.
06 October 2022

Return unused walking aids
at our Recycling Centres


People who have walking aids they no longer require can take them to County Council Recycling Centres from now until 23 October so they can be used to help others.

The initiative to promote the return and reuse of walking aids is being run by the County Council along with NHS England and partners.

Walking aids can be safely and quickly refurbished and repeatedly reused, reducing carbon emissions and waste and save the NHS money.

Equipment can be left with staff at the gate at any of the 11 Recycling Centres across West Sussex or deposited in the on-site dedicated bin until 23 October, which marks the end of Recycle Week. Any items unsuitable for reuse will be recycled.

The items will then be collected by our provider NRS, who will be able to clean and check them before reissuing them to those who might benefit so that they can maintain their independence. Any items which cannot be used again will be recycled, preventing them from going into landfill.

Reusing a refurbished walking aid, including parts replacement, results in 87% lower carbon emissions on average than providing a brand new walking aid. This includes a generous allowance for a return journey from collection to a refurbishment site.

Recycling Centres will be able to accept walking aids until the end of Recycle Week, which will now take place from 17-23 October. To return items at all other times, telephone NRS on 0345 1272931 or email enquiries@westsussex.nrs-uk.net

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email pressoffice@westsussex.gov.uk

02 October 2022
Despite dreadful cold rainy weather outside, the church was blooming inside. The flower arrangers had gone above and beyond, so much so that Fr Chris had to give a "thank you" at the start of the service.




Our Harvest Gifts


Fr Chris's talk was ably assisted by some of the children in the congregation.


Rearrange the letters and we have - 


But although the world produces twice as much food as the population of the world needs, many are going hungry. They



and there are

But we can help and


Because we all have a 


which also shows love.

And the adults were challenged to find another word from Harvest which joined together the gospel and Harvest?


No one knew Thrave and no one had heard of it! So we all learned a new word today.


Lamentations 1:1-6

A reading from the book of Lamentations.

How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!
How like a widow she has become,
she that was great among the nations!
She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal.


She weeps bitterly in the night,
with tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her,
they have become her enemies.


Judah has gone into exile with suffering and hard servitude;
she lives now among the nations, and finds no resting-place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.


The roads to Zion mourn,
for no one comes to the festivals;
all her gates are desolate, her priests groan;
her young girls grieve, and her lot is bitter.


Her foes have become the masters, her enemies prosper,
because the Lord has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions;
her children have gone away,
captives before the foe.


From daughter Zion has departed all her majesty.
Her princes have become like stags that find no pasture;
they fled without strength before the pursuer.


2 Timothy 1:1-14

A readiing from the second letter of Paul to Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 
for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God—
whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—
when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 

Recalling your tears, 
I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, 
a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice 
and now, I am sure, lives in you. 

For this reason I remind you to rekindle 
the gift of God that is within you 
through the laying on of my hands; 

for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, 
but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Do not be ashamed, then, 
of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, 
but join with me in suffering for the gospel,
relying on the power of God, 

who saved us and called us with a holy calling, 
not according to our works 
but according to his own purpose and grace. 
This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus 
before the ages began, 

but it has now been revealed 
through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, 
who abolished death 
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

For this gospel I was appointed a herald 
and an apostle and a teacher,

and for this reason I suffer as I do. 
But I am not ashamed, 
for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, 
and I am sure that he is able to guard 
until that day what I have entrusted to him.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching 
that you have heard from me, 
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, 
with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.


Luke 17:5-10

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

The apostles said to the Lord, 
‘Increase our faith!’ 

The Lord replied, 
‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, 
you could say to this mulberry tree, 
“Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, 
and it would obey you.

‘Who among you would say to your slave 
who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, 
“Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 

Would you not rather say to him, 
“Prepare supper for me, 
put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; 
later you may eat and drink”? 

Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 

So you also, 
when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 
“We are worthless slaves; 
we have done only what we ought to have done!” ’

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned a

 
25 September 2022
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.

.

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.















Micah 5:1-4

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

Service Times

First Sunday in the Month:
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Service

Second Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Sung Matins in the Church or Crafty Communion in Church Hall

Fourth Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist

Variations can be found in the Parish Magazine or the calendar »

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