25 September 2022
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
The Sunday School have been busy learning about harvest and had consumed what they had made (I hear that Fr Chris said he hadn't been eating chips). But here is a photo of them with potatoes and other fruits from the hedgerows.
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This week we also said goodbye to Michael Roope whos funeral on Friday morning was followed in the afternoon by a service of thanksgiving for his life. Here are some of the lovely flowers from that service which were still in the church on Sunday for every one to enjoy.
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord
in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah,
which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem,
and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard
that was in the palace of the king of Judah,
where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him.
Jeremiah said,
The word of the Lord came to me:
Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say,
‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth,
for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’
Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard,
in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me,
‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
for the right of possession and redemption is yours;
buy it for yourself.’
Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel,
and weighed out the money to him,
seventeen shekels of silver.
I signed the deed, sealed it,
got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.
Then I took the sealed deed of purchase,
containing the terms and conditions,
and the open copy;
12and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah,
in the presence of my cousin Hanamel,
in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase,
and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard.
In their presence I charged Baruch, saying,
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed,
and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time.
For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
1 Timothy 6:6-19
A reading from the first letter of Paul to Timothy.
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;
for we brought nothing into the world,
so that we can take nothing out of it;
but if we have food and clothing,
we will be content with these.
But those who want to be rich fall into temptation
and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pains.
But as for you, man of God, shun all this;
pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith;
take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called
and for which you made the good confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
In the presence of God, who gives life to all things,
and of Christ Jesus,
who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame
until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which he will bring about at the right time—
he who is the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings and Lord of lords.
It is he alone who has immortality
and dwells in unapproachable light,
whom no one has ever seen or can see;
to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich,
command them not to be haughty,
or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,
but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
They are to do good,
to be rich in good works,
generous, and ready to share,
thus storing up for themselves
the treasure of a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Luke 16:19-31
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Like.
Jesus told this parable,
to those among the Pharisees who loved money:
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen
and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who longed to satisfy his hunger
with what fell from the rich man’s table;
even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man died
and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried.
In Hades, where he was being tormented,
he looked up and saw Abraham far away
with Lazarus by his side.
He called out,
“Father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water
and cool my tongue;
for I am in agony in these flames.”
But Abraham said,
“Child, remember that during your lifetime
you received your good things,
and Lazarus in like manner evil things;
but now he is comforted here,
and you are in agony.
Besides all this,
between you and us a great chasm has been fixed,
so that those who might want to pass from here to you
cannot do so,
and no one can cross from there to us.”
The man who had been rich said,
“Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—
for I have five brothers—
that he may warn them,
so that they will not also come into this place of torment.”
Abraham replied,
“They have Moses and the prophets;
they should listen to them.”
He said,
“No, father Abraham;
but if someone goes to them from the dead,
they will repent.”
Abraham said to him,
“If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
18 September 2022
A bright sunny morning welcomed us today. The Platinum Jubilee bench for Queen Elizabeth had been moved closer to the door and was covered in floral tibutes. Fr Chris told us he had been to Sidlesham school and had discussed Queen Elizabeth and what it meant to die. Later the children had taken flowers and put them on the bench.
In church there is a memorial book for people to sign and next to it candles if you wish to light one. This will be closed tomorrow. There is a service for the Queen at 6pm this evening, the timing the same all over the country. Also we are looking for volunteers to help toll the bell between 10 and 11am tomorrow.
The Sunday School were busy as usual making picture with PVA glue, salt and watercolours.
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
A reading from the boook of the prophet Jeremiah.
The word of the Lord through the prophet:
My joy is gone, grief is upon me,
my heart is sick.
Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land:
‘Is the Lord not in Zion?
Is her King not in her?’
(‘Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
with their foreign idols?’)
‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
and we are not saved.’
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,
I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.
Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?
O that my head were a spring of water,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night
for the slain of my poor people!
King James Version for Matins
18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
1 Timothy 2:1-7 (not 10am)
A reading from the first letter of paul to Timothy.
My dearly beloved,
Urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone,
for kings and all who are in high positions,
so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and dignity.
This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,
who desires everyone to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
who gave himself a ransom for all —
this was attested at the right time.
For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle
(I am telling the truth, I am not lying),
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Luke 16:1-13
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus said to the disciples,
‘There was a rich man who had a manager,
and charges were brought to him
that this man was squandering his property.
So he summoned him and said to him,
“What is this that I hear about you?
