A Happy and Healthy New Year to All!
Huge thanks are due to the many people who decorated our churches so beautifully over Christmas and for all the hard work that went on behind the scenes. Attendance at all services was up on the previous year and Christmas Day saw just short of a 100% increase! We give grateful thanks for this but also to Canon David Nason and John Manning for looking after us so well.
Alpha Course starting in January 2025
We will be running the 6-week Alpha Course in the Funtington Church Room starting on Wednesday 22nd January at 12:30pm for lunch, finishing around 2:30pm. This is hugely successful course with over 55,000 courses run worldwide, keenly supported by all the major Christian denominations. It consists of a series of videos and discussions focused on the questions of life, faith and meaning in an open, non-judgemental environment, accessible to all with no obligation if you decide it is not for you. Do get in touch and join us if you can. There is no charge. More details in the News and Events section of this site, but please contact Neil Watt (wattnwatt@gmail.com) or Eloise Rank (eloise@sennicotts.com) to enquire further and register your interest.
Our first Film Night
We will be showing "The Hundred Foot Journey" on 23rd January in the Funtington Church Room, 6:30pm for 7:00pm start. Everyone welcome. Refreshments will be available.
Important Anniversaries in 2025
2025 marks the 1,700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed and the 950th Anniversary of Chichester Diocese and Cathedral. Please see this short video featuring our three Bishops and the Dean HERE.
Click HERE to access the special website "Celebrating Faith" where you can find lots of information about activities in the Diocese during the year.
Sharing the Chalice during Communion
We have been reminded by our visiting priests that Bishop Martin instructed the Diocese last year that we should all be sharing the Chalice during the Act of Communion and not to intinct (dip our wafers in the wine). This is because drinking from the silver Chalice is less of an infection risk than dipping the wafer. We have been told that if we do not wish to drink from the Chalice we can take communion by sharing the bread only.
Interregnum News
We have agreed the name of our new Benefice, namely:
The Benefice of Chidham with Hambrook, Funtington, West Stoke with Sennicotts
We are in the closing phases of the recruitment process for our new vicar and the interview panel has been chosen by the PCC. The advertisement for the post went live on 8th January. Follow this link for details.
Please pray for the speedy appointment of the right person to lead us in our spiritual growth.
Parish Magazine Support
The Commissioning Editors of our much loved and widely respected Parish Magazine have received encouraging messages of support to enlarge the production and delivery team. Volunteers are still needed but we are making progress.
Vacancies on the PCC
We now have vacancies on the PCC if you think you may like to be more actively involved in the running of the Churches and Parish in the New Year. No previous experience is needed. Please contact any members of PCC or Carolyn Watt for an application form.
Please see the News and Events section for all other updates
Back numbers of the Parish Magazine are now available online from February 2024 back to April 2021 - see the menu above
