The weather could hardly be more different from last week. Wind, rain, and much cooler this Sunday. Happily the day before, the Fete had been dry and sunny, although also windy. The Fete was a great success and raised over £1000 more than last year. A great thank you to every one who took part and especially Janet, Chris, and Bryan who were the committee!

Our 10 am service was a Eucharist, celebrated by Father Stephen. The Gospel told the story of the feeding of the five thousand, St John's version. In his Sermon Father Stephen told us that the presence of this story in all 4 Gospels and the small details they contain re-enforce each other in their veracity.

The Choir sang the setting of the Sanctus, Benedictus and the Agnus Dei written by Harold Darke in F major. The Anthem was 'The Lord Bless you and Keep you' by John Rutter, and Joanna played the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D as the music after the service. We then moved to the New Rooms to see a slide show of Fete photographes taken by Gill Mason, both this year and over the years since the 1980's, as we drank our coffee.

During August the Choir are on a well deserved Holiday, and this year Joanna will also have a break as our friend James Roriston will play for some services.

We came together for our 10:00 am Eucharist service on another hot and sunny morning. Both the north and south doors were left  open to allow a cooling breeze through the church! The readings this morning from St Paul and St Mark's Gospel, told of the pressure Jesus was under once news of his miracles and teachings spread. He could not get away from crowds of people bringing the sick for healing and to hear his message.He felt this pressure in a very human way, the gospel writer emphasising that he was truly fully human. St Paul reflected on the need to share, resources and spirituality to cope with life, through the grace of Our Lord.

The choir sang  Brother James Air a setting of the 23rd psalm as the anthem. There was tea and coffee after the service

Less than a week to the Fete!!

All hands on deck in the Vicarage Field for putting up tents etc on Friday, Cakes and biscuits gratefully received for the tea tent, return your raffle tickets, and see you all at 2pm on Saturday for the best afternoon's entertainment in West Sussex!!

Another glorious summer's morning for our service today. We had Mattins as it is the third Sunday in July. Father Stephen took the service and the readings were from Amos and St Mark's Gospel. The latter telling the story of St John the Baptist and his death at the request of Salome. It was this well known story that Father Stephen talked about in his sermon. John was superseded by Jesus, and his disciples joined those following Jesus. John had been outspoken in his criticism of Herod, because he married his sister in law, and lived a dissolute life. It was his stepdaughter, Salome , who asked for John's head, and conveniently ended the stream of criticism. John shows us an example of one who spoke the truth and followed the way to God.
The choir sang the Benedictus in C major by C V Stanford and also as the Anthem Jesu joy of man's desiring by JS Bach.

We continue to prepare for the fete, and all contributions ahead of time can be left with Janet Harland at Russetts. Books, bottles, toys, clothing in good condition, jam jars, both filled and empty! all gratefully received

A photo of our newly restored gates, which were put back in place this week

This morning we celebrated our 10 am Eucharist  with Father Stephen as the celebrant. The continued warm weather meant that even with all the doors open the usually cool church was quite warm! The service included the anthem Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck, sung by the choir. The Sunday School joined us for the distribution of Communion, and there was coffee after the service.

We are now with in sight of the Fete, please if you have raffle tickets, return sold stubs and money to the Church Wardens. All is now a hive of activity preparing for Saturday the 28th on the Vicarage field! All offers of help in preparing, and dismantling the fete gratefully received

Don't forget your entry for the Mini Show, classes in the Parish Magazine, the Show will be in the Church this year, so even if you don't enter yourself come and see the efforts of others in the Church!

Next week our Sunday 10 am service will be Mattins.

The first Sunday of the month is our Family Service, so we decided to celebrate Sea Sunday this week instead of next week. Father Stephen is back with us, and he introduced the presentation by the Sunday School, telling the story of Jesus calming the waters on the Sea of Gallille. We also inducted a new junior chorister, Tilly, and as is our tradition she was 'sung in' by the other choristers, and some adults with Lead me Lord.

The choir sang 'Never Weatherbeated Sail' as the anthem, and the final hymn was 'Eternal Father Strong to Save' continuing our Sea Sunday theme.

There was coffee after the service, this week the soft toy tombolla is appealing for those unwanted soft toys you have!

Father Roger was still int he driving seat today as we celebrated the birth of St John the Baptist.  Father Roger told us that until recently, his day was celebrated in the week, not on Sunday, but we now recognise the importance of John the Baptist. His birthday is also Midsummer day, one of the legal quarter days, the others being Michaelmas, Christmas and Lady Day.  Jesus' birth is celebrated because he grew up to be a special person, also so did John. Zachariah his father was a descendant of Aaron and so he was a born to be a priest. He worked int he temple.  He and his wife Elizabeth were elderly and childless.  Israel had been occupied for centuries, waiting for the Messiah.  They had not even had a good prophet for centuries. Zachariah was then allowed to burn incense in the temple, a once in a lifetime occurrence and whilst he was fulfilling this, Gabriel comes to him and tells him that he will have a son, a prophet who will precede the Messiah. He is struck dumb by the news.  When the pregnant Elizabeth meets the pregnant Mary, the unborn John greets the unborn Jesus. Prophets had called Jews to the right path, they had a sense of calling and duty, although this was not a job wanted or sort for.  Elijah had to appear again to herald the coming of the Messiah.  John spoke out against Herod and the excesses of him and his family and got beheaded for it. John, because of his heritage, could have had a comfortable life working in the temple, but instead he listened to God and lived in the desert, an uncomfortable and tough life.  But John was more than a prophet.  He brought baptism to the Jews, not a christian baptism, but he rallied people to behave themselves, repent before judgement and prepare for the new times coming.  John's baptism was a new thing for the Jews. In ritual bathing, you immersed yourself, but John immersed other people. Anything we do for God is not forced, it is our choice. God's spirit works in his church, but it not confined to Christian people, for anyone of any faith or no faith can try to take humanity forward in love.




The Sunday school have also been busy. Below is their work on Pentecost.



Today they were learning about the fishing boats being buffeted on the sea of Galilee and made their own boats which they sailed in a tank of water.