Sunday Worship Podcast links and other news from Seal Church: March 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 - DON'T FORGET THAT THE CLOCKS HAVE GONE FORWARD! 10 am   Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday   10 am  Palm Sunday Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wed      9 am Seal School Easter Service  (sorry, no Zoom Church this week)              7.15 Choir in the hall               2pm Seal School Easter Service Thurs   9 am Seal School Easter Service Fri         9.30 am Morning Prayer in church             10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall Lent 5 Kevin Bright is preaching today, exploring the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from death.  John's Gospel is the only one of the four to tell this story, though we meet Martha and Mary, Lazarus' sisters, in the other Gospels. This was a family who Jesus was close to. They welcomed and supported him and his disciples, providing a loving and welcoming home for him. This story shows us Mary and Martha as truly human characters, distraught at the death of their brother, and, like his disciples, unable to understand why Jesus didn't prevent it. Jesus weeps too. He may know that the story will end with Lazarus raised from death, but that will not negate the anxiety and pain that those who love him have felt.  Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet's painting, above, of the scene is full of drama and movement. A diagonal line draws the eye from Jesus' outstretched hand through Mary, in white, to Lazarus in the bottom left hand corner.  Every reaction, from joy to confusion to horror and suspicion seems to be expressed in the faces of the crowd, inviting us to wonder how we would have reacted.   All Age Ideas In today's Gospel reading, Jesus hears that his friend, Lazarus, has died, and he cries because he is sad.  What makes you cry? What helps when you are crying? What do you hope people will do to help you? Draw a tear shape on a piece of paper, and write in it the things that make you feel sad, as your prayer. You could draw a number of tears like this, cut them out and make them into a mobile. HOLY WEEK & EASTER PALM SUNDAY April 2 10 am Palm Sunday communion service, with procession from the lychgate MON, TUES, WED, FRI, SAT    8 pm      Compline (Night Prayer) MAUNDY THURS April 6 8 pm     Holy Communion and Tenebrae GOOD FRIDAY April 7    10 – 11.30 am Messy Church for Good Friday 12– 8pm   Time for reflection Drop in at any point for as long as you like. There will be focuses for prayer around the church for you to ponder. 2.30 – 3pm     Good Friday Service 8 pm     Compline HOLY SATURDAY April 8        8 pm     Compline EASTER SUNDAY April 9        10 am  Parish Communion for Easter Day 6.30pm Evensong, (said, with hymns) Please join us at any of our services in Holy Week   CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL? The PCC meets six times a year to discuss a wide range of matters to do with church activities, services, fabric and finance. Members must be prepared to have a DBS check, and do safeguarding training. They must not have been disqualified from being charity trustees. They need to be confirmed, and have been on the church electoral roll for at least six months. Elections will take place at our APCM on May 21, but if you would like to find out more in advance, please let me know. There is a copy of the Role Description on the noticeboard. We are also looking for people (on the PCC or not) to join our Fabric and Maintenance team, to help organise repairs and routine maintenance etc. If you could help, let me know! ELECTORAL ROLL If you are not on our Electoral Roll, and would like to be, please fill in a form which you can find at the back of the church. Being on the church Electoral Roll qualifies you to vote at the Annual Meeting, but also means that, if you don’t live in the parish, you could be buried in the churchyard, if you want to. Electoral roll forms can be found at the back of church or downloaded here. https://www.parishresources.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Application-for-Enrolment-Electoral-Roll.docx Completed forms should be returned to the Electoral Roll officer, Wivine Turner, c/o The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR EASTER LUNCH Lise & Andrew Michaelides are hosting Easter Sunday lunch at their home this year, 2 Copse Bank, Seal TN15 0DE at 1pm. Everyone very welcome indeed, vegetarian option available. If you would like to come get in touch with Lise on 07570 125125  liseshay1@gmail.com CONFIRMATION SERVICE Saturday May 27th 4pm in Westerham. Would you like to be confirmed? Please let me know if you would like to be prepared to make this commitment. SEAL CHURCH CLOCK Are you missing the chiming of Seal Church clock? So are we! The mechanism, which is over 150 years old, is badly in need of repair. It will cost around £6000 to do the job, which will involve dismantling the clock, getting it down the tower stairs and taking it to the clock repairers workshop, then doing the whole operation in reverse when it is complete. If you can help with raising the money for this you can donate here https://givealittle.co/campaigns/08d6ce0f-43b4-4d7a-aee7-b94c269b0555, or by cheque payable to Friends of St Peter and St Paul Church" or in cash delivered to The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR We're hoping the repairs can be started as soon as possible!

