Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: Sept 19

 

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 (weather permitting)  6.30pm  Breathing Space Holy Communion During the week Wednesday@10 am Zoom Church - please email sealpandp@gmail.com for the link                          5pm  Children's choir                          7.15 pm Choir Friday              9.30 am Morning Prayer in Church                               10.30-12 noon   Friday Group in the church hall Saturday          1 pm Memorial service Trinity 16 In today's Gospel reading, Jesus realises that an argument has broken out between his disciples as they have walked along the road. When he asks them what it is about, they are silent, but he knows that at the heart of it is a conflict about which one of them is "greatest".  In the sermon, I explore what this might mean and how we might reflect on our own hunger to win arguments, and come out on top in disputes.  Jesus' response to his disciples is to take a small child in his arms and tell them that the most important thing they can do is to learn to welcome "such as these" - those who are small, apparently insignificant and often needy.  The picture on the right is a depiction of this incident by the German artist Fritz von Uhde (1848-1911). He was the son of a Lutheran pastor, and often painted Biblical scenes set in the context of the German villages and landscapes he knew. In this picture, we see the disciples portrayed as local villagers. The man in the centre of the group of disciples looks at the other man with a somewhat sceptical smile, as if to say "What is Jesus going on about now? What does this little child have to teach us?" The child stands bathed in sunlight, as if she has been brought into a spotlight, however, while the disciples stand in the shadows. In response to this story, we might like to ponder who we find it hard to make time and space for in our lives, and why that is. ALL AGE IDEA   Talk about how it feels to be made welcome and how it feels when we aren't. How do you think the child in the picture above might have felt when Jesus came to talk to her and hold her hand? Make a "welcome" sign to go by the door in your home so that people coming in can see it. 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. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he describes God’s work of salvation not just (or even mainly) in terms of the individual, but as something which affects the whole of creation. In Christ, God restores everything, and creation “groans” as if it is in labour, bringing a new world into being. The signs of this new birth should be able to be seen, says Paul, in the lives of the Christian community, the “first fruits” of this new creation. How has your faith changed you? What are the fruits you can see in your own life? How do you think we can listen to the world “groaning” for change in our own age? More resources for  reflection during Creationtide can be found here. https://bit.ly/38msy0o   CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS PCC REPORT At our PCC meeting last Thursday we heard updates on the installation of the new boiler (hopefully to be completed in the next week or two), and the transformation of the north aisle and back of the church. As always we discussed safeguarding, which is a standing item on the agenda, and I reported on some changes to the processes for safer recruitment and safeguarding training. We also discussed how we might handle some of the big services and events in the coming months, like All Souls, Remembrance and the Christmas services. Much remains uncertain and depends on what happens with Covid, but the PCC is committed to trying to find safe and creative ways of marking these important moments in the year.   PEW MOVING NEXT WEEK. We need to move some of the church pews, in order to complete the transformation of the north aisle and the area around the new tea station. As some of the pews we are moving are very long and heavy , we plan to do this next Sunday (26th) after the 10 am service, enlisting any able bodied people who can help (please do not attempt this if you have back problems or any other issues which might make it dangerous for you!) If you can help, we would be very grateful.   SCARECROWS. It’s that time again! Join in our Scarecrow Festival this year – no competition, just a bit of fun. There is no competition this year - 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 2nd Sat of each month and several of those wishing to take part depend on volunteer drivers getting them there and back.  Could you spare a couple of hours 3 or 4 Saturday afternoons a year to help transport? Please contact Barbara Martin on 07775861562.  Revd Canon Anne Le Bas For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/

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.