Sunday Worship Podcast and other news: Jan 29

 

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 10 am   Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday   10 am  Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wed     10 am Good Book Club in the vicarage (Judges ch 13-16, the story of Samson)              4.30-5pm Children's Choir in the hall (no Children's choir on Feb 8 & 15)              7.15-8.15 pm Adult choir Fri         9.30am Morning Prayer in church              10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall Candlemas (The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple) Today marks the end of the Christmas/Epiphany season, so we'll be taking down the crib in church. We'll also be lighting candles to mark this festival which celebrates Christ, the Light of the World, who was recognised by Simeon as the "light to enlighten the Gentiles" when his parents brought him to the Temple six weeks after his birth to make the sacrifice prescribed by the law for the first born. Today's sermon explores the way in which, in this story, Luke brings to centre stage people who would often normally have been side-lined, a poor family, a tiny child, and the elderly Simeon and Anna, and the way we might need to ask ourselves who we side-line today.  The news stories I make reference to in the sermon can be found here and here. Rembrandt painted this story several times in different ways, bringing out the meaning of this story in the way he has portrayed the characters and the use of light and darkness. Three of them are pictured below, but there are others too. He was a master at portraying older people, capturing the impact of a lifetime of experience in their faces. Which is your favourite image?  The image I've used to illustrate the podcast shows Simeon kneeling with Jesus in his arms. Mary and Joseph kneel facing him, and Anna stands above them with her arms outstretched in praise. They are in what looks like a side aisle of the Temple, tucked away, but the light streaming through the window (we can just see the shadow of its glazing bars) lights up the scene, reminding us of the light Simeon acclaims in Jesus.  In the second picture, Simeon, pictured in extreme old age, with half-closed eyes and gnarled hands, holds the child. Behind him, Mary stands watching.  The third of Rembrandt's paintings of this scene, simply entitled "The Prophetess Anna", shows Anna on her own. She could be any elderly woman of Rembrandts own time - she is pictured in clothes contemporary to his time. It is a profoundly empathetic and tender image of old age, bringing out Anna's wisdom and love for the child who we might imagine she is looking at just beyond the picture.  All Age Ideas In today's Gospel story, two very old people, Simeon and Anna, recognise a very young person , Jesus, as someone special when Mary and Joseph bring him to the Temple six weeks after his birth.  What do you think is good and bad about being young, or old? Who are the youngest and oldest people you know? Can you find some photos of yourself as a baby and talk about them together. Today is called "Candlemas" because Simeon called Jesus a "light that lit up everyone".  You could decorate the outside of jam jar with tissue paper, cellophane, or draw on the glass with something like a sharpie pen, then put a tea light (a battery one is safest) inside it, and think about how light makes you feel. Or you could make a brightly coloured picture on some thin paper and stick it in the window to let the light shine in through it during the day, and out from it at night.  People used to bring candles to church at Candlemas to be blessed so they could use them through the year to light up their homes in the days before electric light. How many lights do you have in your home? What is it like if you switch them all off , then just sit with one small light.  How do you feel about the dark? Do you like it, or does it frighten you? Give thanks to God for the light - and for the darkness which helps us to rest.  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch - thus weekend Jan 27-29 Many of us take an hour over the last weekend in Jan each year to count the birds that visit our gardens. This year, we're inviting anyone who'd like to do this in the churchyard to come along from 3-4pm today Sunday, Jan 29 - to do it together if you'd like to. As part of working towards our Bronze Eco-Church award, we'd like to survey the wildlife and plants in our churchyard. Churchyards are often really important undisturbed spaces for wildlife, and it's important that we know what's there, so we can value and look after it. If you are coming, wrap up warmly, and bring a warm drink with you! SEAL VILLAGE FUND: CALLING ALL ORGANISATIONS/CLUBS AND SOCIETIES THAT OPERATE IN SEAL VILLAGE Do you need some extra funding for a specific project or need? Then the Seal Village Fund may be able to help you! Successful fund raising events have resulted in excess funds being available to distribute to the groups that provide such wonderful opportunities and support in our friendly village. The Seal Village Fund will consider bids from any village organisation/club/society that benefits those that live, work or play in the village. The Rules of Engagement:- 1 - Only bids up to £250 please 2 - Submit a written proposal providing details of the project/initiative, how it will benefit the village, and the amount of funding being requested. Proposals need to be received by Friday February 24th 2023. 3 - You must be prepared to come and present your case at the Seal Village Fund AGM which will take place at the Know Your Neighbours Meet and Greet session on Saturday March 11th 2023 in Seal Village Hall at 11,30. 4 - All successful bids will be notified shortly after the AGM. Any questions and written proposals to be sent to Becky Watson (Seal Village Fund Secretary) at beckywatson@btinternet.com SAVE THE DATE - SAT MARCH 11TH 11.30-1.00 SEAL VILLAGE HALL  KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM. Come along, have a coffee, cake and a chat with members of local village organisations and find out what happens in our village. Also, let's have your ideas for what you would like to see in the future. CORONATION CELEBRATIONS We have been discussing the logistics of having one large village celebration, and in light of the lack of people keen to organise such an event, we were thinking, maybe some of you might prefer to organise a more localised celebration just for your immediate neighbours - a proper old fashioned street party - just for your street or direct neighbourhood. Of course, this will be more difficult for some roads than others, but there is always a solution to be found when getting together with others ! We will all have memories, however young or old, of royal celebrations, and it would be great to pass this legacy on to the very youngest of us. If you feel you want to do this, and may need some support, please let us know and we will help you to facilitate this in any way we can. For instance, if you would like to get together with others who are also planning something similar, we could have a get together to discuss how we can all move the plans forward and support each other. Again, we will have some funds to share, thanks to our 100 Club revenue, but, undoubtedly, more will be needed.   If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com, and we will do our best to spread the word. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about Know Your Neighbours, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page - search for Know Your Neighbours in Seal.

