Sunday Worship podcast link and other news

 

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 - May 29 Easter 7 10 am  Holy Communion & Baptism 6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday             2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      No Good Book Club this month                           Thursday           JUBILEE -  Exhibition of Seal over the last 70 years opens in the village hall                               at 2pm- 6pm see details below.  Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall                            JUBILEE 10am - 2pm Seal History exhibition in the village hall Saturday            JUBILEE10am - 2pm Seal History Jubilee exhibition in the village hall                            JUBILEE 12 - 5pm Garden Safari - see details below                         Next Sunday - FEAST OF PENTECOST 10 am   Holy Communion  12 - 4pm JUBILEE - Seal Big Lunch on the Recreation Ground - see details below 6.30pm Evensong Easter 7 Acts 16.16-34 Today's sermon explores the story from the book of Acts of Paul and Silas in prison after they had healed an enslaved girl who was being exploited by her owners. What does it mean to be free? What is true freedom and how do we find it? ALL AGE IDEAS Todays first Bible reading tells the story of Paul and his friend Silas, who heal an enslaved girl who is being forced to work by her owners, telling people's fortunes. The owners are angry with Paul and Silas because of this, and they are put in prison.  Instead of being sad or angry, though, Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns in prison. Then there is an earthquake, and the prison doors burst open, but instead of running away, which will mean that the jailer is in trouble, they stay where they are. The jailer is so moved at their care for him, and their lack of fear in this terrible situation, that he asks to become a Christian too, and is baptised with all his household. He chooses to follow the way of Jesus, like Paul and Silas.  Make some paper chains, and think about what it might have been like to be in prison with Paul and Silas. Pray for prisoners today.  Paul and Silas were still giving thanks and praising God even in prison. What are you giving thanks for today? Sing a song together - how does singing make you feel?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   Jubilee celebrations in Seal Like the rest of the country, Seal village will be celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next weekend. Celebrations will include: From Thursday EXHIBITION OF SEAL THROUGH THE PAST 70 YEARS In the Village Hall The exhibition in the hall will be open during the following times:-  Thursday June 2nd from 2pm-6pm Friday June 3rd from 10am-2pm Saturday June 4th 10am - 2pm Sunday June 5th 10am - Noon Saturday  GARDEN SAFARI Seal Garden Safari is on Saturday 4th June for the Queen's jubilee celebrations. 12 - 5pm for the Kent Air Ambulance. Tickets can be bought from Seal Supermarket on the high street in advance for £5 or from 2 Zambra Way on the day for £6. There will be a grand raffle and plant sale at 2 Zambra Way TN15 0DJ. There are 12 gardens to visit and Lavender Fields are hoping to join in with a street party from 2.30pm with singing entertainment and refreshments. Do come along and support a local charity! And on Sunday... NO GOOD BOOK CLUB ON WEDNESDAY Following my mother's death last weekend, I need to go down to Exeter to begin arranging her funeral. I will not be available, therefore, from Tuesday to Thursday of next week, so there will be no Good Book Club this month. Thank you for all your kind words and prayers this week. FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be sessions after church (at around 11.15 am) on June 12,19 and 26.  We hope to admit them to communion at the Patronal Festival on July 3 WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS FAITH WITH OTHERS? Why not join one of our home groups? They meet on Tuesday evenings (contact Babs Bartholomew or Wivine Turner) or Thursday mornings (Contact Kelly Durrant or Marion Gilchrist). 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 - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15-11.15am. 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 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.

