Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: Feb 6

 

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 today - Feb 6 10 am   Holy Communion: Preacher: Anne Le Bas 6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday              2-3.30pm Talking Village Wednesday       10 am Zoom Church                             5- 5.30 pm Children's Choir in the church hall                             7.15- 8.15 Choir Friday                 10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Sunday Feb 13 10 am   All Age Worship 6.30pm  Breathing Space Holy Communion The fourth Sunday before Lent Isaiah chapter 6, Luke 5.1-11 Today's readings both feature stories of people hearing God's call. Both Isaiah and Simon Peter are overwhelmed by this and feel unworthy. At first, all they can see in the light of God's goodness is the mess and frailty of their own lives. But the message is clear. God calls all of us to his service. His holiness does not destroy us, but recreates and heals us.  The image on the right is from St Mary's Church, Rye, and shows the moment when the astonished disciples try to haul in the fish they have caught after following Jesus' instruction to "put out into deep water and let down your nets".  Although Simon Peter had been sceptical at first. They, as experienced fishermen couldn't catch anything, so why should they listen to this carpenter's opinion? This is the moment when he realises that Jesus is far more than just a carpenter.  ALL AGE IDEA Isaiah saw a vision of God, with angels flying around him. It was the most splendid thing he had seen. What's the best thing you have ever seen. What was so good about it? Simon Peter was a fisherman, but in the story we hear today, he couldn't catch anything.  Play some "fishy" games. If you have a magnet, you could make a fishing game. Tie a magnet on a piece of string to a stick. Then make some paper fish and put paper clips on their noses. Try "fishing" for them with your fishing rod. How many can you fish out in one minute? Play "flap the kipper." Cut a fish shape out of paper. fold a newspaper or use a piece of card (around A4) size to use as a "flapper". Put the "kipper" on the floor and flap the "flapper" near to it, without touching it. Can you make the fish "swim" along the ground?

STORY OF THE WEEK     1 Samuel 17   Last week's story of the week was the anointing of the young shepherd boy, David, a sign that he was destined for a particularly important role. The reader is told that he is being anointed as future king, but  Samuel, who anointed him, never actually tells David or anyone else this. Saul was still firmly on the throne, with no intention of giving it up. In this week's story, the famous account of David's defeat of Goliath, we see why David will be a better king that Saul, though. He is clear that whatever he does, he only does with the help of God, but that, with God, anything is possible.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS We urgently need a new church Treasurer. Can you help? We are planning to buy in some bookkeeping services, but will still need someone to do some of the day to day financial tasks.  More details from the vicar. REFRESHMENTS - We have decided not to reinstate serving tea and coffee after services for the time being, as the Covid case rates are still so high locally.   MESSY CHURCH I had also hoped to restart Messy Church this month , but it seems wise to leave it until March 20 to do so, as Covid is rife in our local schools.  MASKS Although it is no longer compulsory to wear face coverings in church, we continue to encourage people to do so, in order to protect themselves and others.  ANN SIMPSON R.I.P.  Ann's funeral will be here at Seal Church, a place she came to love, on Thursday Feb 10 at 2pm, and her family have said that anyone who knew her would be very welcome to attend. We will all be holding Ann, her husband John and her daughters Nicky and Becky in our prayers.  TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - First Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. SEAL TIDDLERS   In Seal Church Hall £2 per session pre schoolers and parents/Carers Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 tea drinks snacks for children art activities singing. CHECK OUT THE KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS WEBSITE for details of what is planned for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend in June (among other things), and how to get involved. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/2022/02/kyn-update-feb-6.html Plans so far include an event on the allotments, history walks, Garden Safari and Big Lunch on the Rec. as well as an invitation to decorate your homes and gardens with "Royal" window scenes, "Royal" scarecrows. red, white and blue planting etc.  SEAL LIBRARY NEWS In February, the library will be highlighting matters relating to the 'Heart'. Please pop in to see the many poems and quotes, some well-known, some not so familiar, which will be the focus of the displays. If anyone would like to contribute a favourite they would like included, please let me know.   Clare will start the month off with a Valentine's theme free children's craft session on Saturday the 5th, from 11:00 am-12:30pm. All are welcome with an accompanying adult.   On Saturday 12th from 11-11:30 am Tim from ‘Sevenoakscpr’ charity will be providing a demonstration and answering questions on CPR and the use of a defibrillator (there is one located in the old red telephone box outside the village hall in the High Street). There is a signing up sheet in the library to help gauge the number of attendees. Please contact the library if you have any queries or wish to sign up.   The Reading Group meet on Tuesday 1st,2:00 - 4pm will be discussing January's book choices: The Heights by Louise Candlish - a psychological thriller about revenge and Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan – a eulogy on teenage friendship. They will also be collecting the February books.: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - a best-selling novel about a missionary family, who in 1959 move from the U.S. state of Georgia, USA to the village of Kilanga in the Belgian Congo, close to the Kwilu River. A Woman made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford – a recently published mystery set in Scotland in 1949.   Clare will be in the library on Friday the 25th (no sessions on 11th and 18th) for Baby Rhyme time at 10:15am -10:45am followed each week by Storytime at 10:45-11:15 am.  All pre-school children are welcome with an accompanying adult/s.  OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS - For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ or email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to ask to be put on her mailing list.