Sunday Worship Podcast worship links: Jan 22

 

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 10 am   Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday  - Candlemas 10 am  Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wed     10 am Zoom Church Fri         9.30am Morning Prayer in church              10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall

Epiphany 3 As Epiphanytide progresses we hear a series of stories of people gradually realising who Jesus is. For some that realisation changes their lives, as they are called to follow him as he travels around preaching, leaving their old lives to do so.  The four Gospels tell the stories of these callings in slightly different ways, but the message is the same. Apparently unlikely people - fishermen, tax-collectors, prostitutes, rather than religious experts - are drawn to Jesus, and eventually sent out by him to spread his message. It must have been as much of a surprise to them as it was to those around them. Life changes when they meet Jesus in ways they could never have imagined.  In today's Gospel reading, Matthew tells us of four of these first followers, two sets of brothers, who we will meet again and again in the rest of the story. They live in Capernaum, at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, in the area which had once been the territory of the ancient Jewish tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Seven hundred  years before the time of Jesus, though, those tribes had been deported from their land by the Assyrians, and scattered across their vast empire, where they simply disappeared, absorbed into the nations they went to. In turn, others from that empire were settled on their land, and they were joined by many others as the area was conquered by the Babylonians, Greeks and, by the time of Jesus, the Romans. This means that it was a very mixed, multi-cultural and often troubled area, and somewhere where people would be reminded daily that they lived in an occupied land, where they often suffered abuse and oppression.