Worship podcast link and other news

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 - May 22 Easter 6 10 am  Holy Communion 11.15 am Annual Parochial Church Meeting 6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday             9.30 -11.30 pm Seal Tiddlers in the church hall - parent and toddler group                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10 am Zoom Church                            5 - 5.30 Children's Choir                            7.15 - 8.15 pm Choir Thursday           8pm Ascension Day Holy Communion Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall                         Next Sunday 10 am   Holy Communion & Baptism 6.30pm Evensong Easter 6 Acts 16.9-15, Rev 21.10, 22-22.5, John 14.23-29 Kevin is preaching today, and explores what it means to know the peace of  Christ. ALL AGE IDEAS The first reading today tells the story of Lydia, who is described as a "dealer in purple cloth". She meets St Paul, and becomes a Christian, and the leader of a church that met in her home. The purple cloth she bought and sold was made by dying plain cloth with dye made out of the shells of a tiny sea creature called a murex. It took a lot of sea shells to make enough dye, so purple cloth was very expensive, and only worn by really important people. Purple is still a colour associated with royalty - it is one of the theme colours for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. It is also associated with luxury, which is why Cadbury's chocolate comes in purple wrappers! Lydia was probably quite wealthy and important, but she found the most valuable thing in her life when she heard the story of Jesus.    Have a "purple spotting" adventure around your home or out on a walk. How many purple things can you find? How does purple make you feel? Do other colours make you feel different or remind you of other things? Colours are mostly made from chemicals now, but they always used to be made from natural things, plants, rocks or sea shells. Have a go at dying some cloth or painting on some paper with colour made from things in your home or garden You could use cold tea or coffee to dye things, stain things orange with orange peel, or see what colours you can make by squashing leaves or flowers, fruit and vegetables.  But please check with an adult that they are safe for you to pick and use before you do so - for example, foxgloves are poisonous! Talk about Lydia - what do you think she might have found so exciting about the story of Jesus that she decided to become a Christian? CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   SOME PERSONAL NEWS Unfortunately, my mother, Iris, died in the early hours of this morning, having suffering a bleed on the brain after a fall in her care home last week. My brother and I have both been able to be with her over the last few days as her life was drawing to a close, and my brother was with her when she died. She was 90 last week, and had dementia, so her death was not unexpected and, although sad, we are very much at peace over this news. As I am sure you will understand, however, this will mean that I won't be around at some points in the coming week or so, as we do all that needs to be done following a death and take some time and space to grieve. Church life will continue, as far as possible, as normal, but I would appreciate not being disturbed for anything other than essential business this week. The Ascension Day service on Thursday at 8pm will be led by Rev Adie McCall - I am very grateful to her for stepping in - but I will be conducting this and next Sunday's services myself, and the APCM this morning. FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be sessions after church (at around 11.15 am) on June 12,19 and 26.  We hope to admit them to communion at the Patronal Festival on July 3 APCM Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting and Meeting of Parishioners to elect churchwardesn will be today in church after the 10 am service.  The Annual Report is available here. JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. 12 -4pm. Games, crafts, and other free fun! Bring a picnic and come and join us for a village celebration.  WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS FAITH WITH OTHERS? Why not join one of our home groups? They meet on Tuesday evenings (contact Babs Bartholomew or Wivine Turner) or Thursday mornings (Contact Kelly Durrant or Marion Gilchrist). 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 - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15-11.15am. 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 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.

Sunday podcast link and other news from Seal: May 15

 

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 - May 15 Easter 5 10 am  Holy Communion 3-4.30pm Messy Church in the hall 6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday             9.30 -11.30 pm Seal Tiddlers in the church hall - parent and toddler group                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10 .30 Lavender Fields Communion (residents only at the moment)                            5 - 5.30 Children's Choir                            7.15 - 8.15 pm Choir Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Saturday            2pm Memorial Service                             Next Sunday 10 am   Holy Communion  11.15 am Annual Parochial Church Meeting 6.30pm Evensong Easter 5 Acts 11.1-18, Rev 21,1-6, John 13.31-35 Today's readings are full of visions - visions of heaven, visions of the church as a place of welcome for all, where all are loved. The sermon explores the importance of vision to us, and the way our visions shape our actions.  Diego Velazquez' portrayal of St John on the island of Patmos, (right) captures the exiled Christian leader's longing for a better world..   When you look into the future, how do you imagine it might be? Can you remember what your hopes, dreams and fears were when you were younger? As you look at the reality of your life, how does it compare to the vision you had then? ALL AGE IDEAS Today we hear stories in which people have visions - pictures in their minds - which give them a message from God. St Peter sees a big sheet coming down from heaven with all sorts of food in it which his culture has told him he shouldn't eat. He is then asked to go to visit someone who is very different from him, and who comes from a culture where these foods are eaten. Peter decides to go to see the person, a Roman soldier called Cornelius, and welcome him into the Christian family. It's a story that tells us that God loves everyone, even the people we don't think we'll get along with. In another reading today, St John has a vision of heaven. He has been exiled far away from the people he loves and he is worried about them. God tells him in the vision that this difficult time won't last forever, that God will "wipe every tear from our eyes".  If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you want to tell them? When you think about the future, what do you think it will be like? What do you think might be good, and what do you think might be difficult about the future? Draw a picture of  what the world might be like in the future and tell God about it. What do you think a perfect world would be like?   If you could write a letter to your grown up self, what would you write?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   **MESSY CHURCH** happens today in the Church Hall from 3-4.30pm. Story, craft, worship and tea. All ages welcome – you don’t have to be a child or have a child to come. FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be sessions after church (at around 11.15 am) on June 12,19 and 26.  We hope to admit them to communion at the Patronal Festival on July 3 APCM Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting and Meeting of Parishioners to elect churchwardesn will be on May 22 in church after the 10 am service. The Electoral Roll is now closed, and the draft copy can be seen in the church porch. The Annual Report is available here. JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS FAITH WITH OTHERS? Why not join one of our home groups? They meet on Tuesday evenings (contact Babs Bartholomew or Wivine Turner) or Thursday mornings (Contact Kelly Durrant or Marion Gilchrist). 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 - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15-11.15am. 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 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!   SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS PLANT SALE AND OPEN DAY Today from Midday to 3pm. All welcome - please come along and get your bargain plants and see the best allotments around!! 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.

