Revd Roger Pullen took our Holy Communion service today at St Leodegar’s. The sermon explored the limits of forgiveness, where the apostle Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him – Peter suggests forgiving someone “seven times,” which seemed very generous at the time, however Jesus replies “seventy times seven” (or seventy-seven times), meaning forgiveness should have no fixed limit.
Today’ service was also advertised as ‘Primary School Bangers’ whereby Naomi asked us for our favourite childhood hymns, which she played and we sung along to! We had some wonderful choices including my (Barry) favourite ‘When A Knight Won his spurs’.
Today we had 16 people attend our service.
St Stephen's Church
Today’s service was a “banger” indeed! It was great to have Revd Stephen Everard and his wife Jane back with us. He also looked at forgiveness. In the Genesis reading Joseph was very forgiving towards his brothers, for a debt that they could never pay. The first servant in the Matthew reading was also forgiven a debt he couldn’t pay, but then didn’t offer the same grace and mercy to others. Jesus paid our debt – that we could never pay, and we are expected to also offer the same grace to those who have hurt us or done us wrong. We are reminded of this every time we say the Lord’s prayer.
Primary School Bangers
We sang 6 hymns that were nominated by people in the congregation. They told us why they picked each song, which was really nice. It lead to a lot of discussion after the service about how these songs had meaning in many of our lives! Naomi was really great with the accompaniment on the keyboard
We had loads of fun today supporting the Ride and Stride! We had a good number of people doing a static ride in St Stephen’s Room, with other supporting – and a lot of banter! We had families out on their bikes, visiting churches. We had visitors to St Stephen’s Church – a nice opportunity to meet others. You can still support us! Donate securely online by clicking the button below.
It was lovely to have Revd David Nason with us. He talked about the message in today’s reading in Romans “Love is the fulfilment of the law”. Romans, written by Paul, is a handbook of the Christian way of living. Christians are to live and spread the Gospel in the Power of Love and not the love of power.
Sunday School
The Sunday School continued looking at Creation, looking at animals today. They answered some questions about animals in their lives and created animals through drawings, cutting out, colouring, etc.
They also looked the difficulties a village in Africa has with elephants and the ingenious solution of creating a bee fence! They created a model bee fence.
Emmanuel International UK (one of the missions that our benefice supports) is installing a bee fence in the village of Mafuluto. You can read more about this in the Bushnet.
St Leodegar's Church
It was a lovely service taken by Revd Graham Steele with well known hymns on the screen.
What a wonderful and exciting day we had at church on Sunday!
The first reading was dramatized for 3 voices: God, Moses and Narrator.
Moses stepped aside to see the burning bush, then listened to God. God asked “What is in your hand?” and gave Moses a sign to trust in God. Then Moses obeyed.
Revd Anne used “show and tell” to share about the importance of the different elements of a service, and about how God has spoken to her in her life.
Remember these words: “God speaks and I…” You fill in the verb. How do you respond when God speaks to you? What do you have in your hand that God is asking you to use?
Clare did the intercessions, using visual aids to demonstrate the points she was praying about.
It was Revd Anne’s last official duty with our benefice. She has made a great impact on us and we thanked her for all she has done for us!
The Community Rangers from the RSPB Pagham Harbour Reserve’s display table was very interesting and well attended!
A number of us stayed for the bring your own picnic. Though the weather was much better then predicted, we ended up spending a lovely sociable time around the table in St Stephen’s Room instead of outside. We shared the lovely cake that the children had decorated with their names as a thank you to Revd Anne.
Lovely service led by Revd Wyn, with wonderful hymns chosen and played by Naomi.
St Stephen's Church
Today we welcomed Sue Fallon, General Manager of Emmanuel International UK. Our benefice supports EIUK. Sue visited EI Uganda in June and spoke about the work that is being done there. Clare beautifully led the service, introducing the hymns by sharing a bit of their background, which made it very piognant.
Summer Sundays
The Summer Sundays series concluded today. They looked at eagles in the Bible. Did you know that an eagle has a wingspan of 6ft?! There is a brass eagle in the church, thankfully not life-size.
Karsiyaka is a small village in Northan Cyprus, a place I visit every year to see my brother. It has become very popular due to turtles nesting along the beach. This year there were 32 nests found. I was asked if I would like one of the nests named after Café Connect. The eggs hatched on the 22nd July, the following evening the baby turtles were released about 8.30pm and placed on the beach to make their way to the sea.
It was lovely to have Revd Nigel Mason and his wife Cathy back eith us again.
Jesus, with his disciples, has withdrawn to an area outside Northern Israel. They are close to Tyre and Sidon.
A Canaanite woman calls out to Jesus for help. With an absence of response from Jesus, the disciples suggest he sends her away. The significance this non-Israeli woman gives to Jesus is amazing. She calls him ‘Lord’, ‘Son of David’, asks for his mercy and she kneels before Him, explaining her daughter’s suffering from demon possession. Her persistence in perusing Jesus reveals a conviction that the answers to such a need lie with Him.
First Jesus tells her that he was only sent , “for the lost sheep of Israel”. She continues, “Lord, help me”.
What might be considered a harsh reply , “it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”, comes from within the context that all non- Israelis were loosely referred to as ‘dogs’ – ie other than them. She agrees but reminds Jesus that even the dogs can eat the crumbs which fall from ‘their master’s table’ .
It was suggested here that there may have been some humour in this communication but in any case Jesus’ attitude would have been compassionate. There is also a possible link here to the feeding of the five thousand, with 12 baskets of leftovers and Jesus’ saying of himself, “I am the bread of life”.
Ultimately this woman is commended for her ‘great faith’ and her daughter is restored to her. Sadly, many of Jesus’ own people, in contrast, had failed to recognise Him.
Summer Sundays
St Leodegar's Church
We had a lovely Morning Praise with Revd Wyn Jones and he gave a brilliant sermon, a truly wonderful service.
Revd Roger Pullen led a lovely Holy Communion service this morning. We had a congregation of 18 plus 1 child. A truly wonderful service.
St Stephen's Church
It was great to have Revd Roger Pullen with us again today. He talked about the meaning of the miracle of Jesus walking on the water, today’s Gospel reading. For the disciples this was a reminder that Jesus is the True God and that they are not forsaken. For a church in interregnum, this is also a reminder that God is in control and we are not forsaken.
Summer Sundays
The children looked at hens today. They had a creative activity to demonstrate who the chicks run to be under the mother’s wing when danger looms (“as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” in Matthew and Luke). They also looked at the cockerel in the Bible.