All Age Ideas In today's Gospel story, we meet more of Jesus' first followers, fishermen who were called to follow Jesus. They lived by a big inland lake called the Sea of Galilee. There's a picture of it here, and another of a model of one of the fishing boats they might have used.  I wonder how it would it would have felt when Jesus came along and asked these people to come and follow him. Do you think they would have felt excited or scared, or a mixture of both.  I wonder what God is calling you to do to help others and to show his love today? The people Jesus called lived in an area where there were lots of Roman soldiers, who were ruling over their land, and often treated them cruelly. They probably sometimes felt as if nothing could ever change. Have you ever felt as if you were trying to deal with a problem that was too big and scary for you? Who can you talk to if you feel like that? What helps you in times like that?  You could make some fish out of paper or cardboard, and write some prayers on them as you think about this story.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  PCC feedback We had our PCC meeting last Thursday. Among other things, we talked about: our current finances - we have managed to put together a finance team which is proving very helpful as we look at our financial situation and processes, but we are still concerned at the effect of the drop in our income since the pandemic (something many churches and voluntary organisations are experiencing) various repair works, including plans to mend the clock, which will cost around £6000.  succession planning. Paul and Sally will be standing down as churchwardens in May, so we are looking for people to take on that role, probably alongside a "fabric and maintenance" team, rather like the finance team. We also have a number of vacancies on the Parochial Church Council, so if you would like to come onto that body let me know. You will need to do some safeguarding training, have a DBS check and not be disqualified from being a charity trustee. We also talked about what we thought the "core tasks" of a church were. Words and phrases that came to us were caring for the community, worship, prayer, spirituality, fellowship. What would you answer? RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch - Next weekend Jan 27-29 Many of us take an hour over the last weekend in Jan each year to count the birds that visit our gardens. This year, we're inviting anyone who'd like to do this in the churchyard to come along from 3-4pm next Sunday - Jan 29 - to do it together if you'd like to. As part of working towards our Bronze Eco-Church award, we'd like to survey the wildlife and plants in our churchyard. Churchyards are often really important undisturbed spaces for wildlife, and it's important that we know what's there, so we can value and look after it. If you are coming, wrap up warmly, and bring a warm drink with you! SEAL VILLAGE FUND: CALLING ALL ORGANISATIONS/CLUBS AND SOCIETIES THAT OPERATE IN SEAL VILLAGE Do you need some extra funding for a specific project or need? Then the Seal Village Fund may be able to help you! Successful fund raising events have resulted in excess funds being available to distribute to the groups that provide such wonderful opportunities and support in our friendly village. The Seal Village Fund will consider bids from any village organisation/club/society that benefits those that live, work or play in the village. The Rules of Engagement:- 1 - Only bids up to £250 please 2 - Submit a written proposal providing details of the project/initiative, how it will benefit the village, and the amount of funding being requested. Proposals need to be received by Friday February 24th 2023. 3 - You must be prepared to come and present your case at the Seal Village Fund AGM which will take place at the Know Your Neighbours Meet and Greet session on Saturday March 11th 2023 in Seal Village Hall at 11,30. 4 - All successful bids will be notified shortly after the AGM. Any questions and written proposals to be sent to Becky Watson (Seal Village Fund Secretary) at beckywatson@btinternet.com SAVE THE DATE - SAT MARCH 11TH 11.30-1.00 SEAL VILLAGE HALL  KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM. Come along, have a coffee, cake and a chat with members of local village organisations and find out what happens in our village. Also, let's have your ideas for what you would like to see in the future. Stone Street Toad Patrol 2023 This wonderful local Toad Rescue group NEEDS YOU!!! Last year, we saved the largest number of amphibians (toads, frogs and newts)  in Kent, by helping them across the roads to and from their spawning pond in Stone Street, near Seal.  Without our help, 4,500 animals may undoubtedly have been road traffic victims. It is incredibly rewarding and, if amphibian-friendly, fabulous fun!! We would much value more volunteers for our very friendly and well supported rota of  Toad patrollers this season. We are expecting that the amphibians will be out and moving to the pond from  the local woods by then end of January/early February- they cross the roads on mild, wet nights from dusk onwards. Hi Vis vests, torches, buckets and clickers are all provided. For a very interesting chat about what’s involved, including safety factors,  Please contact Colleen: colanrob@hotmail.co.uk (please note not as last week's email). KENT WILDLIFE TRUST Winter Walk Challenge Kent Wildlife Trust’s Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project is running a Winter Walk Challenge! Can you please help us to raise awareness for challenge? Did you know that spending time in nature can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? The project manages eight commons across Sevenoaks, Westerham and Seal, and we want to raise awareness of their value so that residents can take advantage of the sites for leisure, exercise and more this winter. The Winter Walk Challenge pack is free and includes information on species identification, the heritage of the Commons and parking and public transport information. The pack includes maps of the sites and information on how the plant and animal species of West Kent use the Commons during winter. The pack has been designed to help families to continue exploring natural spaces despite the cold weather! Spending time in nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. If your organisation can help us to spread the word about these free resources, our staff and volunteers would be incredibly grateful. If possible, please share the Winter Walk Challenge via your website, social media and mailing list.  The Winter Walk Challenge can be accessed here. Participants can download their packs digitally and physical copies are also available for collection from our Visitor’s Centre at Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3DH. 2023 - JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE!!! Just a thought, we know there will be a very big day to celebrate in May next year - King Charles' Coronation.  As a village, we will clearly want to celebrate this in a big way, but, once again, we will need people to take on the organisation of this community event. Those of us that have taken on these events over the past years/decades, are feeling somewhat jaded, and really need new blood to take over. We would like to suggest that plans are started early, maybe put your good selves forward (maybe individuals or several groups of friends). I am happy to compile a list of names and introduce you to each other. We know there are loads of skilled young people out there - we need you!!  Again, we will have some funds thanks to our 100 Club revenue, but, undoubtedly, more will be needed. We can help in this way, but we really need you to come forward and take over please! If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com, and we will do our best to spread the word. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about Know Your Neighbours, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page - search for Know Your Neighbours in Seal.

