Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: Nov 18

 

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 3-4.30pm Messy Church 6.30pm Evensong Next Sunday Nov 26 10 am Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong This week:  Wed    10 am Zoom Church             4.30 children's choir             7.15 pm Adult choir  Thurs   11 am Funeral: Annie Lewis - everyone is welcome Fri        9 am Morning Prayer in Church             10.30 - 12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Second Sunday before Advent: Nov 19 The parable Jesus tells today is a puzzling one. Why should the slave be punished for keeping his master's money safe ? (a 'talent' was a unit of measurement for precious metals - about 4 stone/28 kilos of silver, for example, and one talent was equivalent to 15 years' salary for an ordinary worker).  And is the "master" in the story meant to be a picture of God? Today's sermon explores those questions, and the feelings this story might evoke in us, asking what we should do with the things we treasure.    All Age Ideas Jesus tells a story about a man who gave a lot of money to three of the enslaved people he owned to look after when he went away. Two of them used the money to trade with, and made a profit, so they gave him back more than he had given them. The third was afraid he might lose the money if he did that, so he dug a hole and buried it in the garden. When his master came back, he gave it back to him. His master was cross that he hadn't made more money from it, and threw him out. That doesn't seem fair to me, and Jesus knew that those who heard the story first would probably feel like that too.  The reason the slave hadn't used the money to try to make more money was that he was afraid that his master would be angry if he lost any of it. He thought his master was cruel and angry, so he was scared.  The story is really about what we think about God. Do we think he might be cross with us if we get something wrong, or do we trust that he loves us whatever happens? Sometimes people say "If a person never makes a mistake, they will never make anything". Have you ever been scared to try something in case it goes wrong? Make something. You could use scraps of coloured paper or cloth, leaves feathers, or anything else you have hanging around. You could stick them, tie them, paint them, or just arrange them in a way you like. You might not know what you want to make when you start, and sometimes we can be scared of trying, because we think there is "right" and "wrong" way to do things. But it can be really good fun, and a surprise to see how it turns out.  CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS ANNIE LEWIS' FUNERAL Annie's funeral will take place at Seal Church on Thursday Nov 23, at 11 am, and anyone who knew Annie is welcome to attend.   MESSY CHURCH will take place this afternoon in the church hall from 3-4.30pm. It will have an Advent and Christmas theme, so it will be a good chance to get ready for Advent! Everyone is welcome for the usual mix of craft, story, worship and tea. CHURCH HALL GARDEN WORKING PARTY. This should have happened yesterday, but the weather meant it had to be postponed to next Saturday - Nov 25 - from 9.30-12 noon. All welcome to help us tidy up and cut back the area around the church hall, and demolish the shed at the rear of the hall. Please bring loppers, shears, gloves (hedgetrimmers and even chainsaws, if you can operate them safely, would be useful!)  It is also the day on which SEAL'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS are being put up - sorry about the clash. If you prefer "light-putting-up" to gardening, why not turn up to help with that instead! Contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to let her know you are coming to help with the lights.  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. SEAL TIDDLERS FUND RAISING PAMPER EVENING - ENTRY BY PRE-BOOKED TICKET ONLY Pamper evening Thursday 23rd November Seal church hall (TN15 0AR) 7.30 to 9.30pm (Parking is limited so please walk or car share if possible). £5 a ticket with a glass of prosecco or orange plus a goody bag in aid of funds for Seal Tiddlers.  Tickets and bookable appointments from Stephanie_barnes1990@outlook.com (Please bring cash on the night). Hair and make-up demonstrations. Hair, nails, Neal's Yard hand massage, wax melts, Indian Head Massage and stalls include jewellery, cupcakes, fashion, Body Shop and a raffle. Appointments for nails and hair/hand massage Lots of stalls to start your Christmas shopping! THANK YOU to all who donated in cash last Sunday to the Royal British Legion at our Remembrance Service. I was able to send £130 to their poppy appeal.  SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS Seal Village Allotments are now renewing rentals for the 2024 season, and have some plots available. If you would like to join us and grow your own produce, then please contact: sealvillageallotments@gmail.com 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.