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Yes, we’ve all said it! When something goes wrong or doesn’t happen the way it should – Why Me? When we’re asked to do something we don’t want to  – Why Me?

Can you imagine the reaction of the bridegroom in this week’s Gospel, at the wedding in Cana – Why Me! Why did the wine have to run out at MY wedding! It didn’t happen to Abraham last week, why did it happen to me?

But when something goes right, when you get that promotion, when you receive an unexpected gift, when your boyfriend/girlfriend proposes, do you ever say – Why Me? Do we ever wonder why a GOOD thing happens in the same way we wonder why we were disappointed, or let down?

I wonder if the people of Corinth, those who Paul writes to about the gifts of the Spirit, I wonder if they ever asked – Why Me? Why did I get healing, I wanted wisdom! Why did I get miracles, I wanted Faith! Possibly they did, we humans are a fickle bunch and most of us are never really content with what we’ve got, but the people of Corinth got on with it! They had their gifts, and they used them!

I can imagine a light bulb moment happening to you now – ah, she’s going to talk about OUR gifts! Yes, I am! I am going to ask you to think about your gifts, of praying, of reading, of visiting, of listening, of baking! The gifts that mean a St James Centre got built,  St Nicholas got a new roof,  St P and P got a new vestry and a ‘de-cluttered’ church yard!

What are your gifts, what are your skills, what is your vocation, that you can offer to the church, the community, the world, in God’s name? No gift too small, no skill unwanted!

God’s answer to the question Why Me is equally simple, equally direct – Why Not You!

Rev Sarah
Associate Vicar

Collect for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Heavenly Father, you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ to continue his work of reconciliation and reveal you to the world:  forgive us the sins which tear us apart; give us the courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is your give and your will; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

We continue to pray for:
Clemmie, Michael Palmer, Guy Solan, Kris Tippen, Ellen Chapman, Chris Adams and Margaret Eyre

And those who have recently died and their loved ones:
Jay Ellison, Mary Hopkins, Rosemary Page, Neil Theobald and Harold Carver

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 the main service at Birdham (9.30am) Jonathan Swindells’ sermon theme will be “Not an Octopus”.  At West Wittering (10.00) Sarah Manouch’s sermon theme will be ‘Dry January – Not in Cana’.   At Itchenor (11.00) Jonathan Swindells’ sermon theme will be “Not an Octopus”.

Michael Chater’s sermon theme for Evensong at 6.00 at West Wittering will be ‘Making Choices’.

The Ministry Team are only too happy to talk through aspects of their Sermon.

Sunday 20^th January – WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Third Sunday of Epiphany
Morning
Isaiah 62. 1-5; 1 Corinthians 12. 1-11; John 2. 1-11
BCP
Romans 12. 6-16a; John 2. 1-11
Evensong
1 Samuel 3. 1-20; Ephesians 4. 1-16

Sunday 27^th January
Commemoration of Conversion of Paul
Morning
Acts 9. 1-22; Galatians 1. 11-16a; Matthew 19. 27-end
BCP
Romans 12. 16b-end; Matthew 8. 1-13
Evensong
Numbers 9. 15-end; 1 Corinthians 7. 17-24

 

 

Come Sing the Musicals

From Les Mis to The Greatest Showman, from The Sound of Music to The Wizard of Oz!

 Hymns n Everything invite you to an evening of song and socialising –

joyful enthusiasm makes a joyful noise!

Sunday 27^th January
7pm
West Wittering Church Room 

For more info give me a call on 07468 854864 or email on assoc.vicarsarah@gmail.com, or better still, just come along and give it a go

“Without the Foodbank, I don’t think I would be here today.” – a heartfelt comment by someone who from being a healthy member of the police to, in a very short time, unemployed and awaiting the provision of a heart transplant who was supported by the  Chichester Foodbank in his time of need with 3 days of emergency food.

1 of 5 of the UK population still live below the poverty line and with the Half-Term School Holiday on the horizon, when children who would normally have school dinners will be eating at home, the Mothers’ Union is sponsoring collections in the 3 churches in the Benefice and at West Wittering School from Sunday 27^th January to Sunday 10^th February.

Look out for the collection tubs with the list of those items that are urgently needed to help families in crisis – UHT Milk, Tinned Meat (Stewing Steak, Ham, Stews, etc.), Potatoes (Tinned or Mash), Tinned Vegetables, (Carrots, Peas, Mixed Vegetables), Pasta Sauce, Tinned Fruit, Sponge Puddings, Rice Puddings, Custard, Jam, Biscuits & Treats (suitable for children) and Toilet Rolls.

Thank You.

Saturday January 26^th at 7pm
A Sri Lankan Curry night is being held at the St James Centre.  Samantha Silva  will prepare a supper for us. We ask only  for donations to cover costs of food  and heating of the Centre. Places are limited to 25.

