Sunday worship podcast link and other news: June 26

 

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 - June 26 Trinity 2 10 am  Holy Communion and Baptism: Adam Lee 2pm      Baptism: Jude Fitzsimons 6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday             2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      No Zoom Church                            5-5.30pm Children's Choir                            7.15-8.15 pm Choir Thursday          8pm PCC meeting in the church                           Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Next Sunday:  Patronal Festival 10 am   Holy Communion  2pm      Baptism 4-6pm   Patronal Festival Strawberry Tea 6.30pm Evensong Trinity 2 Galatians 5.1, 13-25, Matt 13.31-34 Today's sermon explores the idea of freedom, and what it means in the context of living in community.   ALL AGE IDEAS In today's first reading, St Paul tells people that they should bear the "fruit of the Spirit" - of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   Share a piece of fruit that you like. What do you like about it?  If you were a fruit tree, what kind of fruit tree would you like to be? Jesus said that God's kingdom was like a tree which sheltered the birds of the air. Look around outside. Can you see birds nesting or roosting in the trees. Do they like some more than others?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   PATRONAL FESTIVAL STRAWBERRY TEA Come and join us for our Patronal Festival Strawberry Tea on July 3 from 4-6pm in the church hall and vicarage garden.  Tickets are: adults £8, children £4, family ticket £20 - pay at the door on the day Please sign up on the list at the back of church if you would like to come, so that we have some idea of numbers for catering. Could you help to set up for this event on the day?  We are particularly looking for people who can help move chairs and tables, and set up a gazebo, as many of those on the events team are feeling their age! Please volunteer for this if you are reasonably young and fit! We need you! FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  There will be a First communion preparation session after the 10 am service today. 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.   SEW TO PRINT Sew to Print - Summer Holiday Workshops in Seal for children 8years + 10.30 - 2pm at Seal Church Hall on:- 19th July and 5th August - Foraging and making botanical dyes 3rd August - Bookbind a sketchbook and make natural ink 4th August - Decorate a t shirt/bag or make a scrunchy. Places are limited so to book contact via Instagram or at sew2print@gmail.com Sophia - BA Hons Textiles, Montessori Teaching Diploma, Forest School Leader.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: June 19

 

Please note. There will be no Messy Church or Evensong today, as Anne has Covid.

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 - June 19 Trinity 1 10 am  Holy Communion - preacher and celebrant Revd. David Fox-Branch, vicar of Westerham  NO MESSY CHURCH OR NO EVENSONG TONIGHT During the week Monday             2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10am Zoom Church                            5-5.30pm 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 Next Sunday  10 am   Holy Communion & Baptism: Adam Lee 2pm      Baptism: Jude Needham 6.30pm Evensong Trinity 1 Isaiah 65.1-9,  Galatians 3.23-end, Luke 8.26-39 Today's Gospel passage tells the story of a man afflicted by what we would now call mental illness, but which was thought of as demonic possession in the time of Jesus. The fact that he calls himself "Legion" , the word for the largest unit of the Roman Army, is probably significant. Many of the occupying Roman forces were stationed in Galilee, and the local people were forced to support them - the herd of swine who drowned themselves in the lake may have been intended for the Romans. It was an area where there were constant reminders that the people were under oppressive and brutal rule, and some commentators have speculated that this man may have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - that the terror the Roman soldiers had brought into his area had scarred him. In recent times we have seen the effect on Ukrainian people trapped in areas occupied by Russian troops, subject to brutality and powerless in the face of it, which perhaps brings home the trauma that affects all those who live in occupied territory. The area in which this man lived, Gerasa, was on the other side of the Sea of Galilee from the mostly Jewish areas where Jesus usually lived and had grown up. It was an area called the "Decapolis", a predominantly Gentile, non- Jewish, area, so it was already a place which respectable Jewish people might have wanted to avoid. But Jesus goes there, entirely unafraid, bringing healing and peace to this man, but causing anxiety to the townspeople - the destruction of the swine is a threat to them economically, and might even bring down the wrath of God on them. The illustration on the right, from a medieval manuscript, is unusual in that it pictures not the moment of exorcism, but its aftermath. "Legion" sits in the bottom left corner, "clothed and in his right mind", as the Gospel says, and even wears a halo - he is sent by Jesus to "declare how much God has done for you", and does so, bearing witness to Jesus.  He is at peace, but the man hurrying from the town to berate Jesus about the loss of the pigs is definitely not. When people are healed, or wrongs righted, it can cause ripples that affect those who may have profitted from the status quo.  ALL AGE IDEAS How do you calm down when you feel upset? What helps you to feel peaceful? Make a calm down bottle. Take an empty plastic water or juice bottle. Put a small amount of glitter, sequins or other small things in it - any bits of coloured plastic would work. Top it up with water, and add one or two drops of washing up liquid - not more than that! Screw the top on very tightly - you could put some tape around it to make extra sure it won't leak.  Shake it up and then watch the glitter settle. How does it make you feel to do that? CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   PATRONAL FESTIVAL STRAWBERRY TEA Come and join us for our Patronal Festival Strawberry Tea on July 3 from 4-6pm in the church hall and vicarage garden.  Tickets are: adults £8, children £4, family ticket £20 - pay at the door on the day Please sign up on the list at the back of church if you would like to come, so that we have some idea of numbers for catering. Could you help to set up for this event on the day?  We are particularly looking for people who can help move chairs and tables, and set up a gazebo, as many of those on the events team are feeling their age! Please volunteer for this if you are reasonably young and fit! We need you! FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  There will not be any  First communion preparation today, as Anne has Covid. There will be a session next Sunday, and we will think about how to make up the missing session.   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.   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 link and other news: June 12

