Rector s Letter Dear Friends Last month I was once again privileged to attend the Summer Festival at St Mary s Hospital, in St Martin s Square. It is always a lovely occasion, involving a communion service (BCP) in the chapel, followed by lunch in a marquee in the grounds. All the residents take part, together with such friends and family members as they wish to invite, and the Dean and Chapter are also invited in their capacity as trustees. St Mary s is a remarkable institution, founded at the end of the thirteenth century, and is a peaceful oasis in the midst of our city. In recent years its facilities have been expanded and modernised, and it offers high quality accommodation for elderly people of limited means who value its Christian foundation and ethos. The custos and warden and their staff do an excellent job in supporting the residents, both spiritually and practically, and services are held in the chapel almost every day. It is well worth visiting, if you ever get the chance. The other famous almshouse in Chichester is the one founded by William Cawley on the east side of Broyle Road, near the Festival Theatre. William Cawley was a seventeenth century citizen of Chichester, and served the city as its Member of Parliament in the years prior to the Civil War. He is notorious for having been one of the regicides, who signed the death warrant of King Charles 1, and he subsequently fled to Switzerland to avoid arrest and execution. The chapel of his almshouse is dedicated to St Bartholomew, and every year services are held there on St Bartholomew s Day to honour him and other benefactors of our city, and also to pray for our Queen and her parliament. This year we shall mark St Bartholomew s Day (Thursday 24 August) by holding both morning and evening prayer in the chapel, according to the order of the Book of Common Prayer. They will be said at 9am and 5.30pm respectively and you are all warmly invited. The chapel is a beautiful place in which to worship, and an important part of Chichester s history. Although Cawley died in Vevey in 2
Switzerland (in 1667, just a few years after the BCP was reinstated in its 1662 form), there are those who are insistent that his body was secretly brought back to Chichester and interred beneath the chapel floor. In former times the care of the poor and elderly in Chichester depended upon the generosity of individuals like William Cawley, and the wealth of the Church. Today we are, of course, fortunate in having social care provided by both the public and private sectors, and within our parish we have a number of residential and care homes in which we hold communion services on a regular basis. Please pray for their work, and for those who serve our society in such an important way as carers and health care visitors often on very low incomes. Many of you will also be aware of the recent launch of Anna Chaplaincy in Chichester, offering support to elderly people and valuing their gift of years, and I am delighted that members of St Paul s are represented on its steering committee and that we have been able to offer an office base for its chaplain and administrator. The pastoral care of the elderly must be high among the priorities of all churches, and Anna Chaplaincy is an excellent ecumenical initiative. I do hope you all have a restful time during August. With my prayers and best wishes Fr Simon St Bartholomew s Day: Thursday 24 August Join us for morning prayer (9am) or evening prayer (5.30pm) at St Bartholomew s Chapel, William Cawley Mews, in Broyle Road. 3 Parish Office Closed Please note that the office will be closed for one week from 6th to 13th August.
Launch of Chichester Anna Chaplaincy an extract from the recent Gift of Years Newsletter The Chichester Anna Chaplaincy has been officially launched in style with a grand tea-time garden party in the city. Two hundred guests gathered to celebrate in a large marquee set in the beautiful Bishop s Palace gardens. Refreshments included delicate cakes and sandwiches very kindly prepared and donated by the cathedral s Cloisters café. There was even a specially iced celebration fruit cake baked by one of the team members behind the project to mark this auspicious event. The reception included guests from several care homes, local authorities, St Wilfrid s Hospice and church members representing many denominations in the city. Newly appointed Chichester Anna Chaplain, Lou Lou Morris, said she was greatly looking forward to her new role in the community. Lou Lou is a licensed lay minister (LLM) and a gifted tapestry artist. As Chichester s first Anna Chaplain, she joins The Gift of Years network, now numbering more than 40 people including men and women who have very similar community-based ministries among older people, who collectively will reach thousands of older people each year. Jill Phipps (Older Persons Advocate, Portsmouth Inner City Cluster Churches) and Beverley McArdle (Rest Homes Team Leader for the Brighton and City Mission) were both there to meet and congratulate their new colleague. Debbie Thrower, team leader of The Gift of Years, officially commissioned Lou Lou, as well as the trustees, steering group members and several new Anna Friends who will be volunteering alongside her. Chichester Anna Chaplaincy's team, including several Anna Friends 4
