Benefice Notices with Marsh

Parish of Fund Raising & Rake plans for 2020 Stedham with Iping

nd Website: www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk May 2 Saxophone concert in Iping Church CANCELLED Mothering Sunday 4th Sunday of Lent

June 12th Summer Benefice Party at Pendean ALL SERVICES ARE CANCELLED FOR a Marquee. We hope to be able to go SEASON DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS ahead, but watch this space. OUTBREAK. July 26th St James Day Parish Lunch at Stedham But we carry on being the church Mill by kind invitation of Judy Barlow family Sept 2nd (Wednesday) Bridge afternoon at Today’s Collect Cowdray Golf Club Merciful Lord, th Sept 19 Teas and stalls at Stedham Memorial absolve your people from their offences, Hall that through your bountiful goodness 2.00 – 4.30p.m. we may all be delivered from the chains of those sins October 11 Harvest Supper which by our frailty we have committed; grant this, heavenly Father, Thinking of you all this Mothering Sunday. for Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour, Remembering you all in my prayers, and sending who is alive and reigns with you, all my love and God’s blessings. in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Rev Trish one God, now and for ever.

Today’s Readings

Exodus 2:1-10; Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a

Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and

when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for

three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she Contact Details: took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ Telephone code 01428 unless otherwise stated Rector Reverend Trish Bancroft Tel: 741285 children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s email: [email protected] daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew Churchwardens women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter Linch: Lea Grocott Tel: 741393 said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s email: [email protected] Carol Stacey Tel:722966 mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child email: [email protected]. and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So Milland: Leslie Lloyd Tel:01730 892998 the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child email: [email protected] grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she Lynne Collard Tel: 01730 815075 took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she email: [email protected] said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’ Treasurer for Linch and Milland Anne Alderman Tel: 741397 Colossians 3:12-17; Stedham with Iping Linda Stevens Tel: 01730 810514 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves email: [email protected] with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and Treasurer for Stedham with Iping patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a William Hunter. Tel: 01730 858471. complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Website, Magazine and Pewsheet contact: Alison Ireland Tel: 713392 Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above email: [email protected] all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything Website: www.stlukesbenefice.co.uk together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell mother church through whom we are fed with in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all word and sacrament. For Mary the mother of our wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, Lord, for her love to do the Will of God and so bring in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord to birth the Saviour of the world. Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The fourth finger represents the many others who Luke 2:33-35; need our prayers. Not only family and friends but And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them the many others in need and especially at this time and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for for those suffering in any way from the the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a Coronavirus. sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of So to the last little finger, that is you. Yes, if you many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your have any time left do pray for yourself and if you own soul too.’ should forget to do so, don't worry, others will be doing so. HOMILY from Rev Bill Using your hand as a model of prayer is very wise, it is always with you. We all know about hand washing but what about And the Lord be with you. hand praying? Intercessions For those suffering in any way from the Have a look at your hand and think for a minute or Coronavirus two, how wonderfully it was made. World Church: PRAY for Hong Kong Diocese: PRAY for the Diocesan Board of Finance: The thumb is the strongest finger you have. So, Benefice: The PCC of St Luke’ Linch start your prayers by giving Praise to the Lord for He Prayers for those in Long Term Care and is worthy of all praise, at all times and in all places. Housebound: Martin Beale, Betty Horlock, Margaret Praise cuts through depression, anxiety, doubt and Green, Pam Way, David Stobart, Allan Jones, Elaine Jackson and Alex Pask. fear. Even simply saying "I praise you Lord" turns our thoughts away from our dear selves to Him who Prayers for the Sick: is dear to all. For those who enjoy singing, sing a Pam Browne, Trudi Archer, Dawn Houston, Lionel hymn or song of Praise. Open your windows and let Cartwright, Fiona Johnson, Debbie Dean, Greg Carter, the world hear that you know who has the world in Bob Ireland and the Werner family especially Fred, Janet, Richard, Lucy and baby Beau. His hands. Or why not ring a lonely friend and as you do so you will be filling the airways with the Prayers for the Departed: Anne Findlay Glory of the Lord. Remember everyone can sing, In Memoriam Frank Crocker, G Mark Gowlland, even if out of tune with others, but by their singing Hilda Wright, Fred Allen, Stanley Giles, Harry Titcombe the spirit in others will rise and rejoice. They may also hear a chuckle or two. Post Communion Prayer Lord God, Now look at the pointing finger and as you do so whose blessed Son our Saviour you will see three fingers pointing back at you. This gave his back to the smiters points us to a time for confession of all that hinders and did not hide his face from shame: us from loving God and neighbour. Time to say, give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have time mercy." with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The next finger is the tallest on most hands. This may be thought of as "the King of the Castle" Thought for the week prayer. Thanksgiving brings us healing as Jesus once "Faith is not about everything turning out OK, faith is remarked. As to-day is Mothering Sunday let us about being OK no matter how things turn out." (T-shirt give special thanks for all our mothers, past and slogan) present, remembering their love, self-sacrifice and patience. For mother earth as she continues to bless us not only with food but with beauty. For