Please let Ian Strong know if you would like to join.

Birdham and Itchenor PCC are seeking a qualified person to carry out the accounting procedures for the PCC. This will be a paid position. This will require good knowledge of booking keeping and some accountancy. The position will include record keeping, dealing with the bank accounts and paying invoices. Ideally the ability to prepare management accounts would be helpful.

If you are interested please contact the parish office as soon as possible and a full description of the post will be sent to you.

Seeds for the future!

Have you ordered your seeds yet? I enjoy looking through all those lovely seed catalogues, imagining the flower display and the glut of vegetables and that reminds me of how we must start thinking about God’s seeds waiting to be planted?

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Christ  & it is also the ‘official’ start of our Chichester Diocese Year of Vocation. Vocation means Calling,  in case you didn’t know. We shall be promoting the  Exploration days which the diocese will be holding, so keep a look to for the posters. We are also supporting this special year of ‘Calling’ with our ‘Re-equipping morning” for those who help us all to worship each Sunday. This will be on Saturday 9-11am 26th January  in St. James Centre with coffee and doughnuts to encourage fresh ideas about how we make Sunday morning worship meaningful to all our faithful folk and to any newcomers who drop in to see what we are about. We are about the good news that God loves us all, but how do we demonstrate this wonderful gift we have and sow the seeds for the future here in our Benefice.

This Year of Vocation is a chance for us to truly think about where God is calling us to work for him both in the church and in our wider communities. We think about how Jesus responded to God’s call after his baptism and we can reflect what 2019 will mean for us.

So if you are on our duty lists you are most welcome to come and contribute your valuable experience and led by members of our ministry team we hope to refresh our worship and encourage the seeds to grow!
Susan Monks
Licensed Reader

Collect
Heavenly Father at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son; may we recognise him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen

We continue to pray for:
Clemmie, Michael Palmer, Charlotte Megenney, Guy Solan, Kris Tippen, Ellen Chapman, Chris Adams and Margaret Eyre

And those who have recently died and their loved ones:
Jay Ellison, Mary Hopkins, Rosemary Page, Harold Carver and Grace Yarnall

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

At the main service at Birdham (9.30am) Sarah Manouch’s sermon theme will be “You can do it, if you G.O.D it”.  At West Wittering (10.00) Bruce Holben’s sermon theme will be “Don’t Miss the Bus”.  At Itchenor (11.00) Jim Mould’s sermon theme will be ‘Voices by the river.’

There will be Evensong at 6.00 at West Wittering

The Ministry Team are only too happy to talk through aspects of their Sermon.

Sunday 13^th January
Baptism of Christ
First Sunday after Epiphany
Morning
Isaiah 43. 1-7; Acts 8. 14-17; Luke 3. 15-17, 21-22
BCP
Romans 12. 1-5; Luke 2. 41-end
Evensong
Isaiah 55. 1-11; Romans 6. 1-11

Sunday 20^th January
Third Sunday of Epiphany
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Morning
Isaiah 62. 1-5; 1 Corinthians 12. 1-11; John 2. 1-11
BCP
Romans 12. 6-16a; John 2. 1-11
Evensong
1 Samuel 3. 1-20; Ephesians 4. 1-16

As a result of the Christmas and New Year holidays the first issue of 2019 will be a little later than usual.  We should receive the magazines from the printer on 18 January so they will be available to collect from the churches on 20 January.  We shall be starting a new ‘Community Connections’ section in this issue.  Please note the following events which will be taking place early in January:

Itchenor Sailing Club
Friday 11 January 6.00 for 6.30pm – Chicago Bridge.  Call Nigel Glennie for details 01243 641240.

Every Sunday from 13 January – Roast Sunday Lunch from our Carvery.  Visitors welcome.

 

Witterings Camera Club

Tuesday 15 January at 7.30pm ‘Jon Mitchell Goes Wild’.  An exploration of natural history in England – mostly local (within 5 mile radius). Sports Pavilion, Rookwood Road, West Wittering.

West Wittering Horticultural Society

Tuesday 15 January – Annual General Meeting, 7.30 pm at West Wittering Memorial Hall

Starting in Epiphany with
‘The Screwtape Letters’ by C S Lewis*
(Apologies if your flier says Being Christian)
    
Join us as we explore the wonderful world of books – a book for each season of the church’s year!

Experience a mixture of personal favourites (Henri Nouwen), Christian Classics (C S Lewis) and something a little bit different (Nick Page).

 At the end of each ‘season’ we’ll meet for a chat at a Coffee and Croissant breakfast, first session on Saturday 9^th March.

If you can’t come to the breakfast, please still join us in reading and hopefully enjoying the books,

For more information speak to Rev Sarah on 07468 854864 or email assoc.vicarsarah@gmail.com.

 (*RRP £8.99, but mention Harbour Churches in St Olav’s bookshop for a £1 discount)