WEEKLY NOTICES FOR SATURDAY 25 APRIL

Upcoming Services

See ‘Online Worship Resources’ below for the usual links to Sunday’s Bible readings.

The reader at tomorrow’s 9:30am service will be David Lawrence, and the intercessions will be led by Sue Albery.

Annual Meetings and Elections

At our Annual Vestry meeting last Sunday, Sarah Lavery was presented with a hamper in thankfulness for her six years of service as Churchwarden. Judie Thomson and Kate Burnett will now be our two churchwardens. Click here to see a summary of the elections for the PCC and Deanery Synod at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

If you would like to read the annual report and accounts, the summary version, the annual compilation reports from various church groups and activities and any of the other papers for the meeting you can find them on our website, here.

Worship with Music from Taizé

Come and relax at the next Candlelit Taizé service tomorrow evening at 6pm. Meditative chants, prayer and silence fostering a spirit of peace, reconciliation and faith. All are welcome – and perhaps invite a friend who would enjoy this service.

Reflections Next Sunday

Next Sunday’s theme for our monthly informal and quiet service of music, prayer and reflection for the first Sunday of the month is ‘Thankfulness’. These services run for between 40 and 45 minutes. All are welcome.

Steyning Bowl Awards 2026

We are delighted to share with you the news that Brian and Marion Sawyer received recognition in this year’s awards from Steyning Society. This year’s awards were focused on those who have made significant contributions to the musical life of the town and Brian and Marion received a Highly Commended Award for their many years of contribution to music at Steyning Parish Church.

Click here (and scroll down) to see the full list of recipients of this year’s Steyning Bowl awards on the Society’s blog.

Red Bucket Collection

Thank you to everyone who contributed so generously to our red-bucket collection, in church and following Roger Williamson’s talk at the Penfold Hall. Donations will support the Friends of the Holy Land and the current Christian Aid Middle East Humanitarian Appeal, and we will announce the total raised in next weekend’s notices.

Vicarage Drinks in May

You are cordially invited for drinks after church in the Vicarage garden after the Music Group Eucharist on Sunday, 17 May, where soft drinks, sparkling wine and nibbles will be served. On that Sunday there will be no refreshments in church.

For catering purposes, it will be helpful to know if you hope to attend. Please sign-up online here – and there will also be a sign-up sheet at the back of church.

Church Magazine for April and May 

The magazine for April can be read online here. Printed copies are available from the back of church. In due course you will find these at the usual distribution points: under the lychgate, from the lobby of the Penfold Hall and at the Post Office. The magazine for May will be available from next weekend.

Concerts in Church

• Next Saturday, 2 May: the church will be filled with over 2,000 candles for a return visit from a Lumos string trio, this time playing settings of songs by the band Coldplay. Two one‑hour sittings, beginning at 7pm and 9pm respectively. Tickets from £22 (including booking fee).
• Saturday 6 June (at 7:30pm): Chanctonbury Chorus under its talented new Musical Director, Liz Kirkland, presents ‘Together We Sing!’ The concert features music by Oscar winner, Rachel Portman, Anton Bruckner, Morten Lauridsen, Gabriel Fauré, Randall Thompson and more. Tickets are £15 and are now available from Canon Nigel after most Sunday sung services. Click here to see more details of the concert.
• Saturday, 4 July: Jazz Vespers by Riverboat Shuffle in aid of Family Support Work
• Saturday, 11 July (at 4: 30pm): a return visit from the Kaleidoscope Singers under the direction of Zoe Peate.

We are also planning to hold another series of lunchtime concerts on Tuesdays in the early summer, starting in the middle of June.

Steyning Festival 2026

The Steyning Festival takes place over the spring half-term holiday, from 22 to 31 May. This year’s Festival will conclude with an ecumenical service in the Marquee (at 10:30am on Trinity Sunday, 31 May) to be led by our Music Group, so we will not be holding the usual 9:30am service in church that morning.

Many of the festival events this year will be taking place in church and we are looking for volunteers to help oversee each event, including locking up the church at the end. If you are able to help or interested in finding out more, please speak to Christine Aubrey, or email her to express your interest.

