Sunday Worship Podcast link and other news from Seal Church: Oct 9

 

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 - Oct 9 10 am  Harvest Thanksgiving (not communion) 12.30pm Harvest Lunch 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion  During the week Monday             9 am Seal School Harvest Service                             pm Seal School Harvest Service                            2-3.30pm Talking Village drop in at Deniz' Cafe in the High Street. Wednesday       10 am  Zoom Church                             4.30-5pm Children's Choir in the church hall                              7.15-8.15 pm Choir in the church                          Friday                9.30 am Morning Prayer                            10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Next Sunday  10 am   Holy Communion 3pm Messy Church in the Church hall 6.30pm Evensong Harvest Thanksgiving 2 Corinthians 9.6-10 Today we give thanks for the Harvest at Seal. Today's podcast reflects that theme. At Harvest, we support Rochester Diocese's 'Poverty and Hope' appeal. Here are some details of this year's appeal, and a video message from the Bishop of Tonbridge about it.  Help tackle poverty around the world: donate to the Diocese’s Poverty and Hope Appeal 2022 For four decades, the Diocese of Rochester's Poverty and Hope Appeal, has allowed us to play our part in tackling the causes and effects of poverty in different parts of the world. Last year, over £20,000 was raised - thank you. Since it was first launched 45 years ago, it has worked in partnership with three major Christian charities to provide bridges across the world between donors in Rochester and the left behind in some of the poorest countries. In a new development this year, projects in our three African companion dioceses will also be supported to share God’s blessings. Your donations will go into planned programmes in five countries: Eleven per cent of the population of Bangladesh belongs to a minority community and faces extreme poverty and discrimination. The Christian Aid ‘Empowering Left-Behind Minority Communities’ project will enable these communities to find opportunities, use their voices, claim their rights and be involved in the development process of Bangladesh. Inequalities in Brazil are among the worst in the world. Florianopolis, in the south, has many favelas (slums), which are dominated by drugs and gangs and house much of the city’s population. Through CMS partners, Andy and Kati Walsh, this project is about engaging subcultures on the fringes including impoverished migrant communities and people that get caught in the cycle of crime just to survive. Seventy per cent of Myanmar’s population lives in rural areas. In remote places, children and young people often have to travel in small boats and walk or cycle for hours to reach schools or live in boarding houses away from their families. The USPG programme aims to raise the standard of teaching, increase school attendance, and strengthen Church and community leadership in education. The Dioceses of Mpwapwa and Kondoa are located in the central part of Tanzania, a challenging but beautiful environment of mountains and semi-arid plains. Most people live as subsistence farmers. Donations will be used to empower rural communities with water harvesting projects, irrigation systems and safe drinking water. In Harare Diocese in Zimbabwe funding will help the rural parishes to towards self-sufficiency through small diversification projects which can provide both food and income, such as fish farming and bee-keeping. Launching this year’s Poverty and Hope Appeal, Bishop Simon says, “Every gift you make will go to these initiatives, relieving poverty and the fear that stalks it.  God in Christ loves to show his generosity.  And he does this through us. We are his hands and his feet.  And we are also his money.” You can read more about the projects here.  How to make a donation To donate visit: www.rochester.anglican.org/everyday-faith/ourfaithinaction/poverty-and-hope-appeal/  Other ways of donating can be found below.    We know that the pandemic has greatly affected many members of our communities and that you yourself may be struggling. However, if you are able to do so, please support the Poverty and Hope Appeal in whatever way you can. As well as DONATING ONLINE  you can also: E-banking: You can make a donation by e-banking to the following account: Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance, sort code 20-54-29, account 90760099. In the reference box, please put P&H so we can correctly allocate the money to the Poverty and Hope Appeal, and something to identify your church (or nothing if you wish your donation to be given anonymously).  Send a cheque: please make out to ‘Rochester DBF’ with ‘Poverty and Hope Appeal’ on the back and send them with any completed gift aid envelopes to Finance Team Rochester Diocese, St Nicholas Church, Boley Hill, Rochester ME1 1SL. Add giftaid: You may increase the value of your giving by gift-aiding your donation. This allows us to reclaim the tax relating to your gift. Please download and fill in this form and return it with your donation to the Rochester Finance Team at: Finance Team Rochester Diocese, St Nicholas Church, Boley Hill, Rochester ME1 1SL. ALL AGE IDEAS As we celebrate harvest today, it's a good day to get out and about to see what you can find.  There are some great Autumn leaf crafts here  See what scarecrows you can spot today - see the map below - they will be coming down in the next few days! What could you do as a family to help others. Watch the video above to find out more about the Poverty and Hope appeal. IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT SEAL CHURCH... Here's the map showing where you can find scarecrows in Seal. Why not have a walk around in the next few days to see them? The winner will be announced at the Harvest Lunch, which follows our Harvest Thanksgiving service at 10 am on Sunday. HELP US BECOME AN ECO CHURCH This Autumn, we shall begin, as a whole church community, to work towards the first Eco Church award, which covers every aspect from worship and children’s involvement, to what products we use in our hall kitchen, how we heat and light our church building, and how well our churchyard provides for its fauna and flora. We are already some way along this vital part of looking after God’s creation,our wonderful planet,but wish to ensure that every single part of our church life is as environmentally friendly as possible, and more. Lise Michaelides and Babs Bartholomew are setting up a St Peter’s and St Paul’s Eco church working party this Autumn, and need YOU!  Please would anyone interested in any part of this, kindly contact Lise or Babs. Their numbers are on the pew leaflet, or you could sign up with your name and contact number, please, and they’ll be delighted to contact you-there’s a sheet on the red table, along with a copy of the EcoChurch survey for your information. EcoChurch has a very interesting and helpful webpage full of suggested activities: ecochurch.arocha.org.uk Now is the time to make our own patch of God’s Acre an extra special home for the nature we are so privileged to share our lives with! Thank you. Lise: 07570 125115 Babs: 07973 478968 “ ALL SOULS' SERVICE There will be a quiet service of hymns, readings and reflection on Sunday October 30th at 6.30pm to remember those we love who have died. If you would like us to name someone in the prayers please add them in CAPITAL LETTERS to the list on the clipboard at the back of church or email sealpandp@gmail.com to let me know the names of those you would like me to mention.  The church will be open from 5.45 pm if anyone would like to light a candle and spend time in quiet reflection before the service, or prefers not to stay for it.  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Can you help organising the putting up of the Christmas Lights in the village? I know Christmas is a long way off, but we really need some younger people to take on this task. It takes all of us to make a community, so if there's anything you can do to get involved, we'd love to hear from you. MESSY CHURCH takes place next Sunday – Oct 16 from 3-4.30pm in the church hall. Story, craft, worship and tea! For all ages – come along and join us.