We had a great Messy Church this afternoon, thinking about the great diversity of creatures in the world. We made all sorts of animals and had great fun. Thanks to all who came and the "team" who got stuck in (quite literally) to help with the crafts and refreshments.
Our next Messy Church is on Sunday Nov 29 at 3pm, and it will have a Christmas theme.
Here are some pictures.
Milk bottle bird feeders
Paper chain snakes, and some good conversation.
Paper plate hedgehogs in the process of being painted.
Putting the Mess into Messy Church.
Balancing parrots lining up for a chat
Many thanks to Nicky for the cakes!
There already seems to be a parrot in this bird feeder!
Two Messy Churchers with a furry friend
Some of the huge variety of creatures we celebrated this afternoon.
Our rendition of "All God's creatures got a place in the choir might not have been quite as polished as this, but we enjoyed singing it anyway...
Latest editions
of In Review and In Focus now available for download
InReview
October's
edition of InReview, including details about the
Archbishops' response to the refugee crisis, update on the recent
Crossroads Mission and more, is available here.
In Focus
October's
edition of In Focus, including a CofE vicar winning Funeral
Celebrant of the Year, and more, is available here.
We're planning all sorts of crafts and activities for Messy Church this Sunday. We'll be thinking about the huge diversity of creatures in the world - so lots of animal crafts to make. Come along and join in. All ages are welcome - you don't have to have a child or be a child to join in. Why not invite a friend or member of your family to come along too?
Here are a few of the scarecrows I have found so far as I have walked around Seal. As you can see there is a huge variety of entries.
There should be a list out later in the week, and it's not to late to make yours. If you want us to judge your scarecrow you need to pick up a form (there are some on the noticeboard outside the church) and drop it either through the vicarage letterbox or Highland Printers, with your £5 entry fee. Most of all, though, this is just to make people smile - so do add your scarecrow!
This school girl is catching up with her reading on a windowsill in Childsbridge Lane.
A handsome couple
Scary Steve has an axe in his hand and seems to have chopped up a fellow robot scarecrow... Watch out, Seal!
A worn out farmer taking a rest
Here's Wally!
A cheerful scarecrow in Robinwood Drive
Probably the tallest of our scarecrows, also in Robinwood Drive.
Do we really have to think about Christmas yet...?
An acrobat from "The Cirque de Seal" entertains in Seal High Street.
This little chap is hiding in a flower pot.
Hmm... love the dress sense - a stylish scarecrow.
The new Minion Scout troup set up their camp in Seal.
A welcome sit down for a weary rambler.
And these two are mine, in the churchyard, looking as if they have enjoyed their wedding at Seal.
Many
Christians across Kent have become involved in issues surrounding the
camp of ayslum seekers, refugees and economic migrants in
Calais.There was a very good BBC Songs of Praise from Calais. Watch it
here until 14th September. The Baptist Union, Methodists
& United Reformed Churches have published a joint statement on
the issue, asking that public debate is grounded in values of
compassion and that decisions are made on the basis of facts, calling
churches to a prayerful response. Read it
here. Canterbury Cathedral is receiving donations for
those at the camp. More info
here. From chaplains at the Port of Dover, to a proposed
centre for unaccompanied minors in Whitstable, to those seeking to
offer practical aid to those in need in the camp from Folkestone and
other places, many Christians in Kent are engaging with this issue.
It would be good to hear from any who are actively involved. Please
ring Chris Ruddle, the County Ecumenical Officer, on 07808 728670 or email me.
Roch Tech
are running a free training day for those who operate the Sound
System at their local church. It is completely without cost, taking
place in Dover on Saturday 12th September. To book your place or
for more information go here.
Ride and Stride. Saturday 12th September.
Raise money for your church or chapel in partnership with 'Friends
of Kent Churches'. Get sponsored and visit as many churches as
possible on the day by bike (or walking). All denominations
welcome.
£2.5
million has laready been raised over the last ten
years. Churches are open all over Kent. There are sure to be
some in your area which you will be very welcome to visit. Click
here for more information,
then plan your own route to start and finish any time between 10am
and 6pm.
Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity 2016. Resources
are now available
to download from the CTBI website.
Christian
Aid resources for Harvest, focussed on the Dogon Plateau in Mali,
are available to download here.
The South
East Ambulance Service are in great need of chaplains, especially
in the Petts Wood, Ashford and Thanet areas. If you are authorised
for ministry by your denomination and could help with this please
call or e-mail Gary Colville, the Lead Chaplain for the emergency
services on 01634 685098, interimcolville@hotmail.com
Earthyear:
The Conversation,
we will hear from Church leaders from the Pacific nations of
Kiribati and Tuvalu. There will also be contributions from
the UK church, the world of politics and the oil industry.
Christian organisations working in the field will be there to
resource your thinking and action further. It will be a day
to change your life and … perhaps … change the world. Saturday 26th September,
St John's Church, Waterloo.Details
here.
Christian
Aid are encouraging us to ACT now for climate justice. Watch
the youtube clip here, Sign
the petition to be presented to world leaders in Paris
in December. Or hear more as Christian Aid's theology advisor, Rev
Dr Susan Durber talks on the link between Climate Change and
Poverty at Trinity URC church in Bromley on Tuesday 29th September.
Contact Anne
Rowan for more info.
Toolbox is
back in November. The excellent conference, which
attracts 100s of workers, is for all youth and children's workers.
It is organized by KEYCOG (the Kent Ecumenical Youth and Children's
Officers group). There are many great seminars including... the
spirituality of boys, forming a vision & strategy for your
work, engaging children in their faith in a digital world ... and
dozens more! More
info here.
Please
pray for the National Triennial conference of Churches Together in
England at the end of the month, 28-30 September. It is a gathering
of all 43 member churches, 49 county & intermediate bodies.
Together we represent the 2600 local churches together groups and
900 ecumenical partnerships. Please pray for wisdom as we meet
together. There are a few spaces which have just opened up today,
so anyone would like to go you can sign up
here. Do let me know if you're going.
Please put the Forum of Churches Together in Kent in your diaries: Saturday 5th March 2016.
This forum is for all Local Churches Together Groups, Single
Congregation LEPs & the various 'arms' of county level
ecumenical work to meet together with the denominational
leaders. Details to follow...
The Rugby
World Cup is a great opportunity for reaching out through sport to
our local communities. Download
resources here.
Please feel free to contact me if I
can be of any help at any time. I continue to be encouraged by the
good work going on across Kent as Christians spread the good news of
new life in Jesus Christ, across denominational boundaries. If you've
received this email from someone else and would like to get it
direct, click on 'update subscription preferences' below.
Your servant in Christ,
Chris Ruddle
County Ecumenical Officer
07808 728670
Please feel free to contact me if I
can be of any help at any time. I continue to be encouraged by the
good work going on across Kent as Christians spread the good news of
new life in Jesus Christ, across denominational boundaries. If you've
received this email from someone else and would like to get it
direct, click on 'update subscription preferences' below.