Copyright © 2023 St Peter and St Paul, Seal, All rights reserved.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: March 19

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 Communion for Mothering Sunday  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              8pm Zoom Lent Group - email for link Wed      10 am Zoom Church               12 noon Funeral: James Winstanley              4.30pm Children's Choir in the hall              7.15 Choir in the hall Thurs   10 am Lent Group in the hall              12.30 Funeral: Gladys Aldridge Fri         9.30 am Morning Prayer in church             10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall

Mothering Sunday Today's sermon explores the story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like so many families in Scripture, their lives were not straightforward, and their mothering fraught with pain and loss, but their stories remind us that Mothering Sunday is not just about biological families, but a celebration of love wherever we find it, and in whatever form it takes. There is another link between these two stories, however. Both Hannah and Mary sing for joy when they hear that they are to bear children who will be special, and Hannah's song is thought to be the model for Mary's "Magnificat" in the New Testament. Hannah's song begins "My heart exults in the Lord..." just like Mary's, and both women talk about God who, in Hannah's words "raises up the poor from the dust..." You can find it in 1 Samuel 2.1-10.

All Age Ideas Don't forget that it is Messy Church this afternoon, from 3-4.30pm, when we will be thinking about caring, and giving thanks for those who care for us.  Today's Bible stories tell of two mothers - Hannah, the mother of Samuel and Mary the mother of Jesus. They know that their children will have special jobs to do, and they are glad of it.  What do you hope to do in your life? When a child is baptised, we pray that they will "shine as a light in the world". You could decorate a candle  (Sharpies will work on candle wax) or make a special holder for a battery tea light, with pictures of some of the things you hope you'll do, or draw a candle on thin paper and make a window picture of it.  Looking for something to do during Lent? Muddy Church have some great ideas.  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-40-moments-and-40-bags  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-challenge-sheets

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  EASTER LUNCH Lise & Andrew Michaelides are hosting Easter Sunday lunch at their home this year, 2 Copse Bank, Seal TN15 0DE at 1pm. Everyone very welcome indeed, vegetarian option available. If you would like to come get in touch with Lise on 07570 125125 CONFIRMATION SERVICE Saturday May 27th 4pm in Westerham. Would you like to be confirmed? Please let me know if you would like to be prepared to make this commitment. SEAL CHURCH CLOCK Are you missing the chiming of Seal Church clock? So are we! The mechanism, which is over 150 years old, is badly in need of repair. It will cost around £6000 to do the job, which will involve dismantling the clock, getting it down the tower stairs and taking it to the clock repairers workshop, then doing the whole operation in reverse when it is complete. If you can help with raising the money for this you can donate here https://givealittle.co/campaigns/08d6ce0f-43b4-4d7a-aee7-b94c269b0555, or by cheque payable to Friends of St Peter and St Paul Church" or in cash delivered to The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR We're hoping the repairs can be started as soon as possible!

ECO CHURCH WALK It may have been raining yesterday, but eight people, large and small, walked from the churchyard to Kemsing and back, listening to some poems, prayers and scriptures around sheep, lamb and shepherds,oak trees, brooks and water. They found signs of Spring, visited Fairy groves & Fairy cups ( in the oak & acorns), learned about wildlife including dormice, toads, newts, badgers and owls, and learnt to identify the call of Great tits. Appetites for an Italian light lunch/ snack we’re piqued & wellies were tested for waterproofing (some failing- Isla had wet toes, but braved this stoically).  Babs said she didn't know if our small but happy band were merely being very kind, but enthusiastic talked of returning on this walk in the Summer to note changes, & hopes to join the next Lent walk soon, were expressed. Watch this space! Here are some photos.