Sunday Worship Podcast and other news from Seal Church: Jan 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 10 am   Holy Communion 3-4.30pm Messy Church in the Church hall 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday  10 am  Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street Thurs   10.30 Lavender Fields communion (visitors welcome) Note change of day              8pm PCC meeting on Zoom Fri         9.30am Morning Prayer in church              10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall

Epiphany 2 In today's Gospel reading, John the Baptist points his own followers towards Jesus. Two of them literally follow Jesus, until he turns and asks them what they are looking for. His question leads them to spend time with him, and they become his disciples.  It's a story which invites us to use our imagination. What would it have been like to spend time with Jesus, in his house, doing ordinary, everyday things - eating, drinking, talking. We aren't told what happened in that time, but it transformed them.  We too are called to "remain" with Christ, so that he becomes part of our lives and we become part of his.  Can you think of times when you first spent time with someone who became a friend (or even a partner or spouse)? What was it that convinced you that this person was someone you wanted to have in your life permanently? How do you "remain with Jesus" in your daily life? Are there simple things you could do - creating a habit of prayer, a time for just sitting quietly with Jesus? The picture on the right is of a reconstructed 1st century Palestinian Jewish house. There is more detail about domestic life in the time of Jesus here.

All Age Ideas DON'T FORGET - MESSY CHURCH IS THIS AFTERNOON FROM 3-4.30PM IN THE CHURCH HALL! In today's Gospel story, some people who would eventually become close friends of Jesus meet him for the first time. He invites them to "come and see" where he is living, and spend time in his house. The picture above shows what his house might have looked like. In the warm climate of Israel, people did a lot of things outdoors, so the inside would have been quite small and dark.  I wonder what it would have been like to spend time with Jesus. If you could spend a few hours with him, in your house or in his, what would you like to do together with him? Imagine what it might have been like. What makes you feel welcome when you go to someone's house? How do you make people feel welcome in your house? You could make a model of Jesus' house, the way you imagine it, out of things you can find around the house, or make a special place, or a house out of sheets draped over the furniture, where you could imagine Jesus coming to visit you.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  MESSY CHURCH  Messy Church takes place this afternoon from 3-4.30pm. Crafts, activities, Bible story ,a bit of worship, and cake! In Seal Church hall. Free.  SEAL COMMUNITY LUNCH  The first Community Lunch of 2023 will be on Wednesday 18th January in Seal Church hall.  It's completely free, and everyone is welcome for hot soup and home made pudding (as well as good company). Turn up from 12.30 - lunch is served at 1pm. It's a great way to get to know others, as well as enjoying a good meal! SEAL ECO CHURCH  St P& P’s Church, Seal, is now a registered Eco Church, working towards a bronze award at this time of accelerating climate change  and species loss.  We warmly welcome anyone along with an interest in protecting nature and caring for God’s Earth (A Rocha Uk) Hope to meet you soon! Babs Bartholomew (07973 478968)  & Lise Michaelides (07570 125115).  SEAL VILLAGE FUND: CALLING ALL ORGANISATIONS/CLUBS AND SOCIETIES THAT OPERATE IN SEAL VILLAGE Do you need some extra funding for a specific project or need? Then the Seal Village Fund may be able to help you! Successful fund raising events have resulted in excess funds being available to distribute to the groups that provide such wonderful opportunities and support in our friendly village. The Seal Village Fund will consider bids from any village organisation/club/society that benefits those that live, work or play in the village. The Rules of Engagement:- 1 - Only bids up to £250 please 2 - Submit a written proposal providing details of the project/initiative, how it will benefit the village, and the amount of funding being requested. Proposals need to be received by Friday February 24th 2023. 3 - You must be prepared to come and present your case at the Seal Village Fund AGM which will take place at the Know Your Neighbours Meet and Greet session on Saturday March 11th 2023 in Seal Village Hall at 11,30. 