WEEKLY NOTICES FOR SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

Upcoming Services

The readers at tomorrow’s 10am Eucharist will be Lizzie Massbery and Nicky Parkin from the Primary School. The intercessions will be led by Sue Albery.

Tomorrow’s Special Services

Tomorrow, instead of the 9:30am service in church, we are holding a special Music Group Eucharist at 10am in Steyning Primary School (turn left off Shooting Field postcode BN44 3RQ). The readings and songs will celebrate ‘Education Sunday’ and our deepening links with children and families at our church primary school. We hope everyone will be able to join us. Car parking (where needed) is in the primary school car park and local roads. There will be no 9:30 service in church.

As usual at our September Choral Evensong in church we will be marking Battle of Britain Sunday. The psalm is 121 and the canticles will be sung to the setting in B Flat by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) with the responses composed by John Sanders (1933‑2003) and inspired by Wagner’s ‘Dresden Amen’. The service is expected to run for around 50 minutes. (See below for the readings.)

The anthem, written to commemorate the sacrifice of so few for so many, is ‘Greater love’, arranged and composed by John Ireland (1879-1962). The text begins with phrases from Song of Solomon 8:7a,6b and John 15:13, followed by: 1 Peter 2:24b; 1 Corinthians 6:11b; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 12:1. Ireland spent his final years living in the windmill off the Hollow, near Rock Farm in Washington.

Red Bucket Appeal

Tomorrow is the last day of our red-bucket appeal for Christian Aid following the flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border. Funds raised 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.

International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and takes place annually on 21 September. Steyning for Peace invites you to join them tomorrow afternoon, 20 September, between 2 and 5pm, for an afternoon of peaceful family-friendly activities at the Steyning Centre and at the nearby Peace Tree. Come along and enjoy clowning, dancing, a group choir, soft drinks and cakes. Admission is by donation to support the work of the Group. Steyning for Peace has been building strong connections with the new group currently being formed to support church and community work in the West Bank and Gaza, following Fr Fadi Diab’s inspiring visit to Steyning last July.

Preparing Properly for Death

On Wednesday, 23 September (between 10 and midday) we are holding our second ‘Proper Preparation for Death’ event in the Penfold Hall – see the Pastoral Care section (page 11) of the new magazine for more information.

Two Events for FSW on 3 October

On the morning of Saturday, 3 October at the next breakfast talk organised by Steyning and District Churches Together the speaker will be Michelle Stokes, our local Family Support Worker. Michelle’s work is locally based, in the Storrington and Petworth deaneries. As usual the breakfast will take place at the Hub on Church Lane in Upper Beeding (BN44 3HP). Doors open at 8:45am and the breakfast is from 9am until 10:30am. Tickets (£6) can be purchased in advance from the Hub Café, the Steyning Bookshop or from Elizabeth Brown on most Sunday mornings. See the posters in our church porch and in the Penfold Hall for further details.

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

Work in the Churchyard and Tower

Our long-anticipated tower works are due to begin early next week, from 21 September. The first steps will be the erection of scaffolding around the tower and the installation of on-site facilities for the workers (a portable WC by the porch, and a cabin down the steps on Vicarage Lane). Pilbeam, which worked successfully to underpin the Penfold Hall last year, is our chosen contractor. The project is expected 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 the 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.

Photographs of the newly connected churchyard lighting are now the focus of an August 2026 update on the ‘Let there be Light’ page of our website. Click here if you would like to see them.

Volunteer Drivers

Our churchwardens are looking into the feasibility of setting up more systematic arrangements for those who find it difficult to get to church. We are asking for expressions of interest from those who might be able to help with this – especially those who don’t have weekly responsibilities in church before the 9:30am service. If you have a suitable car and might be able to assist with this please send an email to our churchwardens. If you need more information please speak to Judie or Kate directly.

‘SEND’ Café– Coming Soon!

From October our Families and Children’s Team will be starting an informal monthly café intended for parents and carers with children with special educational needs and disabilities (‘SEND’). This new group will meet each month at the Penfold Hall to chat, share, and connect with others who are sharing similar journeys. Meetings take will place on the first Tuesday morning of each month. For more details, pick up a flyer from the back of church or speak to Gary (or click here to send him an email).

Dungeons & Dragons

Our local monthly ‘DnD’ group had its first successful meeting last Saturday which was fully booked. These regular and structured meetings can be a helpful environment for children and teenagers on the autism spectrum as they build social confidence and practice communication in a safe environment. Pick up a flyer or visit the families page of our website for more information. These monthly sessions take place in the Penfold Hall on second Saturdays. There are limited spaces so advance booking is essential. Please send an email to Gary if you are in a position to assist as a volunteer.

September Magazine

The 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.

Families & Children

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

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 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 (on 30 September this month).

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

The readings sheet for our special 10am Education Sunday service (Contemporary English Version, CEV) to be used at the Music Group Eucharist may be found here.

The readings at the 8am service will be those appointed for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Full lectionary provision (Year A, Proper 20) may be found here: Jonah 3:10 to end of 4; Psalm 145:1‑8; Philippians 1:21‑30; Matthew 20:1‑16.

The lessons for Battle of Britain Sunday are Ecclesiasticus 44:1‑11 and 2 Corinthians 4:16 to 5:4. We will use Psalm 121.

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. Last Sunday’s service had an Education Sunday theme and is still available on the same page.

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

Henry Oliver Stokes (Steyning, 13 September)
Freddie George Ronnie Constable (Steyning, 20 September).

Holy Matrimony

John Mockler & Fiona Hall (Steyning, 11 September)
Jim Strivens & Jess Pearce (Steyning, 12 September).

Wedding Blessing

Don Bouraoui & Poppy Taylor (26 September)

Recently Departed

Andrew (‘Andy’) Myers (priest), Anthony (‘Tony’) Jowett, Michael John (‘Mike’) Reed, (Pastor) Robert Guanco, Elizabeth Annie Hall MBE, Elizabeth (‘Betty’) Allison, Doreen Carr.

Year’s Mind

Vanessa Timms, Bob Aiton, James Ralph (‘Jim’) Hanson, Richard Nunns, Stephen (‘Steve’) Seymour, Irvine Buckley, Stuart Mark Stevens, Rosemary Blanche Wakeford, Phillip Ian O’Brien, Denis Tenant-Flowers, David Roberts Linsey, LesMcMullan, Malcolm David Cairns Donaldson, Edward Hrabak, Grace Charlotte Mitchell, Doris Penfold, Eustace Rupert (‘Ron’) Broom, Doris Hrabak, David Richbell.