Sunday Podcast Worship links and other news July 11

 

July 11 Trinity 6 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. 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 Evensong 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 on Sunday Monday Good Book Club at 11am in the vicarage garden, or in church in groups of six if wet.  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 7.15 email philiplebas@gmail.com for the link 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 Trinity 6   Amos 7.7-16, Mark 6. 14-29 Today’s Gospel reading is a poignant and powerful one, a story of the squalid execution of a John the Baptist whose only  “crime” is to speak truth to power. What is worse, his death comes about because Herod, a paranoid dictator, doesn’t want to lose face in front of his friends, and is prepared to collude with the whims of his wife and step-daughter, who want to see the end of a man who has shone an uncomfortable light on their domestic arrangements. John the Baptist isn’t raised from the dead, as Herod fears, but Herod discovers that killing the man does not kill the message…   There are many depictions of the beheading of John, some very much more gruesome and realistic than this one by Benozzo Gozzoli (1421 -1497) a pupil of Fra Angelico, but this version speaks powerfully of the way that cruelty and corruption can be happening in the midst of what looks like a sophisticated and lavish gathering, with Herod’s guests, in their fine clothing apparently not questioning what might be happening just out of sight.  The beheading is literally compartmentalised, split off from the rest of the scene by a grey wall, and Herodias and her daughter conspiring “behind the scenes” in the background of the picture, where Herodias holds John’s head on a platter on her lap. It is a reminder that, throughout human history, wealth and comfort have existed cheek by jowl with suffering, and have often been bought at the cost of that suffering. In today’s world, we might wonder who has made the nice clothes we wear, and in what conditions, and who is paying the price for luxuries we enjoy. ALL AGE IDEAS In the Old Testament reading the prophet Amos sees a vision of God holding a plumb line, something builders use to make sure they are building things straight. God was telling Amos to tell the leaders of his people that they must do the right thing otherwise the nation wouldn't be strong, just as a wall that isn't built straight will fall down. You could build something out of bricks and find out what happens if the bricks aren't properly on top of each other or the surface you build on isn't level.  Today's Gospel story: the death of John the Baptist. 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 JESS HEEB You will remember that Jess has recently been licenced as a Lay Minister. I can now tell you, that she has also been going through the C of E discernment process for ordained ministry, exploring whether she might be called to be ordained as a priest. I am delighted to be able to pass on the news that, following an online Bishops’ Advisory Panel the week before last, she has been recommended for training for ordination. Jess will be training on the local non-residential scheme, so she will be with us for the next two years for her practical training while also studying part-time with St Augustine’s college, which is based at West Malling. Sadly, once she is ordained, she and Jonathan will move on as she will need to serve a curacy elsewhere, but we will have the privilege and joy of having them both with us for the next two years as Jess trains. We look forward to encouraging and helping her as her ministry develops.    AREA DEAN In another, (slightly less exciting) announcement, the Bishop has asked me to take on the role of Area Dean of Sevenoaks for the next few years. It is a role which involves supporting other local clergy and churches, and helping us work together in the Deanery. Area Deans do this on top of running their own parish, so it doesn’t make any difference as far as Seal Church is concerned - it just adds some extra work and responsibility for me! ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORSHP FROM JULY 19. Although most legal Covid restrictions will be lifted on July 19, we are very aware that the pandemic has not gone away and also that many people will still need to take extra care because of their own vulnerabilities or those of people they live with. Because of the added complication that I am taking time off from July 19-Aug 8, and that we haven’t yet got detailed guidance from the Church of England on how we should conduct worship in the coming weeks, we don’t propose to change the arrangements we have for worship at Seal until Aug 15 at the earliest. While we won’t be able to insist on people wearing face coverings from July 19, we would still like to recommend it, out of consideration for others, and we hope that people will still maintain a safe distance from one another. I will keep you updated on any decisions we make, but the principle will be that we will not rush into change – just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should or we will!   