Sunday worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: June 18

 

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 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday  10 am  Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week:  Mon     2-3.15 Talking Village in Deniz' cafe Wed     10.30 am Lavender Fields Communion              4.30-5pm Children's Choir              7.15-8.15  Adult Choir Fri        No Morning prayer in church             10.30 - 12.30 Friday Group in the church hall

Trinity 2   Today's readings feature journeys. The Old Testament Reading is set during the Exodus from Egypt, as the people of Israel wander in the wilderness. The Gospel reading tells the story of the journey Jesus sends his followers on to share his message. The sermon explores the significance of journeys and the maps that record or guide them. Maps are fascinating things. There is a long history of humans making maps. Some are drawn or etched, but others are enshrined in stories and songs.  In the sermon I mention a number of historic maps, so I thought you might like to see some pictures of them (below). If you could draw a map of your life what would it look like?  You could draw it as a journey you have taken through time, or you could draw it as the "landscape" you inhabit now. Have you travelled through the "green pastures and still waters", the "paths of righteousness" and the "valley of the shadow of death" in your life, to use the imagery of Psalm 23? What sort of landscape do you feel you are in at the moment? Have you been aware of God travelling with you on your journey?

This map, dating back to the 13th century, was drawn by the monk, Matthew Paris. It is an "itinerary" map, showing the route from London to Jerusalem which medieval pilgrims and crusaders needed to know. Itinerary maps only show the route, not the landscape around it, rather like an ancient version of a Sat Nav.  https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/matthew-paris-itinerary-map

A detail from the Mappa Mundi currently in Hereford, showing the British Isles. Cathedral. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford_Mappa_Mundi

A reconstruction of the Ebstorf map. The original was destroyed by Allied bombing of Hanover during WW2, but there were photographs which enabled it to be reconstructed. It was probably made by a monk called Gervase of Tilbury (1150-1220). Look closely and you will see that the head of Christ is at the top and his feet at the bottom, with his hands on either side. Like most medieval maps, Jerusalem is at the centre, and the top of the map points east, not north like modern maps. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebstorf_Map

All Age Ideas Don't forget - Messy Church is today from 3-4.30pm in the church hall! We will be thinking about the story of Moses and the journey he led the people of Israel on. Have you ever looked at a map of the area you live in? See if you can find where you live on Google Maps.  You could draw your own map of where you live, or another favourite place, or you could draw a map of a made up place.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS SHARING COMMUNION AT SEAL CHURCH We are now allowed to distribute wine by drinking from a shared chalice (cup), as we did before the pandemic, but up until now most people have preferred to receive a wafer dipped in wine instead. If we were to offer a shared chalice as well, it would be helpful to know how many people would want to receive it this way – I will continue to dip wafers in the wine as standard as well.   We could also revert to kneeling (or standing) at the Communion rail to receive Communion if we want, instead of at the chancel steps as we do now, but I am aware that some find it difficult to climb the steps and don’t want to exclude anyone. (I am always happy to bring Communion to you in your seat if you can’t come up).   Please help by completing this short survey to tell me how you feel about these possible changes (Please don't fill in the survey if you aren't a communicant at Seal!) MESSY CHURCH THIS SUNDAY DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL FOODBANK? You may wish to use this link to see what foods are needed right now, and what there would appear to be a surplus of https://www.donation-genie.co.uk  This was featured in this bbc article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65574441 ANA AND CELIE'S SPONSORED SCOOT They did it! Ana and Celie scooted 5km and they have raised £650 for Hospice in the Weald in Eddie's memory. Well done, girls! So many people have said such wonderful things about how this place has helped them. Any final donations please to https://www.justgiving.com/page/anaceliescoot PATRONAL FESTIVAL Come and help us to celebrate our patron saints - Yes - Peter and Paul - at our Patronal Festival, on Sunday July 2nd. There will be a special service at 10am, followed by special festival refreshments at 11.15am - 12.15.. There will be some gifts and hand made cards for sale, along with a cake raffle. Please join us. We will be collecting donations for much needed Church funds. CALLING ALL KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS AGAIN! So, now we have seen what some of the village talent can achieve, by way of our magnificent pillar box topper, Chris Rampton is making a request - well in advance - for anybody to come forward to make as many poppies as they possibly can please. She says the more the merrier, as we will be needing an awful lot of this this November, so if you get started now, we will be in with a chance of receiving sufficient. I believe these will be used on the pillar box, and to decorate our church for Remembrance Sunday too. Chris says, you can use any pattern you can find - always good to have some diversity - but abundance is the keyword. Sounds like this will be another terrific show.