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 - June 12 Trinity Sunday 10 am  All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion During the week Monday             2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10.30 am Lavender Fields Holy Communion                            5-5.30pm 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           10.30am Baptism: William Norman                         Next Sunday  10 am   Holy Communion  3 - 4.30pm Messy Church 6.30pm Evensong Trinity Sunday Proverbs 8.1-4,22-31, Romans 5.1-5, John 16.12-15 Today, on Trinity Sunday, we explore the idea of the Trinity, and in particular, Rublev's famous icon of the Trinity, and how it can draw us into prayer and action.  ALL AGE IDEAS Look at the picture above. It's a painting of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. The first Christians felt that when they met Jesus, they had met the God they had known about in the Jewish Scriptures they had grown up with. Then, after Jesus had ascended into heaven, they had an experience of the Holy Spirit, the sense that God was near them, helping them. They felt just like they had when Jesus was with them. The idea that God was three persons but one God grew slowly, but is very important to Christians. In Rublev's picture, the three persons of the Trinity are sitting and talking to each other (the Father is on the left, with a gold cloak over his blue tunic, the Son is behind the table, dressed in a brown tunic, the colour of the earth he came to save, and the Spirit is on the right, dressed in green, which is the colour of growth, because the Spirit helps us to grow.  The fourth side of the table , facing us, is open though, as if they are inviting us to come and join them. If you could step into the picture and sit down with the Trinity, what would you want to talk to them about? Would you have any questions to ask them? I wonder what they would say? You could draw a picture of the same scene with you in the picture.  Can you make a plait with three strands out of ribbons or string. Learn how to make a plait, and think about the idea of the Trinity as you do so. You could tie bits of string, ribbon or cloth into it as you plait it to represent your prayers, or the people who are special to you, weaving them into the love of God.  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS   Congratulations to Jess and Josie Bartholomew-Smythe... Josie and Jess (Jess is Babs Bartholomew's daughter) were married last week at St Julian's, and I was delighted that they invited me to be there as a guest.  Sadly we aren't allowed, by Church of England and civil law, to marry same-sex couples in church (yet!), but it was a great joy to be able to join them for this very joyful ceremony, and to wish them well in their marriage. Many congratulations Jess and Josie!  And to Tom and Abbey Lawrie... Tom and Abbey (who sings in our choir) were married this time last year, when we weren't allowed to sing in church or have parties, so they came back yesterday, near the date of their first anniversary, for a service of thanksgiving and blessing. A happy day was had by all.  MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED TO MAKE SEAL'S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS SUCH A SUCCESS. We had a great  time last weekend celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Thank you to all who worked so hard on this, especially Marion Gilchrist, Barbara Martin and Annie Fish, Frances Fish, who organised the Garden Safari, and David Williams who put on such an interesting history exhibition.  You can see some more photos and a round up here PATRONAL FESTIVAL STRAWBERRY TEA Come and join us for our Patronal Festival Strawberry Tea on July 3 from 4-6pm in the church hall and vicarage garden.  Tickets are: adults £8, children £4, family ticket £20 - pay at the door on the day Please sign up on the list at the back of church if you would like to come, so that we have some idea of numbers for catering. 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) today and on19 and 26 June.  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.