GOOD BOOK CLUB. We hope to have a “Good Book Club” Bible study session tomorrow at 11 am in the vicarage garden, but the weather forecast doesn’t look good. If you are hoping to come, please contact me so we can see what alternative plans we might make. OUTDOOR CHURCH I am hopeful that we will be able to go ahead with Outdoor Church today, but please check the website for updates if the weather looks doubtful.  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) you can find it here.    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…)   From Know Your Neighbours The Short Mat Bowls Club are back to meeting in the Village Hall every Thursday evening (but no session on July 15th), and they are looking to recruit some new members, so - is this something that may interest you? This is an activity which is really picking up in popularity with all age groups, so do let us know if you might be interested in joining, or pop along on a Thursday evening and speak to Alan. You can contact him for further information, by emailing jandadavies@hotmail.co.uk.   Please remember, if you have an unused laptop, or I pad, please think of donating them to Seal Primary School through us. Just email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com and I will arrange collection, and our faithful friend Derek, will prepare them for the childrens' use.   PRAYER OF THE WEEK    Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,   who has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,   born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets God promised of old  to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us, To show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear,  holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of all their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1.68–79   The Benedictus, or Song of Zechariah, is found only in Luke’s Gospel, where it is sung by the father of John the Baptist when his baby son is named. He praises God for this child, who he had never expected to see, as he and his wife Elizabeth didn’t seem able to have children and were old when John was born. It isn’t just the song of a doting father, enjoying holding his baby for the first time, but a song which looks forward to the ministry he knows this child will have, as the one who prepares people for the coming of the Messiah. He will help people to understand and receive the forgiveness of God. He looks forward to people seeing “the tender compassion of God” as “the dawn from on high” breaks upon them. It is this image of the dawn which led to the Benedictus being used in Morning Prayer from the very early days of the church. It is still prayed every day in Morning Prayer (Matins) in churches and homes around the world, in public and private prayer. HYMN OF THE WEEK Beauty for brokenness   Graham Kendrick’s hymn, Beauty for brokenness, was written after Kendrick visited India in 1992. According to his website It is inspired by what he saw there, and by the words of Psalm 107. 1-43, though it also echoes the words of Isaiah 61 which say that God wants “ to bestow on them a crown of beauty  instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning”.   Graham Kendrick (b. 1950) is a prolific singer/songwriter whose work (especially the very popular “Shine, Jesus, Shine” has made him one of the best known modern hymn writers. He began his career as a member of a Christian band, and a solo singer, and has numerous solo albums to his name. However, it is as a writer of worship songs that he is most famous. He now lives in Tunbridge Wells, and has been working on a technique he calls “Psalm Surfing”, the improvised singing of scripture, especially the Psalms, which takes worship music back to its origins as the improvised singing of scriptural words in community.     God Of The Poor (Beauty for brokenness)     Beauty for brokenness Hope for despair Lord, in the suffering This is our prayer Bread for the children Justice, joy, peace Sunrise to sunset Your kingdom increase!   Shelter for fragile lives Cures for their ills Work for the craftsman Trade for their skills Land for the dispossessed Rights for the weak Voices to plead the cause Of those who can't speak   God of the poor Friend of the weak Give us compassion we pray Melt our cold hearts Let tears fall like rain Come, change our love From a spark to a flame   Refuge from cruel wars Havens from fear Cities for sanctuary Freedoms to share Peace to the killing-fields Scorched earth to green Christ for the bitterness His cross for the pain   Rest for the ravaged earth Oceans and streams Plundered and poisoned Our future, our dreams Lord, end our madness Carelessness, greed Make us content with The things that we need   Lighten our darkness Breathe on this flame Until your justice Burns brightly again Until the nations Learn of your ways Seek your salvation And bring you their praise   Graham Kendrick Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music, www.grahamkendrick.co.uk

Performed by Joy and Ruth Everingham © 2020 AND FINALLY... My memory is that when Liz Mitchell (left) applied for the job of headteacher at Seal School, sheep-wrangling wasn’t in the job description. It’s good to see that she has mastered what is plainly now an essential skill. Check out the facebook page for the school farm (Search on Facebook for “The Good Life comes to Seal”), for more photos and videos. I know I’m not the only one who is looking forward to being able to visit the animals in person when we can.