Sunday worship podcast and other news: Jan 7 Epiphany Sunday

 

Dear Friends Listen to today's worship podcast by clicking on the picture above.  Anne Le Bas Worship 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 for Epiphany Sunday 6.30pm Said Evensong with hymns This week:  Wed    10am Zoom Church - email for the link              4.30-5pm Children's Choir              7.15 pm Adult choir practice Fri        9 am Morning Prayer in Church             10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall Next Sunday  10 am All Age Worship 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion Epiphany Sunday Today we celebrate the story of the Magi, who Matthew's Gospel tell us, prompted by the message of a star, travel from the East o look for the long-awaited Messiah. They are foreigners, Gentiles, probably Zoroastrian philosopher priests from Babylonia, where the Jewish people had, centuries before, been taken into exile. They represented Israel's ancient enemies, now coming to worship a Jewish God. Naturally, they assume that someone born to be "king of the Jews" will be born in a palace, and go straight to the paranoid ruler, Herod, who is terrified at the thought that he will be replaced, and later orders all the children of Bethlehem to be killed.  But the Magi eventually find the person they are looking for in a humble house, born to ordinary parents. Through Advent, some of you may have followed the series of reflections I wrote on the depiction of this scene by Jan Brueghel the Elder - if not, they are here! Although Brueghel takes some liberties with the narrative, the sense of unexpectedness and out-of-placeness which runs through the nativity stories is very clear in his crowded scene, with all sorts of people (and animals) amazed to find that something so significant and extraordinary has happened in such an inauspicious location.  All Age Ideas The feast of the Epiphany (Jan 6) which we celebrate today has all sorts of customs associated with it. If you have a Christmas crib, and the Magi (wise men) have been travelling to it, this is the moment they should arrive!  Many people mark this moment by chalking their doors or doorways with "20+C+M+B+24" - the numbers refer to the year, 2024, and C,M and B are the first letters of the traditional names of the Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. It's a reminder to look out for and welcome God as he comes to us in all our visitors.  How do you welcome people in your home? Do you like having visitors? You could chalk your door, or make another sort of welcome sign for people.   CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS FROM SEAL Thank you to all who made our Christmas celebrations go so well - musicians and readers, church decorators and welcomers, and all who helped to brighten up the village with Christmas lights and post box toppers.  CHOIRS  Our choirs begin rehearsing again this week - Children's choir at 4.30pm in the hall, and Adult choir at 7.15 pm (a short practice this week, followed by a choir party). We always welcome new singers - young or old, so do get in contact if you'd like to join us. CANDLEMAS VEGANUARY LUNCH Sunday Jan 28 at 12 noon. Everyone is welcome to this vegan lunch, organised by our Eco Church team.  News from Know Your Neighbours A NEW CLASS FOR THE NEW YEAR Sarah Ratcliffe, who is fairly new to the village, will be starting a new Pilates class in the Village Hall on Wednesday January 10th at 10.30am. A great time of the year to get those new year's resolutions in place! The classes wil be of mixed levels, and will cost £9 when booked as a block, or £11 for individual classes. You can contact Sarah on 07963 618226, or s.ratcliffe2620@gmail.com Look out for further info in the new year. SPEED REDUCTIONS ON A25, AND OTHER PARISH COUNCIL NEWS The speed limit along the A25 has finally changed to 30mph! The speed reduction was requested along the A25 by Seal Parish Council after requests from residents and parents attending Seal Primary school. The reduced speed limit will make the road safer for pedestrians along the narrow footpath and regularise the speed limit along the road as the last  part seemed erroneously to have been left at 40mph. There will be soon be temporary notices advising the 30MPH change of speed on the entry/exit points along this stretch of the road. There will be no small 30mph repeater signs as the road lighting is standard for a 30mph road according to the Highways Code. The Seal Village entry sign asking drivers to drive with care through the village is going to be reinstated by Seal Drive in the New Year. This should not have been removed. As part of the engagement Tarmac have with the community, Tarmac will be discussing the Outline Planning Application for the Quarry and answering questions about how this is being planned. We have four Councillor vacancies in Seal Ward, if you would like to be part of an enthusiastic team of volunteers who represent our Parish, I would like to hear from you. Wish you all a very Happy New Year. Chris Haslam Chairman Seal Parish Council. ISSY FASSNIDGE Issy, a very local Seal girl, who some may already know, is set to be our next Sevenoaks Olympics hopeful. Issy has been representing GB in the Skeleton events for a while, and is now set to train for Team GB in the winter Olympics of 2026. Watch this space to hear more of our own village competitor.  It will be great to hear more of her training and successes on the way. Good luck Issie - we'd love to get behind you all the way!