10 September 2023
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Today we celebrated our Patronal Festival. We are spoiled for choice as there are lots of Festivals dedicated to St Mary our Lady, but in Sidlesham we have chosen the birth of St Mary for our celebration. This is officially on September 8th so we held our festival on the nearest Sunday, today the 10th.
We had a Eucharist at 10am, and were joined by Canon Deacon Rebecca Swire as our Preacher.
We sang lots of Hymns about Mary and the Ladies of the Choir sang Ave Maria in the setting by Gabriel Faure as the anthem.
Deacon Rebecca talked about the different views that are taken of Mary, from her great bravery to accept the role God gave her as a young woman, to bear the Son of God, through her limited appearances through out the Gospels as a quiet and obedient woman and her presence at the Crucifixion and at Pentecost. She was completely human and is venerated as a Saint.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the Ride and Stride, those who rode and walked and those who welcomed in the Church. The family Barbeque went well and we will hold another one!
Do come along on the 30th September to see our Harvest Thanksgiving decorations 6pm to enjoy the display, a glass of wine and some nibbles and some music. Or come to one of the Sunday Services, 10 am Eucharist of 3pm Choral Evensong with tea and cake afterwards!
Micah 5:1-4
A reading from the book of the prophet Micah.
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 fromt he letter of St 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 1:18-23
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ accroding 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.’
