Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: March 27

 

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 - March 27: Mothering Sunday 10 am  Holy Communion for Mothering Sunday: Preacher: Anne Le             (with posies for children to give to their carers) 6.30pm Evensong (said) During the week Monday              9.30- 11.30 Seal Tiddlers in the church hall                             2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz cafe (Seal High Street)                             8- 9.30pm  Online Lent Course  Wednesday       10.30 am Zoom Church                            5 pm  Children's Choir                            7.15pm Adult Choir    Thursday           9 am Seal School Easter Service in church                            10 am Lent Group in church hall (session starts at 10.30)                             1.30 (time tbc) Seal School Easter Service in church                        Friday                9am Seal School Easter Service in church                                   (yes, we are doing this three times - there are a lot of children to fit in!)                              10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Saturday             10-11 Talking Village in the library Sunday April 3: Lent 5 10 am   Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong Lent 4 Exodus 2.1-10, Luke 18.15-17 Today is Mothering Sunday, a day full of complex emotions. For some it is a day of simple thanks for their mothers, but for others there may be far more complex emotions swirling around - grief for a lost mother or child, anger, resentment or guilt about a relationship which has gone wrong, or sadness that people haven't been able to have a child. Families come in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes; mothering and "childing" aren't simple. That's why it is so good that, for the Church at least, this is "Mothering Sunday" and not "Mother's Day". While we bring our diverse experience - whether good and problematic -  of earthly mothers to God in prayer today, we also recognise that mothering comes in many forms, and includes the mothering of God, and of the church and community, for us.  Today's sermon explores a little of what that might mean. The picture on the right is one of my favourite stopping points in the National Gallery in London. It is by Nicolaes Maes, (1634 - 1693) a Dutch artist who painted many scenes of everyday life, or, like this one, Biblical scenes which were set in his everyday world. The children in this picture are realistically depicted, wriggling, distracted, not knowing why they have been brought to this man. The parents too are recognisable, The mother of the child Jesus is blessing seems to be saying, "Turn around! This is an important thing that's happening!" Jesus' attention is calmly focussed on the little girl though. He is giving her his full attention, even if she isn't giving him hers, cherishing her just as she is. Maes and his wife Adriana Brouwers, the widow of a preacher, had three children of their own, one of whom died in childhood, and it looks, from his work, as if he was a hands-on, loving parent, from the way he paints children as real individuals.  ALL AGE IDEAS  Who cares for you? Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes! Make something for those who are special in your life to say thank you.  Have a look at the picture above. What do you think the children in the picture might be feeling and thinking? If you could meet Jesus, what would you want to ask him or say to him? What do you think he might say to you? Jesus says that if we want to find God at work in the world, we need to be like little children. What do you think he means? What is it like to be a little child? What do you want to remember about being a child when you grow up?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS MOTHERING SUNDAY  We will be celebrating Mothering Sunday today, and there will be bunches of flowers for any children present to give to their carers (mothers, fathers or others). Come along and join us. This is a chance to pray not only for mothers, but for any who care for us. We know it isn't an easy Sunday for everyone, which is why we also pray for and remember parents we have lost, parents who have lost children, those who would like to be parents but aren't, and families where there are problems. WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES? Many people want to respond to the war in Ukraine, and the desperate situation of refugees from this and other places of conflict. Aid agencies are clear that cash donations are the best way of giving. People often feel the urge to donate physical items - blankets, clothes etc. - but this can cause many more problems than it solves at the destination, and can make the job of helping people more difficult. You can donate through the Disasters Emergency Committee.  Many people are also wondering what we might be able to do to support refugees who come to our area. Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees has been organising local support for refugees from Syria and Afghanistan for some years now, and is exploring what they might be able to do for Ukraine.  The Sanctuary Foundation is a national organisation also seeking to help individuals and organisations help with providing housing and other support.  This is a fast-developing situation, and it is not clear  yet how refugees might be housed in this country, but our local MP Laura Trott is in contact with local clergy and others, so I hope I may have more news in coming weeks about what we can do.  CHILD AID The Bishop of Tonbridge has commended the work of Child Aid, a national charity which is based in Bromley, which has worked in Eastern Europe for many years with vulnerable children and families, and is now heavily involved in caring for families escaping from Ukraine, both in Ukraine and the countries that surround it. There will be a plate at the back of church today for cash donations for them, but you can also support their work by donating online if you would like to.  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 - This coming Saturday, and every 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. Last session of the term this Monday. KYN get together There will be a Know Your Neighbours Get Together in the Village Hall on Saturday April 23, from 11-12noon, when we hope many local organisations will be present to show off what they do.  If you represent any local group or special interest, contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to arrange to come along.  As part of this we are organising a seed and plant swap, so hang onto your extra seeds and plants to share.  JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THIS, RUNNING ACTIVITIES, GAMES ETC - NOW IS THE MOMENT TO VOLUNTEER! .   Kerry’s Pets Meadow Challenge Kerry has hidden some things in her window scene. Can you find them? Quiz sheets are available from Kerry and Deniz next door for 50p cash. All entries will be put into a prize draw for a £10 Kerry’s Pets Voucher. Proceeds to Folly Wildlife Trust.  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 PARISH COUNCIL WILDFLOWER PROJECT - REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR NEXT WEEK'S SESSION! Following on from our wildflower talk from the Kent Wildlife Trust's WILD ABOUT GARDENS team, are running a series of zoom sessions this winter on WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN, This is a great way of encouraging wildflowers and pollinators to your garden, This, is combination with our wildflower verges project, will also help create joined up 'pathways' for bees, butterflies and other key pollinators in our parish. Details of the events can be seen on the Parish Council website, but the zoom sessions cost £5 a session, and are as follows:- Sat March 26th 11-12.30 - Using weeds and wildflowers in a garden to attract bees, butterflies and moths. SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes! 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.