Sunday Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church

 

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 - May 8 Easter 4 10 am  All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion During the week Monday             9.30 -11.30 pm Seal Tiddlers in the church hall - parent and toddler group                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10 am Zoom Church                            5 - 5.30 Children's Choir                            7.15 - 8.15 pm Choir Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall                             Sunday May 15: Easter 5 10 am   All Age Worship 3 - 4.30 pm Messy Church in the hall 6.30pm Breathing Space Meditative Communion Easter 4 Acts 9.36-end, John 10.2-30 Today's first reading tells the story of Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek), a woman who would otherwise probably have lived an unrecorded life. She was known and loved to her local community, though, for her needlework skills, which she used to make clothes for those in need.  The stained glass window on the right is in St John the Evangelist's Church, Sidcup and shows Dorcas with her needlework.   Are there clothes which hold a special meaning for you, which bring back memories, which you keep or remember? What do they mean to you?  What gifts do you have to give to others? Are there ways you could pass on your skills for the benefit of the community?  ALL AGE IDEAS Tabitha, whose story we heard in the first reading today, was famous in her community because of the clothes she made for others. They were a sign of her love for those in need.   Do you have favourite clothes, or clothes you remember wearing, which remind you of particularly happy times?  You could try sewing something , with help from a grown up. There are some ideas here: https://www.redtedart.com/sewing-projects-for-kids/ You could draw a pattern on a piece of cardboard, and punch holes in it, then sew around it to practice your sewing. Use wool and a big needle, or wrap sellotape around the end of some wool or string so that you can thread it through the holes.  You could make a paper doll to dress up. There are some to download here, https://www.designeatrepeat.com/printable-paper-dolls/. You can use blu-tak to attach the clothes, so that you can change them easily. (Magnets can be dangerous if swallowed!)  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be a chance to gather after the 10 am service today to discuss this with me. I will then try to find convenient dates for 3 or 4 preparation sessions. If your child is older, (at least secondary school age) and would prefer to prepare for confirmation, please contact me so that I can discuss this with you and with them . If there are any adults who would like to be confirmed (and baptised if they haven't been already) please let me know also, so that we can arrange appropriate preparation.  APCM Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting and Meeting of Parishioners to elect churchwardesn will be on May 22 in church after the 10 am service. The Electoral Roll is now closed, and the draft copy can be seen in the church porch. The Annual Report will be available next Sunday.  JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED PLEASE!  As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations local historian David Williams is arranging for an exhibition of ‘Seal during the reign of Elizabeth II’. He is collecting memories and objects from people to show what life was like in Seal in the early 1950s. If you have any memories of the early 1950s or any objects (ration books, bus or train tickets, school reports, orders of service from baptisms, marriages or burials, photographs of outings, celebrations…) he would be grateful to receive them. He can be contacted on williamsredcourt@gmail.com , 01732 764068 or 07427 844552. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS FAITH WITH OTHERS? Why not join one of our home groups? They meet on Tuesday evenings (contact Babs Bartholomew or Wivine Turner) or Thursday mornings (Contact Kelly Durrant or Marion Gilchrist). 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 - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15-11.15am. 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 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!   SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS PLANT SALE AND OPEN DAY Sunday May 15th from Midday to 3pm. All welcome - please come along and get your bargain plants and see the best allotments around!! 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.