Sunday Worship podcast link 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 10 am   All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion Next Sunday   10 am Holy Communion for Mothering Sunday 3-4.30pm Messy Church 6.30pm Evensong This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street              8pm Zoom Lent Group - email for link Wed      10.30 am Holy Communion in Lavender Fields              4.30pm Children's Choir in the hall              7.45 Choir in the hall  (note change of time this week) Thurs   NO  Lent Group in the hall this week - final session next Thursday Fri         9.30 am Morning Prayer in church             10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall Sat       18 Reflective walk with Babs Bartholomew from Seal to Kemsing  Lent 3 This week's Gospel reading tells the story of an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well outside the Samaritan city of Sychar. Samaria lay between Judea in the south, where Jerusalem was, and Galilee in the north. Jews and Samaritans had mistrusted one another, and many Jews would take a long route round Samaria, either up the coast to the west, or crossing the Jordan and travelling up its east bank.  The origin of this animosity is disputed, but seems to go back to the time when the Assyrians conquered the northern territory of Israel, and scattered most of the ten Israelite tribes who lived there around their vast empire. According to Jewish sources, those who remained intermarried with the surrounding ethnic groups, who had moved into the areas left vacant. They were regarded as less "pure" than the unconquered Israelites to the south. The Samaritans see it differently (there are still a few hundred Samaritans resident in the area), and claim that they are the ones who have maintained the true traditions, while the southern tribes, who were later deported to and returned from Babylon, had changed their faith.  As with most of these ancient disputes, the truth will probably never be known, but by the time of Jesus the arguments were entrenched. One of the main bones of contention was where God had commanded his people to worship. The Jewish people believed it was in the Temple in Jerusalem; the Samaritans insisted that it was on Mt Gerizim, in the centre of their territory. It probably seems like a rather pointless debate to us, but the worst disputes often start with small points of difference.  The verses just before today's Gospel starts (John 4.1-5), tell us, though, that Jesus "had" to go through Samaria. Geographically and practically, that isn't true. There were other, well-worn routes from Jerusalem to Galilee. But there was someone in Samaria who Jesus had to meet, even if she didn't know it yet, which is why, according to the Gospel account he set out on the long, hot, thirsty trek through a country where he was unlikely to be welcomed or trusted. This Gospel passage is surprising for more reasons than this ancient feud between Jews and Samaritans though. Jesus also finds himself (and is found by his disciples, more to the point) talking to a lone woman, which was not at all usual, and a woman who seems to have been held in low regard by her community. It is the longest conversation recorded between Jesus and another individual in the Gospels, and covered a lot of ground, and it is to her - a Samaritan woman of low repute - that Jesus discloses that he is the Messiah (and God himself - the I AM) for the first time.    All Age Ideas Jesus, who was Jewish, meets a Samaritan woman at a well in today's story. Jews and Samaritans didn't get along and were ancient enemies. It was also very unusual for men and women to talk to each other unless they were in the same family.  At the start of the story, Jesus is sitting by a well, feeling thirsty, but with no bucket to pull up water - there weren't any taps to bring water to people's houses then. When the woman comes along he asks her for water, and they get talking. He says he can give her "living water", something that means she won't ever be thirsty again. She isn't sure what he means at first, but as he talks to her and treats her with respect, something she wasn't used to, she realises that this is what he is talking about. He listens to her and takes her seriously and it changes her life. It is like water when you are thirsty, making you feel alive again.  What would it be like to have to go to a well and carry home all the water you need for a day. Some people still have to do this. It takes a lot of time and the water isn't always very clean or safe. A charity called Water Aid works to help people get safe water supplies. You can watch a video about their work below. Count the number of taps in your house and garden (if you have one). Every time you turn on a tap today, say a prayer for people who don't have water in their homes. It's important not to waste water. It costs a lot of money to clean and pipe to our homes, and sometimes there can be shortages of water. How could you save water at home - not leaving taps running, thinking about saving or collecting water to use on the garden etc. Water can be fun! What are your favourite ways to play with water? You could make boats and race them, or create waterfalls, or paint a picture and then spray or drip water on it to see what happens... Looking for something to do during Lent? Muddy Church have some great ideas.  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-40-moments-and-40-bags  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-challenge-sheets   A video from Water Aid - https://www.wateraid.org/uk/ CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  SEAL CHURCH ECO GROUP  10.30am Saturday 18th March ’23: Lent Eco Walk 1: a gentle stroll from St P & P's, Seal, Churchyard, down to The Well, Kemsing, finishing with coffee & cake etc at the Italian Deli (we’ll buy our own, please!), with some guided meditation on the beauty of God’s creation, & some short prayers, with Babs. Two further Lent/Easter Walks, to take in the Daffodil Cross on the North Downs, Kemsing, near Oak Hall, and then the Bluebell Woods and Oak Hall’s Passion Trail, are also being planned for late March and April; details to follow.   MOTHERING SUNDAY CAKE/GIFT/PLANT SALE On March 19, after our Mothering Sunday service there will be a cake, gift and plant sale. If you happen to be dividing perennial plants in the next few weeks, as you get your garden ready for spring, and you have some spare plants,  we would be grateful for them. They can be brought to church on the day, or left on the vicarage doorstep before then. We will also be asking for cakes and small gifts, so please let us know if you can help. CONFIRMATION SERVICE Saturday May 27th 4pm in Westerham. Would you like to be confirmed? Please let me know if you would like to be prepared to make this commitment. SEAL CHURCH CLOCK Are you missing the chiming of Seal Church clock? So are we! The mechanism, which is over 150 years old, is badly in need of repair. It will cost around £6000 to do the job, which will involve dismantling the clock, getting it down the tower stairs and taking it to the clock repairers workshop, then doing the whole operation in reverse when it is complete. If you can help with raising the money for this you can donate here https://givealittle.co/campaigns/08d6ce0f-43b4-4d7a-aee7-b94c269b0555, or by cheque payable to Friends of St Peter and St Paul Church" or in cash delivered to The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR We're hoping the repairs can be started as soon as possible!