4 - All successful bids will be notified shortly after the AGM. Any questions and written proposals to be sent to Becky Watson (Seal Village Fund Secretary) at beckywatson@btinternet.com SAVE THE DATE - SAT MARCH 11TH 11.30-1.00 SEAL VILLAGE HALL  KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM. Come along, have a coffee, cake and a chat with members of local village organisations and find out what happens in our village. Also, let's have your ideas for what you would like to see in the future. SEAL LIBRARY NEWS Happy New Year from the library- we are already up and running with the first Reading Group session taking place already on Tuesday. I do have a couple of copies left of this month's books if anyone fancies a copy: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell, a cold case thriller and  The Offing by Benjamin Myers, a story of friendship across age, gender and class after WW2. Storytime and Baby Rhythm is back on Friday 6th January 10:30am with a different theme each week hosted by a lovely group of volunteers. There is also free crafts and chat time afterwards to enjoy! There is no Tea-set this month but on Friday 17th February we will be celebrating 50 years of the current library building in Seal.  In the morning we will have a coffee and cake morning and Frances has put together one of her brilliant quizzes focusing on the 1970’s to help everyone reminisce!!  There will be a small exhibition on the library history including photos of events held throughout the 50 years, together with themed book displays from 1973 and beyond! Any more photos, memories etc gratefully received. In the afternoon Sevenoaks Wildlife Trust will be holding a craft event for children on British birds from 12:30- 2:30pm - this will be a free event but bookable via the Trust. It is half term week so we hope all ages will be able to come into the library and celebrate with us.  The Tea-set meets on its usual fourth Tuesday of the month at 2:30pm. In February we have local thriller author Robin Nye. If anyone would like to read a copy of either of his books beforehand do let me know so I can reserve some extra copies. Thank you and I hope to see everyone soon Jillian  A REQUEST FOR UNWANTED GIFTS PLEASE To help fund Seal Tea Set at the library, a monthly raffle is held. Frances Fish would be very happy to accept any unused/unwanted gifts to raffle please, and she will happily accept at 2 Zambra Way Seal. Many thanks. KENT WILDLIFE TRUST Winter Walk Challenge Kent Wildlife Trust’s Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project is running a Winter Walk Challenge! Can you please help us to raise awareness for challenge? Did you know that spending time in nature can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? The project manages eight commons across Sevenoaks, Westerham and Seal, and we want to raise awareness of their value so that residents can take advantage of the sites for leisure, exercise and more this winter. The Winter Walk Challenge pack is free and includes information on species identification, the heritage of the Commons and parking and public transport information. The pack includes maps of the sites and information on how the plant and animal species of West Kent use the Commons during winter. The pack has been designed to help families to continue exploring natural spaces despite the cold weather! Spending time in nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. If your organisation can help us to spread the word about these free resources, our staff and volunteers would be incredibly grateful. If possible, please share the Winter Walk Challenge via your website, social media and mailing list.  The Winter Walk Challenge can be accessed here. Participants can download their packs digitally and physical copies are also available for collection from our Visitor’s Centre at Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3DH. 2023 - JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE!!! Just a thought, we know there will be a very big day to celebrate in May next year - King Charles' Coronation.  As a village, we will clearly want to celebrate this in a big way, but, once again, we will need people to take on the organisation of this community event. Those of us that have taken on these events over the past years/decades, are feeling somewhat jaded, and really need new blood to take over. We would like to suggest that plans are started early, maybe put your good selves forward (maybe individuals or several groups of friends). I am happy to compile a list of names and introduce you to each other. We know there are loads of skilled young people out there - we need you!!  Again, we will have some funds thanks to our 100 Club revenue, but, undoubtedly, more will be needed. We can help in this way, but we really need you to come forward and take over please! If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com, and we will do our best to spread the word. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about Know Your Neighbours, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page - search for Know Your Neighbours in Seal.

