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.