Platinum Jubilee round up

 Phew! What a weekend! 

We had a great set of community celebrations in Seal for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.Many thanks to all who helped make this happen, especially Marion Gilchrist and all involved in Know Your Neighbours.

Our celebrations started with a history exhibition, which ran for four days from Thursday, and will now be transferred to the Library. It was fascinating, and must have taken many hours of organisation by David Williams, who knows everything there is to know about Seal... Thank you, David.

Friday Group held a Jubilee lunch on Friday - a great gathering. 

Saturday saw people turn out in large numbers, despite the chilly wind, for a Garden Safari, organised by Frances Fish, with more than a dozen local gardens open. All the ones I got to were great, but I think the stand out sight for me was Frances own garden. Top rate hedge trimming here!

Of course, Her Majesty has been in residence in Seal for quite a few days now, complete with Corgi. Thank you, Friday Group, for your hard work on this. 

There was a late night attempt to kidnap her by an unidentified thief . Fortunately the attempt was foiled by Lee, who lives nearby and realised something was up. Well done, Lee! I am sure your medal from the Queen is in the post. A note was added to deter any further attempts...

Her Majesty made another appearance further up the High Street, in more relaxed mood, no doubt about to enjoy our beautiful countryside with her corgis. 

On Sunday afternoon, despite the rather iffy weather forecast, we had loads of people turn up for the Big Lunch on the Rec, for free fun - and it was free, thanks to Know Your Neighbours fundraising, and the parish council. The bouncy castle and assault course were very popular. 

Over in my Messy Church corner, we were busy doing what it said on the tin, making a mess... We made nature crowns - all completely biodegradeable, and wax resist leaf rubbings - in honour of the Queen's concern for the environment. Thanks to Philip, Rosemary, Jenni and Lise for helping.

 

The scouts were offering a chance to try out your hand at archery - fortunately with blunt, sticky arrows...  

There were games to play, and  the parachute was popular. 

And Barbara Martin organised lots of races, which were enthusiastically run. 

We had a very special visitor, who was no doubt going to pass back the news on the corgi network to her Royal relatives about how much fun was being had in Seal...

Sunday Worship Podcast and other news: June 5

 

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 - June 5 PENTECOST 10 am  Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong During the week Monday             1pm Funeral: Pamela Rose                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10 am Zoom Church                           Friday                9.30am Morning Prayer in Church                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Saturday            1.30pm Wedding Blessing: Tom and Abbey                          Next Sunday  10 am   Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Pentecost Acts 2.1-21, Romans 8.14-17, John 14.8-27 As well as being the Feast of Pentecost today is, of course, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Today's sermon explores some of the links between these two celebrations.  ALL AGE IDEAS Today is the Feast of Pentecost, when we think about the first followers of Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit, God's presence with them, giving them power and confidence to go out into the world and tell people about God's love.  One of the traditional symbols of the Holy Spirit is wind - you could blow some bubbles and watch them float away as prayers. Or you could find some fluffy dandelion heads and blow the seeds off them, and pray as you do so.  We are also celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this afternoon, with a Big Lunch on Seal Recreation Ground. Come along and join in the fun if you can. If you can't, why not have your own party at home. You could make a crown and wear it! God calls each of us to love and care for others. What might God want you to do? 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 from 10 am to Noon, and then moving to the Library from Monday.  Today  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.

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.