Sunday worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: Jan 8 Epiphany

 

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 10 am   All Age Worship for Epiphany Sunday 6.30pm  Breathing Space Holy Communion Next Sunday  10 am  Holy Communion 3-4.30pm Messy Church in the Church hall 6.30pm Evensong This week: Monday - 2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wed - 10 am Zoom Church Fri - 9.30am Morning Prayer in church         10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall Epiphany Sunday Today we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation of Jesus to the Gentile Magi who came so far to seek him.  In church we will be blessing chalk, which we will use for the Epiphany tradition of "chalking the doors". This custom is widespread across Northern Europe. The number of the year and the letters C, M and B are chalked above the doors of churches and homes in this format  20+C+M+B+23.  The letters either stand for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, the names of the Magi in Western European tradition, or for the Latin phrase "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" - Christ bless this house. Either way it is a prayer that God will be found in our homes and in our church, and that  any wandering wise (or foolish!) men or women seeking Christ will find him in us.   There will be blessed chalk in the church porch if you can't be with us this morning, but you could use ordinary chalk too - God will bless it anyway! - or you can write the formula on a piece of card or paper and put it in a window.  Here is a prayer you might like to use to ask God to bless your home: Welcoming God, who led the Magi to their true home in the heart of Christ by the light of a star, bless these signs of our faith today, that the welcome they proclaim may be matched by the welcome we give in our hearts to the wandering and confused, to the lonely and the lost, to those who seek for you, and those who do not know what they seek. May they find you in us and may we find you in them. In the name of Christ. Amen   All Age Ideas Today we will be thinking about the story of the Magi (Wise men/kings) coming to find Jesus. The Feast of the Epiphany, as it is called, was actually on Jan 6, but we celebrate it on the nearest Sunday. If you have a Christmas crib and the Magi have been travelling towards it, they should have arrived by now! The Magi didn't really know where they were going. They had to search for him. The star led the Magi to an unlikely place - an ordinary house in Bethlehem. We sometimes think we have to be in church to be close to God, but he is close to us wherever we are. Make a star out of cardboard and play "hide and seek" with it. When you find it, say "God is here!" The Magi came from far away (probably from Iran or Iraq) to find Jesus, and were made to feel welcome by Mary and Joseph.  Look at a map of the world and talk about the places you have been, and the places you would like to go. Do you have friends or family living far away? Say a prayer for them. People come to our country from other countries. Do you know anyone who has done that? How might it feel to be a foreigner, as the Magi were, in a strange country? Say a prayer for all who come here that they might feel welcome.  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  MESSY CHURCH  Messy Church takes place next Sunday afternoon from 3-4.30pm. Crafts, activities, Bible story ,a bit of worship, and cake! In Seal Church hall. Free.  CHOIRS RESTART THIS WEEK  Our children's and adult choirs restart on Wednesday of this week in the church hall. Children's choir meets from 4.30 -5pm for fun songs and singing games with Anne and Rosemary. Adult choir meets from 7.15-8.15 (no singing games, but we have a lot of fun anyway!). We always welcome newcomers to either choir, so do come along and join us - there's nothing like singing to beat off the winter blues! SEAL COMMUNITY LUNCH  The first Community Lunch of 2023 will be on Wednesday 18th January in Seal Church hall.  It's completely free, and everyone is welcome for hot soup and home made pudding (as well as good company). Turn up from 12.30 - lunch is served at 1pm. It's a great way to get to know others, as well as enjoying a good meal! SEAL ECO CHURCH  St P& P’s Church, Seal, is now a registered Eco Church, working towards a bronze award at this time of accelerating climate change  and species loss.  