LOST CHURCH Why we must find it again A conference for those who value traditional parish ministry - though they may not understand why - and are concerned for its future within the Church of England to be led by the Reverend Canon Dr Alan Billings at St Paul s Church, Chichester on Saturday 23 September from 10.15am to lunchtime Past Editions of St Paul s News&Events Magazine A full article about the Lost Church Conference can be found in last month s magazine. All editions of the magazine are posted on our website, but if you would like a printed copy of any previous edition these can be requested from the office. Alternatively a digital copy can be sent to you - just email the editor (address on page 11) The Licensing of the Reverend Rachel Hawes The Revd Rachel Hawes is to be licensed as Associate Rector of our Benefice by Bishop Martin on Wednesday 6 September at St Peter s, Westhampnett, at 7.30pm. We warmly invite you all to this special service, as we welcome Rachel in her new ministry among us. Refreshments will be served afterwards in a marquee in the church grounds. 5
Diary All events at St Paul s unless stated otherwise. Everyday: 9am Morning Prayer; 5:30pm Evening Prayer Su 30 July Seventh Sunday after Trinity M 31 July Tu 1 Aug 8am 12:15pm W 2 Aug 3:30pm 6:30pm Th 3 Aug 2:30pm Holy Communion Parish Baptism of Gracie Stott and Sophia Goodwin at Marriott House Healing Centering Prayer Group F 4 Aug 11:30pm at Wellington Grange Sa 5 Aug Su 6 Aug The Transfiguration of Our Lord 8am 3pm M 7 Aug Parish Office Closed All Week Tu 8 Aug 8am W 9 Aug Th 10 Aug Holy Communion Parish (Stonepillow Donations&Traidcraft Stall) 'Tea, Chat & BCP' at St Michael's Mothers' Union Coffee Morning at 34 Little Breach (no Ladies' Group this month) F 11 Aug 10:30am at Byron Court Sa 12 Aug Su 13 Aug Ninth Sunday after Trinity M 14 Aug 8am Tu 15 Aug 8am W 16 Aug Th 17 Aug Holy Communion Parish (no Meet 'n' Eat Lunch this month) (not Mothers' Union this month) 6 p 10
F 18 Aug Diary All events at St Paul s unless stated otherwise. Everyday: 9am Morning Prayer; 5:30pm Evening Prayer Sa 19 Aug 10:30am TWAM Day at Chichester Baptist Church p 12 Su 20 Aug Tenth Sunday after Trinity M 21 Aug 8am Tu 22 Aug 8am W 23 Aug Holy Communion Parish Th 24 Aug St Bartholomew s Day 9am 2:30pm 5:30pm Quiet Garden at Fishbourne Church Hall (no Ladies' Group this month) Morning Prayer at St Bartholomew s Chapel Centering Prayer Group Evening Prayer at St Bartholomew s Chapel F 25 Aug 11:30am at Augusta Court Sa 26 Aug 2pm Su 27 Aug Eleventh Sunday after Trinity M 28 Aug Tu 29 Aug 8am W 30 Aug 8am 12:15am Th 31 Aug 2:30pm F 1 Sep 12noon Sa 2 Sep Wedding of Elanor Loveman and Nathaniel Steele Holy Communion Parish Baptism of Faith Pedley Centering Prayer Group Su 3 Sep Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Sep 8am 3pm Wedding of Ann Roberts and Peter Gray 7 p 3 p 3 Holy Communion Parish (Stonepillow Donations&Traidcraft Stall) 'Tea, Chat & BCP' at St Michael's
Pastoral Care: Giving or Receiving? Since March this year access to the Pastoral Care Helpline has been through the Parish Office (01243 533403) From 1 st March we have received only five requests for help of any kind, despite the phone number appearing every week in the Pew Sheet and cards placed at the back of the church with details of the services offered. The Pastoral Care team is uncertain how to interpret this limited response. Is everyone at St Paul s feeling fully cared for, are the other services offered meeting the needs of the congregation, or are some people feeling that contacting this line may be to admit dependence or weakness? Paul says, we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) This saying of Jesus is not found in the gospels and I wonder if it has been properly understood. It does indeed seem natural to enjoy being a giver rather than a receiver, showing strength by giving rather than weakness in receiving. In an equally familiar passage Paul describes how the Lord said to him My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. (2Cor. 12:9) Giving is rewarding but receiving requires God s grace so that we may experience His power. At times we all require support and asking for it requires grace. Although it isn t always easy to accept help it does offer to the giver the joy of service, making the receiver the giver. Just ask! 8 Christmas Lunch 2017 We are hoping to host a Christmas Lunch in the Parish Centre again on 25th December 2017. It will be for anyone, single or couples, who feel they would be on their own on that day and would like a great meal with lots of company. If you would like to be included or if you know someone who would, please speak to Margaret Phillips 527961 or Margaret Heald. There may be a small donation this year as we do not have a sponsor at the moment.