Give me an account of your management,
because you cannot be my manager any longer.”
Then the manager said to himself,
“What will I do,
now that my master is taking the position away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig,
and I am ashamed to beg.
I have decided what to do so that,
when I am dismissed as manager,
people may welcome me into their homes.”
So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one,
he asked the first,
“How much do you owe my master?”
He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.”
He said to him,
“Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.”
Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?”
He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.”
He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.”
And his master commended the dishonest manager
because he had acted shrewdly;
for the children of this age are more shrewd
in dealing with their own generation
than are the children of light.
And I tell you,
make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth
so that when it is gone,
they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
‘Whoever is faithful in a very little
is faithful also in much;
and whoever is dishonest in a very little
is dishonest also in much.
If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth,
who will entrust to you the true riches?
And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is your own?
No slave can serve two masters;
for a slave will either hate the one and love the other,
or be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth.’
King James Version for Matins
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
11 September 2022
The following Services will be held at St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham;
On Thursday the 15th of September at 11:00am there will be a Requiem for Queen Elizabeth.
On Sunday the 18th of September at 6:00pm there will be a sung Memorial and Thanksgiving service for the life of Queen Elizabeth. All are welcome.
The Church is open every day from 9:30am to 5pm.
A Book of Condolences is available in the church for anyone who would like to sign and also an opportunity to light a candle for the Queen. The churchyard Jubilee bench has been moved temporarily to a position just outside the north door of the church. Those who wish to do so may leave floral tributes to the Queen on the bench
Eternal rest grant unto her Oh Lord
And let light perpetual shine upon her
And may she rest in peace.
In Sure and certain hope of the Resurrection
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem:
A hot wind comes from me
out of the bare heights in the desert towards my poor people,
not to winnow or cleanse—
a wind too strong for that.
Now it is I who speak in judgement against them.
For my people are foolish, they do not know me;
they are stupid children, they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good.’
I looked on the earth,
and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked on the mountains,
and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
I looked, and lo,
there was no one at all,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
I looked, and lo,
the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord,
before his fierce anger.
For thus says the Lord:
The whole land shall be a desolation;
yet I will not make a full end.
Because of this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above grow black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
A reading from the first letter of Paul to Timothy.
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord,
who has strengthened me,
because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,
even though I was formerly a blasphemer,
a persecutor, and a man of violence.
But I received mercy
because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me
with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—
of whom I am the foremost.
But for that very reason I received mercy,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience,
making me an example
to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honour and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Luke 15:1-10
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus.
And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
So he told them this parable:
‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness
and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
When he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
And when he comes home,
he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them,
“Rejoice with me,
for I have found my sheep that was lost.”
Just so, I tell you,
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
‘Or what woman having ten silver coins,
if she loses one of them,
does not light a lamp, sweep the house,
and search carefully until she finds it?
When she has found it,
she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying,
“Rejoice with me,
for I have found the coin that I had lost.”
Just so, I tell you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.’
04 September 2022
It was a big day for us here at St Mary Our Lady as we had our first service with Father Chris our new vicar! We were delighted to be joined by the Archdeacon, Father Luke, Father John and our Rural Dean Martha to welcome him to Sidlesham. It was also our Patronal Festival so St Mary was very central to our prayers and worship. Father Luke preached, reflecting on the nature of a parish. The word comes from the greek meaning a colony of outsiders, and so we are that people of God a colony in the secular world, who strive to bring forth the Glory of God in our commuity and gather in the people. We look forward to the leadership of Father Chris in this mission.
The Choir are back and the Ladies sang the Ave Maria by Faure between the readings, and the whole choir sang the Ave Verum by Mozart during communion. Joanna treated us to the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J.S.Bach BWV 565 at the end of the service.
We had a lovely chat and shared some drinks and nibbles with those who had come from St Richards, Father Chris's previous church, in the parish rooms after the service.
A reading from the book of the prophet Micah.
The Lord says to his people:
Now you are walled around with a wall;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel
upon the cheek.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure,
for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
Romans 8:28-30
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
We know that all things work together for good
for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
in order that he might be the firstborn
within a large family.
And those whom he predestined he also called;
and those whom he called he also justified;
and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Matthew 1:18-25
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man
and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace,
planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
‘Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.’
All this took place
to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’
When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him;
he took her as his wife,
but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;
and he named him Jesus.
aOr birth
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