We warmly welcome anyone along with an interest in protecting nature and caring for God’s Earth (A Rocha Uk) Hope to meet you soon! Babs Bartholomew (07973 478968)  & Lise Michaelides (07570 125115).  CHURCH CLOCK  Alas, our 150 year old church clock is currently out of action, and will need quite a lot of (expensive!) work to get it going again. We have a quote of around £6750 to do the work, which will mean the clock being dismantled and taken away to be mended. We will be launching a fund-raising drive to pay for this, so watch this space.  SEAL VILLAGE FUND: CALLING ALL ORGANISATIONS/CLUBS AND SOCIETIES THAT OPERATE IN SEAL VILLAGE Do you need some extra funding for a specific project or need? Then the Seal Village Fund may be able to help you! Successful fund raising events have resulted in excess funds being available to distribute to the groups that provide such wonderful opportunities and support in our friendly village. The Seal Village Fund will consider bids from any village organisation/club/society that benefits those that live, work or play in the village. The Rules of Engagement:- 1 - Only bids up to £250 please 2 - Submit a written proposal providing details of the project/initiative, how it will benefit the village, and the amount of funding being requested. Proposals need to be received by Friday February 24th 2023. 3 - You must be prepared to come and present your case at the Seal Village Fund AGM which will take place at the Know Your Neighbours Meet and Greet session on Saturday March 11th 2023 in Seal Village Hall at 11,30. 4 - All successful bids will be notified shortly after the AGM. Any questions and written proposals to be sent to Becky Watson (Seal Village Fund Secretary) at beckywatson@btinternet.com SAVE THE DATE - SAT MARCH 11TH 11.30-1.00 SEAL VILLAGE HALL  KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM. Come along, have a coffee, cake and a chat with members of local village organisations and find out what happens in our village. Also, let's have your ideas for what you would like to see in the future. SEAL LIBRARY NEWS Happy New Year from the library- we are already up and running with the first Reading Group session taking place already on Tuesday. I do have a couple of copies left of this month's books if anyone fancies a copy: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell, a cold case thriller and  The Offing by Benjamin Myers, a story of friendship across age, gender and class after WW2. Storytime and Baby Rhythm is back on Friday 6th January 10:30am with a different theme each week hosted by a lovely group of volunteers. There is also free crafts and chat time afterwards to enjoy! There is no Tea-set this month but on Friday 17th February we will be celebrating 50 years of the current library building in Seal.  In the morning we will have a coffee and cake morning and Frances has put together one of her brilliant quizzes focusing on the 1970’s to help everyone reminisce!!  There will be a small exhibition on the library history including photos of events held throughout the 50 years, together with themed book displays from 1973 and beyond! Any more photos, memories etc gratefully received. In the afternoon Sevenoaks Wildlife Trust will be holding a craft event for children on British birds from 12:30- 2:30pm - this will be a free event but bookable via the Trust. It is half term week so we hope all ages will be able to come into the library and celebrate with us.  