28 July 2024
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Don't forget that next Sunday, 4th August we shall be celebrating Evensong in church at 3.30pm. Come and join us for a prayerful, relaxing afternoon service followed of course by the traditional St Mary's tea and cake in the Parish Rooms.
Today we all felt slightly exhausted after the Fete! We had a Parish Eucharist at 10 am with Father Chris as the celebrant. The Choir sang the Ave Verum in the setting by Edward Elgar as the anthem. There was coffee afterwards, with a further opportunity to buy Sidlesham Souvenirs!
The Fete was a great success as you can see from the photos. This year we had, after the main part of the fete, live music from some local bands, followed by hot food and beer which continued into the evening. Beautiful Weather helped to create a wonderful day with something for everyone!
A reading from the second book of Samuel.
In the spring of the year,
the time when kings go out to battle,
David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him;
they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah.
But David remained at Jerusalem.
It happened, late one afternoon,
when David rose from his couch
and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house,
that he saw from the roof a woman bathing;
the woman was very beautiful.
David sent someone to inquire about the woman.
It was reported,
‘This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’
So David sent messengers to get her,
and she came to him, and he lay with her.
(Now she was purifying herself after her period.)
Then she returned to her house.
The woman conceived;
and she sent and told David, ‘I am pregnant.’
So David sent word to Joab,
‘Send me Uriah the Hittite.’
And Joab sent Uriah to David.
When Uriah came to him,
David asked how Joab and the people fared,
and how the war was going.
Then David said to Uriah,
‘Go down to your house, and wash your feet.’
Uriah went out of the king’s house,
and there followed him a present from the king.
But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s house
with all the servants of his lord,
and did not go down to his house.
When they told David,
‘Uriah did not go down to his house’,
David said to Uriah,
‘You have just come from a journey.
Why did you not go down to your house?’
Uriah said to David,
‘The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths;
and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field;
shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife?
As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.’
Then David said to Uriah,
‘Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.’
So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day.
On the next day,
David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk;
and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord,
but he did not go down to his house.
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab,
and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
In the letter he wrote,
‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting,
and then draw back from him,
so that he may be struck down and die.’
Ephesians 3:14-21
A reading from the scnd letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory,
he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being
with power through his Spirit,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,
as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints,
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us
is able to accomplish abundantly far more
than all we can ask or imagine,
to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus to all generations,
for ever and ever. Amen.
John 6:1-21
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee,
also called the Sea of Tiberias.
A large crowd kept following him,
because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.
Jesus went up the mountain
and sat down there with his disciples.
Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him,
Jesus said to Philip,
‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’
He said this to test him,
for he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread
for each of them to get a little.’
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,
said to Jesus,
‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.
But what are they among so many people?’
Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’
Now there was a great deal of grass in the place;
so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
Then Jesus took the loaves,
and when he had given thanks,
he distributed them to those who were seated;
so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
When they were satisfied, he told his disciples,
‘Gather up the fragments left over,
so that nothing may be lost.’
So they gathered them up,
and from the fragments of the five barley loaves,
left by those who had eaten,
they filled twelve baskets.
When the people saw the sign that he had done,
they began to say,
‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’
When Jesus realized that they were about to come
and take him by force to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came,
his disciples went down to the lake,
got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum.
It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat,
and they were terrified.
But he said to them,
‘It is I; do not be afraid.’
Then they wanted to take him into the boat,
and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.
21 July 2024
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
A reading from the second book of Samuel.
When David was settled in his house,
and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
the king said to the prophet Nathan,
‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar,
but the ark of God stays in a tent.’
Nathan said to the king,
‘Go, do all that you have in mind;
for the Lord is with you.’
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
Go and tell my servant David:
Thus says the Lord:
Are you the one to build me a house to live in?
I have not lived in a house
since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day,
but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.
Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel,
did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel,
whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying,
‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David:
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
I took you from the pasture,
from following the sheep
to be prince over my people Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went,
and have cut off all your enemies from before you;
and I will make for you a great name,
like the name of the great ones of the earth.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel
and will plant them,
so that they may live in their own place,
and be disturbed no more;
and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel;
and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover, the Lord declares to you, David,
that the Lord will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled
and you lie down with your ancestors,
I will raise up your offspring after you,
who shall come forth from your body,
and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
Ephesians 2:11-22
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,
called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—
a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—
remember that you were at that time without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus
you who once were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace;
in his flesh he has made both groups into one
and has broken down the dividing wall,
that is, the hostility between us.
He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances
that he might create in himself
one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,
and might reconcile both groups to God in one body
through the cross,
thus putting to death that hostility through it.
So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near;
for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are citizens with the saints
and also members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
In him the whole structure is joined together
and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
Mark 6:3034, 53-56
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
The apostles returned from their mission.
They gathered around Jesus,
and told him all that they had done and taught.
