Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: Oct 1 2023

 

Dear Friends As usual, the link to our podcast is above - click on the picture to access it. with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast - Click on picture above 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 Harvest All Age Worship 12 noon Harvest Bring and Share lunch 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion This week:  Wed     10am Good Book Club (1 Kings 21)              4.30pm Children's Choir              7.15 pm  Adult Choir practice Fri        9 am    Morning Prayer in Church             10.30 - 12.30 Friday Group in the church hall               11am   Hymn singing service at Lavender Fields

Trinity 17   Today's Gospel reading is a complicated one, but at its heart is the issue of who Jesus is. The Temple authorities have been alarmed by his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and his act of driving the traders out of the Temple, not just because these actions have caused uproar, but also because they know they are echoes of Hebrew prophecies about the Messiah. Jesus is making the claim to be God's chosen one through his actions, but they need him to say it in words, so they can persuade the Romans to condemn him.  He turns their tactic back on them though, and they reveal what they are really motivated by - their desire to maintain their position and power.  What would you say if someone asked you who you were? How many different ways can we identify ourselves - how many "labels" do we have for ourselves? Which ones are most important to you? Who do you think Jesus is?

All Age Ideas In today's Gospel reading Jesus tells a story about a father with two sons. He asks each of them to help do some work in his vineyard. The first one says he won't help, but then does. The second one says he will help, but then doesn't. Jesus asks which one is doing what his father wants best. What do you think? What does it feel like if someone says they will do something but then they don't do it? Jesus' parable tells us that we should look at what people do, not what they say, to decide whether we can trust them. Draw a tree and add drawings of fruit to it as you think of the good things you, or others, have done this week.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS CONGRATULATIONS TO JESS HEEB whose ordination as a Deacon took place in Rochester Cathedral yesterday. Please hold her and Jonathan in your prayers as she begins her ministry at Snodland Church. It was good to be part of her journey towards ordination here at Seal. You can watch a video of the ordination on the Diocese's Youtube channel here.  The first photo below is mine, the other two are from the Diocese of Rochester.

HARVEST FESTIVAL AT SEAL - Oct 8 We'll be celebrating the  harvest at Seal next Sunday in our 10 am All Age service - yes, we will be singing "We plough the fields and scatter"! - so come along and join us to give thanks for "all good gifts around us."  As usual, there will be a cash collection that day for Rochester Diocese "Poverty and Hope" appeal, which helps a number of charities, including supporting minority communities in Bangladesh, engaging with subcultures on the fringe in Brazilian slums, helping to provide education in Myanmar, providing irrigation and solar energy in Tanzania, and working with the Amos Trust in Palestine/Israel, which promotes creative arts activities as a safe space for local children and young people. You can read more about all these projects here - https://www.rochester.anglican.org/everyday-faith/ourfaithinaction/poverty-and-hope-appeal/ HARVEST LUNCH OCT 8th There will be a Harvest bring and share lunch after our Harvest Festival service on Oct 8th, starting at around 12 noon . We had originally planned to make this a totally vegetarian lunch, but its fine if you want to "bring and share" something with meat in it. Please make sure you include an ingredients list, so that people know what is in it! If you would like to come along, or make something to share, please sign the list at the back of church or email sealpandp@gmail.com.    SCARECROWS WILL BE BACK The Church has not planned a Scarecrow Festival this year, but a lady in the village called Amy has kindly come forward to organise one . This is so very much appreciated, as so many would have missed the annual display of weird and wonderful characters popping up through the village. Please get behind this wonderful, fun project, and have your scarecrows ready to display, either outside your home, or other appropriate areas, by October 20th. Watch this space for further information!