Sunday podcast worship links and other news: June 27

 

June 27 St Peter and St Paul Online Morning Worship podcast   Morning service sheet       Hymn words (both services) Evensong podcast  Evensong service sheet Don't forget that you can also listen to a shortened version of the podcast by phoning 01732 928061 -  if you know someone who doesn't "do" the internet, please pass on the number to them. It costs the same as any phone call to a Sevenoaks number. In Church 10 am Holy Communion with a hymn outside the church after the service. 2pm Baptism in church - please pray for Macy, Sidney and Leo 4pm Outdoor Church in the churchyard. With two hymns, a Bible story, and prayers. Very relaxed and informal - come along and join us.  6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion    Numbers limited to 35 people. Facemasks required unless medically exempt. Services are said, with recorded music – there is no singing in church, but we do now have permission to sing outside, so there will be a congregational hymn at the end of the 10 am service outside.   During the week, in person and on Zoom - email for Zoom links ZOFFEE - informal chat on Zoom at 11.15 am Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86194321991?pwd=RjJlNWZTK0ZCcTY3QU1oaWcrcW5idz09 Meeting ID: 861 9432 1991 Passcode: 471456 Wednesday Zoom Church 11am - email for the link   Wednesday 5-5.30pm Children's Choir  in the church hall garden from 5-5.30pm Wednesday Zoom Adult choir 7.15pm contact philiplebas@gmail.com for the link to join in with some simple hymn singing together. Friday - 9.30 Morning Prayer. A short, socially distanced service in church. Bible readings, psalms and prayers to start the day Anyone is welcome. You can see the service sheet here. Friday Group - 10.30-12 noon in the church hall garden The Feast of St Peter and St Paul   2 Cor 4.5-15, John 21.15-22 Today marks our Patronal Festival, the feast of the saints to which our church is dedicated (It's actually on June 29, but we celebrate it on the nearest Sunday). St Peter and St Paul is a popular dedication in this part of the country, probably because when St Augustine brought Christianity back to South-East England, he also brought a particular devotion to Peter and Paul, who were the Patron Saints of the city of Rome the centre of Western Christianity. Although we can’t celebrate in the way we normally would, with uplifting hymns and music from the choir, and a strawberry tea in the afternoon, this can still be a day of thanksgiving for the life of our church, and a chance to ponder the lives of these two very influential figures in the Church’s story. Both were early Christian leaders, right at the start of the Church’s history. Peter had been a close friend of Jesus’, who, despite his impulsive nature and tendency to put his foot in it, was called by Jesus the “Rock on which I will build my church”. Paul had initially been opposed to the Christian message, persecuting the early Church, but after having a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus, he changed his mind. Perhaps surprisingly, the Christians he had been hell-bent on arresting and killing forgave him and welcomed him, something which it is clear affected him profoundly. His letters speak often about the importance of love, and the inclusive message of God which is for all, “Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female”. Today’s sermon explores the legacy of these flawed human beings who found the love of God in their own failures and troubles. ALL AGE IDEAS   Today is our Patronal Festival, the Feast of St Peter and St Paul, the saints our church is named after. Draw a picture of the church building, It is over 800 years old. Imagine all the people who have been part of the church in that time. Why do you think it has been special to them?  What kind of church do you think it should be, and how can you make it be like that? Would you like us to pray for you? Email your prayer requests to: sealchurchprayer@gmail.com Your email will be read by Anne Le Bas and Kevin Bright, the Vicar and Reader of Seal Church who will hold you in their prayers.  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWs CHURCHYARD RECORDING Sat July 3 from 10am-12noon  Can you help? The first churchyard mapping session will be next Saturday July 3 from 10am – 12 noon. Anyone of any age will be welcome to come along and help us record who is buried where, and instructions will be given on the day to do this. It will simply be a matter of writing down the names and dates on headstones on a form, so that we can make a proper churchyard map. Children and families are welcome, and there will also be some churchyard wildlife spotting resources available, so you can explore this rich natural habitat as well.   