WEEKLY NOTICES FOR SATURDAY 27 JUNE

Upcoming Services

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

The reader will be Len Warner. The intercessions will be led by Larry Culliford. The Gospel will be read by Canon Jonathan.

Worship Tomorrow Evening

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.

Visit from the Rector of Ramallah

Next weekend our town is hosting a visit from the Rector of St Andrew’s in Ramallah. Last Sunday, Fr Fadi welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury as preacher to his congregation in Bir Zeit in the occupied West Bank, historically the home to many Palestinian Christians. This week he will be greeted as a guest from the world church at the UK Methodist Conference and after his stay in Steyning, Fr Fadi will be will be attending next month’s General Synod in York.

There will be two opportunities for us to hear from him – each of them different so it will be worthwhile attending both of these:

• Next Saturday, 4 July from 8:15pm to 10pm, will be speaking at a public meeting in the Steyning Centre on the theme: ‘Peace in the Middle East: an impossible dream?’
• Next Sunday 5 July 9:30am at our Sung Eucharist, instead of a sermon, Fr Fadi will be interviewed about what it means to be a Christian today in the land of Christ’s birth, and what the Christian community is doing to survive and work for peace in the Holy Land. The service will be followed by a Q&A session in church.

At each event, there will be a retiring collection for the grassroots projects of his nominated charity, Friends of the Holy Land. The funds will be devoted to some of the urgent needs in perishes and communities in the West Bank and Gaza.

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 inspired by the words of Jesus at Matthew 28:20: ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’. These services run for between 40 and 45 minutes. All are welcome.

July Magazine

The new magazine for next month can be read online here. Printed copies will available from the back of church from tomorrow and from the other usual distribution points in due course.

Forthcoming Funeral

John Ernest Brown midday Monday, 6 July 2026

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

Invitation to the Vicarage Garden (New Date)

As previously advised, we have rescheduled the date for drinks after church in the Vicarage garden to follow the Music Group Eucharist on Sunday, 19 July. 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. You can sign-up online here. You will also find a hard copy sign-up sheet at the back of church on Sunday mornings.

Concerts in Church

• Next Saturday, 4 July (at 6pm): Jazz Vespers by Riverboat Shuffle in aid of Family Support Work. Tickets £15 to include a welcome drink on arrival, available from Steyning Bookshop or from Penny Warner or other members of the FSW team after services.
• Saturday, 11 July (at 5pm): Magnificat – from the Kaleidoscope Singers, supported by a string quartet sing Pergolesi’s Magnificat, and works by Rutter, Holst and Vivaldi. Tickets £15 (under-18s free) from the Steyning Bookshop, on the door – also available online here.
• Saturday, 5 September (at 1pm): John Twitchen, tenor; Helen Ridout, piano; and the Florentine String Quartet. Tickets £15 from the Steyning Bookshop. Pick up a flyer from church for more details, including a companion concert in Henfield St Peter on 29 August, with a programme of flute and piano music.

Lunchtime Concerts  

Our series of lunchtime concerts continues this Tuesday when we will hear the Primary School Choir once again. These concerts are free but with a retiring collection towards the church building fund. They begin at 12:30pm and run for around 30 minutes:

Thakeham Flower & Craft Festival & Village Open Gardens

St Mary’s Thakeham biennial Flower Festival will be held over the three days of next weekend, 3-5 July. The theme for the flower arrangements in the church this year is ‘What a Wonderful World’. Alongside this there will be village crafts, a children’s tent, quiet corner, refreshments, music, open gardens, etc. The festival will close with the traditional Songs of Praise at St Mary’s at 5:30pm. To see the full programme and details of the free park-and-ride, click here.

In Memory of David Boyle and Martin Toomey

The Downland Scheme crowd-funding campaign in memory of David and Martin has so far raised £5,605 towards its target of £14,000 to enable those who can no longer walk up to the Downs to access this beautiful landscape, with a new bench and a new mobility vehicle suitable for some of the hill paths. To find out more or to make your own financial contribution please click here.

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 29 July, the last Wednesday of the month.

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.

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 next Friday, 10 July. 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

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.

Board Games Fun

Two board games Café events take place 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 readings (in the New Revised Standard Version) for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity (in Year A, Proper 8) are as follows: Jeremiah 28:5‑9; Psalm 89:1‑4,15‑18; Romans 6:12‑23; Matthew 10:40‑42.

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

David Webber (priest), Lee Scerri, Ronald David Wells, Jane Helen Marshall, Mary Elizabeth Cromwell Laver, Anthony John (‘Tony’) Smith, Jill Maureen McDonald, Jane Cosham, John Ernest Brown.

Year’s Mind

Joan W Knight, Stuart Michelin, Albert (‘Al’) Hall, Charles Macdonald, Pamela (‘Pam’) Perry, Anthony Mervyn Thompson, Colin Williamson, Finley Shephard.