Sunday Worship link and other news: August 22

 

Dear friends Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today. with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast        Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061 In the church building 10 am   Holy Communion 4pm      Outdoor Church in the churchyard (weather permitting - which it may not today!) 6.30pm Evensong During the week Wednesday 10 am Zoom Church - email sealpandp@gmail.com for the link Friday 9.30 am Morning Prayer in Church  Trinity 12 Joshua 24.1-2a, 14-18,  John 6.56-69 Today's Gospel reading is the last in a series  in the lectionary for this season which focus on John's version of the story of the Feeding of the 5000. It all started so well, with a free lunch provided in the middle of nowhere when Jesus multiplied a little child's gift of five loaves and two fishes, but then people started to realise that there was more to following him than just turning up for the bread. He was calling them to a radical new way of life, which would feed them with life forever.   In the Old Testament Reading, Joshua offers the people of Israel a radical choice too. Who will they follow? Whose laws will they obey? The God who has brought them across the desert, or the gods of the people they are now surrounded by.  Both readings challenge us to think about what gives us life, what really matters. ALL AGE IDEA Think about the things which help you to keep going when you feel down or discouraged. Draw a picture of them or make a list and keep it somewhere where you can see it. If there are people on your list, why not let them know how much they matter to you. CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWs   REVD KEITH BLACKBURN R.I.P I am sorry to have to pass on the news that Revd. Keith Blackburn, my predecessor as vicar here at Seal, died early last week at the College of St Barnabas, a retirement home for clergy in Lingfield. Many people will remember him, as I do, with fondness and appreciation for his ministry here. The date for his funeral, which will take place at Seal, has not yet been fixed, and there will be limits on numbers able to attend, as the family want it to be as Covid-safe as it can be, but I will let you know more about the arrangements when I have them. I am sure you will want to hold Keith’s family in your prayers at this sad time.   ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORSHIP We will sing a hymn at the beginning of the 10 am service inside the church. The final hymn will be sung outside as before, unless it is raining. Please keep your masks on to sing! I am also now offering the option of receiving a wafer which I will briefly dip in the communion wine immediately before giving it to you. If you would rather just have the wafer, please shake your head at me before I dip it. There is no pressure to receive the wine in this way if you would rather not!   SEAL CHOIR will be starting to rehearse again on Wed Sept 8th  at 7.30 pm in church. As we rebuild the choir after Covid we are keen to encourage any new members to come and join us. You don’t have to be a brilliant singer, or have any prior knowledge of music to join in – we welcome all comers and will help you learn to read music if that is something you struggle with. We also welcome those who can’t commit themselves regularly, but might be able to help out for special services. Please contact Philip Le Bas philiplebas@gmail.com to find out more. THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR will also be restarting its new term on Wed Sept 8th, at 5pm in the church hall.   SCARECROWS… We will be holding our scarecrow festival again this year, from mid- September to mid-October. It isn’t a competition, just a bit of community fun, and the more scarecrows we have the better!  If you have nowhere to display your scarecrow in the village, we can find you a space! Please contact Marion Gilchrist or  me if you want to know more.   RIDE AND STRIDE The annual “Ride and Stride” in support of Kent’s historic churches (including our own) will be taking place on Saturday 12 Sept. A group will be doing a short walk to Kemsing Church, led by Andrew and Lise Michaelides, and there may be the possibility that I will lead a longer walk, continuing to Wrotham and Borough Green, and then returning by public transport (or your own private arrangements for lifts) if there is a demand. If you would like to join us on either the short or the long walk please let me know. Revd Canon Anne Le Bas

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. Please tell us if you would like us to contact you.