Sunday Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: Feb 18

 

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 DONATE TO SEAL CHURCH HERE - all contributions gratefully received to keep the church thriving! In the church building today 10 am Holy Communion 3-4.30pm Messy Church 6.30pm Evensong This week:  Wed    10.30 am Lavender Fields Holy Communion             4.30-5pm Children's Choir             7.15 pm Adult choir practice Thurs   10-11.30am Lent Group in the church hall Fri        9 am Morning Prayer in Church             10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall Next Sunday 10 am Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Lent 1 Kevin is preaching today, on the first Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading, as always on this Sunday of the church's year, features the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness, but each year the story is taken from a different one of the three Gospels which tell the story. This year it is the turn of the Gospel of Mark. Like much of Mark's Gospel the story is short and to the point. Mark's was the first of the Gospels to be written and it is thought that Luke and Matthew drew on it, and filled out some of Mark's stories with extra detail. While Mark tells us that Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, he doesn't tell us of three specific temptations, as the other Gospels do. It is left up to our imaginations to think what questions might be in Jesus' mind as he contemplated the ministry that was about to begin. Mark does tell us, though, that "he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him". The wilderness was, as our English word suggests, a place where wildness reigned, a haunt of wild beasts, evil spirits, and wild people too - bandits and outcasts. Jesus didn't go there to have a bit of peace and quiet, he went to the frontline of the battle with evil, to a place where he knew life would be tough, just as he did all through his ministry. But Mark's little detail that "the angels waited on him" tells us something important. Even there "where the wild things were" to paraphrase the famous children's book (below) God was too. The messages of Satan, trying to pull Jesus off the course his Father called him to, were set in contrasts to the messages of God - 'angelos' is Greek for 'messenger'.  Where and what are the "wild beasts" and "angels" in our lives, the voices that pull us down, or lift us up? How can we make sure we are listening to right voices?  All Age Ideas MESSY CHURCH IS THIS AFTERNOON FROM 3-4.30pm in the church hall Today we hear the story of Jesus spending 40 days and nights in the wilderness. The Bible tells us that the wilderness was a place where there were "wild beasts", dangerous creatures like lions and snakes. I wonder how it felt to be there on his own for such a long time? The story comes just before Jesus starts on his work of telling people about God, healing and helping, challenging the people who ruled his land but  who weren't treating people fairly. He knew that would be a difficult and dangerous thing to do. In the wilderness, he was thinking and praying about how to do this work. He could try to be a military leader, or push people around, like other leaders in his world. He could try to dazzle people with tricks, or just give them whatever they wanted, to make himself popular. But he knew that wasn't what God wanted. He wanted him to show people how to love one another. .  I think that the "wild beasts" weren't just the lions and snakes, but also his own fears about the future. The story says, though, that there were angels in the desert too - God's messengers reminding him that God was with him - and that helped him to make the right decisions.  Do you know the story by Maurice Sendak called "Where the Wild Things Are"? It is in the video below. I often think of that story when I hear of Jesus' time in the wilderness, another place "where the wild things were". In the story, the "wild beasts" are really in Max's imagination. They stand for all the wild feelings he was having that night - his anger and feeling of being out of control. In the end, though, he realises that he needs and wants to be where people love him. Like the angels who come to Jesus, his mother has come to him, with his supper "and it was still hot!" Do you ever feel tempted to do things that you know are wrong or might hurt someone else? What helps you not to do those things, or to put them right if you have done them? Who are the helpers in your life, the people like those angels who you know will always love and care for you? CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS FROM SEAL BARBARA ARNOLD'S MEMORIAL SERVICE will take place on Tuesday March 26th at 12.30 in Seal Church, following a private family cremation. It is a little way off, but please put the date in your diary if you would like to come. Everyone is welcome. Have you completed our  ECOCHURCH SURVEY yet? We will be closing the survey at the end of the week, so please fill it in - there are just 10 questions, and it doesn't take long. It will be very helpful to us to know what people are already doing to "go green" at home, and what our priorities are.  LENT COURSE We had a good first session of our Lent Course this week, thinking about the question of how we tell, and hear, the Good News of God's love here at Seal Church - next week we go on to the next Mark of Mission, and ask where and how we teach and learn our faith here. If you aren't coming along to the sessions, you can download a copy of the course booklet here. You are also more than welcome to send me your reflections on how you would answer those questions about how we see the Five Marks of Mission at Seal Church, so that I can include them in the collection of responses coming from the Lent Group.  REFLECTIVE LENT WALK Sat Feb 24 10.30am "God of Silence" Lent Eco Walk, with readings and prayers at beginning and end  of a walk in silence. Finishing with refreshments at Kemsing Deli (not so silent!)  Meet at the Lychgate at 10.30am . Contact Babs Bartholomew for more information.  SEAL KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET PLUS SEAL VILLAGE FUND AGM On Saturday March 16th, there will be an opportunity, to find out just what goes on in our village. We try to have an annual session, where new residents, or anybody who wishes to know more about village organisations, can come along, have a chat, coffee and cake, and meet those who run the local groups. We will be in the Village Hall between 11.30 and 1pm, along with information for you to glean. Do, please join us. SVF AGM Around 20 minutes of this session, is taken up with the Seal Village Fund AGM, where you can see our accounts, and where your money has been spent, and how this year's funds are being allocated.  If you belong to a local, non profit making organisation, have a specific project for this year, and need a small grant towards this, please make your bids before March 1st. Please contact Becky Watson, the SVF Secretary, for more information. If you have received funding oin excess of £400 over the past 2 years, from this source, other organisations will be prioritised.  COMING EVENTS The Church Events Team have been busy planning events for the first part of 2024.  HERE ARE THE PLANS SO FAR:- ECO CHURCH EVENTS INCLUDING VEGANUARY LUNCH AND WALKS ON ALTERNATE SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT LENT(MORE DETAILS BELOW). MOTHERING SUNDAY CAKE SALE QUIZ NIGHT MARCH 23RD ZAMBRA WAY GARDEN PARTY AND SALE JUNE 22ND PATRONAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS JUlY 7th -PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TEA FOR 2 IN VILLAGE GARDEN BETWEEN AUG 5TH AND 12TH RETURN OF THE GLORIOUS LITTLE GARDEN TEAS/LUNCHES THANKSGIVING SUPPER IN OCTOBER HARVEST ECO ACTIVITIES FOR HARVEST. Please watch this space for more detailed information nearer the time. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Marion Gilchrist says "Thanks to those of you who have come forward to volunteer to organise the lights for Christmas 2024. WE WILL SOON HAVE A LITTLE GET TOGETHER TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESSES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. tHERE IS STILL ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO HELP OUT - PARTICULARLY IN AN ADMIN ROLE." REGULAR VILLAGE ACTIVITIES 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. SEAL TIDDLERS  In Seal Church Hall £2 per session pre schoolers and parents/Carers Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 tea drinks snacks for children art activities singing. Term time only. SEAL OVER 60S As from March, the cost of the over 60s meetings will be increased to £5 per head. (It has to be said though, that this is still excellent value for a great tea, and often very interesting speakers or entertainment.)