Newsletter 31st October 2021

 All Saints Sunday

31^st October 2021

The church liturgical colours turn to either white or gold this Sunday for our celebration of All Saints. It marks the specialness of this day when we honour the saints and all our holy and beloved ancestors who have gone before us. We’re reminded that they’re all still in us and at work with us and through us. We call it the communion of saints. It’s an opportunity to step into a deep awareness of time – the past, present and future – all gathered into one especially sacred moment. Do come and join us.

Collect

God of holiness,

your glory is proclaimed in every age:

as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,

inspire us to follow their example

with boldness and joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings

Wisdom 3.1-9 or
Isaiah 25.6-9, Psalm 24.1-6
Revelation 21.1-6a
John 11.32-44

Don’t forget the clocks change this Sunday and go back one hour.

This week Sea Lights meets in our hall at 10am and joins us in the service during Communion. New children are always welcome.

Lamb’s Tales is now back in church every Friday morning, 9.15am to 10.45am.

Memorial Healing Service

Our annual service when we remember and honour those we love but see no longer will take place Sunday 7^th November at 6pm. A list is available at the back of church after the services for you to write down the names of loved ones you want remembered and read out.

Remembrance Sunday and poppies

We will commemorate Remembrance Sunday on 14^th November. Poppies are now on sale at church after the services in aid of the Royal British Legion.

St Mary de Haura – Town Carol Service This year we will not be able to have the numbers in church on Christmas Eve that we usually do. We will have two “Carols at St Marys” services on the 23^rd December at 3pm and 6.30 pm, and the Town Carol Service on Christmas Eve at 5pm as usual. Tickets will be restricted to 200 for each service, with a maximum of 4 tickets per household for the services on the 23^rd and 2 tickets per household for the Town Carol Service. Regular members of both congregations and Friends of St Mary’s may apply for tickets from Sunday 31^st October and to the general public from Friday 19^th November. Tickets will be available in St Mary de Haura or by post (please include a s.a.e) to 69 Hammy Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6BJ and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis as in the past. 

Bible Art John 11.32-44

This is not a new painting for this week, but one I painted slowly during a whole week whilst on retreat and thinking about this passage, and especially about the phrase 'Jesus wept'. I was also thinking about this in the context of the death of my first husband David, so it is a drawing of him lying in the tomb, which is why the body is not wrapped as Lazarus's would have been.

Why did Jesus weep? He knew that Lazarus would be restored to life, and that the end of the incident was going to be a joyful one, but still he wept. This wasn't a matter of his eyes filling with tears as President Obama's were seen to do, this must have been much more to have been recorded - he must have really broken down weeping. So why?

The insight I got as I painted this picture was that it was because of his true compassion for the very present distress of Mary and Martha and the other people around ... he felt their pain and wept over it and with them.

If he felt their pain, he also felt mine, and that of all those who grieve.  Jesus weeps with us.

I found that thought very comforting, especially in the context of Julian of Norwich's understanding that 'All will be well, and all manner of things will be well.'

Revd Jess

Wreath making fundraiser

Morning Meditation with Lectio Divina

We have a new meditation with lectio divina group at the Good Shepherd every Saturday morning at 8am. This is run in partnership with the Brighton and Hove Centre for Spirituality, a group that explores contemplative Christianity. The guided meditation and lectio divina practice lasts for an hour and is followed by coffee, croissants and discussion for those who wish to stay. This group can also be joined on Zoom.

Please note that on Saturday 30^th October the group is now only meeting on Zoom and not in church.

COP26 call to prayer

The bishops are leading a call to prayer, which will include interceding specifically for the aims of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow.

The prayer gatherings will be at dawn and at dusk on the first day of the COP, Sunday 31st October.

Bishop Ruth is leading a prayer gathering with Horsham Churches Together. Everyone is welcome for Bible readings, silence & prayer, 7.30am at Horsham Park (Human Nature Garden). More here

Meanwhile Bishop Will is taking part in a Celebration of the Beauty of Creation at Firle Beacon also on Sunday but at 4pm. This will be followed by a walk to St Peter’s, Firle for an act of commitment at 6pm to maintain the integrity of creation and to pray for all those charged with making difficult decisions at COP26. All will be very welcome to join for any part of it. More here

Bishop Will, who holds the remit for environmental issues in the diocese said: "We have a clear obligation as stewards of the earth and its resources that calls us to be responsible in caring for our common home the earth."

Shoreline

Another excellent edition of Shoreline is now available, emailed to you or available in the porch (later during the week). Thanks to Adam and all contributors.

Messy Church – Saturday 20^th November, 3pm

Advent Calendars

Chris Diebel has made 8 Advent Calendars to sell at the Christmas Fair, with all proceeds going to Church funds. As the Fair is after the 1st of December, they are available to buy now (so you have time to fill them).

Each calendar comes complete with hanger, is hand quilted and has 24 lined pockets. The calendars have bound edges and are backed with Christmas fabric. These calendars are made to use year after year and become treasured heirlooms.  Price £30 each (1 at £25 with just pockets and no panel). Please contact Chris on 07434777282 first come first served.

Advent Online Retreat

Advance notice. Book the dates ... Rev'd Jess will be leading an online Advent retreat on Friday 26th November, and again on Saturday 27th November.  More details to follow soon.

Tidying out the cupboards

We are having to create space in the cupboards at the back of church to enable better air flow. There is some old electrical equipment which has been put at the back of church. If anyone would like to claim any of this, please do so. Or let us know if it is still needed.

And finally…

We had a brilliant mission action planning session over coffee last Sunday. We shared our visions for the church, and looked at our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. All this will feed into a PCC away morning. I will also find a way to share it more widely. Thank you to everyone who participated and to John Watters for leading the session.

I work half-time and my usual days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning. Please get in contact if you want prayer support or just a chat! Blessings and prayers for you all.

Revd Jane

If you are reading this newsletter on a paper copy and would like to receive it each week through email please contact: cogsenews@gmail.com

Services this Week

Sunday, 31st October

8am – Holy Communion with Revd Jane.

10am – Parish Communion with Canon Tony and Revd Jane.

This service will be live streamed onto our Facebook and You Tube channel.

You Tube page CLICK HERE

Church Facebook page CLICK HERE

Tuesday, 2^nd November

9.30am - Informal Holy Communion with Revd Peter.

Wednesday 3^rd November

6pm – Celtic Evening Prayer on Zoom

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID: 868 1252 3106

Passcode: 960274

Friday 5^th November

8am – Meditation with Morning

Prayer at St Mary de Haura and on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 513293120

 (No password is needed )  Click here LINK

Saturday 6^th November

8am – Meditation with Lectio Divina

At the Good Shepherd and on Zoom. Meeting ID: 166073397 (no password needed) Click here LINK