10 May 2026
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Job 28:1-11
A reading from the book of the prophet Job.
“Surely there is a mine for silver
and a place for gold to be refined.
Iron is taken out of the earth,
and copper is smelted from ore.
Miners put an end to darkness
and search out to the farthest bound
the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation;
they are forgotten by travelers;
they sway suspended, remote from people.
As for the earth, out of it comes bread,
but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
Its stones are the place of sapphires,
and its dust contains gold.
"That path no bird of prey knows,
and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.
The proud wild animals have not trodden it;
the lion has not passed over it.
“They put their hand to the flinty rock
and overturn mountains by the roots.
They cut out channels in the rocks,
and their eyes see every precious thing.
The sources of the rivers they probe;
hidden things they bring to light.
Philippians 4:4-7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:1-15
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesys Christ according to Matthew.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before others
in order to be seen by them,
for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms,
do not sound a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
so that they may be praised by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your alms may be done in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners,
so that they may be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But whenever you pray,
go into your room and shut the door
and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“When you are praying,
do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do,
for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them,
for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
but if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
09 May 2026
There was a joyful and historic evening at St Mary’s on 5 May 2026 as we gathered for the licensing and collation of Fr Chris as Vicar with the Rt Rev William Hazlewood Bishop of Chichester and the Archdeacon of Chichester.
Many people from across our community were there including children from Sidlesham Primary School. Some who read and helped during the service. The choir also sang beautifully and the flower team had done a fine job of dressing the church.
03 May 2026
Acts 7:55-60
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Standing before the high priest and the council,
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
But they covered their ears,
and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him,
and the witnesses laid their coats
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
When he had said this, he died.
1 Peter 2:2-10
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
Like newborn infants,
long for the pure, spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow into salvation—
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone,
though rejected by mortals
yet chosen and precious in God’s sight,
and like living stones
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,
to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
To you then who believe, he is precioous;
but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,” and
A stone that makes them stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the word,
as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God’s own people,
in order that you may proclaim
the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
John 14:1-14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself,
so that where I am, there you may be also.
And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him,
“Lord, we do not know where you are going.
How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you will know my Father also.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus said to him,
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip,
and you still do not know me?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own,
but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
but if you do not,
then believe because of the works themselves.
Very truly, I tell you,
the one who believes in me
will also do the works that I do and, in fact,
will do greater works than these,
because I am going to the Father.
I will do whatever you ask in my name,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If in my name you ask me for anything,
I will do it.
Fr Chris is to be licensed to the Parish as Vicar
on Tuesday 5 May, 7.30pm
This is a time of great joy for our parish as the Bishop of Chichester has reinstalled the living for the parish, which has been suspended for approximately 30 years.
The Service of Licensing and Collation will be conducted by The Right Reverend William Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes and Fr Tom Carpenter, Archdeacon of Chichester. We do hope you are able to join us for the service and refreshments afterwards in the Parish Rooms.
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