Copyright © 2023 St Peter and St Paul, Seal, All rights reserved.

Children' s Choir cancelled this afternoon.

 Children's Choir cancelled this afternoon - March 8 - because of the weather. Sorry! Back next week!

Churchyard working party

Many thanks to those who came along on Saturday to help with our churchyard working party.

We have a wonderful churchyard, but, as well as some routine tasks, we thought we could do with some bird and bat boxes, to enrich it as a wildlife habitat. So our Eco Church group got to work! Photos by Babs Bartholomew, Heather Alwen and the Vicar.

Much discussion about locations was necessary, and a bit of refreshment!

One bird box up - many thanks to the Alwen family for giving these to us, and to Kathy and her husband for preparing them, so they are squirrel and woodpecker proof.

Meanwhile, the ground level drainage gutters needed cleaning. These may be part of the original medieval building, but as we aren't on mains drainage, they are still very much needed. Clearing them of mud, leaves, plants etc. is essential to avoid large puddles making the walls damp. We thought about the 800 years or so of people doing this task again and again...

Here and there along the gutters are small groups of holes, which get blocked with earth, and are almost impossible to spot unless you know what you are looking for. The application of a tent peg wiggled around in them does the job of unblocking them, for the moment, at least.

Birdboxes up - now it's the turn of the bat boxes, which needed to be up higher, and closer together. How about in this old yew tree? Fortunately we had Matt with us, who fearlessly shinned up a ladder and perched in the tree to do the work.

The rest of us just watched in an encouraging way...

But if Dad is up a tree, his daughter might as well be too.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: March 5 2023

 

