Sunday Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church : Nov 26 Christ the King

Dear Friends Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast - Click on picture above Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061 As usual, the link to our podcast is above - click on the picture to access it. with best wishes In the church building today 10 am Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday Dec 3 10 am Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week:  Wed    No Zoom Church this week             4.30 children's choir             7.15 pm Adult choir  Fri        9 am Morning Prayer in Church             10.30 - 12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Christ the King: Nov 26   Kevin Bright is preaching today, exploring leadership and the imagery of the shepherd. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus talks about those who may think they are following him, but don't care for others. If we don't care for the "least of these" then we can't claim to love God.  The image I have chosen for this week's podcast is of a teenage Syrian boy, shepherding his small flock. Children and women often acted as shepherds - think of the young David, who had to be summoned from where he was caring for his father's flock to meet Samuel, who anointed him as the future king. (1 Samuel 16)   All Age Ideas   Today is the feast of Christ the King, and it is the last day of the Christian year. Next Sunday, Advent Sunday, the year starts again.  Today we think about what kind of King Jesus is. He doesn't throw his weight around or want glory for himself. He is like a caring shepherd, who looks after his sheep. He expects those who follow him to look after others too.  Helping others is like helping him, because everyone is made in the image of God - God made them and loves them. Make a crown out of cardboard and write or draw on it the kind things that other people have done for you, and the kind things you have done for them. These are far more important than jewels! Advent starts next week. You could start a "reverse Advent calendar", collecting some item of food each day to put in a box and donate to the foodbank. You could also make models of Mary and Joseph or a star or angel, and hide them somewhere different each day for the rest of the family to find until Christmas Eve, when they could arrive at a "stable" somewhere in your house. A LONG LOOK FOR ADVENT We live in a visually cluttered world. Images pass before our eyes constantly on the tv, online and in print all around us. and it is all too easy not to see any of them properly. That’s why I’d like to invite you to join me in taking a long look at just one picture this Advent. Just one picture? Really? For 24 days? Yes, that’s right, but don’t worry that you will get bored, because this picture is crammed with detail, all very deliberately included by the artist, Jan Brueghel the Elder, to provoke thought and reflection on the story of the birth of Jesus.  Each day's post will appear on our church blog, and on facebook and twitter . (There are also some printed versions of the booklet available at the back of church, but if you can follow online you will be able to see the picture in glorious colour.) You can see the painting, for free, in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square in London – it’s in Room 17 – or online here https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-brueghel-the-elder-the-adoration-of-the-kings  where you can zoom in on the details CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS Annie Lewis' daughter, Lynda, asked me to include this message of thanks in our newsletter today. “We would like to thank everyone who turned up for my Mum’s (Annie) funeral service on Thursday. This made the day more bearable as she was surrounded by family and friends who thought a great deal of her. Thank you for the nibbles that were laid on for all who were there. We appreciated everyone’s kind words and the cards that we received.” CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING  Friday December 1st in Seal Church Hall £30 per head There will be 2 sessions - 3pm and 7.30pm ,providing all you need to make a beautiful Christmas wreath, a glass of wine and mince pie.Please bring your own secateurs! To book, please contact Chris on 07759 808814 or 01732 763585. SUNDAY 3rd DEC 11.15am: Eco Church Swap/ Help Yourself Table!  In Church (after morning service): ALL WELCOME! Please come along to help yourself for no payment, to good quality preloved clothing, household goods, books, games & toys, some of which may be ideal Christmas gifts!   If you have high quality items which you no longer want or need, and wish to declutter, please bring an item/ items to swap, or donate! You are also warmly welcome to come & take something away, even if you have nothing to donate this time. No money is to change hands. The idea is that we all intentionally reuse and upcycle previously loved items, in a bid to reduce waste to landfill, as well as to encourage us all to consider lessening our new product purchases.  Rather than buying into consumerism, could we swap/gift to others in our local community, and spread the love  ❤️ ? The timing of our first Swap Table, before Christmas for potential gifts or a new outfit without expenditure, and following “Buy Nothing Day” on 24th November (to boycott Black Friday), will hopefully be of some value, as well as be thought-provoking. Hoping that you’ll have time to look out some items for upcycling and decluttering, and come along and support our event, with or without  a donation or two! Thank you. Babs, Lise and the Eco Church Team. CHRISTINGLE DEC 10 Our Christingle service will take place on Sunday Dec 10 at 10 am. Everyone is welcome - there will be plenty of Christingles to go around. The cash collection on this day will go to the Children's Society. There will also be some gift and cake stalls after the service, in aid of the church. If you can contribute a cake, or have any small gifts or unwanted items to donate for the gift stall, we would be very grateful for them.  TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - First Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10.15am-11.15am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. FRIDAY GROUP Meets each Friday morning in the Church Hall between 10.30 and 12.30   Coffee, chat, by all means, bring your crafting with you but mostly, enjoy the company.

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