The above role is in addition to that of stewards which will be coordinated separately. (For information about stewarding and volunteering at the Festival generally, please click here.)

Click here to be taken the 2026 Festival programme page.

Children’s Church

Meetings of Children’s Church continue on first and fourth Sundays. Children should join the congregation at the beginning of the service at 9:30am, then head over to the Penfold Hall for crafts, games, stories and worship before coming back into church for the final part of the Eucharist.

Little Stars!

Meetings continue in the Penfold Hall over the usual two sessions each week:

• Monday afternoons from 1pm to 2:45pm
• Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30am.

There is no need to apply or book. Just turn up at the Penfold Hall with your children. Any enquiries can be directed to Gary on 07396 963996 or at families@steyningparishchurch.org.

Good Grief Café

The sessions take place every second Friday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm in the Penfold Hall, with the next session scheduled for Friday, 8 May. Those who have experienced any sort of loss are welcome to join us for tea or coffee, biscuits and a listening ear. Come to talk and share, or just listen. For more information, please ring 01903 813276 or, if you prefer, you can email care@steyningparishchurch.org

Wednesday Coffee

Join us at the Penfold Hall on any Wednesday morning between 10am and 11:30am for real coffee or tea, conversation and big smiles. If you are willing to help, please speak to a member of the team.

Midweek Eucharist

All are welcome to our peaceful midweek service which takes place in the chancel of St Andrew’s & St Cuthman’s at 11:30am every Wednesday. The next midweek service with prayers for healing will take place on the final Wednesday of next month, 27 May

Board Games Fun

There are now two board games Café events each month at the Penfold Hall. The afternoon session takes place every second Tuesday from 3:15pm until 5:15pm. The evening session takes place from 6pm to 9pm on the fourth Monday of each month. For more information speak to Gary or send him an email – or just turn up on the day. Come by yourself or invite a friend.

Free Food – Three Times a Week!

Steyning Community Fridge now holds three sessions each week, including Sunday mornings so feel free to pop down to the Cottage after the 9:30am service to pick up some fresh food that is close to or has just passed its best‑before date but is still good to eat. Opening times are as follows:

• Monday evenings from 6pm to 7pm
• Thursday mornings from 10am to 11am
• Sunday mornings from 10:45 to 11:45am.

Click here to send an email to the organisers. Donations to help with transport costs are always welcome.

Intercessions for Healing

Please contact the Parish Office (or on 01903 813276) if anyone you know should be added (with their consent) to our public intercessions. To contact or update our Prayer Group, please write to prayer@steyningparishchurch.org

ONLINE WORSHIP RESOURCES

The full set of readings for tomorrow’s Principal Service are as follows:

• Acts 2:42‑47; Psalm 23; (1 Peter 2:19‑25); John 10:1‑10.

The Church of England continues to provide a videoed, pre‑recorded service, available every Sunday at 9am. These services tend to last between 30 and 50 minutes.

Services continue to be streamed live from our Cathedral. The text of each service, including hymns and readings, is usually available as a PDF on the same page.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Confirmations (Storrington Deanery, 22 April)

James Lee Barrett, Annabella Chaytor, Adrian Dighe, Isla Humphreys, Darren and Nina Humphreys*, Jessilyn Akua Nuamah-Gyambrah*, Jeremiel Kwame Nuamah-Gyambrah, Luna Summer Peat, Daniel Pressley, Barbara Standley, Duncan White, John Yeo. (An asterisk indicates candidates who were baptized and confirmed on 22 April.)

Recently Departed

John Hicks, Daphne Parker, Millicent Eaton, Kevin Smith.

Year’s Mind

Bob Cann, Michelle Kerry (‘Shelley’) Thomson, Margaret Ettie Goodman, Roy Carmine Fontana Amerena, Ken Pinder, Michael (‘Mick’) Hodges, Pamela Hazell, Geoff Denby, Audrey Buckland, Leslie Chalcraft, Margaret Ettie Goodman, David Richardson, Marshall Downham, Inga-Britt Noren, Ruth Middleton, Walter Bland.