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  All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion This week: Mon      2-3.30 Talking Village at Deniz Cafe in the High Street              8pm Zoom Lent Group - email for link Wed      No Zoom Church this week - sorry!              4.30pm Children's Choir in the hall              7.15 Choir in the hall           Thurs   10-11.30am Lent Group in the hall                8pm PCC meeting in the church hall  Fri         9.30 am Morning Prayer in church             10.30-12.30 Friday Group in church hall Sat       11.30am-1pm Know Your Neighbours Meet and Greet in the Village Hall Lent 2 Today's Bible readings got me thinking about kingdoms and countries, which is very topical as we prepare for the Coronation of Charles III in May. Abraham is called to leave his native land and go to a new country. It's a daunting task, but God says that he will make a great nation of him there, so he goes. In the Gospel reading, Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God to Nicodemus, a religious leader who is obviously struggling to get his head around what Jesus is saying, but knows that it matters.  If you'd like to know more about the Coronation Chair, there is information from Westminster Abbey here, and a story about the restoration work that is being done ahead of the Coronation below.  There were also some interesting reports this week about the making and blessing of the Oil of Chrism, which will be used during the Coronation service. Oil of Chrism (blessed by the Bishop rather than imported from Jerusalem!) is also used in Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination services. It is fragrant oil, meant to remind the wearer and those around them as they smell it of the jobs they are called to do. We may not all be monarchs, but everyone one of us is called by God, and can make a difference for good in the world.  More about the Coronation Chair. All Age Ideas The first Bible story set for today is about Abraham, who God told to leave the country he had lived in and go to a new country. God promised that he would have many descendants who would make a difference for good in the world.  Then we hear a story from John's Gospel. Jesus has a visitor in the middle of the night. He doesn't want anyone to know that he is coming to see Jesus, so he comes after dark. The visitor, called Nicodemus, is a very important person, a leader in his country. He is supposed to know what he is doing . People look to him for answers, but now he feels confused. God seems to be working through Jesus, but Nicodemus can't understand why, since he is just an ordinary carpenter from Nazareth, not someone who is important or has done a lot of training like Nicodemus has.  Jesus tells him that, if he wants to understand - to see the kingdom of God, God at work in the world - he will need to unlearn some of the fixed ideas he has about God, and start again.  Have you ever changed your mind completely about something or someone, perhaps discovering that you like something or someone that you thought you didn't? Have you ever moved house? Do you know other people who have? What is it like to leave behind the things you know and go somewhere new? If you were a King or Queen, what rules would you make, and what would your kingdom be like? Perhaps you could make a crown and pretend to be a King or Queen. Looking for something to do during Lent? Muddy Church have some great ideas.  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-40-moments-and-40-bags  https://www.muddychurch.co.uk/lent-challenge-sheets   CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS  There will be a PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL  MEETING this week , on Thurs March 9 at 8pm in the church hall KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET & Seal Village Association AGM Saturday March 11th. 11.30-1pm in the Village Hall Join us for a coffee, cake and meet members of village organisations, learn what goes on in our village and share ideas, as well as helping to decide where Seal Village Association’s money goes.   SEAL CHURCH ECO GROUP  10.30am Saturday 18th March ’23: Lent Eco Walk 1: a gentle stroll from St P & P's, Seal, Churchyard, down to The Well, Kemsing, finishing with coffee & cake etc at the Italian Deli (we’ll buy our own, please!), with some guided meditation on the beauty of God’s creation, & some short prayers, with Babs. Two further Lent/Easter Walks, to take in the Daffodil Cross on the North Downs, Kemsing, near Oak Hall, and then the Bluebell Woods and Oak Hall’s Passion Trail, are also being planned for late March and April; details to follow.   GLADYS ALDRIDGE R.I.P. The funeral of Gladys Aldridge will take place on Thursday 23 March at 12.30 in the church followed by refreshments at the Three Horseshoes in Knockholt .  All friends and neighbours welcome.   MOTHERING SUNDAY CAKE/GIFT/PLANT SALE On March 19, after our Mothering Sunday service there will be a cake, gift and plant sale. If you happen to be dividing perennial plants in the next few weeks, as you get your garden ready for spring, and you have some spare plants,  we would be grateful of them. They can be brought to church on the day, or left on the vicarage doorstep before then. We will also be asking for cakes and small gifts, so please let us know if you can help. CONFIRMATION SERVICE Saturday May 27th 4pm in Westerham. Would you like to be confirmed? Please let me know if you would like to be prepared to make this commitment. SEAL CHURCH CLOCK Are you missing the chiming of Seal Church clock? So are we! The mechanism, which is over 150 years old, is badly in need of repair. It will cost around £6000 to do the job, which will involve dismantling the clock, getting it down the tower stairs and taking it to the clock repairers workshop, then doing the whole operation in reverse when it is complete. If you can help with raising the money for this you can donate here https://givealittle.co/campaigns/08d6ce0f-43b4-4d7a-aee7-b94c269b0555, or by cheque payable to Friends of St Peter and St Paul Church" or in cash delivered to The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR We're hoping the repairs can be started as soon as possible!