Sunday Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: Aug 27

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:  Wed     10 am     Zoom Church Fri        10.30 - 12.30 Friday Group in the church hall

Trinity 12   Today's readings have a "rocky" theme, which I will explore in the sermon.  The Gospel story takes place in the "district of Caesarea Philippi", a town founded by Philip the Tetrarch, the puppet ruler installed by the Romans in this area, a member of the Herodian dynasty. His name is reflected in the town he founded, along with that of Augustus Caesar. It is a deliberate attempt to focus the minds of the local people on who was in charge! It is a rocky area, as the photo on the right shows, and there were shrines and altars dotted around, carved out of the solid rock.  Rock is often rather overlooked as a substance, but it is literally the foundation of our lives. Are there any special rocks in your life - I recall the shale cliffs of the Cornish cliff where I spent many childhood holidays, and the red sandstone out of which my childhood home was built? What are the "foundation stones" of your life, the things that are fundamental to you, the principles and values by which you live? How and why did they come to be important to you?

All Age Ideas One of Jesus' closest friends was Simon, a fisherman. Jesus gave him a new name - a nickname - Peter (Petros in Greek) which means a rock. Jesus said that he would be like a rock, something solid that other people could lean on, the foundation of his church.  Try building a tower - you could use wooden blocks, cardboard boxes or lego. How talk can you make it? Try to build it on different surfaces - a table, a carpet, a sofa. What difference does the foundation make? Find some rocks (they can be small ones you can carry, or big ones that you can't). Look at them carefully. What colours are they? Are they smooth or rough, crumbly or solid? How many different ones can you find. Talk with your family about what is really important to you all. What are the "rocks" your family life is built on, the things that really matter?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS SAD NEWS ABOUT PETER MILTON-THOMPSON I am sorry to have to pass on the news that Peter Milton-Thompson died last Sunday in Weald Heights nursing home.  Peter was a real gentleman as well as a very good musician, who had sung in our choir for some years until the pandemic. I know that you will want to join me in passing on our condolences to his wife, Rosemary, Please hold Rosemary and all the family in your prayers. Peter’s funeral will be on Monday Sept 18th at 12 noon, here at Seal, and anyone who would like to come will be very welcome.  RECEIVING COMMUNION AT SEAL CHURCH The Communion Rail We have resumed the practice of kneeling or standing at the altar rail to receive communion in church. I will always be willing to bring communion to those who can't manage the stairs, however. This will be our normal practice on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays from now on. On the 1st Sunday of the month I will celebrate communion using the portable altar in the nave, and will distribute communion at the chancel steps, as we have been doing for the last couple of years.  The Shared Chalice Very few people indicated in the recent survey I put out that they wanted to drink wine from a shared chalice, but there were a few who did. I will, therefore, continue to dip the wafer in the wine as standard, but there will be a chalice available for those who would like to drink from it. If you would like this, please remain at the communion rail after you have received the wafer, and I will give you the cup.   DATES FOR YOUR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER Sun Sept 10 -ANIMAL BLESSING SERVICE at 3pm.  Bring along your pets, in suitable containers, if they are happy to be out and about with others!, or a photo of your pet if that is easier, and join us for a simple service of blessing for them and all the creatures we share the world with. We are planning to have a cake and gift sale after the service, and possibly some Eco Church activities. Sat Sept 16 - FREE GUIDED TOUR OF SEAL'S STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. Learn about Seal Church's fine Victorian stained glass, the stories it tells, the people who made it, donated it and are memorialized in it. This is an event which is part of the "Heritage Open Days" scheme. Tours at 11 am and 4pm, lasting about an hour. Numbers are limited, and slots are running low for the 11 am tour, so please email sealpandp@gmail.com as soon as possible to book your place, or sign the list at the back of church.