Worship Podcast and other news: May 1

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 - May 1 Easter 3 10 am  Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong (said) During the week Monday             9.30 -11.30 pm Seal Tiddlers in the church hall - parent and toddler group                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      No Good Book club this month                            5 - 5.30 on Children's Choir                            No adult choir this week Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall                             Sunday May 8: Easter 4 10 am   All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Meditative Communion Easter 3 Acts 9.1-20, John 21.1-19 The picture on the right shows the traditional site of Jesus' appearance to the disciples after his resurrection, the story in today's Gospel.  There are many things going on in the story; the calling of Peter, the repair of his relationship with Jesus following him denying even knowing him when he was arrested, but central to the story is the sheer abundance of the miraculous catch the disciples haul in. Today's sermon explores that abundance, and what it might mean for us.  ALL AGE IDEAS Today's Gospel story comes from after Jesus had risen from the dead. His friends had been through a very sad time. They had watched Jesus be arrested and killed, but three days later, they saw him again, alive and well. Although they were glad to see Jesus again, they didn't understand what was happening and they felt exhausted and confused.  So they went back to their homes in Galilee, and went fishing - many of them were fishermen. They thought that this, at least, was something they knew how to do. But although they fished all night they didn't catch anything. It seemed like they couldn't even do this, something they had done many times before in their lives. But then they saw Jesus again... Listen to the story below to find out what happened next.  What do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed or sad? What helps you? Make a fish out of cardboard or paper, and decorate it however you like. Write or draw on it some time when you have needed help or encouragement? Who helped you? Tell God what you need help with right now.

Here is the story of  Jesus disciples and an enormous catch of fish!

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS ELECTORAL ROLL Are you on our church electoral roll? Joining this gives you a vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (on May 22nd), as well as entitling you to burial in Seal churchyard if you don’t live in the parish, should that sad need arise! It also signals your involvement with and commitment to this church community.  If you aren’t on the roll and would like to be, please pick up a form from the back of church or download it here and return it to me, or to Wivine Turner, when you have filled it in. The last day to add your name to the roll is today,  May 1, so the sooner you can fill in a form the better.     FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be a chance to gather after the 10 am service either on May 1 or May 8 to discuss this with me. I will then try to find convenient dates for 3 or 4 preparation sessions. If your child is older, (at least secondary school age) and would prefer to prepare for confirmation, please contact me so that I can discuss this with you and with them . If there are any adults who would like to be confirmed (and baptised if they haven't been already) please let me know also, so that we can arrange appropriate preparation.  JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED PLEASE!  As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations local historian David Williams is arranging for an exhibition of ‘Seal during the reign of Elizabeth II’. He is collecting memories and objects from people to show what life was like in Seal in the early 1950s. If you have any memories of the early 1950s or any objects (ration books, bus or train tickets, school reports, orders of service from baptisms, marriages or burials, photographs of outings, celebrations…) he would be grateful to receive them. He can be contacted on williamsredcourt@gmail.com , 01732 764068 or 07427 844552. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS FAITH WITH OTHERS? Why not join one of our home groups? They meet on Tuesday evenings (contact Babs Bartholomew or Wivine Turner) or Thursday mornings (Contact Kelly Durrant or Marion Gilchrist). 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 - On the 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 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!   SEAL LIBRARY NEWS   A reminder the Teaset Talk time returns on Tuesday 26 th April –a reminder the time is 2:30-3:45pm. The talk this month is Scrapbooking with Jenny Fairman. We were so pleased to see everyone last month and hope everyone will be returning- all welcome. There is a £2 donation requested. SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS PLANT SALE AND OPEN DAY Sunday May 15th from Midday to 3pm. All welcome - please come along and get your bargain plants and see the best allotments around!! 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.