CHURCH CLEANERS WANTED We could do with a couple more people to come onto the church cleaning rota. This would involve a commitment to cleaning the church with someone else, once a month at a time to suit you. If you think you can help, please contact Marion Gilchrist, marionjgilchrist@gmail.com, 07909 905975. If you would like to know what it might involve there is a description of the role here.                                                     Jess Heeb asked me to pass on her thanks for the gift and good wishes of the church when she was licensed last month as a Lay Minister. I have put a card from her on the noticeboard.   OUTDOOR CHURCH The weather looks rather uncertain for this afternoon’s Outdoor Church at 4pm. If at all possible, we will go ahead, but if you are planning on coming, you might like to check the church website www.sealpeterandpaul.com  before you set out (and bring waterproofs to wear/sit on!   MORNING PRAYER ON FRIDAYS Jess and I are saying Morning Prayer together on Friday mornings at 9.30 in church. If anyone would like to join us for this small service, you’d be very welcome. You don’t need to bring anything with you – the service sheet will be available when you get there, but if you want to have a look at the service (or pray it yourself at home when it is convenient for you) I will happily send you one.   FRIDAY GROUP - This group is meeting weekly on Fridays from  10.30 – 12 noon in the Church hall garden, or inside in socially distanced groups of six if necessary. Come along and join them for an informal natter in the sunshine (we hope…) HYMN OF THE WEEK Lord for the years   This hymn was written in 1962 by Timothy Dudley-Smith, who has lots of local connections here, having been educated at Tonbridge School and ordained by Bishop Chavasse of Rochester.   Dudley-Smith, who was born in 1926, went on to become Bishop of Thetford, in the Diocese of Norwich, but is best known as a prolific hymn writer, who has written over 400 hymns including, from our hymn books “Tell out my Soul”, “Faithful vigil ended”, “Fill your hearts with joy and gladness” and set to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy His hymns have a great ability to express Christian truths in language which is modern enough for people to understand without being trite, a good indication that they will stand the test of time.   “Lord for the years” is a hymn often sung at anniversaries or thanksgivings, so it is very appropriate for our Patronal Festival, which is a celebration of our church’s life, as well as of the saints themselves. It encourages us to give thanks for what has been and seek strength as we go forward.     1 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today. 2 Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us, speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: Lord of the word, receive Your people's praise. 3 Lord, for our land in this our generation, spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care: for young and old, for commonwealth and nation, Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer. 4 Lord, for our world when we disown and doubt him, loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain, hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him: Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign. 5 Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us - self on the cross and Christ upon the throne, past put behind us, for the future take us: Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

Timothy Dudley-Smith, now 94, introduces his hymn at the New Year of 2020/21. PRAYER OF THE WEEK   A prayer of St Paul Ephesians 3.14-21 I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.     A prayer from St Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus this week, in honour of his feast day, that we might “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”, which is, of course, logically impossible – but that’s Paul’s point. God’s love always goes beyond our logic and imagination. AND FINALLY...   Royal Mail responds to post box bonnets by yarn bomber https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19380827.royal-mail-responds-post-box-bonnets-yarn-bomber/   By David Morgan  DMorganguardianReporter   Royal Mail speaks out about all the yarn bombed post boxes as more appear in Warrington ROYAL Mail has responded to the post box toppers that have been seen all over Warrington. A mystery group of yarn bombers have been painstakingly creating crocheted 'bonnets' for post boxes with the latest ones spotted in Lymm.  Lymm Each bonnet is different and often carries some relevance to where it was placed. For example, the post box near the Lower Dam has ducks on it as that is where Lymm Duck Race is held. Stockton Heath And there is a Cuthbert topper near Aldi in Stockton Heath in reference to the the supermarket's caterpillar cake battle with M&S. They have spreading much needed cheer throughout Warrington.