From the Director of Music: 'Your choir needs you!' We are very lucky at St Paul's to have a strong musical tradition: a great team of organists, a music group, and a large choir! However, I always feel the choir could be larger, especially amongst the children's section! It is an exciting and social group to be part of and the time commitment is not huge. There can't be many parish choirs in the area who have joined forces with other Choral Societies to sing lots of glorious music. Add to that our incredibly strong links with our musical brothers and sisters at the Paul Gerhardt Church, Berlin. The choir will be due to tour Germany again in the next year or so, singing the first part of Handel's Messiah. As a choir we have had the privilege of having several pieces written specially for us. Most recently 'The Tree of Peace' - a mini cantata first performed by ourselves and The Alt Schoenberg Choir. We are starting to sing evensongs in the cathedral again as we hope to raise our profile not just within our church but in the surrounding area. That said, we do need some more voices. Our children's numbers have dipped slightly and it would be good to add to this quite significantly. Rehearsals are on a Thursday night from 6.15-7.30 for the children. Adults join in from 7.00 and stay until 8.00. Please feel free to mention our recruitment drive to anyone you might think would be interested. I am available for a chat most Sundays or can be contacted by work email: chris@stpaulschichester.org 9
Odd Jobs?? Duncan Smith (16), older brother of Tommy and son of Jane (both in the choir) has been offered the opportunity to spend a week at NASA Houston next spring. This is through his participation in the Air Cadets. Duncan needs to raise money to help fund the trip and would like to do any odd jobs window cleaning, grass cutting, car washing.. Jane & Tommy Please ring Jane on 07815 865030 if you have any suitable jobs for Duncan to do. Thank you in advance. Duncan Mothers' Union do not have a meeting in church this month but meet for a Coffee orning on Wednesday 9 August - 12noon at 34, Little Breach when anyone is welcome to come. There is no Meet n Eat lunch this month. The next lunch will be on 20 September. For more information contact Felicity Heath on 789214 St Paul s Fellowship of the 3rd Age (F3A) have no meetings in August. Their next meetings are early in September as follows: 8 Sept 2:45pm Afternoon Group at 4 Drayman s Mews (789003). The topic will be Faith, Certainty and Doubt. 8 Sept 7:15pm Evening Group at 65 Maplehurst Road (527859). The topic will be Fundamentalism: Certainty and Doubt. 10
Hello I thought you would be interested to know that I am doing the Great South Run again in October this year again for the Encephalitis Society a great charity supporting the thousands who, like me, have experienced this illness. (www.encephalitis.info) If anyone would like to sponsor me they could speak to me or go to: www.justgiving.com/jonathan-harry3 Thanks! Jonathan Harry Contact Information St Paul s Church, Office open: Mon-Fri 9am-1pm Churchside, Telephone (office): 01243 533403 CHICHESTER, Email: office@stpaulschichester.org PO19 6FT Website: www.stpaulschichester.org The Revd. Canon Simon Holland 779089 simon@stpaulschichester.org The Revd. Martha Weatherill 276765 mthrmartha@gmail.com Director of Music: Chris Larley 775879 chris@stpaulschichester.org Youth Worker: Liz Yonge 780101 youth@stpaulschichester.org Pastoral Care Helpline 533403 (answerphone outside office hours) The publication deadline for September s monthly newsletter is 2pm on Thursday 31 August 2017. Items can be submitted to the editor by email to hsmith94@hotmail.co.uk or as hardcopy to the monthly newsletter pigeonhole in the office. The September edition will be available from Sunday 3 September 2017. 11
A Christian charity sending tools across the world. Donated tools are refurbished in the UK, packed into trade kits and sent to Africa, Asia, the Americas and Eastern Europe where lives are transformed by your donated tools. You are invited to a TWAM Day on Saturday 19 August at Chichester Baptist Church where you can find out through presentations and question sessions about the work of TWAM and how you can help. The day starts with at 10:30am and finishes at 2pm. Coffee and a buffet lunch are provided. There is no entry charge but there will be a retiring collection towards the work of TWAM and the costs of the day. See posters and information leaflets for more details on the TWAM day and the work of the charity. 12