WEEKLY NOTICES FOR SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Upcoming Services

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

The lessons at the 10:45am service will be read by students from the Grammar School. We have asked members of the cadet force to lead the intercessions.

Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day

Our annual Act of Remembrance tomorrow will begin at 10:45am as usual. Those of you who would like a seat in the main part of the nave are advised to arrive in plenty of time. time. The bells will ring, half-muffled, from around 10am.

At the same time Fr Peter will lead the Remembrance Service at Ashurst this year if any members of our congregation would like to attend a less crowded service.

On Armistice Day itself, everyone is also welcome to attend the usual short Act of Remembrance at the war memorial (by the tennis courts) on the Memorial Playing Field, Wednesday 11 November. Those attending are advised to arrive by approximately 10:50am on the day.

We are sorry that there are no poppies for sale in church this year. This seems to be a problem across Steyning. If you don’t have one, you may be able to obtain a RBL poppy from Robinson’s Options on the High Street. They are usually also available inside or outside one of the supermarkets at the Holmbush Centre.

If you wish, you can donate directly to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal online here (minimum donation £2).

Another Thank You

Thank you to the many volunteers who supported our annual Hallowe’en Pitstop last Saturday and to helpers who provided refreshments and welcomed guests to our annual reflective service of Memorial and Thanksgiving at All Soul’s‑tide last Sunday afternoon. We had over 90 visitors at each event, some of whom have attended previously as well as those who came for the first time.

Autumn Lunchtime Concerts

Between them, our two lunchtime concerts raised over £300; the donations will go towards church repairs and improvements. Kate has expressed our gratitude to the performers and writes to say thank you to everyone who attended and donated so generously. ‘I’m sure that all who would agree that they were excellent concerts and we look forward to welcoming those two quartets in our next series of concerts.’

Ros Golds

Ros’s funeral will be held in church at 11:30am on Tuesday, 17 November. Many will remember her as one of the longest serving members of our choir (and the smiling face of the old hardware shop on the High Street). When Fr Mark visited Ros in hospital a few days before she died on 26 October, Ros was keen to send her love to everyone at St Andrew’s & St Cuthman’s.

Rest eternal grant unto her O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
May she rest in Peace: And rise in glory.

Patronal Festival of St Andrew

At Choral Evensong at 6pm next Sunday, we will anticipate the Feast Day of our co-patron St Andrew the Apostle. The canticles will be sung to the setting in C by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), and the setting for the rest of the service was composed by William Smith (1603-1645) of Durham. The anthem is by Sir Ernest Bullock (1890‑1979), adapting the text by Isaac Watts (1674‑1748), inspired by Hebrews 12:1-2 and Revelation 7:9-17, ‘Give us the wings of faith to rise within the veil and see the saints above, how great their joys, how bright their glories be’.

Guest Preachers

We have invited Canon John Wall to preach for us at Choral Evensong next Sunday evening and the Archdeacon of Chichester, the Venerable Dr Thomas Carpenter will preach at our 9:30am service on 22 November when we celebrate the Festival of Christ the King.

Fallen Wall in Churchyard

As some of our readers will have noticed we have recently had to erect some temporary fencing between the south side of the church and Vicarage Lane. This follows the collapse of part of the unstable section of church wall (above the temporary wooden barrier erected by Horsham District Council at the end of 2024). The next step will be to dismantle the wall carefully, and store the flints before its eventual reconstruction. Because our churchyard has been closed the maintenance of the boundary wall is the responsibility or Horsham District Council which is seeking advice from a structural engineer as to how to improve the long-term stability of the south wall. In previous decades there were a number of elm trees on the bank between the churchyard and the road. Their removal because of Dutch elm disease probably accounts for the very uneven stretch of walling along this side of the churchyard. The work to dismantle the wall may begin as early as next week.

Tower Update

Now that the scaffolding outside and inside the tower has been completed, our contractors Pilbeam are ready to commence work to dismantle the tower roof. The erection of an internal platform under the roof beams has allowed for a closer inspection of the extent of the rot at the top of the tower following the previous examination which was around three years ago. We will be seeking further advice from our timber specialist as there has been some further spread of the rot caused by water ingress which is likely to mean the overall timetable for the work will now extend into January. We will need to purchase further supplies of oak to replace the rotten sections, increasing the overall cost of the project.

Pre-Christmas Methodist Bazaar

This popular event at the Methodist Church (18 High Street BN44 3GG) takes place once again on Saturday, 21 November from 10am until 2pm. Start your Christmas shopping here, browse gift stalls and charity stalls, enjoy refreshments, cakes and lunches, and music by the ‘Sing out Sister’ choir.

Chanctonbury Chorus Christmas Concert

This year’s Christmas concert from the Chanctonbury Chorus will feature a wide range of Christmas music, including Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. It will also give the audience the opportunity to join us in singing some seasonal favourites. It takes place on Saturday, 12 December at 7:30pm. Advance tickets (£15 in advance, £16 on the door) are available from Canon Nigel after most sung morning services, including tomorrow.

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 to take place next Friday, 13 November. 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

November Magazine

The magazine for November is available online (here) and hard copies are available from church as well as the other usual distribution points, under the lychgate, the Penfold Hall and from the Post Office. Click here (and scroll down) to see why our magazine has once again been ‘Highly Commended’ by the Association for Church Editors.

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.

Midweek Eucharist

All are welcome to these peaceful midweek services which take place in the chancel at 11:30am every Wednesday. The monthly special service with prayers for healing takes place the final Wednesday of the month (next on 25 November, and then at the end of January).

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.

ONLINE WORSHIP RESOURCES

The readings for the 8am Eucharist tomorrow will be those marked with an asterisk in the following provision for the Third Sunday before Advent:; Wisdom of Solomon 6:12‑16; Amos 5:18‑24; Psalm 70 (or Wisdom of Solomon 6:17‑20); *1 Thessalonians 4:13 to end; *Matthew 25:1‑13.

The lessons to be read at the Remembrance Sunday service in Steyning will be Isaiah 9:2,4-6 and Romans 8:31-39.

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

Recently Departed

Peter Malcolm Firth, Anita Evans, Patricia Honor (‘Pat’) Tod, Caro Field, Rocky Michael Ray, Rosalind (‘Ros’) Golds.

Year’s Mind

Ian Johnstone, Brian Michelin, Roger Curtis-Wellings, Rose Mary Holland, Robin David French, Gwen Tenant-Flowers, Joan Amerena, Joan Booty, Ken Ash, John Ashby, Steve Butcher, Sue Davies, Andrew Hawkins, Gordon Mills, William Roy Powel, Raymond H Knight, John Hubbard, Harry Ford, Robert Walter (‘Wally’) Chandler, Chrissie Reynolds, Lawrie Smalley.

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