He said to them,
‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’
For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Now many saw them going and recognized them,
and they hurried there on foot from all the towns
and arrived ahead of them.
As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd;
and he had compassion for them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
When they had crossed over,
they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
When they got out of the boat,
people at once recognized him,
and rushed about that whole region
and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms,
they laid the sick in the market-places,
and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak;
and all who touched it were healed.
14 July 2024
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
A reading from the second book of Samuel.
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel,
thirty thousand.
David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah,
to bring up from there the ark of God,
which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.
They carried the ark of God on a new cart,
and brought it out of the house of Abinadab,
which was on the hill.
Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart
with the ark of God;
and Ahio went in front of the ark.
David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might,
with songs and lyres and harps
and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
So David went
and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom
to the city of David with rejoicing;
and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces,
he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
David danced before the Lord with all his might;
David was girded with a linen ephod.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting,
and with the sound of the trumpet.
As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David,
Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window,
and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord;
and she despised him in her heart.
They brought in the ark of the Lord,
and set it in its place,
inside the tent that David had pitched for it;
and David offered burnt-offerings
and offerings of well-being before the Lord.
When David had finished offering the burnt-offerings
and the offerings of well-being,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts,
and distributed food among all the people,
the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women,
to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
Then all the people went back to their homes.
Ephesians 1:3-14
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before him in love.
He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace
that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace
that he lavished on us.
With all wisdom and insight
he has made known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to gather up all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,
having been destined according to the purpose of him
who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,
so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ,
might live for the praise of his glory.
In him you also,
when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and had believed in him,
were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;
this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption
as God’s own people,
to the praise of his glory.
Mark 6:14-29
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
King Herod heard of the healings and other miracles,
for Jesus’ name had become known.
Some were saying,
‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead;
and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’
But others said,
‘It is Elijah.’ And others said,
‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’
But when Herod heard of it, he said,
‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John,
bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias,
his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her.
For John had been telling Herod,
‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’
And Herodias had a grudge against him,
and wanted to kill him.
But she could not,
for Herod feared John,
knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him.
When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;
and yet he liked to listen to him.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet
for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.
When his daughter Herodias came in and danced,
she pleased Herod and his guests;
and the king said to the girl,
‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’
And he solemnly swore to her,
‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you,
even half of my kingdom.’
She went out and said to her mother,
‘What should I ask for?’
She replied,
‘The head of John the Baptist.’
Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested,
‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’
The king was deeply grieved;
yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests,
he did not want to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.
He went and beheaded him in the prison,
brought his head on a platter,
and gave it to the girl.
Then the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
07 July 2024
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
A reading from the second book of Samuel.
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said,
‘Look, we are your bone and flesh.
For some time, while Saul was king over us,
it was you who led out Israel and brought it in.
The Lord said to you:
It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel,
you who shall be ruler over Israel.’
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron;
and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord,
and they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned for forty years.
At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months;
and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
David occupied the stronghold,
and named it the city of David.
David built the city all around from the Millo inward.
And David became greater and greater,
for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
I know a person in Christ
who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—
whether in the body or out of the body I do not know;
God knows.
And I know that such a person—
whether in the body or out of the body I do not know;
God knows—
was caught up into Paradise
and heard things that are not to be told,
that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
On behalf of such a one I will boast,
but on my own behalf I will not boast,
except of my weaknesses.
But if I wish to boast,
I will not be a fool,
for I will be speaking the truth.
But I refrain from it,
so that no one may think better of me
than what is seen in me or heard from me,
even considering the exceptional character of the revelations.
a thorn was given to me in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan to torment me,
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this,
that it would leave me,
but he said to me,
‘My grace is sufficient for you,
So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore I am content with weaknesses,
insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ;
for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Mark 6:1-13
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Jesus came to his home town, and his disciples followed him.
On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astounded.
They said, ‘Where did this man get all this?
What is this wisdom that has been given to him?
What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary
and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon,
and are not his sisters here with us?’
And they took offence at him.
Then Jesus said to them,
‘Prophets are not without honour,
except in their home town,
and among their own kin, and in their own house.’
And he could do no deed of power there,
except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching.
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two,
and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff;
no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;
but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
He said to them,
‘Wherever you enter a house,
stay there until you leave the place.
If any place will not welcome you
and they refuse to hear you, as you leave,
shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
They cast out many demons,
and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
St Mary our Lady
Church Farm Lane, Sidlesham, Chichester PO20 7RE
Presents
The Emsworth Meridian Choir
and Friends
Sunday 7th July 2024 3pm
For an afternoon of music and song followed by the traditional
St Mary's tea and cake.
Tickets £10 for the RNLI and a retiring collection in aid of St Mary our Lady
Please come and support this concert for the RNLI in its 200th year and also our church. Tickets are availale from Hilary Platts after 10am service and also on the door (but we would prefer to know in advance how many are coming for the refreshments).
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