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We’ve been advised to give our Harvest Gifts collection to Chichester Foodbank because Stonepillow are overflowing!

So, come to Harvest Festival with any of the following gifts that Chichester Foodbank need:

URGENTLY NEEDED FOOD ITEMS…
TINNED MEAT, TINNED SOUP, TINNED POTATOES
TINNED VEGETABLES, SPONGE PUDDINGS
WASHING UP LIQUID AND WASHING POWDER
RICE PUDDING/CUSTARD, TOOTHPASTE, TOOTHBRUSHES
TEA BAGS.

WE’VE GOT PLENTY OF…
BAKED BEANS, RICE, TINNED TOMATOES
FEM HYGIENE, SHAMPOO/SHOWER PRODUCTS

Here’s a lovely old saying… “Seven days without prayer makes one weak”

How time flies… is it really a year ago that we held our Week of Guided prayer? Here we are coming to the end of the Year of Vocation and looking back it has been another full and, we must hope, life giving time for Harbour Churches.

At our One Church service on Sunday 29^th September, there is the invitation to join together as three churches with the one mission of ‘blessing our communities’, and reflect together on our deepening relationship with the Beckoning God, discovering how, out of that relationship, we are being called into new life and witness. There will be opportunities throughout the morning to reflect on how our service – the things we do – can only ever be an expression of that relationship when it is the gifts God give us are being shared.

However, next Sunday 22^nd, St James and St Nicholas will be celebrating Harvest Festival at their main morning service (West Witterings is Sunday 6^th October). It’s always a marker of time – the harvest. It speaks of natures seasons and of those timeless things… and a timeless tradition of parish churches up and down the land. Of course, in reality  it was the Victorians who ‘invented’ Harvest Festival to compensate for the loss of any real connection with the countryside and country ways with the industrialisation and urbanisation of England. How long this ‘new’ tradition can last as a meaningful act of worship – well, only time can tell! Nevertheless, a hearty rendition of ‘We plough the fields and scatter’ could be just the thing your family, friends, and neighbours need to gently reconnect them –  not only with their parish church, but also those deeper rhythms of life’s seasons which only find true expression in the prayers we offer…

 Who might we invite to Harvest Festival?

Jonathan, Rector

Collect
Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you: through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

We continue to pray for:
Clemmie, Ellen Chapman, Kris Tippen, Debbie, Robert Bowen-Colthurst, Tony Johnson and Gerard

And those who have recently died and their loved ones:
Trevor Hurrell and Pamela Buttress

If you know of anyone who needs our prayers or would appreciate a visit, please let the Rector or the Parish Administrator know.

Should you wish to contact the Rector his mobile number is 07538 011579.

Services for this weekend
8.00 BCP Holy Communion at West Wittering and Itchenor

At Birdham (9.00am) Susan Monks’ sermon theme for Little Jimmies will be “Listening to God’s Call” and at 9.30 Eric Eyre’s sermon theme will be “Lost property”.  At West Wittering (10.00) Sarah Manouch’s sermon theme will be ‘To Save, or be saved’ .

There will be Evensong at 6.00pm at West Wittering

Readings
Sunday 15^th September
13^th Sunday after Trinity
Morning
Luke 15.1-10
BCP
Hebrews 13. 1-6; Luke 10.23b-37
Evensong
Isaiah 60; John 6. 51-69

Sunday 22^nd September
14^th Sunday after Trinity
Morning
Luke 16. 1-13
BCP
Galatians 5. 16-24
Luke 17. 11-19

St James Centre
Mexican Night
Saturday 28th September
7pm
Limited Places – to book your place call
Jeanette on 07388 535705
or email
stjamescentrebirdham@gmail.com

If you have suffered a bereavement, whether recently or a few years ago, you may be interested to know that there is a six session Tuesday evening bereavement course starting in West Wittering very soon. Being with others and sharing our stories and feelings can really help. Why not give it a try or let someone who is struggling at the moment know about the course? For more information email or call Jane Oundjian on janeoundjian@me.com or 07802 244445.

6 Tuesday evenings
17, 24 Sep and 1, 8,15, 22 Oct 2019
at Redlands Dairy
Redlands Lane, West Wittering, PO20 8QE

Supper at 7pm and finish at 9.30pm
6 sessions £10

 

Is this you….?

I don’t understand….
I don’t believe what you believe…..
I’m not the right sort…..
Yes? Well we all feel like that sometimes, ALL of us.

Confirmation is a commitment to a personal, ongoing, life long relationship WITH God, IN faith, THROUGH worship, through ‘Being Christian’.
God knows we’ll never be perfect, never be complete, because we are human, but he loves us anyway.

You may say ‘I want to be confirmed’,
you may say ‘not yet’,
you may say ‘no’,
but you’ll never know the answer if you don’t ask yourself the question!

For the kids –
Saturday 5^th October and 9^th November
9am – 11am

For the adults
Wednesday 2^nd Oct, 16^th Oct, 6^th Nov and 20^th Nov
7pm – 8.30pm

For more info and to book your place speak to the Rector, Jonathan, or Rev Sarah.

Centering Prayer

Sunday 22^nd September 6-6.45pm @ SJC

A guided time of contemplative prayer
encountering the life giving spirit of God in silence.

All are welcome

Called and Calling…
Sunday 29^th September @ St James Church, 9.30 – 12noon
 Program

•  9.30-10am Act of Worship
• 10-10.30am Coffee and seminar registration
• 10.30 – 11am Main Seminar ‘What now God…?’

                               … with Canon Yvonne

Yvonne was previously Canon Missioner at Coventry Cathedral

• 11am – 11.25am Optional Seminars 1 

Called in Music Sue Graham-Smith & Jane Swindells

Called in Art and Space Polly Meynell & Susan Monks

Called in Open Homes tbc

Called in Stopping Jonathan

• 11.35am – 12noon Optional Seminars 2 

Called in Worldwide Mission Bruce and Gerry Holben with Jeanette McDowell

Called in Leadership Jonathan and Lois Smith

Called in Listening Eric Eyre and Jane Oundjian

Called in Schools Revd. Sarah Revd. Jim

•  12noon – 1pm Shared ‘Agape’ lunch

Love singing?

Join our West Wittering choir workshop rehearsals

Learn the new songs we are singing in church, vocal technique, harmonies, make friends and have lots of fun.

No need to book just come on the day.
Tuesdays 6pm

Church Room, Pound Road, West Wittering. PO20 8 AJ

Tel: Jane 07981290826 for details.