The Tea-set meets on its usual fourth Tuesday of the month at 2:30pm. In February we have local thriller author Robin Nye. If anyone would like to read a copy of either of his books beforehand do let me know so I can reserve some extra copies. Thank you and I hope to see everyone soon Jillian  A REQUEST FOR UNWANTED GIFTS PLEASE To help fund Seal Tea Set at the library, a monthly raffle is held. Frances Fish would be very happy to accept any unused/unwanted gifts to raffle please, and she will happily accept at 2 Zambra Way Seal. Many thanks. KENT WILDLIFE TRUST Winter Walk Challenge Kent Wildlife Trust’s Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project is running a Winter Walk Challenge! Can you please help us to raise awareness for challenge? Did you know that spending time in nature can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? The project manages eight commons across Sevenoaks, Westerham and Seal, and we want to raise awareness of their value so that residents can take advantage of the sites for leisure, exercise and more this winter. The Winter Walk Challenge pack is free and includes information on species identification, the heritage of the Commons and parking and public transport information. The pack includes maps of the sites and information on how the plant and animal species of West Kent use the Commons during winter. The pack has been designed to help families to continue exploring natural spaces despite the cold weather! Spending time in nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. If your organisation can help us to spread the word about these free resources, our staff and volunteers would be incredibly grateful. If possible, please share the Winter Walk Challenge via your website, social media and mailing list.  The Winter Walk Challenge can be accessed here. Participants can download their packs digitally and physical copies are also available for collection from our Visitor’s Centre at Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3DH. 2023 - JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE!!! Just a thought, we know there will be a very big day to celebrate in May next year - King Charles' Coronation.  As a village, we will clearly want to celebrate this in a big way, but, once again, we will need people to take on the organisation of this community event. Those of us that have taken on these events over the past years/decades, are feeling somewhat jaded, and really need new blood to take over. We would like to suggest that plans are started early, maybe put your good selves forward (maybe individuals or several groups of friends). I am happy to compile a list of names and introduce you to each other. We know there are loads of skilled young people out there - we need you!!  Again, we will have some funds thanks to our 100 Club revenue, but, undoubtedly, more will be needed. We can help in this way, but we really need you to come forward and take over please! If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com, and we will do our best to spread the word. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about Know Your Neighbours, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page - search for Know Your Neighbours in Seal.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: Jan 1 2023

 

Dear friends Happy Christmas from all at Seal Church.  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 10 am   Holy Communion 6.30pm  Evensong Next Sunday - Epiphany Sunday 10 am  All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion This week: Monday - no Talking Village - Deniz cafe is closed. Wed - 10 am Good Book Club in the vicarage Fri - 9.30am Morning Prayer in church        10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall

The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus New Year's Day is also, in the Church's pattern of festivals, the feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. Today's sermon explores the significance of the name he was given. Names matter to us. Whether we like our names or not, they are important to us, a way in which we are known.  How do you feel about your name? Do you know why you are called by your name? Have you ever changed your name, or part of it (a surname, for example)? How did that change your sense of who you are? What does the name "Jesus" mean to you? How do you feel when you say it?

All Age Ideas Today we are thinking about what Jesus' name means. It comes from Hebrew "Yehoshua" (Joshua is another version of the same name). Draw the word "Jesus" on a piece of paper and decorate it. You could draw pictures or write words you associate with it. Do the same with your own name. Why did your parents call you by that name? Do you know what it means? You could turn your drawing into a notice for your bedroom, or a label for something that belongs to you.