheritance; 
and he set out, 
not knowing where he was going. 

By faith he stayed for a time 
in the land he had been promised, 
as in a foreign land, living in tents, 
as did Isaac and Jacob, 
who were heirs with him of the same promise. 

For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, 
whose architect and builder is God. 

By faith he received power of procreation, 
even though he was too old—
and Sarah herself was barren—
because he considered him faithful who had promised. 

Therefore from one person, 
and this one as good as dead, 
descendants were born, 
‘as many as the stars of heaven 
and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.’

All of these died in faith 
without having received the promises, 
but from a distance they saw and greeted them. 
They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 

for people who speak in this way 
make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 

If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, 
they would have had opportunity to return. 

But as it is, they desire a better country, 
that is, a heavenly one. 
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; 
indeed, he has prepared a city for them.


Luke 12:32-40

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, 
for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Sell your possessions, and give alms.
Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, 
an unfailing treasure in heaven, 
where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 

be like those who are waiting for their master 
to return from the wedding banquet, 
so that they may open the door for him 
as soon as he comes and knocks. 

Blessed are those slaves 
whom the master finds alert when he comes; 
truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt 
and have them sit down to eat, 
and he will come and serve them. 

If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, 
and finds them so, 
blessed are those slaves.

‘But know this: 
if the owner of the house 
had known at what hour the thief was coming, 
he would not have let his house be broken into. 

You also must be ready, 
for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Service Times

First Sunday in the Month:
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Service

Second Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Sung Matins

Fourth Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Variations can be found in the Parish Magazine or the Calendar at the bottom of this page.

Useful links


Here are some links to resources you may find helpful:


  1. St Mary's Facebook page
  2. Chichester Cathedral will be live streaming services. For the Eucharist and order of service Click here before 10:00am Sunday and follow the instructions.
  3. The BBC Daily Service is available here.
  4. Prayer for today.
  5. The C of E youtube channel.
  6. Hearing You is a new phone help line launched by the Diocese of Chichester in partnership with Together in Sussex in response to the impact that Covid 19 has had on Just about the whole community. It aims to provide pastoral support and a listening ear to the recently bereaved and people directly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
  7. COVID-19 advice from the Diocese of Chichester here.

Please note that St Mary's are not responsible for the contents of external links

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