Weekly Notices for Saturday 3 October

Upcoming Services

The reader at tomorrow’s 9:30am Sung Eucharist will be Patricia Edwards and the intercessions will be led by Sue Albery. Fr Ray will read the Gospel.

October Magazine

The October church magazine can be read online here. Printed copies are available from the back of church and from the other usual distribution points in town, including the Post Office.

We are pleased to announce that our church magazine was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Association for Church Editors at their annual meeting in London last Saturday. The Diocese of Chichester, and West Sussex in particular, scored highly in the awards with the Henfield parish magazine receiving Silver and a certificate for the Graffham Parish News.

The Late Peter Firth

Peter Firth, who died recently, was a parish councillor who in various ways made many contributions to our town, including the setting up of First Responders with his good friend Martin Leigh-Pollitt. For many years Peter was a regular member of our congregation. He was also a founder member of SAMS. We pass our condolences to Sally and the family. Peter’s memorial service will be held in church on Wednesday 21 October.

Rest eternal grant unto him O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

Reflections

Tomorrow’s theme for our monthly informal and quiet service of music, prayer and reflection for the first Sunday of the month has a harvest theme: ‘Gathered, Grateful, Given’. These services run for between 40 and 45 minutes. All are welcome at this short and informal time of watching and listening.

Work on the Tower

Our long-anticipated tower works have begun with the erection of the scaffolding. The contractor, Pilbeam, which worked successfully to underpin the Penfold Hall last year, expects the project to run into the Christmas school holiday break. We will continue to provide updates in our magazine and these notices. Meanwhile the most recent magazine update can be found in our August magazine (on p.16), and for a more comprehensive introduction we direct you to page 7 of the April magazine. If you would like to make a donation towards this work, which is costed at just over £209k, please send an email to Tina, our Honorary Treasurer, or speak to one of the churchwardens.

Red Bucket Appeal

Thank you for the generous response to our red-bucket appeal for Christian Aid following the flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border, which raised £464.

These funds will support Christian Aid’s partner agencies working to reach families in Nepal with shelter, food and medical care. For more details of the appeal itself and a prayer for all affected by the disaster, click here for the relevant page on the Christian Aid website.

Battle of Britain Sunday

Thank you too for contributing to the collection at the Battle of Britain Choral Evensong. This raised £88.50 which our Treasurer will be sending to RAFA, the Royal Air Forces Association.

Family Support Work

We hope those who attended the FSW breakfast talk organised by Steyning and District Churches Together this morning enjoyed the talk by Michelle Stokes, our local Family Support Worker, at the Hub in Upper Beeding.

This evening from 4pm to 5:30pm in church there is The Return of the Musical Extravaganza, to raise funds for Family Support Work. Tickets £8 (children under 16 free), available on the door (cash preferred). Click here to see the poster with more details. Please bring plenty of cash for the prize draw!

Families & Children

Our new monthly SEND Café launches next Tuesday, 6 October, in the Penfold Hall. This is intended for parents and carers with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This new group will meet on the first Tuesday of each month. For more details, contact Gary, or pick up a flyer from the back of church.

Our bumps, babies and toddlers group, ‘Little Stars’ meets over 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

Hallowe’en Pitstop: Ghoulish Volunteers Needed

This very popular event for children and teenagers will take place once again in the Penfold Hall on Saturday, 31 October. Gary is now looking for the essential volunteers to make it possible (between 4:45 and 7:15pm). It will be a busy two hours but a fantastic time to meet lots of people from around the community in a decidedly different environment. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet at the back of the church, or contact Gary for more information.

Art Exhibition

The Steyning Art Group is holding its annual exhibition this weekend. This year it will be in the Penfold Hall, 9:30am to 4pm today, and 10am to 3pm tomorrow. Several of our congregation members will be among those exhibiting. All are welcome, refreshments are available.

Our Army Needs You!

Might you be interested in joining the reading army at our Primary School? We are very keen to encourage even greater links with our church school and we are looking for people to offer an hour a week to listen to the children read. A number of our congregation do so already, and if you would like to know more, please contact one of the churchwardens in the first instance.

Could You be an Office Angel?

Our parish office is in need of more volunteer helpers, particularly on Thursday mornings (10am to 12noon). You only need to commit to one Thursday per month, but there is the opportunity for one person to do two sessions if they want. If you might be able to assist with this please send an email to our churchwardens, or speak to Judie or Kate directly.

Wednesday Coffee

Anyone is welcome to 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.

Steyning Society (change to programme)

The next talk will be held at the Steyning Centre on Friday, 16 October, when, in place of the published talk, our own Canon Nigel Hartley will give a talk entitled ‘Auntie’s Bloomers’.  Nigel will go behind the scenes at the BBC and give us a sort of history of broadcasting from one who was there for part of it, before he became a clergyman. He describes it as “not so much of a talk as a multi-media extravaganza” (if it gets finished in time). Doors open for refreshments etc at 7pm; talk starts at 7:30. Members free, guest welcome at £5 per head. 

Midweek Eucharist

All are welcome to these peaceful midweek services which take place in the chancel of St Andrew’s & St Cuthman’s at 11:30am every Wednesday. A special service including prayers for healing takes place the final Wednesday of the month (next one on 28 October).

Good Grief Café

The monthly sessions take place every second Friday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm in the Penfold Hall, with the next session scheduled for Friday, 9 October. 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

Community Fridge

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

Readings for Trinity 18 (to be used at the 8am service) are as follows: Isaiah 5:1 7; Psalm 80:9 17; Philippians 3:4b 14; Matthew 21:33 46.

The collect and readings provided for Harvest Festival in Year A are as follows: Deuteronomy 8:7 18 (or Deuteronomy 28:1 14); Psalm 65 (or Prayer Book version*); 2 Corinthians 9:6 15*; Luke 12:16 30* (or Luke 17:11 19). Those marked with an asterisk will be used tomorrow at the 9:30am service.

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

Holy Baptism

Macey Ann Power (Steyning, 11 October)

Wedding Blessing

Don Bouraoui & Poppy Taylor (Steyning, 26 September)

Recently Departed

Elizabeth Annie Hall MBE, Michael John (‘Mike’) Reed, Elizabeth (‘Betty’) Allison, Doreen Carr, Peter Firth, Anita Evans, Pat Tod.

Year’s Mind

David Roberts Linsey, Les McMullan, Malcolm David Cairns Donaldson, Edward Hrabak, Grace Charlotte Mitchell, Doris Penfold, Eustace Rupert (‘Ron’) Broom, Doris Hrabak, David Richbell, Carol Jennifer West, Mary Dickinson, John Mason.