Sunday worship podcast link and other news: Sept 12

 

Dear friends Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today. Please note that there will be no Outdoor Church 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 2pm     Baptism No Outdoor Church this afternoon  6.30pm Evensong During the week Wednesday@10 am Lavender Fields Holy Communion (sorry, no outside visitors to this service for the time being). Friday 9.30 am Morning Prayer in Church  Trinity 15 Isaiah 50.4-9a, Mark 8.27-38 Kevin Bright is preaching today, and is reflecting on  the Gospel reading, which focusses on the relationship between Jesus and Peter - a relationship which wasn't always straightforward. Peter discovered things about himself which were challenging. The picture I've chosen to go with this Sunday's Gospel reading is actually one which was inspired by a later legend about Peter and Jesus. The Gospels don't tell us how Peter died, but tradition says that he eventually went to Rome. According to the legends, Peter could see that he was in danger, and decided to run away from Rome, and his impending death. As he headed out of Rome on the Appian Way, he had a vision of Jesus, heading into the city. "Where are you going?" asked Peter ("Quo vadis?" in Latin, which is the title often given to images of this moment.) "I am going to Rome to be crucified again", said Jesus. Shamed by the knowledge that he was abandoning his mission and ministry - he had lost his courage when Jesus was arrested and denied knowing him, and now he seemed to be doing  so all over again - Peter turned around and went back to Rome, where he was eventually executed by the Emperor Nero. Some legends say he was crucified upside down, not feeling worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus, although in reality it was unlikely he would have had a choice in the matter.  Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) captures the moment when Peter is challenged by Jesus, who looks straight at him. Peter seems to recoil, and is trying to avoid Jesus' gaze. The artist invites us to consider our own reactions. What do we do when faced with the choice between doing what is right and doing what is convenient or comfortable for us?  ALL AGE IDEA Draw a picture of a cross, or make one on out of sticks, lego or whatever else you have around. There are some ideas here https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ajlebas/good-friday/  Jesus tells his disciples that they must "take up their crosses". He means that following him and doing the right thing will sometimes feel difficult.  Talk about times when doing the right thing feels difficult for you. STORY OF THE WEEK – Mark 4.1-9 The stories of the week which I will be including here each week, will also feature in our Wednesday @10 sessions. These will alternate between Good Book Club (1st Wed in church hall), Zoom Church (2nd, 4th & 5th Weds online), and Lavender Fields Communion (3rd Wed), but you are welcome to follow along whether you can join us in person on Wednesdays or not. Jesus’ story of the sower who sows his seed on various different types of soil is one of his best known. Jesus uses this story drawn from the experience of sowing seeds, which everyone would know, to help his disciples think about the way that God’s word takes root (or doesn’t) in people’s lives.   Have you experienced times when your faith has felt as if it is struggling, on stony ground, choked by other distractions, withering for lack of care? How does the “ground” of your life feel at the moment?   More resources for  reflection during Creationtide can be found here. https://bit.ly/38msy0o   CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS Many thanks to Lise and Andrew Michaelides for organising our "Ride and Stride" efforts this year. Some of us did a short, but good walk, across the valley to Kemsing, and St Edith's well and church, enjoying coffee and pastries at Kemsing Deli! More pictures here. Thank you, too, to those who provided refreshments in Seal Church will were much appreciated by visitors here.  There will be a PCC meeting this Thursday (16th) on Zoom at 7.30pm.   SEAL CHOIR got off to a great start last week, with 17 members, some of whom were new. If you would like to join us, please get in touch. We are moving the time of this forward to 7.15pm (to 8.15pm) from this week onwards. 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 has also restarted and is meeting on Wednesday afternoons from 5pm in the church hall.   SCARECROWS. It’s that time again! Join in our Scarecrow Festival this year – no competition, just a bit of fun. Plan, design and display your scarecrow outside your home, or another agreed space in the village. Please contact Marionjgilchrist@gmail.com if you are stuck for ideas of where to display. Then - email her the address of where your scarecrow will be residing and his or her name. Marion will compile a list so that people can walk and hunt the scarecrows!   OVER 60S HELP NEEDED   The Over 60s meet every second Saturday of each month and several of those wishing to take part, are dependent on volunteer drivers getting them there and taking them home at the end of the session.  Could you spare a couple of hours 3 or 4 Saturday afternoons a year to help transport? Please contact Barbara Martin on 07775861562. For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ 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.