This Sunday our service was Sung Mattins. The Autumn is upon us now and the walk to church was through a damp churchyard with many trees already bare of their leaves. We were without Joanna today, so the piano was played by Beryl Rodd, and the choir sat by the piano for the service. Many thanks to Beryl for standing in. The New Testament lesson was the parable of the Talents, which Father Stephen explored further in his sermon, the talent, or valuable thing, we have been given in the scriptures and the Good News of the Gospel, and evangelism is the way to use and increase our talents and our community of Christians. we prayed particularly for the Syrian Orthodox church in these times of trouble.

If you would like to join us to make an Advent ring/wreath on the afternoon of Sunday 30th November and enjoy tea with us, please sign up at the back of the church so we can plan materials and food!!





The Christmas Fair will be on the 6th December in the Church Hall.

This Sunday our service took place later than usual, starting at 10:45, in order to incorporate the 2 minutes silence at 11:00 am the national Act of Remembrance. During the service the choir sang 'My soul, there is a country' Words by Henry Vaughn (1622-1695) setting by C Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918) at the end of the service the congregation processed to the war Memorial where wreaths of poppies were laid from Village and National organisations. In this centenary year of the First World War, our annual Act of Remembrance was particularly poinient

The first weekend of November brings us to All Saints day and All Souls Day, respectively the first and second of the month. We held our All Souls day Commemorative Requiem for the souls of the departed on the eve of All Souls, on Saturday night. In this service the names of the Departed repose on the altar while the service itself uses the music of Faure liturgically for the Eucharist. The Choir were joined by a number of  additional voices, friends and neighbours who swelled the ranks of the singers. Once again were delighted to have Peter Webster as our Baritone Soloist, and Joanna Chivers Gibb at the organ.
This is a service where we can think about the happy times spent with loved ones who have gone before us to a better place, and think with joy of our future reuniting with them. It is a moving service made wonderful by Faure's music.

On Sunday morning, we celebrated All Saints during our family service, as the Sunday school has been on half term, Mrs Field gave us a short talk on the work of the Sunday school explaining how the themes such as the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes are approached for a group of children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old! The congregation were very impressed by the work involved from the 6 Adults who run the Sunday School. We sang some traditional All Saints Hymns and the Choir sang 'Give me the Wings of Faith' set by Bullock as the Anthem.

There was coffee after the service.

Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, so our service will start at 10:45 and include the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial.

Calenders which have been pre-ordered, and Christmas cards will be for sale after the service on the 16th of November.

If you would like to join us for the Advent Sunday afternoon making of Advent wreaths/rings, in the Church Hall, please sign up on the list at the back of the Church. We would like numbers to be able to order materials and prepare Tea!!

Our Flowers reflect the colour of All Souls

This afternoon we had a wonderful concert of piano music by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Schumann played by our very good friend Tom Cooper Price. Starting at 3:00 pm an audience of over 50 people were delighted by both Tom's wonderful playing and also by his informative and thought provoking introductions and explanation of the works he had chosen.

Following this feast of music we were able to take part in a feast for the inner person with a traditional Sidlesham Tea, which was well up to the standard we have come to expect!!

Our heartfelt thanks to Tom who gives so generously of his talent to support our efforts for the New Annexe, and also to the bakers, and sandwich makers and servers of the excellent tea.

A retiring collection was taken up for the New Annexe, we await a total from the treasurer.

The last Sunday in October, and the last of Trinity, as we approach the season of All Saints, Remembrance and the pre-Advent services. Our 10'0 clock Eucharist was celebrated by Father Stephen. The gospel, from St Matthew, recounted the questioning of Jesus by the Pharisees in the Synagogue. father Stephen pointed out that as a practicing Jew, Jesus knew the Law by heart, and that for many people learning the collects, the catechism and other prayers provides a wonderful resource and comfort in times of need. He recounted the collect for the 19th Sunday after Trinity as one he had among his favourites
'Oh God for as much as without Thee we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen' good for many occasions, not just the 19th Sunday after Trinity!!

The Sunday School's Harvest display

 

After all the excitement of last weekend, a quieter week, but the celebration of St Wilfred, who famously converted the South Saxons.

At the 10;00 o'clock Eucharist Father Stephen told us in his sermon some of the history of St Wilfred. He was a great missionary, travelling far and wide in the AD 600's bringing Christianity to many parts of England and to what is now Germany and Holland. He was a man of great energy, supporting the Roman style of Christianity over the Celtic form, and holding Bishoprics in several places. He returned to Roman on several occasions and it was on his return from one of these visits that he was shipwrecked at Selsey. It is said that he taught the starving Saxon inhabitants to fish thus ending the famine that was besetting them. He founded a Cathedral at Selsey, and the See remained there until the Norman Conquest. Although he was obviously a very strong and determined man who may have upset many people he did sincerely follow Our Lord's instruction to go out and tell the Good News. He is, with St Richard co-patron of the Diocese.
The Choir sang the 'The Alleluias of St James' as the Anthem. There was coffee after the service.

Autumn is with us

Don't forget the Concert and Tea on Sunday 26th of October at 3:00pm Tom Cooper Price will play for us.

On Saturday November 1st at 6;00pm there will be a Service for All Souls Day. This will be a Eucharist with the Faure Requiem as the setting. If you would like to include the names of departed loved ones in the remembrance, please add their names to the list at the back of church. The list of names will be placed on the alter during the service.

This has been a very busy weekend for us at St Marys, with services in the Cathedral, and celebrations at St Marys.

Saturday morning the Choir of St Mary our Lady were invited to sing at a service of Holy Communion being held in Chichester Cathedral by the Prayer Book Society. The Celebrant and Preacher was Bishop Martin. Our Choir sang the setting for Holy Communion By Harold Darke in the key of F. The anthem was 'Ave Verum Corpus' in the setting by W.A. Mozart. Joanna Chivers Gibb our Director of Music played the organ for the service. The Choit had practised long and hard for their debut appearance in the Cathederal, and acquitted themselves very well. A number of the congregation joined us for the service. Mrs Chivers -Gibb was very pleased with the service, and has received some very positive feedback from those who took part WELL DONE ALL!!!

the choir looking rather nervous before the service

Lining up to process into the Choir stalls

The Choir

Saturday evening was the Harvest Supper, a magnificent meal of cold cuts, salads, apple pie and cheese and biscuits, followed by coffee was consumed in the church hall. The entertainment which followed was absolutely excellent with readings, songs and a 'Puppet Show' and a final comedy song and routine that was brilliantly executed and had the audience in fits of laughter. Once again to the catering team and the performing team a big THANK YOU from every one who attended.











Sunday morning, in our family service we celebrated harvest. We sang some traditional harvest hymns, the story of how Harvest Festival grew out of the old Lammas festival, the Church was beautifully decorated, and the choir sang 'Look at the World' by John Rutter. It was a beautiful autumn day and the decorated church looked magnificent. It was a truly joyful celebration.










In the evening at 6:00pm we had a second harvest service in combination with the children of Sidlesham County Primary School and their families. This service included the Choir singing Psalm 65, and the School Choir sang a special song for Harvest. Prayers were said by children from the school and it was a lovely family atmosphere.







After such a busy weekend just two reminders, If you ordered a calender for 2015 they are now available to collect after the 10 o'clock service. Tom Copper Price will be with us on Sunday 26th October for a piano recital followed by Tea, all welcome!